Saturday, December 31st, 2005 * United
Center * Chicago,
Scythe finally opens his eyes as the music blasts over the speakers. He
gazes at his surroundings and his bloodied opponent, until his eyes settle upon
Bishop Cross, who stands on the ramp with a smile. The Samurai, however, is
noticeably filled with anger.
Hosemann: It doesn't seem like Scythe wanted his help! But regardless, Cross
got him a win against GI Jew, although I'm sure that's not the way Scythe
wanted it!
Scythe is announced as the winner, but he doesn’t
celebrate anything as he quickly exits and runs back through the curtain.
We return backstage to find the camera bobbing up
and down as it chases behind Nick Cade, who is chasing after Scythe, who has
just come through the curtain in a rage.
Cade: Scythe! Scythe,
over here! What was that we just witnessed out there?! Are you in cahoots with
Bishop Cross?! Scythe!
The Modern-Day Samurai stops in his tracks to
approach Cade angrily.
Scythe: Have you seen
Cross anywhere?!
Cade: No.
Scythe: Then get the
hell outta my way!
Scythe shoves Cade backwards against a wall before
storming off in pursuit of Bishop Cross. The shot cuts out and back to the
interviewing area, where Rick Madsen is now with Mike Troha.
Madsen: Mike, you're
now just moments away from taking on your former TFU running buddy, Hollywood
Mike Griffin, in a match that you claim has been brewing for well over a
year. What are your thoughts?
Troha: You're right
Rick, it has been brewing for a long time. Nearly two years ago, when we were
re-creating TFU, we were meant to be a team. A team capable of tearing the PWA
down and establishing a new era of wrestling. I did my part by reigning as a
successful PWA Champion, but the entire time I did that, there was a rat
amongst us. A sniveling little bastard named Mike Griffin who wanted all the
glory for himself. Was he good enough to reign as champion? Absolutely. But
that wasn't his job.
The action kicks back ringside as “Arcarsenal” by At The Drive-IN hits and a raucous ovation
greets The Miracle Mike Troha as he power walks his way down the ramp to the
ring. Troha has a very intense look on his face as he slides into the ring and
bounces off the ropes, eagerly awaiting his opponent.
Troha’s wait
is set to wind down once the house lights dim down and the entrance video of
Mike Griffin is displayed on the Jumbotron, in wide-screen, of course. The
familiar sounds of Tool’s “Parabola” begin next, and a massive amount of jeers
rains from the Chicago faithful as Justin Schenck leads Hollywood Mike Griffin
through the curtain. Schenck walks halfway down the ramp, leaving his top
charge atop the stage as he thrusts his arms up high to summon his regal red,
white and blue sparkling fireworks exploding into the air.
Troy: I know he isn’t
your favorite guy Scott, but
Hosemann: Well those
two guys are the main reasons why I was kept out of that Everlasting Epic
event, so you won’t hear much good from me about either, but
Hosemann: Not to
mention that if
Hosemann: It’s a
personal battle, and there is a lot on the line for both men. Title shots don’t
come along very often.
Both men crash to the arena floor hard, but
*
THE MIRACLE MIKE TROHA VS.
Referee: Billy Vargas
Troha climbs up to the ring apron to get back in
the ring, but Schenck runs up and grabs his leg from behind. While the official
is unable to see this,
Knowing the advantage is on his side,
Hosemann: Well within
the rules, and from the impact of that suplex, Troha is gonna have a tough time
getting back in the ring.
Vargas’ deliberate count reaches the number of nine
and Troha barely makes it back inside, but Griffin is right on top of him,
connecting with a series of kicks and stomps to the grounded Miracle.
Troha takes a slight breather to gain his bearings
before rushing
Hosemann: There go
the familiar German suplexes, and it does not feel
good to land on your head like that. Troha is in trouble here.
Hosemann:
Hosemann: Wouldn’t a
little Divine Intervention be nice right about now?
Vargas counts both men down until the count of 8,
when Troha is the first to rise. He lifts
Hosemann: He might
Vic! Look at the torque Troha is putting on his back! This one is almost over!
Hosemann:
A frustrated Troha releases the hold, but turns
around to go after the cause of his problems in Schenck. He grabs him by the
suit jacket and Schenck begs off, but during their tussle,
Hosemann: If
Moments later,
Hosemann: And now it
is him that will enter Seven Deadly Sins next month. Those are the breaks
sometimes, but I guarantee this thing between these two has not ended here
tonight in
*
WINNER VIA SUBMISSION:
A battered Griffin gets his arm raised, and leaves
Troha laying in the ring defeated as the shot cuts backstage into the locker
room of Walter Gindin and Associates, where Gindin is pacing back and forth in
front of Solomon as he does preacher curls and a seated, stoic Keiko Ishida as
Jonathan Brett quietly looks on.
Gindin: This is it
guys. This is the night that is upon us and we cannot, cannot, CANNOT allow any
balls to drop besides the one in
Ishida: Nothing needs
to be done.
Gindin: Nothing needs
to be done? (Scoffs) Did you hear her Jon? Nothing needs to be done. Keiko, you
haven’t faced a girl around here like her. She’s not like a Rose Lune or Liz Rush or what used to be Camieko, she is a
serious threat! What are you gonna do?!
Ishida: I don’t care
what her name is or who you mention. Morgan will end up just like the rest,
broken down and defeated once I am through with her.
The Women’s Champion remains calm and stoic as the
restless Gindin continues to worry. He just shakes his head and tries to calm
himself as we are taken back to the ring for the next matchup,
where three D-Bombs fall to the entrance and explode upon impact as “And Then
What” by the gritty Young Jeezy and Mannie Fresh begins to play. As the smoke clears, Romeo
arrives to a large collection of boos.
Hosemann: That’s right,
Romeo and Jason Calysto have gone at it for months now, and even thought both
men are already included in next month’s Seven Deadly Sins match, you know both
are looking for momentum and bragging rights tonight.
Da Playboi enters the ring and removes his overcoat as “F*ckin In The Bushes” by Oasis takes over. The Iceman Jason
Calysto steps out to a massive amount of cheers, and the former CAW, FSW and
PWA Champion looks to be all business as he makes his walk to the ring. Calysto
slides into the ring and pops up quickly as the two immediately come to blows
in the middle of the ring!
Hosemann: The fight
is on!
*
THE ICEMAN JASON CALYSTO VS. ROMEO *
Referee: Matt Hansen
The slugfest has many shots thrown, but Calysto
cannot go punch for punch with Romeo, who uses his powerful blows to gain the
upper hand. He knees The Iceman in the midsection before shooting him to the
ropes and flooring him with a big reverse elbow to the face.
Romeo gets Calysto off the mat, but is quickly run
backwards and slammed against the turnbuckles. Calysto rams a shoulder into his
gut a few times before lighting his chest up with a stiff reverse knife-edge
chop. Calysto then grabs him by the arm to pull him out of the corner and apply
an inverted atomic drop before hitting the ropes and dropping him with a
clothesline.
Romeo gets up to a seated position and yanks the
incoming Iceman into the top turnbuckle by his trunks, dazing him. Romeo then gets
up and drives a bionic elbow into the back of his head before propping Calysto
up on the top rope. With The Iceman facing the crowd, Romeo hooks him up from
inside the ring and crunches him down on his head with an impressive Reverse
Hosemann: Close call
for Jay, he needs to get back in the match after that big shot.
Romeo gets Calysto off the mat and hoists him above
his head in a gorilla press. Before he can be slammed, Calysto gets in an eye
rake to be released from the grip. Romeo rubs his eyes, but Calysto puts a boot
on them next after he hits the ropes and scores with a big spinning heel kick!
Hosemann: It means
this match is almost over! I’ve always wanted to get to say that Vic.
Romeo slowly reaches his feet and Calysto puts a
boot right in his face as he lays him out with a mafia kick! Romeo hits the
deck again, and Calysto heads up to the top rope. The roll continues as Romeo
gets back up and Calysto hits him with his outstretched arm as he scores with
The Bottom Line from the top rope! Romeo turns onto his stomach to avoid a
potential pin, but Calysto takes advantage on his position and traps him in The
Crossface!
Hosemann: He’s gonna
rip Romeo’s arm off unless he can get out of it! I don’t think Romeo is gonna
ever give up!
Calysto rears back to put an intense amount of
torque on the hold, but Romeo refuses to give in. He crawls slowly until he’s
near the bottom rope and he uses his free arm to grab a hold of it.
Hosemann: Romeo
grabbed the rope!
Troy: And Calysto has
to break the hold, but the damage might have been done here. Romeo’s arm must
be in bad shape, and he can’t deliver a Dre Day Bomb with one arm.
Calysto breaks the hold, and Romeo responds by
immediately clutching his arm. Calysto gets up and waits for him to rise, and
once he does, he shoots in for an Icebreaker, but Romeo slips out of it in mid
air and decks Calysto with a big kick to the face!
Hosemann: Romeo is
back in it!
Looking to end things, Romeo adjusts his black
bandana and fights through the pain in his arm to set Calysto up for Dre Day. He
lifts The Iceman up, but Calysto shifts his weight while on Romeo’s shoulders,
and he moves downward to trap him in a victory roll for the pinfall!
Hosemann: When it
comes to technical ability, there are none better than The Iceman!
“F*ckin In the Bushes”
replays, and Romeo carries a look of disbelief as Calysto is announced as the
winner. Hansen raises his arm, but once he does, Romeo blasts him down with a
shot from behind! He quickly lifts Calysto up off the mat and kicks him in the
stomach before getting him back up and plastering him with a huge Dre Day
Powerbomb that rattles his spine in the center of the ring! Romeo then turns
away and exits the ring, leaving the victorious Calysto looking like anything
but a winner as he lies writhing in pain on the canvas.
*
WINNER VIA PINFALL: THE ICEMAN JASON CALYSTO *
Hosemann: I’ve been
there, especially against Calysto, so I know how he feels. However, there is no
excuse for that.
A video package begins to roll on The Jumbotron,
highlighting the long line of events leading up to tonight’s match. Included is
the meeting on stage between the two ladies at the annual Awards event,
followed by each defeating the top Women’s Title contenders in convincing
fashion one after another. The package concludes after showing Morgan Day
winning her title shot at Fallen Souls and motioning the she will leave as
champion to Ishida in a recent stare down on Frequency. We are taken back to
the ring, where “Dead Promises” by The Rasmus hits to
a bevy of cheers!
Troy: Alright, here
we go! We have been waiting for this one for months!
Hosemann: We have,
this has got to be the most anticipated Women’s Title match in the history of
our sport!
Morgan Day arrives to a big ovation, and the
British beauty does not look too concerned with the crowd’s reaction as she power
walks her way to the ring, hoping to become the first woman to wear the Women’s
title not named Keiko Ishida since Camieko did it over a year ago. She climbs
up on the ring apron and hops over the top rope, eliciting a huge blast of pyro
from each of the four ring posts as she lands. As she waits in the ring, “The
Stone Monkey” by Kazu Matsui hits, and a mixed
reaction comes for the arrival of the champion, as Walter Gindin leads her to
the ring.
Hosemann: Keiko
normally doesn’t hear any cheers, but this crowd is so ready for them to get it
on that they are applauding her arrival!
Hosemann: I’m gonna
say no on that Vic. Morgan has been incredibly dominating, but Keiko is quietly
the winningest PWA superstar of all time. Her winning
percentage is spotless, she is batting a thousand, and until I see someone come
close to taking her down, my money is on the champion. Remember this, Morgan
has to beat Keiko; Keiko does not have to beat Morgan. That’s the advantage you
have when you carry a belt into the ring.
Ishida walks up the ring steps in her usual calm
manner and Gindin holds the ropes open for her as she steps into the ring. She
removes her leather overcoat and tosses it out of the ring before unstrapping her title belt and handing it to Dan Martin.
The music stops as Martin holds the belt up and gets it out of the ring. The
bell sounds and the crowd cheers as both women come face-to-face in the center
of the ring, neither one budging an inch or blinking an eye.
Hosemann: Listen to
this crowd, they’re ready!
*
PWA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: KEIKO ISHIDA © VS. MORGAN DAY *
Referee: Dan Martin
Champion and challenger back off, and the crowd is ecstatic
as they circle the ring and finally lock up in the center. A big test of
strength and leverage ensues until Morgan Day has a big surge and shoves Ishida
down hard to the canvas to an immense ovation!
Hosemann: We sure
haven’t, but I don’t think she’s rattled yet. These two know each other so
well, and Morgan Day knows she has nothing to celebrate at all. She isn’t
letting the crowd get in her head yet.
Ishida gets to her feet and initiates another
lockup. Day takes the bait, and the champion buries a hard knee into her
midsection. Ishida follows up with another one before hitting a European
uppercut that puts Day on the mat. A few stomps follow, but the challenger
still tries to get up. She reaches her knees as Ishida bounces off the ropes
and returns for a knee smash of her own, but Day drops to the canvas to duck
under it, and Ishida turns around to find Day catching her with a spinning kick
to the face!
Day finds her opening and takes it by barreling a
rising Ishida back into a corner and ramming her repeatedly with hard shoulder
thrusts to the midsection. She then climbs up on the middle rope and begins to
punch Ishida in the forehead as the crowd counts along. Their counting stops
once Ishida grabs Day’s legs and holds her in a powerbomb position before
dropping down on her back and driving Day’s chin into the top turnbuckle with
extreme impact!
Hosemann: Huge
momentum killer for Morgan right there.
Ishida covers for one…two…and Day manages to kick
out at two. The champion keeps the pressure on though; by clamping down a rear
chin lock on Day. Martin asks if she’s ready to give it up, but it is now when
Day uses the 12th man, in the form of the crowd that is cheering her on
vociferously.
Martin keeps asking, but the challenger is too
determined to give it up. She eventually breaks Ishida’s grip, but Keiko keeps
her advantage by connecting with a knee to the small of Day’s back. She gets
Day off the mat and looks to further attack the back, but Day blocks it. Ishida
tries once more, but Morgan blocks it again before countering with a knee to the
midsection and hoisting her up in her own suplex. Ishida is straight up in the
air and Day struggles so much to gain her balance that both women back into the
ropes and tumble over them to land hard on the arena floor!
Hosemann: These
ladies want that title and they will go through anything to leave with it!
Martin begins to count both ladies out very slowly,
giving them ample time to rise. Day gets up a split second before Ishida and breaks
the plane of the ring apron to break the count, but once she turns back around,
Ishida runs forward and blitzes her with a running STO on the floor!
Hosemann: I’ve seen
that move completely knock girls out in the ring, and after seeing how hard
Morgan’s head hit that mat on the floor, this one is over!
Day is totally motionless as Ishida rolls into the
ring and Gindin begins to celebrate. The superagent
is jumping up and down with glee until he sees his client roll back out of the
ring, breaking the official’s count at 5 to try and lift Day up.
Hosemann: She’s
rolling her into the ring now. Keiko wants to prove a point; she wants to prove
her dominance now. After months of being labeled as ducking Morgan, she is
going to pin her shoulders down in the ring just like she has done to everyone
else that has opposed her.
Ishida struggles mightily in lifting Day up,
basically because the motionless challenger is dead weight. The champion does
manage to get Day into the ring and she slides in herself to make a cover for
one…..two….but not three because Day gets a foot on the rope!
Hosemann: She’s not
done yet Vic! Morgan Day still has some life and for the first time, it looks
like Keiko is frustrated!
Ishida puts her hands on her knees, pondering her
next move when she decides to uncharacteristically head up to the top rope.
Ishida is looking for the big move that will put her opponent down and out, but
it does not come to fruition as Day reaches up and shakes the top rope. The
vibration causes Keiko to slip off and straddle the top turnbuckle before
landing on her back in the ring. Without wasting time, the woozy and groggy
Morgan Day grabs Ishida by the legs and ties her up in the Sharpshooter!
Hosemann: She’s close
to the ropes Vic; she needs to grab them to have a shot at continuing!
Day wrenches the hold in tight, but the lanky body
and arms of the champion allow her to grab onto the bottom rope. Martin forces
Day to break the hold, but the challenger is spent. She falls to the canvas,
eventually leading up to both women rising at the same time. Day goes towards
Ishida, but another European uppercut puts her right back down on the mat. It
is now when Ishida backs into a corner, stalking her opponent to deliver the
STO that will surely finish her off.
Troy: The last STO
didn’t get it done, but if Keiko lands one here, that’s gotta
do it.
Day rises and Ishida takes off for the move, but
Day scouts it and nails her with a Muay Thai style
kick to the head at the last moment! Ishida goes down in a heap, and the crowd
is cheering Day on tremendously as she moves in for The Daybreak!
She lifts Ishida off the mat to deliver her
finisher, but Gindin hops up on the apron to distract her. Day takes her focus
off of Ishida to grab Gindin by the neck, but the champion rises behind her.
Ishida measures Day up for another STO and charges once she turns around, but
Day sidesteps it and the champion barrels into Gindin, sending him flying off
the ring apron! Ishida turns around to find a boot to the stomach before Day
lifts her up and drops her square on her head with The Daybreak! Day covers and
hooks both legs with one arm and one leg as Martin counts one…..two….three!
Hosemann: What a
match!
Palmer: Here is your
winner and the NEW PWA Women’s Champion…..Morgannnn Dayyyyyyy!
“Dead Promises” replays, and the new champion is
overcome with joy and emotion after she is awarded the championship belt. Gindin
is on the outside, pounding the ground on his knees as Ishida slowly rolls from
the ring and begins to head to the back. Day commences a long celebration
inside the ring, and the crowd applauds her efforts as she holds the title belt
in the air. Martin straps it around her waist, and Morgan Day leaves the
*
WINNER VIA PINFALL AND NEW WOMEN’S CHAMPION: MORGAN DAY *
As Morgan Day exits, a video package begins to
roll, highlighting the events from the three previous editions of Salvation.
Included are shots of Romeo winning the PWA Title over Jaguar in this year’s
Match of The Year, Kerry Cox winning the International Title and Commissioner’s
post in 2003 and 2004, Jaguar defeating Vulture in a Falls Count Anywhere match
in 2003, Solomon beating GI Jew in a Last Man Standing War in 2004, Mike
Griffin winning a Three Stages of Hell match over Greg Tantalus in 2003, and it
concludes with the big celebration for Vulture’s PWA Title victory in the first
Elimination Chamber match in 2003. The last screen shot reads: PWA Salvation,
Reed: Greg, we know
that Salvation will be another big success, but it is all about your match at
Revival now. Last month at Fallen Souls, we saw you lose the PWA Title in an
overwhelming victory by Solomon. We have seen you train harder than ever, but
will it be enough for you to come out on top tonight?
Tantalus: Will it be
enough? That answer is yes Traci. That answer is yes simply because it has to
be enough. For me, there is no alternative. I don’t have any other options. I
must regain the PWA Championship tonight, and that’s exactly what I will do. Last
month, I learned my lesson and took my lumps like a man, but I have trained
incredibly hard, I have weathered the storm, and I will take everything that
Solomon has to offer tonight, and I will get my title back! You can bank on it
Traci.
As Tantalus exits, we are taken to another section
of the backstage area, where a disgruntled Walter Gindin is leading a very
focused Solomon to the ring area. The duo turns a corner and stops in their
tracks when they spot Jaguar smirking in front of them.
Solomon: What do you
have to be so happy about?
Jaguar: I was just
thinking about this. You know, it was just one year ago that you took that same
belt to that same ring at this same event, and lost it…to me.
Solomon: Well look at
the difference a year makes. I’m defending this title, and you’re not even
involved in the match. Who are you trying to prove something to Jag?
Jaguar: No one. I won
my match tonight, and I want you to win yours so I can take that from you
again. Hope you get that far. Don’t choke again big man.
Solomon: Oh I won’t.
I’d rather choke you once I’m done.
Jaguar: Sounds good,
meet me at Michael Jordan’s restaurant after the show.
Solomon: Get out of
my way. (Jaguar steps aside, allowing Solomon to pass)
Gindin: (As they
exit) What a cocky prick he is.
The camera focuses on Jaguar’s still sly grin
before the shot cuts back to ringside, where Lee Palmer and Tom Stevens are in
the ring.
Hosemann: That’s
right, and we just saw an interesting meeting backstage between Solomon and
Jaguar. It’s been well documented. Just a year ago on this day, Solomon carried
the title into Revival and lost it to Jaguar, and he is determined to not let
that happen for the second year in a row, this time against Greg Tantalus.
Troy: We have seen
Tantalus’ intense training sessions from his hometown of Denver, Colorado, and
he looks focused and impressive, but will it be enough to stop the Alaskan
Monster from the barren tundra? It is time to find out. Let’s send it up to Lee
Palmer.
Palmer: Ladies and
gentlemen, it is now time for the main event of the evening and it is scheduled
for one fall, for the PWA World Heavyweight Championship! Introducing first,
the challenger, from Denver, Colorado, weighing 208 pounds, he is Gregggg Tannnnntalussss!
“Hey You” by Simon Says begins and the arena goes
pitch black before the purple, green, blue and red lights illuminate the
entrance from the bottom of the stage to show the silhouette of the challenger.
Smoke begins to rise from the stage, and once the song kicks in, Tantalus
emerges to a thunderous ovation!
Hosemann: Let me tell
you Vic, I’ve been in the ring many times with Greg Tantalus and I have never
seen this guy as intense as he looks tonight. There is no cocky smirk, there is
no “I’m Huge” T-shirt on, there is nothing but Greg Tantalus, and he is coming
as a man on a mission here tonight.
Tantalus hops on the ring apron and poses for the
crowd with his arms raised before doing the same on one of the turnbuckles. The
Palmer: And his
opponent, being led to the ring by Superagent Walter
Gindin, from Barrow, Alaska, and weighing 305 pounds, he is the PWA Heavyweight
Champion of the Worrrrld, he is The Alaskan Monster,
he is…Solllllomonnnnn!
After a brief moment, two monstrous blasts of icy
blue fireworks erupt from the stage and boos resonate from the crowd as Gindin
leads Solomon down to the ring. The Alaskan Monster looks extremely focused on
the task at hand and carries a look that lets everyone know he plans on leaving
with the belt that lies on his shoulder. Solomon enters the ring over the top
rope and hands his belt over to Tom Stevens, who holds it high as the music
ends.
Hosemann: Solomon is
exactly what they say he is, The Alaskan Monster, but I see that gleam in
Tantalus’ eye tonight, and I smell a huge upset.
*
PWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: SOLOMON © VS. GREG TANTALUS *
Referee: Tom Stevens
The bell sounds and both men circle the ring
briefly before Tantalus suddenly stops. He forces Solomon to go after him and
the big man does so, but Tantalus easily ducks away. Solomon tries again, and
Tantalus’s superior speed allows him to sidestep once more. Solomon finally
corners Tantalus in front of the turnbuckles and he moves in slowly.
With Tantalus having nowhere to go, Solomon makes
his move. He lunges at him, but the challenger catches him with a stiff kick to
the midsection. Solomon is backed up by the blow, but charges back again.
Tantalus meets him with another hard kick to the gut and once Solomon is the
slightest bit of dazed, he takes him down with a jumping clothesline similar to
the way that Mike Griffin did in their TFU Hart Attack finisher. Tantalus makes
an instant cover for a quick one count and Solomon launches him right off!
Hosemann: Greg needs
to pick his spots and stick and move here, he’s giving up about a hundred
pounds.
Tantalus quickly gets to his feet and charges at
Solomon, but the champion responds with cat-like reflexes to level him with a
big boot to the face! The crowd groans in unison as Tantalus hits the mat, and
Solomon is poised to strike once more as his opponent rises. Solomon runs at
Tantalus for a clothesline and the challenger ducks it. He runs to the corner
and springboards off to execute a flying body press, but Solomon catches him in
mid-air and drives him down viciously! Solomon covers for one…two…and Tantalus
kicks out.
Solomon gets Tantalus off the mat and drills him
with a hard forearm shot to the face. An Irish whip to the ropes produces a
high-impact powerslam that Solomon follows into
another cover for a two count. Solomon furthers his advantage at this point by
lifting Tantalus onto his shoulders and dropping him face-first across the top
turnbuckle with Snake Eyes and then hitting the ropes and drilling him with
another crushing boot to the face on his return! Solomon covers again for
one….two…and Tantalus slips in a kickout again!
Hosemann: Maybe, but
he knows that Greg is a very resilient guy. Solomon’s game plan is to dish out
as much punishment as possible until Tantalus no longer gets up. That might be
sooner than later though.
Solomon gets up and slaps his challenger around a
few times as he reaches his knees. Tantalus gives a shot to the midsection, but
Solomon smashes him down with a double axe handle. He then yanks Tantalus off
the mat and hooks him in a front facelock. In an
impressive show of strength and perhaps humiliation, Solomon holds Tantalus
straight up in the air with one arm in a suplex position. However, he is unable
to drive him down because Tantalus grabs Solomon by the head and dazzles the
crowd with an incredible reverse neckbreaker on his
way down!
Hosemann: He’s got
something left still Vic!
Tantalus tries another cover and Solomon kicks out
at two, but the challenger now has an opening. He goes after a seated Solomon
by running out of the corner and delivering a somersault neck-snap, perfected
by the legendary “Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig himself.
Solomon fights to his feet, but Tantalus hits him with a boot to the gut and
follows up with a DDT. Solomon is flat on his back and Tantalus is looking for
the kill as he drags him to a corner and heads for the top rope.
Hosemann: I don’t
think so. Greg knows The Big O or the G-Spot won’t get it done on Solomon, so
he’s looking for his other moneymaker, and it involves the number 450!
Tantalus takes to the top rope and flies off for
his signature somersaulting splash, but at the last moment, Solomon rolls away
from it and Tantalus crashes and burns with tremendous impact!
Troy: Oh no, he
missed!
Hosemann: Not a good
sign now.
Solomon shakes the cobwebs and gets back up to a
vertical base. Gindin yells for him to break Tantalus in half, and Solomon
barely listens, but tries to do so anyway. He gets Tantalus up in a bodyslam position, but doesn’t put him down in the ring.
The champion walks over to the ropes and then slams Tantalus, spinning him so
hard that his lower back smacks hard against the ring apron! Tantalus lands in
a heap in front of the announce table, wincing in immense pain!
Hosemann: It was
definitely uncalled for. Solomon is out to hurt this guy tonight, and he’s
doing just that.
Tom Stevens begins to count Tantalus out, but
Solomon will have none of it. He breaks the official’s count to exit the ring
and head over to the announce table. Without asking Hosemann or
Hosemann: I have an
idea, and it includes us moving Vic.
The announcers step aside as Solomon gets Tantalus
off the floor and further damages his back by lifting him up and plastering him
through the announce table, splintering it to pieces!
Hosemann: Are we on?
Can you hear me?
Solomon takes a moment to survey the carnage he has
wrought and then rolls back into the ring to a chorus of boos. Tantalus is
motionless as Martin looks on obviously concerned, but Gindin demands that the
official do his duty and count the challenger out. Stevens must oblige and does
so, beginning with a loud count of one.
Hosemann: He’s gotta do something or his whole comeback will be for
nothing!
Stevens reaches four, and Tantalus finally begins
to writhe on the floor. As the crowd begs for him to get up, the count is
running against him. Stevens reaches six, seven, and eight, and Tantalus is
finally crawling towards the ring. Solomon has his back turned and his arms
raised when Tantalus beats the ten count back into the ring to a big ovation!
Hosemann: Greg knew
he was taking a serious beating tonight, but nobody would have called this. I
think you’re right on the money Vic.
Solomon looks on in disbelief as Tantalus is
sprawled out on the canvas, but not yet defeated. Solomon looks to complete
that formality when he signals to the crowd for The Deep Freeze that will put
the determination of Tantalus to rest. He tries to lift him, but Tantalus is
merely dead weight and he falls limply back down on the canvas.
Stevens rushes in to check on him and Solomon
briefly backs off. Gindin yells for his top client to seal the deal, and
Solomon shoves the referee aside to complete the job. As he reaches down to
grab Tantalus, the challenger shocks him by reaching up and pulling him down
into a tight inside cradle for 1---2---3!
Hosemann: Are you
kidding me?! This cannot be real!
Solomon doesn’t bother protesting the call, knowing
he was defeated as he storms out of the ring and Greg Tantalus is announced as
the new World Heavyweight Champion. “Hey You” replays and Tantalus is awarded
the belt, even though he is unable to stand.
Hosemann: I cannot
believe this. Greg took everything that Solomon had to offer and he only had
one move left in him, but he made that move count!
Troy: And for the
third time, Greg Tantalus has climbed to the mountaintop! He is once again the
PWA Heavyweight Champion of the World!
*
WINNER VIA PINFALL AND NEW PWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: GREG TANTALUS *
Stevens helps the new champion to his feet and
raises his arms to a huge ovation as a huge blizzard of confetti rains down
from the ceiling. The shot cuts backstage quickly to show Solomon exiting The
United Center through the backdoor, punching and kicking things aside as he
does so. Back in the ring, Tantalus is showered with a huge array of cheers,
but no one knows what to think once his music ends abruptly and “Things Done
Changed” plays for the second time this evening.
Tantalus, Stevens, and every other set of eyes and ears
in The United Center turn their attention to the entrance as Vulture and Jackie
Baccaro walk out onto the stage with a mic in
Vulture’s hand.
Vulture: Cut that
music please, cut that off because I have something to say. Okay, let me take
you all back a few months to Walking Wounded. Remember that big Elimination
Chamber PWA Title Match? Right. Well on that night, since Jackie Baccaro was
walking into the Chamber to lose the title he held around his waist regardless
of the outcome, I had a stipulation put into his contract. Since he was being
stripped of his Progressive World Championship to fight for the PWA
Championship, the stipulation was put in so that if he didn’t come out the
winner, he would be entitled to a separate World Title match at any time of his
choosing. So we’ve come out to issue a challenge to Greg Tantalus that
contractually cannot be denied, but there is a catch. It’s going to be….right
now!
Hosemann: Greg can
barely move! This is cheap!
*
PWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: GREG TANTALUS © VS. JACKIE BACCARO *
Referee: Tom Stevens
Baccaro quickly slides into the ring, and Stevens
has no choice but to call for the bell. Tantalus catches the incoming young
bull with a series of rights and lefts before eventually flooring him with a
dropkick to the chest. Baccaro gets up and Tantalus rushes into him to back him
into the ropes and shoot him to the other side. Baccaro bounces off, and
Tantalus lifts him up and blasts him with a spinebuster!
Hosemann: Greg needs
to get the win very quick here; the man is totally spent!
Tantalus calls for The Big O, causing Vulture to
quickly hop up on the ring apron. Tantalus shoves him off the apron, but turns
around to be bulldozed by a running forearm smash from Baccaro! Without wasting
a moment, the challenger gets Tantalus into position and holds him up before
planting him with a Baccaro Bomb in the middle of the ring! Baccaro covers for
1---2---3 and the bell sounds!
Hosemann: I
understand what we saw earlier Vic! That tape of Revival 2002, remember it was
Vulture that lost the same title to Jaguar in a similar manner? They set Greg
Tantalus up the moment he was announced as the winner!
As “Things Done Changed” replays, Victor Troy rises
and throws down his headset, completely disgusted with the actions that have
taken place. The training crew rushes out to tend to Greg Tantalus as an elated
Jackie Baccaro is awarded the PWA Championship. A few remnants of confetti
continue to fall as Baccaro holds his belt high, and the entire crowd, along
with Scott Hosemann, look on in a sickened silence as Revival fades to black.
*
WINNER VIA PINFALL AND NEW PWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: JACKIE BACCARO *