EPISODE # 2.8
NOKIA ARENA
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2011
A video package airs, highlighting
events from last week’s broadcast, centered around Dan Crowley sacrificing his
body in a steel cage match against Anthony Failla, propelling himself over the
top of the cage and through the announce table below in desperation to retain
the PWA World Heavyweight Championship and advance to Symphony of Destruction,
where he will meet Showtime Damon Savage for the gold. We are also shown
highlights of the 15-man Symphony of Destruction preview battle royal, in which
Greg Tantalus emerged victorious thanks to a cohesive effort from his allies
Markus Krieg, Jackie Baccaro, and John Wolfe.
As the video concludes, “Live Again” by Ours hits and the opening credits roll.
From there, we are taken inside the Nokia Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel, where a
stunning pyrotechnic display ensues and we focus on our commentators, Victor
Troy and Randall Buckingham.
Troy: Hello everyone and welcome to PWA:
The Rebirth! I’m Victor Troy, along here with Randall Buckingham, and we are
live in Tel Aviv, Israel as we continue on the road to Symphony of Destruction!
Buckingham: I am just faklempt! Troy, we have nothing to kvetch about tonight!
What a show! Mazel tov!
Troy: What the hell are you doing, Randall?
Buckingham: Fitting in!
Troy: You do realize that Yiddish isn’t really spoken in Israel and is actually
somewhat socially unacceptable here, right?
Buckingham: Oy vey!
Troy: Folks, this ass beside me notwithstanding, we do indeed have a great show
for you tonight! We a huge tag team match to bring you this evening as two of
the PWA’s top Jewish stars in GI Jew and Evan Black will team up, despite not
really seeing eye-to-eye personally, to take on the imposing combination of
Solomon and Anthony Failla, two men who care equally little for each other!
Buckingham: And speaking of GI Jew, we’ve been told that he will host the
“Baddest Hebe Challenge” tonight. No idea what that entails, but I’d imagine
it’ll be memorable.
Troy: Also tonight, as we move ever-closer to the Symphony of Destruction
pay-per-view on May 21, we are going to see a preview of the Women’s
Championship triangle elimination match that will take place that evening right
here tonight!
Buckingham: Tonight, Zina, Morgan Day, and Lauren Tantalus will each captain a
tag team in a triangle elimination bout that could give one of these ladies
tremendous momentum heading into the SOD.
Troy: Zina will team with Keiko Ishida, Morgan Day teams with Jade, and Lauren
Tantalus will be joined by Kemi Okoro in what should be a tremendous battle!
Buckingham: Let’s not forget that we’ll also see a preview of the Tag Team
Championship match for the SOD.
Troy: That’s right. Texas Justice defends the gold against Paul Dawkins and Renegade
on May 21, but tonight, one half of the championship duo, Maddox Tate, will
collide with Renegade in what should be a —
Suddenly, Troy is interrupted by Five Finger Death Punch’s “War is the
Answer,” which roars onto the speakers and elicits a thunderous ovation from
the Israeli crowd! Jew rides out to the ring on his Chopper, meeting the
throngs of cheers. He then grabs a microphone and enters the ring.
Jew: Alright, let me make one thing
perfectly clear. I get why you’re cheering me here tonight, and we do have
certain things in common. But I am not your friend. Don’t come up to me after
the show, don’t ask for a picture. If you run into me, just keep your head down
and keep on walking.
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I do acknowledge that there are a lot
of tough sons of bitches out there in the crowd tonight. You people don’t play
around and I respect that. Every week, I come out here and tell people that I’m
the baddest Hebe this side of Tel Aviv. Well tonight, we’re in Tel Aviv so we’re
gonna find out if there’s someone badder.
Tonight, I’m hosting the Baddest Hebe Challenge. The rules are simple. If
there’s anyone in that crowd with enough balls to step into this ring, extend
their arms, take the most vicious Gore I’ve ever dished out, and make it back
to their feet before the count of 10, then you will officially win the Baddest
Hebe Challenge. And if you can’t make back to your feet, well then at least we
had ourselves a real amusing opening to this show.
So do we have any takers?! Anyone out there?!
The camera pans around the crowd until it catches a giant bearded Israeli
making his way to the barricade. Jew catches glimpse of him and nods his head
enthusiastically, smiling.
Jew: There’s my guy! Bring him in here!
The man is led to the ring by security. He enters and stands across from GI
Jew, towering over him by at least five inches.
Jew: What’s your name?
Man: Yoni.
Jew: Yoni. You think you’re a tough guy, Yoni? You think you can get up from
The Gore?
Yoni: Yes. I accept your challenge.
Jew: Well let’s do this then!
Yoni backs up and gets into position as GI Jew does the same. Then, with
the crowd buzzing, Jew charges and absolutely crushes Yoni with The Gore to a
tremendous ovation! Jew starts counting him out and the entire arena counts
along: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10! The Israeli crowd explodes!
Jew: Guess I’m STILL the baddest Hebe
around!
With the crowd still buzzing, “Hero” by Nas featuring Keri Hilson blares
onto the speakers and the Tel Aviv crowd gives an even bigger ovation to rising
star Evan Black!
Troy: Listen to this ovation for Evan
Black!
Buckingham: Is he coming out here to take the Baddest Hebe Challenge too?!
Black grabs a microphone and enters the ring, with GI Jew staring a hole
through him the entire time.
Jew: Why the hell do you have a
microphone?
Black: Listen Jew, before we get started tonight, I just wanted to thank you in
person for saving my ass two weeks ago. If it wasn’t for you, I might not be
standing here today.
Jew: I heard you say this crap last week and I’m even less tolerant of it
tonight. Get it through your thick skull that I didn’t do it for you. I did it
because no one is ending your career but me.
Black: I don’t care why you did it; I’m just glad you did. And tonight, you and
I are partners and we’re gonna give these great people a show, am I right?!
The Tel Aviv crowd cheers thunderously but Jew can only roll his eyes.
Jew: Understand, punk, that I have been
FORCED to team with you. This does NOT make us friends, you hear me? I’m
getting through this match and then you and I are done.
Jew tosses the microphone to the ground and Black follows suit before Jew
gets in Black’s face and continues barking at him. Then, “Hear Me” by Darkseed
bursts onto the speakers and the Nokia Arena is overwhelmed by a sea of icy
blue. The cheers change emphatically to boos as the Alaskan Monster Solomon
slowly stalks his way out to the ring.
Troy: Alright folks, our big tag team
bout is up next! GI Jew and Evan Black take on Solomon and Anthony Failla,
right after this!
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
We return from break with “Better Think
Again” by Submersed blaring over the speakers and Anthony Failla walking to the
ring to a chorus of boos. Ultimately, Failla takes his place in the ring and
engages in a heated staredown with his partner Solomon. On the other side of
the ring, Jew and Black are engaged in a similar staredown. Finally, the bell
sounds to kick this match off and it takes several moments for each of the men
to break away from their partners and focus on their opponents.
GI JEW & EVAN BLACK VS. SOLOMON & ANTHONY FAILLA
Referee: Matt Hansen
Ultimately, it is GI Jew and Solomon
who elect to start the match off, with Jew insisting that he start over Black,
and Failla insisting Solomon start after the Alaskan Monster walked out on
their team during the 10-man tag team match two weeks ago.
Jew and Solomon move to the center of the ring and engage in trash-talking
before Solomon cracks Jew in the face with a thunderous slap. Livid, Jew descends
on Solomon with furious rights and lefts, bringing the fans to their feet! Jew
creates enough separation to whip Solomon against the ropes, nailing him with a
flying shoulder tackle upon his return! Solomon is wobbling, but doesn’t go
down. Jew seeks to change this, hitting the ropes again and unleashing another
shoulder tackle, this one taking the Alaskan Monster off his feet! Jew
immediately goes for a cover… one, two, and Solomon hurls Jew off.
Jew backs up, but does so a little too close to his own corner, which allows
Evan Black to tag himself into the match! The fans cheer loudly, but Jew is
furious that Black would take it upon himself to enter the match. However, he
simply retreats back to the corner as Black ignores him and immediately goes to
work on Solomon, mounting him and peppering him with a furious array of rights
and lefts!
Troy: Evan Black is taking the fight
right to Solomon!
Buckingham: Sure, that’s easy enough to do when your opponent is on his back!
Solomon doesn’t remain down long, pulling himself back to a vertical base
despite Black’s efforts. Once back up, Solomon shoves Black so violently that
he sails halfway across the ring! Undaunted, Black pops right back to his feet
and rushes Solomon, who catches him and absolutely destroys him with a
thunderous sidewalk slam! Solomon covers… one, two, and Black is just able to
get a shoulder up.
Solomon continues to mount the pressure on Black, nailing him with a series of
furious stomps before guiding him back to a vertical base. When there, Solomon
grabs him in a bearhug and squeezes tightly, exposing the former International
Champion to intense pain. Black hangs in there, doing everything in his power
to fight through the pain. He hits Solomon with several hard lefts and rights,
trying to break his grip, an endeavor which ultimately proves successful. Once
free, Black unleashes a thunderous superkick out of absolutely nowhere… but
Solomon catches his foot, trips him back to the mat, and clobbers his leg with
a ferocious elbow drop, causing Black to scream out in anguish.
Troy: Evan Black is having a rough time
in there with Solomon right about now.
Buckingham: Were you expecting any less?
Solomon puts his right knee on top of Black’s knee and wrenches up on his
feet, furthering Black’s anguish. Black tries desperately to reach the ropes
but has tremendous difficulty. Finally, after digging down deep and doing
everything in his power to make it there, Black is able to grab onto the bottom
rope, forcing the hold to be broken!
Solomon breaks the hold and protests to the official, which provides enough of
a distraction for Black to stun Solomon with a running enziguri and tag in GI
Jew!
Troy: Here comes GI Jew! These people are
going bananas!
Jew enters the ring and immediately takes the fight to Solomon, pounding
him with vicious body blows. He then whips Solomon into the corner and follows
it up with a big splash before turning him around and smashing his head into
the turnbuckle repeatedly! Solomon wanders too close to the opposing corner,
allowing Evan Black to jump up, grab his head, and snap it down across the top
rope violently! Solomon stumbles backwards into Jew, who grabs him in position
for the Magnum Driver! Jew tries to lift Solomon for the devastating maneuver,
but the Alaskan Monster is able to block it and counter with a hiptoss.
Solomon, spooked, walks over to his corner and attempts to tag in Anthony
Failla… but Failla simply smirks at him, shakes his head “no,” and hops down
off the apron, retreating to the back! The fans cheer this move, and Solomon
has a fit in the ring!
Troy: Failla is giving Solomon a taste of
his own medicine here! Solomon walked out on his team with Failla two weeks
ago, so tonight, Failla is walking out on Solomon!
Buckingham: Get in there and fight, Failla! You’re a disgrace!
When Solomon is through screaming at Failla, he turns around and walks
right into a superkick from Evan Black, who has entered the ring! Solomon is on
the verge of falling to the mat but keeps his balance, until Jew absolutely
crushes him with a furious Gore! Then, Black climbs up to the top rope and
nails him with Black’s Law! The Tel Aviv crowd is absolutely electric as Black,
the illegal man, exits the ring, and GI Jew begins stalking Solomon, ready for
another Gore.
Troy: They’re gonna do it! Jew and Black
are going to beat Solomon!
Buckingham: This can’t be happening!
Jew patiently waits in position, waiting for Solomon to get back to his
feet. However, as soon as Solomon does, he instinctively rolls out of the ring
and exits into the crowd! The fans boo vehemently as Solomon escapes through
the Tel Aviv crowd, shoving past furious Israelis who are desperate to see
their heroes put him away. However, it is not to be as Solomon escapes and is
counted out by the official. The fans boo the result of the match until the
moment Lee Palmer announces GI Jew and Evan Black the winners, which prompts an
eruption of cheers from the capacity crowd!
Troy: Well, this probably isn’t the way
they wanted to win this, but a win is a win, and GI Jew and Evan Black have
triumphed over Solomon and Anthony Failla!
Buckingham: You mean over Solomon in a handicapped match, by count-out! All
Failla did was stand there and bail out of fear when it was time to compete!
Troy: I’m pretty certain that’s not the reason Failla left.
The fans continue their cheering as “War is the Answer” replays and Jew and
Black celebrate their victory. During the celebration, Black approaches Jew and
extends his hand, trying to let bygones be bygones. Jew looks at Black
incredulously as debates it for several moments before shaking his hand to a
roaring ovation! However, moments later, Jew turns around and blasts Black with
the Gore to an equally thunderous ovation! Jew stands over the fallen Evan
Black and laughs before exiting.
Troy: What the hell did he do that for?!
Buckingham: He just doesn’t like Evan Black, Troy! And trust me, I’m with him
on that one! I hate lawyers!
Troy: Folks, we’ll be right back!
WINNERS VIA COUNT-OUT AT 11:38 – GI JEW & EVAN BLACK
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from break, “No Country for Young
Men” by Ice Cube thumps onto the speakers and the fans begin cheering loudly
for Showtime Damon Savage! Showtime slaps hands with the fans as he approaches
the ring, grabbing a microphone before entering. Once inside, he begins
speaking.
Showtime: So, as all of you know, in
about two and a half weeks, Showtime is gonna have himself another opportunity
to become the PWA World Heavyweight Champion. Last season, I wanted that
championship bad. It drove me to get out of bed every morning, to keep on
fighting night after night after night. But as soon as Everlasting Epic ended
and Showtime didn’t have the gold, the desire to achieve that goal went off the
charts. You people have no idea how much being the world champion means to
Showtime. You couldn’t possibly. But I do know that there is NO ONE in that
locker room who wants to be champion as much as Showtime.
Before Savage can speak another word, “Judas Rising” by Judas Priest
explodes onto the speakers and the PWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan Crowley
emerges from behind the curtain in street clothes to a thunderous ovation!
Crowley heads to ringside, grabs another microphone, and enters the ring.
Showtime extends his hand to Crowley, who shakes it before speaking.
Crowley: Showtime, I was listening to
what you had to say in the back, and I just had to come out here. Now, you know
I respect you, and you know we’re friends, but I’m going to have to
respectfully disagree with what you just said. You come out here and SAY that
you want the championship more than anyone else. Last week, I came out here and
PROVED it. I propelled myself over the top of the steel cage and willingly
crashed through the announce table 15 feet below, all to hang onto this title.
That fall broke three ribs upon impact, not to mention the all the shrapnel the
doctors had to pull from my chest and back when we got backstage. Now, I don’t
doubt that you THINK you want to be champion more than anything. But there’s a
big difference between saying it and doing something like I did last week
because you just can’t face waking up without that title.
Showtime: Oh, I feel you, Crowley. Showtime was sitting right there at that
table when you pulled your stunt. And there is no doubt you are obsessed with
that championship. No sane man would do what you did. But you’ve been walking
around with that title for almost nine months now. Showtime has never had it.
What makes you think your hunger and desire for that title is more than mine?
Crowley: Because I’m willing to do absolutely anything to hang onto this
championship. We’ll find out just how much you really want it at the Symphony
of Destruction. Because if you want it as much as you say you do, then you’ll
walk out of Tokyo the new PWA Champion. But be warned, Damon: I’m giving up
this title over my dead body.
The two engage in a tense staredown for several moments until “Reason to
Hate Me” by Krayzie Bone hits the speakers and creative director Justin Schenck
appears from behind the curtain.
Schenck: Alright, alright, let me put a
stop to this thing before it gets physical. I don’t want anyone seeing you two
get physical for free. But I think these people would love to see you guys in
action, am I right?! (crowd cheers) Unfortunately, Dan Crowley has not been
cleared to compete tonight as result of his damn-near suicidal actions last
week. (crowd boos) While that may be disappointing to all of you, I can tell
you that Showtime Damon Savage WILL be in action tonight in our main event, and
it will be in a triple threat match!
The fans cheer this announcement, while Showtime looks at Schenck
curiously.
Schenck: Now Showtime, at Everlasting
Epic, you went into a triple threat match with a shot to become champion, and
your dream was taken from you. Tonight, I offer you a chance at redemption.
Tonight, you will compete in a triple threat match against not one but TWO
former PWA Champions with a chance to exorcise your demons associated with such
a match. A win in this tune-up match will give you all the momentum and
self-confidence you need heading into your Symphony of Destruction title
opportunity with Dan Crowley and just may propel you to becoming the next PWA
Champion. But it won’t be tonight. Tonight, in our main event, it will be a triple
threat match pitting Showtime Damon Savage… against the Modern-Day Samurai
Scythe… against The Iceman Jason Calysto! Good luck, Damon.
Troy: Whoa! What an absolutely huge announcement!
Buckingham: Showtime is really going to have his work cut out for him tonight!
The Israeli crowd cheers thunderously at the main event announcement while
“Reason to Hate Me” replays and both Showtime and Crowley show little reaction
to Schenck’s news.
***
The camera follows Justin Schenck as he
walks to the backstage area, delivering cordial greetings to the numerous PWA
staffers he encounters along the way. He reaches his office and enters to find,
to his surprise, PWA International Champion Chase Stone sitting inside, waiting
for him.
Schenck: Chase. Can I help you with
something?
Stone: Yeah, actually, you can. I want to defend the International title
tonight.
Schenck sighs before speaking.
Schenck: Why? You already talked me into
booking you in a title defense against Markus Krieg at Symphony of Destruction,
against my better judgment. Why in the world do you want to defend it tonight?
Stone: Because I wasn’t lying when I said I want to be a fighting champion. I
saw the respect Evan Black earned from people defending the title night-in and
night-out. Sure, his reign ended up being shorter than it would have been had
he spaced out his defenses, but all the boys in the back took notice. And if
you hadn’t realized, I have a bit of a reputation back there for being the
boss’ favorite. People don’t take me seriously and that needs to change.
Schenck: Alright. I can respect that. You want a tune-up title defense tonight?
I’ll find an opponent and make it happen.
Stone: Thanks. I appreciate it, boss. I’m gonna go get ready.
As Stone exits, Schenck chuckles to himself as we head to commercial.
Schenck: Crazy kid.
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from break, “Demons” by Aria
blares onto the speakers and the fans begin booing loudly as the PWA Women’s
Champion Zina and Keiko Ishida make their way to the ring for tag team action.
As the imposing female duo gets settled in the ring, “Free” by VAST hits and
Lauren Tantalus and Kemi Okoro are ushered down the aisle by a chorus of
cheers! Keiko and Kemi keep their eyes locked on one another as Lauren and Kemi
enter, both women eager to get at each other.
Then, “Dead Promises” by The Rasmus hits and the cheers keep on coming for
Morgan Day and Jade! The pair enters the ring to a sizeable ovation as the bell
sounds, kicking off this action.
Troy: Alright folks, we’ve got ourselves
a Symphony of Destruction preview right here. This match will also be contested
under triangle elimination rules, which means that three women will start the
match and can only tag in and out to their partners. When one woman is pinned,
her whole team is eliminated, and the match will continue as a tag team
contest.
TRIANGLE ELIMINATION TAG TEAM MATCH:
MORGAN DAY & JADE VS. LAUREN TANTALUS & KEMI OKORO VS. PWA WOMEN’S
CHAMPION ZINA & KEIKO ISHIDA
Referee: Dan Martin
Keiko, Kemi, and Jade elect to start
off the match, leaving the three SOD Women’s Championship match participants in
the corners. Keiko and Kemi dart right at each other, letting the fists fly
ferociously! Referee Dan Martin steps in to break them up, allowing Jade an
opening to roll up Keiko… one, two, and Keiko kicks out!
Troy: Nice try by Jade, attempting to
pick up right where she left off last week and score a quick pin on Keiko
thanks to a Kemi distraction.
Buckingham: I don’t know how wise that was, Troy. I think she’s pissed Keiko
off!
Indeed, Keiko turns around and begins slapping Jade repeatedly, but Keiko
is soon overpowered by a double-team attack from Kemi and Jade! The fans get
tremendous enjoyment from seeing Jade and Kemi dish out the punishment to
Ishida, but Keiko persists, not allowing herself to be overcome. Jade holds
Keiko back to allow Kemi to move in and dropkick her, but Keiko is able to
slide out of the way, causing Jade to be clobbered with the dropkick. Then,
Keiko whips Kemi into the corner and follows it up with a crushing clothesline,
staggering Kemi.
With Okoro stunned, Keiko turns back to the rising Jade and nails her with the
Gyaku Gorichin guillotine! Now, Keiko stalks Jade, ready to deliver the Oshimai
running STO and score the elimination. However, Morgan Day reaches out and tags
herself into the match to a roaring ovation!
Troy: Oh my! It’s Morgan Day! Morgan and
Keiko!
Morgan and Keiko exchange forearms furiously, with Keiko scoring the
initial advantage. Keiko whips Morgan into the ropes, but Morgan ducks under a
clothesline on the rebound, stops short, and nails Keiko with a roundhouse kick
to the face! Keiko staggers backwards, right into a Kemi Okoro rollup! One,
two, three!
Buckingham: What?!
Troy: Kemi has pinned Keiko! Kemi Okoro has just pinned Keiko Ishida, which
eliminates Keiko and Zina from this match!
Buckingham: Zina didn’t even get into the match!
The fans are loudly buzzing after the three-count, but Keiko is absolutely
furious. She immediately crushes Kemi down with the Oshimai, smacking Okoro’s
head against the canvas. Before Morgan even knows what hit her, Zina enters the
ring and nearly takes her head off with the devastating Siberian Express
bicycle kick!
Jade enters and spins Keiko around, looking for the Side Effect, but Keiko
shoves her off and crushes her with Oshimai as well! Similarly, Lauren enters
and swings a clothesline at Zina, but the Women’s Champion ducks under it and
clobbers Lauren with the Siberian Express for good measure! With all four
ladies remaining in this match incapacitated on the map, Keiko and Zina exit
the ring and head to the back.
Buckingham: Look at this devastation!
Zina and Keiko may be eliminated, but they sure did leave their mark before exiting!
Troy: Is this match even going to be able to continue, though?! All four women
are down and out!
Referee Dan Martin begins a 10-count on legal women Morgan and Kemi, and if
neither is able to make the count, the match would be ruled a draw between the
teams of Morgan and Jade and Lauren and Kemi. However, when the count reaches
eight, both Morgan and Kemi are able to rise and begin stinging each other with
hard knife-edge chops. Jade and Lauren resume their places on the ring apron
and cheer on their partners.
Kemi gains the advantage on Morgan, whipping her into the corner and following
it up with a back handspring elbow! As Morgan staggers out of the corner, Kemi
nails her with a running bulldog and goes for a cover… one, two, and Morgan
gets the shoulder up!
With Morgan down, Okoro attempts to go for the home run, climbing to the top
rope for her Igbo Bomb! However, when she reaches the top rope, Jade shoves her
off!
Troy: Oh come on! That was uncalled
for!
Lauren apparently feels the same way,
entering the ring and hurling Jade into it to a loud cheer! Lauren staggers
Jade with a series of hard forearms before climbing to the middle rope and
nailing a diving reverse elbow! Lauren then lifts Jade up and crushes her down
with a Tiger Driver, only to be immediately nailed with a roundhouse kick from
Morgan that knocks her through the ropes and to the outside!
However, as soon as Morgan turns around, she is rolled up by Kemi… one, two,
and Morgan just barely gets the shoulder up!
Morgan gets to her feet, dazed, while Okoro bounces off the opposite ropes and
looks for a legdrop bulldog… but Morgan is able to sidestep it and blast Kemi
with the Daybreak out of nowhere when she turns around! Morgan covers… one,
two, three!
Troy: That’s it! Morgan and Jade pick up
the win! What a victory!
Buckingham: Morgan persevered in that one and definitely will carry some
momentum into the SOD, no doubt. But I still don’t see how ANYONE is going to
take down Zina.
Troy: Well, we’ll find out in 18 days when Morgan Day and Lauren Tantalus
challenge the undefeated Women’s Champion Zina for the gold in a triangle
elimination match!
WINNERS AT 8:58 – MORGAN DAY & JADE
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
As we return from break, we are greeted
by the sounds of “Hey You” by Simon Says blaring over the speakers, prompting
the Tel Aviv crowd to boo as Greg Tantalus leads Jackie Baccaro, Alexis Duval,
John Wolfe, and Markus Krieg to the ring.
Troy: What the hell do these guys want?
Buckingham: I don’t know, Troy, but who’s gonna stop them? Greg Tantalus
apparently has something to say, so I intend to listen.
As they enter the squared circle, Baccaro instructs Alexis to grab a
microphone for the group, which she does, handing it to Tantalus.
Tantalus: You know, I find it interesting
that you’re all sitting there booing, because you know I speak the truth. Every
single thing I’ve said has been true, and every single thing we’ve done has
been justified. And quite honestly, the thing I find most interesting is that
you people are ALREADY booing. Don’t you realize this is all going to get a LOT
worse?
But you know what? It doesn’t matter. The reason that the five of us are
standing here, together, is that we each have an agenda and now, united, we
will each accomplish everything we set out to achieve. I know for a fact that
Justin Schenck is running scared. He doesn’t want ANY part of it. And that’s
fantastic. The shoe is now on the other foot, Schenck. You have lost all your
power and all your leverage and quite frankly, there’s not a damn thing you or
anyone else can do about it.
Moments later, “Falling From the Sky” by VAST thumps onto the speakers and
the fans begin cheering loudly as Vulture and his son Chris Duval appear from
behind the curtain!
Tantalus: What the hell are you doing out
here, Vulture?!
Vulture: Did you really think you were going to do all this without hearing a
word from me? Last week, I tried to ignore you. I refused to acknowledge what
you were doing and focused myself on the battle royal. But after what happened
in that battle royal last week, I knew I couldn’t ignore it anymore. But this
isn’t about the battle royal. This is about you going out of your way to
involve me in a situation that I wanted no part of. Three weeks ago, you came
to my dressing room and asked me to reform SIN for all the same reasons you’ve
been spouting for the last few weeks. I turned you down and in response, you
apparently decided to form your own group under the same premise of SIN to do
your bidding. That’s fine. I never told you not to form a group; I just said I
wouldn’t be involved.
Tantalus: And you’re not. So what the hell is the problem?
Vulture: Don’t even attempt to play dumb, Tantalus. You and I both know that
the ONLY reason you invited Jackie Baccaro and my daughter Alexis into your little
group was to piss me off and drag me into your business. You’re pissed off that
I turned you down, and you figured you’d align yourself with my worst enemy and
my estranged daughter to get my attention. Well, you’ve got it. You’ve got my
attention, and you sure as hell have the attention of my son Chris. And let me
tell you something, Tantalus: this is not the kind of attention that you want.
Tantalus chuckles and prepares to respond, but Baccaro asks for the
microphone. Tantalus hands it over.
Baccaro: You really are incredibly
predictable, you know that Vulture? It’s ALWAYS about you. It couldn’t possibly
be that Tantalus thought I was just a tremendous asset, which I am, and knew
that having me in his corner makes our group invincible, which it does. You had
your chance to get in on the ground floor, and you blew it. And for you to
think that you and junior over there stand even the slightest chance of taking
us down, you’re even more delusional than I thought.
Vulture: As pathetic as I find Tantalus for using you and Alexis to bait me, I
find you exponentially more pathetic for realizing we have unfinished business
and hiding behind people like Tantalus, Krieg, and Wolfe to make matters more
difficult. You can try to turn this around onto me, but we both know that I
factor into everything you do. I spent years of my life training you and
preparing you to take over this company someday, and as soon as I brought you
to the top, you stabbed me in the back and decided you could do it on your own.
Then, you realized it wasn’t so easy alone. You aligned yourself with Magnifica
to piss me off, and that ended with Morgan and myself disposing of the both of
you five years ago.
So instead of realizing that you’d lost, you brainwashed my kids and turned
them against me, just to get back at me. How did that end, Jackie? That’s
right. Calysto and I beat you and Chris for the Tag Team Championship at
Everlasting Epic last year.
So then you decided Chris has outlived his usefulness and you tossed him to the
side in favor of making my daughter think you care about her, because you know
that dating her would piss me off to no end. And since you sacrificed your
relationship with Chris to do it, you figured you’d join up with my former ally
and insulate yourself more than ever.
I see right through you, Giacomo. And as much as you don’t want to admit it,
you’re still the same talented but meatheaded dope who needed my help to the
next level. The same guy who still stands by the turnbuckle, puts his head down,
and prays before every single match, because you know you can’t accomplish
anything alone. Look back at our history. This never ends well for you. But
this time, I’m giving you an out. Admit to Alexis, to me, to Chris, to the
whole world, that you don’t really love her, that you’re doing this just to
piss me off. Let her see you for what you really are. She doesn’t need to be
involved in this.
Baccaro prepares to respond, but Alexis rips the microphone from him. She
stares at Baccaro for several seconds before turning to her estranged father
and brother.
Alexis: How dare you! You think it’s
impossible that someone could just love me for who I am? That this HAS to be
for show? What do you even know, huh?! Where have you been my whole life?! You
don’t even know me! You don’t know anything about me!
Chris Duval takes the microphone from Vulture.
Chris: But I do, sis. And I can tell you,
for sure, that you’re blinded by love and admiration for a man that helped
bring us here to the PWA, but it’s for all the wrong reasons. I see the way he
talks to you, the way he treats you. You can make excuses for him all you want,
but it’s because he doesn’t care about you, Alexis. He is using you. I don’t
know how many times I need to tell you this, but everything our father just
said is 100% true. Jackie Baccaro is obsessed with destroying him, and for
years, he’s been using us to get it done. And for the past few months, it’s you
he’s been using more than ever. Wake up, sis. You don’t belong in that ring.
You belong down here with us.
Before Alexis can respond, John Wolfe grabs the microphone.
Wolfe: Now I’m aware this may be none of
my business, but I feel the need to say something. Vulture, Chris, you can
believe that Baccaro is using Alexis all you want, but you have absolutely no
right to tell her what to do. She is a grown woman and has the right to date
any man she chooses. You tell her that Baccaro is using her, but you’re doing
the same bloody thing. She isn’t a rope for you to play tug-o-war with. She’s
an incredible woman who deserves the utmost respect.
Vulture says something inaudible to Chris Duval before Chris responds.
Chris: You did say two things that were true. She IS an incredible woman, no
doubt. And this IS none of your damn business. But you know what? You want to
make it your business? Fine. Then at the Symphony of Destruction, how about we
have ourselves a tag team match? Chris Duval and Vulture against John Wolfe and
Jackie Baccaro. That is, if you don’t mind pulling double-duty. We’re all in
the SOD match that night, but Vulture and I are cool with working overtime if
you are.
Baccaro and Wolfe huddle up with Tantalus, Alexis, and the monstrous Krieg
briefly before Wolfe responds.
Wolfe: You have yourselves a deal. And
let’s do one better. We’re going to do battle at the SOD, but let’s get a
little preview tonight. Chris Duval, let’s you and me go one-on-one in this
ring tonight.
Chris: You’re on.
With that, a staredown ensues as the Tel Aviv crowd loudly buzzes and the
shot fades.
Troy: What an announcement! Vulture and
Chris Duval will battle Jackie Baccaro and John Wolfe at the Symphony of
Destruction prior to the SOD match, and later tonight, we’ll see Chris Duval
battle John Wolfe in singles action!
Buckingham: Those matches should both be absolutely tremendous!
***
The camera shifts backstage, where
Matthew Magellan and Briggs are walking towards the women’s locker room.
Magellan’s eyes light up when he spots Jade and pursues her. Jade groans, but
stops short when she realizes she has nowhere to turn.
Magellan: Jade! How are you this fine
evening?
Jade: Could be better, considering I had to eat signature moves from Keiko AND
Lauren a little while ago.
Magellan: But you won! So congratulations. And congratulations on pinning Keiko
last week. Sounds like a winning streak to me!
Jade: Uh… thanks. So let’s hear it.
Magellan: Hear what?
Jade: You don’t have any cheesy pick-up lines tonight?
Magellan: I figured you could use a breather.
Jade: Well that was considerate of you.
Magellan: Now if you instead could use a HEAVY breather, then I —
Jade: Goodbye Magellan.
Magellan: What’d I say?!
Magellan turns back to Briggs and shrugs, but after that is suddenly
tackled to the ground by PWA Progressive Champion Paul Epton! Epton pounds away
on Magellan before Briggs peels him off, but suddenly Asai Moon and Saif al
Abbad are on the scene to neutralize Briggs and allow Epton to get back to work
on Magellan!
Moments later, however, Juan Pablo Alvarez and Dexter P. Wellington hit the
scene, bringing the fight to Asai and Saif, respectively. Officials storm the
scene to break up the melee as we head to commercial.
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from break, Muse’s “Map of the
Problematique” is blaring over the speakers and PWA Progressive Champion Paul
Epton, Asai Moon, and Saif al Abbad are standing in the ring, as is referee Tom
Stevens.
Troy: Alright folks, welcome back to PWA:
The Rebirth, and we are about to have ourselves a six-man tag team
cruiserweight division match.
Buckingham: That’s right. Based on what just happened before the break, Justin
Schenck has signed a bout between the three men you see in the ring and the
team of Matthew Magellan, Juan Pablo Alvarez, and Dex Wellington, and as you
can see, it’s happening right now!
However, instead of the music of one of their opponents hitting, Epton,
Asai, and Saif are stunned when they hear “Reise, Reise” by Rammstein instead
take the speakers. Their fears are confirmed when Markus Krieg begins stalking
his way down the aisle.
Troy: What the hell is Markus Krieg doing
out here?! He was just ringside a few minutes ago with the rest of Tantalus’
group! He has no place out here now!
Buckingham: You want to go tell him that?!
Krieg enters the ring and the cruiserweights immediately attempt to defend
themselves, with each of the three taking turns nailing him with dropkicks!
However, Asai gets too close, allowing Krieg to grab him and launch him over
the top rope and to the outside! Then, Epton runs right at him, but Krieg
counters with a big boot to the jaw that floors the Progressive Champion! Saif
tries his hand at Krieg, but the gargantuan German easily overpowers him and
absolutely destroys him with a full nelson slam!
Asai gets back to his feet on the outside and climbs up to the top rope,
leaping off, but Krieg counters with a mid-air dropkick to Moon that plucks him
out of the sky! Krieg then lifts Moon up and annihilates him with the
BlitzKrieg!
Then, for good measure, Krieg pries Epton off the mat and delivers a thunderous
BlitzKrieg to him as well!
The camera briefly shifts backstage, where Magellan, Alvarez, and Wellington
are standing around, laughing hysterically with Magellan’s bodyguard Briggs at
the fate of their would-be opponents tonight, exchanging enthusiastic
high-fives.
Back at ringside, the fans boo raucously as Krieg, stone-faced, gestures around
his waist, clearly sending a message to International Champion Chase Stone, his
Symphony of Destruction opponent, as “Reise, Reise” replays.
Buckingham: I think you have your answer,
Troy! Chase Stone will be in action defending the International title a little
bit later tonight, so Markus Krieg came out here to deliver a message to Stone
about exactly what he’s up against in 18 days. And I’ve gotta say, I really
don’t see how Stone survives.
Troy: That’s assuming he survives his title defense tonight, which we’ve now
been told will be against former International Champion The Omega. That match
is still to come this evening, as is our main event, a triple threat match
pitting Showtime Damon Savage against Scythe and The Iceman Jason Calysto!
Stick with us, folks, we’ll be right back!
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
We are taken backstage where we see
John Wolfe getting ready for his upcoming match against Chris Duval. Alexis
Duval is seen walking over to Wolfe.
Alexis: Hey John, make sure you give Chris a few good hits for me. I'm sick
of his comments.
Wolfe: Anything you say, love. I know I don't know you very well but, from what
I've seen of you so far, you've proven yourself nothing less than a beautiful,
independent, intelligent woman, and I just couldn't let them treat you like
that. If Jackie is the kind of guy you choose, well then he's one hell of a
lucky guy.
Alexis: Awww, John. You're sweet. I really appreciate what you did for me out
there. You know what? I'm gonna ask Jackie if I can escort you to the ring
tonight.
Wolfe: Might make a strong statement to your brother. Plus I certainly wouldn't
complain if I had you on my arm.
Alexis: (blushing) I wouldn't complain either.
Suddenly we see Jackie Baccaro walk over, looking slightly annoyed.
Baccaro: Alexis, I've been looking all over for you. Did you forget that I
told you we were meeting in my dressing room? Is she bothering you, John?
Wolfe: Not a bother at all, Jackie.
Baccaro: Good. I’m sorry, the kid just doesn’t friggin’ listen sometimes.
Alexis looks down at her feet as we watch her entire demeanor change. She
meekly begins speaking to Baccaro.
Alexis: You know Jackie, since John is wrestling my brother tonight, and Chris
doesn't approve of you and me dating, I thought it would be a good idea if I
accompanied John to the ring... you know, to show solidarity since we are all
working together. It'd be showing my support and making a statement to my
brother.
Baccaro pulls Alexis aside by her wrist, leans in close and speaks to her
in a hostile tone.
Baccaro: What the hell is wrong with you, huh? Are you Wolfe's woman?! NO!
You're MY woman! Which means you're NOT walking with him to the ring. If John
needs someone to accompany him at ringside, it'll be me. Just stay in the back
and behave yourself.
Alexis looks visibly annoyed at Jackie's comments but chooses not to talk back.
Baccaro's face changes from a look of anger to a mischievous smile that breaks
into laughter. He pushes past Alexis and slaps Wolfe on the shoulder.
Baccaro: Women... nice to look at, but they sure should leave the thinking
to us, am I right my friend?
Wolfe feigns a chuckle as he walks off with Baccaro, peering back at
Alexis, who looks embarrassed.
***
Back at ringside, “Mouth For War” by Pantera hits the speakers and Texas
Justice member and one half of the PWA Tag Team Champions Maddox Tate makes his
way out to the ring to a chorus of boos, alongside his partner Pitbull. As he
settles in the ring, “You Don’t Know” by Eminem and 50 Cent hits and the fans
cheer loudly for Renegade, who emerges alongside his partner Paul Dawkins.
Renegade rolls right into the ring and immediately goes at it with Tate as the
bell sounds.
Troy: Alright, here we go! A little
preview of the Tag Team Championship bout at Symphony of Destruction!
PWA TAG TEAM CHAMPION MADDOX TATE VS. RENEGADE
Referee: Jose Soares
Tate and Renegade pound away on each
other ferociously, with Renegade surprisingly gaining the early advantage.
Renegade whips Tate into the ropes and downs him with a flying clothesline on
the rebound! Then, Renegade sets up for the Kick of Death!
Troy: Kick of Death! He’s going for it!
Buckingham: A little early, don’t you think?!
Tate gets up to a knee and Renegade unleashes the kick, but Tate ducks
under it, pops up, and immediately crushes Renegade with the Backfire, his suplex-into-stunner
finishing maneuver! Tate covers… one, two, three!
Buckingham: Thanks for coming, Renegade!
Troy: Wow! I guess it WAS too early! Renegade made a mistake, and Tate
IMMEDIATELY capitalized on it! What a victory!
The fans boo loudly as “Mouth For War” replays and Tate is announced the
winner.
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 1:15 – MADDOX TATE
Pitbull enters the ring and he and Tate
begin stomping Renegade into oblivion. Dawkins immediately enters and takes the
fight to both members of Texas Justice, but with Renegade incapacitated, Tate
and Pitbull are able to double-team him and beat him down.
However, just when all looks bleak, “My Avenue” by Lil Boosie hits the speakers
and Jaguar rushes out to the ring to a thunderous ovation!
Troy: It’s Jaguar!
Buckingham: Why?! Someone should tell him to mind his own business!
Not wanting to deal with him, Tate and Pitbull duck out of the ring and flee,
leaving Jaguar to tend to Dawkins and Renegade in the ring. Renegade and
Dawkins then get to their feet, shouting at Texas Justice, who shout back at
them from the stage as we head to commercial.
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from commercial, the camera cuts
to an outside shot of the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota before
panning inside to the empty arena. However, the arena is not entirely empty, as
we see the camera slowly zooming on one individual sitting in one of the seats,
alone. As the camera gets closer, we can see that it’s the same shadowy figure
we saw in Philadelphia last week. The camera angle is again not sufficient for
us to make out his identity.
Shadowy Man: December 2, 2003. On that night,
I walked into this very building and won my first and only singles championship
in the PWA. But calling it a singles title would be a misnomer.
The camera now gets a good look at the man’s face. He is now quite familiar.
Man: Back then, you all called me Reaper. And as Reaper, everything I did,
everything I accomplished, was part of a bigger picture. Done for the good of a
larger entity. An entity that didn’t care who held the title, as long as someone
in the faction had it. Whether it was SIN, or TFU, or the Army of the
Damned, I followed orders. All I cared about was success at any cost. But they
didn’t respect me or my skills. None of them. But that’s not me anymore.
Sometimes it takes a broken neck to put things into perspective. Sometimes it
takes a broken neck to realize that being a disposable part of a larger group
just for one ounce of glory isn’t worth it. But now, I’m coming back, and
this time, I do things for me. I’m
making the choices now. The man you knew as Reaper was a follower, a part
of the pack. My name is Rich Revis… and it’s great to finally meet you
all.
With that, the camera fades and we head back to Tel
Aviv.
***
Back at ringside, “Charlie Big Potato”
by Skunk Anansie hits the speakers and the fans begin booing loudly as John
Wolfe makes his way to the ring, accompanied by Jackie Baccaro.
Troy: Alright folks, The Rebirth moves
on, and now we know who that shadowy figure was last week. It’s Rich Revis, the
man formerly known as Reaper, and he’s on his way back to the PWA!
Buckingham: Well, it was a convincing argument he laid out, but color me
skeptical. The guy never stood on his own two feet his entire PWA career and it
got him a broken neck and cost him years of his career. And now, he’s coming
back after five years on the sidelines and we’re supposed to believe he can
stand on his own two feet and make an impact? Give me a break.
Troy: Time will tell, Randall. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the
doubt.
Buckingham: I’m sure he really cares what you think.
Moments later, “Sonne” by Rammstein hits and Vulture leads his son Chris
Duval out to the ring to an array of cheers! Duval wastes little time running
into the ring and takes the fight to Wolfe as the bell sounds!
CHRIS DUVAL VS. JOHN WOLFE
Referee: Matt Hansen
Once we’re underway, Duval and Wolfe
immediately begin exchanging furious punches, with neither man establishing an
advantage. However, after several moments, Jackie Baccaro decides not to let
the match play out, entering the ring and immediately assisting Wolfe in a
two-on-one assault of Duval, prompting the official to call for an immediate
disqualification!
WINNER VIA DISQUALIFICATION AT 0:53 – CHRIS DUVAL
Within seconds, Vulture enters the ring and takes the fight to Baccaro, the two
rivals pounding away on each other viciously, as Wolfe and Duval continue
slugging it out. The brawling continues amid the rabid cheers of the crowd
before a throng of officials pour out from the back to separate them. As order
is being restored, we head to commercial.
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from break, we are ringside with
our commentators, Victor Troy and Randall Buckingham.
Troy: Alright ladies and gentlemen,
we’re back, and we’re just a short while away from our main event this evening,
a triple threat match between Showtime Damon Savage, Scythe, and The Iceman
Jason Calysto. But in the meantime, let’s take a minute to talk about the
Symphony of Destruction, which will emanate from the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan
on Saturday, May 21st and air live on pay-per-view!
Buckingham: It sure is shaping up to be a tremendous night.
Troy: Absolutely. The event will of course be highlighted by the Symphony of
Destruction match itself, in which 30 men will compete for the right to
challenge for the PWA World Heavyweight Championship at Everlasting Epic VII.
Each man will randomly draw a number from 1 to 30, with the men who draw 1 and
2 starting the match and a new man entering the ring every two minutes
thereafter until all 30 have entered. Elimination can be scored via pinfall or
submission only, and the match will continue until just one man remains.
Last week, we learned the names of 17 of the participants in this match. To
review, they are: Jaguar, Jason Calysto, Solomon, Anthony Failla, Scythe,
Vulture, Michael Grieco, GI Jew, Evan Black, the PWA International Champion
Chase Stone, Jon Dulberg, Dexter P. Wellington, Chris Duval, and of course,
Greg Tantalus, Jackie Baccaro, John Wolfe, and Markus Krieg. Tonight, we can
add seven additional names to the list: Matthew Magellan, Briggs, PWA
Progressive Champion Paul Epton, Asai Moon, Juan Pablo Alvarez, and PWA Hall of
Famer Kerry Cox. That brings the count up to 23 of the 30 men announced, and
Randall, it’s looking like one hell of a match!
Buckingham: Oh no question, Troy. This will be my first Symphony of Destruction
match as an employee of the company, but I’ve seen all the previous
incarnations, and this line-up is up there with any of them!
Troy: Of course, the pay-per-view extravaganza will feature so much more than
just the SOD match. The PWA World Heavyweight Championship will be up for grabs
as Dan Crowley defends the gold against Showtime Damon Savage!
Buckingham: Texas Justice defends the PWA Tag Team Championship against Paul
Dawkins and Renegade!
Troy: In a triangle elimination match, Zina defends the PWA Women’s
Championship against both Morgan Day and Lauren Tantalus!
Buckingham: Announced earlier this evening, Vulture and Chris Duval will team
up to take on the team of Jackie Baccaro and John Wolfe!
Troy: And Chase Stone will defend the PWA International Championship against
Markus Krieg!
Buckingham: That’s of course assuming that Stone doesn’t drop that championship
right now!
***
With that, “More Human Than Human” by
White Zombie hits the speakers and The Omega emerges from behind the curtain to
a chorus of boos.
Troy: Alright, here comes The Omega, who
has an absolutely tremendous opportunity here tonight.
Buckingham: That’s right. He’s got a shot at the International Championship,
which I’d think should be quite a bit higher on his priority list right now
than finding a new member of Synergy.
Troy: Well, he only found out he’d be having this match a little while ago, so
who knows if he’s even prepared. But I agree, The Omega’s search for a new
member of Synergy should be on hold here while he has the chance to vault back
up to relevance and become a three-time International Champion.
As The Omega settles himself in the ring, “Amazing” by Kanye West hits and
the PWA International Champion Chase Stone emerges to a decidedly mixed
reaction. Stone enters the ring and hands his belt to referee Dan Martin, who
holds it high as Lee Palmer begins the ring introductions.
Palmer: Ladies and gentlemen, this next
contest, scheduled for one fall, is for the PWA International Championship!
Introducing first, the challenger, from Boston, Massachusetts, weighing in at
228 pounds… THEEEE OOOOMEGGGGAAAA!
And his opponent, from State College, Pennsylvania, weighing 240 pounds, he is
the PWA International Champion… CHAAAAASE STOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNE!
PWA INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
CHASE STONE (champion) VS. THE OMEGA (challenger)
The bell sounds to kick this one off
and Chase Stone immediately goes to work on The Omega, pounding away on him
viciously. The Omega barely has a chance to get out of the gate before Stone takes
him down with a thunderous belly-to-belly suplex. Then, as The Omega gets back
to his feet, Stone absolutely destroys him with an overhead belly-to-belly
suplex, hurling Omega across the ring!
The Omega is down and hurt, unable to defend himself as Stone moves in and
locks on the triangle hold, wrapping his legs around Omega’s head and cinching
in on it! The Omega tries to fight his way out of the move, but quickly
realizes he is unable to and taps out!
Buckingham: That’s it?!
Troy: That it is! Chase Stone retains the International Championship in
impressive fashion!
Buckingham: After a loss like that, who would even want to team with this guy?
Troy: In his defense, he probably wasn’t expecting Stone to start the match
that aggressively, and he was never able to recover from it. But that
notwithstanding, an impressive effort by Chase Stone.
There is a smattering of cheers for Chase Stone as “Amazing” replays and
Stone holds the International title belt high. Suddenly, Markus Krieg appears
from behind the curtain, putting Stone on guard. Stone beckons Krieg to the
ring, but Krieg instead shows no reaction, choosing only to point to the title
belt and signal around his own waist. A staredown between the two ensues as we
head to commercial.
Troy: It’s Stone vs. Krieg for the
International Championship at Symphony of Destruction, and that should be
something else! Folks, we’ll be right back!
WINNER VIA SUBMISSION AT 1:20 AND STILL INTERNATIONAL
CHAMPION – CHASE STONE
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from break, we see the Human
Highlight Jon Dulberg having a conversation in the locker room with his
manager, the Hardcore Icon Kerry Cox.
Dulberg: So what brought this on?
Cox: What, being in the Symphony of Destruction? I figured “why not?” I wasn’t
planning on entering, but Schenck offered me a spot in the match, and we both
know that a win there guarantees you a world title match at Everlasting Epic,
so there was no reason not to do it.
Dulberg: Well, good luck to you. But you KNOW that if it comes down to me and
you at some point, I’m taking you down.
Cox: Oh, I wouldn’t want it any other way. As far as our situation, think of
this SOD entry as my last hurrah. If I can’t get it done in Tokyo, then I focus
100% of my attention on your career. Deal?
Dulberg: Deal.
Suddenly, Michael Grieco and Dee Licious enter the room.
Grieco: So you’re gonna be in the SOD,
huh old man?
Cox: Sure am.
Grieco: Well at least there’s only 28 people to worry about now.
Dulberg: Is there a point to you being here, or do I need to throw you over the
top rope again like I did in the battle royal last week?
Grieco: Real funny, Dulberg. You know, you picked the right mentor. Who better
to mentor someone that sucks than someone who hasn’t beaten anyone in years?
Cox: I’ll take you on right here, right now!
Grieco: Oh please. You couldn’t even
beat Dee, much less me.
Dulberg: Why don’t the two of you just take a walk? Go head back to the
“sixteenth chapel.” Idiots.
Dee: You think you’re so much better than us? Why don’t you prove it in the
ring, next week?! Me and Michael against you two in an intergender match!
Dulberg: Excuse me?
Dee: You heard me!
Grieco: Uhh, Dee, are you sure you —
Dee: You said it yourself, I can beat Cox, you take Dulberg. We got this!
Grieco: I don’t know about —
Dee: I said we got this! So do you punks accept or what?!
Dulberg and Cox shrug at each other and chuckle.
Cox: You know what? Sure. You’re on.
Dee: Good.
Dee and Grieco then exit, with Grieco clearly a bit uneasy.
***
The camera now takes us to the office
of creative director Justin Schenck, who is seated with three individuals
rarely seen on this program: Darrin Giles, Dynamite Dean Nash, and Kris
Anthony.
Schenck: Now, I bet you’re wondering why
I called all of you here tonight. Basically, all three of you are in the same
boat right now. All of your contracts expire as of Symphony of Destruction, and
I can tell you right now, I only have a spot in that match for one of you. And
while I’m looking at bringing in new talent and trimming the fat around here,
the two of you that aren’t good enough to crack the SOD match aren’t good
enough to have their contracts renewed, in my opinion.
So here’s what we’re going to do: next week, we’re going to have ourselves a
triangle elimination match between the three of you. The two losers will finish
up the rest of their scheduled appearances up until the SOD and then I wish you
the best of luck in your future endeavors. The winner will get his contract
renewed through Everlasting Epic and earn a spot in the SOD match. Now get out
of here. Biggest match of your lives in a week.
Anthony and Nash leave, but Giles stays behind.
Schenck: Can I help you, Darrin?
Giles: That’s really how this is gonna be? After everything we’ve been through?
Win next week or I’m gone?
Schenck: This is a results-based business, Darrin. You haven’t produced those
results in years. Quite frankly, your lack of progression has been one of the
most disappointing parts of The Rebirth for me. If you don’t win next week,
then you don’t deserve to be here anymore. Good luck.
Stunned, Giles walks out of the office.
***
Back at ringside, “Judas Rising” by
Judas Priest hits and the PWA World Heavyweight Champion Dan Crowley emerges
from behind the curtain!
Troy: Alright ladies and gentlemen, we
are mere moments away from our triple threat main event between Showtime Damon
Savage, Scythe, and The Iceman Jason Calysto, and as you can see, Dan Crowley
is on his way out here to join us!
Buckingham: Oh great. Crowley on commentary again. Frankly, I’m getting a
little sick of this.
Troy: I’m fairly certain no one cares what you think, Randall! Folks, we’re
going to take one last commercial break and we’ll be right back with our main
event! Stay with us!
-- COMMERCIAL BREAK --
Back from break, “No Country for Young
Men” by Ice Cube is blaring over the speakers and Showtime Damon Savage is
standing in the ring, keeping his eye on Dan Crowley at the announce table.
Moments later, “With You” by Linkin Park hits and the fans cheer thunderously
for the Modern-Day Samurai Scythe as he makes his entrance!
Troy: Alright, here comes Scythe!
Crowley: Didn’t he challenge Don Cerrone to show up tonight so they could
settle their differences like men? I haven’t seen Cerrone all night, so I guess
we have our answer.
Buckingham: The night’s not over yet, Crowley.
As Scythe enters the ring, “F*ckin’ in the Bushes” by Oasis hits the
speakers and the fans go absolutely wild for The Iceman Jason Calysto! Calysto
enters the ring and takes his place next to Showtime and Scythe as referee Tom
Stevens gets in position.
Troy: Here we go!
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH:
SHOWTIME DAMON SAVAGE VS. SCYTHE VS. JASON CALYSTO
Referee: Tom Stevens
As the bell sounds to kick this match
off, the three men immediately go at each other in every combination, prompting
the fans to cheer loudly! Showtime and Scythe do battle first, before Calysto
moves in and slugs it out with Showtime, and then Scythe emerges to battle The
Iceman!
Scythe takes Calysto down with several deep armdrags, the third prompting
Calysto to roll under the bottom rope and to the outside. With just Scythe and
Showtime left in the ring, Scythe whips Savage against the ropes, but Showtime
leapfrogs over him on the rebound and nails Scythe with a right hand to the
midsection, doubling him over. Showtime then rushes in, looking for a bulldog,
but Scythe is able to counter it, slipping out of the way and nailing Showtime
with a hard dropkick!
Calysto rolls back into the ring and begins exchanging hard chops with Scythe,
ultimately gaining the advantage. Scythe attempts a flying clothesline on
Calysto, but The Iceman ducks under it and immediately downs Scythe with a
series of rolling vertical suplexes! After the third, Scythe rolls out of the
ring and to the arena floor.
Troy: What an action-packed exchange this
has been!
Crowley: I can barely keep up with the action!
Showtime gets back to his feet and engages in fisticuffs with Calysto,
keeping him off balance, but Calysto is able to retain his composure throughout.
When Showtime whips him against the ropes, looking for a Thesz press, The
Iceman slides out of harm’s way and downs Showtime hard with an enziguri as he
rises!
Crowley: Ouch!
Buckingham: Showtime might have lost a tooth there! Calysto’s foot smacked
against his mouth pretty damn hard!
With Scythe still down on the outside, Calysto begins ramping up his attack
on Showtime, blasting him with the spinning heel kick as he rises! Then,
Calysto climbs up to the top rope, looking for the Bottom Line clothesline, but
is distracted by Greg Tantalus, Jackie Baccaro, Markus Krieg, and John Wolfe
appearing from behind the curtain. They start towards the ring, but an
infuriated Calysto is ready for them, diving onto the four of them when they
get close!
The dive takes out Tantalus, Wolfe, and Baccaro, but Krieg remains standing and
immediately lifts Calysto up and hurls him into the barricade on the outside.
Then, Vulture and Chris Duval rush down to ringside to join in the battle,
before Chase Stone does the same, attacking Krieg!
Troy: We have an absolute melee on the
outside of the ring!
Buckingham: And there are no disqualifications in a triple threat match, so
this match keeps going!
As numerous officials hit the scene and ultimately escort all eight men to
the back, Scythe re-enters the ring, whips the rising Showtime against the
ropes, and downs him with a double-chop upon his return! As Scythe gears up for
the Flying Dragon, his attention is suddenly diverted to the Jumbotron, where
Don Cerrone can be seen.
Cerrone: Hey modern-day jackass! I got
your message last week and decided to accept your challenge to be here tonight.
Of course, I couldn’t be bothered to travel to Tel Aviv, so I’m here via
satellite. My message to you is this: I’ll be live in the flesh at the Symphony
of Destruction, so we can settle our differences there. But since you’re
occupied at the moment, I’ll be back via satellite next week to talk terms.
Good luck, daddy-o.
The video then fades and an annoyed Scythe turns back to Showtime, but is
immediately clobbered in the jaw by a knockout left hook! Scythe hits the mat
like a ton of bricks and Showtime covers… one, two, three!
Troy: And that’s it! Showtime picks up
the victory!
Buckingham: He knocked Scythe out for the second time in three weeks! If that
happens at SOD, Crowley, you’re gonna be a FORMER champion!
Crowley: Well, let’s hope there aren’t 4,000 mid-match interruptions at SOD.
And let’s point out that both of those knock-outs were preceded by Don Cerrone
distractions.
Buckingham: The only thing that matters is who wins. You should know that by
now.
The fans cheer as “No Country for Young Men” replays and Showtime has his
hand raised in victory. Scythe slowly rolls out of the ring as he comes to and
retreats to the back, walking up the now-cleared aisle. Meanwhile, Crowley
drops his headset and enters the ring, taking his championship belt with him.
We can’t hear what they’re saying, but it appears they are each declaring to
the other that they will walk away with the title on May 21.
WINNER VIA PINFALL AT 7:27 – SHOWTIME DAMON SAVAGE
Moments later, creative director Justin Schenck appears on the Jumbotron,
clearing his throat to get the attention of Crowley and Showtime.
Schenck: First of all, Showtime,
congratulations on your victory, however tainted it may be, through no fault of
your own. We just have a few moments left before we go off the air, so I wanted
to let you know that next week, you will be in this ring again… but as
partners! That’s right. Next week, live from Sydney, Australia, we will see Dan
Crowley and Showtime Damon Savage team up… to face Texas Justice for the PWA
Tag Team Championship!
Troy: Oh my! Crowley and Showtime will compete for tag team gold next week!
Buckingham: If they win, they could end up Tag Team Champions AND opponents at
SOD!
Troy: Indeed they could! Folks, that’s all the time we have for you tonight!
We’ll see you next week in Sydney!
Showtime and Crowley stare each other down in the ring, not sure how to
react to Schenck’s announcement as the camera fades to black.
-- END SHOW --
Pre-Show Dark Matches:
1. Alexis Duval def. Dee Licious via
pinfall at 3:29 with a flip piledriver. (Referee: Dan Martin)
2. Jon Dulberg def. Kris Anthony via pinfall at 2:42 with the Walk-Off.
(Referee: Tom Stevens)
3. PWA Progressive Champion Paul Epton & Asai Moon def. Matthew Magellan
& Juan Pablo Alvarez. Epton pinned Alvarez after the shooting star press at
5:17. (Referee: Dan Martin)