Post by Pro Wrestling NEO on Mar 31, 2019 19:55:39 GMT -5
PRO WRESTLING NEO - VOLUME VI LIVE FROM THE TUCSON CONVENTION CENTER IN TUCSON, ARIZONA
MARCH 31ST, 2019
OPENER SINGLES MATCH "DEBUTS AND RETURNS"
Kaia Rain vs. Nariko Inazuma
DING! DING!
The crowd was firmly behind both women as the match began. The Pro Wrestling NEO fans were familiar with Nariko, due to her involvement in the Heaven or Hell Tournament. Although she might have lingered in the tournament longer than she wanted, she had been quite impressive. And Kaia? She been known for her tag team work with the Pro Wrestling NEO Grand Champion.
Whether it was intended or not, the match began with a game “anything you can do, I can do better.” Nariko darted in and connected with a headscissors, Nonetheless, Kaia landed on her feet. As Nariko made it back to a vertical base, she was taken down by headscissors from Kaia. However, Nariko was able to twist her body in mid-air and land on her feet as well. This caused Kaia to nod her head and smirk. Then she charged at Nariko. Ms. Swift side-stepped, which sent Kaia blazing into the ropes. She got taken to the mat with an armdrag on the rebound. The force allowed her to spring back to her feet. Nariko shoot in and attempted an elbow, but she too got taken down with an armdrag. She rolled through and got back to her feet as well. Kaia caught Nariko with an open-hand slap and a stiff forearm before she launched out with a bicycle kick—
But Nariko dodged it.
Ms. Inazuma fired back with four rapid palm strikes. The last one caused Kaia to stumble a bit. Nariko took a step forward, lept into the air, and attempted a high knee. But Kaia was able to regain her composure and roll out of the way. Both competitors peered at each other for a moment.
The crowd? They began to go wild.
After regrouping, both competitors met in the center of the ring. A elbow-and-collar tie-up resulted. Kaia and Nariko began to tussle for leverage. A quick knee to sternum turned the tide in Nariko’s favor and allowed her to drop Kaia with a snapmare. Not wasting any time, Nariko cocked back and drilled her opponent with a stiff soccer kick to the spine. Kai grunted out in pain. In the meantime, Nariko shot herself into the ropes and connected with a sliding dropkick. Kaia seemed a bit loopy. But instead of going for the pinfall there, Nariko made her way towards the ring apron. She sized up her opponent before she used the ropes to spring into the air. Nariko soared and connected with a splash. She hooked Kaia’s leg and went for the pinfall; referee Olivia Summers dropped down to make the count:
ONE!
TW—
Although some damage had been done, it wasn’t enough to put Kaia away, not just yet. She promptly kicked out. Nariko took ahold of Kaia’s head and help bring her up to a vertical base. She beat Kaia about the head with a couple of punches before she shot her into the corner. A second or two later Nariko charged in and looked to clobber Kaia with a running high knee. Kaia had the wherewithal to move out of the way; Nariko’s knee crashed against the top turnbuckle pad. Nariko instinctually grabbed that knee, which left her open to an attack. Kaia smacked her with a forearm, followed by a step-up enziguri. A stumbling Nariko got sent to the mat. From there, Kaia made her way up to the top rope. She looked back once before she flew through the air with a moonsault. She immediately hooked Nariko’s leg:
ONE!
TWO!
However, Nariko was able to roll and lift her shoulder off of the mat. Kaia grabbed ahold of her opponent and brought Nariko to her feet. It looked as if Kaia was going to attempt a snap suplex, but Nariko was able to block it. She popped Kaia in the sternum with punches before she was able to push off and gain a little breathing room. She then threw that leg up and caught Kaia with a mean roundhouse kick. Kaia was reeling for a moment. That’s when Nariko shot herself into the ropes. She rebounded and connected with a high knee to the face. Nariko forewent the cover. Instead, she spun and landed a double-knee moonsault. All the air in Kaia’s lungs was forcibly driven out. Nariko hooked her leg and went for the cover:
ONE!
TWO!
TH—
Kaia kicked out once again. Nariko kept her cool as she stood up; she seemed to have a plan. Nariko lifted Kaia up and gave her a forearm before she whipped her into the corner. Kaia’s back crashed against the turnbuckle pads. That’s when Nariko went for her handspring enziguri. But when Nariko leapt into the air, Kaia shot forward and knocked her out of the sky with a boot to the chest. Kaia made her to the second rope as Nariko began to stand. Kaia jumped off and caught her opponent with a diving somersault cutter. She went for the pinfall:
ONE!
TWO!
But Nariko was able to kick out! However, that move took a lot out of the her.
Kaia gave Nariko a stern stomp to the sternum before she grabbed ahold of her boot and pulled her closer to the ropes. Kaia ascended to the top. She stalled for a moment before she flew off the top and connected with Purple Rain (shooting star press). Kaia hooked Nariko’s leg once again:
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING! DING! DING!
ERIN LAMBERT: "Here is your winner by pinfall…KAIA RAIN!”
WINNER: Kaia Rain via pinfall (Purple Rain - 8:06)
Backstage the cameras have caught up with a new arrival to NEO, known both for her relationship with Grand Champion, Issak Otto, and the impressive accomplishments of her rookie year, Kaia Rain. Still in her full ring gear, with a jacket thrown on, she had recovered from her match with Nariko Inazuma and was making her way toward catering for a snack. As soon as she spotted the camera, a smile crossed her face.
KAIA RAIN: “I figured you would catch up with me sooner rather than later. Bet you want to know how I’m feeling after getting back in the ring after so long away, yeah?”
The smile on her face grew until she was beaming from ear to ear. Then she laughed at herself and shook her head for a moment.
KAIA RAIN: “I’d almost forgotten what it was like, crazy as that sounds. It’s not the same just getting in for practice or to train. Being out there to compete…”
She looked wistful before laughing again.
KAIA RAIN: “There’s nothing else like it in the world, I can tell you that much. I’m so happy to be in NEO, and I’m looking forward to what I can accomplish here. Starting things off with a win is definitely what I was hoping for. Nariko was a challenge, and it feels good knowing that even after all this time I still have what it takes to have beaten him.”
The wistful look remained on her face, though her beaming smile changed to a thoughtful one.
KAIA RAIN: “I know I should take the time to enjoy the victory, but honestly I’m already looking forward to finding out who my next opponent will be. Tonight reminded me how much I love to be in the ring, and now I can’t wait to do it all again. But for now… I think I’ve earned a little snack.”
With a friendly smile and a wave, Kaia stepped away from the camera to continue her journey toward the catering station.
The camera cut backstage, where DA #TROLL GUY Mariano Fernandez, already in his wrestling gear and his traditional black leather jacket hanging from his back, was meeting up with Deirdre Evans, both of them partners for the night.
MARIANO FERNANDEZ: “Hey yo. How you doing, mang?”
Deirdre looked at him slightly confused, but gave him a nod.
DEIRDRE EVANS: “Something for the future, Mariano, don’t call me mang. It rubs me off wrong.”
Mariano nodded his head, then, in a respectful, courteous bow.
MARIANO FERNANDEZ: “‘Tis my pleasure to be your partner tonight, m… I mean, Deirdre. I got some problems of my own to solve with Grace Van Beek costing me the match at Insurgence, but now, DeMarcus Gresham and Ashlyn Monroe. Gresham, I know he’s coming for retribution from that match in 4CW. Ashlyn will be looking forward to come back from her number one contendership loss.”
DEIRDRE EVANS: “You know what's funny, Mariano? Everyone seems to have a problem with everyone in this business. But me? I don’t really care too much what people have to say. I know that Gresham is a good wrestler. I know that he is having his ups and downs, but that's about it. And Ashlyn? She is just a girl like every other. This is by no means meant to be disrespectful, but this industry is full of talent. Some appreciated, some not. If you wanna make it here, you have to be capable of seeing the bigger picture. And willing to sacrifice parts of yourself. Pretending won’t get you anywhere.
After this, Mariano put a hand to his chin, a pensive expression plastered on his face.
MARIANO FERNANDEZ: “Perhaps that’s why this match is called refresher course, chica. We gotta start from somewhere after this last run. I know that I god damned have to, and that’s why I have no intention of letting you down tonight.”
Deirdre carefully listened to what her partner had to say, nodding. The expression on her face as stoic as always, some even would say serious. She carefully licked over her dark red lips, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
DEIRDRE EVANS: “I am sure you won’t let me down. But this is not because we are so tight, but we got something in common, Manny. We love to win. We fight with everything we got and a little more. Sure people will think you are a little strange with your videogame language, but they fail to see who you truly are. A fighter. Someone that knows how to strike when the right moment comes. And me? I am a force of nature. I have always been exactly that. I don’t make no difference between friend of foe when I am inside this ring. I destroy whatever stands in my way. My question, are you ready to do that too?”
She looked at Mariano even more intensively than before. Mariano, for his part, returned her gaze, and nodded.
MARIANO FERNANDEZ: “If that is what it takes, chica. And something tells me it will be.”
He stuck his fist out, while Deirdre once again looked at him confused. She was by no means hip or trendy, but for the sake of him she gave him a fist bump. Shaking her head slightly afterwards.
MARIANO FERNANDEZ: “Destroying everything in our path doesn’t mean we can’t be friendly to each other, m- I mean, Deirdre. But we’re done talking. Let’s fucking go!”
"Hoping to bring efedding a few good steps forward."
Post by Pro Wrestling NEO on Mar 31, 2019 20:00:54 GMT -5
We open backstage at the Tuscon Convention Center on a well-lit and mic'd up backdrop, cordoned off along an otherwise empty corridor. The banner at center-frame is of Pro Wrestling NEO's logo; clearly, this would be front-and-center for your run of the mill wrestling promo or interview... if anybody was there. While the lights are on, it's clear that no one is home. It would be easy to mistake this for some kind of technical difficulty, a false start by a faulty camera or somebody jumping the gun on the live feed, but the chatter of NEO's highly efficient, duly diligent, and constantly anxious film crew would indicate this dead air was purposeful.
On somebody's end, anyway. Sure as shit isn't theirs.
Hushed, urgent whispers out of frame and behind the camera of 'where is she?' and 'we're going live, she was supposed to kick off the show!' and 'is she always so late with these backstage bits?' start to become more noticeable, but just before it gets too painfully awkward--
BLAISE FADER: "Oi! You lot waitin' on me?"
The camera turns away from the well-framed NEO background to an open doorway down the hall. Pro Wrestling NEO World Champion, Blaise Fader, has peaked out to wave to the folks at home.
Before the crew can ask what she's doing, she gestures with her thumb back toward herself.
BLAISE FADER: "C'mon then, just gotta fix something for myself 'fore we get going. Come with me!"
The crew hesitates. Boom mics droop over the frame precariously.
BLAISE FADER: "We're live, pal. Aren't we live? Come along!"
With more nervous whispering and muffled frustration, the film crew uproots and takes their camera and microphones down the hall and through the door, emerging into a room currently designated 'CATERING'.
NEO's catering spread is nothing if not ambitious; folding tables laid out assembly line-style around the perimeter of the room, stocked high with plates, trays and other utensils, and filled equally to the brim with a tantalizing amount of food, hot and cold. Clearly, the most popular dish amongst the NEO roster is the grilled chicken, the entire tray picked clean save for a few measly corner scraps. A salad bar at the corner nearest the door is similarly scarce, vegetarian and vegan options also a priority for many of these athletic performers. Speaking of athletic performers, catering's got plenty of those inside, too. Members of NEO's roster, some on the card later in the night, others on standby or otherwise making themselves available sit and dine at tables interspersed around the room. Most are apparently caught off-guard, or at least slightly perturbed by the sudden arrival of production into normally private quarters. Some turn away from the camera - mid-mouthful isn't exactly their best angle - others look on, distracted.
When we turn back to Blaise, she's got a plate in one hand, salad tongs in the other, and the NEO World Championship slung over her shoulder, glimmering proudly even under the softer lights of a room not prepared for broadcast.
BLAISE FADER: "Figured I'd get some green energy in 'fore we started, but seeing as we're cuttin' it kinda close, might as well just keep rolling, righ'?
Blaise scoops some lettuce, croutons, and other salad accoutrement onto her plate.
BLAISE FADER: "One thing I've realised since signing with NEO is that hunger has meant two different things in my life. Up until now, it's something I never took into account.
Fork in hand, Blaise more or less shovels her tiny salad down, raising a hand for her audience's patience as she shields her mouth to chew and swallow.
BLAISE FADER: "Hunger's meant not knowing where the next paycheck was coming from, or when it would ever come. It's meant not knowing if we could keep the lights on at home, much less if we'd have a meal on the table."
Sliding down the line to the near end, where a set up of trash and recycling bins as well as napkins and other dining necessities are displayed, Blaise delicately disposes of her cleaned plate, dabbing her lips with a fresh napkin before tossing that away as well.
BLAISE FADER: "It's meant desperation. Looking in the mirror and not liking who I saw. Trying to starve myself to fit into a pair of jeans, or that new dress, or the expectations of people who never respected me to begin with."
Blaise approaches NEO Catering Czar Kyle Suzuki over the counter, giving him some sort of secret handshake with a laugh and a smile. She adjusts the NEO World Title on her shoulder, rights her glasses on the bridge of her nose, and leads the harried camera crew out of Catering and back down the hallway.
BLAISE FADER: "It's meant wanting all the smoke, wanting to take every shot I could at fame and fortune without ever truly knowing what any of that represented. Now... well, I figure it this way: we are everything we have ever done, and everything we do is a reaction to everything we did. That make any sense?"
There are murmurs in the film crew as they follow Blaise down the hall and around another corner. Probably not good ones.
BLAISE FADER: "... don't answer that. But now, hunger means something else to me. It's a reaction to the hunger I've felt so many times before; where it used to be rooted in insecurity, now it's grown with my strengths, my confidence, my drive. Now, hunger means seeing the best of what's in front of me and trying my best to make it better. Hunger means more time bettering myself, more hours in the gym, learning a new hold, outdoing the person that went to bed the night before. From the hunger that meant desperation, now it means dedication. It means looking the best of the best in the eye, scrapping and climbing all the way to Insurgence--"
Blaise pats the title on her shoulder with pride.
BLAISE FADER: "--and becoming the first ever NEO World Champion. I couldn't have done it without every one of you in the stands, and streaming this at home. I couldn't have done it without William Bateman, who I've been meaning to thank again for a banger of a title fight. We might not particularly care for one another, but he's undeniably one of the very best in the business today, and undeniably, he'll be back again. Everything leading up to this, I couldn't have done without that hunger."
As Blaise and the film crew taking yet another turn, the lights are dimmer, and the space is somehow busier than before; we're at gorilla.
BLAISE FADER: "As I mentioned on Twitter before, becoming a World Champion doesn't mean I'm the best, but it does mean I'm the hungriest. As your inaugural NEO World Champion, I've got a standard to set. I've got hordes of competitors to step between the ropes with, I've got men and women from all around the world looking to take me to my limit. There's not a doubt in my mind, how badly they want this. No doubt of how strong, or how smart, or how ruthless they'll be. If I'm speaking truthfully? I can't guarantee I'll be stronger, or smarter, or meaner than anybody else..."
Overhead, a crescendo of bass-y reverb hits. From beyond the curtain, the Pro Wrestling NEO faithful hit a fever pitch. Blaise leans in toward the camera and gives it a wink.
BLAISE FADER: "... but I can guarantee I'll be the hungriest."
As Stormzy's 'Big For Your Boots' hits, Blaise ducks through the curtain, greeting the fans from the stage with the NEO World Championship raised high above her head. As the curtain draws closed in the dark, we see the slivers of stage lights and flashbulbs, and an earnest, beaming smile from the first World Champion.
ONE HOUR AFTER INSURGENCE, NIGHT TWO
The visual cutting in was sudden and obviously impromptu, a blurry glimpse of the parking lot outside of the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California shown at a diagonal before the camera was straightened and focused properly. It panned around for a moment before zooming in on the Pretty Boy Assassin and his small group of assistants carrying his bags for him. Even after putting on a five-star match, regardless of the less than fortuitous outcome, he has refused to slum it, a Valentino suit tailored perfectly to his frame his chosen attire. While he was using one of his trademark canes, the absence of a visible limp made it clear that it was a fashion choice, a dash of eccentricity rather than a necessary evil. As the camera neared his position, faint grousings could be heard-an order to hurry up here, a grunted curse there, punctuated by a forceful gesture to get a move on...before he suddenly stopped in place. As though possessing a sixth sense for when he was on camera, the Pretty Boy Assassin looked over his shoulder...and visibly grimaced as the camera was shoved just shy of his face, along with a young, enthusiastic woman with a microphone. Perhaps it was a new interviewer, perhaps an intern of some sorts; that much was unimportant, so much as the fact that they had opened their mouth to speak.
INTERVIEWER: Pardon us, Mister Batema-
Her words were cut short by an audible groan, followed by the Pretty Boy outright facepalming.
WILLIAM BATEMAN: "...Kindly, fuck off."
As the once present smile faded from the woman’s face, William Bateman turned to face her properly-his expression that of irritation, mixed with equal parts exhaustion and physical discomfort. Before she could say much of anything else, he was reaching up and snatching the microphone from her hand...and unceremoniously shoving her out of the view before he continued.
WILLIAM BATEMAN: "I get it. I fucking get it. After weeks, if not months, of making it clear that everyone on this God forsaken roster is unadulterated pig shit? I’m walking away with a bit of egg on my face. There’s no title on my shoulder. There’s no ‘I told you so’ moment. There’s nothing but some feel good story about some fat kid from England winning the proverbial big one while your holier-than-thou villain slinks away in defeat. Elena Mongoose or whatever her cunting-fucking-name is must be finger fucking herself raw."
It was a rare display, William Bateman actually angry about something. So much so that his normally unnoticeable German accent flared up ever so slightly, but just as quickly as it came? He’s seeking to control himself, a deep breath drawn in through his nostrils before a small, embittered smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
WILLIAM BATEMAN: "So, you’ve come here and shove a camera in my face just to rub a little extra salt into the wound. Just to get that last little bit of joy out of my failings. Make an example of me, even. The evil never prosper, the arrogant always fall short. Make a fucking morality play out of the moment, just because it looks good and sells a couple t-shirts for your conquering hero."
The control that Bateman sought was a hard fought one, his tone evening out but little can be done about that ever-present irritation upon his face as he stared down the camera as though he were trying to make the man behind it catch fire through sight alone. Another deep breath came before he’s forcing himself to stand a bit straighter, his jaw set tightly as he forced himself to continue.
WILLIAM BATEMAN: "...Well, enjoy your moment. Not just Elena, not just the fans who boo my name but buy my merch and certainly not just our celebrated new World Champion Blaise Fader. Enjoy it, because I’ve already been told that there is no rematch. There’s no chance to show that it was just a fluke, that there’s been some kind of terrible mistake. No, I’m going to have to earn another opportunity to take that which only I am truly worthy of holding. I’m going to have to busy myself with the filth, the talentless and the outright awful collective known as the Pro Wrestling NEO roster yet again...and you know what? I don’t care."
That confession is the calmest three words to have left The Pretty Boy Assassin’s mouth during that entire diatribe. It’s only when he’s uttered them that he seemed to have found zen, his body relaxing slightly and his jaw unclenching ever so slightly.
WILLIAM BATEMAN: "I don’t care because, without even holding the title, I’ve already defined it as one of the pre-eminent championships in the sport today. Blaise, you’re young so I don’t expect you to understand this, but your big accomplishment tonight was not becoming the first Pro Wrestling NEO world champion-it was entering the rarified air that is being one of the few and very far between to be able to say that they’ve ever pinned me. That alone has made you and that championship mean more than anyone else here...for now. And I say for now because you know, just as well as anyone else in this company and everyone watching around the world, that if I’ve managed to do everything that I’ve done up until this point without barely any effort-do you think that I won’t be seeing that title eventually? Do you think that I’m not destined to take what is yours and elevate it far beyond your limited scope of the world can even begin to comprehend?"
As though he were never angry in the first place, that arrogant and self assured smirk that has existed only to infuriate countless men and women over the years found itself upon his lips again. If anything, he couldn’t help but let loose a low and amused chuckle before he was turning his back on the camera.
WILLIAM BATEMAN: "Enjoy your moment. Cling onto it. Claw and scrape and do whatever it takes for you to keep it and make it yours. I’ll be back, in time, to take my place atop of the wrestling world again. But only when you’ve gone and made that title something that I can’t resist any longer...or you’ve disappointed me so much that taking it from you is the most dignified act of mercy I can offer just short of ending your damned career."
Without bothering to dignify the interviewer with more than his gaze-and that microphone being shoved into her chest-William walked away, the tap of his cane against asphalt almost echoing in his wake. The interviewer’s frown and the muttered grumbles of the cameraman about how rude he was were the last thing to be seen and heard as the feed cut as suddenly as it began.
"Hoping to bring efedding a few good steps forward."
Post by Pro Wrestling NEO on Mar 31, 2019 20:04:25 GMT -5
The tron placed over the entrance stage inside the Convention Center in Tucson comes to life to the unmistakable and uncomparable views of the Hollywood Hills.. A soft music, identifiable as Chopin’s Nocturne op. 9 No. 2 by those who listen to classical music plays in the background, as the camera slowly zooms out. The postcard sight is the view you get from the Presidential Suite East of the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles, one of the most luxurious accomodations in the city. That’s the set Grace van Beek choose to deliver her anticipated message. Elsa McCarthy, Grace’s personal assistant walks into frame. Wearing a long white satin tailor made dress, the kind of dress most girl her age (herself included until a few months ago) could only dream about, her hair dressed in an elaborate half up half down braided style. As we get a look at the fancy interiors of the room, the one thing that immediately catches the eyes is the piano placed in front of the window. Sitting behind it playing the piece accompanying the clip is none other than the owner of Millennium Wrestling Enterprise and Crown Jewel of Pro Wrestling Neo herself, Grace van Beek.
ELSA MCCARTHY: “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Elsa McCarthy, personal assistant of miss van Beek. We understand that her actions at raised some eyebrows, and tonight she will provide an explanation.”
GRACE VAN BEEK: “It is not like they deserve one, or that I believe they will understand.”
Grace says, whipping up an improvised cue to the music and walking in front of the camera. Elas quickly walks away leaving the scene to the Diamond Princess.
GRACE VAN BEEK: “Although, the reason is quite simple. Elementary even. And yet, brilliant in his simplicity.”
There’s a sly and devious smile on her face.
GRACE VAN BEEK: “I am sure you all heard the saying Better the devil you know. Once I, as expected, earned a shot at the Grand Prix Championship, I saw an opportunity. Why should I have let happenstance determine my fate when I could have make my own destiny? In that pool of eight competitors, there were two names I had already faced and defeated. One of them proved themselves to be a tougher challenge than I had expected, while the other…”
The smile turns into a grin.
GRACE VAN BEEK: “The other one was Nora Foley. Someone I easily vanquished when she was considered an unstoppable force in Millennium, someone I embarrassed to the point she had to quit the company that, a few weeks later, I conquered. I am sure you will agree with me now, there was no easiest way to get that title than making sure Nora Foley was the one holding it.
The camera follows Grace as she heads to a small glass coffee table. A book, an old and prestigious edition of Sun Tzu’s the art of war lays on top of it. She picks it up and opens to a page she previously marked.
GRACE VAN BEEK: “Every battle is won before it is even fought.”
She reads from the book, closing it and placing it back on the table with a smile.
GRACE VAN BEEK: “Enjoy the reign I gifted you, Foley. Soon, I will come and claim it as mine.”
Turning on her heels, she walks back to the piano. The video cuts to black.
SINGLES MATCH "DOUBLE DEBUT MATCH, V2"
Zelda Gibbons vs. Brother Lavender
This match never came to a start. We will have news on what transpired later on. Reports are saying that neither competitor were unable to compete, due to some unfortunate circumstances.
Kageyama-san told reporters to say that there was blood.
There was a lot of it.
NO CONTEST
The camera opened on bright purple wrestling boots and panned up to reveal matching tights and then the back of a ring jacket that has the words “Heart Like a Hurricane” written over the back of it in very 80’s inspired rainbow lettering. Finally, a head covered in long braided hair came into view before the person wearing this very...uh….’loud’ set of ring gear turned to face the camera.
An attractive dark-skinned woman wearing light purple eye makeup and dark-colored lipstick winked at the camera before adjusting the collar of her jacket.
CARA STONE: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, nonbinary friends and those who stay loyal to the end...I’m back? Kind of? Or here for the first time. It’s all a matter of...perspective.
The smile on “Hurricane” Cara Stone’s face dropped a little bit before her pupils shot to the top right corner of her eyes and she placed her hands on her chin in an exaggerated ‘thinking’ pose.
CARA STONE: Let’s see...started way back when, spent that many years in one place, this many in another and...carry the something, divide by whatever…
Her other hand moved to the air, drawing fake equations in the open space in front of her as she pretended to calculate the length of her career.
CARA STONE: Right, fifteen years. Fifteen years wrestling. Sometimes in front of hundreds, other times in front of thousands. Europe, Japan, America, Mexico...done it all really. And some of you probably know me from those previous exploits. Others probably don’t, and if that’s you, don’t worry too much because you’re going to be in for a real treat once the matches start rolling. But regardless, I’ve become another so-called grizzled veteran of the pro wrestling game and in spite of that, I have come somewhere new-- Pro Wrestling NEO. So for those of you that don’t know me, let me introduce myself...
Cara stretched her hands out to her sides, presenting herself to the viewers.
CARA STONE: My name is “Hurricane” Cara Stone, ass kicker extraordinaire, and I am here to kick off as many heads as I damn well please while putting as many smiles on faces as I can.
She smiled wide for the camera before continuing.
CARA STONE: It’s an exciting feeling, starting somewhere fresh. I could have gone back to more familiar territory, but that seemed too...easy. Too simple. Most people at the point I am in my career wouldn’t want to try rebuilding something from scratch. They wouldn’t want to have to start clawing for everything inch by inch after having done so multiple times elsewhere. But me, well, some may think I should have a better reason than I can’t walk away, but I don’t think I need one.
She shrugged for a brief pause.
CARA STONE: A lot of my friends, my peers...they’ve already left the game. They retired, moved on, either to teaching, some other career or a mix of both. I don’t blame them. Wrestling beats the shit out of you, and even I’ll admit there are times I feel like it has taken more from me than it has given. Lot of friends aren’t friends anymore, for one reason or another. You lose track of family. Relationships are borderline impossible to maintain. But I can’t stop. Won’t stop. When my old tag partner quit, I stayed in Japan and reinvented myself. When my friends scattered to the winds and I was left alone, I went back out and found new places to fight, and now I am doing the same thing all over again.
A wistful look entered the new NEO signee’s eyes as she paused again momentarily.
CARA STONE: Most adults in their mid-30s don’t get new spandex designed for them in bright neon purple with rainbow lettering and put that gear on every day to make a god damn fool of themselves while breaking their body down bit by bit in front of thousands of people, but clearly I am not most adults. I am Cara Stone. And when everyone else is burnt out, or hurt, or retired at getting paid ten grand to sign autographs at a convention for eight hours, I’ll keep starting new fires over and over again and building something big, bright, neon and new. So, Pro Wrestling NEO, please put me in a ring against someone whose head I can kick into the mezzanine seats and let me show you that even after all this time, I still have what it takes to make people stand up and pay attention.
Cara pointed at the camera with a finger gun and winked again while widening her mouth into a big toothy smile as the camera faded out.
"Hoping to bring efedding a few good steps forward."
Post by Pro Wrestling NEO on Mar 31, 2019 20:15:35 GMT -5
We cut backstage to the image of Vanity Fulbright making her way through the arena. Flanking her sides are a few of the Church, graciously following the All-Mother. As she continued on her way, she held what seemed to be a pipe in her hand. She looked at it lovingly until she came across one individual. The camera doesn't catch who it is as first as they make their way closer to Vanity. Her expression slowly faded into one of annoyance upon realizing who was standing in front of her...
In her way.
Nicholas Gray.
His expression was neutral, if not a little assertive. He looked at the entourage of deranged cultists and shook his head. Vanity gripped the pipe while Gray looked back. The normally silly action of taking your eyes off Vanity didn't end with a gruesome attack. Instead, Gray managed to turn his attention back.
NICHOLAS GRAY: "No violence. Not tonight."
Vanity's eyebrow arched as she leaned back into her family. For a moment, there was contemplation until Vanity opted to turn her back on Nicholas Gray. She giggled softly.
VANITY FULBRIGHT: "Fine. Irina doesn't need us tonight anyways. Next time, there will be blood. Especially..."
She paused.
VANITY FULBRIGHT: "Your blood."
The All-Mother proceeded to saunter off down the hallway, leaving Nicholas Gray to ruminate by his lonesome.
TAG TEAM MATCH "STRENGTH OF DIFFERENT LANDS"
Marilyn Lee Cross vs. Francesca (w/ Sophie El)
The crowd was totally behind Marilyn Lee Cross tonight. Francesca merely looked around the arena with a sour expression, jabbing the inside of her cheek with her tongue. Shaking her head, she began to pace the ring with Francesca, trying her best not to fall right into the rhythm and strength that MLC brought to the table. When the crowd roared, Francesca lifted up her hands, telling them that ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH.
The crowd’s cheering turned to boos, but they were swayed easily when Francesca opted to offer a handshake to the former PPW Cascade Champion. MLC seemed a bit thrown off by the gesture but didn’t have no entire reason to distrust Francesca. She shook her hand and Francesca merely released it without a dirty thought behind it. The crowd was…shocked. Sophie El at ringside applauded Francesca, who then proceeded to kick MLC in the gut—a somewhat cheap shot. It wasn’t one that made the crowd turn their reaction but it was enough to make MLC doubleover.
Francesca followed with a double axe handle to the MLC’s spine, forcing the woman to stumble around the ring. Sending her to the corner, Francesca continued her striking assault, battering MLC with very precise blows to the gut and kidney. Once MLC slumped over, Francesca put the boots to her and choked her in the bottom turnbuckle with her boot. While MLC recovered, Francesca walked to the center of the ring with her arms spread out. She then went over to Sophie and asked to provide her with something. On cue, Sophie produced a bottle of hand santializer and squirted a small hint in Francesca’s hand.
The self-proclaimed GOAT cleansed her hands while walking back over to MLC. With her hands restored from the NASTINESS of the earlier handshake, she dropped to her knees and smacked the taste out of MLC’s mouth. The roar of the audience’s hatred made Francesca laugh and get up. She turned back around to possibly get more but MLC sparked to life and fury as she got up, wrapped her arms around Fran’s waist, and sent her careening to the ground with a backdrop suplex. Francesca tried to roll out of the ring but MLC saw the tactic early and brought her back in.
Running off the ropes was the next option and when Francesca got up, MLC put her back down with a running blockbuster! Francesca, knowing that she had to keep trying to take back momentum, got up and collided with MLC’s stomach upon a running crossbody. MLC dragged her to a standing position and sent her into the ropes, clapping her hands before going for a Polish Hammer. Francesca stopped and fell to the mat, putting up a guard. MLC went for a Meteora, but Francesca moved out of the way, forcing MLC to an awkward position. Climbing the ropes forced a disadvantage onto MLC.
It was one that Francesca exploited with a chop block, forcing MLC to the ground with a relentless air behind the attack. She followed up by stomping away at the leg before dragging MLC towards the ropes and hanging the targeted leg in them. When the referee, Morgan Hughes, got close, Francesca barked at him that she knew what he was going to say and he should shut his mouth. She then secured a rope hung variation of a single leg Boston Crab. MLC cried in pain, knowing that she had to endure the submission for four seconds—and they were long.
When Francesca finally freed MLC from the deathvice she had on her leg, she stood on it, restarting the count. MLC grabbed onto Fran’s ankle and sent her to the mat right when she decided to get arrogant. The arrogance led to an ankle lock and some subsequent screaming from the GOAt. Sophie tried to rally her on, but when the crowd wouldn’t return the favor, Sophie gave them all the finger (which was promptly censored). MLC kept the hold in but Fran evelated herself off the mat and threw her other leg upward, hitting MLC under the chin with a desperate but effective Bloomfield Blast (Scorpion Kick). MLC stumbled back, holding her chin and jaw. Francesca ran to the turnbuckle, hit a rare double jump, and landed on MLC with a Spinning Kick. Floored by the kick, MLC fell victim to Francesca dragging her up and hitting a Tornado DDT on her.
She made a motion to Sophie, who only nodded at her. Francesca waited in her corner, clapping her hands rather sarcastically to the roar of the crowd’s boos. When MLC got to her feet, Francesca attempted Catch Your Breath (Spear) but MLC threw her off like a matador to a bull. Instead, it was Fran who got planted with the devastating spear. The audience was unsure if Francesca was overreacting or not, but she wallowed around on the mat, screaming out:
FRANCESCA: “OH, LAWD, SOMEBODY HELP ME, MY STOMACH, YAWL! JESAS, HELP A CHILD!”
MLC shook her head at her antics and began to bring her opponent to her feet. As she did, she motioned that it was time for Criss Cross (Crossleg Sitout Tombstone Piledriver)! The crowd got on their feet as MLC got the position she needed, but those cheers became boos really quickly.
Because Sophie El struck Marilyn Lee Cross with Split the Sky (Discus Big Boot)! MLC fell to the ground, not moving upon impact. Francesca got up, immediately clinging to her tag team partner for dear life. She kissed her cheek and praised JESAS for Sophie’s interference. She stood there for a moment before she decided to start stomping out the recovering woman on the ground. Sophie stopped Francesca, telling her that she had a better idea. The ghostly lady exited the ring, gathering a chair and handing it to Francesca. Fran looked elated, enhancing the dramatics with some fawning. Sophie lifted MLC up and held her ready for a clear shot at her head. Francesca began to reel back full force until someone slid under the opposing ropes.
The crowd began to cheer loudly as Evelyn Kuller tackled Francesca to the ground, sending the chair careening into the ground. Sophie flung MLC to the ground while she went to try to attack Evelyn. MLC was quick on the uptake, grabbing onto Sophie and turning her around. A spinning backfist cracked Sophie across the jaw and sent her to the mat. Sophie recovered quickly enough, taking Francesca out of the ring as she herself escaped. Being carried by her partner bridal style, Francesca massaged her jaw, shouting at the duo standing in the ring. Evelyn only shot her a stare before going to see if MLC was alright.
WINNER: Marilyn Lee Cross via disqualification (11:20)
The feed transitioned backstage in one of the talent locker rooms. From the looks of it, someone had added their own flare prior to the cameraman arriving. The room is lit with white string lights and a Himalayan salt lamp in one of the locker compartments. In an unexpected turn, the camera shook a bit, with a barely audible swear word spatting out from the person behind the camera.
“I didn’t mean to startle you like that,” said an unidentified woman.
The cameraman moved the camera upward to show viewers the room’s occupant, Lyza Reyes getting down from the top of the stall. She was careful in not bumping her head against the steel air duct and managed to land on her feet without any assistance. She then faced the camera with her signature smile and suited in her ring gear.
LYZA REYES: My dearest Lyzanites, and anyone else who happens to be watching this, there’s another Volume to look forward to at PW NEO. The journey continues and I’m still here for it. Although I moved on from the Heaven and Hell tournament sooner than later, that doesn’t mean the stakes have lowered, it doesn’t mean that I’m still coasting through or what have you.
Every booking still feels like a “break it or make it” scenario and serves a purpose. Nothing has been “filler” by any means, and even if this weren’t for a chance to become the number one contender, I wouldn’t treat it any differently. You can’t just scoff or dismiss these things. People have eyes, and they watch and observe your every move whether you realize it or not.
The backstage tomfoolery, the wedgie-picking in the parking lot - you’re someone’s form of entertainment, my starlets. You’re your own director, screenwriter, and producer! Do you not realize how much power you have?
She pointed to her temple with her index finger before continuing.
LYZA REYES: And I also understand how scary that could be. Having so much power can be dangerous depending on the soul that possesses it. My opponent has been in the business long enough to have seen all sorts of scenarios play out in front of him. From PWR to ECWF, he’s seen it, done it, and owns a t-shirt saying as such.
What can I tell the Hipster Hercules that he hasn’t already heard? Because hey, hipsters seek what has yet to be found. And let me tell you, Fran is going to beat me up for this later, but I’ve been known to step in a “hipster” coffee shop from time to time for a matcha latte. What can I say? I’m a sucker for almond milk art.
Hear me out, though. It can be easy to simply focus on whoever is holding what we all want, this person being BLAISE freakin’ FADER. And if that’s your prerogative, then so be it. I just wouldn’t want you to miss out on something out of this world. You don’t want to be that tourist walking aimlessly through Times Square and somehow end up in Sbarros when you can instead find yourself in Chinatown eating dumplings made by an elderly woman who just cussed you out in her native tongue, but boy oh boy can she roll and steam dumplings like nobody’s business!
So as long as you’re not pregnant, have any heart palpitations or a weak bladder, then I am inviting you along for the ride to the Space Age. Fast Pass holders may now enter.
She then produced a white plastic card held by a lanyard from the sleeve of her hoodie, which allowed the cameraman to focus on the text, that said none other than, “Ultra.” From here, the scene faded to black.
"Hoping to bring efedding a few good steps forward."
Post by Pro Wrestling NEO on Mar 31, 2019 20:21:08 GMT -5
The video feed comes to life. While the majority of the Pro Wrestling NEO roster is in attendance for the night’s show, Nina Stokes is not. Her location? Undisclosed. What is apparent is that humongous mirror rests just be behind her. Nina is seated in a director’s chair. Her leisurely posture reveals her bored demeanor.
NINA STOKES: “I am a warrior. And because I am a warrior, waiting around on the sidelines isn’t ideal...”
There’s a slight pause before she continues.
NINA STOKES: “So instead of being idle, I’ve been reviewing.”
She nods her head.
NINA STOKES: “I reviewed all of my own matches from Pro Wrestling NEO. And when I’d finished that, I began to review the matches of others.”
She pauses.
NINA STOKES: “You learn so much about people when you actually observe them move and operate. And I am not talking about mere miscues and mistakes…”
Nina shakes her head.
NINA STOKES: “I’m talking a person’s demeanor. They’re ambitions and motivates. They’re fears and insecurities. It’s all there for the world to see, if you’ve got the right eyes.”
She crosses her legs and leans back in her seat.
NINA STOKES: “All of you are probably wondering if I am talking about someone specific. Of course I am.”
She snaps her fingers.
NINA STOKES: “But stating who that person is right now? It really wouldn’t do anything. They wouldn’t listen; and, it wouldn’t be entertaining or suspenseful.”
Nina pauses once more.
NINA STOKES: “I think I’ll wait a show or two before I reveal who the person is. And after that? Then lessons begin…”
Nina nods.
NINA STOKES: “Because I’m not just here to kick ass. I’m here to enrich lives as well.”
A smirk appears on Nina’s face just before the scene fades out.
HEADLINE TAG TEAM MATCH "REFRESHER COURSE"
Deirdre Evans & Mariano Fernandez vs. DeMarcus Gresham & Ashlyn Monroe
DING! DING!
Manny took point for his team while Ashlyn confidently took stepped through the ropes and took charge for her squad. Manny made his way to the center of the ring and suggested that they engage in a lock up. And perhaps he didn’t notice it, but Ashlyn certainly shot him a death glare. Nonetheless, she did step forward and act as she if she was going to engage in that collaw-and-elbow tie-up that Manny so desire. But as Manny lunged forward, Ashlyn shot in and connected with a running standing-switch. Ashlyn quickly tripped Manny and dropped him to the mat. From there, she shot herself into the ropes. She rebounded and connected with a basement dropkick. Ashlyn kipped but and hit the ropes again; this time she returned with a senton. Ashlyn quickly transitioned into a pinfall. Morgan Hughes made the count:
ONE!
Manny was able to kick out pretty swiftly; he hadn’t sustained enough punishment. It didn’t matter much to Ashlyn; she mounted Manny and began punching him in the face. Morgan forewent the five-count and simply separated Ashlyn from her foe. She scoffed and rolled her eyes at the referee. After Morgan had taken a step back, Ashlyn decked Manny with a boot to the head. She then grabbed a hold of his foot and drug him over to the corner. The sight made DeMarcus chuckle lightly. She tagged his hand and in came the big man.
There was no love lost as DeMarcus took the fight to Manny. He ran in and clocked Mr. Fernandez upside the head before he planted him with a stern butterfly suplex. Manny held his back in pain, but his shoulders were soon forced to the mat:
ONE!
TWO!
Manny was able to kick out. What did DeMarcus do? Well, he mounted Manny and began to hammer him with punches. It took a four-count from Morgan to halt DeMarcus’ assault. After he lifted Manny up to his feet. In hindsight, DeMarcus probably should have kept him grounded. That ascension sparked some life in the Da Troll Guy. A punch and forearm combo caused DeMarcus to take a step back; a rolling koppu kick closed the distance. DeMarcus didn’t fall, but he wobbled about. However, a mean pele kick took the big guy off of his feet. Instead of going for the pin, Manny of back to his feet and darted towards the ropes. He leapt off the middle rope and hit a moonsault before he drug himself to the corner and tagged in Deirdre. Deirdre entered the ring and connected with a leaping senton before she went for the cover:
ONE!
T—
But DeMarcus wouldn’t be put away so easily. From there, both Deirdre and DeMarcus made it back to their feet. That’s when a nasty strike exchange broke out. DeMarcus used his boxing acclimates to keep Deirdre at bay for a period of time. A stiff hook to the body made Deirdre’s knees buckle. However, she did not fall or fold. Instead, she fired back with some vicious European uppercuts. Her last one drove DeMarcus into the ropes. He rebounded and got clocked with a boot. And then Deirdre planted him on the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex. She went for the pinfall.
ONE!
TWO!
The pin was broken up when Ashlyn entered the ring and kicked Deirdre square in the ribs. Madam Bizarre didn’t seem to appreciate it as she rolled off of DeMarcus and stood to her feet. She walked over and had a screaming match with Ashlyn. Manny encouraged his team mate to keep her eyes on the prize, but Deirdre was to wrapped up. That gave DeMarcus time to recover. He got to his feet and hit Deirdre with an elbow. DeMarcus attempted to whip Deirdre into the ropes, but she reversed it. And because that, she didn’t see Ashlyn tap DeMarcus on the back. Morgan did, however.
Ashlyn entered the ring and drove her shoulder into the back of Deirdre’s right left leg. Deirdre collapsed to the mat as DeMarcus rebounded. He drilled her with a Determination (Yakuza Kick). Ashlyn followed up DeMarcus’ attack with a running soccer kick to the chest. She went for the pin:
ONE!
TWO
T—
Manny jumped in and made the save that time. Ashlyn took her eyes off Deirdre long to shoot Manny another nasty glare. And that was her mistake. It allowed Deirdre to crack Ashlyn with a stiff headbutt to sternum. That knocked to wind out of her sails. Deirdre made her way to her corner and tagged out to Manny. Instead of going after the legal woman, Manny darted towards DeMarcus. He leapt into the air and drilled DeMarcus in the face with a flying forearm. It knocked the big man to the floor. It also allowed Ashlyn to sneak up from behind and hit a schoolboy:
ONE!
TWO!
T—
Manny got his shoulder off of the mat. In the meantime, DeMarcus had risen to his feet. And he was furious. He was so heated that he reached under the ring and found himself a steel chair. He slid back into the ring and slammed it on the against the mat. That got Manny’s attention (and Ashlyn’s). It looked as if DeMarcus was going to cave Manny’s skull in…
But he didn’t.
Instead, he slid back out of the ring and took a seat.
Ashlyn certainly wasn’t a fan of DeMarcus’ antics. But Manny used DeMarcus’ distraction to his advantage. He clocked Ashlyn upside the head and shot her into the corner. Manny then blazed in and hit her with the Gadfly (step-up enzuigiri). Ashlyn dropped to the mat. Manny went for the pin once again.
ONE!
TWO
TH—
Ashlyn got her hand on the bottom ropes.
Deirdre encouraged her tag team partner as Manny stood back to his feet. Ashlyn glanced outside. DeMarcus seemed quite relaxed as he reclined in the steel chair. She knew he wasn’t going to be of much use to her. Manny walked over and tried to lift her up, but Ashlyn pushed him away and rolled to the outside.
Morgan gave her couple of warnings, but Ashlyn wasn’t having it. Morgan was forced to count:
ERIN LAMBERT: "The winners of this match by countout…DEIRDRE EVANS AND MARIANO FERNANDEZ!”
WINNER: Deirdre Evans & Mariano Fernandez via count out (15:12)
NORA FOLEY: “G.K. Hesterson once said that Fairy Tales don’t teach children that dragons exist; children already know that they exist. Fairy Tales teach children that the dragon can be killed.”
Nora’s voice was calm, deliberate, and as the camera faded to light, showing her? She was sitting pretty in a high backed leather chair, with a leather bound book spread out in her lap, a pop up castle coming from the pages with a knight on horseback charging a dragon like a true champion would. Over her shoulder? Was the Grand Prix championship. Calm, but with a certain tremor of fury that couldn’t be mistaken from her voice.
NORA FOLEY: “....This is why I do this. Why I continue to fight, even when I shouldn’t, even when I’ve been beaten down, to remind the children that have had a life similar to my own, or a struggle similar to my own, that their battle can be won, that their struggles can prove to be worth it in the end. Not everyone teaches them that, especially in a world where everyone wants to seem to set it ablaze, so few of us are willing to try and put it back together, to leave the world a better place than we found it. I can be the same, in more than just my own way, because I’m as human as the next person.”
With that, she closed that book, easing it shut and setting it aside on the end table that was next to her chair in that dimly lit room, as she sat there in her sunday best, her hair straight and hanging down, her makeup light, if it wasn’t for the fact that she was a wall of muscle, you could mistake her for someone of a far more civil profession.
NORA FOLEY: “My upcoming opponent doesn’t share my ideology, and in fact, she doesn’t think much of me before. That’s fine. We’ll use her as a teaching moment for today’s lesson. Sometimes, at our lowest point, we’re hit by catastrophe, a bad day made worse by something outside of your control. Because it beats you once doesn’t mean it’s going to beat you twice, because when you revisit things with a keen eye and careful mind? You can see why it beat you or, in some other cases, you beat yourself. Frankly, I’m more disappointed by her lack of prudence than insulted by her arrogance. It’s becoming of her, I feel, the way that she believes she’s the smartest woman in the room, and feels the need to strut about telling everyone.”
Straightening her dress for a moment, a faint smirk pulled across her lips
NORA FOLEY: “A certain… wrestling genius and sometime friend, one that actually beat her while allowing her to think that she beat him, would say… If you’re the smartest person in the room, then you’re quite obviously in the wrong room. Miss Van Beek will disagree, and take umbrage, doubtlessly feeling insulted by my words. That’s fine. She thinks I’ll be an easy win, and a weak opponent, that’s also fine. What she’s going to find, however, won’t be fine by her standards. I’m going to show Grace Van Beek what real tenacity looks like, and it’s won’t be someone that glitters prettily, and uselessly, as a diamond. It’ll be the glint of my title belt as it’s handed back over to me in victory.”
Pause. Beat.
NORA FOLEY: “See you soon, Grace.”
With that, it faded to black.
"Hoping to bring efedding a few good steps forward."
Post by Pro Wrestling NEO on Mar 31, 2019 20:48:28 GMT -5
MAIN EVENT PRO WRESTLING NEO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP #1 CONTENDER MATCH "BREACH THE HEAVENS"
Silas Romero vs. Lyza Reyes
With the lights dimming down in the arena, various gold spot lights started going over the crowd. The super thrashy, post-hardcore sounds of "Snake Oil" by Good Tiger filled the arena; the gold and maroon lights pulsing to the beat. Once the vocals came in full force, the "Hipster Hercules" emerged onto the stage with one spotlight shining onto him. Silas stared out into the crowd, while the crowd was cheering and chanting his name. Soon as the first breakdown kicked in on the song, Silas slowly elevated his right arm up to chest level; bending it at the elbow so that his forearm running parallel with said chest. The letter's "#GKFO" written across his navy forearm sleeve that went all the way up, connecting to his elbow pad, in a crisp, clean maroon font. A smirk rolled across his lips, before lowering his arm back down even slower than before. He sent a glance at the arriving Journie June. She nudged him in the side and told him to get on down the ramp already. He shook his head with a grin and followed orders.
ERIN LAMBERT: “Hailing from St. Johns, Florida.. Weighing in at 235lbs. He is the "Hipster Hercules".. SILAS ROMERO!”
JIN FUMEI: “Silas Romero is someone that people should note for. He’s like that player you draft on your fantasy team at random, but he ends up getting you all the points you could ever want. He’s not exactly the most notable person on our roster, due to some of the more...newer faces.”
ELIZABETH LESAGE: “You sound grouchy.”
JIN FUMEI: “But he’s going to be a household name here in NEO, if anyone likes it or not. Just remember he had the first ever match in NEO, where he defeated Shane Atwater.”
ELIZABETH LESAGE: “In a rather fun way.”
CERES BENTON: “Controversial is the word you’re looking for, sweetie.”
JIN FUMEI: “First match versus first main event. Interesting little story we got here.”
Silas strolled down the entrance way, every so often he would smack someone's hand at ringside, but not many. Once he got to ringside, he went directly for the steel steps that led up to the apron of the ring. Silas leaned up against the steel ring post for a moment; again letting his smug smirk roll across his lips, just before stepping slowly between the second and top rope. He walked across the ring, straight for the hard camera side of the ropes. He leaned forward, letting the top rope support his weight, while sticking his right arm out in front of himself. It was level with his chest; the letters on his arm were once again readable, he even pointed to each letter with his left pointer finger. As the music reached the final chorus of the song, Silas pushed himself away from the ropes and proceeded to make his way to the opposite turnbuckle and leaned against it as he now went into warming up for the match-up.
A black and white video vignette begins rolling on the screens, showing Lyza Reyes dressed as Charlie Chaplin on the moon. There is no dialogue, but simply piano music playing with the pace of the footage. She's caught in the middle of a tug of war match between a U.S. Spaceman, and a small group of miniature aliens. Before determining which side pulls Lyza once and for all, the venue goes pitch black, and "In Distress" by A$AP Rocky featuring Gesaffelstein begins to play.
”I’m something out this world, nothing like the rest…"
Like an astronaut coming down in a shuttle, a jet of smoke came out as Lyza Reyes made her appearance. The crowd responded to her with a clear adoration, rocking the arena for the loudest reaction of the night. Lyza smiled widely and nodded in appreciation to the “Lyzanites.” She started down the ramp with her hands out, tagging a few of the outstretched and lucky fans.
ERIN LAMBERT: “Introducing first...making her way to the ring...from Queens, New York...it’s the Universally Dope...LYZA REEEEEEYES!”
CERES BENTON: “Defeating Kyra McKnight at Insurgence was the first step to getting here and well, Lyza has the edge. She knows the main event scene here more than anyone else. She’s one of the poster children of our budding federation and she knows it. What better to solidifiy that than going for the World Championship?”
JIN FUMEI: “But she has Silas Romero standing there, looking to make his impact. It’s a tale of the popular versus the…”
ELIZABETH LESAGE: “The hipster choice?”
JIN FUMEI: “I wouldn’t want to call it that necessarily but Silas isn’t something to sleep on. I know Lyza knows that; do you two?”
Lyza entered the ring, staring out to the audience before her eyes landed on Silas. She relaxed her shoulders and let out any wanton stress in a breath. Silas nodded, seeing this, asking her if she was really ready for this. It got him an incredulous look in return, which he chuckled at lightly.
DING! DING!!
Silas blew Journie a kiss at ringside before turning his full attention back to Lyza. His opponent couldn’t help but tell him how cute that was. Silas rolled his eyes with a hint of red on his cheeks before asking Lyza for the collar-and-elbow tie up. Lyza shook her head and offered a handshake. Silas stood there for a moment, deciding if he wanted to show the respect. The crowd rallied for him to do so and he sent a glance back to his lover, who shrugged. Silas mimicked the motion and shook Lyza’s hand to the pleasure of the audience.
CERES BENTON: “I guess we’re actually going to get a good match—not whatever that trickery was with Shane Atwater.”
JIN FUMEI: “Lyza’s a bit more likeable than that machine.”
ELIZABETH LESAGE: “Shane’s an android? …I always knew it.”
The two competitors do the natural tie up, vying for the advantage. Silas clearly has the weight advantage but Lyza knew this as well. She weaved her way around Silas, getting a hammerlock applied. Silas gritted his teeth and lowered himself to the mat before arching his arm over Lyza’s neck. A quick snapmare brought the hold and he applied a chin lock in retaliation. Lyza kept her hands around Silas’s to prevent the hold being entirely locked in. She managed to find some room and get to her feet, driving her elbow into Silas’s gut before he fell into the ropes. She gave chase but he spun around her and got a headlock applied. He walked Lyza over to the center of the ring but she stopped his step by interlocking her leg into his and sending him to the mat. Silas rolled to his feet, but Lyza spun around him and brought him back to the mat with a drop toe hold. She looked as if she was ready to lock in a Muta lock but Silas pushed himself up to prevent that. Lyza opted to break the hold and hit the mat, getting a grounded facelock. Silas inched close to the ropes, tickling it with the tips of his fingers before Lyza stopped wrenching the hold. Instead, she got up and dragged his leg back before running at the ropes.
Lyza stopped midway and tried for an elbow drop but Silas got to his feet. Silas went for a kick, which Lyza avoided by ducking. She hit him in the gut to stave off any further attacks on her person. Shin and legs kicks met Silas but he remained steadfast and returned the offense with some of his own. Lyza stumbled back, falling prey to the raw power of the blows. Silas kept going with more before Lyza managed to catch a kick and tried for a DDT. Silas shoved her off and went for a rising high knee. Lyza evaded it, climbed on his shoulders, and went for a rotating hurricanrana takedown. Silas stopped her by shoving her legs back. Lyza recovered fast enough to land on her knees and not on her face. However, Silas caught her with a kick to the chest. Lyza gasped, which only brought more to her chest until Silas sent her down to the mat with a stronger strike. The sound echoed and the crowd reeled for poor Lyza. Silas went for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
ELIZABETH LESAGE: “Lyza can’t match rhythm.”
CERES BENTON: “I’ve seen her dance; she’s pretty good—oh.”
JIN FUMEI: “Yes, Elizabeth was making an insightful comment, and she’s right. Silas very cleverly pressed his own style onto Lyza. She has to try to disrupt or else those strikes are going to kill her.”
Silas grabbed Lyza by the arm and brought her to a standing position. She was a bit groggy and it led to Silas striking her with open handed slaps in bunches. When one turned her to the side, Silas picked her up and dropped the former HKW World Champion with a half nelson backbreaker. Lyza held her back in pain as she rolled onto her stomach. Silas moved around her before taking off at the ropes. When Lyza got a single knee, she was sent back to the mat with a running European Uppercut from Silas. After the hit, Silas took Lyza up to her feet again and sent her into the ropes. Upon the rebound, he bent over. Lyza saw a chance and rolled over his back and steadied herself onto the ropes. With a sharp breath, she waited for Silas to turn around. She walked forward and tried for a jawbreaker but Silas shoved her to the mat. He followed shortly with another European Uppercut. Lyza’s body slumped against the second and bottom rope. Silas told her to stay right there and he went for the opposing ropes. When he came back, he sent for a knee strike but Lyza dodged out of the way.
Silas’s leg got hung on the ropes!
JIN FUMEI: “Oh gosh, if he would have hit that knee, it might have been over!”
ELIZABETH LESAGE: “That’s rough, bud, but not as rough as what’s about to happen.”
CERES BENTON: “His leg got caught, and he can’t get out!”
He tried quickly to get out of the precarious position but it was far too late. Lyza saw a chance and hit a dropkick to the side of his head. Silas fell to the mat, still somewhat stuck on the second rope. Lyza scaled the top rope and waited for Silas to try to recover. He did on cue, it seemed, where he removed his leg from the second rope first. As she began to get up, Lyza came down on him with a diving facebuster. Silas fell out of the ring upon impact, clutching his leg. He fell into the barricade and used enough grit to try to come right back. Lyza expected this as she came down on Silas with Lyza’s Comet (Suicide Dive), sending him into the barricade and nearly into the crowd. Lyza didn’t let him and sent him back into the ring. She climbed onto the ring apron and onto the top rope. Silas stumbled close, desperate to get some offense back in. Lyza drew him in and brought him down with a Tornado DDT before going for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
CERES BENTON: “And Silas weakly got the shoulder up!”
JIN FUMEI: “That facebreaker did a whole lot of damage!”
ELIZABETH LESAGE: “I hope his girl isn’t going to be mad about that. Devilish good looks are hard to come by these days.”
Lyza had Silas back on his feet and going towards the turnbuckle. Running after him, Lyza gave Silas no room to recover as she hit him with a dropkick in the corner. She rolled backwards and onto her feet. Silas, meanwhile, slumped into the bottom turnbuckle. Lyza connected with another dropkick, this time forcing his head into the bottom turnbuckle. From there, Lyza climbed to the top rope, clapping her hands for the crowd to give her their energy. When Silas got up, she came down onto him with Dreambodycatcher (Diving Crossbody)—
SILAS ROLLED THROUGH!
CERES BENTON: “Wow, how the hell—”
JIN FUMEI: “Strength and resolve, Ceres!”
Silas put Lyza down with a front slam before dragging her into a powerbomb position. He lifted her up and threw her recklessly down. When Lyza came down, a high knee awaited her. The impact sent a crack echoing through the audience. Lyza crumbled to the mat; Silas grinned and motioned that she was already kneeling. He ran off the ropes, trying for Kneel Before ZOD (Busaiku Knee Kick) but Lyza rose from the mat and put him back down with a momentum stopping dropkick. The two competitors were down and barely stirring. As they both got to their feet, the crowd was chanting behind them.
“GOOD ASS SHT! GOOD ASS SHIT! GOOD ASS SHIT!”
Lyza ran forward, taking the advantage. Her speed caught Silas off guard and she connected with a headscissors takedown. When Silas got up from the ground, she followed up with a running double axe handle. Another one followed before she stopped midway on the third. Silas put up a block and she went low with a shin kick before trying for the third axe handle. Silas ducked underneath it and threw out a Superkick! Lyza went low to evade and caught the other leg, she brought Silas down into a calf slicer!
JIN FUMEI: “Calf slicer locked in!”
Silas’ gut instinct was to reach for the ropes but they went too far away. As he sat there in pain, Journie June went around to meet his face. She yelled for him to keep pushing. Her face paled when Silas buried his face into the mat, unable to bear the pain. She smacked the mat and told him that he’s not Yamcha! It was enough to bring some spirit into Silas as he reared up and popped Lyza into the back of the head with his elbow. Lyza released the hold as her body went rigid. Silas crawled to the ropes and lifted himself up. He waited for Lyza to get up. She did it through sheer force of will but without anything else—which meant there was no guard to block.
JIN FUMEI: “There’s a bullet in the chamber!”
Silas collided into Lyza with the .44 Caliber Love Letter (Running Mafia Kick)! Lyza hit the mat and Silas motioned for the end.
Lyza crawled to her feet, not knowing where she was at. Silas grabbed her by the arm, looking for GFKO (Ripcord Elbow)—
LYZA DUCKED IT!
As Lyza turned around—
SUPERKICK!
Lyza’s body turned to face the audience and Silas let out a gutteral roar and decided to skip the formalities.
With an aim on the back of her head, Silas threw out his rolling elbow. Lyza tried to turn…to evade…anything.
But it was too late.
CERES BENTON: “G…F…K…O!”
The elbow struck true and Lyza fell to the mat with Silas falling on top of her. He hooked the leg with his eyes closed, a silent prayer.
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT?!
…
NO!
THREE!
DING! DING!! DING!!!
ERIN LAMBERT: “Here is your winner by pinfall and new number one contender for the Pro Wrestling NEO World Championship…SILAS ROMEEEEEROOOOO!”
JIN FUMEI: “He has done it! He has punched his ticket! We now have our main event for Second Impact! It will be Silas Romero challenging Blaise Fader for the Pro Wrestling NEO Championship!”
CERES BENTON: “It was a valiant effort. I want to say that having some extra motivation at ringside willed him back into this one. We cannot forget about the effort that Lyza Reyes made!”
JIN FUMEI: “Of course we can’t! Lyza brought everything and more. It might not have been enough tonight but it was the same quality we know out of Ms. Reyes.”
ELIZABETH LESAGE: “I wonder what’s next for her.”
CERES BENTON: “We’ll have to find out next time, but now we have a few interesting weeks to look forward to.”
Silas and Lyza met in the center of the ring again. This time, Silas was the one to offer the handshake. Lyza nodded, openly disappointed in her loss, but she returned the handshake and the two gave one another a quick embrace before Lyza left to leave Silas to his celebration. With him on the top rope, the screen faded to black with the fun copyright info in the corner.
WINNER AND NEW NUMBER ONE CONTENDER FOR THE PRO WRESTLING NEO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Silas Romero via pinfall (GFKO - 17:44)
"Hoping to bring efedding a few good steps forward."
