##### ###### ### ########## ########## ########## #### ## ########## ########## ########## #### # #### ######## ##### ##### #### ## ##### #### #### #### #### ### #### #### #### #### ############# ######### #### #### ########### ######### #### #### #### #### #### ######### ######### ### #### #### ######### ######### ### ## #### ######## ######## ## # #### =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ## =-=-=-= INTERNATIONAL INTERNET WRESTLING FEDERATION =============================================== S + A + T + U + R + D + A + Y N + I + G + H + T ----------------------------------------------- * LIVE * NJ Meadowlands Arena, New York * * 3 August 1996 * [Fade up on aerial shots of New York. Madison Square Garden is seen; the shots then chart a journey towards the Meadowlands Arena. Aerial shot of the arena, with Tim Dross providing a voice-over:] TD: Just twenty-five minutes from the world's most famous arena, the site of IIWF Midsummer Madness in two weeks from today, welcome to the NJ Meadowlands Arena! Welcome to IIWF Saturday Night! [Shots fade through to interior shots of fans in the arena. Fireworks explode in the rafters. Cut to Tim Dross and "Soundbite" Steve Roberts standing at the announcers' table in the ringside area.] TD: Hello there, everybody, and welcome to another action-packed evening of wrestling entertainment! I'm Tim Dross, and beside me, as always, is "Soundbite" Steve Roberts. We're joined here in the Meadowlands Arena by over 16,000 fans and a massive international television audience, and we can certainly promise a show that won't disappoint tonight, fans! SR: You're damn right, Dross -- because tonight, my champion, Fisto Flash, is going to take Willy Pukespeare out! TD: Steve, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for the cowardly attack you perpetrated on Billy Shakespeare on Wednesday night at Midweek Mayhem! SR: Yeah? Well, I'm not. Tell the peons what other lesser matches they'll get to see tonight. TD: Lesser matches?! SR: How could anything else compare with seeing Pukespeare's face smashed in? TD: [pause] Excuse my broadcast colleague, folks; he's a little excited. But we should certainly have enough action here tonight! We're going to see the huge showdown between Tiger Claw and the Subway Psycho... SR: [interrupting] And Brian Lau is finally going to make the Stinker pay for all the troubles he's caused over the past weeks. TD: All the troubles the _Psycho's_ caused?! You're unbelievable. And we're very honoured to be able to welcome the Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Guilliani, here to the Meadowlands Arena tonight as he presents the key to the city to the people's champion in just a few moments. SR: That has got to be the biggest joke of all time, Dross. Why don't we make Charles Manson a saint while we're at it? TD: Please. There's no need for that, Steve. Tonight will also see the crowning of the new IIWF World Tag Team Champions at the climax of the round robin tournament that's been going on over the past four weeks. Tonight's final match will clinch the decision - if the High Plains Drifters defeat arch-rivals, the Atomic Destroyers, then Pale and Easy Rider get to take home the gold to the Posse. If, on the other hand, the Atomic Destroyers win the match, then the Senator's men get to keep the gold! SR: And if they draw? TD: Well, that's tough, but on a technicality, the Destroyers would keep the titles since they've won two and drawn one, whereas the Drifters have won two and lost one. In any case, it's going to go down to the wire here tonight! In other action, the Senator's other man, the Hangman, will take on Deathbringer. SR: And "Painbringer" Billy Sexton gets a second chance at maiming that loser Tony Starks. TD: Maybe tonight we'll find out a little more about the mysterious gentleman that Starks seems to be so upset with. We'll also see Blackjack Haley face his former teammate, the Outlaw. That should be a great match! SR: I don't know who to root for in that one, Dross. Haley's been quite the unstoppable force in recent weeks, but the Outlaw's the immovable object - he's certainly one guy I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of. TD: And Dan Kauffman will battle the Crippler later on here tonight! I'm told we're going to see a new Kauffman here tonight. SR: Let's hope the "new" Kauffman doesn't talk so much, hey, Dross? TD: There's no need for that, Steve. So all of that great action is coming up here live tonight, but before we go up to the ring, let's just recap on the results of the matches we've already seen tonight: - STUNT TEAM USA defeated STEAMROLLER, who were returning to tag action after a long layoff due to Brassow sustaining a knee injury at the hands of the Guiding Lights some weeks ago. Steamroller still look a little rusty, and Ron and Steve exploited their lack of confidence, finally scoring the victory with the Fire & Forget. However, after the match, Steamroller's manager, Dave Albanese, again launched into a verbal barrage on his men. He even slapped Brassow around the face! Steamroller finally snapped, and kicked Albanese clear out of the ring, much to the delight of the crowd. He backed up the aisle, signalling that he washes his hands of his team. The fans certainly seemed to warm to Steamroller when they ejected their manager, Steve. SR: I used to have respect for Steamroller, as you well know, but they seem to have gone off the boil completely. Kicking Dave Albanese out as their manager might just be the stupidest thing they've ever done. TD: We'll see. Interestingly, Ron and Steve have mentioned that they're on the look out for a manager... Anyway, in other action: - MAGUS defeated DON THATT [J] in quick time with his sleeper hold, after rocking the unfortunate athlete with all manner of high impact manoeuvres, including a vicious chokeslam and a devastating powerbomb. - THE PHANTOM forced THE ENFORCER to submit to his Scorpion Deathlock at the climax of a real power battle. Both men pulled out their biggest guns, and the crowd were wowed by some incredible high-impact offense. However, in the end it was the mysterious Dark Knight who slowed down the pace and locked in that nasty leg grapevine for the victory. - PRINCE OF DARKNESS defeated "NUCLEAR" JOHN BOMBER by pinfall, but not without the assistance of Magus, who will be on the opposing side to Bomber at Midsummer Madness. Bomber was dominating the Prince, but Dr. Faustus distracted the referee as Magus came down to ringside and powerbombed Bomber on the outside of the ring before rolling him back into the ring. PoD simply laid his arm across Bomber's chest for the victory. SR: None of those matches can compare to the beating we're going to see later on tonight when my man Fisto Flash takes Pukespeare apart! It's going to be great! TD: Right now it's time for the presentation of the key to the city to the people's champion, the Subway Psycho. RA: Ladies and gentlemen, will you please welcome the Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Guilliani! [Big pop for the Mayor as he makes his way down to the ring, flanked by security guards. He holds a large golden key in his hands, and he waves to the crowd as he steps between the ropes.] TD: It looks like the Mayor's happy to be here tonight! SR: That moron's just happy to be out of his padded cell! I can't believe anyone would be insane enough to give a criminal the key to the city! TD: Steve, please! This is the Mayor of New York you're talking about! SR: That's right, Dross. TD: You're unbelievable! RA: And now, would you please welcome the people's champion, the Subway Psycho! ["Crazy Train" starts up and the crowd goes absolutely nuts as the Psycho makes his way down to the ring, swamped by hands on all sides.] TD: I've never heard anything like this! There's nobody more popular in this town than the Subway Psycho! SR: These New Yorkers are more stupid than I thought. Unbelievable. TD: While the Psycho's making his entrance, let's go backstage to hear from Larry Morton, who is, I believe, with Brian Lau and Tiger Claw at this very moment. Larry? [Cut to backstage. Larry Morton stands with Brian Lau, and a very focused-looking Tiger Claw.] LM: Thanks, Tim. I am indeed... er, honoured to be here with Brian Lau and Tiger Claw. Brian, I'm sure you're not happy about the ceremony about to begin in the ring in a few moments. BL: How could I possibly be happy about that criminal being awarded one of the highest civic honours there is? What service to society has the Subway Psycho performed? Increasing air conditioner sales due to his lack of personal hygiene, perhaps, but helping a marginalised section of the marketplace hardly compares with his negative actions in recent weeks. Destruction. Sexual assault. Vandalism. Violence. Only in America could you Westerners actually honour such a man. However, all of this is only going to serve to make tonight's main event all the more enjoyable for Tiger Claw. LM: Can you tell us your strategy for tonight's match against the Psycho? BL: Why don't you ask Tiger Claw? He's the one that'll be in the ring... [Tiger Claw snarls and crowds Larry, forcing him to back up.] LM: Ummm, Okay, I think I see your gameplan... Brian, what about the comments given yesterday by Subway Psycho? BL: Yes, I heard that... Psycho wants a clean match. He wants it to be one on one. I'll oblige and stay away from ringside. I've got some business to take care of anyway. I'm starting to get tired of people saying that Tiger Claw can't win without me there, so we'll prove it to you idiots. I'll stay backstage. LM: What about the rest of the Syndicate? BL: I guarantee that Joe Latta, Sasha, and myself will _NOT_ come down to ringside. Is that what you want to hear? LM: Well, yes, I guess so... BL: Well, then, there you go. Psycho, you heard it from me. You asked for Tiger Claw, and that's what you'll get. Martial arts from beginning to end. And after he beats you, we'll all celebrate in our own special way. LM: Well, thanks, Brian and, ummm, Tiger Claw... [Tiger Claw gives a sideways glance at Larry] LM: Ummm... Back to you, Tim and Steve. [Cut back to ringside. The Psycho is still making his way around the ring, hi-fiving the fans.] TD: Thanks, Larry. I'll be honest, Steve, I don't think Brian Lau's word is worth a great deal. He'll be down at ringside... he's got something planned. SR: Dross, you're the kind of untrusting American who makes us all look bad in the eyes of honourable men like Brian Lau. If he promises something, you can take it to the bank. And I think he more or less promised victory for Tiger Claw here tonight, and that's just what you're going to see. TD: I don't know about that. There's no wrestler with more momentum at the moment than the Subway Psycho. I don't think Claw can beat him... well, we'll have to stop our speculation right here, since the Psycho is making his way into the ring for this ceremony. Let's go up to the squared circle. [The Psycho enters the ring and shakes the Mayor's hand. The ring announcer gives the microphone to the Mayor, who speaks:] RG: Ladies and gentlemen, it's wonderful to be here tonight in the Meadowlands Arena, and it's equally wonderful to be standing next to the Subway Psycho [huge pop]. He truly is an exemplary citizen here in New York, keeping the streets and the subways safe for the good people of this city. Psycho, I know you've had your problems in recent times, but I want to present you with the key to the city as a gesture of New York's thanks, and its faith in you. We wouldn't know what to do without you, Psycho! [Huge pop.] SR: Oh, please! I think I'm going to be sick! [The Mayor hands the key to the Psycho, who holds it aloft. Cameras flash and the fans cheer wildly. The Psycho asks for the microphone and it is handed to him. The fans fall silent as the Psycho speaks:] SP: I want to thank everybody in this arena here tonight, and everybody watching on television all around the world, who have supported me through the past few weeks. I haven't acted like a worthy champion, and although it near broke my heart to have that belt taken away from me, I know it was the right thing. Now I have this key in my hands, and it will forever symbolise for me the great support I have had from the people of this city, and of people all over the world. And, folks, make no mistake about it: the Subway Psycho is back on track! First stop on the comeback trail is giving Tiger Claw the beating of his life here tonight [big pop], and then I'm going all the way to the top at Midsummer Madness. I _will_ regain the IIWF World Heavyweight Championship, and that's a promise! [Huge pop as the Psycho again shakes the Mayor's hand, and holds the ropes open for him to step through. The entourage heads back up the aisle.] SR: Dross, that has got to be the most sickening display I have ever seen in my entire life. TD: I thought it was great! SR: You would. But the Stinker's not going to think it's so great when Tiger Claw shoves that key right up his a... TD: [interrupting] Now it's time to go up to the ring for tonight's first live match - and what a way to kick the show off, as Tony Starks battles his nemesis "Painbringer" Billy Sexton. ~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~ "Painbringer" Billy Sexton vs. Tony Starks _.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-._ [IIWF ring announcer Sparkplug Lee steps into the ring once more. He bows sheepishly to the applauding fans, and then speaks:] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's opening encounter is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, from Staten Island, New York, weighing in at 269lbs, here is: Tony Starks! [Big face pop for Starks as he appears at the head of the aisle. "C.R.E.A.M" blares out over the PA as he walks down to the ring, crossing over to either side of the aisle and slapping the hands of the eager fans. He does a complete circuit of the ring, then enters the squared circles and raises his arms to the crowd as fireworks explode high above the ring. Big pop.] TD: Just listen to these people! Tony Starks sure looks pleased to be back in his home town, and these fans sure seem pleased to see him. SR: Starks had better watch his back out here tonight. You can bet there are dozens of people who Starks has crossed in the past out in this audience, and anyone of them could decide that tonight's going to be payback time. TD: What do you mean, Steve? Do you know something about this mysterious gentleman?! SR: Shut up, Dross, the ring announcer's talking. RA: And introducing his opponent, hailing from Wawa, Ontario, Canada, and weighing in at 245lbs, here is: "Painbringer" Billy Sexton! [Big heel pop as Sexton appears at the head of the aisle. He walks down to the ring, talking on a cellphone.] TD: Give me a break! What's all this about?! SR: Sexton's a smart guy, Dross. He's probably negotiating some merchandising deal. You can bet that the IIWF Marketing bods are just dying to get some "Painbringer" Billy Sexton merchandise out there. [Sexton climbs the ringsteps, still talking on the phone, and then walks over to Starks, who stands, hands on his hips, looking unimpressed. Sexton signals to Starks that the call's for him, and offers him the phone. Starks looks uncertainly at Sexton, but takes the phone. Sexton then cheapshots Starks, clotheslining him to the canvas. He immediately starts stomping on Starks' knee. Huge heel pop.] SR: Yes! That was great! How stupid is Tony Starks, anyway? TD: There was no call for that. Sexton ought to be ashamed of himself. [Sexton executes a savate kick, and then whips Starks into the ropes. He hits a clothesline, and goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kickout! Sexton runs into the ropes as Starks gets to his feet, and Starks hits Billy with a kick to the midsection. Starks attempts to nail Sexton with a hard right hand, but Sexton blocks, and takes Starks down with a hiptoss. He whips Starks into the ropes, and hits a backdrop. Starks rolls out of the ring to collect himself.] TD: Wow, what action we've seen here in the opening stages already! SR: Sexton's taking Starks apart, piece by piece. I love it! [Billy Sexton runs into the ropes, and slides out under the bottom rope, hitting Starks with a dropkick. Starks goes down, clattering into the steel barriers. Big heel pop. Sexton reenters the ring and poses to the crowd, while the referee counts - 1 - 2 - 3 - Starks stirs, and gets to his feet - 4 - 5 - he gets back onto the ring apron. Sexton tries to suplex Starks into the ring over the ropes, but Tony blocks, and sunset flips over Sexton, making the cover - 1 - kickout! Starks whips Sexton into the ropes, and attempts a lariat, but Sexton drops down to the canvas. Starks comes back a second time, and Sexton leapfrogs over Starks. Sexton stops Starks in his tracks with a kick to the midsection. He grabs Starks and performs a German suplex into a bridge - 1 - 2 - kickout!] TD: Tony Starks must be distracted by that phonecall. He's not managing to string together any real offense here. SR: I still find Starks pretty offensive, Dross. TD: That's not what I meant, and you know it. [Starks gets to his feet, but is clearly a little groggy. Sexton grabs one of Starks' arms, going for the armbar submission, but Starks tosses Sexton across the ring with an armdrag. Big pop.] TD: If Sexton had got the armbar on Starks there, this would have all been over! [Starks runs into the ropes, and Sexton misses with a shoulderblock. He hits a backdrop on the second pass, and then drives a fist into Starks' midsection. He covers Starks, pulling his tights for extra leverage - ] SR: Hey, the moon's out tonight! TD: One! Two! Thr -- no! Another kickout! Sexton is willing to do just about anything to win in this one, Steve. [Sexton drags Starks to his feet and whips him into the corner. He charges in, but Starks sidesteps, and Sexton hits the buckles hard. Starks traps Sexton in the corner, climbs to the second buckle, and starts pounding on him. The crowd chants along - "1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9! 10!" Starks finally lets Sexton out of the corner. He takes a few steps forward, and then tumbles over, falling flat onto the canvas. Big pop!] TD: You can feel the momentum shifting now, Steve! Starks is regaining control of this match. [Starks drags Sexton to his feet and prepares to execute the Dragon suplex. He raises one arm to the crowd, who give him a big pop.] SR: No! Come on, Sexton, do something! [Sexton grabs Starks round the waist and applies as much pressure as he can. The bearhug forces Starks to release his hold, and Sexton adjusts his grip so that the hold is at its maximum efficiency.] TD: The bearhug can really sap your energy. If it's applied properly, just at the base of the ribcage, it prevents the wrestler taking deep breaths, and the resulting shallow breathing forces hyperventilation. Sooner or later, the trapped athlete passes out. SR: Wow, Doctor Dross. What a frightening thought. TD: I try to keep up ahead with these things, Steve. SR: Pity you've overtaken your hair, though... TD: Will you stop?! Starks is still trapped in that bearhug. [The crowd begin to chant "To - ny! To - ny! To - ny!" and gradually, Starks tries to power out of the hold. He staggers backwards, and reaches the ropes. The referee calls for the break, and Sexton lets go. As he backs away, Starks nails him with a kick.] SR: Now _that_ was uncalled for! Sexton gave a clean break, and Starks kicks him with a cheap shot! What a low-down, dirty son of a... TD: [interrupting] Thanks, Steve. I think we get the picture. Your colour commentary is just a little too colourful, sometimes. [Starks executes a bodyslam, and goes for a dropkick to the knee, but Billy Sexton counters it with a side step. He takes Starks down to the mat with a clothesline, and then drops an elbow on him. Starks rolls to the outside, but is followed by Sexton, who whips him into the guard rail. Starks clutches at his back in pain, but is grabbed by Sexton once more. Sexton tries to whip him into the ringsteps, but Starks reverses the move, and the "Painbringer" cannons over the steps. Big pop. Starks reenters the ring to break the count, which had reached six.] SR: This is poor strategy from Starks. If he hopes to take Sexton out, he ought to be out there making the most of his current advantage. He's wasting time right here. [Sexton eventually gets back up onto the apron, but refuses to get back into the ring while Starks stands anywhere near that side of the squared circle. Big heel pop as the referee forces Starks to stand on the other side as Sexton steps back through the ropes. As soon as Sexton has set one foot inside the ring, Starks charges him, and takes him down with a clothesline. There is a buzz in the crowd as "Showstopper" Simon Lebec appears at the head of the aisle. Starks stops to watch Lebec saunter down the aisle. He signals for Lebec to come on and get some. Meanwhile, behind him, Sexton gets to his feet, and charges Starks, hitting him with a knee to the back. Starks tumbles over the ropes to the outside. Big heel pop.] SR: Tony Starks is in a whole new world of trouble right now, Dross! TD: Somebody's got to keep Lebec away from Starks! [In the ring, Sexton theatrically tries to leave the ring to go after Starks, and the referee holds him back. Sexton keeps the official occupied while Lebec grabs a chair from a ringside table, and drives it into Starks' shoulder. Big heel pop. Lebec drops the chair, and helps Starks to his feet as the referee turns. He makes like dusting Starks off, and then steps back, looking innocently at the official.] TD: I can't believe that Sexton and Lebec keep getting away with this! You'd almost think they'd paid off the official to turn a blind eye to such blatant doubleteaming! SR: You know what, Dross -- you might just have hit onto something there. TD: I was joking, Steve. SR: Well, I'm not. What if that shady gentleman you seem so obsessed with has paid off both Lebec and Sexton to do a number on Starks? TD: That would be a despicable thing to do, but it's plausible. SR: And what if this guy goes one step further, and pays off an official to be something less than impartial in Starks' matches? TD: Are you suggesting that the officials here in the IIWF are corrupt? SR: Not necessarily, but I wish I'd thought of it earlier. TD: You're disgusting, Steve. [Sexton pulls Starks back into the ring, and immediately begins stamping on Starks' shoulder. He rolls him over, and cinches in his armbar submission. Big heel pop as Sexton repeatedly yanks on Starks' arm, making the hold even more painful.] TD: This is an excruciating hold, Steve. You can get a separated shoulder in a hurry with Sexton yanking away at you like that. Surely Starks can't sustain this for much longer? [Finally, Starks submits. Ding! Ding! Ding! But Sexton won't release the hold, and Lebec also enters the ring, stomping on Starks' back as he and Sexton laugh.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner, by submission: "Painbringer" Billy Sexton! [Huge heel pop as the assault in the ring continues.] TD: This is awful! We need help out here right now! [Huge heel pop as Billy Shakespeare and the Punster dash down the aisle to the aid of Starks. Sexton and Lebec immediately bail out, and head back up the aisle, Sexton grabbing the cellphone, dialling a number, and talking animatedly to somebody as he backs up the aisle.] SR: That meddling fool Pukespeare! [standing up] Hey, moron! It's only a matter of minutes until you get the beating of your life. Hear me? [Shakespeare stands in the ring and bows to Roberts; then he and the Punster help Starks from the ring and up the aisle to the cheers of the crowd.] TD: Steve, will you sit down?! SR: [sitting again] I can't wait, Dross. He's going to have seven shades of sh... TD: [interrupting] Steve, this is a family show. SR: Well, parents, get your kids away from the TV when Fisto Flash gets out here later on! It's not going to be a pretty sight, I guarantee it! TD: Just what is the deal with Starks and this shady gentleman? We're going to have to investigate this more closely. SR: You'll need a whole team of forensic experts to identify Pukespeare after Fisto's done with him later on! TD: You're useless, Steve. Let's move on to our second encounter. This one's going to be brutal -- the IIWF's own grim reaper, Deathbringer, takes on the Senator's executioner, the Hangman. Pick a winner, Steve. SR: Fisto Flash, Dross! TD: [despairingly] I give up. ~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~ The Hangman vs. Deathbringer _.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-._ [Sparkplug Lee takes to the ring once more.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, from Lorado, Texas, accompanied to the ring by the Senator, and weighing in at 322lbs, here is the Hangman! [Big heel pop as the Hangman, towering over his manager at his side, appears at the top of the aisle and heads down towards the ring.] TD: Tonight's a big night for the Senator and his men, Steve. Not only has the Hangman got the chance to prove himself against just about the toughest competitor here in the IIWF, but his Atomic Destroyers could be crowned IIWF Tag Team Champions later on! [Suddenly, as the Hangman and the Senator are halfway down the aisle, the lights drop. The video wall is illuminated, and the two men spin around to see what is shown on the screen. It depicts a lonely hill, cast in silhouette. On the top of the hill stands a gallows, with a poor victim standing beneath it, the rope already around his neck. The hand of a hangman is seen on the release lever. As he pulls it, a scythe flies into the scene and cuts the rope, allowing the victim to drop to the ground, apparently unhurt. Suddenly, the screen fills with the glowing red eyes of Deathbringer, who speaks:] DB: Not without my permission, Hangman... [Huge pop as the video wall cuts out, and the arena is plunged into total darkness. When the lights rise once more, Deathbringer stands in the ring. Massive pop as the Hangman turns, and visibly starts in the aisle. He and the Senator approach the ring slowly, Deathbringer watching all the time from the centre of the squared circle.] SR: I wish Yawnbringer would come up with an original entrance, Dross. TD: You bore easily, Steve. Deathbringer still sends chills up and down my spine. SR: No, that's probably just the ice those kids behind you keep dropping down your shirt. [The Hangman stands facing Deathbringer in the ring, his executioner's hood covering his face. He removes the hood, and there is a gasp from the crowd as he is seen to be wearing a mask which makes his face look startlingly similar to Deathbringer's visage.] TD: Wow... would you look at that?! The Hangman... he looks like Deathbringer! SR: I know the IIWF marketing guys sell imitation Deathbringer masks, but I'll admit that does look rather too much like the real thing. [The referee signals for the bell. The two men lock up. Deathbringer takes the Hangman down with a headbutt. Deathbringer goes for a double underhook suplex, but the Hangman blocks it, backdropping his huge opponent. The Hangman goes for a clothesline, but the 'Bringer ducks underneath, and hits the Hangman with a big clothesline of his own. Big pop. But the Hangman is straight back to his feet.] TD: That's odd... only Deathbringer usually gets up from bumps like that so quickly. You don't suppose that... no, that's ridiculous. SR: Whatever it is, it can't be as ridiculous as your toupee. What were you going to say, Dross? TD: Well, it was just... that mask. You don't think that mask has some powers of some kind, do you? SR: The only power that mask has is psychological. The Hangman's trying to faze Deathbringer, and he might just do it with that weird mask. [Deathbringer tries to nail the Hangman with a roundhouse, but the Hangman blocks it. The Hangman whips Deathbringer into the ropes, and 'Bringer goes for a sunset flip, but his opponent blocks the attempt, dropping onto 'Bringer with a chokehold. The referee counts - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5. The referee gives the Hangman an official warning.] TD: That wasn't a clever move by the Hangman. If he chokes Deathbringer again, he'll be immediately disqualified. [The Hangman executes a cobra clutch. Deathbringer reaches out, and due to his huge height, is able to reach the ropes within a few seconds. Deathbringer pulls himself to his feet by the ropes, and is charged by the Hangman, who clotheslines the big man to the outside. Big heel pop. Deathbringer, however, lands on his feet, and catches the Hangman as he attempts a diving shoulderblock from the ring. He turns him around in midair and slams him hard against the steel guardrail. Big pop. Deathbringer grabs at the Hangman's mask, but is nailed on the back by the Senator, vainly trying to protect his man. Deathbringer spins around and grabs the Senator by the neck. Huge pop. The referee gets out of the ring and tries to persuade the Deathbringer to let go of the manager. Meanwhile, the Hangman grabs a steel chair, and whacks Deathbringer across the back, with a resounding crack. Big pop. Deathbringer relinquishes his grip on the Senator, and turns. The Hangman brings the chair crashing down again on the Deathbringer's head. Huge heel pop. The Hangman drops the chair and rolls Deathbringer back into the ring.] TD: Look at that! Deathbringer's motionless! The Hangman's got him out cold! SR: This is great! Ol' Yawnbringer's not going to make it to Midsummer Madness after all! [The Hangman enters the ring and goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - Deathbringer kicks out with authority! Big pop! Deathbringer gets straight to his feet. The Hangman kicks him in the midsection and goes for a powerbomb, but Deathbringer backdrops the Hangman. He drags the hapless executioner to his feet and executes a powerbomb of his own. Huge pop! Deathbringer again grabs for the Hangman's mask, and this time removes it. He holds it up to the crowd, who give a huge cheer, and then throws it out of the ring to the Coroner.] TD: Well, bang goes the psychological advantage. SR: I can't believe this guy. [Deathbringer eventually goes for the cover, but only gets a two-count. He pulls the Hangman to his feet and whips him into the ropes. Deathbringer misses with a clothesline, and is met with a kick from the Hangman. The Hangman executes a swinging neckbreaker, and goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kick out!] TD: What a seesaw battle this is! Neither man seems to be able to gain a decisive advantage. [Now the Hangman whips Deathbringer into the ropes, and both men collide with a double clothesline. Both men go down and the referee starts the count - 1 - 2 - the crowd starts up a chant of "Bury him! Bury him! Bury him!" - 3 - Deathbringer sits bolt upright. Huge pop as he gets to his feet and drags the Hangman to his feet. He hoists him up into a bodyslam position, and then throws him over backwards in a fallaway slam. Big pop. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kickout! Deathbringer drags the Hangman to his feet and executes a belly-to-belly suplex - cover - 1 - 2 - kickout!] TD: Deathbringer's got this match under control now, as he drags the Hangman back to a vertical base... hang on, the Senator's up on the apron! Deathbringer's dropped the Hangman... SR: If he lays one finger on the Senator, there's going to be trouble. [The Hangman charges Deathbringer from behind, and clotheslines him over the ropes to the arena floor. The Hangman follows him out. The Coroner leaps up onto the apron to argue with the referee about why the Hangman wasn't disqualified for the Senator's interference. On the outside, the Hangman holds Deathbringer captive while the Senator grabs a steel chair. The crowd noise grows as the Senator wields the chair high above his head - he brings it crashing down - but Deathbringer ducks, and the chair hits the Hangman with a huge clang! The Hangman goes down, and the Deathbringer throws the Senator out of the way. The crowd pop like crazy as Deathbringer drags the Hangman to his feet, and hoists him up into position for the Tombstone piledriver.] TD: Oh my! Deathbringer's going to Tombstone the Hangman on the outside! SR: This is a disqualification offence, Dross! Come on, ref, turn around! [Deathbringer piledrives the Hangman to the arena floor. Huge pop. 'Bringer drags the limp form of his opponent to his feet and rolls him back into the ring under the bottom rope. He follows the Hangman back in, and makes the cover - 1 - 2 - the Senator pulls Deathbringer out of the ring by his foot! The referee sees this offence and signals for the bell. Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Here is your winner, by disqualification: Deathbringer! [Big pop. The Senator backs away from the angry Deathbringer, and trips over the ringsteps. The Hangman rolls groggily from the ring to his manager's protection, and they head up the aisle. The fans cheer wildly for Deathbringer, who stands in the ring and raises his arms to the roof of the arena. Suddenly, the lights go out, and moments later, when they rise again, he and the Coroner have disappeared.] TD: What was the point of the Senator pulling Deathbringer out of the ring like that? SR: Better to be disqualified than to be pinned, Dross. And who knows what that freak Yawnbringer would have done to the Hangman if he hadn't escaped when he did. I think the Senator will be keen for these two men to meet in the ring again sometime soon. TD: You could be right... what a battle it was! And that mask... SR: Come on, Dross. All that supernatural stuff is nonsense. The Yawnbringer just pays the lighting and sound boys on commission. TD: That's not the case, and you know it, Steve. Our next encounter is a big match between two former stablemates, the Outlaw and Blackjack Haley. The former IIWF Champion has vowed that he will squash the spirit of the Horsemen once and for all, and that the renegade actions of Haley must be stopped. Haley, on the other hand, is determined to continue his meteoric rise into title contention. And he plans to do it with a victory over the Outlaw here tonight. ~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~ Blackjack Haley vs. The Outlaw _.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-._ [Sparkplug Lee steps into the ring amid the whirling spotlights and lighting effects. He speaks:] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, from Baroda, Michigan, and weighing in at 325lbs, here is: Blackjack Haley! [Big heel pop for Haley as he appears at the head of the aisle. He gives the four fingered salute before walking straight down the aisle, stopping only to snatch one homemade sign, reading "Blackjack Haley: the YELLOW giant!", from a fan and rip it up before throwing it back in his face. He sneers and makes his way to the ring, stepping through the ropes and raising both arms to the crowd, who jeer him even more.] TD: Not well liked here in New York, is he, Steve? SR: The more discerning observer is more impressed with him than these morons, Dross. TD: And by "discerning observer", I suppose you mean... SR: [interrupting] Me. TD: Thought so. It's interesting that Haley's not on the card for Midsummer Madness. He's the IIWF's biggest gun, and he's not yet in the lineup. SR: I was talking to Mr. Haley earlier on tonight, and he says the reason he's not on the card is that no other wrestlers are good enough for him to team with. He's a selective guy. TD: That's a bit of a turnabout, considering the company he kept with the Horsemen... SR: [sarcastically] Oh, ha ha, Dross. Leave the funnies to me. RA: And his opponent, coming down the aisle, accompanied by the "Outlaw" Josey Wales, weighing in at 353lbs, here is: the Outlaw! [Big heel pop as "Outlaw Blues" blares out over the PA and the Outlaw, with Wales not far behind, appears at the head of the aisle.] TD: Here comes the former IIWF Champion... and you've got to believe that he would stand a great chance of winning the gold again if he makes it past the first round of matches at Midsummer Madness. SR: Believe me, Dross, there's nothing I'd like to see more than the Outlaw with the gold firmly back around his waist. TD: But he's going to have to go through the Subway Psycho to get to the gold! SR: And? TD: Well, the Psycho beat the Outlaw at Ring Wars. SR: And the Outlaw hasn't lost since Ring Wars. He's on a roll, and he's going to roll right back into the top spot, Dross, like it or not. [The Outlaw stops halfway down the aisle to look at his official poster, as held by a fan at the side of the walkway. It reads, "The Outlaw - a law unto himself". He regards it for a few moments, and then walks on. He calmly climbs the ringsteps, removes his hat and leather waistcoat as he steps through the ropes, then turns and charges Haley before the bell. The two men get into a slugfest, and the Outlaw eventually whips Haley into the ropes. The Outlaw chops Haley down as he comes back, and then executes a neat gutwrench suplex. He goes for the cover - 1 - kickout!] TD: Wow! Haley was out of that in a hurry, Steve! SR: He sure was. But if anybody knows the limitations of Blackjack Haley, it's the Outlaw. [Haley nails the Outlaw with a kick, knocking him to the mat. He drops a leg on the Outlaw, and the masked one rolls out of the ring under the ropes. Haley follows him out, and begins putting the boot in when he is distracted by Wales. Haley turns and begins to close in on the manager, but the Outlaw is quickly to his feet, and he catches Haley with a devastating power bomb on the outside. Big pop!] TD: These two guys aren't messing around out here! SR: What did you expect them to do, Dross?! Play "patticake"?! [The Outlaw rolls Haley back into the ring, and follows him in. He nails the giant with a fistdrop, before dragging him to his feet and whipping him into the ropes. Haley, still groggy, grabs hold of the ropes and rolls out of the ring to regroup. The Outlaw bounces off the ropes himself, and then throws himself over the top onto Haley with a tope dive! Huge pop, and the cameras flash like strobe lighting.] TD: The Outlaw's pulling out all the stops here! What a dive! Haley hit his head on the steel crowd barrier as he went down. He's got to be out cold! [Haley and the Outlaw are entangled on the outside as the referee counts - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - both men get to their feet and begin exchanging blows - 6 - 7 - Haley whips the Outlaw into the guardrail, and then breaks the count. The referee starts the count again - 1 - Haley nails the Outlaw with a swinging punch, and the Outlaw is staggered. Haley attempts a second, but the Outlaw ducks out of the way and rolls back into the ring. Haley follows him back in, and is caught off-guard by a boot to the midsection from the Outlaw, who then whips his opponent into the turnbuckles. As he flies across the ring, Haley hits the official, knocking him down to the mat. Big pop.] TD: It looks like the referee took an unlucky blow from Haley's elbow there. He could be out cold! SR: Good. Now this match can really get interesting! [The Outlaw charges in after Haley, but Haley lifts his leg, and the Outlaw cannons into it. He staggers backwards, and Haley steps in, applying his patented spinning full nelson. He lifts the writhing Outlaw up off the canvas. Josey Wales climbs to the apron, and begins taunting Haley with the four-fingered salute, alternating it with the one-fingered salute. Haley drops the Outlaw, and storms over towards Wales. He swipes, but Wales drops to the arena floor. Meanwhile, the Outlaw has pulled something from his tights, and as Haley turns, he is met by a huge roundhouse right from the Outlaw and his brass knuckles. Huge pop as Haley goes down.] TD: The Outlaw just toppled Haley like a giant redwood! SR: And he didn't even need an axe -- just a pair of brass knuckles! Go get him, Outlaw! [The Outlaw secretes the knuckles again, and then covers Haley while Wales revives the official. The referee slowly crawls over to where the Outlaw has Haley covered, and makes a very slow count -- 1 --- 2 --- kick out! Gasp from the crowd as Haley gets a shoulder up!] TD: I can't believe that! SR: Nor can I! That was the slowest count in history right there! [The Outlaw drags the groggy Haley to his feet and whips him to the turnbuckle. Haley hits hard, and then staggers backwards. The Outlaw bounces off the ropes, and jumps, hitting Haley with a flying clothesline. Haley goes down hard, and the Outlaw again makes the cover - 1 - 2 -- kick out! He drags Haley to his feet once more, and places his head under his arm in preparation for the Cattle Buster... but Haley rushes him backwards into the ropes, breaking the hold. The Outlaw executes a kneelift on Haley, who hits the mat again. The Outlaw signals to the crowd that this time he won't be denied, and is met by a huge heel pop. He drags Haley to his feet, and this time executes the Cattle Buster DDT. He makes the cover - 1 - 2 -- kick out! Huge pop!] TD: Oh my! I've never seen anybody kick out of the Cattle Buster after taking this kind of punishment! SR: What can I tell you, Dross? Haley's got a head made of stone. [The Outlaw puts his hands on his hips, and looks over to Josey Wales on the outside. Wales signals for another DDT, and thus the Outlaw drags Haley to his feet again. The Outlaw places Haley's head under his arm for a third time, and... Haley backdrops the Outlaw over the ropes and to the outside! Another huge pop! Haley drops to the mat himself in the ring, but the Outlaw isn't moving, having hit his head against the steel crowd barrier as he went down.] TD: What a slobberknocker this match has been! SR: What a _what_?! TD: The Outlaw looks like he's out, but Haley's not moving either! The referee's counting the Outlaw out! [The count reaches - 3 - 4 - Wales tries to revive the Outlaw - 5 - 6 - 7 - Haley gets to his feet, and rolls out of the ring. He grabs a steel chair, and swipes at Josey Wales with it. Wales manages to duck out of the way, but Haley brings it down hard on the Outlaw repeatedly. The referee jumps through the ropes and warns Haley, but Haley literally throws the referee out of the way, continuing to beat on the Outlaw with the chair. The referee signals for the bell. Ding! Ding! Ding!] TD: It looks like the referee's disqualified Haley, but that doesn't help the Outlaw! Some serious damage could be done here... where are security?! [The High Plains Drifters sprint down the aisle to the aid of their stablemate, closely followed by the Crippler, and together, they manage to beat Haley off. Haley raises his arms in victory, but has them swiftly knocked back down to his side by the referee, who orders him away from ringside. Haley backs up the aisle, to the jeers of the crowd, except for a small pocket of fans at the head of the aisle who cheer and give the salute. This time, Haley doesn't ignore them, and returns the sign of the Horsemen before disappearing from view.] TD: What carnage we saw out here! It looks like the Outlaw isn't too badly injured -- he's refusing the help of his partners, and he's standing on his own two feet. SR: He looks mighty cheesed off to me, Dross, to put it lightly. You can bet Haley's going to pay for that attack. [The Outlaw begins the unsteady, but determined, walk up the aisle, with his stablemates following behind him.] SR: You know, I wouldn't be surprised if the Outlaw goes after Haley backstage here tonight. TD: If he does, he's a more foolish man than I realised. Nobody's going to be in any shape to fight after taking a beating like that. SR: I'm very surprised -- and impressed -- that Haley kicked out of the Cattle Buster, Dross. We already knew he was a force to be reckoned with, but I didn't realise he was so tough. I'll have to give him credit, that was one hell of a performance. TD: We've got to move on now, Steve, to talk about the IIWF World Tag Team Championship Tournament, which has been going on since Rising Sun Revolution were stripped of the titles when they left the US to attend an invitational tournament in Japan. We've seen nine great tag team encounters so far, and we're all set for the greatest of them all here tonight. The winners of this next match become the new IIWF World Tag Team Champions. This one's for all the marbles, Steve. SR: Fittingly enough, the final match is between the tournament's two best performers, the Atomic Destroyers, and the crafty High Plains Drifters. The Destroyers were late entrants into the tournament, getting a break and replacing former champions, Steamroller, when Brassow was injured -- more in the head than the knee, I reckon -- but they've performed well to get this far; although in part their success has been due to the Drifters... TD: Indeed. The High Plains Drifters were faced with a dilemma on Wednesday night, as the Destroyers faced Stunt Team USA. If Ron and Steve had won that match, they would have been 3-1-0 in the tournament, whereas the Drifters were 2-1-0. In order to guarantee that Ron and Steve were out of the running, they cost them the match, getting them disqualified so that it all comes down to this final match. The Drifters are 2-1-0, and the Destroyers are 2-0-1. Only a win is good enough for Pale and Easy Rider, while a draw will be enough for the Destroyers to take home the gold. SR: Tactically, the Drifters have fought a great tournament, and they're still the number one team in the IIWF. With their kick-ass attitude, the "Outlaw" Josey Wales and the rest of the Posse behind them, I'm backing them all the way. TD: Well, the Atomic Destroyers most certainly beg to differ. We can get some comments from them now as they prepare backstage. [Cut to split screen: the announcers' table on the left, the Atomic Destroyers' locker room on the right.] Gentlemen, are you ready for the biggest match of your careers? STEROID: We told you all that our name is the Atomic Destroyers. We reaffirmed that Wednesday night. Drifters, this may be our last match for a while. It could be, but do not count on it. We have a goal in mind, and that is the elimination of Easy and Pale. If either of us survive this match tonight, it's gonna take a while to heal. LARN: This madness between us just continues to get madder. Tonight you will learn what destruction is at the hands of the Atomic Destroyers. Mr. Wales, I hope you have prepared the boys for tonight's match. I also have words from the Senator for you, Mr. Wales. He asked me to pass on that he has a burning feeling about tonight. SR: [under his breath] He ought to take an indigestion remedy. STEROID: Drifters -- the time is now! [Larn and Steroid disappear from view. Cut back to normal shot of the announcers' table.] TD: Steve, do you have to interrupt everything? SR: Yup. ~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~ IIWF World Tag Team Championship Tournament Match: Atomic Destroyers vs. High Plains Drifters _.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-._ [Sparkplug Lee steps into the ring.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following encounter is the final match in the IIWF World Tag Team Championship round robin tournament! The winners of this match will become the new Tag Team Champions! [pop] Introducing first, coming down the aisle accompanied by the Senator, at a combined weight of 715lbs, here are Larn and Steroid: the Atomic Destroyers! [Larn and Steroid, with the Senator in tow, come down the aisle to a big heel pop. They enter the ring and hi-five.] RA: And introducing their opponents, coming down the aisle accompanied by the "Outlaw" Josey Wales, weighing in at 502lbs, here are Pale Rider and Easy Rider: the High Plains Drifters! [Pale and Easy appear at the head of the aisle, and immediately charge down to the ring. They are brawling with the Destroyers before they've even got through the ropes. The referee hurriedly signals for the bell to get the match officially underway. Pale clotheslines Steroid over the ropes and dives onto him, leaving Easy and Larn in the ring to start the match.] TD: These two teams go at each other like no other two teams I've ever seen, Steve. SR: And you can expect them to pull out _all_ the stops tonight, Dross. Neither one of these pairings is prepared to leave here without the gold around their waists. [Easy Rider executes a jawbreaker on Larn, and then whips him into the ropes, but is taken down by a clothesline. Larn kicks Easy in the head, and then drags him over to his corner, where he tags in Steroid. Pale Rider enters the ring, but is forced to leave by the official. Meanwhile, Larn and Steroid whip Easy into the ropes and nail him with a double backdrop. Easy is quickly back to his feet, however, and knocks the Destroyer's heads together. Larn rolls out of the ring, and Easy Rider tries to whip Steroid into the ropes, but the attempt is reversed. Steroid puts his head down for a backdrop, and is met with a kick from Easy Rider, staggering the big man. Easy bounces off the ropes again and goes for a flying clothesline. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - Larn makes the save! Big pop.] TD: The pace of this match is incredible! They're taking so much out of each other -- this one can't go on too long. [Easy Rider hauls Steroid up onto his shoulder for the Unforgiven inverse piledriver, but Steroid, the much taller man, overbalances the hold, and escapes. Pale Rider enters the ring to make it two on one, but he and Easy only manage to double-clothesline Steroid before Larn enters and presses Pale Rider above his head, dropping him to the outside. Huge pop.] TD: Oh my! Pale Rider's going to be in trouble after that fall! That's twelve feet straight down! SR: Pale Rider used to be about six feet tall, but I reckon he's going to be a whole lot shorter after that. [Steroid and Larn whip Easy into the ropes, and then hit him with a double-kick to the midsection. Larn leaves the ring, and Steroid executes a DDT before tagging out to Larn. Larn enters the ring, and drops an elbow on the stunned Easy Rider. Larn drags Easy to his feet, and executes a jumping neck snap. Easy goes down again, clutching at his neck. Larn drops another elbow, and goes for the cover - 1 - 2 -- Easy Rider barely gets a shoulder up. Larn whips Easy Rider into the ropes, and amazingly executes a flying head-scissors on the hapless cowboy. Big pop.] TD: I have never seen a man of Larn's size get such elevation on a move like that before, Steve! [Larn again goes for the cover - 1 - 2 -- kickout by the narrowest of margins! Larn whips Easy into the ropes one more time, and this time hits his patented Spinebuster slam!] TD: This is it! We've got new tag team champions! Larn makes the cover - there's no way Easy's going to get up from this - one - two - three! No! No! It was a two-count! I can't believe it! [Larn complains to the official of a slow count, as Easy struggles to his feet.] SR: This is a mistake by Larn. Every second he's arguing with the referee is a second of ass-kicking time he's wasting. And Easy's already shown tonight that he's a resilient little ba... TD: [interrupting] I apologise for the colourful language of my broadcast colleague. He gets like this when he's excited. [Easy attempts to bounce off the ropes to charge Larn, but the Senator pulls down the top rope, and Easy plummets to the arena floor. Wales grabs the Senator and nails him with a hard right hand. Big pop!] TD: I knew it was only a matter of time before the managers got in on the action here... [The referee begins the count - 1 - 2 - 3 - Larn drags Easy back into the ring by the hair. Larn ducks under a clothesline attempt from Easy as he stands on the apron, and suplexes the Drifter into the ring. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kickout!] TD: Easy Rider is absorbing an incredible amount of punishment, but he really needs to tag out to Pale Rider. SR: I don't think Pale Rider's going to be in any hurry to get into the ring after what happened to him last time he tried it. TD: He's back on the apron now and yelling encouragement to his partner, Steve. There's nothing these two want than to wear the tag team gold around their waists. [Larn tags Steroid, and the Destroyers whip Easy into the ropes. They miss with a double clothesline, and Easy hits them with a double clothesline of his own as he comes back off the ropes. Big pop. Larn rolls out of the ring under the bottom rope, and is advised by the Senator. Steroid, meanwhile, gets to his feet, and executes a kneebreaker on the exhausted Easy Rider. He applies a front facelock on Easy, adding extra pressure by raking the nose and eye area. Easy refuses to submit, and the referee calls for the break as Steroid rakes at Easy's eyes. Easy drags himself up onto the ropes, but Larn runs across the ring and jumps onto Easy, choking him across the second rope. Steroid tags out to Larn once more.] TD: We're seeing some great continuity from the Destroyers here, and they're certainly living up to their name so far. Pale Rider hasn't made it into the ring yet! SR: Easy's not out of this match yet, Dross. Come on, Drifters! [Pale Rider again attempts to make the save as the Destroyers whip Easy into the ropes, but is forced out by the referee. Easy goes down after a double fist to the midsection.] TD: The Destroyers really know how to make the most efficient use of those five seconds when both men are legal. The Drifters are in real trouble here. [Steroid leaves the ring, and Larn clotheslines the groggy Easy Rider back to the canvas. Easy rolls out of the ring under the bottom rope. Larn winds up for a plancha dive, but as he leaps, Easy Rider rolls out of the way, and Larn clatters into the steel crowd barriers. He lies motionless on the outside, his chest heaving. Easy struggles to his feet, and turns to find the Senator sneaking up on him. Huge pop as Easy nails the Senator. Easy Rider drags Larn to his feet and whips him into the steel crowdbarriers, before climbing back into the ring. He staggers over to his corner, and finally makes the tag to Pale Rider! Huge pop!] TD: At last! Pale Rider becomes the legal man for the first time in this match! [Pale Rider drags Larn back into the ring, but is met with an elbow in the midsection. Larn whips him into the ropes, and Pale ducks a clothesline, before flying at his opponent with a forearm smash. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - Larn kicks out! Pale signals to Easy to come back into the ring, and they doubleteam Larn until Steroid flies into the squared circle and nails Easy, knocking him from the ring. Steroid then nails Pale Rider with a clothesline. Steroid whips Larn into the ropes, and Larn launches himself at the stunned Pale with a flying cross body block, landing in a pinning predicament, but Pale rolls over so that Larn's shoulders are on the canvas. The referee counts - 1 - 2 - Pale Rider rolls out of the way as Steroid stomps, inadvertently hitting Larn. Pale clotheslines Steroid from the ring. Big pop!] SR: See? I told you, Dross! The Drifters have got the Destroyers' number now! The gold is within their reach! [Pale climbs to the top buckle and attempts a front moonsault onto Larn, but the Destroyer rolls out of the way! Pale hits hard as Larn tags in Steroid. Steroid and Larn hit Pale with a double snap suplex. Steroid whips Pale into the ropes, and the cowboy accidentally hits the referee as he flies across the ring. Steroid hits Pale Rider with a backdrop.] TD: The referee's out! All hell's going to break loose now! SR: Dross, it already has! [Steroid runs into the ropes. Pale Rider misses with a clothesline, and is kicked in the back by a wayward boot from Larn as he hits the other side of the ring. Pale goes down to his knees, and is choked by Steroid. The Senator and Wales both jump onto the apron, ordering their men into the ring. Larn and Easy Rider both storm the ring immediately, and Easy succeeds in breaking the choke, but Larn forces him out of the squared circle, and they brawl in the ringside area. Steroid executes a belly-to-belly suplex on Pale Rider and goes for the cover - but there is no referee to count! Wales enters the ring and nails Steroid with a chair before reviving the referee. Pale goes for the cover - the referee makes a slow count - 1 -- 2 -- Larn flies into the ring and makes the save, closely followed by Easy Rider, who knocks the Destroyer from the ring once again. Pale Rider locks the Dirty Harry leglock on Steroid, who has no choice but to submit! Ding! Ding! Ding! Big pop!] TD: What a match! SR: Yes! I told you so, Dross! Yes! RA: Ladies and gentlemen, here are your winners, by submission: the High Plains Drifters! [Big mixed pop. Pale Rider rolls Steroid out of the ring, and Easy whips Larn into the ringsteps, before joining his partner in the ring. They embrace as Wales climbs the ringsteps and joins them in the squared circle. The Senator tries to collect his men together on the outside, as the IIWF President makes his way down the aisle, flanked by security personnel.] TD: I think we've seen just about everything in that match! Unbelievable! Either team would have made deserving champions after their performances here tonight! SR: But in the end, Dross, it's the High Plains Drifters who've got the job done, just like they said they would! The Posse have some gold again! TD: Let's go up to the ring for the official presentation of the belts by the IIWF President, Dan Spreadbury. [President Dan steps into the ropes and is handed the house mic by the ring announcer. The security team help the Atomic Destroyers back up the aisle as the President speaks:] DS: Ladies and gentlemen, in this tag team tournament, I have seen more top quality tag team competition over the past four weeks than I have ever seen in any other wrestling organisation anywhere in the world. Tonight's encounter just about took the biscuit. I have never seen two teams put so much into a match, and I applaud both the Atomic Destroyers, and the High Plains Drifters. But ultimately, folks, it's come down to these two young men right here, Pale Rider and Easy Rider, who've bested the other teams in the IIWF and come out on top. Right now, I'd like to co... [Wales snatches the microphone away from President Dan, who looks mildly shocked. The crowd launches into a chorus of boos.] SR: Thank goodness for that. I thought Spreadbury was going to go on all night. TD: Steve! Please! I can't believe that Wales could have such little respect for our esteemed President! [Wales points at Spreadbury and shouts:] JW: I don't want to hear none of your crap, "sir". All we want is those belts. We earned them. Now damn well give them to us! [Pale and Easy each snatch one of the belts in the President's hands. They hold them above their heads, and the IIWF President shakes his head in despair before turning to leave the ring. The crowd jeer, but Wales again shouts over the heel pop:] JW: Hey! I didn't say you could leave yet, "sir". I want you to shake my boys' hands and congratulate them on their victory! Come on! Shake their hands! TD: Aw, come on! Give me a break! This is embarrassing! SR: Go, Josey! This is great! [The IIWF President turns into the ring and walks over to Easy Rider. Easy extends his hand, and President Dan goes to shake it. Easy pulls his hand away and scratches his head. Pale and Wales burst into laughter. The IIWF President looks visibly angered, but still turns to shake Pale's hand. Pale pulls his hand away and sticks one finger up at Dan. Big heel pop.] JW: Now get out of here, you critter! If you'd had any sense, you would have given my boys the titles right from the get-go, and saved us all a lot of time and bruises. Get out of my ring! [The IIWF President shakes his head and climbs out of the ring. He heads back up the aisle, looking disheartened, while Pale and Easy hold the belts up high above their heads. The crowd give a big heel pop.] TD: That's a dangerous game to play with the IIWF President. If I were President Dan, I'd have the Drifters stripped of the titles first thing Monday morning. SR: The IIWF Championship Committee wouldn't let him even if he tried to. They don't want another free for all for the belts without good reason. [Wales continues to shout over the cacophony of the crowd:] JW: And as for all of you morons... Get on your feet and pay your respect to the new IIWF World Tag Team Champions... Pale and Easy Rider, the High Plains Drifters! [The crowd jeers even louder, and Wales drops the microphone before parading his boys around the ring one more time. Eventually, all three leave the squared circle and head back up the aisle, the belts strapped around their waists.] TD: That's rather a sour ending to a great tournament, Steve. SR: Sour?! It could hardly have been sweeter, unless the Drifters had kicked that moron Spreadbury's a... TD: [interrupting] Thank you very much, Steve. Let's move on to our next match, as Dan Kauffman takes on another Posse member, the Crippler. ~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~ Dan Kauffman vs. The Crippler _.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-._ [Sparkplug Lee takes to the ring.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following encounter is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, coming down the aisle, weighing in at 267lbs, here is: the Crippler! [The Crippler, without Wales by his side, comes down to the ring. He points at a fan holding up a homemade "Prepare to be Crippled!" sign, but grabs another, which reads, "The Crippler does it with Flare!" He shreds it and stomps it into the ground before continuing to the ring.] RA: And introducing his opponent. Hailing from Hagerstown, Maryland, and weighing in at 230lbs, here is.... Dan Kauffman! [Massive face pop as Kauffman appears at the head of the aisle. A trail of spotlights make patterns dance down the aisle as Kauffman begins the walk to the ring, rockets shooting over his head from the entranceway up to the centre of the arena's roof.] TD: The noise is almost deafening! The crowd absolutely love Kauffman here in the Meadowlands arena! I think every one of the 16,000 people here tonight are on their feet! SR: I can't believe how much people love a bigmouth! TD: Hmm. It does seem rather incongruous when one considers the relative unpopularity of another bigmouth not a million miles away from here. SR: [sharply] Shut up, Dross. It just goes to show that people don't have taste. They're all morons. [Kauffman does a circuit of the ring as fireworks explode high in the arena roof, and as he jumps to the apron and steps through the ropes, he is jumped by the Crippler. The huge face pop turns immediately to a huge heel pop. The Crippler strikes with a Northern Lights suplex as the bell rings, and goes straight for the cover - 1 - 2 - Kauffman kicks out! The Kauffman is straight back to his feet, and whips the Crippler into the ropes. He nails his opponent with a flying headscissors, and then climbs to the top rope. He goes for a flying elbowdrop, and connects! He makes the cover - 1 - 2 - kickout!] TD: Another dynamite start to this match, Steve! I think the desire to become the IIWF World Champion burns inside every wrestler in the IIWF right now, and they're all raising the stakes. SR: Next you're going to tell me that Kauffman's a favourite to win the gold at Midsummer Madness. TD: Well, actually... SR: [interrupting] Don't bother. We'll all hear it a million times from Kauffman himself over the next couple of weeks. The funny thing is, he just hasn't got what it takes to put the gold where his mouth is. Mind you, that might shut him up. Perhaps I'll stuff that belt down his throat... Yeah, that would be fun... And then... TD: Steve, you're thinking out loud. SR: Whatever. [Kauffman whips the Crippler into the turnbuckle and charges in himself. The Crippler side-steps, and Kauffman hits the buckles shoulder first. Kauffman staggers backwards, and the Crippler hits him with a powerbomb. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kickout! The Crippler drags Kauffman to his feet, and performs a well-executed standing dropkick on his opponent, sending him through the ropes to the outside. The Crippler follows Kauffman out, and whips him into the ringsteps. Kauffman is stunned, and the Crippler goes for a powerbomb on the outside, but Dan has the presence of mind to backdrop the Crippler. Big pop! Kauffman drags the Crippler to his feet and whips him into the ring steps. Another big pop! Kauffman rolls back into the ring to break the referee's count, and waits for the Crippler to get back in. The Crippler gets up onto the apron at the count of seven, and Kauffman tries to suplex him back into the ring. The Crippler nails Kauffman with a shoulder to the midsection, and slides between his legs under the ropes to reenter the ring. The Crippler runs into the ropes, but is taken down by a reverse thrust kick from Kauffman. Big pop!] TD: Wow! I've never seen Kauffman execute a move like that before! Is that what he meant when he told us that he'd have new offense? SR: No, he meant that he'd talk even more than he already did. TD: Steve, please. [Kauffman goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - Crippler kicks out. Kauffman picks the Crippler up and goes for a tiger driver, but the Crippler counters with a backdrop. Kauffman rolls out of the ring, and the Crippler bounces against the ropes before throwing himself out on top of the winded Kauffman. The Crippler pounds on Kauffman with a flurry of hard rights and lefts, before whipping him into the crowd barrier. Big heel pop. The Crippler tries to repeat the move, but this time Kauffman reverses, and the Crippler cannons into the ringsteps with a loud clang. Kauffman, quickly recovering, leaps to the apron, and then to the top buckle in almost a single bound. However, this has given time for the Crippler to get to his feet, and he grabs the top rope, shaking it sufficiently for Dan to lose his balance and fall so that he is straddling the buckle, facing away from the ring. The Crippler steps through the ropes and climbs to the second buckle. He nails Kauffman with a forearm to the back of the head, and then executes a back superplex into the ring! Big heel pop! He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kick out!] TD: Kauffman's got to be one of the toughest wrestlers in the IIWF right now, Steve. SR: [mocking] Yeah, isn't he "pound for pound, the toughest wrestler in the world"? Well, I'd sure like to pound him. Listen, Dross, thrilled as I am by this match, I'm going to go backstage now to give a few last words of advice to my man, Fisto Flash. This is going to be great! [takes off headset and leaves table] TD: I'm almost glad he's gone, folks. [The Crippler locks a cobra clutch on Kauffman, but Dan edges forwards until he manages to grab the ropes. The Crippler pulls him to his feet and executes a brainbuster suplex on Kauffman. Big heel pop. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kick out. The Crippler drags Kauffman to his feet again and attempts an armdrag, but Dan blocks and executes an armdrag takeover of his own. The Crippler gets back to his feet and charges Kauffman, nailing him with a swinging punch. Kauffman is staggered, and is taken down by a snap mare. The Crippler goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kickout! Kauffman gets to his feet, and whips the Crippler into the ropes. The Crippler nimbly slides through Kauffman's legs, and leaps up to wrap Kauffman's arms up in his Cross modified crucifix. Kauffman deliberately drops over backwards in such a fashion that the Crippler is slammed into the mat. The Crippler, winded, releases his hold on Kauffman, who goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Huge pop!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner, by pinfall: Dan Kauffman! [The Crippler rolls out of the ring clutching his head as Kauffman has his arm raised in victory.] TD: What a fast-paced encounter that was! In the end, it all came down to Kauffman's ring savvy, as he made that crucifix backfire on the Crippler. Both of these men have to be top contenders for Brad "Bodybag" Kinder's Intercontinental title in the very near future. [Kauffman leaves the ring and does a circuit of the ringside area, hi-fiving the fans as he goes, and is nearly swamped by a sea of eager hands. Eventually, he heads back up the aisle to the locker room area.] TD: Well, we're just about ready for the match that my colleague's been looking forward to all week. I am, of course, talking about the clash between Billy Shakespeare and Fisto Flash. This all started two weeks ago on Saturday Night as Shakespeare faced the Crippler. [Footage rolls] Now, Billy's never been Steve's favourite wrestler, but for some reason, the thought of Billy notching up another victory just sent him loopy, and he left the broadcast booth, pushing Billy from the top turnbuckle and costing him the match. Afterwards, Roberts actually slapped Billy around the face! Billy then challenged Roberts to find a champion to face him in the ring to settle this dispute honourably, and boy, did Steve find a champion. This week on Midweek Mayhem [footage rolls], Billy was facing the Prince of Darkness when Roberts again charged the ringside area and attacked Billy, this time grabbing the microphone and introducing his champion -- Fisto Flash. Fisto did a real number on Billy, and if it hadn't been for the arrival of several other wrestlers on the scene, Billy could have been very seriously injured. Now it all comes to a head in tonight's match. Fisto will have his manager Robo Stone _and_ Roberts in his corner. I hope Billy's got some plans to even up the score. Let's go up to the ring. ~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~ Respect Match: Billy Shakespeare vs. Fisto Flash _.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-._ RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following encounter is a special Respect Match! In this match, all the usual decisions apply, with the added stipulation that the loser must announce over the house microphone that he respects the winner! Introducing first, on behalf of one "Soundbite" Steve Roberts, coming down the aisle, hailing from Brooklyn, New York, weighing in at 305lbs, here is: Fisto Flash! [Loud heel pop as Fisto, flanked by Roberts and Robo Stone, makes his way down to the ring, his steel fist raised in glory.] TD: I guess even the hometown crowd can't find a soft spot for this guy. I can't say I'm surprised. Fisto Flash has proved himself to be one of the most underhand -- no pun intended -- IIWF superstars. [Fisto is slapped on the back by Roberts in encouragement as he enters the ring and allows the official to wrap up his steel fist with its customary protective padding.] RA: And introducing his opponent, coming down the aisle, weighing in at 227lbs, here is "Spotlight" Billy Shakespeare! [Big face pop for Billy as he comes down the aisle to the strains of "Little Willy". He hi-fives the fans as he walks to the ring, but his gaze is focused on Fisto Flash. He bows to the fans as he climbs the ringsteps, and then steps through the ropes into the ring.] TD: Billy's really going to have to be alert in this match. Not only has he got to deal with Fisto Flash, but he's also got Robo Stone _and_ Steve Roberts on the outside. [The bell rings for the start of the match. Billy and Fisto circle one another before locking up. Flash pushes Billy into the ropes, but Billy ducks under a clothesline attempt. Fisto stops Billy dead with a choke, grabbing Billy's neck. The referee counts - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - Fisto breaks the hold. Fisto whips Billy into the ropes again, and as he comes back, presses him above his head - big pop - before dropping him all the way to the outside! Huge heel pop! Fisto raises his fist in triumph before following Shakespeare out.] TD: Oh my! It's clear that Steve Roberts has given Fisto Flash some very simple instructions: maim and destroy! Billy's in trouble here early on. [Fisto whips Shakespeare into the ringsteps. Billy cannons over the steps, but struggles to his feet. Fisto charges with a clothesline, but Billy sidesteps and pushes Fisto into the steel crowd barriers. Big pop. Billy rolls back into the ring and sits in a corner, trying to regain some strength. The referee counts Fisto out - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - Fisto reenters the ring. Billy gets to his feet and gestures to Flash to come on and get some. Flash charges, and Billy nails him with a spinning mule kick. Big pop. Fisto goes down, but quickly gets back up and charges Billy again. Billy attempts a dropkick off the ropes, but Fisto grabs the ropes, and Billy crashes to the mat. Fisto drags him to his feet and executes a devastating belly-to-belly suplex. Big heel pop!] TD: This is precisely what Fisto's going to have to do if he's going to beat Shakespeare: slow the pace down, and keep Billy on the mat. [Fisto hoists Billy up into position for the Knucklebomb, and climbs to the second turnbuckle. However, Billy wriggles free of Fisto's grasp so that he is standing on the top buckle, and takes Fisto down with a big flying bulldog. Fisto rolls out of the ring, and Billy bounces off the ropes, throwing himself at Fisto with a plancha dive, but Steve Roberts pulls Fisto out of the way. Billy clatters into the steel crowd barriers. Robo Stone gets up on the apron and distracts the official while Roberts stomps away at Billy. Big heel pop.] TD: This is disgusting! Billy doesn't stand a chance out there with those three vultures attacking him. Come on, ref! [Fisto rolls Billy back into the ring and follows him in. He nails him with a front faceslam. Big heel pop. He executes a front-layout suplex, and then goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kick out! Fisto drags Billy to his feet and whips him into the ropes. He puts his head down for a backdrop, and Billy takes advantage with a rocker dropper. Big pop. Both men are down. Billy lays an arm across Fisto - 1 - 2 - Fisto gets his shoulder up! Both men stagger to their feet, and begin brawling in the centre of the ring. Fisto blocks Shakespeare's hard right hand, and hits a cheap blow to the midsection. He nearly takes Billy's head off with a lariat, and then raises his fist once more in glory. Big heel pop. Roberts calls over to him, and Fisto goes to the side of the ring to speak with him.] TD: This is a mistake by Fisto. Billy's got to be one of the most resilient athletes here in the IIWF, and if he gives Billy just a few seconds to breathe, that'll be enough for him to recover that vital bit of energy. [Fisto nods to Roberts, and then tries an elbowdrop on Billy, who rolls out of the way and gets to his feet. Big pop! Billy whips Fisto into the ropes and hits a flying dropkick. He bounds to the top rope and dazzles the crowd with his Curtain Call! Huge pop! Cover - 1 - 2 -- Roberts puts Fisto's foot on the ropes! The ref sees it and stops the count.] TD: Unbelievable! It looks like Roberts is willing to do just about anything to stop Shakespeare winning this match! [Billy points at Roberts and shouts something at him before dragging Fisto to his feet and underhooking both of his arms. He tries to lift Fisto for a piledriver, but can't get him off the mat. Fisto counters with a backdrop. Big heel pop. He stomps Billy before dragging him to his feet and executing a swinging neckbreaker on his opponent. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - Billy kicks out! Fisto again drags Billy to his feet and goes for a stomachbreaker, but Shakespeare blocks it and is this time successful with a piledriver attempt! Big pop! Billy whips Fisto into the ropes, but Fisto grabs them. Billy charges him, and clotheslines him out of the ring over the top rope! Fisto crashes to the arena floor! Billy leaps to the top turnbuckle, and launches himself with a moonsault onto Fisto from the top! Huge pop - camera flashes illuminate the arena.] TD: Amazing! What a high-risk manoeuvre from Shakespeare! He's determined that he won't be denied here tonight! [Roberts approaches Shakespeare from behind, but Billy senses his approach and spins around. He nails Roberts with a hard right hand, and Steve goes down. Huge pop! Robo Stone complains to the referee that attacking the holder of a manager's license is a disqualification offence. The referee waves Stone away as Billy charges Fisto but is backdropped onto the steel ringsteps! Huge heel pop! Fisto rolls Billy back into the ring and follows him in. Steve Roberts gets to his feet and grabs the official, demanding Shakespeare's disqualification. Meanwhile, Fisto drags Billy to his feet, and Billy pulls an inside cradle out of nowhere! The crowd pop like mad as Billy holds Fisto's shoulders down, but no referee is there to count! The referee turns, and makes the count - 1 - 2 - Fisto kicks out!] TD: Billy would have had the victory there for sure, but thanks to Steve Roberts he was denied again! [Fisto floors the exhausted Billy with a clothesline, and then hoists him up into position for the Knucklebomb again. He climbs to the second turnbuckle, but once more Billy wriggles to get free of Fisto's grip. He kicks Fisto off the buckles back into the ring, and then positions himself on the top rope. Fisto gets to his feet and charges at Billy, who launches himself with the Curtain Call! Fisto goes down hard and Billy makes the cover - 1 - 2 - Roberts charges the ring, but he's too late! - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Huge pop!] TD: Yes! Billy Shakespeare did it! RA: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner, by pinfall: "Spotlight" Billy Shakespeare! [Roberts holds his head in dismay as Robo Stone pulls Fisto from the ring, gesturing angrily at Roberts. Billy staggers to his feet and allows the referee to raise his hand in victory. Huge pop!] RA: Now "Soundbite" Steve Roberts must declare his respect for the winner! [Huge pop as Roberts throws a tantrum in the ring. He rolls out of the ring and heads up the aisle. He is met by the Punster, who stands, hands on hips, in the centre of the walkway. He wags his finger at Roberts, and then marches him back to the ring. Roberts is handed the house mic by the ring announcer as he climbs the steps. He enters the ring and faces Shakespeare. The crowd noise is almost deafening, and Roberts looks around into the fans.] SR: Shut up! Shut it, you morons! [turning to Shakespeare] Heaven knows, Pukespeare, I don't mean this. Every person in this arena knows that Fisto Flash was robbed of certain victory by you pulling his tights as you made that pin. You're a cheater, Shakespeare. But -- I -- I -- [The crowd noise rises again as Roberts goes a deep shade of purple.] SR: [through clenched teeth] I respect you. [shouting] Now get out of here, you puke. [Huge pop as Shakespeare calls the Punster into the ring. They simultaneously gesture to Roberts that he can kiss their respective behinds, before rolling out of the ring in double-quick time as Roberts swipes at them. They raise their arms in victory and head up the aisle together to a huge pop. Roberts drops the microphone and leaves the ring, rejoining Dross at the announcers' table.] SR: Those two little sons of b... TD: [interrupting] Steve, I know you're upset, but try and keep a civil tongue in your head! That was a great match, and Billy won it fair and square. He certainly did not pull any tights as he pinned Fisto. It was as clean a pin as you could ask for. SR: You're blind, Dross. I can't believe it. I want a rematch! I want Pukespeare smeared all over the mat. I want... TD: [interrupting] You're getting hysterical, Steve, and we haven't got time to listen to your Shakespeare wish list right now. We're just moments away from tonight's main event, as Tiger Claw battles the Subway Psycho. Be ready for the biggest home town reaction we've heard all night when the people's champion arrives out here! SR: These morons don't know squat, Dross. Mind you, it'll cheer me up no end when Tiger Claw whips the Psycho's ass clear across this arena... and every single member of this crowd goes home miserable! TD: I'm sorry, Steve, but I just can't see that happening. The Psycho has such momentum at the moment, and Claw's recent form has been less than brilliant. I think we're going to see the Psycho humiliate the Syndicate again here tonight. SR: I really wouldn't be so sure about that if I were you, Dross. I happen to know that Brian Lau has a special something up his sleeve for the Psycho here tonight. TD: Oh, come on, Steve! Lau's a champion bluffer. He can't even find partners for Claw and Joe Latta for their Midsummer Madness match against the Alliance of Excellence. SR: [sniggering] You've got a lot to learn, Dross. TD: Well, maybe. Let's go up to the ring for tonight's big main event! ~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~ Tiger Claw vs. Subway Psycho _.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-.__.-~~-._ [Sparkplug Lee takes to the ring. A chant of "Spark - plug! Spark - plug!" begins as the crowd become more excited.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is tonight's main event and it is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, coming down the aisle, accompanied by Brian Lau, weighing in at 220lbs and hailing from Thailand, here is: Tiger Claw! [Massive heel pop as the Thai boxing music that accompanies Claw's entry begins. Claw appears at the head of the aisle with Lau in tow. He walks down to the ring, ignoring the deafening jeers of the crowd.] TD: I don't think it would matter who faced the Psycho here tonight. Nobody's going to be liked over him here in New York. SR: These no-brainers have as much taste as they do intelligence, Dross. What's going to become of this great nation if criminals like the Subway Stinker are revered?! TD: You're twisting things out of all proportion, and you know it, Steve. The Psycho's not a criminal. SR: How can you be so naive, Dross? TD: There's a difference between naivety and thinking the worst of everyone you meet, Steve. SR: You're still reading those pop psychology books, aren't you, Dross? TD: Well... SR: [interrupting] Just shut up. Let's cut to the chase. I want to see the Psycho get his ass kicked. RA: And now... introducing his opponent! Coming down the aisle, hailing from the subways of New York, weighing in at 255lbs, here is the people's champion, the Subway Psycho! [The end of Sparkplug's announcement is drowned by the huge crowd reaction. As the lights in the arena drop and "Crazy Train" begins to blare out over the PA, the pop is deafening. Smoke begins to billow from the entranceway, and the single headlight of the subway train illuminates the video wall. The silhouetted figure of the Psycho emerges through the smoke and begins his walk down to the aisle.] TD: I have never heard anything like this reception in my entire career! SR: What did you say, Dross? I can't hear you -- these morons are shouting too loud! TD: What?! SR: What?! [The Psycho makes his way to the ring, and as he enters the squared circles, fireworks shoot up from the four ring post and cascade white sparks into the air. Other pyrotechnic effects explode high above the ring as the Psycho raises his arms to the crowd!] TD: What an entrance! The Psycho's really stealing the show here tonight. [Claw charges the Psycho before the bell, but the Psycho sees him coming, and takes him down with a drop toe-hold. Claw is quickly back to his feet, but the Psycho clotheslines him to the canvas again. Claw again gets back to his feet, but again hits the mat moments later after a flying lariat from the Psycho. Claw rolls from the ring.] TD: The Psycho's on fire here tonight! SR: Yeah, and he'll be burned out in a few seconds. As long as Tiger Claw can weather the initial storm, he'll come back and crush the Stinker. [The Psycho goes through the ropes after Claw, and leaps off the apron at his opponent, but Claw sidesteps, and the Psycho clatters into the crowd barrier. Claw stamps his opponent, and executes several boxing kicks on the stunned Psycho before rolling back into the ring. The referee counts the Psycho out - 1 - 2 - 3 - the Psycho gets back to his feet and rolls back into the ring. Immediately, Claw begins kicking him viciously. He snap mares the Psycho into the corner and climbs to the top turnbuckle.] TD: He's going for the Golden Tiger Strike already! If he hits this, it doesn't matter how much of a home advantage you have -- you're not getting up! [Claw takes just a moment too long getting his balance... the Psycho manages to get to his feet, and slams Claw into the centre of the ring. Psycho bounces off the ropes, but Claw is immediately back up, and floors the Psycho with a leg lariat. Big heel pop. Tiger Claw picks the Psycho up and executes a side suplex. He goes for the cover - 1 - the Psycho kicks out with authority! Big pop as the Psycho gets to his feet and clotheslines a surprised Claw from the ring. The Psycho attempts a plancha dive onto Claw, but the Thai boxer rolls out of the way, and the Psycho hits the floor with force. Big heel pop. Suddenly, a figure flies down the aisle. Big pop.] TD: Who's that?! SR: Oh no! It's Hakiro Matsuoko! TD: It is! It's the "Angel of the Sun"! We've not seen him since Ring Wars! SR: This could mean trouble for Tiger Claw. I bet Matsuoko hasn't forgotten about the way Claw beat him at Ring Wars... and so much for the Psycho saying that he wanted a clean match. He can't take out Claw on his own, so he gets Matsuoko down here to do his dirty work. And these people actually cheer this guy?! TD: I never thought I'd see the day when Brian Lau made good on a promise... but it's great to see Hakiro back in action here in the IIWF! [Matsuoko arrives at ringside and immediately forces Claw to back off, before tending to the Subway Psycho. He helps the people's champion to his feet, and rolls him back into the ring. Claw retains the upper hand, however, dragging the Psycho to his feet and stunning him further with his knee fury. He knocks the Psycho down to the mat with a fist to the midsection. The Psycho gamely struggles back to his feet, but is knocked halfway across the ring by a spin kick from Tiger Claw. The crowd are practically all on their feet jeering Claw, while Matsuoko beats the ring apron, encouraging the Psycho.] TD: Tiger Claw looks just as hungry as the Psycho for victory here tonight! SR: He's got to have Matsuoko's presence on his mind, though, Dross. There are still some unsettled scores between those two. [Tiger Claw props the woozy Psycho up against one corner, and slaps him across the face. Big heel pop. The Psycho clumsily swipes at Claw, who steps out of the way. Claw whips the Psycho into the ropes. The Psycho ducks under a spinning leg lariat attempt, and nearly takes Claw's head off with a flying clothesline of his own. Big pop. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - Claw kicks out. The Psycho drags Claw to his feet, whips him into the ropes, and takes him down with a flying shoulderblock. Big pop. He makes the cover - 1 - 2 - Claw gets his feet in the ropes.] TD: The Psycho's back in control again... but he's got to stay on top of Claw if he's going to come out victorious. SR: This isn't fair, Dross! It's two on one -- Matsuoko should be sent away from ringside. TD: I'm surprised Brian Lau hasn't come out here. He must be watching this match back out on the monitors... SR: What good would Lau coming out here do Tiger Claw? When have you ever known Lau to put his hands on a wrestler in a match? TD: You're unbelievable, Steve. [The Psycho whips Claw into the ropes, sending him inadvertently clattering into the official, who tumbles from the ring. The Psycho continues his assault on Claw, nonetheless, taking the Thai boxer down with a vicious clothesline. He signals to the crowd for the Derailer! Huge pop!] TD: Here it comes! Somebody wake up that official - he's going to be needed in just a few seconds! [The Psycho climbs to the top rope and raises his arms. Suddenly, Hakiro jumps up onto the ring apron and punches the Psycho from the top rope. He falls into the ring. Matsuoko uses the top rope to catapult himself into the ring, and he drops a leg on the Psycho. Huge heel pop.] TD: What?! But... SR: Oh yes! Brian Lau is a genius, Dross! He's got Matsuoko! Imagine that, Dross: the two finest martial artists in the IIWF both under the tutelage of Brian Lau! Look at Matsuoko go to work on the Psycho! This is great! TD: I can't believe this! How could Matsuoko do this to all his fans? How could he double-cross the Subway Psycho?! I'm speechless! SR: Good! Shut up and watch the show. [Matsuoko drags the Psycho to his feet, and executes a devastating back heel kick to the head of the people's champion. The Psycho goes down. Brian Lau walks down the aisle, a huge smile on his face, and begins directing the carnage as Tiger Claw gets to his feet and joins with Matsuoko in beating on the Psycho. Matsuoko snap mares the Psycho into the corner of the ring, and Claw bounds to the top rope. Matsuoko holds the Psycho in place while Claw executes the Golden Tiger Strike. Huge heel pop. Claw goes to the top again, and hits a second kneedrop.] TD: This is total carnage! Where's the Deathbringer?! Where's Kauffman?! SR: I guess that must be what Lau meant when he said that Deathbringer can't pull off his cheap parlour tricks through a steel door. They've locked up the Psycho's friends backstage -- and the Psycho's so unpopular, they all fit in one locker room! This is great! [Lau revives the referee as Hakiro rolls out of the ring. Claw makes the cover on the Psycho, and the official makes a very slow count - 1 --- 2 --- 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Deafening heel pop!] TD: No! Listen to these people! They can't believe what they've just seen... and nor can I! SR: This is fantastic! I told you all of these people would go home miserable, and that's just what's going to happen! Their beloved morons' champion totally destroyed by another master plan from Brian Lau and his Syndicate! Welcome to the fold, Hakiro! TD: You're despicable! [Claw and Matsuoko stand above the decimated Psycho, and Brian Lau raises their arms in victory. The ring fills with hurled objects from the crowd, and the heel pop is almost deafening.] TD: I'm being told over my headset that we're right out of time. I wish we could stay with this, folks, but that's it for this week. There's no IIWF Midweek Mayhem this week, and no IIWF Saturday Night next week, but we'll be back in action on August 14 with more live action... don't forget, IIWF Midsummer Madness is coming your way live from Madison Square Garden two weeks from today... I can't believe what we've seen here tonight... We'll have more on the turn of events we've just witnessed in Tuesday's update... I just hope the Subway Psycho isn't seriously injured. This is awful. Get some help out here! For "Soundbite" Steve Roberts, this is Tim Dross, saying: so long, everybody! [Dross continues to speak, but his voice fades out as the shot pulls back to show the Syndicate standing above the Psycho in the ring. Joe Latta jogs down to the ring to congratulate Claw and his new partner. The fans continue to throw paper and cups into the ring. Fade] +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I * I * W * F =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+ | Send mail to iiwf@sisko.demon.co.uk with the subject lines: | | "send faq" for the FAQ + "send singles" or "send tag" for the | | rosters + "send handlers" for a list of handlers | +------------------------------------+---------------------------------+ | URL: http://www.sisko.demon.co.uk/ | President: Daniel Spreadbury | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+