[Fade up onto aerial shots of the New York skyline at dusk. A golden glow hangs over the horizon as lights flicker on in the tall office and apartment blocks of the city. The shots progress towards Madison Square Garden, with fans flooding in through the doors. The bright electronic display above the main entrance flashes the IIWF logo. Over these scenes comes a voice over:] TD: The IIWF has toured the length and breadth of the United States, but all roads lead to New York for what promises to be the hottest night of the summer! We're here at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, to see the new IIWF World Heavyweight Champion crowned. It's all going to happen tonight, folks. It's time for a little Midsummer Madness! [Cut to backstage area where the wrestlers are arriving in the arena. Fans crowd behind barriers as various vehicles pull up and stop. From a coach comes Tony Starks, wearing a tracksuit and carrying a kitbag. He is swamped by fans, demanding autographs.] TD: Tonight, individual egos will have to be put aside. Tonight, the IIWF's most talented and most competitive stars will have to work together. They will have to unite against a common enemy, in pursuit of a common goal: the IIWF World Heavyweight Championship! [Starks is followed out of the coach by "Machine" Hunter Robertson and Billy Shakespeare. The Punster bounds out behind the other three, wearing his mask.] TD: Together, these men will face the Showstoppers, led by Simon Lebec, along with Fisto Flash, "Painbringer" Billy Sexton and "Frost" Scott Morrison. [A dark limosine pulls up in the parking area. The chauffeur gets out and opens the rear door, allowing the Senator, the Atomic Destroyers, the Hangman and Mr. Damage to disembark. They ignore the fans and head out of sight.] TD: Old enemies battle once again, as the Senate takes on the Posse. [Another limo drives up. The chauffeur also gets out to open the rear door, but has the door opened on him, knocking him backwards. Out gets the Outlaw, followed by the High Plains Drifters, the Crippler, and the "Outlaw" Josey Wales.] TD: These men will clash once more in an effort to settle old scores. Which of these men will advance to the final Survivors Match to compete for the biggest prize in professional wrestling? [The American Heroes disembark from a coach. Casey James gets off first, and signs a couple of autographs before heading out of sight. Man of Steel and the Family stick around a little longer to sign a few more posters.] TD: Under the inspirational leadership of Casey "Whitebread" James, the American Heroes will face the power of the Dark Knights. [Finally, a third limosine drives into the area. From it emerge Joe Latta, Hakiro Matsuoko, Tiger Claw and Brian Lau, who is arm in arm with Sasha.] TD: And here are the men who must face possibly the single most talented team in the IIWF. Brian Lau's Syndicate will battle the Alliance of Excellence, led by Dan Kauffman, and featuring the people's champion, the Subway Psycho, Deathbringer and "Legend" Brandon Bennett. But who is the Syndicate's fourth man? The time has come for us to find out the answers to this, and many other questions. The time for talking is at an end. The sides are picked. Let the battle begin! [Cut once more to an exterior shot of the arena. Zoom in through the front doors. Opening graphics:] .---------------------------------------------------------------------. | From the revolutionary force in ewrestling entertainment! | `---------------------------------------------------------------------' ##### ###### ### ########## ########## ########## #### ## ########## ########## ########## #### # #### ######## ##### ##### #### ## ##### #### #### #### #### ### #### #### #### #### ############# ######### #### #### ########### ######### #### #### #### #### #### ######### ######### ### #### #### ######### ######### ### ## #### ######## ######## ## # #### ## MM M I DDD SS U U MM M MM M EEE RRR M M M I D D S U U M M M M M M E R R M M M I D D SS U U M M M M M M EEE RRR M M M I DDD S UU M M M M M M E R R S E R SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS M A D N E S S EEEEEEEE R .---------------------------------------------------------------------. | LIVE + Madison Square Garden, New York + August 17 1996 + LIVE | `---------------------------------------------------------------------' [Fade through to shots of the interior of the jam-packed Madison Square Garden. Fans wave signs right the way up from ringside to the nosebleed gallery seats. Huge IIWF Midsummer Madness banners adorn the rafters of the arena, and a huge lighting rig suspended above the ring casts a myriad colours over the fans and the squared circle itself. Fireworks erupt high above the heads of the fans. Eventually, cut to the announcers' table, at which stand Tim Dross and "Soundbite" Steve Roberts, both dressed up in tuxedos, and Becky LaRue, who, dressed in a sparkly red dress that complements her flame-coloured hair, is waving to her fans.] TD: Welcome everybody to New York City! Welcome everybody to the home of professional wrestling! Welcome everybody to Madison Square Garden! Welcome everybody to IIWF Midsummer Madness! SR: Keep your toupee on, Dross. TD: Howdy, folks. I'm Tim Dross, and with me here tonight for this stellar event are my broadcast colleagues, "Soundbite" Steve Roberts, and the lovely Becky LaRue. What a night we have ahead of us here in the Garden, Becky! BL: If you're going to be so excitable all night, you said a bundle right there, Timmy. TD: There's been a whole lot of speculation about this event in the past few weeks, most notably concerning Brian Lau and his three-man team. Does he have a fourth member? I understand that Lau's pet broadcaster, Kenny Tanaka, is back in the Syndicate's locker room: [Cut to the Syndicate's locker room. Hakiro, Joe Latta, and Tiger Claw are going over some last minute plans, and Brian Lau, with Sasha, stands with Kenny Tanaka.] KT: Brian, We've made it to the great Midsummer Madness. I only have one fear, and that's the fact that there's only three people here! Don't you think it's about time to reveal your fourth team member? [Sasha whispers something in Brian's ear.] BL: [To Sasha] Damn... Not another one... [To Kenny] Ummm... Oh. Why? Why should I? I don't have to tell anyone anything... You'll find out soon enough... Do you honestly think that I'd come to Midsummer Madness without a full team? [looks around nervously] KT: I've heard that the officials here are going to make a statement about the situation later on tonight. BL: Let them... It's not like we broke any rules... KT: Okay, well, there you have it. Back to ringside... [Cut back to ringside. Dross and his colleagues are now sitting behind the broadcast table.] TD: Becky, I heard you make some guarded comments regarding Lau and his fourth team member on Wednesday. I think the time has come for you to tell what you know. BL: Timmy, I'd love to, but I simply can't. TD: Oh, come on, Becky... SR: Don't pressure her, Dross. You know what she can do to old Barry Moron. TD: That's Larry Morton, Steve, but good point. Well, it's time to go up to the ring for tonight's first match, as Brute Force take on Ground Zero. Brute Force are, of course, captained by Robski, who is right at the middle of some shocking controversy right now concerning illegal arms deals. SR: I can't quite see eye to eye with Robski on his anti-American stance, Dross, but I respect the guy for standing by his principles. And he's also proving that he's got an astute head for business. TD: Goodness knows what kind of a reception he's going to get when he comes out here tonight, folks. Let's go up to the ring! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= BRUTE FORCE vs. GROUND ZERO Robski (c) "Nuclear" John Bomber (c) Magus Crimson Storm Guiding Lights Steamroller =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [Sparkplug Lee is already in the ring. He stands in a spotlight, and addresses the capacity crowd:] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following eight-man tag team elimination match is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, coming to the ring, captained by Robski, teaming with Magus and the Guiding Lights, here are: Brute Force! [There are considerable jeers for all. A fan tries to jump the railings to assault Robski, but security pushes him away. Magus tries to mix it up with the fan, but security keeps him at bay too. Robski begins to laugh so hard that he needs a moment to regain his breath. The Guiding Lights just shake their heads and proceed.] TD: While this team makes its way to the ring, let's go to some pretaped comments from their captain, Robski, made earlier this past week: [Cut to video: Robski is walking through the English countryside. It is a hot sunny day; he looks up at the sun beating down on him, he is walking in a field of corn. There is a gentle wind drifting through the corn making it sway. Robski snaps a stem of corn off a plant and chews it. He looks like a yokel as he speaks:] "Well, Ground Zero, the time draws ever nearer... the moment the world has been waiting for is ALMOST upon us, it is so close now to the moment of destiny, and I CANNOT WAIT. You see, I am the captain of Brute Force, and 'Nuclear' John Bomber, yours are the forces of ignorance, and Brute Force always defeats ignorance as I will defeat you. Look at this weather... Look at this sunny day. This is ENGLAND, boy, and what I AM FIGHTING FOR." [Robski comes to a stil. He climbs over it, and as he does his trousers split. He is a little annoyed:] "Jasmine told me I was putting on weight... jeez, I'll have to try that SlimFast stuff, if it worked for Shari Belafonte and Adriano Panatta, it MUST work for me." [Robski jumps down onto a dirt track and continues to walk.] "You see all this? This is what made this country great, and it is all mine! I own it and I cherish it, just as I cherish the IIWF belt. I will, of course, work with my team but also against them as well. You see, I look out for number one; I am not here with any alliances or pacts, I am totally unencumbered of all the emotional and contractual baggage most of you wrestlers bring to the table, AND THAT IS WHY I AM SO EFFECTIVE IN THE RING. I may not win the belt, but SOMEONE HAS GOT TO GO THROUGH ME... Good luck to whoever you are, as if you beat me, YOU WILL DESERVE THE BELT." [Cut back to the live action in the arena. Brute Force are in the ring.] TD: This crowd really hates Robski for his activities in illegal exports. BL: Like your toupee? SR: I love this girl. RA: Introducing their opponents! Coming down the aisle, captained by "Nuclear" John Bomber, with Crimson Storm, and Steamroller, here are: Ground Zero! [Respectable cheers. There is the sound of an explosion and the team jogs in.] TD: This is the first time we've seen Crimson Storm. Everyone's question is: can he wrestle? BL: That wasn't my question, was it yours? SR: Not my question. [The captains square off first. Robski is out of the gates immediatly. He pummels Bomber, throws him to the ropes and arm tosses him. The crowd starts a "U-S-A! U-S-A." chant, inspiring Robski to grab his crotch and bellow something unintelligible. Bomber takes the opportunity to drive his shoulder into Robski's middle. Robski falls to the turnbuckle. Bomber follows up again, but this time the Englishman stops his opponent, sets up and delivers the powerbomb. Bomber goes for his corner, but Robski plants a falling knee to the lower back. Bomber stops crawling. Robski drags him by the foot to the Brute Force corner. Robski reaches for Nate Lawson but Magus jumps in between and takes the tag instead.] TD: Magus has certainly come to wrestle. SR: We didn't think that he had come to bake a cake. BL: I thought only Larry used trite expressions like that. [Magus begins like the crazy man he is, stomping down repeatedly on Bomber's head. He flips Bomber on his back but receives a boot for his efforts. Bomber tosses Magus to the ropes but Magus reverses the rebound, shoving Bomber to the corner. Robski delivers a vicious forearm from behind from the outside, Bomber drops. Magus covers. Bomber tries to kick out, but the Guiding Lights pin his legs where the ref can't see them - the count - 1 - 2 - 3! The Lights pull Bomber out, with Magus' assistance.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, "Nuclear" John Bomber has been eliminated from this match. TD: That's one out. The Captain of Ground Zero goes out early! SR: Aw, shoot, I had Bomber, that loser, in the office poll. BL: Looks like you won't be taking me out to dinner after all. [The ref can't figure out what is going on, and declares a tag. Magus protests. Taylor runs in for Ground Zero and drags Nate Lawson into the ring. He executes a massive Northern Lights Suplex. Lawson retaliates with a clothesline/hip toss combo. He lifts for a press slam but Taylor is able to slide out, starts an abdominal stretch, turns it into a gut wrench suplex. Lawson bounces back up. He rains down with fists. Taylor gets the tag to Crimson Strom. Lawson doesn't notice. He throws Taylor to the ropes and catches him for a flying DDT. He is too late as Crimson Storm flies off the ropes with a sunset flip. 1 - 2 -3! Lawson is stunned and confused as to where the attack came from] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Nate Lawson has been eliminated! TD: The sides are even again! Just like that, Crimson Storm makes a big impact in this match! SR: Hey, I had Lawson's name in the pool too. What gives here? [Magus storms out of the corner.] SR: Alright! Here comes the winner. I've got his name too! BL: Do you only have names of wrestlers in _this_ match? SR: Well....no. I have...well...another name. BL: Who? SR: [mumbling] Bfhmm Shfeferrr TD: [Laughing hysterically] Billy Shakespeare! I love it. This is great! SR: Oh, shut up. Quit laughing. It's not funny. [Magus tosses Storm with a single leg pickup. He twists the smaller man's leg inside his own, falling backwards. Storm yells and reaches for the ropes. Magus stands again, repeating the fall. Storm gets to the rope. Magus refuses to let go, laughing maniaically. The ref nears the end of his count, and Magus lets go. He drags Storm away by his bad leg. He drops an elbow, but Storm rolls. There is a thud as Magus hits. With blinding speed, Crimson Storm is back on his feet. He drops his good leg across Magus. Magus rolls out, but Crimson Storm plancha dives onto the lunatic, who catches him before slamming his back across the ring post. Both wrestlers make their way back into the ring. Storm leans in the corner. Magus attacks full bore only to have Storm slip away. Magus is stunned as his head hits the metel post. Crimson Storm winches his arm into an armbar.] TD: He calls that his "Code Red armbar"... it's a painful hold! [Magus reaches for the ropes but has wandered too far away. Storm redoubles the effort. Magus finally submits.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Magus has submitted, and is thus eliminated from this match. SR: No! No! No! [Greg Augustine is immediately in the ring. Crimson Storm retreats and tags in Brassow. The two lock up in a test of strength. Brassow knuckles under to the huge Augustine. Greg puts on a side headlock, crimping his arms tighter and tighter. Finally he drops for a sloppy DDT. Augustine goes for the pin - 1 - 2 - Brassow kicks out. Augustine throws him to the ropes, catching him up in a spectacular press slam. The crowd pops in awe.] TD: There is something amazing about a seven foot man lifting a six five man in the air. BL: You're almost as sentimental as Larry Morton. [Again Augustine tosses Brassow to the ropes, but then Brassow comes back flying with a clothesline that drops the big man. He side suplexes Augustine. Augustine gets back to his feet. rassow delivers a drop kick that pushes the big man back. Brassow tags in Taylor. Augustine nails Brassow with a fist to the midsection. Brassow doubles over. Augustine gets in position for a forward DDT, but Brassow has deceived him. Brassow lifts for the German suplex and Taylor dives off the ropes finishing off the "Steamrolerplex". Taylor goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Greg Augustine has been eliminated! TD: That was unusual. Typically that 'plex is done with Taylor doing the hold. SR: Thank you, Mr. Information. TD: And that leaves one against three. BL: Thank you, Mr. Information. SR: I love this girl. Take me home, have my children. [Robski ventures into the ring slowly. Taylor faces him. Taylor jumps for the drop kick, Robski watches him miss and fly through the ropes. Robski reaches over the ropes, suplexing Taylor back in. He drops a knee onto the 'Roller. He throws Taylor to the ropes, Taylor evades the raised boot, and sweeps Robski's leg. He splashes Robski, but hits the rope also, and it snaps him off the Englishman. Both man get to their feet. Taylor quickly swings on a crucifix. There is a struggle as the two fight for control of balance. Robski gives up, going with a Samoan splash which forces Taylor to roll out. Robski runs to the Ground Zero corner and pops Crimson Storm and Brassow with forearms. Taylor takes the moment to cradle the small package - 1 - 2 - Robski rolls out. Back to their feet, Robski connects with a clothesline. Taylor throws him to the ropes and sets up for the back drop. Robski stops, locking up the head with his knees. There is a collective "Uh-Oh" from the crowd. Robski finishes off Taylor with a jack-knife powerbomb - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Taylor has been eliminated! TD: The odds are still against Robski, but I'm not ready to count him out. BL: Well, neither is the ref. SR: Yeah, now he has to get rid of the other Hair-roller. [Brassow asumes a fighting stance. He throws himself against the ropes and catches Robski with a side senton. Robski rolls to the other side of the ring. Brassow follows, trying to stomp him all along the way. He drags Robski to his feet and slams him against the ring post. The crowd counts "1! 2! 3!", Robski gets the reversal and returns the favor six times. Brassow staggers out. Robski throws him to the ropes then follows with a high knee. Brassow doesn't go down, but he is disoriented. Robski vices on a sleeper hold. Brassow flails. A short taunt of "Rob-ski, Rob-ski" begins. The ref lifts an arm, it falls. He lifts again, it falls. The crowd chants "Roller...Roller...Roller..." Ref lifts an arm, Brasow holds it steady at halfway, then it falls. Ref eliminates Brassow.] RA: The referee has ruled that Brassow is unfit to continue in this match. Therefore, he has been eliminated! SR: And just like that, it's down to one. BL: You like Robski? SR: Yeah, he's great! BL: If you're into the neanderthal thing... [Crimson Strom gingerly enters, favoring his bad leg. Robski mockingly imitates the limp.] TD: I don't know if Robski should be so cocky. Both men have suffered a lot of hits tonight. SR: Yeah, Robski, that's cool. [Robski is unexpectedly floored when Crimson Storm spinwheel kicks him in the head. Robski kneels, trying to clear his head. Storm is none too eager to engage. Robski suddenly rushes Storm and the two go down in a heap from the flying tackle. There are a few Oklahoma rolls before Crimson Storm frees himself and escapes to the outside. Robski stands center ring. The "U.S.A." chant is renewed. Robski kisses his fingertips before planting them on his rear. A figure runs down the aisle.] BL: Who was that? [Blackjack Haley runs into the ring, blindsiding Robski wih a barrel roll to the back of Robski's knees.] TD: What does Haley want? SR: To beat the crap out of Robski? TD: But why? He's not even supposed to be here. BL: Tim dear, when you are as big as Haley, you don't need a reason. You know what they say about the 700 pound gorilla... [Haley uses his airplane spin to disorient Robski before letting him go. Robski lands hard against the ring post. The ref points at Storm still outside, then at Haley, then signals the disqualification.] SR: That's it! Crimson Storm is out on the DQ! Robski wins, Robski wins! TD: Settle down Steve, there is still a lot of wrestling to be seen. BL: But will Robski be able to be part of it? [Haley lifts Robski into a backbreaker. He climbs to the second rope, facing the crowd. He presses Robski above his head. Crimson Storm jumps into the ring pleading with Haley to let Robski down. Haley ignores him. Storm grabs Haley's leg. Blackjack lets Robski drop. Robski falls from above the top rope all the way to the apron. He receives a glancing blow off the ring steps.] TD: Robski isn't moving! Get security out here! Get the paramedics! SR: Get a camera! Get a close up! This is great! [In the ring, Storm backs away from the enraged giant. Storm tries to escape but his bad leg betrays him and Haley catches him, pulling him into a full nelson. Security enters the ring. Haley bellows for them to stay back or he'll hurt Storm. Security is confused. Haley lifts the smaller man into the air in the full nelson, dangling him a foot above the mat. Storm screams as Haley brings his shoulders together. Security approaches. Haley drops Storm at their feet. He exits slowly up the aisle while a medical crew looks at Storm. Security poses foolishly in the ring. The crowd explodes for Haley as he exits.] TD: This match has seen Robski continue on, but at what price? BL: For a shot at the IIWF World Heavyweight Championship, any wrestler would willingly sacrifice a body part. [The paramedics place a brace on Robski's back. He complains bitterly, but continues to wince. As they cart him up the aisle he can be heard demanding socialised medicine. The crowd jeer his departure.] TD: Well, what an exciting opening match that was! But will Robski even be able to compete in the Survivors Match? Things don't look good for the self-monikered English sensation. We'll try and get an update on his condition later on tonight. Meanwhile, let's continue with our next match. SR: I'm never entering that stupid office poll again. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE PATRIOTS vs. BATTLE ZONE Ron Fire (c) NavCom (c) Steve Forget DefCon Marshall Law Abie Ace Maverick Zed =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= TD: The pairings for this tournament were very unique because members of stables have wrestled together, but in matches like the one we're about to see, these guys are actually talented tag teams that have been thrown together. SR: If you want to call Stink Team USA and Lawless Disorder _talented_ then you're in need of a talent check, Dross. And I don't see how any team in the IIWF can be expected to team up with the Alphabet Boys. The best thing the Armed Forces could do is to beat the hell out of the Alphabet Boys and then take on The Patriots themselves. BL: Well I don't care what you say, I still think Abie is kinda cute... in a masked lunatic sort of way. TD: Cute or not, we're about to get this match underway. Let's go up to the ring for our introductions. [Sparkplug Lee is casually bouncing against the ring ropes when the spotlight falls on him. A pop is accompanied by the "Spark-Plug" chant from the cheap seats at Madison Square Garden.] SL: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the combatants in this contest... BL: Hey, Sparkplug's been reading the dictionary again. SL: ...First, weighing in at a combined 1,232 pounds, captained by NavCom and accompanied to the ring by Aaron the Caddy, here are DefCon, Abie, and Zed... they are the team called Battle Zone! [Mixed pop for the members of Battle Zone as they enter the arena to the sound of machine guns, which seems to confuse Abie. Fan hurl cups at the members of the Armed Forces. Abie and Zed catch the cups that miss, ball them up, and bounce them off of NavCom and DefCon's heads at point-blank range. The Armed Forces turn and begin hitting the Alphabet Boys, but Aaron gets between the teams and breaks up the ruckus and the group continues to the ring.] SR: These guys didn't even get to the ring before beating on each other ... and they're on the same team! TD: It'll be interesting to see if they really _can_ work together. BL: The Alphabet Boys can't even work with each other. I think Steve is right on this one. [Turbo B's "I'm Not Dead" replaces the machine gun noises as Sparkplug Lee raises the microphone again.] SL: And their opponents, weighing in at a combined 1,127 pounds and captained by Ron Fire, here are Steve Forget, Marshall Law, and Ace Maverick . . . they are the team called The Patriots! [Good face pop for the Patriots, who are nicely color-coordinated for the evening's activities. They hi-five the fans on the way to the ring, stopping to admire a homemade "Patriots Rool" poster.] SR: Patriots rool? Is Tony Starks' family in the arena tonight? TD: Cut that out, Steve. BL: Yeah, and after these guys went to so much trouble to be color-coordinated tonight in their black and red. SR: By the time the Armed Forces get finished with them, they'll be more black and blue. This ought to be what Dross always calls a snotknocker. TD: That's _slobber_knocker, Steve. [Ron Fire leaps over the top rope and indicates that he will start the match for The Patriots. NavCom and DefCon huddle with Aaron while Abie and Zed begin their traditional "me first" argument. The two spill into the ring, but Abie kicks Zed through the ropes and jumps up to face Ron Fire as the referee calls for the opening bell. Abie charges Fire, who sidesteps him and takes him to the mat with a drop toehold. Fire adds an elbow drop to the knee before Abie is back to his feet, but Fire meets him with a side headlock. Abie finally shakes him off into the ropes and levels Fire with a shoulder block, then claps his hands above his head and smiles at Zed, who also grins and claps. Several fans begin the clap in the stands.] SR: I wonder how much these guys charge to haunt a house? TD: They've certainly gotten some of the fans here at Madison Square Garden on their side already. [While Abie is celebrating, Fire slides behind him and goes for the quick takedown and inside cradle for the cover: 1 - 2 - kickout! Abie, upset that Fire spoiled his celebration, headbutts Fire three times until the Stunt Team USA member drops to the canvas. Abie dives to his corner and makes the tag to Zed, who applies his spinning full nelson on Fire before finally letting him fly into The Patriots' corner. Fire reaches up and tags in Ace Maverick.] TD: Why did Zed throw Ron Fire into his own corner? He had him in a pinning situation. BL: You're asking why an Alphabet Boy didn't do something logical? Oh, Timmy! TD: You're right. Sorry. [Ace Maverick hits the ring on fire and peppers Zed with a punching combination. He whips Zed into the ropes and hits a frankensteiner, then quickly goes for the pin: 1 - 2 - kickout! Maverick runs Zed's head into the turnbuckle, but Zed just grins at him. The Alphabet Boy then grabs Maverick's head and rams it into the turnbuckle three times, staggering Maverick. Zed walks over to his corner, beats his own head on the turnbuckle twice, then tags in DefCon.] TD: The Patriots have to remember not to work on the heads of the Alphabet Boys. We've yet to see any opponent do any damage to their heads. BL: And I think that statement speaks for itself, Timmy. [DefCon hammers Maverick with several reverse knife edge chops that echo to the rafters of Madison Square Garden. He lifts Maverick and brings him down for a backbreaker, and goes for the cover: 1 - kickout! DefCon lifts Maverick from the mat and hurls him through the ropes toward Aaron the Caddy. Marshall Law enter the ring to protest, drawing the referee's attention while NavCon jumps to the floor and holds Maverick while Aaron rams a golf club into Maverick's midsection. Abie, thinking this looks like fun, grabs one of Aaron's golf clubs and adds another blow to Maverick's gut.] TD: The Alphabet Boys and Armed Forces may not work too well together in the ring, but they seem to be on the same page when it comes to cheating. Come on ref, stop this! SR: Hey, like that dork Punster would say, Maverick is now part of an exclusive club. BL: Hee hee. [Aaron and the others move away from Maverick by the time the referee turns around, so DefCon jumps out of the ring and runs Maverick's head into the ring guard. He rolls Maverick under the bottom rope and back into the ring, then goes to the top rope for a leg drop. As he leaps however, Maverick is able to just roll away and DefCon hits hard. Maverick rolls him up in a small package: 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] TD: DefCon is eliminated! What a move by Ace Maverick! SR: What a quick count by that referee! [Abie and Zed, not quite realizing the rules of the match, reach out to DefCon to be tagged in. NavCom quickly jumps through the ropes and cuts off Maverick's attempt to make a tag in his corner. He hits a DDT on Maverick and adds a back bodydrop before going to the top rope. Maverick is unable to move this time as NavCom drops a leg across his throat. He pulls Maverick to his feet, whips him into the ropes, and executes a hard powerslam into a cover: 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] SR: Now how's that for payback, Maverick? TD: Oh sure, after he had been triple-teamed outside the ring just minutes ago. Let's see how NavCom does against a fresh man. [Marshall Law catches NavCom off guard as he flies into the ring and lands a savate superkick that puts NavCom on the canvas. The referee helps Maverick out of the ring as Law continues his assault with a Sammartino backbreaker and a brainbuster. He covers: 1 - 2 - kickout! Law stands and signals for his Death Penalty finisher, but NavCom rolls out of the ring toward Aaron the Caddy. As the two chat outside the ring, Law runs to the ropes, holds onto the top rope, and kicks NavCom into his manager. Aaron is fuming as NavCom gets back to his feet and enters the ring, but is met by an arm drag takedown. Law grins as he tags in Steve Forget for the first time.] TD: The Patriots seem to have gotten under the skin of NavCom and Aaron. They've taken Battle Zone right out of their game plan. [Forget dropkicks NavCom across the ring and then hits a clothesline as NavCom gets back to his feet. Forget finally clotheslines NavCom over the top rope as Aaron again comes to the aid of his man. Forget looks to his corner and nods as he executes a plancha dive on NavCom outside the ring. Aaron, still fuming from the last attack, grabs a five-iron from his golf back and cracks it across Forget's head. The referee sees this and immediately calls for the bell disqualifying NavCom. He also says something to ring announcer Sparkplug Lee.] SL: Ladies and gentlemen, NavCom has been disqualified due to outside interference. Also, the referee has banned Aaron the Caddy from ringside for the remainder of this match. [Outside the ring, Aaron throws down the club and makes an obscene gesture at the official.] TD: Finally, the referees in the IIWF are doing something about that heinous Aaron. SR: Do you really think Aaron cares that he's banned from ringside now that both of his men are out of this match?! He could care less what happens to the Alphabet Boys. Besides, he was just trying to help Steve Forget. TD: How do you figure that? SR: He heard Forget had an iron deficiency. BL: Hee hee. [Even with Forget's red hair, it is evident that he is bleeding from a cut inflicted by Aaron's blow. He slowly gets back into the ring as the Alphabet Boys stand in the corner waiting for a tag. They watch Aaron escort NavCom up the aisle, then Zed jumps down and runs after them. He grabs NavCom's hand, slaps it against his own, and then runs back to the ring and begins attacking Steve Forget.] TD: I'm really not sure anyone explained the rules of this match to Abie and Zed. BL: I'm really not sure it would have mattered anyway. [Forget, weakened by the blow to the head, falls quickly under Zed's attack. Forget is nearly out on his feet when Zed's gutwrench suplex slams him to the mat. The cover: 1 - 2 . . . Ron Fire attempts to make the save, but . . . 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] TD: Steve Forget is eliminated, which puts us at a regular tag match now. And you've got to believe that Abie and Zed have the advantage because they are tag team partners. This is the first time Ron Fire and Marshall Law have worked together. SR: Maybe the Alphabet Boys did have a plan tonight. They got rid of the Armed Forces first. These guys may be smarter than they look... nah. [Ron Fire stomps on Zed, who rolls to his corner and tags in Abie. Fire and Abie slug it out, but Fire gains the advantage and bulldogs Abie in the middle of the ring. He quickly goes for the piledriver and then the cover: 1 - 2 - Zed rushes in and kicks Fire in the head. Marshall Law also attempts to get into the action, but the referee forces him back to his corner. While the referee's back is turned, Zed and Abie double team Fire and hit a double clothesline. Abie is covering Fire when the referee turns around: 1 - 2 - kickout!] BL: There is that teamwork coming into play already. The Patriots are going to have to be smarter than the Alphabet Boys if they're going to win this match. TD: Okay Becky, now think about what _you_ just said. BL: Oops. Sorry. [Abie applies a chokehold, blocking the referee's view. Marshall Law again attempts to get into the ring, but is again held up by the referee. Abie rolls Fire out of the ring, then follows him out. He reaches under the ring and displays a five-pound bag of sugar, which he busts open on Fire's head. Zed rolls Fire back into the ring as the referee turns around, but the official only sees Abie grabbing handfuls of the sugar and stuffing them in his mouth. He begins the count on Abie: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 . . . .] BL: I was wondering how long it would be before Abie needed a little snack. SR: You think they've got an Elvis lamp under the ring too? BL: Hee hee! [The referee's count reaches 6 - 7 - 8 before Zed pushed Abie back into the ring. But Ron Fire has recovered sufficiently to roll to his corner and tag in Marshall Law, who floors Abie with another savate superkick. He applies the cobra clutch but refuses to gain a submission from Abie. Law goes to the top rope to set up a kneedrop, but Abie gets back to his feet and hits Law's knee. Law tumbles from the top rope, grabs a rope to help break his fall, but hits his leg on the iron ring steps. Ron Fire runs around to check on his teammate, but the referee again steps in and ushers Fire back to his corner. As he does so, Abie slides out of the ring and attacks Law.] TD: The Alphabet Boys are taking full advantage of their teamwork outside the ring in this match. Abie is pounding Ron Fire and here comes Zed with . . oh my . . . could that be . . .? SR: There it is, ladies and gentlemen, the Elvis lamp! BL: Hee hee! [As the referee's back is still turned, Zed breaks the lamp base over Law's head. Abie rolls Law back into the ring and Zed follows him in and makes the cover. The referee dives back into the ring and makes the count: 1 - ] TD: They hit Marshall Law with a lamp, referee! [ - 2 - ] TD: And that isn't even the legal Alphabet Boy in the ring! [ - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] SR: I guess he didn't hear you, Dross. Ha ha! Now it's the Alphabet Boys against Ron Fire. Admit it, this match is over! TD: Ron Fire is a great competitor. This match isn't over until he's been beaten. [Zed greets Fire entering the ring and delivers several knife-edge chops to Fire's neck. But Fire reverses the situation, backs Zed into the corner, and delivers several hard forearms. He whips Zed into the opposite corner and follows him in for a splash. Before Zed can hit the mat, Fire picks him up in a gorilla press then converts it into a backbreaker. Cover: 1 - 2 - Abie runs in and kicks Fire in the head. Both Alphabet Boys whip Fire into the ropes and set up for their double clothesline, but Fire ducks under it, stops, and dropkicks both Alphabet Boys. Abie sails through the ropes. Fire signals for his inverted piledriver, lifts Zed, and hits the move!] TD: This could be it for Alphabet Boy Zed! [Fire covers: 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Fire raises his arms and then walks to the ropes where Abie lies outside the ring. Abie slowly gets up and walks around to the ring steps, but Fire does not notice Zed charge behind him. Zed knocks Fire out of the ring and the two begin brawling in the pile of sugar left from the earlier attack. As Abie climbs back into the ring, the referee looks baffled. He shrugs his shoulders and begins the count on Ron Fire: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 . . .] TD: Fire is fighting a man who is already eliminated. He needs to get back in the ring! [ - 6 - 7 - 8 - ] SR: I'm telling you, these Alphabet Boys are not as dumb as they look! [ - 9 - 10! Ding! Ding! Ding! The bell gets Fire's attention and he rolls back into the ring. However the referee raises Alphabet Boy Abie's arm in victory. Fire grabs the referee and pleads his case, but Abie sticks his tongue out at Fire and jumps out of the ring to celebrate with Zed.] SL: Your winner in this match, and sole survivor: Alphabet Boy Abie. [The Alphabet Boys stroll up the aisle to a mixed pop as Fire continues to plead his case with the referee.] BL: Well, I said The Patriots would have to be smarter than the Alphabet Boys and they weren't. Feeling foolish now, Timmy? TD: I just can't believe what is taking place here at Midsummer Madness! Before we go up to the ring for our next match, I understand that the IIWF President has some words for Brian Lau concerning the lack of a fourth team member for the match later on here tonight. [Cut to split screen, President Dan on the left and Brian Lau in his locker room on the right.] TD: [voice over] President Dan, good to have you here. DS: Thanks, Tim, and hello, Brian. BL: Yes, yes... What's the big deal? What do you think we've done wrong? DS: Well, it comes down to this. If you have a fourth man, you are asked to show him now. BL: Why? Is there some IIWF rule that says I can't have a mystery partner? DS: Well, if that's the case, if you do have a mystery partner, then that's fine. However, there is one last thing you should know. BL: And what is this valuable tidbit of information you have for me? DS: On the off-chance that you don't have a fourth member... BL: [interrupting] Who told you that?! Lies! Lies! DS: Excuse me... If you _don't_ have a fourth member by the time the Syndicate match starts, then your team will forfeit the match. BL: WHAT!? What are you talking about!? It's an elimination match! Who cares if we're one short!? DS: I'm sure you'll appreciate this ruling when you look at the contract for tonight's card. You are obligated to provide four wrestlers on your team, otherwise you lose by default. I'm sure you noticed this, as you are so fond of fine print on contracts. According to the rules of the IIWF, I have to enforce this clause in your contract. Now, Brian, I know you respect the rules of the IIWF. BL: You can't do this!! Alright... You said by the time the match starts... Fine. I'll get into a Gi if I have to... The Syndicate _will_ be in the match! DS: You have until the beginning of the match. [Cut back to normal shot of the announcers' table.] TD: Now come on, you two. It's obvious, isn't it? Lau doesn't have a fourth man. SR: He didn't say that, Dross. TD: Then why was he so upset about President Dan threatening to pull the plug on the match? SR: He doesn't want to see his master plan destroyed by useless bureaucracy, Dross. Rest assured that Brian Lau holds all the aces in this game. BL: And knowing Lau, he's holding _five_ aces right now... TD: Up next, the American Heroes take on the Dark Knights. Don Antonio and Vinny Cappicola are still without their manager, Salvatore Fiorello, after the attack perpetrated on him by the Dark Knights, but he had words of encouragement for his men from the hospital in which his convalescence continues: [Cut to Salvatore Fiorello in traction with some words for the Family.] SF: Gentlemen, you know what you have to do. Today is the biggest day of your careers, and I know that with your recent training and the support from the fans, you will be able to go all the way. I may be incapacitated right now, but know that in your hearts when you need me, I will be there. Listen for my voice when the fans start cheering for you. You can do it, gentlemen: do it for yourselves, for me, for the entire Family, do it for the Heroes, but most importantly -- do it for America! [Fade] SR: Oh, please! I can only take so much of this stomach-churning patriotism. TD: Here, you'll probably need this bucket. Try not to get anything on Becky's lovely dress. BL: I can't work out whether that was an insult or not, Timmy. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AMERICAN HEROES vs. DARK KNIGHTS Casey James (c) Sandman (c) Man Of Steel Phantom Don Antonio Brad "Bodybag" Kinder Vinny Cappicola Prince of Darkness =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= TD: This should be an interesting matchup because both of the teams have previously worked together. However, I think the edge goes to the American Heroes because they have been a team for much longer. Despite the events at Midweek Mayhem earlier in the week, I've got to believe that the Heroes will advance in this tournament. SR: Still dreaming about truth, justice, and the American way, eh Timbo? The Dark Knights may not have been around as long as the American Bozos, but they've proven they have the cohesiveness, they have the strength, they have the agility, they have . . . BL: They have the Bodybag. And I'm still steamed that Brad was robbed of the IIWF Intercontinental Championship on Wednesday. I guess he'll have to make up for it by winning the IIWF World Championship belt here tonight! TD: Well, we'll have to see about that. For now, let's go up to the ring for our introductions. [Sparkplug Lee is caught off guard as he is hitting on... rather... chatting with Lisa, the IIWF corner girl, but quickly composes himself and raises the microphone.] SL: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing our next teams in Midsummer Madness. First, weighing in at a combined 1,175 pounds and captained by the Sandman, they are Brad Kinder, Phantom, and the Prince of Darkness... The Darrrrrrrk Knights! [Big heel pop as "Mr. Sandman" blares over the Madison Square Garden PA system. The Sandman leads his men into the arena and they walk slowly down the aisle, absorbing the history of the building. Phantom threatens one fan who taunts the group, forcing the fan to retreat farther into the stands. A small pocket of fans in section 124 cheers the group, waving the official IIWF "Knight Moves" poster. The Dark Knights enter the ring and raise their arms to the crowd as if to claim victory before the match begins.] TD: Well they certainly are a confident bunch, aren't they? BL: Why shouldn't they be? The Knights have always gotten the best of Don Antonio and his so-called family. And they know they can cheat ... uh, beat up the American Jerks without fear of retribution. SR: Oooh . . . retribution. I just love it when Becky uses words like that. ["Yankee Doodle Dandy" begins to play as Sparkplug Lee raises the microphone again.] SL: And their opponents, at a combined weight of 1,117 pounds and captained by Casey "Whitebread" James [big pop], they are the Man of Steel, Don Antonio, and Vinny Cappicola . . . the Amerrrrrican Heroooooes! [The pop rises as the American Heroes fly into the arena and tear down the aisle toward the ring. As they leap into the squared circle, the Dark Knights bail out and convene near the ring steps. When the American Heroes gather to celebrate their early victory, the Knights charge the ring and a brawl ensues. The Knights get the best of the exchange as Kinder gets in several blows on the Man of Steel before throwing him through the ropes. Sandman and the Prince of Darkness simultaneously clothesline Casey James and Vinny Cappicola over the top rope and the brawl spills out onto the arena floor. Phantom hits Don Antonio with several European uppercuts and, because they are the only two men left in the ring, the referee calls for the opening bell.] TD: There is no love lost between these two teams. We expected it to be a brawl from the start and that's what we've got here. SR: You're right for a change, Dross. Don't look for much technical skill in this contest. All of the men know how to wrestle, but this is going to be a war. [Phantom gorilla presses Don Antonio and slams him to the mat. He kneels over the Don and peppers him with right hands to the head as the brawl continues outside the ring. The Sandman, having run Vinny Cappicola's head into the ring post, sees the action in the ring and decides to help Phantom. As he jumps to the ring apron however, Phantom pulls Don Antonio to his feet and whips him into the ropes. The Don collides with the Sandman, sending the Dark Knight flying from the ring.] BL: Uh-oh, the Phantom just accidently knocked the Sandman from the ring apron. It's time for that little German lady to show up. TD: German lady? BL: Yeah, there's gonna be Helda Pay! TD: [under his breath] Now I see why Larry Morton wanted backstage duties tonight. [The Phantom rushes to the ropes to check on the Sandman, who hit his head on the ring barrier. As the Phantom yells his apology, he does not notice Don Antonio behind him. The Don expertly rolls up Phantom in an inside cradle . . . 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] TD: The Phantom has been eliminated from the match and we've just gotten started! BL: He took his eyes off Don Antonio and that's all it takes in the IIWF. SR: Well someone as ugly as the Don . . . you don't want to look at him too long. [The bell gets the attention of the other team members who retreat to their respective corners. Brad Kinder quickly enters the ring to keep Don Antonio, who looks badly beaten from the early action, from tagging out. Kinder pushes the Don into the Knights' corner, where all three men begin beating on the Don. Vinny Cappicola attempts to enter the ring to save his cousin, but the referee halts his effort. While the referee's back is turned, the Sandman pulls a rope from his tights and wraps it around the Don's neck.] TD: That's the cheating we're used to seeing from the Dark Knights. It's three on one in there and they have to use a rope! SR: Well if that idiot Cappicola wouldn't keep bothering the referee... [The Sandman releases the rope and drops it to the floor as the referee turns back around. Kinder tags in the Prince of Darkness, who power bombs Don Antonio and goes for the cover: 1 - 2 - kickout! He chokeslams the Don and covers again: 1 - 2 - kickout again! The Prince of Darkness pulls the Don to his feet and rams his head into the turnbuckle, then runs his head along the top rope before tagging in Kinder.] TD: The Dark Knights seem to be keeping the Sandman fresh on the outside. I've got to wonder if this is some sort of strategy on their part. BL: Well, of course it is. Braddy Pie and the Prince of Darkness are the brawlers on the Dark Knights, so they'll soften up the American Geeks and let the Sandman finish them off with his technical skills. A brilliant plan if you ask me. [Kinder enters the ring and Don Antonio attempts to battle back with a few right hands to the midsection that have little effect on the Bodybag. He attempts to get back to his corner, but Kinder whips him around and hits a DDT. Kinder then lifts him for the "Dead Man's Honour" and drives the Don's face into the canvas. He covers: 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] SR: What an impressive show by Kinder. I think he's a bit upset about losing the belt at Midweek Mayhem. BL: Yeah, and the American Heroes are going to pay the price for it! [As Kinder kicks Don Antonio from the ring, he waves at the American Heroes' corner, inviting any of them to enter. Casey James begins to enter the ring, but he is beaten to the punch by Vinny Cappicola, who vaults over the top rope and charges Kinder. Casey James is visibly upset and yells at Cappicola as Man of Steel attempts to calm his partner.] TD: So much for teamwork. Casey James, as the captain of the American Heroes, wanted to get into this match but Cappicola took it upon himself to avenge Don Antonio. SR: Yeah, Cornbread is real upset. But Vinny is family after all, and he's not too happy about seeing the Don beaten up. I kind of liked it myself. BL: Casey James doesn't look too happy with the Man of Steel for taking Vinny's side, either. They're yelling at each other outside the ring. What's with Casey lately anyway? I like this new "no-nonsense" attitude. [Kinder attempts to sidestep Cappicola's attack, but Vinny lunges and catches Kinder with an elbow. Bodybag staggers to the corner, but sees Vinny setting up for a splash and waits until the last second before rolling out of the way as Vinny slams into the turnbuckle. Kinder rolls him up: 1 - 2 - kickout! Kinder pushes Cappicola into the Knights' corner and all three men begin beating on him. Kinder tags in the Prince of Darkness, who joins Kinder in a double clothesline. Man of Steel stretches in an effort to make a tag, but Casey James waves his hand at Cappicola then looks to the crowd and points a finger at himself. Man of Steel slaps Casey on the shoulder and begins arguing with him.] TD: I never thought I'd see it, but there is definitely trouble in the American Heroes' camp. Cappicola is taking a beating in the ring and Man of Steel and Casey James are arguing outside. This is looking bad! SR: What did you expect with a bunch of showboaters? The ring isn't big enough for all of the American Egos. [Inside the ring, the Prince of Darkness hits a tombstone piledriver on Cappicola, then goes to the top rope, leaps, and drives his knee into Cappicola's head. He picks up Cappicola and drops him upside down in the corner, wrapping Vinny's legs over the top rope. He retreats to the opposite corner and runs full steam into his helpless victim, who crumples to the mat. He drags Cappicola to the middle of the ring, tags in Kinder, who climbs to the top rope and hits a legdrop on Cappicola. He casually covers Vinny while smiling at the American Heroes' corner. 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] TD: The Dark Knights have polished off Vinny Cappicola to gain the advantage in this match. I'm beginning to believe that all three of the remaining Dark Knights could advance to the final match. What an advantage they would have then! BL: And just for the record I would like to note that Brad has pinned both of the Dark Knights' opponents so far. [Kinder kicks Cappicola from the ring and again motions to the Heroes' corner for another to enter. Man of Steel waves at the ring, inviting Casey James to enter, but Casey refuses to enter. The ring microphone picks up his comment: "I'm the captain. You get your ass in there." Man of Steel stares at Casey before stepping through the ropes and cautiously approaching Kinder. The two lock up and Kinder whips MOS into the ropes. He goes for a backdrop, but MOS leapfrogs Kinder and perfectly times a dropkick as Kinder turns around. As Bodybag gets to his feet, he is met by a European uppercut and MOS applies a headlock. As he moves toward the Heroes' corner to make a tag, Casey James jumps to the arena floor and begins posing for the fans at ringside.] TD: Not only is Casey James avoiding the ring, he's turning his back on his long-time partner. SR: Well, after the putrid performace from his team so far tonight, can you really blame him? The Family was dominated by the Dark Knights and Man of Steel was actually defending Don Antonio and Vinny Cappicola. Give me a break! [Man of Steel finally breaks the headlock and whips Kinder into the ropes, but the two clothesline each other and both hit the mat hard. Kinder finally gets to his knees and crawls to his corner. Man of Steel rolls to his corner to make the tag, but Casey James is still posing for the fans in the front row, who desperately point at the ring behind him. Kinder makes the tag to the Sandman, who charges to the corner and begins stomping Man of Steel.] TD: This is the first time we've seen Sandman in the ring tonight. We should have had _two_ fresh men in the ring, but Casey James is ignoring this contest. SR: Now Dross, you're always saying how IIWF wrestlers need to pay more attention to the fans. Well that's what Casey James is doing. I'd call it _quality time_ too! TD: You're a toad, Steve! SR: Takes one to know one! BL: Boys, boys! Settle down! [Sandman punishes Man of Steel with a brainbuster suplex and a reverse neckbreaker. He whips MOS into the corner, where Kinder and Prince of Darkness inflict more punishment. Sandman tags in Prince of Darkness, who applies a choke hold on MOS. He breaks it at the last moment at the referee begins his count. Big heel pop. Prince of Darkness goes to the top rope, but hesitates and allows Man of Steel to catch his breath. MOS runs to the corner and hammers the Prince in the midsection, forcing the POD to lose his balance and he falls . . . painfully straddling the turnbuckle.] SR: Yeeeeeouch! That'll have you singing soprano for the rest of the night. BL: Yeah, I know a few of those tricks too. TD: Would you two stop?! This is the opening the Man of Steel has been waiting for! [True to those words, the Man of Steel climbs the ropes and readies the Prince of Darkness for his Doomsday move. As he uses the last of his strength to hit the powerbomb off the ropes, Prince of Darkness is clearly in trouble. Man of Steel lays an arm across his opponent as the Sandman and Kinder charge the ring: 1 - 2- 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] TD: Man of Steel gets the pin! We're tied up at two men apiece, but the Sandman looks upset! BL: Doomsday may have been prophetic. It looks like it took as much out of the Man of Steel as it did the Prince of Darkness. [The Sandman and Kinder, too late to save the count on the Prince of Darkness, double-team the Man of Steel. The referee finally forces Kinder from the ring as Sandman hits a reverse neckbreaker and then a swinging neckbreaker. He points at the "Sleeper" tattoo on his arm and then at Casey James outside the ring before applying his dangerous sleeper hold. Casey James jumps to the ring apron and smiles at his partner, but does not enter the ring.] TD: Why doesn't Casey make the save? The American Heroes still have a chance to advance in this tournament. BL: Timmy, I've been around wrestling a long time and I've seen a lot of friendships go bad. I've got a feeling the American Heroes won't be advancing anywhere after tonight. [Man of Steel slumps to the mat, reaching out toward his corner where Casey James still smiles at him. His hand falls to the mat and the referee raises it . . . once . . . twice . . . and as it falls to the mat a third time, the referee calls for the bell. Ding! Ding! Ding!] TD: Okay, now Casey James has to fight two men by himself. Let's see how he gets out of this one! [The Sandman steps back from the motionless form of the Man of Steel and waves at Casey James to enter the ring. Casey looks at the Dark Knights, then looks out at the crowd who yell for him to go to work on the duo. After what seems like an eternity, Casey throws his arms up in disgust, jumps to the arena floor, and begins walking up the aisle as he is jeered by the fans. The Sandman and Brad Kinder, seeing what is happening, both enter the ring and dole out more punishment on the Man of Steel before kicking him from the ring.] TD: I don't believe what I've just seen. I can understand Casey James being upset with his team's performance here tonight, but . . . SR: But what? He's in this federation to win some gold. He wanted people to help him clean up the IIWF and they laughed at him. He got his ass kicked in a double-cross by the Outlaw. He tolerated Don Antonio and his goofball cousin. You can only push a man so far before he snaps, Dross. I think Casey James snapped tonight. TD: I never thought I'd say this, but I think you're right, Steve. We'll have to see how this affects the IIWF. BL: You guys are forgetting one little thing . . . Brad Kinder advances to the final match! Yes! Yes! TD: And the Sandman advances, as well. BL: Oh yeah, him too. TD: I can't believe Casey James would be so low... I don't know what to say. Let's go back up to the ring. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE SENATE vs. THE POSSE The Hangman (c) The Outlaw (c) Mr. Damage The Crippler Atomic Destroyers High Plains Drifters =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [Sparkplug Lee takes to the ring once more. He waits for the noise of the crowd to subside before speaking.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is a single elimination eight-man tag team encounter. Introducing first, coming down the aisle accompanied by the Senator, here is the Senate: the team captain, the Hangman; Mr. Damage; and Larn and Steroid, the Atomic Destroyers! [Huge heel pop as the Senate makes its way to ringside, led by the Hangman, who is wearing his distinctive executioner's hood. The Senate appears to be giving last minute instructions to Mr. Damage.] TD: Here's a team who haven't made any friends here in the IIWF, with the possible exception of Mr. Damage, of course. Let's get comments from the Antipodean athlete, recorded earlier today: [Cut to video: Mr Damage is in the gym, hitting a punching bag adorned with a picture of the Crippler. He speaks, punctuating his sentences with blows to the bag:] "Midsummer Madness... the time has arrived. The Senate is about to get in government, and some big changes are going to happen. In my country the Senate blocks or passes bills to become law. That is exactly what we are going to do. We are going to block the Posse, we shall pass through, and our word will be law. The Atomic Destroyers, The Hangman and myself, Mr Damage, are going to create IIWF history when there are going to be five meatwagons waiting for the Posse. I've studied my opponents well. The Posse have their six shooters but I know they are shooting blanks. Crippler, I have wanted to get my hands on you for a long time [punches the bag]. I am going to slap my figure four on you, and I'll break your leg. Outlaw, I respect you, but I hate you and the horse you rode in on. Too bad you won't be able to repeat your Coronation Clash performance 'cos you won't even get that far... and to the Drifters: the Destroyers owe you something, and what you will get from me will be a bonus. When we finish with you I will go on to be the new IIWF Heavyweight Champion. I feel sorry for the people I am locking horns with at Midsummer Madness because anyone thhat crosses me will get the most hilatius beating of their life. And Deathbringer, you ugly son of a bitch, don't think I've forgotten about _you_. Posse, prepare to be vetoed by the Senate, because at Midsummer Madness, parliament will be in session." [As Mr. Damage unleashes another volley of punches on the bag, cut back to live action. The Senate are in the ring.] TD: You've got to wonder how many outsiders the Senator will entangle in his never-ending war with the "Outlaw" Josey Wales. RA: And introducing their opponents. Led to the ring by the "Outlaw" Josey Wales, here is the Posse: the team captain, the Outlaw; the Crippler; and Pale Rider and Easy Rider, the High Plains Drifters! [The Outlaw leads the way down to the ring, the brim of his hat hiding his masked eyes. He seems to make a signal to his fellow team members as he walks single-mindedly to the ring, and in an instant, the Posse abandon their entrance gear and storm the ring, the Outlaw immediately making a beeline for the Hangman, the Drifters for the Destroyers, and the Crippler for Mr. Damage. Huge pop as total chaos breaks out in the ring. The timekeeper hurriedly rings the bell to start the match.] TD: It doesn't take a genius to work out that this was exactly what kind of a match this was going to be: right from the get-go, these teams will go at it tooth and nail! [Eventually, the warring factions fall from the ring, leaving just the Outlaw and the Hangman in the squared circle. They start the match for their respective teams. The Outlaw rushes the Hangman into the ropes, but fails to pull him over for a sunset flip. The Hangman turns and charges at the Outlaw, hitting him with a big clothesline. The Outlaw doesn't go down. The Hangman runs against the ropes a second time, and again goes for a clothesline. Still the Outlaw doesn't go down. The Hangman runs into the ropes a third time, and this time launches himself with a flying clothesline. The Outlaw ducks out of the way, and the Hangman hits the mat hard. The Outlaw drops an elbow on the Hangman and goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kick out! The Hangman fights to his feet, and a slugfest between the two big men breaks out. The Hangman blocks a big right hand from the Outlaw and whips him into the ropes. He puts his head down for a backdrop, but the Outlaw sees the move coming, and out of nowhere executes his Cattle Buster DDT on the Hangman. Huge pop!] TD: That's what makes the Outlaw so dangerous! Just like that, he can end a match. Surely the Hangman's going to be eliminated now! [The Outlaw makes the cover, but Mr. Damage leaps up onto the ring apron and distracts the Outlaw, taunting him. The Outlaw gets up from the cover on the Hangman and swipes at Mr. Damage, who ducks under the swing, and then leaps up, grabbing the Outlaw round the back of the neck, and as Mr. Damage continues his descent to the arena floor, the Outlaw's throat is brought down on the top rope with force. Big heel pop as the Outlaw rolls into the centre of the ring, clutching his throat. Meanwhile, the Hangman has recovered sufficiently to crawl over to his corner, where the Atomic Destroyers now await the tag. He reaches up and tags in Larn, who enters the ring and immediately goes to work on the neck area of the former IIWF Champion. He applies a front facelock on the Outlaw, and applies more and more pressure. The Outlaw's face is screwed up in pain as he struggles to breathe. The nimble Pale Rider leaps over the top rope into the ring, and nails Larn with a knee to the back of the head. Larn turns and goes after Pale Rider, but the referee gets between the two men and forces Pale out of the ring. Larn turns his attention back to the Outlaw, and goes for an elbow drop. The Outlaw rolls out of the way, and hits the canvas hard. The Outlaw struggles to his feet, but Larn is still quicker, and the Destroyer whips the cowboy to his corner. Larn then begins choking the Outlaw, which brings the referee over to the corner to berate him. Larn draws the referee away from the corner while the Hangman gets hold of the tag rope and wraps it around the Outlaw's throat. He pulls it tight, egged on by the Senator on the outside.] TD: Come on, give me a break! The officiating in this match so far has been lamentable! SR: I'm sure there's millions of people sitting out there at home saying just the same thing about your commentary, Dross. BL: Timmy, I thought you liked being tied up... TD: Becky, please. [Finally, the Hangman releases the rope, and the Outlaw tumbles forward into the ring. Larn turns back to the former champion, and drags him to his feet. Suddenly, the Outlaw cinches in an inside cradle on Larn and small packages him. The referee is in position to make the count - 1 - 2 - Steroid storms the ring - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Larn of the Atomic Destroyers has been eliminated! [Steroid immediately begins stamping on the Outlaw, before the cowboy even has time to get to his feet. Larn rolls from the ring and is consoled by the Senator, who sends him back up the aisle.] TD: It didn't take long for the first elimination in this one! Larn had become over-confident, and you can't afford to be over-confident when you're in the ring with the Outlaw. In the blink of an eye, he can put you away, and that's just what he did. SR: This one's a long way from being over, Dross, and the Outlaw really needs to get one of his partners in there so that he can recuperate from the beating he's taking right now. Steroid's all over him like a rash! [Steroid whips the Outlaw into the ropes and tags in Mr. Damage. As the Outlaw comes back at the pair, they double-clothesline him to the mat. Mr. Damage immediately gouges the Outlaw's eyes, and then applies his Accelerator, a painful submission hold that involves stretching and twisting one of the opponent's legs whilst Mr. Damage's foot is on the Outlaw's crotch. The referee decides that the hold is illegal and begins counting Mr. Damage out. He reaches four, and Damage releases the hold. He drags the Outlaw to his feet and again jabs him in the eye with his thumb. He hits a couple of sharp European uppercuts, and the Outlaw goes down. Damage signals for his Thunderstruck legdrop, and climbs to the top rope. The level of crowd noise increases as Damage holds his arms aloft to the rafters. He launches himself, and the Outlaw rolls out of the way! Big pop! The referee begins counting both men out - 1 - 2 - 3 - the Outlaw stirs and begins rolling towards his corner - 4 - 5 - Mr. Damage staggers towards his teammates - 6 - 7 - the Outlaw makes the tag to the Crippler - 8 - the Hangman is tagged in by Damage.] TD: This could be very interesting. The Hangman is the far bigger of these two men, but the Crippler is undoubtedly more skilled between the ropes. BL: In a match like this, the ability to put your opponents away quickly with high impact moves has got to be a desirable attribute. In that respect, the Crippler comes up short. [The Crippler launches into the Hangman with European uppercuts, but he only staggers the big man. The Hangman stops the Crippler dead with a lariat, and then picks him up for a belly-to-belly suplex. Big heel pop. Pale and Easy storm the ring, but each is knocked from the squared circle by a single blow from the big Hangman. Josey Wales runs to tend to his boys on the outside, while the Outlaw is still slumped on the apron in his corner, recovering slowly. The Crippler, having landed hard on the back of his head, is motionless. The Hangman lifts the Crippler up onto the top rope, and climbs the buckles himself. The crowd give a big pop as the Hangman executes the Scaffold, sending the Crippler flying almost clear across the ring. He makes the cover - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the Crippler has been eliminated! TD: We're down to three on each team now! The Outlaw still looks in bad shape... hang on, the Hangman's pulling Pale Rider into the ring from the outside... [The Hangman reaches down over the top rope to where Pale is leaning on the ring apron, and drags him, by the hair, up onto the apron. He suplexes the light heavyweight into the ring, and then applies his Hangman's Noose on Pale. Pale flails for a few moments, but soon becomes motionless. On the outside, Easy Rider takes a set of brass knuckles from Josey Wales and then enters the ring behind the Hangman. He nails the Hangman across the back of the head with his brass-clad fist, and then tries to secrete the foreign object in his tights. However, as he is being pushed from the ring by the referee, the knuckles fall to the canvas. Both the referee and Easy dive for them at the same time, and the official gets to them first. He holds them up in Easy's face, and Easy denies any knowledge of them. But the official isn't having any of it, and motions to the timekeeper. The bell rings.] TD: What's happened here? RA: The referee has disqualified Pale Rider because of outside interference. Pale Rider has thus been eliminated from this match! [Easy throws his arms up at the referee and shouts at him, unaware that the Senator has pulled the Hangman from the ring, and Mr. Damage has entered in his stead. Damage clotheslines Easy to the mat from behind.] TD: No way! There was no tag made there! Come on, ref! SR: You know, Becky, I never thought I'd see the day when Dross was cheering the Posse on. Especially after what the Venusian Death Cell did to him. BL: Short memory, Stevey. How does that song go? [sings] "Unforgettable..." er... what comes next? TD: Oh, you're a riot. Let's call the match, shall we? BL: [giggling] Now that _would_ be novel, Timmy. [Easy is sent into the ropes by Damage, and ducks under a clothesline. He hits Damage with a bulldog, and then goes for the cover - 1 - kick out! Damage is stunned, however, and Easy hits him with a German suplex into a bridge. Cover - 1 - 2 - kick out! Easy cinches Damage into position for his Unforgiven inverse piledriver, but the Senator leaps up onto the apron and distracts the official as the Hangman reenters the ring and dropkicks Damage, sending Easy over backwards with Damage on top of him in a pinning combination. Damage hooks Easy's legs and has his knees on Easy's shoulders, effectively removing any possibility of a kick-out from the tag belt co-holder. The referee counts: 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Easy Rider has been eliminated! TD: It's down to three on one! And the Outlaw still hasn't got to his feet yet! [Damage tags in Steroid, who saunters over to the Outlaw's corner, and drags him into the ring under the bottom rope. Steroid drags the Outlaw to his feet and executes a neat powerbomb on him. Big heel pop as Steroid poses to the crowd before going for the pin - 1 - 2 - kick out!] TD: That one second of showboating might have cost the Senate the match right there! When you've got the last man on the opposing team down on the canvas, why on earth would you waste time posing?! SR: Much as it pains me to say it, Dross, the Senate have this match sewn up. The damage -- no pun intended -- was done earlier on when Mr. Damage injured the Outlaw's throat. BL: Indeed. It seems that the Outlaw is still having difficulty breathing. Either he's caught wind of your socks, Timmy, or his trachea was bruised when he was brought down on the top rope earlier on. [Steroid again drags the Outlaw to his feet and whips him into the ropes. He executes a chokeslam, and then tags in Mr. Damage. Mr. Damage and Steroid whip the Outlaw into the ropes and perform a double backdrop, before Steroid leaves the ring. Mr. Damage drags the Outlaw to his feet and attempts to scoop him up for a bodyslam, but the weight of the big cowboy is too much for him, and he drops the Outlaw, clutching at his lower back.] TD: That looks like terrible luck for Mr. Damage there... but the Outlaw is a 353lbs man, and Mr. Damage is giving away over 100lbs in weight to his opponent here. [Steroid and the Hangman both holler for the tag as Damage falls to his knees in the ring. The Outlaw senses that this is his chance to turn the odds around, and rolls Damage to the apron. He positions Damage so that he is lying half in the ring, half out, with his back over the edge of the apron, and then steps between the ropes, runs along the apron, and drops an elbow on Mr. Damage's breastbone! Huge pop as Damage's scream is drowned out by the roar of the crowd. Damage falls from the ring, not knowing whether his sternum or his back hurt more. As the Outlaw begins to put the boot into Damage, the Hangman and Steroid both attack the cowboy, but attention is diverted by Josey Wales nailing the Senator with a spur. Both Steroid and the Hangman turn to go after the Outlaw's manager, and the Outlaw crawls into the ring as the referee counts Mr. Damage out - 8 - 9 - 10! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Damage has been counted out, and is thus eliminated from this match. [Both the remaining Senate members turn back towards the ring. The Hangman elects to go back up against the Outlaw, and the Outlaw is ready for him. As the Hangman tries to get back into the ring, the Outlaw nails him with a shoulder to the midsection, and then suplexes the big man over the top rope back into the ring. He drags the Hangman to his feet and signals for the Cattle Buster. He places the Hangman's head under his arm, but the Hangman reaches down and yanks the Outlaw's legs out from under him, dropping him backwards onto his head. He kicks the Outlaw out of the ring, and then distracts the official. On the outside, Steroid drags the Outlaw to his feet, and holds him up for the Senator. Out of nowhere, the Senator throws a fireball at the Outlaw, who just manages to duck the flame as it flies towards him. It hits Steroid, who clutches at his face.] TD: Wow! It looks like Steroid has been blinded by that flame! The Senator is beside himself! [The Outlaw reenters the ring, only to be stomped on by the Hangman, but he fights to his feet and bounces off the rope, hitting the Hangman with a boot to the face. He runs to the ropes again, but the Senator pulls down the top rope, and the Outlaw tumbles to the outside. The referee sees the offence and signals for the bell. Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the Hangman has been disqualified because of outside interference, and is thus eliminated from this match! TD: We're down to one on one! Steroid's still outside the ring with his hands over his eyes... the Outlaw's going to the outside... he rams Steroid's head into the steel ring steps! Yowch, I hate that clanging noise! SR: I think the ring moved when Steroid's head hit those steps, Dross! [The Outlaw rolls the hapless Destroyer into the ring, and signals for the Cattle Buster. He drags Steroid to his feet and executes the deadly DDT. He makes the cover - 1 - 2 - the Senator leaps to the apron - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match, and sole survivor of the Posse, the Outlaw! [The Outlaw gets to his feet and allows the referee to raise his arm in victory. The crowd give a big mixed pop. The Senator, meanwhile, is shouting at the referee from the apron. The Outlaw slingshots the manager into the ring and mercilessly drives his head into the mat with the Cattle Buster DDT. He then accepts the congratulations of his manager, Josey Wales, and heads up the aisle, leaving Steroid and the Senator motionless in the ring.] TD: What a match! I'm amazed any of the combatants in that one were able to walk away from the ring! SR: I can't help feeling that there was a little bit of luck involved in the Posse's victory here tonight. The Senate's game plan seemed to be infallible until Steroid got hit by that fireball. BL: That reminds me of a time when... TD: [interrupting] Hang on... I understand Larry Morton is backstage with Casey James. Perhaps he can shed some light on Casey's strange behaviour here earlier on. Larry? [Cut to Larry Morton standing outside a closed door in a corridor backstage.] LM: Hello, folks. I'm presently on my way to Casey James' locker room. I'm hoping to get some compliments from him about what we just saw in the American Heroes/Dark Knights match... [Larry opens a door and walks through. The Camera is just quick enough to catch an ice pack being thrown at Larry Morton. It just misses.] CJ: Jesus Christ! Don't you knock!? [Casey James is seen near a sink. beside him, in a locker, is a pair of black tights.] LM: Uhhh... I...I... I'm sorry, Casey. I was just hoping to get comments from you... CJ: Good. I have some things to say. As I walked from the ring tonight, I heard the fans booing, and I could tell that Man Of Steel was there asking "What's wrong with you, Casey?" I'll tell you what's wrong, Steel... My whole life I've fought for this country. I've stood behind it all the way. I gave my soul for the USA. And the one time I needed it to back me up, I got disappointed. Look at these people, Steel. Look at them. They're losers. They cheer a criminal like the Subway Psycho, while good people like me get ignored. People's champion my ass... Someone once said that America needs a hero. I tried to be that hero, but everyone was too lazy to get up off of their fat asses to make a difference. America needs a backbone, not a hero. All of you losers can boo me all you like, I don't care... Truth, Justice, the American way... It's all crap... You want the American Way? Here's your American Way... [Casey grabs his crotch] LM: Wha... Wait, you can't say that... [Casey grabs Larry's lapels] CJ: I just did, runt. What are you going to do about it? [Casey lets go] I can't respect these people anymore, and that includes MOS. He's too blind to see what's happening. LM: Then just who _do_ you respect? CJ: You'll see when he gets here. [Suddenly, there's a knock at the door. Casey looks over, and smiles.] CJ: Come on in, my friend! [Larry looks off camera, and his eyes go wide...] CJ: You look like you've seen a ghost, Larry... LM: _Him_!? You respect _HIM_!? CJ: Better believe it, baby. [Casey pushes Larry out of the picture, and covers the camera lens.] Alright, show's over. Get out before I put your lights out. [Cut back to ringside. Tim Dross is holding his earpiece.] TD: Larry? Larry? Well, it appears we've lost Larry backstage. Steve, I'm shocked. I think this just about confirms our worst fears about Casey James. SR: Worst fears? This is great! TD: I'm intrigued as to just who that was who came into the locker room there moments ago. Hopefully we'll be able to reestablish contact with Larry in a little while. We'll keep you posted, folks. Right now it's time for our next match... and what a slobberknocker this one promises to be! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE PERFORMERS vs. THE SHOWSTOPPERS Billy Shakespeare (c) Simon Lebec (c) The Punster Fisto Flash Tony Starks "Painbringer" Billy Sexton "Machine" Hunter Robertson "Frost" Scott Morrison =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= TD: I understand Larry Morton is backstage with "Painbringer" Billy Sexton as he makes his final preparations. Larry? [Cut to Larry Morton standing behind the entrance curtain at the head of the aisle with Billy Sexton.] LM: Thanks, Tim. Billy Sexton: are you ready for this war tonight? This has got to be your toughest challenge to date in the IIWF. BS: OH YEAH! Tonight is the night, baby, and I am feeling alright. S Starks the time has come to feel some pain. Tonight I am going to take you out of wrestling for good. And after I take care of business, I will climb to the top of the mountain, and be declared the next champion. Baby, take a good look at the man who is going to rule the wrestling world. The man who in one night will end Starks' career and become the next champion. You boys in Vegas can put your money on that. OH YEAH! [Sexton returns to join the rest of his teammates off shot.] LM: Back to you at ringside. [Cut back to the ring. Sparkplug Lee clutches the microphone.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a single elimination eight-man tag team encounter. Introducing first, coming to the ring led by Robo Stone, Francois and Miss Crystal, here are the Showstoppers: captained by Simon Lebec, with Fisto Flash, "Frost" Scott Morrison and "Painbringer" Billy Sexton. [The Showstoppers appear at the head of the aisle, illuminated by a group of spotlights, with the letters "SL" in a monogram design in the centre. Francois and Miss Crystal lead the way down to the ring, Lebec following behind carrying an award, and Fisto Flash with Robo Stone following closely afterwards. Morrison and Sexton walk behind the others. They head down to the ring. Lebec stops at a homemade sign that says: "Showstoppers? Outperformed!" and points it out to his teammates. Lebec performs a mock Billy Shakespeare bow, much to the derision of the crowd, but laughs it off and heads to the ring.] RA: And introducing their opponents. Captained by Billy Shakespeare, along with the Punster, Tony Starks and "the Machine" Hunter Robertson, here are the Performers! [Huge face pop for the awesome foursome as they file down the aisle. Billy follows on last, bowing to the audience in his trademark single spotlight at the entrance to the walkway.] TD: Just listen to these fans! I can barely hear myself think! SR: But you can barely think anyway, Dross. TD: What?! SR: Never mind. [The Performers enter the ring and stand bunched in their corner, an uneasy ceasefire reigning between the two teams. The Showstoppers similarly stand in their corner.] TD: There's quite a few of the IIWF's heavyweight talents in that ring. We've got Billy Shakespeare, Tony Starks, the relative but impressive newcomer Billy Sexton, Fisto Flash... who knows what kind of action we're going to see in this one! [The referee signals for the bell. Tony Starks elects to start things off for his team, and points straight at Lebec. Lebec theatrically poses "Who, me?", but leaves the ring, allowing Fisto Flash to start things off for the Showstoppers.] SR: Don't mistake that as an act of cowardice on Lebec's part, Dross. He knows that by staying out of Starks' way, he'll make him angry. And when Starks gets angry, he makes mistakes. [Starks locks up with Flash collar and elbow, but is quickly overpowered by his larger opponent. Flash pushes Starks into the ropes, and Starks looks slightly flustered. They lock up again, and again Flash sends Starks into the ropes. This time, Starks ducks a clothesline, and takes a charging Flash down with a drop toe-hold. Fisto is quickly back on his feet, and swipes at Starks, but Starks blocks the punch, and peppers his opponent with blows of his own.] TD: There's that amateur boxing background coming out. Starks has Fisto staggered with that volley of jabs. [Flash takes a few steps backwards into his corner, and tags in Sexton, who signals to Starks something about money. Starks visibly turns a shade of red, and storms in to attack Sexton. Sexton side-steps Starks, and pushes him into the corner, where he is triple-teamed by the other members of the Showstoppers. The referee calls for the break, and Starks staggers backwards into the ring. Sexton comes off the ropes and floors Starks with a clothesline, before flipping him over and cinching in his armbar submission.] TD: Sexton has gone straight for the kill here with this armbar! If Starks doesn't escape in the very near future, his title dreams could be smashed right here. [Hunter Robertson enters the ring and kicks Sexton in the back of the head, thus breaking the hold. Starks rolls towards his corner, and makes the tag to Shakespeare, who enters the ring and grabs Sexton's leg as "Painbringer" struggles to make the tag. Billy locks in a leg grapevine on Sexton, but "Painbringer" reaches the ropes within a few seconds. Billy whips Sexton into the ropes and hits a well-executed standing dropkick before going to the top rope for his "Curtain Call." Billy looks over his shoulder into the ring at Sexton as he gets to his feet, and dummies a launch, causing Sexton to duck to the mat in self-defence. But Shakespeare remains poised on the ropes, and when Sexton gets up, bemused, Billy launches himself for real, and hits the flying back cross body press on Sexton, taking him down to the mat for the cover - 1 - 2 - Lebec enters the ring and nails Billy across the back of the neck. The referee forces Lebec out of the ring, and Sexton crawls over to his corner to make the tag out to Morrison.] TD: The rivalry between Lebec and Shakespeare is almost as old as the IIWF itself. These two never really settled the scores that arose around the time of Coronation Clash -- and something tells me that Lebec's recent actions won't have improved his relations with Mr. Shakespeare any. [Morrison dashes into the ring and drops an elbow on the stunned Billy, before going for the cover - 1 - 2 - kick out! Morrison drags Billy to his feet and whips him into the ropes, executing a powerful spinebuster as Billy runs at him. Big heel pop as Morrison tags in Fisto Flash. Flash dashes into the ring and performs a fist drop on Billy.] TD: Shakespeare's got to get out of there! SR: This is great! The Showstoppers are making mince-meat out of that little runt! TD: I thought you _respected_ Billy Shakespeare, Steve. And besides, he's your last man in the sweepstake, isn't he? SR: Heh, it's only a few measly dollars. I'd rather see seven shades of crap kicked out of Pukespeare any day. TD: I don't want to think about that right now... Flash goes for an elbow drop off the ropes -- and misses! Billy rolls out of the way! He's got to make the tag! [Billy lunges into his corner, and tags in the Punster, who slingshots himself over the top rope, hitting a staggered Flash with a dropkick. Fisto goes down, and the Punster leaps over the top rope again to the apron. Once more using the ropes to catapult himself over the top rope, he drops a leg on Fisto, and then points skywards. He flaps his arms to the crowd, who pop.] TD: It looks like the Punster's going to the top! [The Punster leaps to the top buckle in a neutral corner, and as he tries to get his balance, Fisto stumbles to his feet and lunges at the top rope, yanking it downwards and causing the Punster to lose his balance. The light heavyweight tumbles from the top, and is only saved from falling all the way to the floor by getting his foot hooked in the top rope. He dangles precariously against the ring post on the outside. Fisto Flash distracts the referee, while Simon Lebec grabs his award from Francois and nails the Punster with it hard across the temple. Shakespeare dashes across the ring to try and save the Punster, but is ejected from the ring by a clothesline from Flash. Starks and Robertson then charge the big man, but both are knocked down by a big double clothesline. Huge heel pop as Fisto unhooks the Punster's foot, allowing him to fall to the floor.] TD: Fisto Flash has single-handedly decimated the Performers! SR: Look at the Iron Destroyer go! He's following the Punster to the outside -- yow! He rams the Pukester into the steel ring post. I swear I heard that runt's back break right there! This is great! [Flash rolls the Punster back into the ring, and hoists him up into position for a piledriver. He climbs to the second rope, and amidst a giant heel pop from the crowd, drives the Punster into the canvas with his Knucklebomb trademark manoeuvre. He covers the unfortunate light heavyweight - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the Punster has been eliminated from this match! [Hunter Robertson rolls into the ring, and is immediately stomped on by Fisto Flash. The Machine is whipped into the Showstoppers' corner, where he is double-teamed as Flash tags out to Billy Sexton. Sexton executes a neat side suplex on Robertson, and then climbs to the second buckle. He drops an elbow on Robertson, and then covers him - 1 - 2 - kick out! Sexton whips Robertson into the ropes and hits him with a dropkick, and then goes to his corner to tag in Scott Morrison. They whip Robertson into the ropes once more and go for a double clothesline, but Robertson ducks under their linked arms, and comes off the ropes again. Morrison and Sexton turn, and are the recipients of a flying double clothesline from Robertson. Sexton rolls out of the ring, clutching at the back of his head, and Morrison attempts to follow suit, but the Machine grabs him and drags him back into the ring.] TD: Robertson isn't prepared to let the ice-man get away that easily! These two have been arch-rivals since they both made their debuts at Ring Wars, and I don't see their feud ending here tonight! [Robertson whips Morrison into the ropes, and Morrison stops dead at the side of the ring. Hunter runs up behind him and cinches in a German suplex into a bridge - count - 1 - 2 - kick out! Morrison wriggles free of the Machine's grip and heads for a corner to make the tag -- but he heads for the Performers' corner, not his own! He takes a punch from Shakespeare and Starks, and then staggers back into the centre of the ring, where the Machine practically takes his head off with a vicious lariat. He drops onto Morrison and applies a Judo choke hold on the ice-man. The referee is in position, and the ice-man quickly submits to Robertson's painful hold. Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, "Frost" Scott Morrison has submitted, and is thus eliminated from this match! [The Machine kicks Morrison out of the ring under the bottom rope, but is blindsided by a charging Fisto Flash. Flash clotheslines Robertson out of the ring over the top rope, and as Shakespeare and Starks again charge the ring in an effort to save their partner, he nails them both with his steel fist. Both men roll out of the ring, and Flash follows Robertson out under the bottom rope. He whips the Machine into the steel crowd barrier, and raises his steel fist to the crowd, who give him a big heel pop.] TD: Fisto Flash is simply unstoppable tonight! The Performers could be in big trouble here! BL: I have to say that I've been impressed with Fisto Flash in this match. He often gets hot-headed and ends up making mistakes due to his temper, but tonight he's showing us his true potential. He could go all the way! [Fisto performs a piledriver on Robertson onto the arena floor, and then rolls him back into the ring. He covers the Machine - 1 - 2 - Starks charges the ring and attempts to drop an elbow on Flash, but Fisto rolls out of the way, and Starks nails his own partner! He looks flustered, and Flash kicks him out of the ring through the ropes. Flash again covers Robertson - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, "the Machine" Hunter Robertson has been eliminated from this match! [Fisto Flash tags out to Simon Lebec as Billy Shakespeare enters the ring once more. The pace slows slightly as both men attempt to wear the other down with locks and submission holds. Starks, meanwhile, gets back up onto the apron and yells encouragement to Shakespeare. However, behind him, the mysterious gentleman in a dark suit has appeared in the aisle, flanked by a pair of burly bodyguards. The crowd buzzes as the man walks slowly towards the ring.] TD: Who _is_ this man?! Somebody must know what this guy wants with Tony Starks... and what that has to do with Lebec and Sexton. SR: Okay, Dross, I'll give you the scoop. This guy's name is Mr. Kobiashi. He and Starks go way back. From what I hear, when Starks was a boxer and a backstreet fighter in Staten Island, New York, he was on this guy's payroll. Kobiashi ran a betting ring, and he paid Starks to throw fights where he should have been the clear winner. Nowadays, of course, it's the other way around: Starks has to pay his opponents for a victory... TD: What?! I can't believe that! Starks is a man of integrity! No wonder he seems so angry with Kobiashi now -- I guess Kobiashi must have wanted Starks to start throwing matches here in the IIWF for even more money, and when Starks refused, he paid off Lebec and Sexton to end Starks' career! SR: You see, Dross, it's not so ridiculous, is it?! BL: If Starks had any sense, he'd have accepted the money and the fancy cars. It seems pretty clear to me that it's better to have Kobiashi as an ally rather than an enemy. TD: Starks hasn't seen Kobiashi yet... [Starks turns on the apron and sees Kobiashi in the aisle. He immediately leaps down to the arena floor and, hands on hips, he begins to walk up the aisle towards Kobiashi and his bodyguards. The referee immediately leaves the ring and instructs Starks to return to his corner, but while Tony argues with the official, he is unaware of Sexton sneaking up behind him. Sexton clobbers Starks from his blind side, and a brawl between the two breaks out. Kobiashi further approaches the ring, and seems to be directing Sexton in the assault. Starks knocks Sexton to the floor with a hard right hand, and then grabs Kobiashi by the lapels, shouting in his face. The crowd pop hugely as Starks nails Kobiashi in the midsection, and then sends him sprawling backwards with a knee lift. Instantly, the burly bodyguards grab Starks, and hold him while Sexton beats him with punches to the midsection.] TD: We need some help out here! Starks is in big trouble! [The crowd pops even more hugely as Billy Shakespeare leaps from the ring to the aid of his partner. He wrenches Sexton away and rams his head into the steel railings. Big pop! Shakespeare nails one of the bodyguards, and Starks pulls himself free. Together, he and Shakespeare send both of the big men flying. Kobiashi has got to his feet, and he dusts himself off, pointing at Starks and making threatening motions. Shakespeare holds Starks back from attacking the trio further, and then forces him back to the ring. The referee berates both of the remaining Performers, and as Billy reenters the ring, he is nailed by a big boot from Lebec. Lebec lays Billy over the bottom rope so that his head hangs over the apron, and then tries to distract the official by picking a fight with Starks. On the outside, Francois sizes up Shakespeare and clobbers him with Lebec's award. However, the referee sees the strike! Lebec pleads with the official, but the referee signals for the bell.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, "Showstopper" Simon Lebec has been disqualified, and is thus eliminated from this match! SR: I can't believe the shoddy officiating we've seen here tonight! TD: What match are you watching, Steve?! That was a good call. SR: No way, Dross! Let's face it, that was the nearest Shakespeare's ever going to get to an award - he ought to be grateful. [Sexton has made it back to ringside from the aisle, and he rolls into the ring, where Shakespeare is motionless.] TD: Billy's got to make the tag right now... this match has taken just about everything out of its combatants. [As Lebec leaves the ringside area, he pulls Starks down from the ring apron, and a brawl ensues at the bottom of the aisle. In the ring, Sexton covers the seemingly unconscious Shakespeare - 1 - 2 -- kick out! The two athletes in the ring seem oblivious to the brawl going on outside, and as Lebec and Starks fight all the way up the aisle, the match goes on. The crowd cheer Starks on as he throws Lebec through the curtain at the top of the aisle and both men disappear from sight.] TD: Is Starks going to return to the ring?! What's happening here? Has he abandoned Billy Shakespeare? SR: That comes as no surprise to me, Dross. Sooner or later, the egos in these two teams were bound to get the better of them. And we all know that Performers don't like sharing the spotlight with anybody. Now Pukespeare's got to face the music on his own -- and although Sexton's in town, I don't think he'll be taking requests any longer! [Shakespeare drags himself to his feet, but is whipped into the ropes by Sexton. Shakespeare ducks a clothesline, and performs a waistlock go-behind on Sexton, but as he attempts to rush Sexton into the ropes, Sexton reverses with a waistlock of his own, and then cinches in his painful armbar submission in a flash. Billy yells in pain and falls to his knees.] TD: This could be it for Billy! Very few people have survived Sexton's armbar here in the IIWF! He's got to reach the ropes as soon as possible. SR: Come on, Pukespeare! Submit -- you've got no other choice! It's just you against Sexton and Fisto Flash - what kind of a chance do you think you stand?! [Billy inches towards the bottom rope, each agonising movement putting greater pressure on his left arm. Finally, he reaches the ropes, and the referee calls for the break. Sexton eventually obliges, and as Billy drags himself to his feet using the ropes, Sexton dashes across the ring, aiming himself for a charge at Shakespeare. Billy drops down, pulling down the top rope, and Sexton flies over the top rope to the outside. He lands badly, cracking his head on the steel crowd barrier. Billy slumps to the mat inside the ring as the referee starts counting Sexton out - Robo Stone tries to revive Sexton - the count reaches 5 - 6 - Sexton staggers to his feet, but slumps to the floor again - 7 - 8 - Robo Stone hauls Sexton back up once more - 9 - Sexton tries to roll into the ring - 10! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, "Painbringer" Billy Sexton has been counted out, and has thus been eliminated from this match! [Fisto Flash immediately charges the ring, stomping away on Shakespeare with ferocity.] SR: Pukespeare was lucky that Sexton landed badly when he fell from the ring, but his luck's just about run out now. Fisto -- my champion -- is going to finish the unfinished business of a few weeks ago. This time, Shakespeare's going to be kissing Fisto's ass... TD: [interrupting] Steve, that's enough. I've just heard that Tony Starks and Simon Lebec are still fighting backstage in the locker room area, but that the mysterious Mr. Kobiashi is believed to have left the Garden. BL: Damn. I wanted his number. TD: Becky, will you please be serious?! BL: When it comes to powerful men, I'm always serious, Timmy. [Fisto has Shakespeare flat out in the ring. He raises his fist to the crowd, and drags Shakespeare to his feet. The crowd jeer Fisto soundly as he locks Billy into a full nelson. Shakespeare screws up his face in pain. Fisto has the hold locked in firmly for a few seconds, and then Shakespeare forces Fisto to release him by raising his arms directly upwards in the air. Fisto breaks the hold and swipes at Shakespeare, who runs into the ropes. Shakespeare catches Flash with a flying headscissors and takes him down to the mat. He hooks both legs with his arms and kneels across Fisto's shoulders - the referee counts - 1 - 2 -- Fisto wriggles, but it's not enough - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! The crowd goes berzerk!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner, and sole survivor: the captain of the Performers, "Spotlight" Billy Shakespeare! [The huge pop subsides as the furious Fisto attacks the exhausted Billy, executing two tilt-a-whirl backbreakers on Shakespeare before the referee forces him to leave the ring.] SR: I can't believe it! Shakespeare's done it again! Get back in there and give him more, Fisto! TD: Look at Fisto raise his arms -- he thinks he won! SR: Well, if there were ever a case for a moral victory, this is it, Dross! TD: What a great victory for Shakespeare, but what kind of shape is he going to be in for the final Survivors Match later on here tonight? He absorbed a whole lot of punishment in that match. Becky, let's run down the people who we know are in the Survivors Match so far. Of course, there's the Subway Psycho, and with the support of the people behind him, he's got to be a favourite. BL: But of course you realise that he will be the Syndicate's number one target in the final elimination match in just a few minutes. The Psycho may have an automatic slot in the final match, but I wouldn't expect him to make it to the ring without the aid of crutches. TD: We'll see about that. Other athletes who have battled through to the final include Billy Shakespeare and the Outlaw, but there are still question marks over the condition of Robski. SR: He'll be in the final match, Dross, you can count on it. He may not respect America, but he recognises the IIWF World Heavyweight gold as the most valuable crown of them all. TD: The Dark Knights are well represented in the final match, with both the Sandman and Brad "Bodybag" Kinder advancing, Becky. BL: Brad was robbed of the IC championship last Wednesday night. Tonight, he's going to take the other IIWF title. He's unstoppable. TD: And, of course, the line-up won't be complete until we've seen the battle of all battles: the Syndicate against the Alliance of Excellence. Becky, if you know who Lau's fourth man is, please tell us now. BL: My lips are sealed. TD: [exasperated] There's a first time for ever.... [Becky strikes him out of shot] Ouch! SR: Dross, it doesn't matter how many men are in the Syndicate's team. They're going to destroy the Alliance of Excrement, and even if they can't guarantee that the Subway Stinker won't be in the last match, they'll sure as hell finish him off then. TD: All that remains to be seen. Before we get up to the ring, I understand that Deathbringer is in his locker room, and he wants to answer the speculation that he has split with the Coroner. Let's go back to him now: [Cut to Deathbringer standing in a darkened corner of his locker room.] DB: There have been rumors saying that I have dropped The Coroner as a manager. Now this is not true. He made a mistake, granted. But I guess he learned his lesson. These things will not happen again, and therefore I can state right now that The Coroner will indeed be at ringside tonight. [Cut back to the announcers' table.] TD: Well, there you have it from the horse's mouth. But you know, I still can't help wondering that the Coroner and Deathbringer don't see exactly eye to eye... anyhow, let's go up to the ring for our sixth and final initial match! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= THE SYNDICATE vs. ALLIANCE OF EXCELLENCE Tiger Claw (c) Dan Kauffman (c) Joe Latta Subway Psycho Hakiro Matsuoko Deathbringer ? "Legend" Brandon Bennett =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [Brian Lau comes out to a huge heel pop. Sasha walks arm in arm with him to the ring. Brian, upon entering the ring, grabs the microphone from Sparkplug Lee.] BL: You are not worthy of the honor of announcing my men, Lee... Hello, fans of the IIWF! First, I'd like to tell you how glad I am to be here tonight. This is a great event at which you'll see a new IIWF champion crowned, and I'm sure that one of these people I am to introduce will be that man. Anyway, on to business. First, let me introduce to you the young sensation of the Syndicate: JOE LAAAAAAATTAAAAAA!! [Joe walks out with his arm around Carla. The fans boo him, but he makes motions of giving high fives to the front row audience. When nobody reaches their hand out, he laughs... The duo step into the ring and stand with Brian.] BL: Second, a man you know as an ex-IC champ... Back from a long hiatus, the "Angel of the Sun", HAKIRO MAAAAAAATSUUUUUOKOOOOO! [Hakiro's kodo drum intro begins, and he bounds out of the backstage area, arms held high. He stops at a homemade "Hakiro, how could you?" sign and laughs. Hakiro continues to run to the ring, and leaps onto the apron, he then leaps onto the top turnbuckle, once again holding his hands high. When the crowd boos, he waves them off and goes to stand next to Brian.] BL: Third, the new IIWF Intercontinental Champion, who plans to take home some more gold right here tonight, the one, the only: TIIGEEER CLAAAW! [Tiger Claw's Thai music comes up, and he is seen standing at the head of the aisle. He slowly walks down to the kid with the Hakiro sign and takes it. He then walks into the ring and stands in front of Hakiro, holding the sign. With a feigned look of concern on his face, Tiger Claw mouths the words "Hakiro, how could you?" Both men laugh as Tiger Claw rips the sign up and throws the pieces to the crowd. The ring microphones pick up him saying "There... Don't say I never gave you anything..." Tiger Claw then joins his group.] TD: So that's three. Does Lau have a fourth man? Or is he going to take off that suit and wrestle himself?! SR: Shut up, Dross! Let's hear what he's got to say. BL: And now, the moment you've been waiting for... ["Foul Taste of Freedom" by Pro-Pain begins to play over the PA...] The fourth member of the Syndicate. Yes, contrary to all the vicious rumour-mongering that's been going on for weeks, we have a fourth member. He's strong, he's mighty. He is the great one... [Brian lets the song kick in full force] BL: I give to you: CASEY... "BLACKHEART"... JAAAAAAMMMMMES! TD: What?! No way! SR: Yes! A stroke of genius yet again! TD: Casey _"Blackheart"_ James!?! What is this? [The crowd goes ballistic with their heel pop. Casey comes out to the aisle dressed in black tights, and for the first time in his career, flexes his titanic arm, shoulder, and chest muscles. Trash gets thrown at him, and he gets noticably annoyed. He begins to yell, "You're all nobodies! You're worthless! You're weak!! YOU'RE THE AMERICAN WAY!" This gets the crowd even more worked up. Some guy in the crowd takes a shot at Casey, and Casey grabs him by the face. Casey mutters something to the guy that isn't picked up by the microphone, and then lets him go. Finally, Casey gets to the ring and showboats a little more. He then joins the other Syndicate members.] BL: There... Now you can introduce the roaming band of idiots.... [Lau hands the microphone back to Sparkplug Lee.] TD: I'm shocked. I'm... I can't... How could he?! RA: Introducing the opponents of the Syndicate. Coming down the aisle, captained by Dan Kauffman ["Crazy Train" starts up], with the people's champion, the Subway Psycho, Deathbringer, and "Legend" Brandon Bennett, here are: the Alliance of Excellence! [Although the heel pop for Casey has hardly died down at all, when the Psycho's music blares out across the PA, the crowd erupts with a huge cheer. The Alliance of Excellence walk out to the ring, Dan Kauffman and Bennett leading the way, the Psycho following behind, Deathbringer, unusually, walking to the ring behind the people's champion, and the Coroner behind them all. Kauffman and the Psycho hi-five as many fans as they can on their way to the ring, and although a sea of Deathbringer foam caskets are waved by the capacity crowd, Deathbringer seems oblivious to the cheers of the crowd. The Coroner walks, apparently subdued, behind his man.] TD: Well, if there's a team in the IIWF that can go up against the Syndicate and come out on top, it's these men right here. Just listen to the crowd! They go absolutely nuts for these superstars! What would happen if this team survived intact and went on to the final?! SR: That's not just a hypothetical situation, Dross, it's an impossible one. The Alliance of Excrement is going to be dismantled piece by piece -- and even if the Syndicate doesn't do it itself, do you really think that egos like Kauffman, the Stinker and Yawnbringer can actually gel as a team? I think not. They could very well be their own downfall. BL: I've got to agree with Steve, Timmy. Although all of these men have teamed up before at some point, each of them enjoys centre stage too much. I'm sure Kauffman, for example, will try and be a hero, and take out the Syndicate on his own. If any one member of this team believes he is more important than any other, then that will be their downfall. TD: I think you underestimate the spirit and heart of these men. There's more to them than the simple desire for heroics. I'm sure we're going to see a well-oiled machine take the Syndicate to the limit in this match. SR: Just remember, Dross, that even a well-oiled Ford Model T is no match for a well-oiled Toyota. Right here, Brian Lau's men have nothing to lose and everything to gain. [The Alliance climb the ring steps and enter the ring. Lau instructs his men to bail out as Kauffman climbs into the squared circle. The four fan favourites join arms and raise them to the crowd, and a wall of fireworks explodes behind them, casting them in silhouette to the excited onlookers. However, as they stand in front of the wall of sparks, the Syndicate throw themselves through the fireworks to attack the Alliance from behind! Huge heel pop as Lau's men blindside their opponents.] TD: Unbelievable! Did you see that?! They just came straight through the fireworks and attacked the Alliance! SR: I told you, Dross. Lau is hungry for the big gold, and he's convinced that he's in the best position to take it. [Latta keeps Kauffman in the ring, while the rest of the two teams tumble out of the squared circle and out around ringside. Latta launches in with some of the stiffest manoeuvres in his arsenal - the tilt-a-whirl powerbomb which he was taught by Kauffman - the knee fury that he learned from Tiger Claw - a huge flying lariat which nearly takes Kauffman's head off. He whips Kauffman into the ropes again, and then presses his former mentor over his head before dumping him over the top rope and to the outside! Huge heel pop as Latta poses in the centre of the ring.] BL: Say what you like about coffee-man here, but even I can't deny that he's improved tenfold as a wrestler since he was taken under Brian Lau's wing. TD: I'll admit that his skills are coming along tremendously, but he's in dire need of an attitude adjustment, if you ask me. [Latta follows Kauffman outside, and whips him into the steel crowd barriers before rolling him back into the ring. Latta gets back up onto the apron, and is surprised to be met by a dropkick from Kauffman, who sends Latta flying out of the ring and against the steel crowd barriers with a loud clang. Huge pop. Kauffman wastes no time in tagging in the Subway Psycho, who immediately leaps from the apron onto the vulnerable form of Latta. He hits with a legdrop, much to the delight of the crowd, and then rolls Latta back into the ring. The Psycho climbs back onto the apron and then to the top rope, signalling to the crowd for the Derailer! The crowd give a huge pop, but this turns to disappointment as Lau drags Latta out of the ring.] TD: Come on! Give me a break! If the Psycho had hit the Derailer there, it would all have been over for Latta! SR: Precisely! Brian Lau deserves a lot of credit -- he knows how to look after his men's best interests. [The Psycho jumps off the top rope once again and down to the outside. He squares up to Lau, and although the crowd screams its warning, is unaware of Tiger Claw leaping from the apron and hitting the Psycho with a double axe-handle to the back of the head. The Psycho goes down, and Claw begins pummelling away on his enemy, bringing the referee out of the ring to try and stop the carnage. Deathbringer crosses the ring to come to his partner's aid, but is confronted by Casey, who tries to stop the big man in his tracks. Casey hits 'Bringer with a clothesline, which has little effect. He backs away from the dead man almost apologetically, but Deathbringer shows no remorse in clotheslining the Blackhearted one out of the ring over the top rope. Big pop. As Deathbringer steps out of the ring behind Tiger Claw, suddenly the Thai boxer returns to his corner in a shot, and 'Bringer helps the Psycho to his feet. Latta, meanwhile, rolls back into the ring and over to his corner, where he tags in the "Angel of the Sun" Hakiro Matsuoko.] TD: Let's see what kind of an effect Matsuoko can have on the Psycho after that cowardly attack by Tiger Claw. [The Psycho rolls into the ring and is immediately dragged to his feet by Hakiro. Hakiro sends him for the ride across the ring into a neutral corner, and follows up with a high-impact handspring elbow. The Psycho staggers forward from the corner and is taken down by a Yakuza kick from the "Angel of the Sun". Big heel pop as Hakiro goes to the top rope and launches himself in a front moonsault onto the dazed Psycho. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - Psycho kicks out! Matsuoko drags the Psycho to his feet and whips him into the ropes once more. Hakiro also bounces off the ropes, and launches himself with his trademark spinning flying leg lariat. However, the Psycho ducks under the leg kick, and Hakiro crashes to the mat. Huge pop as the Psycho makes a lunge for his corner, tagging in "Legend" Brandon Bennett. Bennett drags Matsuoko to his feet and immediately applies a front reverse neckbreaker. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kickout!] TD: Bennett's totally fresh - I think the Syndicate could be in trouble now! [Hakiro is worn down further by scientific submission holds from Bennett, and the crowd begins chanting: "Psy - cho! Psy - cho!". Perhaps a little frustrated by the chant, Bennett ups the pace, sending Hakiro into the ropes and going for a spinning flying head-scissor. However, Hakiro has the presence of mind to grab the ropes, and Bennett clatters to the mat, having hit nothing but thin air. Hakiro tumbles to one side, finding a tag from Casey James, who enters the ring to a huge heel pop. He stands, arms open wide, in the ring and accepts the jeers.] TD: This turncoat has one hell of a gall making fun of the people who supported him through all of his endeavours. SR: Supported him?! You're kidding, right?! These morons can't win matches for you, Dross. Casey realised that, and now he's with the men who _can_ win matches for you. What's the use in having fan support? Are they going to be there when you're jump attacked by criminals like the Subway Psycho? I think not. The sooner morons like Kauffman and Deathbringer realise that the support of these idiots means nothing, the sooner they'll become better athletes. I can't believe how soft ol' Yawnbringer's become in the last couple of months. TD: Do you want to go up there and tell him that, Steve?! SR: Er... not right now. I'm calling the match. [Casey dominates Bennett, eventually pulling off his "Hammer of Justice" powerslam. But he isn't content with that, and pulls Bennett to his feet, executing a vicious heart punch. Bennett goes down to the mat, and Casey picks him up once more. Blackheart hoists him up onto the top turnbuckle, and then climbs to the second rope. He executes a twisting spinebuster slam on Bennett, which draws a gasp from the crowd.] TD: Unbelievable! What a manoeuvre! [Casey covers Bennett - 1 - Kauffman and the Psycho storm the ring, but are met by Latta and Claw - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Huge heel pop!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, "Legend" Brandon Bennett has been eliminated from this match! TD: Wow! That's certainly a different Casey James to the one I had come to know and admire. He's vicious! That twisting spinebuster of his nearly put Bennett right through the mat! I'm shocked... BL: ...but impressed! I had Casey down as a weak, lily-livered, sensitive and dumb patriot, but tonight he's proved that not only does he have a new and improved attitude, he has a new and improved style too! [Deathbringer steps between the ropes and stalks up to Casey. 'Bringer stands only an inch away from Casey, and stares down at James with those glowing red eyes of his. Casey takes a small step backwards, but stands his ground. He turns to walk away from Deathbringer, but then suddenly turns back and whips a reverse knife-edge across the big man's chest. Deathbringer doesn't even flinch. Big pop. Casey runs against the ropes and tries to shoulderblock 'Bringer. The big man is staggered slightly, but Casey comes off worse. Casey picks himself up and again runs into the ropes. He launches himself at Deathbringer with a flying shoulder- block, but 'Bringer sidesteps, and Casey plunges through the ropes to the outside. Deathbringer tags in the Subway Psycho, who climbs to the top rope and throws himself with a splash onto Casey! Flashguns explode across the arena, and the arena erupts with a huge pop as the Psycho lands hard on Casey.] TD: Oh my! What a high-risk manoeuvre from the Psycho! SR: That's the kind of stupid risk you take when you're trying to please the fans. It's also the kind of stupid stunt that can get you and your opponent killed. TD: He's not called the Subway Psycho for nothing, Steve! He's hungry for the gold, and he plans to get it back! [The Psycho gets to his feet and continues stomping away at Casey. He picks him up and rolls him into the ring, but is distracted from following him in right away by Sasha, who approaches him. The Psycho wastes a few valuable seconds shouting at his former valet before jumping to the apron, giving Casey enough time to get back to a vertical base. The Psycho ducks under a swinging punch from Casey, and sunset flips over the top rope into the ring. He tries to bring Casey over backwards, but Blackheart sits down, pinning the Psycho's shoulders to the mat. He reaches behind himself for the Psycho's legs, and hooks both of them. The Psycho wriggles in vain - 1 - 2 - Kauffman storms the ring but is too late - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Massive heel pop!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the Subway Psycho has been eliminated from this match! TD: Listen to these people! They can't believe it! And nor can I! The Psycho's been pinned by Casey "Blackheart" James! SR: The Alliance is a whole lot less than excellent, isn't it, Dross? The Psycho is too easily worked up by Sasha, and he paid the price right there. He was blinded by his fury, he tried a sloppy sunset flip on Casey, and he paid the price. TD: Well, I guess we'll have to look at the positive side. The Psycho is guaranteed passage into the final match regardless of his elimination here, so it's probably an advantage that he's been pinned relatively early on. This gives him a little more time to collect himself before he has to wrestle again in the Survivors Match. [The Psycho leaps up from the cover and explodes on James. He peppers Casey with blows, raining down right and left hands on the stunned Blackheart. The referee immediately tries to force the Psycho out of the ring, and Deathbringer steps into the breach. Dan Kauffman tries to calm the Psycho, but the Psycho pushes Kauffman away, and he walks around the ring to where Lau is standing. Lau pleads with the Psycho for mercy, but the Psycho nails him with a hard right hand. He is then hit from the apron by Hakiro Matsuoko, and another ringside brawl erupts.] TD: Things are getting out of control here! The official's got to get the Psycho away from the ring! [A team of security personnel stream down the aisle, and together, after a struggle, they manage to force the furious Psycho up the aisle. He points at Lau, and signals that the belt will be around his waist by the end of the night. Normality is slowly restored to the ring area and the crowd sit back in their chairs. Deathbringer controls Casey in the ring, whipping him into the ropes and hitting him with his huge Scythe flying clothesline. Big pop. Casey rolls from the ring to try and collect himself, but he is floored as Deathbringer throws himself over the top rope with a plancha dive. 'Bringer thrusts an open hand against Casey's throat, and Casey yells in pain.] TD: The Deathbringer has certainly raised the stakes here tonight! I've not seen him take a risk like that since he battled Dan Kauffman in that unbelievable Deathmatch at Ring Wars. [Deathbringer rolls Casey back into the ring and covers him - 1 - 2 - he is nailed across the back by Hakiro Matsuoko. He immediately stands and stalks after Matsuoko, who dashes from the ring. Deathbringer points and stares at Brian Lau at the outside, who looks slightly uncomfortable. There is a big pop as Deathbringer draws his thumb across his throat, looking at Lau all the while. However, when he turns, he is greeted by a rake to the face from Casey. Casey kicks Deathbringer in the midsection, and then executes a DDT on his opponent. He covers the big man - 1 - 2 - Deathbringer kicks out with authority! Big pop! Casey backs away, but the dark destroyer grabs him by the throat.] TD: Deathbringer won't be denied! Casey could be in big trouble now! [Deathbringer applies the death claw on Casey, who quickly slumps to the mat. The crowd begins chanting "R - I - P! R - I - P! R - I - P!", and 'Bringer hauls Casey to his feet, hoisting him over his shoulder, before climbing to the second turnbuckle. Brian Lau is beside himself as Casey is brought crashing down to the mat with the Burial! Huge pop! 'Bringer makes the cover - 1 - Claw and Latta charge the ring but are clotheslined by Kauffman - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Huge pop!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Casey "Blackheart" James has been eliminated from this match! SR: That was a fast count, ref! I can't believe this! TD: You need glasses, Steve. That was a pinfall, fair and square in the centre of the ring. Casey may have made two eliminations for his team, but he's come up short against Deathbringer. BL: The odds still don't look good for Kauffman and the dead man, though, Timmy. Although those two make a lovely couple -- they're perfectly suited. TD: Becky... oh, never mind. [Deathbringer tags out to Kauffman as Matsuoko enters the ring for the Syndicate. They circle each other cautiously.] TD: Both men know that any mistake is going to cost them dear at this stage in the match. [Matsuoko attempts a kick on Kauffman, but Dan catches his foot and takes Hakiro's legs out from under him. He wraps Matsuoko up in a Texas Clover Leaf, and the Angel struggles to reach the ropes. Hakiro breaks the hold after around half a minute, but his mobility has clearly been affected by the hold. He jabs Kauffman in the eyes, and then makes some kind of signal to Tiger Claw. Claw looks at Lau and nods, and the manager hands Claw his Intercontinental Championship belt.] SR: Yes! Clock Kauffman with that belt, Claw! This'll teach the Alliance of Excrement a lesson -- three on one doesn't sound like good odds to me, even if the one is Yawnbringer. [Claw stands on the apron, waiting for Matsuoko to whip Kauffman into the ropes. Claw stands with his back to the ring, pretending to pose for the crowd, but holds the belt on his shoulder. Matsuoko attempts the Irish whip on Kauffman, but Kauffman reverses, and Matsuoko careers into the ropes, his head hitting Claw's belt hard! Big pop as Hakiro falls back into the ring. Claw seems oblivious to the disaster, although Lau screams at him as Kauffman covers the fallen Angel - 1 - 2 - Claw storms the ring, but he's too late - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, "Angel of the Sun" Hakiro Matsuoko has been eliminated from this match! TD: Just look at Brian Lau! He's watching the Syndicate disintegate before his very eyes! SR: No way, Dross! That was just a bit of bad planning. Claw and Latta are more than a match for Kauffman and Yawnbringer. [Matsuoko rolls from the ring clutching his head, and Kauffman points at Latta, beckoning him into the ring. Latta shakes his head, and stands firm on the apron. Kauffman turns to Deathbringer, his arms open wide, and, of course, Latta chooses that moment to strike. He storms across the ring and drives a knee into Kauffman's back, knocking him from the squared circle through the ropes. Kauffman lands on his feet, and as Latta dives through the ropes onto him, he is able to catch him in mid-air, and slam him to the arena floor! Big pop! Kauffman rains blows onto his former friend, before dragging him to his feet and whipping him into the steel ringsteps. The Coroner cheers Kauffman on, demanding more punishment. Kauffman obliges, whipping Latta head-first into the steel crowd barriers. Again, the Coroner demands more punishment, but Kauffman rolls Latta into the ring and tags in Deathbringer, who retains the advantage over Latta. However, as Kauffman leaves the ring, he is dragged off the apron by the Coroner.] TD: What does the Coroner want with Kauffman?! SR: The look in the Coroner's eye looks rather like the maniacal glare he gave Brian Lau on Wednesday night just before he got out those brass knuckles. The Coroner's unbalanced, I tell you, Dross. Kauffman had better watch out -- what if the Coroner's on Lau's payroll too?! TD: Don't make jokes like that, Steve. SR: Who said I was joking? Just look at the way the Coroner's getting in Kauffman's face! [The Coroner shouts at Kauffman for not dishing out enough punishment to Latta outside the ring. Dan tries to defuse the situation by turning to get back up onto the apron, but the Coroner doesn't let him. He pushes Dan, who tries not to rise to the situation. The Coroner pushes him again, and this time Dan retaliates. Just as it looks like a brawl is about to break out, Deathbringer leaves the ring and steps between the two men. He fixes the Coroner in a steely stare, and points to the locker room. The Coroner looks at Deathbringer for a few seconds, before backing away up the aisle, pointing at his charge, and shouting: "This ain't over yet!" The crowd look on bemused as Deathbringer returns to the ring.] TD: What does this mean?! Deathbringer has ordered his _own_ manager away from ringside? BL: Steve's right, Timmy. Deathbringer's got soft in recent weeks, and the Coroner, as he said himself, doesn't see where he fits in with this new Deathbringer. He wants punishment dished out in large quantities, but Deathbringer seems more concerned with keeping the fans on side. That's a mistake for the big man, and I think he just made an even more serious mistake ordering his manager away from ringside. SR: As we saw on Wednesday, the Coroner still has what it takes to fight in the squared circle. If he decides to go after the Deathbringer, that could spell trouble for the man in black. [Deathbringer continues to dominate Latta in the ring. He hits his Scythe flying clothesline, and goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - Lau pulls 'Bringer out of the ring under the bottom rope. Lau backs away from the angry dark destroyer, begging for mercy. Joe Latta struggles to his feet, and tries to dive at Deathbringer through the ropes. The big man senses the attack, however, and moves out of the way. Latta clatters into the steel guardrail. Deathbringer turns his attentions back to Latta, but is nailed from behind by Tiger Claw. This draws Kauffman from his corner to take care of the IC champ, and the two brawl on the outside as the referee counts Latta and Deathbringer out. 'Bringer starts to drag Latta to his feet, and his attention is diverted by Sasha. She approaches the big man, her hand closed. Suddenly, she throws a handful of powder in the dark destroyer's face! The referee sees the offence, and signals for the bell! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has disqualified Joe Latta due to outside interference, and thus he is eliminated from this match! [Huge pop as Deathbringer claws at his eyes. Latta seems not to care about the decision, as he sets about 'Bringer with a fury, whipping his blinded adversary into the steel ringsteps. Lau eggs Latta on as Claw and Kauffman battle on the other side of the ring.] TD: This has degenerated into chaos again! But now it's two on one -- in the favour of Deathbringer and Kauffman! SR: I can't believe this! The referee's making all kinds of ridiculous decisions here! He's disqualified Latta -- because Sasha tripped and the contents of her compact accidentally went in Deathbringer's eyes?! TD: Steve, that's not what happened, and you know it! But Deathbringer's in trouble out there -- the official needs to regain control in this one as soon as possible! [Kauffman finally sends Claw clattering into the steel crowd barriers halfway up the aisle, and turns to the defence of his comrade. He leaps from the apron onto Latta, and bulldogs him to the arena floor. Latta clutches his head and rolls away as Dan tends to Deathbringer. Tiger Claw eventually enters the ring, and drags Kauffman in, practically by the ears. He attacks Kauffman with his knee fury, and Dan is staggered. Claw charges with a back heel kick, which knocks Kauffman to the mat. Claw makes the cover - 1 - 2 - kick out! Claw drops an elbow on Dan's throat, and then climbs to the top rope. Kauffman staggers to his feet in time to see Claw fly towards him with a cross body press. However, Claw's momentum carries him over Kauffman, and his shoulders are pressed to the mat! The referee counts - 1 - 2 - Claw wriggles free! Claw is clearly frustrated, and batters Kauffman with a volley of Thai boxing kicks. He snap mares Kauffman to the canvas, and again goes to the top rope. He signals for the Golden Tiger Strike, and raises his arms to the crowd, who jeer him solidly. However, just as he is about to launch, Deathbringer pulls down on the top rope, and Claw tumbles into the ring! Huge pop!] SR: I can't believe this! No way! Ref -- where was the ref?! You've got to disqualify Deathbringer! TD: He's fighting fire with fire, Steve! How many half-baked tricks has Lau attempted on the Alliance of Excellence in this match?! SR: That's not the point! That's a disqualification offence right there! [Kauffman crawls over to Claw and lays an arm across his heaving chest. The referee counts - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Massive pop!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Tiger Claw has been eliminated! Therefore, the winners of this match, Dan Kauffman and Deathbringer! [The crowd goes wild as the referee raises Kauffman's arm in victory. Deathbringer enters the ring and kneels in respect to Kauffman, who smiles and pulls his partner to his feet. He raises Deathbringer's arm, and the crowd give the pair a huge ovation. Meanwhile, Lau drags Claw out of the ring. He and Sasha help Claw up the aisle as Kauffman and Deathbringer celebrate in the ring. Cut to the announcers' table. Steve Roberts is shaking his head in disbelief.] TD: Well, there you have it, folks! Kauffman and Deathbringer advance into the final Survivors Match here in a few minutes! They'd better make the most of the few minutes rest they've got. SR: I can't believe their gall! How can they be happy with that so-called victory?! They cheated! All the way through, they cheated! TD: You've cried "cheat" once too often, Steve... but you still don't appreciate it when the boot is on the other foot. SR: But... but... TD: But nothing, Steve. Live with it. BL: [sarcastic] Oooh, Timmy, you're so masterful. TD: [flattered] You really think so, Becky? BL: No. TD: [deflated] Oh. Well, I understand that the IIWF President has some important announcements to make concerning some future developments here in the IIWF. Let's go to him, backstage with Larry Morton. [Cut to a locker room backstage. Larry Morton stands with IIWF President Dan Spreadbury.] LM: President Dan, what a night of action we've seen here tonight! DS: You're absolutely right, Larry. It's an honour to be here in the world's most famous arena, thrilling the thousands of fans in attendance and millions more all over the world with the IIWF's unique action! LM: Things are only going to get hotter here with the final Survivors Match... DS: I have an announcement concerning the final match, which is scheduled to begin in a couple of minutes time. Sadly, due to the injuries sustained here earlier on tonight, Robski will be unable to compete in the match. It's a... hey! [Suddenly Brian Lau and Sasha burst into the scene. Lau looks furious.] LM: Lau, you can't just burst in here like this! BL: Oh, can't I?! Mr. President -- I'm incensed by the paucity of the officiating here in the IIWF. My men were just robbed of a place in the final match! DS: With all due respect, Mr. Lau, your team was playing with fire throughout that last match, and in the end, those who play with fire get burned. BL: Is that so! Well, Mr. President, I demand that you allow one of my Syndicate members into the final match here tonight in the stead of the injured Robski. DS: Why on earth would I agree to that, Mr. Lau?! BL: Because Sasha and myself have some of the best lawyers in the world on our payroll, that's why. I think with footage of this event captured on video tape, we've got a pretty strong case of negligence against the so-called "referees" of the IIWF. It doesn't surprise me that you Westerners put myopic, moronic officials in black and white striped shirts to officiate matches between warriors, when they couldn't even officiate a fight between two arguing toddlers. DS: Now, wait a minute, Mr. Lau... BL: [interrupting] No! Unless you allow Tiger Claw to enter the final match here tonight, I'll have an injunction on your desk on Monday morning, preventing those officials from coming anywhere near any match involving any of the Syndicate! DS: You've got to be kidding! BL: Not at all. Okay, let's make a deal: you think I've been cheating on behalf of my men. So if you let Tiger Claw enter the Survivors Match, I give you my word that myself, Sasha, and the rest of the Syndicate, will stay away from the ring. That way, your tawdry legal staff avoid a headache, and my man gets a chance at the IIWF World Heavyweight Championship. DS: [hesitant] Alright, Lau. If it'll keep you quiet. But if a single Syndicate member, or anybody connected with the Syndicate, goes down to the ring, I'll have no qualms in stripping Tiger Claw of the Intercontinental Championship, with immediate effect. BL: It's a deal. Come on, Sasha, let's go and get Tiger Claw prepared. [Lau and Sasha troop out of shot. Larry Morton looks shocked.] LM: I'm surprised you caved in to Lau's demands, President Dan! DS: You'd also be surprised how much I hate seeing Brian Lau first thing on a Monday morning, Larry. LM: Fair comment. Before we were so rudely interrupted, I believe you were going to let us in on some very big news concerning the future of the IIWF. DS: Correct. I'm now going to announce the official sanctioning of a new title: the IIWF Cruiserweight Championship. It will be open only to wrestlers weighing up to 240lbs, but in other senses, it will be identical in stature and regulation to the other singles titles here in the IIWF. LM: That _is_ big news, Mr. President! How do you plan on determining the first champion? DS: A special invitational tournament will be held over the next few weeks. With so many top cruiserweights in the IIWF, including men like Billy Shakespeare, Dan Kauffman, Hakiro Matsuoko, Pale Rider, Brandon Bennett and men of their calibre, there's certainly the talent pool to support such a crown. I expect the belt to be fiercely contested. I'll make further announcements in the coming days about the administration of this tournament. LM: Well, thanks very much for sharing that exciting information with us, President Dan! DS: My pleasure, Larry. LM: Back to you at ringside, Tim. [Cut back to the announcers' table. Steve Roberts has left the booth, so Dross is left with Becky LaRue.] TD: What fantastic news! A third singles title will be added to the IIWF in the coming weeks! Becky, any reactions to the news? BL: I applaud the decision. TD: Really? BL: Why, of course. It gives all those whining little 200lbs weaklings something else to do other than chase around after the real men, like Brad Kinder, snapping at their heels and trying to take their belts from them. TD: Hmm. I can't believe the audacity of Brian Lau, making demands of the IIWF President like that! BL: You've got to hand it to Lau, though, Dross. The other managers here in the IIWF could do with taking a leaf out of his book -- he knows exactly how to get what he wants. And Lau has decided that he hasn't finished with the Alliance of Excellence just yet. TD: Tiger Claw's addition certainly brings another dimension to this Survivors Match... which is coming up in just a few moments. But first, folks, let's go over to our broadcast colleague, "Soundbite" Steve Roberts, who is in the aisle with some tremendous bargains from the IIWF's Merchandise Department. Steve? [Cut to Steve Roberts standing in the aisle, arms folded. He is flanked by a pair of fans from the crowd, who each look considerably happier than he does.] TD: [voice over] Come on, Steve. SR: I don't see why I should have to sell this garbage to all the morons out there, Dross. TD: [voice over] Becky must have made some kind of... agreement... with the produce... Ouch! BL: [voice over] That's quite enough of that, Timmy _dearest_. TD: [voice over] Please... let... go. SR: When you two have _quite_ finished... Okay, all you morons out there with money burning holes in your pockets, spend all those dollars you've earned through your dull menial labour on some of the tawdry tat that the IIWF Merchandise Department is trying to get rid of. Call 1-900-325-IIWF right now to get your hands on this wonderful Deathbringer key-ring. [Roberts holds up a tiny key fob.] Isn't it great?! Just look at this. On one side, you've got the IIWF logo, and on the other side, there's Deathbringer's name, not that any of you peons will be able to read it, since you're all totally illiterate, no doubt. And -- get this -- there's a little button on this side, and when you press it... [Roberts presses the button, and two little red lights glow dimly on one side of the keyring] ...voila, two little Deathbringer eyes. Better than the real thing! Only $29.99 plus handling! What a piece of sh... TD: [interrupting] Thankyou, Steve. You're supposed to be selling this stuff, not quality control testing it, okay? SR: Sure, sure. Okay, moving on. [Throws the keyring onto the ground and treads on it.] Oh, not very durable, that keyring. Anyhow, here's our next item. The dedicated fan to my right is wearing an exclusive Fisto Flash prosthesis pad! [Clearly labouring the point] Just look at the _quality_ of this great piece of merchandise. [Holds up the fan's fist.] It's embroidered with the Fisto Flash logo, and one of its most brilliant features is the way it cuts off all the blood to your hand, so if you wear it for long enough, your fist will actually drop off, and then you can have a steel prosthesis fitted, just like the real Iron Destroyer. A snip at only £24.99 plus handling! Don't forget, you can only get your hands on this useless crap by calling 1-900-325-IIWF right now with your credit card details, and, ladies, you should leave your phone number and vital statistics, too... TD: [interrupting] Steve, will you please be serious?! SR: I'm always serious, Dross. And the final item I've been ordered to show you, on pain of death, is the rather tacky and badly designed IIWF Midsummer Madness t-shirt worn by this fat slob on my left... FAT SLOB: Hey, watch it! SR: Why, are you going to do something interesting?! Just shut up, and you can keep the t-shirt, okay? FAT SLOB: Keep this piece of garbage?! You've got to be kidding. SR: Shut it, fatso. This shirt is emblazoned with the Midsummer Madness logo, and images of the Subway Psycho, Dan Kauffman, Deathbringer and the Outlaw. On the back... [spins the fan around] is the slogan "There's Gold In The Garden!" and the IIWF logo. All of this would be ridiculously extortionate at the price of $34.95 plus handling, but as it is, that asking price is only extremely expensive, since, in their untold generosity, the Merchandising bozos have decided to throw in a souvenir program of this great event for free! Ignore the fact that the paper quality isn't good enough for you to wipe your ass on, and that eight pages hardly qualifies as a program, but that's beside the point. TD: [voice over] Steve, will you please cut to the chase?! SR: With pleasure. Call 1-900-325-IIWF right now to order, and don't forget to allow something like eight weeks for delivery. [to somebody off camera] Okay, let's strip these idiots and throw them back in the crowd. [Cut back to the announcers' table. Becky is giggling and Dross is shaking his head as Roberts rejoins them.] TD: I didn't think anybody could make the IIWF's marvellous merchandise sound any less marketable than Becky did at Ring Wars, Steve, but I guess that's what makes you the unique guy that you are... SR: Dross, if they ever put me anywhere near a Deathbringer key-ring ever again, I swear they'll be wearing it somewhere very unpleasant. TD: Okay, let's gloss over that little debacle without further comment. The time has come! Let's go up to the ring for the introductions in tonight's huge Survivors Match! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SURVIVORS MATCH: Subway Psycho vs. The Outlaw Dan Kauffman Brad "Bodybag" Kinder Deathbringer Sandman Billy Shakespeare Abie Tiger Claw =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= [Sparkplug Lee yanks on the microphone cable as he steps into the middle of the ring.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following encounter is tonight's special Survivors Match! The rules are identical to those in the elimination matches we've already seen tonight, with one important difference: when all the members of one team have been eliminated, the survivors of the opposing team must go up against each other, every man for himself, until one man is left standing. That man will be presented with the IIWF World Heavyweight Championship! [Huge pop!] TD: Yessiree, folks, this is what it's all about! RA: Introducing the first team. Coming down the aisle, accompanied by Josey Wales, here are the Outlaw, Brad "Bodybag" Kinder, Tiger Claw, the Sandman, and Abie of the Alphabet Boys! [Each man appears in turn at the head of the aisle and receives their own heel pop, with the exception of Abie, whom the crowd give a mixture of cheers and jeers. Abie looks slightly bemused to be out in the arena without a tag team partner.] TD: Okay, Steve and Becky: who are the ones to watch on this team? BL: Two words: Brad Kinder. SR: I have to disagree. Obviously Abie wouldn't know what to do with the world title, even if he stood a chance, but otherwise, it's a pretty tight field. However, I've got to go with the man who has proved himself beyond all doubt here in the IIWF: the Masked Outlaw. TD: Becky raises an interesting thought, though, Steve: how will Brad Kinder and Tiger Claw manage to work together on the same team, given the situation that exists between them at present? BL: If Claw gets in Brad's way here tonight, you can guarantee that sparks will fly. [The fivesome make their way to the ring and take their positions in the corner of the ring. Abie grabs the microphone away from Sparkplug and takes a bite out of the foam padding on it. He spits it out in displeasure, and smacks Lee on the back before joining his partners in the corner, who watch on in bemusement. Sparkplug dusts himself down and speaks again:] RA: And introducing their opponents. First, coming down the aisle, here is "Spotlight" Billy Shakespeare! [Big pop for Shakespeare as he bows at the head of the aisle and jogs down to ringside.] TD: Billy doesn't look like he's in too bad shape, considering he went the distance with Fisto Flash here tonight. SR: Pukespeare was lucky to make it out of that match alive. RA: Introducing second, Dan Kauffman! [Big pop for Kauffman, who jogs down the aisle, hi-fiving the fans on the way to the ring. He looks focussed on the task in hand.] TD: I think tonight's the night for Kauffman. He was impressive in his last match, and as long as it didn't take more out of him than it first appears, he could well be the next Champion. RA: And thirdly, here is the man from the dark side: Deathbringer! [Huge pop for Deathbringer as the lights flicker to nothingness. They come back up, and the big man has appeared in the ring. A chant of "R-I-P! R-I-P!" immediately starts up as Deathbringer points at Tiger Claw. The opposition team takes a few steps backwards into their corner.] RA: Finally, here is the people's champion, the Subway Psycho! [Huge pop for the Psycho as "Crazy Train" starts up, and the former champion dashes down the aisle, immediately targeting Tiger Claw. The referee signals for the bell as the Psycho and Claw go at it in the ring. The rest of the teams take their places in their respective corners.] TD: There was never any doubt who the Psycho would go for right off the bat! If the Psycho lets his temper get the better of him, he won't be any match for the cool head of Tiger Claw. SR: Time was when Claw was just as liable to explode as the Psycho, but Brian Lau soon had him controlling that fire and directing it against his opponents. You never know, Claw could go all the way here tonight and become the IIWF's first ever double crown winner! [The Psycho beats Claw to the mat with a volley of punches and kicks. He drops an elbow on the Thai boxer, but quickly drags him back to his feet and whips him into the ropes. Claw ducks under the first clothesline attempt, but is caught by a knee to the midsection on the rebound that sends him through 360 degrees. A deafening chant of "Psy - cho! Psy - cho!" reverberates through the arena as the Psycho batters away on Tiger Claw. He hoists the IC champ up onto the top turnbuckle, and climbs up behind him. He grabs Claw in preparation for a superplex, but Claw swipes backwards with an elbow and catches the Psycho across the temple. Huge heel pop as the Psycho tumbles backwards into the ring. Claw leaps backwards off the top buckle and splashes the Psycho, but Subway lifts his knees at the last moment, and Claw is hurt by the attempt. The crowd cheer as the Psycho fights to his feet to make the tag. He stumbles over to the corner and finds the hand of Dan Kauffman.] TD: The Alliance of Excellence survives almost intact in this final match, Steve. SR: And you complain that Lau's been trying to stack the deck in his favour, Dross... TD: Deathbringer, the Psycho and Kauffman all earned their spots in this final match, which is more than Tiger Claw did. SR: Claw is the Intercontinental Champion, Dross. Automatic number one contender for the World title. Of course he should be in this match! [Kauffman rushes in for Claw, and spins the Thai boxer around. He is met by a thumb to the eye, and a spinning back heel kick finds the mark on the temporarily blinded Dan. Claw lunges for his corner, and tags in Abie of the Alphabet Boys. Abie nails Claw with a hard right hand as he leaves the ring, and then gives a punch to each of his other partners. He turns, looking slightly confused, into the ring, and nails Kauffman. He hoists Kauffman up over his head and press slams him, which sets many camera flashes flickering all over the arena. Kauffman lands hard, and Abie follows up with a headbutt on Kauffman.] TD: Abie is dominating Kauffman here! Dan could be in trouble! [Abie chokes Kauffman on the mat until the referee forces him to break the hold. He hoists Kauffman up and piledrives him back to the mat again. Big heel pop. Suddenly, Abie appears to catch sight of something in the crowd. He wanders over to the side of the ring and stares intently out into the crowd.] SR: Oh no. What's he looking for now?! BL: Please don't tell me there's an Elvis lamp in the crowd somewhere. TD: Hang on -- they've put a spotlight out there... It's Zed! Zed's in the crowd. Why should Abie care that Zed's in the crowd?! [Abie waves at Zed, and from the glow of the spotlight halfway towards the back of the arena, Zed can be seen to wave back. Meanwhile, Kauffman has crawled over to his corner, and there is a big pop as he tags in Deathbringer. Deathbringer walks up behind Abie, and looms over him as he waves at his partner. Eventually, Abie turns, and jumps straight over the top rope at the sign of Deathbringer. He sticks his tongue out at the big man from the arena floor, and then takes off over the crowd barrier up into the stalls to find his partner.] TD: Wha -- I can't believe this! If Abie doesn't come back right now, he's throwing away a chance at the IIWF World Heavyweight Championship! SR: Be honest, Dross: what kind of a champion would Abie make, anyway? TD: Well... [The referee continues to count Abie out - 7 - 8 - some of the crowd is chanting along with the numbers. As the referee reaches 9, Deathbringer turns and stares into the corner where the opposition team stands. The referee reaches 10 and signals for the bell.] RA: Abie has been counted out, and is thus eliminated from this match. [Mixed pop. Abie continues his ascent in the stalls, but back in the ring, nobody seems keen to step into the ring against Deathbringer.] BL: Go on, Brad! Get in there and teach the dead man a lesson! [In the end, it is the Sandman who steps into the ring and asks for a test of strength with Deathbringer. 'Bringer obliges, but Sandman quickly takes advantage of the situation by kicking the big man in the midsection. He executes an impressive brainbuster suplex on 'Bringer and opens his arms wide to the jeers of the crowd. He drops onto the dark destroyer for the cover - 1 - 2 - Deathbringer kicks out with authority! Huge pop!] TD: It's going to take more than that to put away Deathbringer! [The Sandman looks taken aback for a moment, but launches into a volley of kicks and punches on the big man, until he is on all fours in the ring.] SR: [mocking] "Mr. Sandman, please stop! I've lost one of my red contact lenses! Nobody move!" TD: Steve, will you stop?! BL: Hee hee. [The Sandman applies a sleeper hold on Deathbringer, and appears to be wearing him down. Deathbringer begins to slump to the mat.] TD: I can't believe this! The Sandman has Deathbringer down with that sleeper hold... the referee's checking 'Bringer's state of consciousness... He raises the arm once. He raises the arm twice. If the arm falls to the mat once more, the referee will rule that Deathbringer's not fit to continue. He raises the arm a third time -- it falls -- no! Listen to the crowd roar as Deathbringer's arm shoots straight up in the air! SR: Give me a break! Who is this guy, Superman?! [Deathbringer gets straight to his feet, and grabs the Sandman by the throat. He chokeslams his burly opponent, who immediately rolls straight out of the ring. Deathbringer follows him to the outside, but is attacked from behind by Brad Kinder. 'Bringer weathers the storm, and grabs Kinder by the throat. He drags the Sandman to his feet, and then simultaneously chokeslams both of the Dark Knights on the outside! Huge pop!] TD: Oh my! I've _never_ seen anybody chokeslam two near-300lbs men at the same time! SR: Disqualify Deathbringer, ref! That's clearly a DQ offence! [Deathbringer rolls Sandman back into the ring and covers him - 1 - 2 - he is jumped by Tiger Claw. The referee forces Claw out of the ring as Deathbringer hoists Sandman up into position for a Tombstone inverted piledriver. He executes the move to a huge pop, and then makes another cover - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the Sandman has been eliminated from this match! [Big pop as the Sandman rolls from the ring. Deathbringer stands and motions to the Outlaw to enter the ring. The cowboy obliges, and steps between the ropes. Deathbringer steps towards him, and the Outlaw blasts him with a kick to the midsection. 'Bringer is staggered, and the Outlaw capitalises with one of his vicious lariats. Deathbringer goes down, and the Outlaw chokes his fallen opponent with his boot. The referee counts against the Outlaw, who seems to have "difficulty" hearing the count. Josey Wales laughs on the outside as the Outlaw winds his fist back at the referee, who backs off. The Outlaw continues to choke Deathbringer with his boots, finally releasing the hold and standing back while the big man gets to his feet. As soon as Deathbringer makes it to his knees, the Outlaw kicks him right in the face, and 'Bringer goes down again.] TD: Come on, ref! Do something about this! The Outlaw's just taunting Deathbringer here! [The Outlaw applies a side headlock on Deathbringer and yanks the hold as tight as possible.] BL: I can't help but think that this is poor strategy against a wrestler like Deathbringer. He's got that strange resilience, an ability to bounce back from all kinds of punishment. The Outlaw would surely be better off going for a hold that will temporarily knock the wind out of his sails, giving him enough time to be pinned. [The Outlaw releases the hold after around half a minute, and tags in Tiger Claw. Claw bounds to the top rope and immediately launches himself with his Golden Tiger Strike at Deathbringer. He connects hard! Huge heel pop as Claw covers - 1 - 2 - kick out! Deathbringer gets straight back to his feet, and Claw is taken aback. He backs away from Deathbringer, but makes it only as far as the corner. Deathbringer stalks in, and applies the Death Claw on his smaller opponent. Deathbringer throws Claw back into the centre of the ring, and then goes over to tag Dan Kauffman in. Kauffman enters the ring and immediately goes to work on Claw with some high-impact offence - a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, and a Quasar DDT. He goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - kick out! Claw just about gets his left shoulder up from the mat before the ref's hand hits for the third time.] TD: That was _so_ close! Claw needs to tag out as soon as possible! [Kauffman drags Claw to his feet and whips him into the ropes. Kauffman also bounces against the ropes, and launches himself with his Lights Out flipping clothesline, but Claw puts on the brakes, and Kauffman lands hard on the mat. Claw struggles over to his corner, and tries to tag in one of his partners. The Outlaw turns his back on Claw, and when Claw extends his hand to Kinder, Bodybag pelts Claw with a hard right hand.] TD: Oh my! The Outlaw and Kinder just turned on Claw! [Claw staggers backwards into the ring and trips over Kauffman, who is fighting to his feet. Kauffman siezes the opportunity, and hooks Claw's legs as he falls, creating a pinning predicament - the referee counts - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Tiger Claw has been eliminated! [Huge pop as Claw rolls out of the ring, shocked. Kauffman lunges for the tag, and catches the hand of Billy Shakespeare.] TD: Why on earth would Kinder and the Outlaw simply turn their backs on Claw like that?! SR: It's obvious, Dross. This match is for all the marbles. Why should any of these guys help each other? Both Kinder and the Outlaw see Claw as a threat to their title hopes, and the simplest way to get him out of the way is to let a nobody like Kauffman pin him. You might see it as a cowardly, dirty way out -- but then, that's what I like about these guys, right, Becky? BL: You bet, Steve. There was no way Brad was going to help the man who robbed him of the Intercontinental Championship. [Billy locks up with Brad Kinder in the ring. Billy hits a few offensive moves - a clothesline, an elbow drop, a dropkick - but when he attempts a crucifix on Kinder, Brad simply drops backwards, thus slamming Shakespeare's back hard on the mat. Kinder drags Shakespeare to his feet and executes a gutwrench powerbomb on Billy, and then drags him over to his corner. He tags in the Outlaw, and Kinder holds Shakespeare in the corner while the Outlaw puts the boot into Billy's midsection. The referee calls for the break, so the Outlaw snap mares Billy into the centre of the ring. He attempts an elbow drop on the light heavyweight, but Billy rolls out of the way! Big pop! Billy drags himself to his feet using the ropes, and starts the struggle over to his corner to make the tag, but the Outlaw is on his feet quickly, and grabs Billy's leg. He drags Billy back into the centre of the ring, and is stunned when Billy jumps, bringing his spare foot squarely round against the back of the Outlaw's head. The Outlaw goes down hard. Huge pop!] TD: Billy's bought the time he needs! Now he _must_ tag out! Hang on -- what's he doing? He's going to the top rope! SR: There's that ego of Pukespeare's coming to the fore, Dross. Rather than tag out to somebody fresh, he wants to go and do the hero bit on his own! [Shakespeare balances on the top rope in position for his Curtain Call, but as the Outlaw gets to his feet, Billy is knocked from the top rope by Josey Wales, and the Outlaw catches him in midair. Big heel pop as the Outlaw turns Shakespeare around and slams him hard to the canvas. The Outlaw covers - 1 - 2 - Kauffman storms the ring - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Billy Shakespeare has been eliminated from the match! [Kauffman immediately starts stamping away on the Outlaw, who battles to his feet.] TD: It's three against two now: the two former champions are still in the running, and the former IC champ is also still out here. Plus Deathbringer and Kauffman... ouch! What a stiff clothesline! [The Outlaw is staggered by Kauffman's clothesline, but doesn't go down. Dan comes off the ropes again with another flying clothesline, and this time the Outlaw is toppled. Dan goes for the cover - 1 - 2 - the Outlaw kicks out with authority. A slugfest erupts in the middle of the ring, and the Outlaw steadily takes the upper hand. He knocks Kauffman to the mat with a lariat and then drops a leg on him. He rolls over to his corner, and tags in Kinder, who immediately rushes and drops an elbow on Kauffman. He drags Dan to his feet and whips him into the ropes. He attempts a spinebuster on Kauffman, but Kauffman performs a flying headscissors on Kinder, sending him flying across the ring. Kinder hits the ropes with some force and tumbles over to the outside. Big pop. Kauffman gets to his feet, bounces off the ropes on the opposite side of the ring, and throws himself over the ropes at Kinder. Huge heel pop as Kinder sidesteps and Kauffman hits the steel guardrail.] TD: What a seesaw battle we're seeing here! Kauffman keeps on taking big risks -- sooner or later, those risks were going to catch up with him, and I think they just did! [Kinder hauls Kauffman to his feet and into position for the "Dead Man's Honour" modified piledriver. He executes the devastating move right onto the arena floor! Huge heel pop! Deathbringer and the Psycho leap into the ring to come to their comrade's aid, but the Outlaw intercepts them. The referee continues to count both Kauffman and Kinder out as the other wrestlers brawl in the ring behind him.] TD: The official's lost control in this one! Kauffman looks like he's out... hey! It's the Family! [Big pop as Don Antonio and Vinny Cappicola storm the aisle. They attack Kinder on the outside.] SR: What?! Where did these losers come from?! TD: I guess the Family's differences with the Dark Knights are far from being settled! [The referee continues the count on the two men as chaos continues to reign - 8 - Kauffman begins to stir on the outside. He is helped to his feet by Vinny Cappicola as the count reaches 9. As Vinny tries to roll Dan back into the ring, the referee brings down his hand for the ten count! He signals to the timekeeper - Ding! Ding! Ding!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, Dan Kauffman and Brad Kinder have been counted out, and thus both men are eliminated from this match! [Huge heel pop as Kinder and the Don brawl up the aisle. Vinny tries to console Kauffman, who beats the canvas in frustration before heading up the aisle, taking many backward glances at the squared circle. In the ring, the Outlaw clotheslines Deathbringer out over the top rope, and goes back to work on the Subway Psycho.] TD: Look at Kauffman! Can you imagine his frustration? He's pushed Vinny Cappicola away... he can't believe it! This is the second time that he's come so close to the IIWF World Heavyweight gold, and again the situation has conspired against him. SR: He doesn't deserve to wear the gold, Dross. The IIWF World Champion should be a wrestler, not an egocentric talk show host. Kauffman can pull off some nice moves, sure, but he needs a humbling experience or two to dull that over-inflated opinion of himself. TD: Steve, that's really not fair. Kauffman worked hard for this shot, and to be eliminated on a countout is hardly a fitting... BL: [interrupting] Excuse me, but aren't you forgetting somebody?! What about Brad, who had Kauffman beat, but was attacked without provocation by Dumb Antonio and the ham-man! I can't believe this! The referee should award the win to Kinder by default! [The Psycho dominates the Outlaw in the ring, while Deathbringer stands in the corner.] TD: Well, we're down to the last three men, who just happen to be the three men with the best win-loss records in the IIWF. Any one of these three would make a worthy champion. SR: Worthy champion?! You can't include the Stinker under that heading! This criminal should have been locked up long ago! TD: Steve, you know that the Psycho isn't a cr... wow! The Psycho just took the Outlaw's head off with a flying clothesline... He's going to the top rope! This is it! The Psycho's going for the Derailer! [Huge pop as the Psycho stands on the top rope, the Outlaw flat out in the centre of the ring. A thousand cameras flash as the Psycho launches himself, but the Outlaw rolls out of the way, and the Psycho crashes to the mat! Huge heel pop as the Outlaw staggers to his feet, and then slumps to the mat again. The crowd begins a chant of "Psy - cho! Psy - cho!" which quickly reaches a deafening volume. The Psycho struggles to his feet, and drags the Outlaw back to a vertical base. The two men slug it out in the centre of the ring.] TD: Both of these men are exhausted! This can't go on much longer - the Psycho needs to tag in Deathbringer... he's the fresher man and he could take out the Outlaw... SR: Now it's down to three men, it's every man for himself, Dross! [The Psycho blocks a right hand from the Outlaw, and whips him into the ropes. He puts his head down for a backdrop, but the Outlaw sees the move coming, and quick as lightning applies his Cattle Buster DDT. Huge heel pop. However, before the Outlaw even has a chance to cover the Psycho, Deathbringer storms the ring and begins beating on the Outlaw. Behind the official's back, Josey Wales sneaks up on the Psycho, who has rolled to the edge of the ring. Wales grabs a chair from ringside, and smashes it against the crown of the Psycho's head, the impact making a sickening clang.] SR: Yes! Go get him, Josey! [The Outlaw finally ejects Deathbringer from the ring with a clothesline over the top rope, and rolls the motionless Psycho into the centre of the ring.] TD: No! Please don't let the Psycho get pinned this way! [The Outlaw makes the cover - 1 - 2 - 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Deafening heel pop.] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the Subway Psycho has been eliminated from this match! TD: No! I can't believe this! Listen to these people! [Deathbringer climbs straight back into the ring as the referee tries to remove the unconscious Psycho from the ring. Deathbringer tries to whip the Outlaw into the ropes, but the cowboy reverses, and Deathbringer clatters into the official, knocking him from the ring. Big pop.] SR: Yes! This really spells trouble for Deathbringer now! [The Outlaw signals to Josey Wales, and grabs Deathbringer, who seems concerned for the safety of the Psycho. He holds him by the arms as Wales grabs the chair once more and climbs into the ring. The crowd give a huge heel pop as Wales clouts 'Bringer with the chair repeatedly. The Outlaw finally releases his grip on the dark destroyer, and 'Bringer slumps to the mat.] TD: This is carnage! This is senseless! SR: This is great! [The Outlaw raises his arms in victory and stands above the motionless form of Deathbringer, but there is a huge pop as Deathbringer suddenly sits up!] TD: Wow! How can Deathbringer do that?! [The Outlaw takes a step backwards, but immediately continues his assault on Deathbringer, grabbing the chair from Wales and jabbing his huge opponent with shots to the midsection and ribs. Huge heel pop as the High Plains Drifters run down the aisle.] SR: Good thinking, Josey! Now the scores are evened up! TD: Evened up?! It's three against one, Steve! The Deathbringer could sustain a really serious injury in this situation! We need another official out here! [Pale and Easy roll into the ring and start stomping on Deathbringer. The Outlaw orchestrates the effort: he holds the chair on one side of the ring, and Pale and Easy whip 'Bringer across the ring to hit it. They send the dark destroyer across the ring, and 'Bringer collides with the chair at some speed. He goes down. The Outlaw orders that they repeat the exercise. Again Pale and Easy whip 'Bringer -- but the dead man reverses the whip! Pale and Easy career across the ring and fly over the ropes on the other side of the ring, knocking the Outlaw out with them! Huge pop! Deathbringer slumps to the mat, but after a few seconds, he sits up once more! The crowd are practically on their feet as Wales jumps up onto the apron again.] TD: I simply cannot believe what we are seeing here! Deathbringer has fought off the whole Posse, he's taken countless shots with that chair, and he's still on his feet! SR: He's not human, Dross! He can't be! This is a nightmare! Please pinch me -- yow! Damn, that hurt, and it's true! No! ['Bringer grabs Wales and drags him into the ring, hoisting him up over his shoulder for a Tombstone piledriver. He drives Wales down onto the canvas, and the crowd go berzerk as he throws Wales' limp body out of the ring. The official begins to stir as Deathbringer leaves the ring and hauls the exhausted Outlaw back into the ring.] TD: This is it. We're going to see Deathbringer crowned the new IIWF World Heavyweight Champion! He's unstoppable! [Deathbringer hoists the Outlaw up over his shoulder for another Tombstone as the referee reenters the ring. Deathbringer drives the Outlaw's head down to the mat. The pop from the crowd is louder than ever as Deathbringer laboriously crosses the Outlaw's arms on his chest. The woozy referee makes the slow count -- 1 -- 2 -- 3! Ding! Ding! Ding! Gigantic pop from the crowd!] RA: Ladies and gentlemen, the Outlaw has been eliminated from this match. Therefore, the winner of the Survivors Match, and thus the _NEW_ IIWF World Heavyweight Champion, Deathbringer! SR: No! BL: Poor Brad! TD: Listen to these people! Look at the carnage around the ring! Wales is out -- the Drifters are out... Deathbringer stands above the carcass of the Outlaw in the middle of the ring... what incredible scenes here from Madison Square Garden! [IIWF President Daniel Spreadbury comes down the aisle, carrying the coveted gold belt. He walks up the ring steps and enters the ring. The crowd chant "R - I - P! R - I - P!" as Spreadbury hands the belt to Deathbringer, who kneels and holds the belt aloft. Huge pop! Fireworks erupt high above the ring.] TD: Well, folks, I can honestly say that I've never seen anything like the action we've seen here tonight. From beginning to end, we've had the very best that the IIWF has to offer! What an event it's been. Now, as Deathbringer holds his prize up for all his Soldiers of Hell to see, we've run out of time. It's be... hang on! [Suddenly, the lights in the arena drop. They stay dimmed for a few seconds, and when they rise, Blackjack Haley is in the ring, stomping away on an exhausted Deathbringer! Huge heel pop!] TD: Oh my! It's Blackjack Haley! Where did _he_ come from?! SR: Yes! I guess the giant didn't take kindly to not getting a shot at winning the IIWF World Heavyweight Championship! TD: This is ridiculous! Haley was offered a spot on a number of teams and he turned them all down -- he's got no right to come out here and beat up on Deathbringer! SR: It's not a question of right, Dross -- Haley does whatever he wants, whenever he wants. And if he wants to beat up on Deathbringer -- and let's face it, Dross, who doesn't? -- he's damn well going to do it! TD: He's already put Robski out of action here tonight -- what's he going to do to Deathbringer?! [Huge pop as the Subway Psycho and Dan Kauffman pelt down the aisle to their comrade's assistance. They clobber Haley and clothesline him from the ring before helping Deathbringer to his feet.] TD: This is an interesting situation... the former IIWF Champion and one of the top hopefuls face to face with the man who eventually outlasted them all... What's going to happen here? SR: Go on, Kauffman, break his legs! TD: Will you stop?! [After a moment's uncomfortable silence, the Psycho and Kauffman each raise one of Deathbringer's arms. "The Reaper" starts up again as Deathbringer and his two partners stand above the carnage that surrounds them. Cut to the announcers' table.] TD: Well, folks, I'm sure we've not heard the last of this situation, but I'm afraid we're running over time. On behalf of everybody involved with the IIWF, I want to thank everyone for being with us tonight to witness the greatest wrestling spectacle in history! For "Soundbite" Steve Roberts and Becky LaRue, this is Tim Dross, saying: so long, everybody! [Mix back to shots of Deathbringer, the Psycho and Kauffman in the ring, celebrating 'Bringer's success. Fireworks continue to explode high in the roof of the arena. Pan up to the huge IIWF Midsummer Madness banners that adorn the rafters of Midsummer Madness, and fade.] +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I * I * W * F =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+ | President: Daniel Spreadbury | Vice-President: Steve Owens | | univ0322@sable.ox.ac.uk | sowens@admin.presby.edu | | iiwf@sisko.demon.co.uk | IIWFadmin@aol.com | +=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- http://www.sisko.demon.co.uk -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+ Huge thanks go to: Gregg Osterhout and Steve Owens IIWF Midsummer Madness is dedicated to: Hunter Robertson +----------------------------------------------------------------------+