Post by Ampersand on Apr 8, 2022 8:20:56 GMT
Too alarming now to talk about
Take your pictures down and shake it out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
Take your pictures down and shake it out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
In the backstage area of the Colosseum, we see Nicholas Tollman, the demonic new prospect of Ascended Wrestling, is lurking in a shadowed alcove. He seems to be muttering something to himself, pausing occasionally; as if he’s having a conversation with someone the viewer can’t see. He receives a sidelong glance from a passing Murder Weapon, Montana Jack, who looks to be readying himself to show the Ascended Army that what they saw at Conquest is just a taste of what’s to come. His opponent, BoarKnight, however, is preparing himself in a different way. The fighter’s eyes, visible through his mask, are focused on a puzzle of interlocking metal rings. His hands move quickly, solving the puzzle, locking it up, then solving it again; clearing his mind, focusing on his fight. Moxie Golightly seems to be preparing herself mentally, as well. Seated at the desk in her ‘office,’ the rookie is reviewing what appear to be notes on Roy Valentine. As she watches video on her laptop of his match against David O’Toole, she scribbles furiously, dark eyes gleaming.
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
Valentine, on the other hand, sits in a portion of the locker room secluded from the other fighters. There is something different about him as he tapes up his hands; something dangerous in his posture that wasn’t there before. The results of his feud with David O’Toole have clearly had an impact, and it looks like he’s going to show everyone just how much. O’Toole, meanwhile, has a small cluster of people around him, smiling as they chat in catering. Thorne, Ivy, and Aster are all enjoying pastries from Piroshky, Piroshky, Davie having brought them all a treat he’s come to favor as a way to help them get acclimated to the city. They’re finally together again - the family he’d missed so dearly. If this is their new home, he’s going to do whatever he can to make it as comfortable and familiar as soon as possible. Having reacquired her access to the proverbial steering wheel, Mia Rayne is scoping out the backstage area, keeping an eye out for any signs of Frater Perdurabo. Her erstwhile rival has designs on her friend, and she isn’t taking that lightly.
Don't the best of them bleed it out?
While the rest of them peter out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
While the rest of them peter out
Truth or consequence, say it aloud
Use that evidence, race it around
Perdurabo’s target is in gorilla position, watching the audience, expression impassive. Silvio Leon is done being patient. All he wants is the ability to protect the people he loves, and he’s being denied that. His grip tightens on the title belt slung over his shoulder. He’s about to show Marcus Afsah what a bad idea that is. Even if it means putting the man lacing up his boots in the locker room out of commission. SKUP9 is done letting opportunities pass him by. He’s going to go out there and prove once and for all that he has a place here, and if getting a win over the champ doesn’t do it, nothing will. Another title holder is back in the locker room, looking contemplative, his belt propped up on a table in his new dressing room. He finally did it - the work finally paid off. But the same night Kyle Beckett found victory, his interference may well have been the thing that cost his next opponent her fight at the PPV. And now she gets the opportunity for a little payback in their fight. Viola Williams, Legacy, doesn’t seem like she’s about to let the opportunity pass her by. Standing in front of the mirror in the shared dressing room the rest of the non-titled roster uses, the streaks of glitter she applies over her electric blue eyes may as well be war paint. Kyle reached the top of the mountain at the PPV, and while she doesn’t have the opportunity to knock the crown off his head just now, she can make his place at the peak look mighty unsteady.
There goes my hero
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
Watch him as he goes
There goes my hero
He's ordinary
As the camera sweeps across the Colosseum, a few signs catch the eye.
BECKETT + BELT = FINALLY!!
WHEN WILL RAYNE HAVE HER REIGN?
GET WELL SOON, LAB RAT!
WHEN WILL RAYNE HAVE HER REIGN?
GET WELL SOON, LAB RAT!
Coming to rest at the commentary table, we see Hiro dressed in a navy suit and maroon bow-tie, Artemis Direction is in a pastel floral print fit-and-flare dress and strappy sandals, her hair in sweeping blonde curls, and Del Ramos is dressed in a bright red t-shirt patterned with black crack marks and dark blue jeans.
Hiro Suzuki: Hello, Ascended Army, and welcome back to Collision! This is our first show back after our monumental Pay-Per-View, Conquest! I’m Hiro Suzuki and joining me tonight on commentary are Artemis Direction…
Artemis Direction: Hello, darlings! Mother hopes you’ve all been hydrating and going outside to touch grass on a regular basis!
Hiro Suzuki: …and Del Ramos!
Del Ramos: And I hope you’ve all been praying to the moon demons for Suzuki’s larynx to turn inside-out, but I guess we’ll see how disappointed I will or won’t be by the end of the show.
Artemis Direction: And what a show we have for you all tonight, babies! We’ll be kicking things off with the debut of Nicholas Tollman, the Denver Demon!
Del rubs their hands together vigorously.
Del Ramos: I got a good feeling that fucker’s gonna walk the walk like he talks the talk, and I cannot fuckin’ wait to see it.
Artemis Direction: I certainly don’t envy Brick Hardcheese.
Hiro Suzuki: What, for having to fight Tollman?
Artemis Direction: No, darling, I just don’t envy him.
Del Ramos: After that, there’s sure to be more brutality. The Murder Weapon, Montana Jack showed he’s not fucking around at Conquest.
Artemis Direction: Goodness me, to say the least, dear heart!
She wrinkles her nose.
Artemis Direction: To put him up against BoarKnight now? I have to wonder how that’s going to play out! On the one hand, Jack has absolutely no compunctions about getting brutal. On the other, BoarKnight has shown us a very focused, very determined part of himself in his recent promo.
Del Ramos: It’s gonna be fuckin’ great. I can already feel the intensity coming off that one.
Hiro Suzuki: Say, what happens when you play Tug-o-War with a pig?
Artemis Direction: I don’t know, dearest, what?
Hiro Suzuki: Pulled pork!
Del fixes Hiro with a murderous look.
Artemis Direction: I must say I’m a bit… concerned about the next fight. Roy has just come off of a rather… intense feud with David O’Toole that has seen him on the losing side. We’ve seen him take his feelings out on others in the ring as well as outside of it. Moxie has so much heart, but she is very new to this.
Hiro Suzuki: Valentine has no problem with fighting dirty, either. But Golightly has guts. She stood up to Logan and she works well in the ring. We’ll see if she’s got the kind of detective skills that’ll keep her one step ahead of Valentine’s machinations.
Del Ramos: It’ll be interesting to see where O’Toole takes things from here. Like it or not, he did get better while he was working with Valentine. But he’s fighting Rayne tonight, and she’s a different story than Roy is; pure chaos. And who knows? She might even let Loki out to play in the middle of their match. O’Toole could find himself in a fight he didn’t prepare for against an opponent he didn’t expect.
Artemis Direction: Thrilling potentials, honeybee!
Del Ramos: Heh… speaking of potentials… I think we might be seeing a leaner, meaner Leon in the ring tonight. Looks like Afsah isn’t letting the champ have the match he wants against Frater. He’s gonna let Perdurabo run wild on all of Leon’s friends first. I think we’re gonna see sweet l’il Leon express his displeasure all over SKUP9’s fucking face.
Artemis sighs, rubbing one temple with her fingertips.
Artemis Direction: That is… certainly a way of putting things, darling. But you’re not far off the mark. And Silvio… well, he did more or less say he was going to make an example out of SKUP9.
Del Ramos: I knew that kid had it in him. Looks like Frater found the big, red button and is determined to destroy it.
Hiro Suzuki: Even if that’s the case, should Leon be looking to take it out on SKUP?
Del Ramos: Shit rolls downhill, Suzuki. What I gotta wonder is what Frater wants from the kid. I don’t think this is just about a belt.
Artemis Direction: Following that match will be our main event - ‘Legacy’ Viola Williams vs. ‘Culture Clash’ Kyle Beckett! This will be Beckett’s first fight after winning the Emerald City Championship, and it’ll be against a fighter with whom some mutual animosity has been building!
Hiro Suzuki: The distraction Beckett provided during the tag team fight at Conquest when Williams was partnered with Golightly, may very well have been the thing that cost them the match.
Del Ramos: And if that’s what Williams thinks, you can bet it stings twice as much that Beckett went on to win a title that night. Guess we’ll see how she’s feeling once we get to the end of the night.
Artemis Direction: Well, we can’t get to the end if we don’t begin, darling! Let’s go to Kevin Kim, already in the ring!
The cameras cut to the ring, where Brick Hardcheese is posted up in his corner looking smug and Kevin Kim is standing in the center of the ring with a mic. Godric Smith stands off to the side in his striped shirt, eyeballing Brick and wondering what he did to deserve this.
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, the following contest is scheduled for one fall! Already standing in the ring, Brick Hardcheese!
Brick throws his hands up all high and mighty like he deserves the confidence he has. He does not.
Kevin Kim: ...and his opponent!
As the booming chorus that opens Lorna Shore's "Of the Abyss" fills the air, it shares occupancy with smoke on the stage. The lights in the building go out, save for a few that hold a glowing white hue on the rigging around the curtain that illuminates the smoke from behind. At the twenty second mark, "To The Hellfire" picks up in gear and the lights return with a murky red tinge. From behind the curtain and through the smoke steps Nicholas Tollman.
"Misbegotten world
Inconsequential fate
Accept your prophecy"
Kevin Kim: On his way to the ring weighing in at two hundred and thirty three pounds - he is "The Denver Demon", Nicholas Tollman!
The lights pulse with the rhythm of the music as Nicholas starts down the ramp. His focus is fixed on the ring so much so that he doesn't acknowledge the fans at ringside that have reached out towards him, even if they manage to make contact. Once at the ring he opts for the ring steps and after a few paces onto the apron, he slides himself between the top and middle rope. Nicholas doesn't even waste energy in pandering to the crowd once he's got both feet in the ring; instead he takes to his corner and discards his entrance gear while the lights return to normal and "Of the Abyss" fades from the PA.
Hiro Suzuki: Did you hear about the dyslexic Devil worshipper?
Del Ramos: I will call HR, Suzuki, I swear to the ninth circle.
Hiro Suzuki: He pledged his soul to Santa!
DING DING!
Once the dings are done, the two competitors approach each other. Brick's barking inaudible nonsense at Nicholas, who provides no response; that is, until Brick's finger finds its way into Nicholas' chest. Like a Manchurian Candidate hearing his trigger word, Nicholas immediately snatches the hand attached to that very finger and traps it between his own arm and his body.
Del Ramos: I think Brick’s poked the wrong bear.
Now locked in place, Nicholas fires headbutts into Brick's mush until blood flows from the nostrils and he can't stand on his own two feet. Brick falls to the mat and moves to get to a prone position for a desperate crawl to the ropes. Nicholas meanders until he's standing over Brick and then bends over to get a good grip on Brick's face. He puts a pair of fingers on the inside of Brick's cheek and pulls outward, fish hooking the bearded menace.
Del lets out a cackle of glee as their commentary compatriots cringe.
Brick's bellowing in pain and Godric has no choice but to start a count.
1!
2!
3!
4!
Nicholas lets go at the last second and steps back to watch Brick climb to his feet.
Artemis Direction: Tollman showing he has some truly brutal tricks up his sleeve!
Del Ramos: And it’s fan-fucking-tastic!
Brick's on all fours and doesn't hear Nicholas break into a run, hit the ropes and leap for a jumping kneedrop onto the back of his head! Brick lies on the mat motionless and Godric - doing his due diligence - goes to check on him but gets shoved out of the way by Nicholas who wastes no time. He wraps his arms around Brick's waist and tosses him back with a deadlift German suplex! Brick's lifeless body crumples to the mat and Godric goes to check on him once again but decides to back off when he sees Nicholas is still on the attack. Nicholas pulls Brick to his feet, tucks his head under his arm, and drops him with a DDT!
Del is howling with glee as Artemis and Hiro let out hisses of sympathetic pain.
Hiro Suzuki: Tollman’s put Brick out of commission, but now he’s just… playing with his food!
Brick begins to stir, but not under his own power. It's Nicholas, hauling his limp body back up to a vertical base to repeat the previous verse, but now with a double underhook remix. He picks him up again, hooks him for a suplex, and drops him into a brainbuster! ICH Driver! Before Brick can even lie flat, Nicholas picks him up, throws him onto his shoulders like a sack of grain, then throws himself sideways and drives Brick head-first into the canvas with a massive Hellfire! He doesn't even move to the cover and instead turns to Godric. "Now check him.", Nicholas points to the downed Brick and Godric does as he's asked. After a quick assessment, Godric shakes his head and waves for the bell.
DING DING DING!
Kevin Kim: Ladies and gentlemen, Brick Hardcheese is unable to continue! Here is your winner, "The Denver Demon", Nicholas Tollman!
Artemis Direction: I think we can say Mr. Tollman has let us know precisely who he is!
Hiro Suzuki: Yeah - a complete maniac!
Del Ramos: I know it’s fukken great. Makes me wanna see him try his luck against the Murder Weapon we got coming up in this next match.
Artemis Direction: Montana Jack put the roster on notice with his… violent display in the ring at Conquest.
Del Ramos: A man after my own heart.
Artemis Direction: And now he finds himself facing off against BoarKnight, another new signee who is ten pounds of whoop ass in a five pound bag!
Del Ramos: The man likes weaponry and I am ready to see him show us a few of his favs in the ring. The sooner Afsah gets this guy into an Underworld rules match, the better.
Hiro Suzuki: A boar in the underworld, eh? Sounds like a recipe for deviled ham!
Del Ramos: Listen, if you wanna get acquainted with some demons, I got a spot for a human sacrifice that needs filling.
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, the following match is scheduled for one fall! Already in the ring with me, hailing from the Crazy Mountains, Montana, he is ‘The Murder Weapon,’ MONTANA JACK!
Jack is still in the ring, only the flash in his eyes betraying the malicious intent within as the crowd bays around him. They can’t seem to decide if they crave more of his particular brand of chaos or abhor it, but in the end it all makes the same, cacophony when screamed from the throats of over two thousand rabid fans.
A dramatic timpani strike and roll swells, ushering in bold, commanding low brass.
Kevin Kim: From frontiers unknown, weighing in at 105 pounds, the Pint-Sized Powerhouse—BOARKNIGHT!
A broad-shouldered figure all in black, complete with a black boar’s mask, appears at the top of the ramp. He takes a moment to survey the crowd, then begins his descent, striding down the ramp with all the confidence of a well-seasoned fighter. He continues to look over the crowd as he goes, but as he reaches the floor he only has eyes for the ring—and his opponent within.
He hauls himself up onto the apron and rolls under the bottom rope. The crowd roars its encouragement, eager to see more from this masked powerhouse!
DING DING!
Jack regards his opponent with a heavy-lidded gaze, but nothing in his expression indicates he’s making the same mistakes Big McLargeHuge made. BoarKnight proved beyond a shadow of a doubt he can hold his own in a ring, and the Murder Weapon would be foolish to take anything as a given. For his part, BoarKnight seems to take the match seriously, giving Montana Jack a solemn bow at the waist–
Artemis Direction: What a show of sportsmanship from BoarKnight!
--that Jack promptly answers with a fist drop to the back of Boruk’s head!
Del Ramos: The Murder Weapon’s not here to be a good sport - he’s here to bust heads!
BoarKnight is staggered by the sudden blow, which Jack takes as an opportunity to nail him with a twisting dropkick! Jack makes the cover and Jill Kincaid slides in for the count!
ONE!
TWO!
Kick out from BoarKnight!
Artemis Direction: Jack trying to end things early with an aggressive opening gambit!
As he shoots back to his feet, Boruk catches Jack off guard, taking advantage of his height and slamming upward into the Murder Weapon’s jaw with a rising headbutt! Grunting, he arcs backward, BoarKnight seizing his arm and setting him up in a figure-four armlock! Montana Jack lets out a snarl of pain and writhes against the submission!
Hiro Suzuki: BoarKnight is turning things around! Hey, what did the pig say when the wolf caught hold of his curly tail?
Artemis Direction: I don’t know, darling, what?
Hiro Suzuki: That’s the end of me!
Although BoarKnight’s grip is tenacious, Jack fights his way to a rope, grabbing it and forcing his opponent to break the hold!
Artemis Direction: Neither opponent giving an inch!
The crowd roars as each fighter gets to his feet! BoarKnight is in motion instantly, going for a battering ram, but the Murder Weapon is ready for him, grabbing him by the head and twisting him around into a Skewer! BoarKnight spasms and slams hard into the canvas, gripping his back in agony! As his opponent writhes on the ground, Jack gets to his feet, wiping his mouth and eyeing BoarKnight like a cat considering which limb to pull off its prey first. Grabbing Boruk, he drags him upright and hits him with a Rotorblade that nearly jerks the smaller man’s arm out of his socket as it connects! Miraculously upright but on rollerskates, the BoarKnight soon finds himself being Irish whipped into the ropes by his opponent! As he bounces off the ropes and comes flying back, BoarKnight just manages to dodge a back elbow from Montana! Using his momentum, BoarKnight launches himself off the second rope, catching his opponent in a springboard DDT that sends him colliding with the mat! Capitalizing, BoarKnight makes the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
Kick out from Jack!
Artemis Direction: Such tenacity!
Del Ramos: Pig boy’s got it where it counts. Let’s see if he can close the deal.
Both opponents are breathing hard as they get to their feet, each one wary. For a long, tense moment, neither moves. Then, all at once, they’re each in motion! BoarKnight takes advantage of his smaller size to avoid Jack’s grip! Scaling the turnbuckles, he launches himself at the taller man in a double ax handle that sends them both sprawling out onto the mat and gets the crowd on its feet! Teeth set, Jack keeps his wits about him enough to try and catch Boruk in a wristlock, but the BoarKnight manages to twist free! Moving quick as a hiccup, BoarKnight swings around to set Jack up in a rear chinlock that has him growling in disbelief! Boruk yanks back with all his might, but slowly, inexorably, Jack begins to rise. Getting to his feet even as BoarKnight clings to him, the Murder Weapon hurls himself to slam into the nearest turnbuckle back first, stunning Boruk! Seeing stars, BoarKnight is helpless as Montana Jack props him up against the turnbuckles and goes to the opposite side of the ring, setting his opponent up for a Stinger splash!
Artemis Direction: Oh, dear, this could be it, darlings!
But as the Murder Weapon comes charging back, BoarKnight finds his wits, and makes a charge of his own, the pair colliding in the middle of the ring as Boruk hits the Boar Gore! The wind knocked completely out of him, Jack collapses beneath his opponent who goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, your winner - BOARKNIGHT!
The audience is on its feet as Boruk’s hand is raised in victory!
Artemis Direction: An incredible showing from each fighter! Jack continuing to show us he is not one to be trifled with and Boruk continuing to show the Ascended Army to never judge a book by its cover!
Hiro Suzuki: Speaking of - one of the fighters in our next match seems like she walked right out of a Raymond Chandler novel!
Artemis Direction: Moxie Golightly has certainly been a colorful addition to the roster! She’s a delight to watch in the ring, her attitude is just what any promotion could use, and she’s absolutely adorable, in my own humble opinion. Though she may have let her emotions get the better of her during this past PPV.
Hiro Suzuki: When her tag partner was in trouble, she broke the rules, trying to protect her even though she wasn’t the legal fighter.
Artemis Direction: In fairness, Logan was also violating the rules. It’s just that neither of them stepped down.
Del Ramos: It’s gonna take a lot more than some stubborn altruism for her to come out on top in this fight. She’s up against Valentine, and he might be the biggest shit lark on the roster.
Artemis Direction: Thankfully that business between him and David O’Toole seems settled. Although I can’t say I’m too eager to see this new Valentine he seems to be showing us in his most recent promotional work. What we’ve seen has been brutal enough. What exactly is he going to show us now that could be worse?
Kevin Kim:The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a twenty minute time limit. Introducing first!
As the emphatic opening brass and percussion of Tank! by Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts blasts from the sound system, the big screen flashes with jagged washes of black, white, and red. The screen divides into white on top and red on the bottom, the thin red line that runs between them pulses and vibrates along with the impatient thrum of the bass, smoke billowing around the entrance like fog rolling in.
I think it's time we blow this scene
Get everybody and the stuff together
Okay, three, two, one, let's jam!
Get everybody and the stuff together
Okay, three, two, one, let's jam!
Kevin Kim: From Spokane, Washington, weighing 150 pounds, she is Girl Detective, MOXIE GOLIGHTLY!
As the rest of the band kicks in, ‘MOXIE’ appears in black letters in the white division of the screen, ‘GOLIGHTLY’ in white text in the black division. Moxie strides out onto the ramp, emerging from the fog in a film noir detective style overcoat and fedora. The images on the big screen shift to ones of a steamy Seattle right out of a Raymond Chandler novel - all sharp silver angles awash in neon rain. Moxie watches the ring as she approaches as if trying to replay the scene of some mystery she's trying to solve, mounting the stairs and hanging her hat and jacket on the turnbuckle to reveal a bodysuit done in Art Deco style lines of black and white with red highlights, fishnet stockings, knee pads, and kick pads. She paces a circle around the ring as if examining a crime scene before standing in the ring's center and raising a fist to the sky.
Kevin Kim: And her opponent!
Heavy symphonic guitar blares through the stadium. The screen follows a trail of twisting, thorny vines as they wind over a pitch-black floor towards the foot of a marble throne. As the thorns begin to engulf the stone, the camera rises to reveal Roy Valentine lying sideways across his marble seat, legs pitched over its arm. The plants trace a deferential space around Valentine, but utterly consume every inch of bare throne. When the vines finally stop twisting, Valentine snaps his fingers, and the all-encompassing wall of green bursts into bloom, red and gold roses spelling out the name, “ROY VALENTINE”.
Kevin Kim: Hailing from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, weighing 219 pounds, he is ROY VALENTINE!
Valentine then makes his entrance in the flesh, accompanied by his ever-steely assistant Anastasia Keller. Tonight, no shower of petals greets them. There is neither fanfare nor grandstanding. Standing stone-faced in a sable suit of cashmere with accompanying crimson tie, Valentine soaks in the spiteful crowd. Behind Valentine, Keller unclasps a hidden seam in the suit. Both jacket and shirt split and shed off smooth. Valentine dismisses Keller with a snap of his fingers, then struts to the ring, sneering at jeering fans, brushing their hatred away with a wave of his hand. His body language speaks of leashed ferocity, all slow breaths and quick motions between pauses, as he takes his corner of the mat.
Artemis Direction: Roy Valentine seems like a coiled trap ready to spring. It looks like his loss of O’Toole is bringing out something vicious.
DING DING!
The two fighters circle each other, taking the moment to appraise their competition before they dive into the mayhem. Valentine seems to be chomping at the bit to get to the action; his fists clench and release to the rhythm of his gradual breaths. Moxie’s not so bothered. She bounces to an internal drumbeat, scratches her chin, squats to one side with a hand on her hip before hopping upright. Gathering data. Sizing up her odds.
Hiro Suzuki: Neither competitor is the type to fly off the handle right away. They’re both cerebral players in their own ways.
Del Ramos: The difference between ‘em is that Moxie might try to manipulate the scenario while Roy wants to manipulate the other person.
It’s during her next squat that Valentine surges forward. Moxie slips under an attempted grab, spinning behind Valentine to cinch him in a waistlock. Valentine immediately forces down on her clasped hands–but Moxie maintains her grip. Valentine jabs his right elbow behind him, Moxie dodges to the left; then comes the left elbow, and Moxie dodges right–not realizing this one’s a feint! Valentine whips his neck back and cracks Golightly in the forehead. Moxie’s not stunned for long, but it’s enough for Valentine to break her hold and counter with a front facelock. The fists Moxie plants in Valentine’s stomach serve only to infuriate him as he drags her around the ring.
Artemis Direction: Moxie certainly living up to her name here!
Suddenly, Moxie rushes to the ropes, forcing Valentine to scuttle backwards. He rebounds from the ropes, releasing Golightly, who whirls and hops in preparation for a bicycle kick. Nobody’s home! Valentine has stopped short of Moxie’s heel, and Moxie yelps as Valentine pulls her leg forward to hit her with a short-arm lariat! Golightly meets the mat. Valentine stomps down, but Moxie’s already out of the way, rolling to her feet by the ropes.
Del Ramos: Valentine’s experience is starting to show here.
Valentine gestures for Moxie to approach. Dusting off her hands, she obliges. They lock up and tussle in the center of the ring before Valentine throws Golightly away to transition into a side headlock. Moxie struggles–she maintains her footing, matching Valentine’s strength this time. Her forehead sparkles with sweat from exertion.
Hiro Suzuki: Hey, do you know why detectives have bad posture?
Artemis Direction: No, sweetness, why?
Hiro Suzuki: They always have a hunch!
Slowly, her foot inches back, hooking Valentine’s ankle before tripping him with a drop toe hold! Before Moxie can close the armlock, Valentine is scurrying for the ropes.
Hiro Suzuki: They seem equally matched for strength!
Del Ramos: Moxie isn’t some delicate flower, but Valentine has a lot of animosity fueling him. They both have something to prove - it just depends on who's willing to go further and has the skill to take it to the end.
Moxie leaps up to give chase, aiming a running discus lariat before Valentine can recover, but he’s watching with bated breath–Valentine leans into the low ropes to dodge, then slides behind Golightly and catches her in a half-nelson! Moxie gives a panicked ack! She clings to the ropes so Valentine can’t pull her somewhere to land the Empty Chalice! Referee Jill Kincaid counts Valentine down. He’s forced to abandon the hold. Strutting to center stage, he scoffs derisively and gestures at Golightly.
Roy Valentine: Is that it? I was expecting… hm… more.
Valentine holds his arms wide. Moxie stares in disbelief.
Roy Valentine:Come. Try again. See if you can amuse me.
Moxie Golightly:You’re kiddin’, right? Buster, the last thing you need’s me knocking more screws loose.
Roy Valentine:Afraid this case is too much for you to crack, gumshoe?
Moxie shrugs, throwing her hands up in mock surrender. She waltzes up to Valentine. Still skeptical, Golightly’s in no hurry to take her opponent’s challenge; she tests Valentine, pressing a hand to his chest and rocking him back, scratching her chin, searching his eyes. Bored, Valentine rolls his eyes. Moxie’s satisfied. She grabs her shoulder, pumps her right arm, reels back–and clocks Valentine’s chest with a haymaker! He staggers! But then Valentine’s back up, planting his foot and retaliating with a savage chop! Golightly sways back and returns with another fist! Back and forth they strike! The crowd swells with each traded blow!
Del Ramos: THAT’S IT! HACK EACH OTHER TO PIECES!
After the third exchange, it’s clear Valentine’s bitten off more than he can chew. Moxie’s smile grows every time she returns fire, each new jab that much faster than Valentine, and she begins to gain ground! Valentine’s next chop misses as he’s forced back to the ropes! Fists a blur, Moxie plays her opponent like a Chicago Typewriter–and knocks his bell off with a final uppercut! Valentine sways and topples! Moxie rolls him over and pins!
Artemis Direction: Oh, dear this might not go quite as Golightly planned…
But Kincaid doesn’t give her a count. Instead, the ref’s gesturing to the ropes–Valentine’s foot is on the apron! Moxie protests, but Kincaid won’t budge! In a huff, Golightly grabs Valentine by the neck and shoulder to drag him somewhere she can pin, when Valentine pulls her down and bites her ear! Kincaid is screaming threats of disqualification over Moxie’s exclamations of pain. Golightly’s fist cracks against Valentine’s ribs; he releases her and stumbles up as she nurses her wound.
Hiro and Artemis both cringe, Del snorting with a smirk.
Hiro Suzuki: What is up with Valentine and all the biting lately?!
Del Ramos: I don’t know, but I’m here for anything that introduces more blood into the fight!
Valentine won’t let Golightly gain any distance. He rushes her, only to meet an elbow in his gut that gives Moxie some breathing room–or so she thinks. Moxie rushes the far ropes, turns–and trips before she can take another step! Valentine has followed in Moxie’s footsteps and lain flat on his stomach behind her as she rebounds, playing human door sill! Golightly lands flat on her face! Before Moxie can rush away, Valentine grabs a fistful of her bodysuit and peppers her ribs with fists and elbows! The wind goes out of Golightly! He finishes up with a kneeling double sledge across Moxie’s spine that makes her jerk and the crowd wince!
Valentine stands, pulling Moxie up by the hair, and hoists her vertical! The Red Crown comes moments later! Valentine pins!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Kevin Kim: Your winner by pinfall, ROY VALENTINE!
Roy is met with a chorus of jeers from the audience, the regal botanical baron soaking it in as his arm is raised in victory.
Artemis Direction: Valentine getting back on the horse in truly brutal fashion.
Del Ramos: Golightly might have heart, but it’s gonna take a lot more than that to succeed in the Colosseum.
Artemis Direction: True enough, darling. Though I suppose we’re going to see just what Valentine’s efforts have wrought in a fascinating little match coming up next - David O’Toole and Mia Rayne!
Hiro Suzuki: Back during the Jingle Bell Bash, these two were in the rumble together to determine a contender for the Underworld title. During that fight, we witnessed a little collaboration between the two, notably when Mia helped O’Toole with Mara Lang.
Del Ramos: Yeah, well that was then and this is now. O’Toole came up short in his match against the Rat at the Bash, and now Rayne has a guaranteed shot at the Underworld Title whenever her twisted little heart desires.
Kevin Kim: Hailing from Parts Unknown, she is the Forsaken Psychotic, MIA RAYNE!!
“Unbreakable” by New Years Day rings out over the Ascended Army as Mia Rayne skips out onto the stage. She swings the briefcase that has her guaranteed shot at the Underworld Title anytime, around her as she smiles and winks at the crowd. She skips down to the ring and gives the briefcase to the timekeeper before rolling into the ring and awaiting her opponent.
Kevin Kim: And her opponent!
The dramatic sting of “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” kicks in, the lights around the big screen pulse green and gold in time with the beat. The screen shows an overhead view of an industrial district, hanging in mid-air for a moment before diving down to the alleys below to show gritty images of hands being taped up, quick footwork of fighters wearing work boots instead of ring boots, and blood spattering against brick walls.
Kevin Kim: From Astoria, Oregon, weighing in at 190 pounds, the Sidewinder, DAVID O’TOOLE!
Artemis Direction: Now that O’Toole is free to be his own man, I’m curious to see what kind of differences we’ll see in his performance. He’s no longer constrained by any contract stipulations from Valentine, but he gets to show us anything and everything he learned while under his tutelage.
Hiro Suzuki: Will it be enough to overcome Rayne? If O’Toole can get the best of her, it might have people thinking twice about who should be carrying that suitcase.
At first there’s no movement at the entrance ramp—but lights find the section of seats to one side of the stage, and from the top of those steps descends Davie O’Toole himself. As he reaches the ringside mats, he surveys the crowd with some appreciation, nodding his head then knocking the air twice in time with the music. He pulls off his hoodie, slides under the ropes, and as he comes to the center he extends a fist to Mia. The Forsaken Psychotic bows quickly before bumping her fist against his.
Artemis Direction: Look at the sportsmanship between our two competitors!
Del Ramos: Heh. Just a spoonful of sugar to help the violence go down.
DING DING!
The two circle each other, testing the range of the other, and inching closer to one another. Inches apart and Mia smiles at Davie, pointing her chin out and begging for O’Toole to take the first swing. Davie doesn’t hesitate and swings, hitting Mia right on the chin! Mia spins around with the blow and fires off a spinning backfist, smacking O’Toole on the side of the head! The Sidewinder fires back with an uppercut that sends Mia back into the corner! O’Toole gets a running start and looks for a clothesline in the corner, but Mia explodes out of the corner first and connects with a clothesline of her own!
Artemis Direction: Rayne is reckless but rewarded!
Del Ramos: Taking that swing from O’Toole and parlaying it into her own offensive? Just goes to show we’ve got an Underworld Champ in the making here.
The two lay in a heap for a moment before springing to their feet. Mia fires off a headbutt that connects with the bridge of Davie’s nose! He falters, but with a smirk he surges back with a headbutt of his own that forces Mia back a few steps. She giggles and gets a running start before connecting with another headbutt, this one to Davie’s chest! The Sidewinder falls backwards and Mia wastes no time going for the pin!
Hiro Suzuki: Rayne looking to end things decisively!
ON… No!
Davie kicks out with authority and rolls backwards to a crouching position, before launching himself at Mia, catching her with a clothesline! He quickly rolls Mia up for the pin!
Artemis Direction: And O’Toole showing off that quick thinking and adaptability!
ONE!
TW… NO!
Mia digs deep and kicks out with only moments to spare. Davie quickly gets to his feet and delivers a kick to the gut of Mia Rayne! Mia wheezes as she doubles over, only to be met with a running knee lift from Davie!
Del Ramos: THAT’S IT, O’TOOLE! DON’T SHOW ANY MERCY!
Mia goes down on her back and O’Toole swoops in for the cover– but Mia surprises the Sidewinder with a roll-up of her own!
Hiro Suzuki: Say, what’s a cinnamon roll’s favorite martial art?
Del Ramos: My hand to Satan, I will rip out your vocal cords and replace them with a fistful of kazoos rubber banded together. At least then you’ll get some laughs.
Hiro Suzuki: Tae kwon dough!
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Davie once again kicks out and gets to his feet, only for Mia to spin and lay him back down with a cyclone clothesline! Mia shrugs her shoulders and bends down, picking Davie’s head up and delivers headbutt after headbutt right to Davie’s head! The crowd chants along as Mia only laughs…
Del Ramos: THAT’S THE FUCKING TICKET, RAYNE! MAKE HIM FORGET WHAT COLORS ARE!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
FOUR!
FIVE!
Mia finally stops and giggles as she wavers slightly, leaving O’Toole completely dazed. After a moment she squeals and locks him in an anaconda vise, completing The Forsaken Journey! With nowhere to go, Davie is forced to tap out!
DING DING DING!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, your winner by submission - MIA RAYNE!
Mia’s hand is raised in triumph, and while she basks in the spotlight for a moment, she does take the time to help David up, the pair shaking hands as the crowd cheers them on.
Artemis Direction: Mia Rayne is victorious over David O’Toole, showing us all exactly why she deserves that shot at the Underworld title!
Hiro Suzuki: Will she be able to succeed where Zephyr Quinn came up short? Will Lab Rat King even be our champ at that point?
Del rumbles thoughtfully.
Del Ramos: Hard to say. On the one hand, we’ve seen him come back from some pretty gnarly injuries. On the other, he’s taking longer and longer to bounce back lately. Whatever that weirdo Rose did to him might have made him stronger, but it left him in pretty crappy health and it’s starting to show in the ring. It seems like it’s his lungs that are getting to him. We saw it in his fight with Leon, Roy Valentine noticed and capitalized on it later. While he won his fight against Frater Perdurabo at Conquest, Lab Rat King wasn’t able to leave the ring under his own power and had to be taken out of the building in an ambulance. We might have seen the last of his in-ring action, and not only does that infuriate me personally, it’s bad news for one half of our next fight.
Artemis Direction: That’s right. Silvio Leon is LRK’s best friend on the roster, and they’re tag partners as Hellbent. Not only that, but Silvio is the godfather of Luna, LRK and Grace King’s daughter. He and Kane King’s family are undeniably close, and judging by the reaction he had to Perdurabo putting King out of commission was… intense.
Del Ramos: Heh! Fuck yeah it was. We finally got to see the champ baring his teeth. I think Perdurabo might just bring out the monster in that boy without even laying a hand on him.
Hiro Suzuki: Looks like we’re about to find out!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army the following match is set for one fall with a thirty minute time limit! Introducing first!
Escobar’s season has returned.
The violin intro to ”Hate Me Now” by Nas ft. Puff Daddy pumps through the stadium.
“It’s been a long time, been a long time comin’
It’s life or death for me now
But you know, there’s no turning back now
This is what makes me, this is what I am
Feel me
Let’s go”
It’s life or death for me now
But you know, there’s no turning back now
This is what makes me, this is what I am
Feel me
Let’s go”
The chorus kicks in and a spotlight appears from behind the entrance, creating the large, looming silhouette of the man in front of it. The lights come up and he raises his arms in the air.
Kevin Kim: On his way to the ring from Grand Junction, Colorado, weighing in at 369 pounds… he is ‘The Eliminator’–SKUP9!
SKUP9 makes his way to the ring, mounting the second turnbuckle in one corner and raising his fists to the sky.
Artemis Direction: This is a chance for SKUP to turn things around. He’s had some challenging matches recently, but a win here could help remind everyone why he’s been one of the most dominant members of the roster.
Kevin Kim: And his opponent!
The lights in the Colosseum go out, the big screen displaying a black and white image of a Ouija board lit by candles and surrounded by scattered tarot cards and raw crystals. A planchette's point moves of its own volition across the name, ‘Silvio Leon’ written in the classic Ouija font as the opening solo of ”Superstition,” by Kyle Primus goes careening around the arena. The entrance is bathed in blacklight, a figure moving through it to stand at the top of the ramp, lifting their hands in front of their face to create the shape of a planchette.
Kevin Kim: Now entering the ring from Seattle, Washington, weighing in at 195 pounds; he is your Ascended Wrestling World Champion, your ‘Mystifying Oracle’, SILVIO LEON!
At the top of the ramp, Silvio throws down his hands, a pair of white pyros going off on either side of him as the house lights come back up. As he makes his way down the ramp, something is different in his stride and there are noticeable hollows under his eyes. He doesn’t interact with the audience as much as he typically does, focused instead on the man in the ring, World Title strapped around his waist. He hands the belt off to the official, mounting one of the turnbuckles and spreading his arms, back arching as he lets the crowd’s reaction wash over him. Hopping back down to the mat, he turns and looks at SKUP9, rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck back and forth. The pair come to the center of the ring, neither offering a hand to shake, both held steady in the other’s electric gaze.
DING DING!
Nobody has time to breathe between the last ring of the bell and Silvio’s right elbow snapping upward to catch SKUP9 under the jaw. The Eliminator’s head jerks backward and Silvio follows the motion, snapping around to get the big man in the gut with a spinning heel kick! SKUP9 grunts, but manages to catch Silvio’s leg, yanking him in close and sending him flying with a Big Swing! The champ hits the canvas, but rolls with the impact, skidding to land on the outside in a crouch. SKUP stalks toward the edge of the ring only for Silvio to spring upward, climbing onto the top rope to launch himself at SKUP9 with a springboard crossbody! Thinking quickly, The Elminator catches the Oracle by the throat and slams him against the canvas with authority! SKUP goes for the pin!
ONE!
TW–
Kick out from Leon!
The crowd is on its feet as the fighters get back to theirs!
Del Ramos: Leon coming out firing right out the gate!
Hiro Suzuki: SKUP took a few hits, but he was ready. This isn’t the first time these two have met up in the ring and it looks like SKUP remembers Leon’s tactics!
Silvio doesn’t let up, on the offensive again as soon as he has his feet underneath him, going for a short-arm lariat that SKUP manages to side step! Grabbing a hold of Silvio, SKUP swiftly takes the champ off his feet, hitting him with his signature Expulsion! Leon cries out in pain, his writhing cut short as SKUP goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR–
Kick out from Leon!
Hiro Suzuki: Leon will not quit!
Del Ramos: Maybe, but he’s gotta be more careful. He gets too reckless, SKUP’s gonna put an end to this.
Silvio is grimacing, panting as he starts crawling to his feet. The Eliminator grabs him before he can get completely upright, dragging him over to the nearest turnbuckle to start setting up for a Riddance! Finally regaining control, Silvio thrashes in SKUP’s grip, swinging around to plant the giant's head into the mat with a Starry Wisdom! Leon goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
Kick out from SKUP9!
Hiro Suzuki: Leon saving himself from annihilation there! If he’s not careful he’s going to be like the ant that found out what the elephant’s favorite sport was!
Artemis Direction: What’s that, dear?
Hiro Suzuki: Squash!
As soon as they’re on their feet, Silvio lets out a battle cry, coming at SKUP with a super kick that the Eliminator catches! The Oracle swiftly turns it into an enzuigiri, SKUP9 staggered but still standing! Rather than get to his feet, however, Silvio slams his heel with all his strength into SKUP’s knee! The big man takes a knee, grunting in pain as Silvio get to his feet and delivers a swift knee strike to SKUP’s face! The Eliminator is rocked backward, but instead of letting him hit the canvas, Silvio grabs the back of his head, bringing him back for another knee to the face, and then another! The Oracle’s teeth are set, his dark eyes hard and bright. He isn’t concerned with show boating or having a good time - he just wants to throttle this man.
Del lets out a delighted laugh, Artemis and Hiro watching with discomfort.
Del Ramos: CAVE HIS FUCKING FACE IN, KID!
Jill Kincaid takes a step forward, but Silvio has already released SKUP9, letting the bigger man fall to the mat! Climbing the nearest turnbuckle, he executes his Color Out of Space finisher and goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, your winner, The Oracle, SILVIO LEON!
Silvio sticks around long enough for Jill to raise his arm in victory, head tilted back as if exulting momentarily in the reaction from the crowd, then draws back and heads back up the entrance ramp without a backward glance, title slung over one shoulder.
Hiro Suzuki: The champ showing us a more aggressive style tonight…
Del Ramos: It’s the best!
Artemis Direction: I’m not sure I like this other side of Silvio Frater Perdurabo seems to be bringing out.
Hiro Suzuki: Hold on, everyone, I’m getting some news about some kind of interaction in the back. Let’s go to our backstage area!
Mara Lang watches as Kyle Beckett readies himself for his upcoming match.
Mara Lang: Mr. Beckett - congratulations on your title win. You have certainly earned your status. I know what Sebastian Hawke is capable of enduring. That you triumphed speaks volumes. I’m impressed.
Kyle Beckett: Struth Mara. This your way of hitting on me? Cause I'm seeing a bloody lot of you lately.
Mara shrugs.
Mara Lang: I’m always interested to see how the results of my work perform in the field. You can learn a lot from a controlled environment, but nothing quite speaks to generalization like seeing independent operation in a live environment. Victory is satisfying, but failure is instructive.
She smiles.
Mara Lang: You’ve shown more of an edge lately. It’s rewarded you. Don’t lose it over anything that might distract you from your goals.
Kyle Beckett: Wait. Fair dinkum? Your work?
But he was too late. Mara had already moved on her way.
Confused Kyle narrowed his gaze and tightened his grip on the Emerald City Championship, staring at the now vacant doorway.
Did she know something he didn’t?
What distractions?
Kyle Beckett: Aces.
Del Ramos: Looks like Mara’s still getting her hooks into the kid there.
Artemis frowns, shaking her head.
Artemis Direction: Kyle’s managed to become a champion on his own. He doesn’t need Lang’s help, and I hope his further success helps him see that.
Hiro Suzuki: Maybe, but tonight he’s facing off against Viola Williams. The two have had a pretty heated back and forth over the past few shows starting when Viola was scheduled as Beckett’s tag team partner.
Del Ramos: According to Beckett, Williams totally ditched him, but Williams claims she had a family emergency to take care of across the country. Fruckster, one of the team members Beckett was fighting, hit him with some kind of powder to the eyes, blinding him and sidelining him for a show.
Hiro Suzuki: As I recall, Beckett took his revenge in pretty savage fashion…
Artemis Direction: Indeed he did! Fruckster was feeling a bit high and mighty after a near win over Beckett and Williams, but Kyle put an end to any delusions of grandeur Fruckster might have had, taking his vengeance on the poor fashion disaster.
Del Ramos: Lately Lang and Valentine have been planting seeds of doubt in Beckett’s mind about Williams’ loyalties.
Artemis Direction: It’s made it impossible for Kyle and Viola to move on, and now they’re here to settle things for good.
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, tonight’s main event is set for one fall!
A heavy beat reverberates through the arena.
Kevin Kim: Introducing first—from Baltimore, Maryland, weighing in at 160 pounds, Viola Williams, LEGACY!
Viola Williams enters with a bright, self-assured smile. She starts making her steady way down the ramp, nodding her head to the beat and letting the crowd’s reactions pump her up, pausing only once to give a small salute as she passes a camera on her way.
She picks up the pace, jogging, then running until she gets to the ring, rolling under the ropes and springing to her feet. She follows the stomp-stomp-clap beat that starts up in the chorus, breaking into a grin as the crowd joins in, then spins to soak in the entire arena’s energy, arms thrown wide.
Kevin Kim: And her opponent!
“Stick to Your Guns” hits and Kyle stands at the top of the entrance ramp, bent slightly forward and arms drawn in, one steadying the belt on his shoulder. He drops the hood of his jacket and throws his arms out wide, letting out an excited roar to the crowd. He looks around to take in the arena before striding down the ramp.
Kevin Kim: From Brisbane, Australia, weighing in at 91 kg, he is your Emerald City Champion—the Culture Clash, KYLE BECKETT!
Kyle hands off his Emerald City belt to an official, then ascends the ring apron, looking out to the arena again. He climbs the turnbuckle to the top of the nearest post, and his “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!” is answered with a resounding “Oi oi oi!” from the Ascended Army.
Viola watches him stoically from her corner, and as he dismounts the post Beckett eyes her as well with an equal steeliness. Slowly they both approach the center of the ring, neither offering a hand but neither lunging at each other’s throats.
DING DING!
The pair slowly circle one another, and while they’re not immediately at it with knives out and teeth bared, there's definite wariness between them. Although hardly friendly, Williams lacks the venom she was radiating in her promo. And then, by some secret cue only the two fighters can seem to hear, they fall in toward one another and lock up, exchanging holds! Each wrestler seems equally matched, the pair twisting and pushing against one another as if fighting over who is going to lead a dance; in a way perhaps they are. Although the general air begins in a sportsman-like manner, before long it’s clear some of that patience and begrudging respect between them has begun to fray. With a snarl, Viola sends Kyle into the ropes with an Irish whip, the champ taken by surprise at the abrupt shift, before Williams sends him slamming onto the mat with an Samoan drop! She tries to capitalize with a pin only to be denied as Kyle comes surging up to his feet, nailing Williams with a European Uppercut that sends her staggering back into the ropes behind her! As she comes stumbling awkwardly back, he catches hold of her and slams her onto the mat with a swinging neckbreaker! Godric Smith slides in as Kyle goes for a pin!
ONE!
TW–
Kick out from Williams!
Del Ramos: Heh! Looks like we’re gonna see how far that sportsman-like behavior goes. These two got bad blood and they’re not getting away from it.
Hiro Suzuki: Hey, speaking of, why did the vampire fail at his Art classes?
Del Ramos: Why, my dark lords, must you test me with this most brutal of all burdens? My soul is not wicked enough, my claws and teeth not sharp enough, to cope with this, your cruelest affliction.
Hiro Suzuki: He could only draw blood!
Del Ramos: Yeah? Hold out your arm and we can give him more of his favorite subject.
Kyle’s not put out by Viola’s quick break–he’s instantly up and readying his opponent for a suplex. But Viola’s fist in his gut stops him in his tracks! She straightens and goes for a Juggernaut Punch, but Kyle sees the discus lariat coming and ducks just in the knick of time! He hits an uppercut that stalls Viola, cutting her momentum, into a leaping calf kick across the eyes! She reels and Kyle rushes the ropes. On the return he’s suddenly airborne and plants a hand across the back of Viola’s head–pulling it down into his rising knee! Viola checks the Reality Check into a back body drop! Kyle’s elevated over her in a fluid arc, landing hard on his spine, as Williams drops to pin!
Artemis Direction: Kyle trying to hit Viola with a move taught to him by her good friend, David O’Toole. She had that scouted a mile away!
ONE!
TWO–
Beckett kicks out and slides away!
Del Ramos: Beckett’s smart to stay slippery here. He’s in trouble if Viola keeps him grounded.
Viola snorts in derision as both fighters find their footing. There’s a hot fury in Kyle’s eyes as he darts back, looking to catch his opponent off-balance again, but Viola powers through a quick elbow and hammer throws Kyle into the turnbuckle. A follow-up running lariat barely skims Beckett’s neck as he ducks under, flips Viola around, and hits her center-mass with a missile dropkick! Leaping up, Kyle glares at Viola while he apathetically dusts off his shoulder!
Artemis Direction: Tit for tat, darlings, I love it!
Then Kyle is surging back with a lightning-fast uppercut! Williams grabs Beckett’s arm midair and twists him into the turnbuckle, landing a savage european uppercut of her own. The follow-up blows peppering down on Beckett are too much for him to match. Once Kyle’s sunk into the bottom turnbuckle, Viola drags him up, locks one arm around his head and lands a bulldog center-ring! Kyle’s instinctive roll away doesn’t stop Viola from locking in a bulldog choke right after! The Culture Clash claws for air!
Hiro Suzuki: This could be it! We may see a win via submission!
Even as his face turns purple with strain, Kyle manages to give the barest shake of his head when Godric Smith asks if he’s had enough. His hand trembles inches off the ground. The panic in his eyes gives way to the realization of his position in the ring: his gut reaction to the bulldog has put him mere inches from the edge of the ring! Kyle’s foot searches frantically for the bottom rope! Suddenly, Williams dips to reapply the pressure–and Beckett looks ready to tap out or fall under–
–until his toes hook the edge! Smith signals and, with a grunt of frustration, Viola releases Kyle! Immediately Beckett rolls under the bottom rope and off the apron, his exhausted body hitting the ringside floor with a sweat-stained thud.
Hiro Suzuki: Smart move from Beckett putting some distance between himself and Williams to recover.
Only with the help of the steel barricade does Kyle haul himself upright. Leaning across the top rope, heaving with exertion, Williams raises an eyebrow as she stares down at her opponent. There’s a moment of steely silence–interrupted when the ref calls for Kyle to crawl back in the ring. Beckett, catching his breath, shakes his head. Even Viola seems exasperated when Smith starts to count Beckett out; when she steps back and offers Kyle some space to return, he flips her the bird and jabs a finger ringside, gesturing for her to follow him out. Legacy seems ready to rip her own hair out by Smith’s five count and turns her back on her opponent. Kyle bellows with defiant laughter–that’s silenced when a hooded figure in the crowd cracks his head against the barricade!
Artemis Direction: What on Earth?!
The steel ringing in the air and chorus of booing turns Williams’s attention back to Kyle! Inhumanly fast, she’s over the top rope and vaults from the apron directly into the crowd! The scuttling figure vanishes as quickly as they appeared, melting into a sea of hoods and jackets, leaving an incensed Viola tearing through the stands and a bloody Beckett at the foot of the ring! Smith screams for them to both get back in the ring before restarting his count!
Hiro Suzuki: Looks like we got some unwanted audience participation. Everybody’s a heckler!
By the time Viola realizes the mystery assailant is lost, Kyle has miraculously stumbled up. The two share a solemn, silent glance. Then, before Smith finishes his count, Williams is back over the barricade and in the ring, hugging her corner of the mat. Kyle pauses. It seems like he’s frozen in his head, trying to make sense of what’s just happened, calculating a host of new variables in this equation. Only when Viola calls his name does his reverie break. She waves him back into the ring–and, after a tense moment, he nods, wipes the blood from his eyes, and crawls back in on shaky legs.
Artemis Direction: Looks like we’re going to get to see a conclusion to this fight, darlings!
Del Ramos: NO MORE DISTRACTIONS! LET THE BLOOD FLOW!
Finally one-on-one again, Kyle and Viola spend a hesitant moment circling, shaking off their emotions. Shaking off the weight of their misgivings. All that matters now is the ring–and the belt hanging between them. They lock up, still fighting with fervor, but without the intense fury of their first collision, like they’re trying to restart the match on a different foot. Viola’s overwhelming strength gives her the edge as she backs Kyle up, but then he’s behind her, threatening a suplex! Williams powers out and swings for the Juggernaut Punch again, narrowly missing her opponent. Beckett dashes under her arm and rebounds off the ropes, looking for the crossbody! But Williams has it scouted and catches him midair! She swings Beckett down for Superman’s Flight! But the exhaustion’s taken its toll, and Viola’s slow on the readjustment! Kyle swings himself up to fall behind Viola’s shoulder! He hoists her–and hits the Turn of the Century! The Culture Clash pins!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, your winner and Ascended Wrestling Emerald City Champion, Culture Clash, KYLE BECKETT!
The crowd soars for Kyle as he collapses to the mat. Godric Smith holds out the Emerald City Championship before him, and with bone-deep fatigue sparkling in his eyes, Kyle manages to clamber to his feet to accept it. Suddenly, Viola is at his side–but there’s not an ounce of malice in her. Instead, she offers a raised fist to the champ with a smirk. It takes a moment for Kyle to register the gesture–but when he finally does, he bumps it lightly, and Viola leaves to let the Culture Clash bask in the adoring crowd.
Artemis Direction: A thrilling close to another phenomenal episode of Collision! A debut from an exciting new talent in Nicholas Tollman, an impressive victory from BoarKnight, and an equally troubling turn from Roy Valentine. Moxie Golightly showed us she has the heart of a lion, and Mia Rayne looks ready to take on the Lab Rat King after her victory over David O’Toole! But will he be in any shape to take on a challenger, or is our Underworld Champion going to be forced to hang it up?
Del Ramos: I dunno, but his tag partner certainly showed us why it’s a bad idea to get between him and what he wants and he used SKUP9 to do it. Silvio Leon is chomping at the bit for a fight with Perdurabo, and I can’t wait to see it when it happens.
Hiro Suzuki: It looks like Williams and Beckett have settled their differences in this past fight, but who was that masked assailant and why do they have it out for Kyle Beckett?
Artemis Direction: I don’t know, darling, but I’m sure we’ll be getting more clues to solving this mystery on our next Collision! Until then, Ascended Army!
In the backstage area, Mara Lang, dressed in grey slacks and a deep green, satiny blouse is just stepping away from a group gathered around a monitor watching the closing moments of the show. She’s been watching each contestant with an intense interest, her verdant eyes glimmering as she considers the implications of the fight. Viola Williams enters just a moment later, bruised and breathless but still riding high from a great match. Without turning her head, Mara’s eyes slide after Viola, a tiny smirk teasing at her glossy crimson lips.
Mara Lang: Better luck next time.
Viola stops short, debating for a moment if she should even bother with a response. Her eyes flick to Davie as he approaches before she turns back to Mara with a shrug.
Viola Williams: Yeah, the guy’s good.
Mara Lang: As one would expect. He is a champion, after all.
Viola Williams: Despite your best efforts to fuck with him.
She takes a step into Mara’s space.
Viola Williams: Actually, how about you stay the fuck away from Kyle?
Mara Lang: I believe Mr. Beckett can make his own decisions.
O’Toole moves between them, nudging Mara back.
David O’Toole: And we’re deciding to drop business for the night, I think.
Stone-faced, he makes full use of the extra six inches he has on Lang to warn her off. They stare each other down, nose to nose, neither yielding, until finally Mara relents.
Mara Lang: Fine. Run along, little mouse. I’m sure your boyfriend could use you to kiss his hurts all better.
But Viola freezes, color draining from her face as she stares after Mara, eyes wide with horror.
Viola Williams: You…
Mara raises a brow in Viola’s direction.
David O’Toole: Ms. Vi…?
In an instant all the burning, electric rage returns to Viola’s eyes and she slams Mara into the wall, the doctor drawing in a sharp breath.
Viola Williams: What did you do to me?
Mara Lang: I know what I am going to do if you don’t unhand me right now.
For once in her life Viola does as she’s told, spinning Mara out of the wall and tossing her into a stack of chairs, sending them scattering across the hallway. Mara cries out, trying to untangle herself from the jumble of chair legs. Viola grabs the nearest one and hefts it up over her head.
David O’Toole: Ms. Vi!
Davie barely cuts through the calamity in time to grab hold of the chair to yank it from her grasp, and it clatters to the ground between them as Viola tries desperately to explain.
Viola Williams: She was there, it was her–
He looks between them, piecing the thought together as Mara gets unsteadily to her feet, glowering at Viola.
Mara Lang: Get your friend under control, Mr. O’Toole.
David O’Toole: Please, Ms. Vi, not now–
He comes closer, hand out to grasp her shoulder—but Viola doesn’t seem to hear either of them as she launches herself forward with a cry of fury.
O’Toole reaches out more forcefully to pull Viola back, but she wrenches herself away. He throws out an arm to stop her, and she throws an elbow square into the middle of his face, sending him reeling. It barely registers, and Viola is on Mara again, fists flying; Lang is able to dodge a few but Williams is relentless. One, two security guards rush in but they get the same treatment as Davie, taking fists and elbows and stumbling back from the brawl.
??: Vi.
The voice of the World Champ is weary, but something about it still resonates above the din; still reaches Viola.
Silvio Leon: …Vi, please stop.
Three more guards are on her, trying to hold her back; it’s just enough of a pause for O’Toole to dart in and shove Mara out of Viola’s reach, the doctor grunting indignantly and shooting him an icy glare, though Davie looks just as displeased.
Viola Williams: What did you do?
The cry follows Mara down the hall as Viola claws at the arms holding her back. O’Toole hisses "Now we're square, you fuckin’ snake" in Lang’s ear before he spits at her feet and gives her one more shove on her way. The doctor straightens her blouse, shaking her head as she walks away, the click of her heels echoing after her.
Credits
Nicholas Tollman vs. Brick Hardcheese - Bill
Roy Valentine vs. Moxie Golightly - Aedan
‘Sidewinder’ David O’Toole vs. Mia Rayne - Mia
Backstage Mara and Kyle - Kyle and Ampersand
‘Culture Clash’ Kyle Beckett vs. ‘Legacy’ Viola Williams - g, Ampersand, Aedan
Backstage Mara, Viola, Davie, and Sil - g, Legacy, Ampersand
Everything else - Ampersand