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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:04:52 GMT -5
In all the chaos, almost everyone has forgotten that there is still technically a match going on. WCW however is not one of those people; as AK comes close, he pretends to be deeply afraid and holds up his hands before suddenly swinging a punch at his opponent’s head. AK takes a step back as the blow connects, and WCW smirks a little; his face though takes on a look of genuine concern however as AK turns back to look at him, her eyes lit up with pure righteous anger for her own suffering and that of her friends, with a “now that was REALLY stupid” look on her face. WCW tries to back off for real this time, but he is nowhere near quick enough; AK lands a swift pair of punches to WCW’s head before whipping him against the ropes. WCW has enough ring – sense to try for a clothesline, but AK is in no mood to mess around; she easily avoids this and as WCW comes back the other way she nails him with her favoured Twist of Fate. WCW smacks into the mat, and AK stands over him as he lies there stunned by the impact. WCW looks up at her, and the scene is a reversal of that witnessed on that fateful Thunder; AK looks to Ginger and CJayC, and they glance at one another before unanimously giving the same thumbs – down signal that WCW himself used to seal DJ Blaze’s fate. WCW discovers that you truly do “get what you give” as AK pulls him back up; with a salute to the ecstatic crowd she hits a perfect pedigree and WCW is barely awake. AK isn’t finished; she goes up to the corner post and cameras create a mini – lightning effect as she leaps out into her Ground Zero (450 splash) finisher. The referee makes the 1-2-3 count accompanied by the entire stadium, and AK slips out of the ring to join her friends as the bell finally rings for the end of the final match.
Philip: Here are your winners……..Commissioner Gingerdude’s Team!
The stadium almost lifts off its foundations as the fans lose it totally; at ringside, Ginger’s team gather to congratulate their victorious leader, and they all look in wonder at AK, as if they can’t quite trust their own eyes. V3, Skurai, and even RDK come down to join the throng, seemingly needing to confirm what they have just watched on the screens backstage in person. It is left to the ringside assistants to drag the chairman out of the ring; on the opposite side to Ginger’s group, Rose stands and silently watches the celebrations. Her face is difficult to read, but she keeps looking at AK as if trying to understand how the woman she left for dead can be standing now just feet from her, seemingly without a single visible mark to show for the horrific attack that Rose participated in.
The show seems to have reached a triumphant conclusion, and everyone is just beginning to think about the long wait to get out of the stadium parking lot, when suddenly from the back a figure bursts out on to the stage and rushes to the ring. Gary’s face is pale, and he gasps for breath as he cannons into the gathering at ringside.
Gary: ……..Someone………….quick……….fighting………….out back……….really bad…….
Everyone looks around, and suddenly as one they realise that 2 of their number are missing. Ginger is about to give instructions, but then without warning the Titantron flares into life once more, and everybody watches as a hastily scrambled camera crew starts to track through the corridors
The camera moves at a swift pace through the labyrinthine passages of the stadium; as it goes it reveals a scene of utter devastation. Tables, chairs, packing crates have all been overturned and broken; it is as if a Tsunami has swept through the corridors and destroyed everything in its wake. In one place, someone has been driven so hard against a partition wall that it has had bricks knocked out, making a hole to reveal the room next door; a little further on, a familiar looking chest protector hangs limply from a door that has been broken partly away from its hinges. The camera continues to track, and the more observant would realise that the fight is moving upward through the building…..and now the scene becomes even grimmer, as trails of bloody footprints begin to appear on the concrete floor……..
……until finally, the camera stops at a heavy metal door marked, “DANGER! Roof Access.
As one, the entire population of the stadium looks skyward once more, and a massive cry goes up as the crowd sets eyes on 2 figures way, way above……….
The shot switches to one of the roof cameras, and an incredible sight is revealed.
Ridley and Latino are half walking, half running along the longest metal beams; Latino holds a length of lead piping evidently ripped from a wall somewhere, while Ridley grips a long metal pole, which looks like a piece of a guard rail of some sort. The pair have both sustained major injuries all over their upper bodies and heads, and blood trickles from their wounds on to the girders as they advance toward the central structure above the ring, keeping their balance but still taking a swing at one another and clashing weapons whenever the opportunity presents itself. As the crowd watches, they notice that the previously starlit night sky is now completely without light of any kind….
The two foes reach the central square, and their battle resumes with even more fire. Latino nails Ridley in the side of the head with his weapon, but Ridley roars with fury and drives him against one of the 4 main supporting struts. They grapple, and the crowd screams as Ridley tazzplexes Latino, only just landing him on the mesh of the walkway; Latino gets back up, re-arms himself and kicks Ridley back against the strut. With his face contorted by anger, Latino smashes his metal pipe against the supporting girder, trying to hit Ridley again; Ridley dodges and Latino instead damages the hook that links that corner of the steel cage to the winch chains. The fixing breaks, and the cage drops down on that side as the chain is broken away, drawing a further shout of alarm from the fans below. Latino takes another shot but Ridley rolls to the side……right off of the walkway. Everyone screams, but Ridley does not fall; instead he is clinging to the now unstable cage. Latino throws aside his pipe and jumps down on to the metal cage frame; Ridley clambers away and the winch mechanism starts to grind ominously as it tries to support the weight of both cage and wrestlers. The sky is utterly black, and the wind whips around furiously; the crowd noise is incredible but a rumble of thunder can still be heard………………
Ridley looks quickly up at the winch, which is starting to seriously deform the chrome – star casing around it as the chains cut into the metal; he climbs around the cage until he is able to haul himself up on to the mesh bridge that crosses directly above the ring. Ridley looks down through the mesh and far below he sees Rose, looking up at him with panic on her face………<br> From behind, Latino grabs Ridley and spins him around; the mesh bridge shakes violently as Latino punches Ridley over and over again, a manic glow lighting his eyes. Ridley has lost a great deal of blood, and although he kicks Latino away he is dizzy as he tries to stand, and every one holds their breath as he sways dangerously in the wind…..but then he seems to regain his balance, and he runs forward, driving Latino to the floor so that his head and shoulders are hanging over the far edge of the square walkway. Ridley smirks, and Latino’s rage explodes once more; he batters Ridley with left and right blows, pulling himself and Ridley to a standing position, and with horror the crowd watches as Latino spins Ridley around and with a final crushing punch sends Ridley toppling backward………….
Ridley reacts fast; he grabs on to the edge of the walkway with one hand, and Latino stands above him as he hangs there. Ridley and Latino look at one another, and a bolt of lightning illuminates the scene; Latino’s bloody face has a triumphant look as he puts a foot on to Ridley’s fingers……….
Nobody moves a muscle; the tension is unlike anything ever experienced at a wrestling event before. Far, far below, a camera catches a glimpse of Rose, and her expression is a carbon copy of that which shattered Latino’s face as he watched an 18 – wheeler crushing an ambulance on a night very much like this one.
Ridley closes his eyes……
Ridley: I…….am ready.
Ridley waits for the final blow to his fingers to seal his fate, but instead he feels two hands take hold of his arm and start to pull him back up on to the walkway. Latino heaves Ridley back to safety, and sits down on the mesh; his expression is one of extreme tiredness, but something shimmers in his eyes that has not been there for a long time, and all the anger and hate has been purged away Ridley doesn’t say anything, but looks at Latino questioningly. Latino sighs, and a sad smile comes over his face.
Latino: It’s over, esse. I thought I wanted revenge………but when I stood there and finally had the choice, I realised that it wouldn’t help, that it would only make the pain inside me worse. I won’t let these demons control me any longer, because it’s not about who wins or loses…….the only way to win this game is not to play.
Latino pauses a little, as if searching for the right words.
Latino: I thought that I lost everything, but now I realise that I didn’t…….. I still have hope, holmes. As long as I hold on to that, then there’s nothing anyone can do to hurt me any more. I’m going home esse……no, actually I’m going to the bar first. If I were you, I’d do the same. Latino stands up and brushes himself down. As he turns to leave he looks at something in front of him, and puts his hand to his forehead.
Latino: Man, I must have taken one too many head shots. Now I’m seeing things……
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:05:58 GMT -5
Latino shakes his head and tries to walk through the “mirage” in front of him. Only when he bumps heads with AK does he finally catch up with the rest of the stadium……..
For a few seconds Latino just looks at AK; then he starts running his hands over her as his brain tries to untangle itself and deal with the overload of information it is receiving. He tries to speak, but AK just puts a finger to his lips; they embrace as Latino finally allows himself to believe his senses, and there is a wave of wolf whistles and cheering from the assembled throngs below.
Ridley meanwhile picks himself up, regarding the pair with a look that says “Mushy stuff…..Ugh”. Latino and AK separate, and AK glances at Ridley. The look that AK and Ridley give one another is mysterious, and it is impossible to tell what passes between them, but it lasts only a second before Latino speaks and the moment is gone.
Latino: Manacita, I don’t understand…..I saw you in the hospital not 2 days ago…..
AK: It’s not important. All that matters is that I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere.
Latino gives her a squeeze, as if to check for himself that this is indeed the case.
Latino: Well I don’t know about you two, but I’m pretty bored with this place.
Ridley: Indeed. (looking at the bridge across the ring) Divas before Superstars.
AK smiles.
AK: Lords of Hardcore before Divas.
Ridley raises an eyebrow, and shrugs. He looks as if a weight has been lifted from him as he walks forward…….
The bridge doesn’t make a single sound as it splits in the middle; the trio have almost no time to react as the mesh divides, trapdoor – like, into two parts. Everything happens in less than a second; Ridley begins to fall, but AK grasps his arm; as she also drops, Latino instinctively reaches out for her, and with the other hand desperately snatches for something, anything to hold on to. There is a huge collective scream from the stadium, and many people close their eyes……..but they open them to see Latino straining to hold on to the loose winch chain which was detached from the steel cage during his earlier battle with Ridley. Latino’s arm is almost being ripped from its socket by the weight of 2 people, and he stifles a cry of pain; the structure above them begins to creak and crack, and it is obvious that the weight is quickly bringing the structure to breaking point….
Ridley looks down, and his face seems calm, resigned to his fate. The structure groans again, and Ridley speaks clearly and without emotion.
Ridley: Alicia, let me go.
AK looks down at him; she is obviously frightened, but her expression hardens to one of resolve.
AK: No way. We’ll get out of this together.
Ridley (becoming annoyed): Don’t even start with that bullshit. This thing is going to collapse any second…..we have to reduce the weight, now.
Latino: Don’t worry, Mamacita! I can hold on here……
But it’s obvious that he can’t; Latino’s grip on the chain is weakening with every second……
Ridley (seriously pissed off): Latino, this is no time for any of your Hispanic tough guy bollocks!
Another creak, and the group drops another couple of feet….Ridley looks upward, and locks eyes with AK.
Ridley: This is my destiny…….I cannot escape it, you know that as well as I do. You have seen.
They stare at one another and the moment is frozen; AK knows she has, finally, to choose once more…….
AK: FUCK Destiny! Latino, pull that chain, as hard as you can!
Latino: What? But mamacita, what if……………<br> AK: Don’t argue, just do it! NOW!
Latino tugs the chain, as hard as he can; the winch gear whines, and then suddenly the lock on the gear gives way, and the 3 plunge downward as the chain unravels…….
There is a huge scream from the crowd and the faces of those at ringside are frozen in horror…….and then suddenly the chain jams again, bringing the fall of those clinging on to a jarring halt about 15 feet above the ring. The 3 are thrown off and fall the last of the way down, but their velocity has been massively reduced; Ridley crashes down in the centre of the ring, with Latino and AK thrown to either side. There is silence, and then a cheer rises up as the 3 begin to stir. Ridley rolls on to his back, and looks up………<br> There is a cracking sound, and no one has any time to react as the bottom point of the steel – and chrome star, wrenched and weakened, finally loses its fight with gravity and plummets to earth. The spike rips away critical electrical cables, and all the lights go out; the crowd screams once more, but they are instantly silenced at the sound of a sickening wet crunch as the spike hits someone in the ring.
Everything is silent and still, and then the now – standard backup power supply kicks in………<br> …….and people cannot tear their eyes from the appalling sight of Ridley, impaled straight through the chest. The mat begins to turn crimson beneath the lord of hardcore, and Ridley raises his head weakly, seeing himself reflected in the chrome plating along with AK and Latino’s shellshocked expressions. Ridley’s expression is blank but as he lets his head fall back an ecstatic smile spreads across his features, pain and pleasure fusing into the most intense experience possible; the arena is totally silent, so that everyone hears his last words.
Ridley (softly): Ah, sweet, sweet agony……..
Ridley continues to stare, but his eyes are sightless. AK rolls over to him and places a trembling hand on his neck; she stares at the spike which has shredded most of Ridley’s internal organs, and then her head drops down. She lies face down in the ring, hiding her tears and not even really understanding herself why she feels so much sorrow for a man who did so much to hurt her. Latino crawls over to her and gently closes Ridley’s eyelids before gathering AK to him; she sobs silently into his shoulder, and at ringside many of those present are also unable to hold back tears. Time stands still, and no one notices Kross approach the ring until he is right in front of it. Kross lowers his head, and slowly draws the crucifix symbol in the air.
Kross: In the name of the father……
Kross continues, but his words are drowned out by Rose, who is finally hit by the reality of what is happening, and her screams of absolute soul – shattering pain are her lord’s requiem………<br> Ridley, Lord of Hardcore, is dead.
Match 3: Pdogg v Bladeshadow – World Title – Skyscraper from Hell – Heatwave 2004
The trapdoor to the third tier drops open, and Blade releases Pdogg, who lies still for a moment or two to recover while Blade puts the ladder back into the correct position. As soon as he does this, Pdogg gets up and grabs Blade around the waist as he steps on to the ladder, throwing him back over his head before climbing up the ladder quickly himself. Blade isn’t slow to follow, and he is on Pdogg’s heels as the pair enter the third and final level. Pdogg heads to the ring and as Blade enters he whips him to the ropes; Blade runs forward, springs off and clashes with Pdogg on his return. The two try to knock eachother down with punches and kicks until Blade whips Pdogg to the ropes himself; Pdogg moves swiftly, and as Blade tries to deliver a Spinebuster Pdogg fights back and punches him with a set of brass knuckles which he had concealed in his tights since the very start of the match. Blade is badly stunned, and he staggers sideways and tumbles out of the ring; Pdogg joins him on the outside, scoops him up and slams him viciously into the side of the cage. Pdogg tries to get hold of Blade again, but Blade stands back up and knees Pdogg in his gut to push him away and gain a little space. With impressive speed, Blade climbs three quarters of the way up the cage, and the cameras flash again as he flips off backward and smashes an upside – down Thor’s Hammer into Pdogg’s head. Pdogg collapses to the mat, losing his brass knuckles in the process, but Blade also lands hard, and both men rise back up at about the same time. They swap more punches before Pdogg gets a break and floors Blade; Pdogg climbs up the wall to post – height, leaps to one of the corner posts and then hits a plancha suicida. Pdogg lands on Blade and tries to choke him; Blade quickly pushes Pdogg off and rolls back into the ring. Pdogg feels under the ring, but there are no chairs or other weapons on the last tier, so Pdogg looks for his brass knuckles; before his can find them, however, Blade grabs Pdogg around the neck and drags him backward into the ring.
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:06:36 GMT -5
Blade lifts up Pdogg for a DVD, but Pdogg struggles free and instead gives Blade a backbreaker. Still looking for a weapon, Pdogg’s only option is the third tier ladder; Pdogg slides this into the ring and climbs back himself, but Blade is waiting and he whips him to the ropes. Pdogg jumps over the ladder on the mat, hits the ropes, jumps the ladder a second time, and then nails Blade with a huge dropkick to the face. Blade puts his hands over his face in pain, and Pdogg hops over the ropes, jumps to the cage wall, and climbs up to the ceiling. With truly surprising agility, Pdogg crosses the ceiling, hand over hand, until he is hanging directly above Blade; as Blade stands back up to his full height, Pdogg drops the considerable way down and lands on Blade’s shoulders. Pdogg immediately goes for a hurracanrana, but Blade has a way to counter; he turns the move around, shifts 180 degrees, and hits a sitdown powerbomb on Pdogg – right on to the ladder lying on the mat. The fans, whose support has been unfaltering despite the lengthy nature of the mat, cheer for their idol, and Blade’s spirits rise; he whips Pdogg to the ropes again as he stands and uses a tornado kick. Pdogg’s head spins, but he stays calm and puts some distance between himself and Blade, moving back to one of the corners. Blade is cautious in approaching, and Pdogg gets a little time to recover before Blade restarts his attack; Blade throws a right and left hand punch, but Pdogg evades them, puts Blade in a headlock, and then attacks his midsection with a burst of kicks. Blade takes quite a few blows before he frees himself; becoming frustrated, Blade goes for the Exploder for a second time in the match. This time, though, Pdogg has a response, and in the middle of the move he gets hold of Blade’s neck and delivers a neckbreaker at the same time as receiving the effects of Blade’s move. Both men are becoming very tired, and they lay on the mat for many moments before getting up together, and staring one another down.
The match has been going on for well over 50 minutes, and still neither man can break the will of the other; they have amassed a broad collection of cuts and scrapes, but only the sweat soaking their hair and the slight deterioration of their speed bear witness to the intensity of all that has taken place in the confines of the metal tower. The participants batter one another with fists and feet, pushing each other back to the ropes until they knock one another out of the ring; Pdogg throws Blade hard into the wall of the cell, climbs the wall and attempts to execute his “In the Doghouse” move, but Blade just manages to counter it by pushing Pdogg away at the final second. Not wasting a moment, Blade gathers up Pdogg for the Lights of Orion, but now Pdogg counters by kicking off of the wall and flipping away as Blade tries to finish the move. The pair circle the ring, exchanging shots, but Blade’s mind is not fully on Pdogg; he is coming to understand that he and his foe have studied one another so carefully and for so long that they can counter each other’s favoured moves almost at will, causing a stalemate. Blade’s lack of focus is costly; Pdogg catches him with a storming right hook to the temple, and Blade falls to the mat; he bangs his head again on the canvas, and suddenly a light pings on in his head. Pdogg goes for a kick to the temple as Blade gets up, which he easily blocks; Blade is grinning, and Pdogg looks puzzled.
Blade: That’s not a kick, mate. THIS is a kick!
With a surge of energy, Blade smashes Pdogg with a hook kick to the skull; Pdogg is dazed, giving Blade just enough time to back up, run in and administer a Rock Bottom. The impact is so massive that the whole tier shakes, and the crowd is off its head with excitement as Blade stands back up and glares at Pdogg.
Blade: That was one for all the Machomaniacs here tonight!
Another huge cheer arises from the fans, and Blade feels renewed; he picks up Pdogg, listens for a moment to the crowd, and then hits Pdogg again, this time with V3’s IGS. The crowd recognize it and chant “V – 3” for a moment or two; Blade is warming to his new tactics and he springs up to the top of the nearest post, grins again, and then shakes his shoulders in a passable Latino impression before leaping up for the Houston Hangover. The crowd is almost delirious, and Blade walks around; he is sure the klaxon cannot be more than a minute or so away, and he bends over and picks up the ladder to get it ready. To everyone’s amazement, though, Pdogg is not conquered; with fury in his eyes he rushes forward and spears Blade, driving them both out of the ring and on to the steel floor. Pdogg hauls himself up, collects Blade and goes for the Bad Blood; Blade though uses his knowledge and slides out before locking in a sleeper hold, trying to finish Pdogg off. Pdogg fights but cannot escape; he feels his eyes closing, and in his mind he sees the title slipping through his fingers……….fired by this, Podgg’s eyes snap open, and he elbows Blade in the gut, over and over, bellowing with determination until Blade finally has to let go. With incredible speed, Pdogg hits a reverse leg sweep and sends Blade face – first into the floor; with Blade now dazed, Pdogg grabs his chance and at last nails the Bad Blood unopposed. The crowd cries out with dismay, and Pdogg smiles with satisfaction; his grim widens immeasurably as the last klaxon goes off……….
*KLAXON SOUNDS*
The crowd is livid as they see Blade lying on the steel of the cell floor, and their anger only increases as the door to the roof drops open. Blade is out cold, and Pdogg has plenty of time to set up the ladder in the ring and climb up to the very top. He jumps out on to the roof, and Raye looks down in terror as Pdogg leers up at her; from the height she can only just see Blade lying in the third cell, and her heart races in fear for what may have happened to him rather than concern for her own safety. Pdogg turns and looks around him, but he isn’t looking at the crowd; he seems to be searching for something on the roof, and after a few seconds he finds it: an ominous jet – black bag carefully concealed next to the flagpole. Pdogg has only to climb the pole and grab the belt, and Blade is still out of it on the floor below; Pdogg smirks and carefully opens the bag, and the noise in the arena surges again as he pulls out the sledgehammer which he forced Blade to use on an earlier show. As Pdogg gets out the hammer, Blade starts to stir, and then rolls back to his feet; he begins to climb the ladder, and Raye’s hopes rise, only to falter as she sees Pdogg approaching the opening with the sledgehammer poised. Blade comes close to the top, and he jumps off of the ladder to grab the lip of the opening, dangling from it; seeing the perfect chance, Pdogg swings the sledgehammer with no qualms whatsoever, in a huge arc. There is an almighty sound as the hammer hits, and Pdogg whoops and raises the sledgehammer in the air as the crowd goes bananas; what Pdogg does not realize, however, is that Blade has managed to swing his legs up and cling to the roof of the cell to avoid the blow; the sound has been generated by the handle of the hammer striking the lip of the cell. Pdogg gloats a little longer, failing to read the crowd’s reaction, and he walks back over to the hole and peers over, expecting to see Blade’s crushed body sprawled out at the bottom of the ladder……
……And that’s when Blade strikes; with amazing agility he flips up though the opening, into a headstand, and catches Pdogg in a hurracanrana stance. Before Pdogg can react at all, Blade executes the move; Pdogg is slammed against the ladder before he, the sledgehammer and it plunge downward. Pdogg hits the metal floor, and this proves to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back; after all the other blows he has endured Pdogg is finally overcome, and he lies still on the cell floor, out cold.
Blade flips back up to the top of the cage and pauses for just a second to let the blood return to his brain and clear his head. Then, wasting no further time, he takes off his headband and wraps it securely around his hands to enhance his grip. The crowd is going ballistic as Blade starts to climb up the brass pole, foot by foot; the pole is smooth and a few times he slips back a little way, but nothing is going to stop him now and he presses on. The fans are cheering their hearts out as Blade covers the final few feet and brings himself eye to eye with his love for the first time in a month; Raye smiles, and Blade holds the pole with one hand while removing the gag so she can finally talk.
Raye: Oh Shade, I knew you could do it……..
Blade smiles, and very gently puts a finger to her lips. Raye understands, and lets Blade concentrate as he unties her from the pole. Free at last, Raye jumps forward and clings on to Blade, embracing him both in love and in fear of the dizzy height. Blade slides down the pole like a fireman until the pair are about 10 feet from the floor, and then he drops down to land on the roof with a clang. Raye and Blade walk over to the opening and look down; Pdogg is still lying on the metal floor next to the wall. They turn away, and look at one another again; Blade’s face lights up with real happiness for the first time since the whole affair began, and Raye’s expression mirrors his own. Then they embrace and passionately kiss, and there is a wave of “aaaaaaahhhhh”s and wolf whistling; a few of the more sensitive souls shed a silent tear at the emotional scene. After several long moments the two separate, and with a joyful smile Raye takes the belt from around her own waist and puts it back on Blade, restoring it to its rightful owner. There is a huge cheer from the crowd, and the bell is rung at last to signal Blade’s victory.
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:07:20 GMT -5
Philip: Here is your winner…….and still ACW World Champion……….Bladeshadow!
The crowd’s reaction is incredible, and Blade walks around on the top of the structure, saluting the ACW fans as Raye holds up his arm. Everyone is so caught up in the celebrations that very few notice Pdogg stir on the third tier; he rolls over, and looks up through the opening, listening to the crowd and realizing what must have happened. Pdogg’s expression shatters, and for a moment he looks blank; then, as his dreams crumble, his face contorts into a hideous, twisted grin, and he reaches beneath the third ring………<br> After a few moments of absorbing the crowd’s reaction, Blade walks to the edge of the cell; Raye looks a little nervous, but she climbs on to Blade’s back, and very carefully Blade begins to spider – climb downward. As the pair descend toward the floor level of the third cell, Raye sees Pdogg lying next to the wall and shudders. Blade looks over his shoulder to check that she’s ok.
Blade: You ok back there?
Raye: Yes, it’s just seeing that guy again gives me the creeps.
Blade: Well don’t worry, he can’t hurt us any longer.
Blade turns back around and meets the unhinged gaze of Pdogg staring him in the face.
Pdogg: Guess again, kids.
With lightning speed Pdogg shoves his arm through a small hole in the chain link which Blade has not noticed until this point; Raye screams, and Pdogg laughs as he slaps one end of the handcuffs over Blade’s wrist before clipping the other to the cell itself. Blade tries to pull his hand away, but the steel construction is too tough to be broken and Blade is left unable to ascend or descend any further. Pdogg produces a pair of wire cutters from behind his back, explaining how he made the small opening.
Blade: Goddamnit, P! What the fuck is all this? What are you trying to do here?
Pdogg: I told you, Blade, if you didn’t do what I wanted then there would be consequences. That belt should be mine, it would have been mine…….you’ve taken away what was most important to me, all that I worked so hard for……but I will have the last laugh, oh yes.
Pdogg smiles darkly, and then starts to cut away the chain link a few feet above Blade, standing on the replaced ladder to do so. He then clips away at either side so that the panel he is cutting starts to bend outward, and Raye cries out again as she and Blade begin to fall back with it……
Blade: JESUS CHRIST PDOGG! This thing won’t hold our weight forever….it’ll break!
Pdogg: Well observed. Go to the top of the class.
Pdogg keeps cutting, and Raye clings on desperately to Blade as the panel contorts. Blade looks around him and his mind races as he tries to think of a solution, but none will come.
Blade: Raye, you have to climb off my back and on to the cage……
Raye: I can’t, my arms aren’t strong enough to hold on! We’re going to fall!
Blade: No way! I’ll think of something…….
Pdogg: Don’t kid yourself, you two. What, you think Superman’s going to swoop in and stop me?
Pdogg laughs again, and the crowd is getting really worked up, until at that very moment………..
Razor Ramon’s “Bad Boy” theme hits, and the fans go berserk as a plaster clad but familiar figure hobbles out on to the stage and hurries, as best he can, toward the tower. Latino is still very much in the process of healing from Blade’s hammer attack on him; one leg and the opposite arm are still in casts (unlike Kurt Angle, the casts are under, not over, his clothes), and he has a pin mic on his shirt collar as he is using a crutch in his free hand to assist his mobility.
Latino: Hey, hey, hey, hey esse! I’m sorry holmes, I don’t have any special powers……..but I can still kick your ass!
Latino opens the bottom cell door, discards the crutch, and limps over to the ring; he rolls in and starts to drag himself up the ladder. Pdogg watches all this incredulously, and then bursts out in a fit of hysterical laughter, actually leaning against the third tier ring ropes to support himself.
Pdogg: Are you serious? Damnit, you are, aren’t you! I knew you were an idiot, Latino, but I never knew you were this dumb.
Latino reaches the second tier, and hauls himself over to the ring there; Pdogg watches as he starts to climb the ladder, and his eyes travel over to the sledgehammer lying on the other side of the ring where it fell when he landed. Pdog grins nastily, puts down the wire cutters, and heads over to get his weapon of choice. He slides back out of the ring just as Latino makes it to the top of the ladder and rolls over on to the metal floor of the third tier; he pulls himself up, using the apron, and faces Pdogg.
Latino: You’ve not only overstepped the line, holmes, you’ve totally erased it. You hurt some people physically, others mentally…….I’m not standing for it any longer esse!
Latino bends down with difficulty and picks up the wire cutters.
Latino: I’m going to help my pal Blade here, and then you and me can finish this, holmes. They’ve been through enough…….if you’re still pissed, you can take it up with me.
Pdogg: Still trying to play the hero, Latino? I thought your experience with Ridley would have taught you a lesson on that score.
Latino: It did, holmes…….it taught me that if you care enough about someone, you can overcome anything. Hell, Mamacita and I proved it, Blade and his lovely lady here proved it, even Ridley and Rose themselves proved it tonight, esse! If you still can’t understand that, then I pity you.
Pdogg: Pity yourself, dickhead. Blade may not have enjoyed beating you down, but I sure as hell will.
Pdogg storms toward Latino; Latino rolls into the ring to avoid Pdogg’s hammer blow, but his speed is greatly reduced and Pdogg easily catches up to him. Pdogg swings again, and Latino falls sideways, half on purpose, half by accident, and uses his heavy cast to sweep Pdogg off of his feet. Latino rolls back out of the ring and hobbles to Blade and Raye; he tries to clip the handcuffs free from the chain link wall, but Pdogg nails him in the back with the sledgehammer and Latino yells as he keels over, dropping the wire cutters. Pdogg smirks and stands over him, but then there is a crescendo of sound and Pdogg looks down to the arena to see Blade and Latino’s respective Tag partners rushing to the ring.
Pdogg: Oh no, you don’t. No one’s going to help you out, holmes.
Pdogg walks over to the opening to the second tier, reaches down and pulls the trapdoor shut; it clicks into place, making it impossible to open from below. On the ground, V3 and AK see Pdogg do this.
V3: Ah, crap! What are we going to do now? I can climb up and get Raye, but Latino’s still stuck in there with that psycho!
AK: You worry about Blade and his fiancée, I’ll worry about the rest. If luck is on my side, then I may have an idea.
Instantly V3 is climbing up the outside of the cages, while AK dashes into the bottom tier through the door; Pdogg scowls, but his main focus is now within the hellish construction. Latino pull himself back into a kneeling position; Pdogg swings at him, and Latino blocks with his plastered arm, yelling again in pain as the hammer hits. Latino’s eyes burn with anger, and he lifts himself back up on his good foot before taking a shot at Pdogg with his injured arm; Latino cries out again at the impact, but the plaster adds force to his blow and Pdogg staggers back a little way. On the outside, V3 reaches Blade, and taps him on the shoulder.
V3: Taxi for one, going down!
Blade has rarely been so pleased to see V3, and he reassures Raye as she clambers across from his back to his partner’s. V3 starts to climb down immediately to reduce the pressure on the bending panel; Blade is still stuck in place, but with the immediate danger to Raye now dealt with his mind clears, and he has a flash of inspiration……
In the cell, Latino is holding out against Pdogg as best he can, trying to keep his attention off of what is happening elsewhere. He hits Pdogg a few more times with his casts, but in his weakened state he cannot overcome even the severely fatigued Pdogg, and Latino finds himself forced back against the half – bent wall panel with Blade directly behind him. Pdogg readies his sledgehammer and smirks.
Pdogg: Did you honestly think you could take me, Latino? Well it doesn’t matter…….I’m going to put you down for good.
Latino glares defiantly at Pdogg; he braces himself, but then from behind him he hears Blade whisper, very softly:
Blade: Get ready…….
Neither Latino nor Pdogg can see that Blade has used his claw hammer to pry apart the chain link which the handcuffs are attached to, and free himself. They are also unaware of AK standing at the top of the second tier ladder directly below Pdogg, with a bloodstained cloth bag over her shoulder, from which two sets of wires are sticking out. AK holds something in each hand, and there is a soft humming which rises in tone and volume as the crowd suddenly realize what is about to happen……..
The sound finally alerts Pdogg; he looks down through the wire floor, and AK gives an almost cold smile……
AK: Time for……ah yes, some REAL FUN.
PDogg’s eyes widen, and then everything happens at once; Blade flips over the bent wire, through the gap in the wall, and tackles Latino into the ring; Blade knocks Pdogg to one side so that he puts a hand down to support himself. Blade and Latino get clear just milliseconds before AK slams the defibrillator pads against the metal floor of the tier above. Sparks fly off, and Pdogg screams as the current surges and makes every one of his hairs stand on end; the batteries in the machine only have enough power for a few seconds, but the force is so great (the safety limiters having been removed by Druid 1 much earlier) that Pdogg is knocked senseless by the bolt and thuds to the floor, smoke curling up from him as it did from Raye when he subjected her to the same kind of treatment on Warfare.
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:07:44 GMT -5
The crowd is shocked too, and they are quiet for a few seconds; then a great cheer goes up, and Blade and Latino roll back out of the ring and look at their fallen foe. No words are needed, and they only pause for a second before Blade stomps the trapdoor open. Latino climbs slowly down the ladder, assisted by Blade, and then both he and AK help Latino to descend the final ladder to the ground. Blade runs out of the door to Raye, who is waiting a short distance away with V3, and they embrace again, to even louder cheers.
Blade: So, are you sure you still want to get married here? With all these guys?
Raye looks around, at the cheering throngs and the other superstars who have come out on to the entrance stage to see the dramatic conclusion to the show.
Raye: Let me think….you’re asking me if I want the most romantic day of my life to be played out amongst a host of dysfunctional, highly talented but almost entirely insane characters, and the people who cheer them on every crazy step of the way?
Blade looks about at the assembled gathering in all their battered and bruised glory, and bites his lip with a nervous half smile, nodding silently.
Raye: I wouldn’t have it any other way, Shade.
Blade smiles and hugs Raye as if she were made of pure gold; then, hand in hand, they walk away up the ramp to celebrate their reunion, and look forward to the permanent bonding yet to come.
Match 4: Latino v Skurai v Bladeshadow – World Title – Emperor of the Ring 2004
An untidy scrap occupies the first few moments of the match; everyone throws punches without much consideration towards aiming, until Latino breaks away from Blade and Skurai, heading over to the ropes and then springing back at speed to crash into both his opponents, bringing them down. Latino stamps alternately left and right, trying to keep both his foes on the ground, but he can’t sustain the necessary pace for more than a few seconds, and then Skurai gets back to his feet to grab Latino around the waist and throw him backward against one of the posts. Blade also jumps back up, and drives Skurai back to the ropes with a flurry of kicks and punches before leaping up to the second rope and hammering away at Skurai’s head, keeping him trapped between himself and the ring ropes. Skurai takes a few hits before ducking and popping up behind Blade; Blade though reacts by backflipping off the second rope, landing behind Skurai and using a german suplex with a pinning hold. The ref counts, but Latino is back into the fray and he drags Blade off, hauling him toward the corner and going for a tornado DDT. Before he can execute it though Skurai charges into his opponents with the speed and force of a runaway locomotive; the ensuing pile up leaves all three men tangled up, and they curse at one another as they try to extract themselves. Blade finds himself the target of both his opponents, and he has to fend off a double assault from both Skurai and Latino; nevertheless he stands his ground, and with a judiciously timed duck he tricks the pair into slugging one another. Both fall, and Blade rolls Latino up since he’s marginally closer, but Latino kicks a little before 2. Annoyed, Latino stands up and goes head to head with Blade; his fiery style is a contrast with Blade’s methodological technique, and the pair lay down several blows on each other until Skurai gatecrashes once again, running in from behind to drop Blade with an RKO. Skurai goes for a quick pin, but Latino pulls him away before the ref can even get to his knees to count.
Now it’s fire vs fire, and the moves come thick and fast; Latino pulls off a vertical suplex, but Skurai wrests himself free before Latino can follow up, and uses a straightforward ordinary suplex before trying to apply the Suffering. Skurai tries to get Latino locked into the move, but Latino resists, and all the struggle gives Blade a chance to recover. Blade stays on the mat, watching his rivals from the corner of his eye, and as Latino breaks away from Skurai he makes his move; Blade kips up in a flash, to a roar from the crowd, and hits Skurai with a swift DDT before lifting him up on his shoulders. Blade looks to have forgotten about Latino, who is back on his feet and readying to spear Blade from behind, but instead once Latino commits to the dash forward Blade whirls around and hurls Skurai down hard so that Latino trips over and skids on the mat. With lightning reflexes Blade moves in and rolls Latino into a pin; he holds him down with pure strength, and Latino does well to shove him off at 2.5 The crowd screams for Blade, who is instantly on his feet again; Latino curses but is then whipped once more into Skurai, who is picking himself up. Blade grins, but then is caught out as Latino uses his momentum to carry Skurai over and pin his shoulders; Blade baseball slides toward the pair, but Skurai kicks and rolls both himself and Latino over so that Blade misses them entirely and falls out of the ring. Latino and Skurai continue to roll over, each trying to pin the other, until finally they separate and return to a standing positon; they glare at one another, and then suddenly Latino bolts to the ropes, jumps to the top and springs off to drop down on top of Blade on the outside. Latino tries to set Blade up for a piledriver, but Skurai dives out through the ropes and knocks both men down – Latino falls sideways so that Blade is spared the worst of the impact to the head. The three men get up, and once again Blade is double – teamed; he is thrown into the steps, and this time does hit his head.
As Blade hits the metal, Skurai turns on Latino and kicks him in the back of the head. Skurai hurries to Blade and rolls him into the ring; he pins, but at 2 Latino also rolls back into the ring, grabs Skurai’s ankles and drags him back out, resetting the count. Latino knows what he wants to do; he punches Skurai back to the crowd control barrier before superkicking him over the top and forcing a sizeable portion of the front rows to evacuate. Now with a delightful arrangement of metal to work with, Latino sets about bashing Skurai’s head on as many seats as possible. He’s up to about number seven when Skurai calls a halt, grabbing a chair and whacking Latino in the head with it. Skurai then throws anything to hand at his opponent, including one or two handbags – this turns out to be a slight error given that the ladies in question are not pleased by this, and start giving the pair a tongue – lashing. Skurai and Latino just flip them off, but fail to notice Blade leaping across the mass of chairs until he “drops in” and leaps off of a final chair to give a double Thor’s hammer, swinging his foot in a diagonal arc to strike Skurai in the head and Latino in the chest. Blade then chivalrously retrieves the discarded accessories and returns them with a dazzling smile that just makes him look even more handsome and mysterious beneath his mask. Blade takes hold of one opponent in each hand and charges toward the barrier; with a yell he sends both flying over the top and into the zone directly around the ring. The ref has been counting all this time, and Blade hops into the ring at 8.5; the crowd gets noisy once again as a double count out seems to be on the cards, but both Latino and Skurai just about manage to make it back in before the 10 count is made.
Both Skurai and Latino have been worn somewhat by their little excursion, but now their resolve hardens and they are determined to take the current champion down, regardless of who the eventual winner is. Latino engages Blade from the front while Skurai slips behind him, and Blade can’t keep his eyes on both of them at once; he is attacked from both directions and eventually falls to the mat. The pair try to hold Blade down, and fists fly about without much control – the ref gets a touch too close trying to see if Blade’s shoulders are down, and abruptly is punched right between the eyes (it’s impossible to tell who was responsible). Skurai sees that the ref is down, but Latino doesn’t; he is busy applying a sleeperhold to Blade with his back to the ref, and this gives Skurai an idea. While Latino holds on to the battling Blade, Skurai slips out of the ring and pulls out 2 tables from beneath it; he sets them up, one on top of the other, and then gets back into the ring. Blade is no longer fighting Latino, who is craning behind him to see what’s happened to the ref; Latino swears in frustration, but then sees the nasty smile on Skurai’s face and the prepared tables; Skurai comes over, and he and Latino drag Blade toward the tables with the evident intention of putting him on top of them. Skurai and Latino reach the ropes and lift Blade up, but just as the crowd is getting seriously worried Blade springs back to life, flips out of his foes’ grasp and dropkicks both of them over the top rope and on to the tables, Quick as a flash, Blade rockets to the nearby corner, and with a brief raised arm to the crowd he leaps up and produces a flawless shooting star press that sets off camera flashes all over the arena. Thre’s a huge crash as the tables give way, and the crowd screams; the camera takes a few moments to focus in on the scene, and when it does, it shows all 3 men lying in the splintered wood. No one moves, and a worried buzz rises from the crowd; the referee, who is just back on his feet, sees all the destruction but of course has no idea who is responsible. Still no one moves, and the ref s considering abandoning the match when somehow the three begin to stir; almost on autopilot they pull themselves up and roll back into the ring before facing one another again…..
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:09:15 GMT -5
It’s obvious that the trio have expended a great deal of their energy in the spectacular stunt, and now time starts to become a critical factor in deciding who will walk out as champion. Blade has a small cut to his head from a wood fragment, and he wipes away a trickle of blood before rushing his opponents, trying to take them both down. Latino ducks, but Skurai is hit, and Blade rapidly snatches him up and powerslams him once, then twice. Latino then elbows Blade in the windpipe and tries to steal the pin, but Skurai breaks out at 2, and both he and Blade send Latino to the ropes, executing a 2 person back body drop on his return that punts Latino out of the ring. Without even a second’s pause Skurai and Blade go for one another; Skurai armdrags Blade to the mat and lays down a couple of blows before going for the suffering again, but Blade kicks out hard and catches Skurai in the chin, stunning him as he drops to the ground. Now Blade uses his own legendary submission, the Heaven’s Arrow, and the crowd is beside itself as Skurai is put under enormous pressure; his hand wavers, but Skurai is one of the toughest guys in wrestling, period, and he refuses to surrender. Equally though he cannot escape the hold and reach the ropes, and as the 2 minute mark approaches Skurai’s face seems to indicate that he is on the verge of surrendering his dream…….which is when Latino, who has sneakily taken advantage of the situation (the ref has forgotten to count his time out of the ring) makes his move. He’s on the turnbuckle in the blink of an eye, and neither Blade nor Skurai can do anything to avoid Latino’s awesome frog splash. The whole ring shakes, and Latino pins down the drained Skurai – the ref counts 1,2…..but a fraction of a second before 3, Skurai kicks, and Latino’s ashen – grey face shows the depth of his disappointment.
Tired as he is, Skurai is still fuming at Latino, and he grabs him and rolls out of the ring. The crowd is making a tremendous noise as Skurai sets up Latino for an Assault Driver, but as Skurai gets Latino on his shoulders Blade comes rushing to the ropes, springs upward and nails a jumping neckbreaker to bring both men down. It’s a real effort for the three to get up again, but they do so, and haul themselves back to the ring using the ropes for support. A further bout of punching ensues, each man looking for a critical weakness in one of his opponents that he can use to make the difference and snatch victory, and Blade is the first to see such an opportunity. Latino takes a hard blow from Skurai, and Blade uses this chance to kick Skurai back into one of the corners. With Latino still dazed, Blade lifts Latino on to his shoulders and prepares for the Lights of Orion; the crowd is going mental, but Skurai is not out of it yet and with a cry of defiance he storms forward, spearing Blade and sending him and his passenger back to the mat. Skurai tries to choke Latino, who is looking the weaker of the two, but Blade pulls him off and uses a double underhook DDT – he pins, and almost gets 3 before Latino pulls him away. Blade is close to the win, and he knows it; he blocks Latino’s blows, delivers one of his own, and then lifts him again for the lights of Orion, delivering it with shattering force. Latino looks to be knocked out, and Blade covers with one arm, but again just before 3 Skurai interferes. Blade is angry, but now Skurai is filled with the very real thought that his dreams could slip through his fingers, and thus motivated he unleashes every last bit of energy that he has on Blade, whirling his fists and feet until Blade goes down. Skurai drags Blade to the corner, sweat dripping from every pore, and with a mammoth effort delivers the 500 channels. The ref counts – 1,2, - kickout! Skurai is stunned, and the crowd jeers him as they see Blade’s arm in the air. Skurai looks almost dazed himself for a second, but then he staggers back to the post and climbs up again. Blade’s in no condition to take another hit, and Skurai goes for broke as he launches for his own shooting star press……
Everything happens in slow motion for Skurai; he feels as if he’s floating lightly down, but his adrenaline surge is severed as he sees Blade pulls his knees up, and kick him away. Skurai can’t believe it, and he closes his eyes in defeat as he comes down…..
……Skurai still has his eyes closed as he lands, and he sighs as he hears the ref counting……1…..2…..3. There’s a huge eruption of sound from the crowd, but it isn’t the elated cheering that Skurai was expecting, and now his mind which had been wandering is dragged back to reality. Skurai opens his eyes, and can hardly believe what his senses are telling him.
Blade is kneeling a few feet away; he looks absolutely shattered…..no, more than that, he looks defeated. And Latino is still out cold, but that’s hardly surprising given that Skurai landed right on top of him.
The penny drops, and Skurai’s face bursts into a massive grin as he rolls off of Latino and jumps to his feet, all his tiredness leaving him in an instant.
Philip: Here is your winner………and NEW ACW World Champion……….Skurai!
The fans can’t quite believe it either, but there’s no denying the facts; by kicking Skurai away Blade has inadvertently dropped him right on top of his other opponent, and the count has been made before anyone can react. Latino is just starting to sit up, and only when he sees the belt being handed to the jubilant Skurai does he fully recall what has happened. Blade stands up and watches as Skurai climbs the turnbuckles; his disappointment is evident, but as he exits the ring he sees that Raye has stepped out of the audience, and they embrace as she assures him that her love has nothing to do with what titles he holds. The fans cheer Blade as he makes his way out, arm in arm with his sweetheart; a short distance away Latino is also leaving, a shellshocked look on his face as his dreams once more slip out of his grasp. But there’s no one here for him to turn to, no one to reassure him and share the pain of defeat, and he cuts a very lonely figure as he walks away to the backstage area.
In the ring, Skurai continues to parade the belt around, even though the fans aren’t exactly thrilled by his victory. None of that matters to Skurai; he has the belt, and finally he feels that he can put some old ghosts to rest.
But as Blade already knows, once you’ve got it, you’ve got to fight to keep it…….and you can’t always choose your battles.
Sometimes, your battles choose you.
ACW has found its Emperor of the Ring……in Memphis, it will crown a very different monarch
Match 5: Atomic Kitsune v Ridley – Elements of Powers – Samhain 2004
High above the ring, Ridley and AK swing back and forth, drive by the ever changing air currents and taking shots at one another each time they pass by. Eventually Ridley grabs AK’s chain to slow the motion, and the pair are face to face as the crowd crane upward to see what’s going on.
Ridley: Enough of your childish games…..you’re stalling because you know I’m going to slaughter you before this match is over. You don’t have what it takes to face me in that ring down there, child.
AK stares back at Ridley and his all consuming hatred of her, and something inside her snaps.
AK: You have no idea what I’m truly capable of, Ridley, but I’m going to show you. Let’s finish this, right now.
AK kicks hard against Ridley and swings backward once more; at the top of the swing she jumps up and grabs the underside of the air platform, climbing across until she reaches the centre. Ridley watches and sees the real switch; AK shoots him a defiant glance and punches the switch, illuminating the final green lantern. Right on cue a ref slides into the ring, and AK climbs back across the platform. Hanging upside down, she glares at Ridley below her on the chain……and then with a yell she kicks off and jumps down from the platform. Her weight and motion snap the chain, and the pair fall; their speed is arrested as they strike the edge of the thunder platform and hit the ring, and the crowd is amazed to see them both kip up with almost no delay and face off for the deciding confrontation.
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:15:00 GMT -5
If either of them had been holding back until this point, that’s certainly not the case now; Ridley unleashes his full power looking like “man possessed” more than he ever has before, and AK has to use every scrap of speed and skill she has to block his wild attacks. Ridley looks like he’s actually trying to decapitate AK with an onslaught of Yakuza Kicks and when one finally connects he pins for just short of a 2 count. AK though is also in a different zone of consciousness; she battles back with roundhouse kicks of her own before running in from behind, springing into a handstand on Ridley’s shoulders and then flipping down to wrap her legs around his waist and try to bring him down. Ridley counters by pulling her back up and locking his arms around her neck for a submission hold while she’s still holding him at the waist; AK screws up her eyes but focuses, elbows Ridley in the head and then kicks off of his chest to return the way she came, grabbing him neck on the way down to drop him. AK pins but is thrown off before 2; Ridley gets up, fuming, and returns to trying to batter AK into a bloody mess. The fight continues, and AK breaks out her strongest moves in an effort to get that elusive 3 count – with the crowd roaring she takes hold of Ridley and runs toward the turnbuckle, but as she goes for the Fox flip Ridley counters it spectacularly into a springboard second – turnbuckle ejaculator. The whole ring shudders; the crowd by now is making a huge racket, and as Ridley listens he hears a chant of “ONE MORE TIME!!” from somewhere in the mass. This strikes a sore nerve, and Ridley stalks to the ropes and spits at the crowd in response before dashing back for a pin, determined not to lose like that again. But the delay, however minor, has been critical, and as Ridley pins he looks just a little surprised when AK kicks at 2.
Ridley grits his teeth and throws AK to the corner; he beats her viciously for several moments before hoisting her on his shoulders, but as he turns around AK grasps the rope and pulls herself free, kicking Ridley in the head in the process. Her feet touch the apron for just a split second before she leaps up and get amazing height from her spring off the top rope, bringing down both feet in an incredibly high – angle dropkick to the top of Ridley’s head. Ridley is brought down hard and AK rolls though for an almost instantaneous pin which nets her a past – 2 count before Ridley bursts out. Keen to retain her momentum, AK swiftly sets up the shockwave…..but Ridley again has a counter in place; he hold out both arms during the spin, adding his own momentum so that AK takes the damage instead (and is damn lucky not to break her nose in the process). Ridley pins and gets a solid 2, but the look in AK’s eyes shows she’s far from done. As the pair clash again, AK whips Ridley to the ropes; she feigns a clothesline, but as Ridley moves to counter this she instead hits a rapid hurracanrana, and as she rights herself she snatches a hold of Ridley’s arm and locks in a cross armbreaker, wrenching with all her strength. The crowd is going overboard by this point; a few yell “TAP! TAP!” at Ridley, but AK knows this isn’t going to happen. Rather, she opts to buy a little recovery time and hopefully leave Ridley with a handicap for the rest of the match. It doesn’t take Ridley all that long to free himself, but his arm does look to be a little stiff as he rises. Ridley’s movements are now starting to get a bit erratic, possibly a symptom of his mental state, and AK decides that she has to finish this NOW. She dashes to the ropes with Ridley close behind, jumps over them and wallops Ridley so he turns away from her, just for a second……..and then with the crowd going bananas she jumps to the top rope, leaps up about 6 feet in the air, and somersaults above Ridley.....and delivers a huge stunner on the way down before he can counter, driving his neck against her shoulder as hard as she possibly can – the hit would probably have broken the neck of a less hard-as-nails opponent on the spot. AK pins and hooks the leg, and the ref counts 1-2-thr – NO! Ridley sits bolt upright, and AK instinctively rolls clear. Their eyes meet, and it’s obvious from Ridley’s expression that that was a genuine close call.
Too close.
Ridley stands up, and the safety catch in his brain fails in spectacular fashion.
Ridley (screams): TIME TO DIE!!
Ridley’s movements are almost too fast for the camera to track; he gets behind AK and slaps on a Tenzan style cobra choke. AK kicks and flails, but it takes her several moments before she can escape Ridley’s iron grip. This is just the start of what Ridley has planned; as soon as AK’s free he lays down a punch or two before immobilising AK’s arms and turning her upside down, balanced on his knee, in a Devil hold. All the blood starts rushing to AK’s head, just making the pain worse, but she calls upon the mental techniques learned during her mysterious disappearance and calms herself, keeping her eyes open and even humming lightly to distract herself from the incredible pain of the hold. Ridley keeps this one on for about a minute before he can’t take any more verses of “Please release me, let me go”. AK staggers about as Ridley decides on his next move, and it’s a classic; AK has heard about the Tsubasa, and even seen it used on London, but this is no kind of preparation for actually experiencing it. Her one free hand wavers in the air, but still she won’t give in, and Ridley is getting angrier with every passing second. Still AK’s will is proving to be stronger than Ridley’s, and another change is called for; Ridley releases the hold and instantly whips AK to the ropes before she can retreat. AK jumps over Ridley’s first attempt to grab her, but the strain of the match is taking its toll and on the second pass he catches her and locks in the Judah. This time AK actually screams with agony, making Ridley grin broadly, but as he watches the ref he can see that despite it all, she isn’t tapping. The crowd is absolutely shaking the place to bits with their reaction, and this fires AK up; summoning all that’s left of her strength she thrashes and claws at whatever parts of Ridley she can reach until he unbalances, and the fall makes him relax just a fraction so that AK can escape. As the pair slowly rise, Ridley’s mind is in turmoil; a part of him has resisted using his ultimate submission, wanting to destroy his opponent without it, but the tiny part of his mind which is still rational tells him that it’s the only way to guarantee victory – every aching muscle in his body is saying that it can’t take much more. As he considers this, AK surprises him with a huge tornado kick; she rockets to the corner and the crowd goes ballistic as she leaps off for her ground zero attack. It connects, and AK pins – 1,2,- but milliseconds before 3 Ridley punches upward into AK’s chin, dizzying her, and sets up and locks on an inverted figure four. Those in the know drop everything and line up their cameras, as Ridley rolls the pair over and adds in an abdominal stretch.....AK tries to fight back but it’s too late, and the place is filled with an extraordinary sound as Ridley completes the puzzle with a gantii choke.
The effect of the Necroplasm is immediate and shocking; AK screams again, but this sound is one that most humans hope they will never hear even in their darkest nightmares. It’s enormously satisfying to Ridley, and he grins from ear to ear. Nevertheless, AK tries to hold out, but after 20 seconds or so she realises the futility of this. But as AK finally gives in and taps, she still feels a sense of achievement, and she listens to the crowd as the bell rings to bring the epic struggle to its conclusion, and Ridley releases the hold, one of his two objectives achieved.
Philip is almost hoarse; he’s been yelling along with everyone else in the arena, and he just about manages to find the voice to complete his duties for the night.
Philip: Here……..is…..your winner……..RIDLEY!
The sound in the arena is exceeding every health and safety limit in the book, but nobody cares; the whole place is on its feet, in fact the only people not standing are those in the ring. It takes Ridley the best part of 30 seconds to persuade his legs to do their job, and the noise shows no sign of abating as he hauls himself to a standing position, using the ropes for support. Even though he’s not severely wounded (by his standards, anyway) every muscle and sinew in Ridley’s body is burning from the extraordinary things he’s forced it to do; he looks a little out of it at first, but as his head clears his expression becomes one of triumph, and he licks away a small rivulet of blood from his upper lip before turning to take in the sight of his utterly spent and crushed opponent.
Except that his opponent looks anything other than spent and crushed; although she’s bruised and battered and her hairstyle is now leaning strongly toward “hurricane – blown”, AK is leaning up on one arm, still listening to the crowd’s thunderous reaction to the match and….smiling. She too uses the ropes to retake a standing position, sliding her fingers through her hair and generally tidying herself up. At this point she notices Ridley and gives him a look that no – one expects; one of gratitude. She glances around at the fans, who are still applauding, and walks a few unsteady steps to the centre of the ring before abruptly turning on her heel and shouting to everyone present – . AK: Aw, bugger it, you got me there Ridley. What can I say? I guess that makes us even, huh?
AK (pointing at Ridley): WHO’S THE MAN!?
The crowd answer their starter for ten with a single overwhelming voice. AK just shakes her head a little, still a little concussed and grinning as if she’s high on something illegal, her agony having been pushed all the way around the dial and back into the ecstasy zone
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:17:38 GMT -5
AK: Aw, bugger it, you got me there Ridley. What can I say? I guess that makes us even, huh?
Ridley’s face seems to have drained of colour (which is a considerable achievement considering his usual pallor). Without saying a word he turns and slides out of the ring; AK is a touch confused, but decides there are some things about Ridley she’ll never be able to explain. A clutch of her fans are making a particular row over near one corner, and AK is just heading over in that direction……..when suddenly, the cheering is halted and a new, yet familiar sound encroaches into the arena, and then the crowd is responding once more – but this time in shock and trepidation.
AK doesn’t need to turn around to know what she’ll see; the ferocious roar of Masamune’s engine is scorched into her mind. Even so she too loses the colour in her face as she turns; Ridley doesn’t bother to climb the ropes, instead he just cuts straight through them and takes a single stride forward. When he speaks, it’s with that same precarious tone; only now, it’s clear his toes are hanging over the edge of the abyss, and his balance is desperately close to failing altogether.
Ridley: I made a promise, Alicia, to you and to all these idiots, and it’s one I intend to keep.
He takes another pace forward and a swipe with the weedwhacker, scything the air; he’s only about 6 feet away now.
Everything in AK’s head screams at her to run; she puts a foot backward, but her heart tells her that if she flees now, it’s over….Ridley wins more than the match, he wins mental control of the whole fed, and of her….and so she stands. Ridley is getting more and more unstable with every second; he takes another step forward, halving the distance between them at a stroke, and AK can feel the current of air from the rotating blade. Ridley grins, canines bared, and runs his hand up and down the shaft of the machine.
Ridley: So you really do want to be a martyr? Fine. Just don’t kid yourself that anyone here gives a damn, it’s all in your pathetic imagination.
He gives an eerie, soulless laugh; AK continues to meet his gaze, and she keeps her nerves under control as she replies.
AK: What I believe is my choice, Ridley, I don’t expect you to understand or agree with it. But if this is your final attempt to intimidate me, then it’s not going to have the effect you want. You’re going to have to actually do this, not just spew out threats.
Ridley almost takes AK’s head off right there, but his swing is just a fraction short; a tiny cut is visible at her neck, but AK does not pull back or flinch. Ridley’s holding the weedwhacker so that the blade is no more than 6 inches away, and the arena is totally frozen as the standoff comes to an agonising head. In the background security staff are swarming around the entrance and ramp, but the situation has developed too fast and they can’t risk getting involved now. But from their ranks, a single man silently emerges….with a sniper rifle in his hand. He bends to one knee, and quietly takes aim at Ridley, who has his back to him.
Just behind in the off stage area, Ginger stands and watches the situation unfold. A few of the other fed members have also been drawn to see what’s happening, and it’s BK who sees the silent sniper first.
BK: SHIT! Is that what I think it is?
Ginger: Yes. This is the absolute emergency plan I made when I booked this match.
BK: You don’t mean to say that……
Ginger (cutting BK off): I do. It’s all above board, the man is a member of a SWAT team with license to act as required to protect lives.
BK: Even if that means taking one?
Ginger says nothing, and the temperature drops several degrees………<br> Ridley and AK continue to stare, and AK makes a final appeal to reason.
AK: Ridley, you know what will happen if you follow through with this. You’ll be on your way to the electric chair…..and I guess from the look you’re giving me that you don’t care. But however much you despise me, what about Rose?
Ridley flinches a little at Rose’s name.
AK: The pair of you are obviously deeply in love with one another……it’s about the only aspect of you that I can fully relate to. You promised her…..at Heatwave, when she went through hell to restore you to your true self, that you would never leave her again…..are you really going to break that promise now?
All the emotions that Ridley has tried to suppress are boiling to the surface; he fixes AK with a dead gaze, one from which all hope has been extinguished.
Ridley: I have already hurt Rose in unforgivable ways, done things for which I can never be redeemed. I assure you, she is better off without me.
Ridley grins, his fragile mind about to crack, and AK realises she’s made a fatal miscalculation……
Ridley: So you can forget about getting wings and a harp…I’ll see you shortly, IN HELL.
In a split second, several things happen; Ridley pulls back his arm for the deadly baseball – swing of a thrust, but as he does so his super – sharp hearing picks up the faintest of clicks from behind him. Acting entirely on instinct, Ridley swings to one side; the blade flashes past AK once more, leaving another shallow cut in its wake. The sniper’s bullet zips through the space previously occupied by Ridley’s head, passes over AK (who fortunately is several inches shorter) and carries on until it gets stuck in the wall at the back. Ridley glances behind him and sees the sniper desperately fighting to reload, and Ginger’s ashen face just behind him. Ridley swings back, and gives a high pitched, terrible laugh of glee.
Ridley: Heh…..no miraculous escapes this time. Goodnight, my dear……
Ridley rears back, and the whole arena is filled with screaming, so Ridley doesn’t hear the weedwhacker engine making strange noises; instead it’s the vibration on the handle that makes him realise something’s amiss. He glances at the blade and sees that it’s stuck; something is twisted around the joint between the shaft and the rotating head.
Ridley: Oh, for FUCK’S SAKE!
Furiously he grabs the trailing end and rips the obstruction away, and the blade snarls back into life. Ridley smiles again and goes to throw the object aside…….and then he actually sees it properly for the first time, and stops dead in his tracks.
The sniper has a second bullet loaded by now, and is about to take aim, but Ginger stops him, on instinct rather than logic. No one knows what’s going on; Ridley is standing as still as a statue, staring blankly at the item in his hand. AK has been too shocked to react until now, but as she touches the light wounds on her throat she realises something is missing, and looks at what Ridley is holding. Instantly her expression shifts to anger, despite everything that’s just occurred, and she makes a grab for the object.
AK: HEY! That’s mine! Give it back, right now!
Ridley drops the weedwhacker, which shuts off automatically from the deadswitch, and blocks AK with his now free hand.
Ridley: This……..this is…….
AK is still pretty angry, but Ridley’s voice is so strange that she stops and takes a step back. As if in a dream, Ridley puts his hand into a concealed pocket, and takes something out; a small piece of paper flutters to the ground. Without thinking, AK bends down and picks it up….and now it’s her turn to be rooted to the spot. She stares at the paper just as Ridley is staring at her mangled pendant chain, and slowly shakes her head, a look of total bewilderment on her face. AK: I….I don’t understand…..
As AK looks at the paper, Ridley delicately manipulates the two small objects, and after a few moments there is a tiny click. Ridley smiles, and then starts to shake with silent laughter, which gradually becomes audible….but it’s like no laughter ever heard before, it is a sound of pure horror. Still laughing, Ridley holds up the result of his handiwork like a kid in show and tell, and AK stares at it, alternately looking at the picture in her hand and the complete pendant suspended before her.
Tails interwoven and locked claw to paw, the pendant is clearly the work of a master craftsman….the dragon and lion are perfectly matched, perpetually in combat yet each balancing the other…..just as they do suspended from the chunky silver bracelet around William Black’s wrist in the photograph.
Separated for 25 years, now finally reunited.
Ridley and AK meet each other’s gaze, and see what was there all along; their own eyes looking back at them. Ridley’s laughter gets louder, and he lets the pendant fall to the mat……
Ridley: Ha….haha….hahahaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGH! NO! PLEASE, NO…….
The laughter becomes a scream, the scream of a mind which has finally buckled under the weight of this last revelation. He backs away, stumbling, and scrabbles into the furthest corner, clawing his cheeks and face until the blood runs and howling until his throat bleeds. AK picks up the pendant; she is as pale as a wraith, and she cannot take her gaze from the picture and the details she knows so well; the tree in the garden which she would frequently be told off in her childhood for climbing, the worn old fence supported by expectation rather than anything more solid…..and her mother, still young and glowing with the radiance of a new parent. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembers being told about when she was born….how because she was five weeks premature, the pigment in her hair had yet to appear, leaving her with just a few strands of white to protrude from her blanket.
And all her dreams and nightmares instantly make sense, the mystery figure in the mirror resolving into her own image. Alicia may not be aware of all the events that have led to this moment, but unlike Ridley she knows what it’s like to gaze into the eyes of a sibling and recognise yourself there; it’s utterly unmistakable, regardless of whether those eyes are blood red, or their true brown colour. AK looks at the floor and is rendered immobile as she tries to come to terms with the truth.
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:19:01 GMT -5
The arena is silent, except for Ridley’s cries of anguish; as he thrashes, AK simply stands, all ability to think and act drained from her. She is only aware of Ginger when he carefully puts a hand on her shoulder, making her jump a little. Ginger has no words he can offer, since he doesn’t yet understand what’s going on, so he just does the best he can.
Ginger: AK, it’s time to go. Won’t you come with me?
AK looks at Ginger as if she barely knows him, but she smiles weakly and allows him to lead her from the ring. It takes 10 burly security men to get Ridley out; he too seems to have little idea where he is, but he continues to scream and fight like a cornered cougar as he is carried away. The show ends with a shot from the ring of both AK and Ridley, each altered forever by the night’s events……..
For them, and those close to them, nothing will ever be quite the same again…..and a new chapter in the twisted tale of William Black is just beginning.
Match 6: White Rose v BK London – World Title – Hellbound Heart 2004
With the crowd still cheering for the standing SSP, BK staggers up and sees that Rose is doing the same thing. Desperate to try and get that critical strike, BK charges in for a Yakuza Kick – but Rose avoids it deftly and BK can’t halt in time before he clobbers the referee. BK swears inwardly, knowing that with no ref to count there’s no point in pinning, but things are about to get much worse – Rose has had enough, and with the referee down she slides out of the ring and retrieves a chair. BK turns back just in time to see Rose coming at him; he holds up an arm to block, but Rose hits it with the chair and BK howls in pain. A swift kick brings BK to his knees, and Rose hits him over the head to drop him before she takes aim for the finishing blow…..
Voice: Alex! No, please…..don’t hurt daddy!
The little girl has scrabbled over the barrier before anyone from security spots her. Princess isn’t much taller than the apron, but she rolls herself into the ring with an inherited skill and runs over to Rose, who is surprised enough to put the chair down to one side.
Rose: Princess, what are you doing here? I promised you would have him back after the match. Now leave this ring before you get hurt.
Princess: NO! I won’t let you hurt daddy!
Rose laughs.
Rose: What makes you think you have any choice in the matter?
Princess’ response is to stamp on Rose’s foot as hard as she can, and then kick her in the shin with surprising force. Rose winces just a little, but it’s like a gnat bite to her, and her expression becomes more malicious. Princess starts to look afraid, and before she can run Rose kicks her to the ground. The crowd boos and shouts furiously; on the outside, it’s impossible to tell if Ridley’s sudden outburst of psychotic laughter is due to events in the ring or those in his tortured mind. Princess looks close to tears, but she glares at Rose and won’t cry; for some reason this infuriates Rose more and she picks her up, preparing for the Mark of The Rose…..which means she fails to spot an apoplectic Kiley shoving security out of the way and charging into the ring. Kiley rolls into the ring, scoops up the dropped chair and nails Rose in the back with it in a single fluid movement; the crowd cheers, but this too has little effect on Rose, who drops the child, whirls around, and catches hold of Kiley by the throat to suspend her in the air.
Rose: Are all of London’s relatives as stubborn and useless as you are? You are not worthy to share this ring with me, but if you insist on being included I will willingly take this whole family apart!
Kiley struggles and gags, but Rose is far too strong. The crowd is yelling and shouting, trying to get BK moving, but in fact it’s just one voice that does the trick.
Princess: Daddy, please….. Don’t let the bad lady hurt mommy……
BK’s eyes snap open, and he springs to his feet; he takes hold of the steel chair that Kiley dropped, and Rose gets just a moment to see BK more angry, and more powerful, than he has ever been before he brings the chair crashing down on the top of her head. The chair actually splits, and Rose’s knees buckle; she collapses, and the fans are approaching critical mass as Kiley gathers up Princess and gets out of the ring. BK is still very dizzy from the chairshot, but he’s running on pure adrenaline as he weaves over to the corner and somehow climbs up the post. With the briefest of salutes to the crowd, BK takes flight and delivers his “From Brooklyn to London” with perfect aim; he hooks her leg, and Kiley leans into the ring to drag the just – about - recovering referee into position to see the pin. The woozy ref counts; he does not see Rose put her foot on the bottom rope, and as his hand hits for 3 the roof of the arena really does threaten to blow off.
There’s some confusion on the outside; BK hears the bell ring and everything is like a dream as the referee puts the title belt into his hands. Kiley and Princess barrel back into the ring and almost flatten him in their joy; with the crowd going nuts BK stands and holds up the title belt. Rose, meanwhile, is almost in a state of shock and is taking the referee to task; Ridley doesn’t seem to grasp what is going on for quite some time, but when he catches sight of London with the belt everyone within 10 feet tries to run for cover, and it looks like there’s about to be one hell of a ruck. Oblivious to this, Philip is just about to make the announcement.
Philip: Here is your winner, and NEW ACW World Champion…<br> Voice (from the stage): HOLD EVERYTHING!
The noise dissipates, and Chairman Gingerdude is standing on the stage. He looks sad, as if he doesn’t want to do what he’s about to do……but he has no choice.
Ginger: Everyone, I’m sorry, but the referee has made an error, one which I can’t allow to stand in a match of this magnitude. As you can see….
A shot of the end of the match comes up on the Titantron.
Ginger: Rose’s foot was on the rope when that count was made, therefore it is not valid. So….this match will restart, and will continue until a true winner is found.
There’s uproar in the arena; Kiley is devastated, and Princess doesn’t fully understand. BK looks at the belt in his hand, sighs, and gives to an apologetic referee; he gently urges Kiley and Princess to get safely back behind the barriers, and the crowd has to settle down again as BK and Rose stare at one another. Once all the extra parties have left the ring, the ref gives a sign to the outside and the bell rings again to indicate that the match is on again.
There’s little hesitation before Rose and BK rush one another; the match is taking a huge toll o the both, and now a long, protracted struggle is simply not an option for either of them. BK does not make any attempt to hide his intentions; he goes straight for the Revolver, and the crowd holds its breath….but Rose counters it brilliantly into her own “Smell the Roses” dragon sleeper. BK writhes, but Rose holds on; he snatches at the ropes, but Rose forcibly drags BK back to the centre of the ring. BK keeps fighting, not making it easy for Rose to hold on, but slowly, inevitably his movements start to weaken, and Rose smiles. BK’s senses are becoming dulled, but one sound cuts through the muffle…..it’s the crowd, chanting his name, “BK! BK! BK!”. BK opens his eyes, and makes his last play; he grabs Rose’s arm which is wrapped around his neck, and twists it; Rose cries out and BK goes for a clothesline, but Rose ducks. What happens next is only clearly revealed by a slow motion replay; with dazzling speed, the two foes each go for a superkick – and connect at exactly the same moment, at 110% power. Both Rose and BK stagger backward and look at each other for a second before they collapse in synch to the mat; the crowd is stunned, and the ref starts a 10 count as they both lay there. The noise is phenomenal; people are shouting for both competitors……the count reaches four, five, six……and above it all, Kiley and Princess call to BK, urging him to one last effort. On the other side of the ring, Ridley is silent; but he has his eyes riveted on Rose, all the pain and madness within him pushed down for these few seconds as he wills her to rise as he knows she can….the referee reaches eight, and slowly BK and Rose stir and pick themselves up; they’re both standing just before the referee reaches 10.
Rose and BK face one another; but they don’t see their opponent. Instead, BK sees only his family, and Rose sees only Ridley; and then, with the support of their loved ones holding up their exhausted bodies, they approach one another…one last time. If the length of the match was dependent on the strength of feeling that the competitors possess, the match would last an eternity; but now, something has to give. Rose and BK throw out the last of their accumulated strength, hitting each other almost simultaneously; BK bundles Rose to the ground and pins, but Rose throws him off and then tries to apply her figure four. BK kicks her away and gets back up; they close in, lock up…and BK, yelling with a final determined effort, lifts Rose up and holds her in the air before dropping backward to complete the stalling suplex. With the crowd going bonkers, BK runs to the corner, climbs up, and jumps for the SSP…..
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:19:26 GMT -5
Sometimes, the margin between victory and defeat is so thin that it’s impossible to spot the critical moment, even in the aftermath. This is one of those times. No matter how often the tape is played, no one is able to say just when or how Rose was able to find the strength to move, and BK lands next to her with less than an inch separating them. Thus, Rose is able to roll herself and BK over before the sensation of the impact has even registered in BK’s mind, and it’s only just coming to a head as the referee’s count reaches 3. The bell rings, and this time there’s no controversy – the match has a winner, but in most people’s eyes there is no true loser after a match of this kind.
Philip: Here is your winner…..and still ACW World Champion, Alexandra Kaesar!
The sound coming from the audience is transfixing in its volume and sheer emotional loading; Rose stands quietly up and looks at her defeated opponent. BK is kneeling on the canvas; he’s not a man to cry in public, but the pain of defeat scythes right into his soul. He feels a million miles away from everyone and everything……until two petite hands take hold of one of his, and his eyes meet those of his daughter. He looks at her, and a sense of failure sweeps over him. There’s only one thing he can do.
BK: Princess……I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t win the title.
Princess bites her bottom lip, as if thinking about something.
Princess: Did you do the best you could?
BK looks at her again, a bit confused.
BK: Yeah, I did.
Princess smiles…...it’s worth more that all the titles and prizes in the world to him.
Princess: Then it’s ok, daddy. It’s ok.
She throws her arms around him and holds on; BK stands up, and lifts her on to his shoulder, more proud of her than of any belt. Kiley enters the ring and he puts his other arm around her waist.
Kiley: There will be other times Jame, I absolutely know it.
BK: Yeah, I know it too. But for now….all I want to do is go home.
Kiley looks up at him.
Kiley: But you said……
BK: I said I’d come home when I’d won the title, and I did win it….just not for very long. So now, I’ll concentrate on getting it back…..starting next week.
BK and his family leave the ring together, and the audience cheers them without restraint. Rose watches them go; BK has his reunion, but her separation from the man she loves is only just beginning. But she knows, just as sure as day follows night, that they too will become one again…..someday.
Rose hands her belt to druid #2, and she supports Ridley as they walk back up the ramp; Ridley keeps her eyes on her…..because she will be the force that drives him though the ordeal to come, and his reason to survive at all.
Some hearts have travelled through hell and survived, while others have yet to make that journey……and so the saga of ACW will continue, into its Winter of Discontent…and beyond.
Match 7: 6 Man Double Ring Hell in a Cell – World Title – Winter Discontent 2004 – Match of the Year
While all this has been going on, an equally ferocious battle has been raging on top of the cell itself. Blade and RDK are slamming and suplexing one another; several times the crowd has braced itself for a suicide plunge, but so far the roof appears to be standing up to the punishment it’s taking. One spot seems to be weaker than the others, and Blade tries repeatedly to break it; but it holds, and driven on by the crowd RDK “machos” up again. Totally equal in strength, the fight moves close to the edge of the cell near to where the pair climbed up; RDK aims a huge kick at Blade and the ninja is certain to fall – but Blade grabs RDK’s foot, pivots on the very edge of the cell, and swings RDK out instead. The crowd screams; RDK falls, but he’s facing the mesh and manages to arrest his descent about halfway down the cell. Blade sees this, swears, and immediately pursues with a terrifyingly fast spider climb. He catches up to RDK and tries to dislodge him; RDK punches him back, the wall vibrates violently, and then in a split second they lose their grip simultaneously and fall…..
…..to land on the deeply unfortunate Surion, who at that moment has been whipped out of the cell through the door by Rose. RDK and Blade roll off, both very winded from the impact; Rose rushes out and covers Surion, and the ref who had been watching RDK and Blade’s battle is in just the right place to make the count. The crowd is going crazy, surely it must be over….but a bloodied BK somehow hurtles out of the door just in time to stop the pin before the 3 count is given. BK throws Rose back into the cell, away from the other participants who might interfere, but Blade is hot on his tail, and RDK and Surion follow Blade. Yoko is waiting for them all to return, and they all end up back in the ring, as if by general agreement. The six look at one another – without exception they are exhausted, both mentally and physically, and none of them have the strength to continue for more than a few minutes longer. One way or another, the match is approaching its crunch point.
As if a second bell has been rung, they all attack at the same moment. All hell breaks loose, and all alliances and feuds are null and void – the one and only aim for every man and woman is a pin, any pin. In the mayhem, BK goes for a crossbody on Surion but gets back dropped out of the ring; in close proximity, RDK clotheslines Surion and he too is sent over the top. BK climbs back on to the apron, but the edge of the ring is a happy hunting ground for RDK, and he dropkicks BK into the cell wall with astonishing force. Eager to capitalize, RDK tries another moonsault from the ropes, but BK shifts aside and RDK strikes the hard floor. Surion now gets his chance, and he further dazes RDK with the Hand of Albion…….only to then fall victim to BK’s own Migraine (Unprettier). Surion lies still very close to the apron, and BK goes for the pin, but RDK pulls him away, kicks him in the gut and then whips BK toward the cell wall. But BK manages to alter his trajectory so that he goes flying out of the open cell door; RDK looks around for Surion to pin him, but he seems to have disappeared. So instead he follows BK; as RDK pursues him, BK looks at the cell wall, and calculates where the odds will be most in his favour. It’s a risky call, but BK starts to climb – RDK exits the structure, and as he looks up at BK he decides that he stands a better chance against one opponent than four. Despite the inherent risks, RDK again starts to ascend – but will the gamble pay off, or will the match be decided back on terra firma?
In the ring, Blade seems to have finally snapped – his eyes blaze with dark purpose as he smashes punches and kicks into Yoko and Rose – it’s as if his brain has stopped registering the pain and fatigue of the match. If ever there was a time that Yoko and Rose needed one another, it’s now; but still Rose can’t overcome her paranoia, and Blade exploits their separation ruthlessly. Eventally, Blade manages to hit the Light of Orion on Rose – but Yoko immediately strikes back with her evenflow DDT. The crowd noise is awe – inspiring, and as Yoko looks about she realizes that there’s no opposition in sight. All she has to do is cover Blade or Rose…..but Yoko hesitates. Even after Rose’s anger and accusations, Yoko can not, will not betray her trust; and as she’s thinking this, she hears the sound of someone jumping into the ring from behind. It’s Surion, who has hidden briefly under the ring to avoid getting pinned by RDK; Yoko is quietly glad to have someone else to fight, and she smiles and gives Surion the “come on” gesture…..
While Yoko has been following the dictates of her conscience, BK and RDK have been battling way above; parts of the roof bending under their weight. They move across the space, to the side opposite where they climbed up; below them are the announce desks. At the very edge of the drop, RDK and BK grapple; the crowd is almost screaming, and with a titanic effort BK suplexes RDK over the side into space. RDK has only microseconds to react; he shoots out his arms behind him and grasps the wire, holding on before kicking off and flipping back, kicking BK powerfully in the gut. Bk is shoved backward; RDK scrambles to his feet, lifts BK up…..and with a huge yell throws BK out and downward. Now the crowd really screams; the announce team hove only a second or two to dive clear before BK’s fall is broken by the desk. It is well padded to defend the electronic equipment from impact, but nevertheless it’s a mighty impact to take……and there’s more to come. RDK lifts up his arms, scratched and torn all over, and cameras soak the arena with light as he jumps…..and for a moment, it’s as if he’ll rise and soar forever…..before he twists over into his moonsault landing position. There’s a great crash as the second impact finishes the demolition job on the announce desk; a camera rushes over, and one of the refs is ready for the pin – but there is nothing to count. RDK’s moonsault may have been incredible to watch, but it has hurt him almost as much as BK – the pair are lying, side by side and knocked out, neither able to pin the other. But there may yet be hope for them, as the situation in the ring is far from settled
The four inside the cell are now running on empty fuel tanks. Surion tries to finish things with Surion’s Revenge, but Rose counters and hits her own Mark of the Rose with incredible violence. As she does this, Blade almost decapitates Yoko with a Thor’s Hammer, and Yoko’s eyes glaze as she lies on the mat. Seeing one another, Rose and Blade stand up and approach the centre of the ring. The crowd, which has been shouting its lungs out for most of the match, falls almost silent as Rose and Blade regard one another. Blade smiles as Rose breathes deeply from all the exertion of the match.
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:20:07 GMT -5
Blade: You know that you cannot defeat me….I have but one purpose, and I will not stop until I fulfil it.
Rose says nothing; she just continues to stare. Blade raises an eyebrow.
Blade: You still really believe that he’s coming back, don’t you? Don’t you understand? He has absorbed the essence of pure evil…..even one such as he cannot overcome such a force. You are alone, Alexandra, and will be forever more……
Rose’s features become pained as she battles with her fear and sorrow. She takes a step back, and Blade takes one toward her, his vicious grin growing wider and more confident –
GONG……….
The lights fail, and the audience practically sets a new world indoor noise record.
GONG……..
Everyone is looking around, trying to be the first to spot that infamous silhouette. But the seconds pass, and there’s nothing……until suddenly, Rose’s voice is heard, strong now and crystal clear.
Rose: I am NOT alone, fool, and I never shall be – Lord Ridley is with me, in my heart and soul even if his body is elsewhere. And because of this, I shall NEVER fall to a pathetic slave such as you!
Rose spins a monumental kick at Blade and sends him halfway across the ring. Blade jumps back up, eyes flaming, and the pair charge each other in their last attempt for victory…….
They both swing kicks at the same time, and you would need a slow motion camera to spot Blade connecting with Rose a millisecond ahead of her shot. Blade ducks, and Rose falls to the mat, holding her head; Blade looks perfectly calm as he lifts Rose and puts all his remaining strength into a final burst of the Lights. Rose lies still; Blade stands over her and bends down to whisper close to her ear.
Blade: Now tell me, Rose…..who is the slave, and who is the master?
The crowd is going off its collective head – but neither Blade nor Rose realizes why. For in the corner, a single figure is moving; they lift themselves up to their feet, and climb up to the top of the metal post.
Yoko keeps her eyes on Blade, and her inner fire, the quality which first drew Ridley and Rose to her, burns as never before. And that fire is about to come to the surface…….quietly, Yoko pulls out a little bottle from her shirt, similar to the one containing her poison fluid. But instead of taking a mouthful, she bends down and pours it over her ring boots……
A few people in the crowd suddenly twig what Yoko is doing; they cry out to their friends, and the noise becomes overwhelming as Yoko discard the bottle and produces a lighter. She flicks it, and looks at the bright flame for a moment before dropping it on to her boots. The kerosene ignites, and Yoko jumps u, aiming for Blade’s head; he turns, and has just a second to see Yoko’s blazing feet in all their glory before she nails him with a flaming “M.Bison” flying guillotine. Blade’s face is smashed into the canvas; Yoko takes quite an impact herself, and rolls away. Rose feels the powerful vibration; she is too dazed to fully understand, but sensing a body in close proximity, she pulls herself up and forward just enough so that she collapses to the mat with one arm over Blade’s chest. The ref on the inside dives in for the count….
…and at that very moment, on the outside, BK lifts up his head, stares ahead as if unable to focus properly, and drops sideways to cover RDK.
The counts seem to start at exactly the same moment – and the refs are almost in synch with one another as they hit 3. Almost….but not quite.
The ref in the ring is just a tiny fraction ahead – and it’s his hand that the timekeeper sees raised first. The bell rings, the crowd explodes, and though the big screen seems to suggest that one count was marginally ahead, it’s only when the timekeeper confirms the result to Philip that the issue is settled.
Philip, like everyone else in the arena, is practically hoarse from yelling, but nevertheless he grabs his mic and gasps the result to make it official.
Philip: Here….is your…..winner, and still…..ACW Champion………Alexandra Kaesar! In the cell, nobody moves for several seconds; the referee, looking somewhat bruised and battered himself, brings the belt to Rose and helps her to her feet. Rose is still very dazed and trying to make sense of things, but as she hears the crowd she looks at the belt in her hand, then at Yoko and Blade who are still down in the ring. Yoko’s boots are no longer on fire, but they still smoke a little, and Rose begins to understand what has happened. Yoko is exhausted; she opens her eyes and looks at Rose, and smiles weakly, and Rose smiles back, her expression one of gratitude and apology for letting herself become paranoid over the title. Slowly the other competitors start to pick themselves up, having given everything and now utterly spent; on the outside, the referee has to explain to BK what has happened, and even RDK seems to have sympathy for him as he slowly stands up, unable to believe that he has again lost the title by such a tiny margin. The cameras and the crowd’s attention are all focused on the champion, as the referee hands back her belt……so by the time anybody spots the ominous shape of Jack Fury sliding out of the crowd next to the cell, there’s no time for them to react. Fury waits until Rose is walking away from Yoko, holding her belt in the air…..
Fury: Blade!
At his master’s command, Blade springs up to his feet; propelled by an energy which is not that of a normal man, he has a hold of Yoko before Rose knows what’s happening. Fury steps into the cell; he throws something in his hand to Blade, and everyone recognizes it as his legendary sword. Blade holds the sword to Yoko’s neck, so that Rose is forced to abandon any plan of attack. Behind her, Fury sees Surion finding his feet and mercilessly punches him with his gauntleted fist before hurling him out of the door. The remaining referee has slid out of the ring to demand an explanation, and he gets exactly the same treatment. Without fuss, Fury pulls the door shut and clamps his right hand over the handle of the door to the cell; sparks fly off, and when he removes the gauntlet it can be seen that the door has been fused shut, the metal crushed and melted together. Fury, Blade, Rose and Yoko are now the only people left in the structure, and Fury calmly enters the ring where the other three are standing (or, in Yoko’s case, dangling).
Fury walks over and faces Rose, standing between her and the restrained Yoko. Rose’s face is etched with thunderous anger, but Fury just smiles, and then he begins to clap, slowly, making a sharp metallic sound as the gauntlets clash together.
Fury: Magnificent……..simply magnificent. My dear, I wasn’t sure if you had it in you, but you’ve surpassed all my expectations. I believe I’m going to have a wonderful time working with you, and with Yoko of course.
Rose has been glaring at Fury, but her expression flickers at this odd statement, showing a brief glimpse of surprise and confusion. Fury laughs.
Fury: Oh, of course, I had forgotten…..you, and I suspect everyone else, is still under the impression that I want to destroy Pain Incorporated! No, no, you have me all wrong there….nothing could be further from the truth.
Thoughts are racing through Rose’s head, and as she puts the pieces together her face crumples……
Rose: No….no, I don’t believe you……..
Her expression hardens, and with a yell she throws herself at Fury. Fury though easily absorbs the blow, which lacks power due to Rose’s extreme tiredness, and pushes her away and down to the mat. Blade pulls his sword close to Yoko, cutting just the tiniest wound into her neck, and Yoko cries out for just a moment despite her battle not to show Fury or Blade that she’s frightened.
Ridley: MINE, MOTHERFUCKER Fury: From this day forward, Pain Incorporated……is –
*CLANG*
Fury’s head snaps upward, and his gold – flecked eyes meet a pair of burning red orbs.
Rose stands back up, and Fury’s own expression is one of cold, calculating intent.
Fury: It is useless to try and deny what you know to be true, Alexandra. Did Ridley himself not tell you what would come to pass? And did you not receive a vision of your own as further proof? Your stubbornness is dangerous, Rose…..you know that I can have Blade decapitate your protégé here in a second if I so desire, and believe me, if I don’t get what I want….
Rose looks down at the mat, close to tears.
Rose: This just feels…..wrong……
Fury walks forward and puts a hand on her shoulder, in what almost amounts to a comforting gesture.
Fury: Now, now….you’re a very strong woman, Rose, but we all know how much you’ve suffered, trying to deal with the hand that life’s dealt you. I can stop that suffering….. let me take that pain away.
The gauntlets glow very faintly; Fury raises his other hand, above Rose’s head. Rose darts her own hand up and grabs his wrist to stop him lowering it any further; though neither of them is moving, the tension in their bodies is evident. Rose looks at Fury, great conflict still raging in her mind.
Rose:………..But…I…..need my pain……It’s what makes me who I am.
Fury smiles, and shows his sharp, needle – like teeth.
Fury: Exactly.
Without warning, Fury increases the pressure in his arms, forcing Rose down on to one knee as he presses down, trying to close his gauntlet over her face. Yoko kicks and claws, trying to free herself from Blade’s grasp, but she too is spent from the long match.
Yoko: NO!!!!
The crowd has been stunned into silence by the proceedings, but now they yell and shout, understanding that Rose is struggling in effect for her very soul. RDK, though still weak from the huge fall, tries to break in through the welded door, and even BK and Surion look aghast at Fury and Blade’s actions. Fury laughs chillingly as his metal – clad fingers make the lightest of contact with Rose’s skin……
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:20:32 GMT -5
In all the chaos and the dimmed lighting of the arena, no one has seen Ridley abseiling from the roof; the fans lose it totally as Ridley, in his spiked, symbol covered cape and squid mask, pulls the starter cord to bring Masamune into rip – roaring life. He knows exactly where to apply the weedwhacker to best effect, targeting the weakened space on the roof where RDK and Blade slammed one another during the match. Sparks are sent all over as Ridley attacks the metal; in the ring, Fury tries to finish Rose, but the Champion is revitalized, and she forces his hand back until she can free herself from his grip. With the roof panel now only loosely attached, Ridley drops the ‘whacker next to the weakened point, raises his arms, and backflips into a standing senton, crashing through the roof to the mat. The vibrations of his landing knock the weed whacker over the edge and through the hole, and Ridley kips up so that he catches the still – running machine with perfect timing. He swings around, not even looking as he does so, and Rose instinctively drops to avoid the snarling blade. Fury jumps back, but receives a shallow cut to his chest; Blade releases Yoko and kicks Rose to the ground before he gets in between Ridley and Fury. They swing their weapons, which clash together; Blade’s sword cuts partly through the weedwhacker, cutting its power, but then becomes lodged there. Both parties try to pull their weapons free – and it’s now that Yoko makes her move, running in and jumping to kick Blade in the head. Ridley rips the tangled weapons from Blade’s grasp and throws them aside; Fury’s already moving forward, but as he attacks with a palm strike Ridley responds with one of his own. Their fingers interweave, and Fury only realizes the danger when it literally hits him, as Ridley “runs” up the nearby ropes and flips into a Dragonrana that brings Fury crashing to the mat. The fans go berserk as Ridley stands up, and walks back over to where Rose is kneeling on the mat.
Rose looks up at Ridley as he extends his hand to help her up, and her eyes meet his; she looks almost ready to cry her eyes out with joy and relief. She takes his hand…..and very gradually her expression changes, from jubilation, to confusion…..and then to absolute amazement and shock. She puts a hand over her mouth as she stands back up; and suddenly, the reason for this becomes blindingly obvious….even accounting for the massive spikes on his cape, Ridley appears to stand about half a foot shorter than Rose. Either, the lord of hardcore’s shrunk due to a month’s immersion in cold water, or….
Tentatively, Rose reaches forward and takes hold of the edge of the squid mask; holding her breath without realizing it, she pulls it away and drops it to the floor.
For a moment, there’s a stunned silence, followed by a massive collective gasp from the fans, the crew, and even some of the roster watching backstage. Then the crowd explodes with shouting and other expressions of amazement, including a few “HOLY SHIT!” chants. Fury stands back up, looks at the black – clad figure a few feet from him, and then down at the Seiden Gauntlets, which are glowing very faintly again.[/i]
Fury: That……wasn’t Kross.
The figure turns to face Fury and the recovering Blade…..and Alicia smiles, the red glow in her eyes now subsiding to mere embers.
AK: Correct. I “borrowed” a book from the museum a few days ago…..I recognized the word “Asmodeus” in it, but I couldn’t read the rest of the script. But I knew that Kross had studied older religious texts whilst studying theology, and I asked him if he could help me – I wondered if there might be some useful information in it, and I was dropping by to see if he’d made any progress when you decided to launch your little attack. Those really are the most amazing accessories, don’t you think?
She looks at the gauntlets Fury’s wearing; the marks left by the metal are clearly visible on the sides of her face.
AK: I have to confess, like everyone else I thought they were just for drawing the essence of a person, or a spirit…..I had no idea that the process could work the other way as well. It looks like Asmodeus wasn’t the only one who left a little of himself in there…..
There’s a rise in the buzz of the crowd as they work out the details for themselves.
AK: Oh, don’t get me wrong my friend, I’m still very much myself…….but perhaps in a slightly darker shade of pale. It was never my intention to intervene directly, but I guess you could say that your own actions resulted in me realizing just what a threat you are to everyone in this fed – and it’s a threat which I will not allow to screw up people’s careers and lives any further. So take this as your one and only warning – I WILL find out who, or what, is behind all of this, and end the terrorizing of the fed for good.
Fury raises an eyebrow, and is about to speak, but Alicia holds up a hand to stop him.
AK: Yes, yes, I know…..messiah complex, addiction etc. etc…. Well, consider this a relapse. I’m not perfect, you know.
Rose and Yoko have moved to either side of Alicia, and now the three women face down the two men. Alicia folds her arms and stares at Fury.
AK: Well personally I’m inclined to call it a night. But if the two of you would prefer a sound beating before we go, that’s no problem at all.
The crowd noise surges in anticipation of another fight; Blade finally retrieves his sword and steps forward, but Fury glances to him and shakes his head.
Fury: That won’t be necessary. Enjoy your little moment, my dear….because the next time we meet, I’ll be the one calling the shots. If I can’t posses Pain Inc then I WILL destroy it……and I only hope Ridley decides to leave his self – imposed exile in time to see you become responsible for the ruining of his once – great force.
Fury smiles a little, and then calmly walks away; Blade follows behind him, and Fury kicks the cell door open with incredible force to exit the structure. As they take their leave, Alicia turns back to Rose, with a look of sadness in her eyes.
Alicia: Rose, I’m sorry…..I’m sorry that Ridley can’t be with you again yet. But I know, I’m absolutely sure, that he will return to you when the time is right.
Rose gives a deep sigh; the pain is still very deep. But she does not cry, and instead looks Alicia up and down. Yoko has been stunned into silence up to this point, but she too looks more closely at AK in the unfamiliar sable.
Rose:……..It suits you.
Yoko nods in agreement. AK brushes her hair out of her face.
AK: Look, no matter what you may be expecting, I don’t want either of you to think I’m trying to take over from Ridley…..as far as I’m concerned, Blade and Fury have to be held under control until I can work out how to extract that power from them permanently. I can’t do it alone, and I need the best this fed has to offer if I’m to stand any chance. So…………….
She holds out her hand.
AK:…….partners?
Rose and Yoko look at one another; there’s quite a long pause…… and then they place their hands on top of Alicia’s.
Rose: Welcome to Pain Incorporated.
The arena erupts with a storm of sound; the ladies look around them, and then make their way out of the ring and the cell. Rose puts her belt on her shoulder, and notices that both Yoko and AK have paused.
Yoko: Champions first.
AK nods in agreement; Rose takes a step forward, then stops. She looks at Yoko.
Rose: This title’s divided us enough. We’re a team.
Yoko looks puzzled, then smiles; she and AK fall into step alongside Rose, and the three of them walk back up the ramp side by side, with the fans’ cheers and shouts accompanying them all the way.
For some, the Winter’s Discontent is melting away……but in its place comes a fire of an intensity never seen before…..
Prepare for the day of reckoning………..as Ragnarok approaches
[/i]
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:20:52 GMT -5
Ginger: I think that we can all agree in saying that her contribution to this fed really has been outstanding. I think what we are all trying to say with this award, and I speak for everyone in this room, is a huge thank you for what you have done for ACW. So will you all please put your hands together for Ms Alicia “Atomic” Kitsune!
The applause echoes around the room as AK gets to her feet, seeming a bit overwhelmed by the whole situation. Gary jumps to his feet, whistling and stamping his feet, he is soon followed by the whole of the room as AK is given a standing ovation. She makes her way up to the stage and gives Ginger a hug before taking the award. She steps up to the podium but has to wait a good few minutes for the applause to die down
AK: Tonight I really have realized how far this fed has come, when I think of my own story it really is amazing the journey that I’ve been through with this fed. I may be the main writer but I couldn’t do what I do without the help of numerous writers. I will take this opportunity to thank BK London, Rose, Latino, Wyvern and of course Ridley for all the help writing the shows. Also everyone who has written one off matches and everyone who sends segments in a huge thank you to them. And of course Ginger for all the behind the scenes work he does keeping this fed together. Once again thanks for the award and have a fantastic New Year and safe journey home!
AK steps down from the stage to yet another standing ovation and Ginger steps back up to the podium
Ginger: Right that does it for this evening so I’d like to thank everyone for coming and as AK said a happy New year to all!
Fade to Black
End Show.
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Post by Chairman Gingerdude on Jan 1, 2005 16:22:08 GMT -5
OOC Note: A huge thanks goes out to Jake Cheng, Daredevil, BK London, Wyvern, Hunter and Rose (Hers are the extremely long ones) for making this possible by helping me write the show.
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Post by scrawn on Jan 1, 2005 16:26:56 GMT -5
great show. Best fallout of the new year so far
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