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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:26:39 GMT -5
Segment: Flying Too Close to the Sun (Credit: Michael)
The loss to young Adrian Flamingo was all that stuck in my mind all week. Hell, I’d like to say he was lucky or blame fate for it, but it was my own damned fault...just walking straight onto it. On the plane to London, I watched some of his matches, against OLYMPIA, Thunderkiss, and even some of the ones against me. He’s grown more skilled since I first beat him on Meltdown almost three months ago. He’s more focused, and he’s deadlier than ever...and the win against me at Genocide just added fuel to that fire. Maybe it’s time I conducted my experiment, after all...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, once that’s all said and done... I smiled, closing my notebook and standing up from the chair that my ass had been glued to for the past two hours, trying to figure out the physics and strains this experiment could put on me. Putting both my hands to my forehead, I began to slowly move them amongst my hair, my thoughts focusing on her. An angel...who, for some reason, I couldn’t get out of my mind, and trust me...I tried too damn hard. Renix Williams, what is it about you that just makes me want to take you into my arms and tell you I’m...
I quickly banged my elbows onto the desk I was staring at, reminding myself not to go any further on this. Not now, at least. It was then when I noticed the lenses shining on me...hoping to capture my personal emotional struggles, and perhaps waiting to hear on what I had to say about young Adrian Flamingo. I turned my face sideways, my piercing blue eyes catching full sight of the lenses, all emotions hidden to my own self. I turned my chair around slowly and let myself face the cameras fully, not afraid of showing myself wearing a pair of blue and white checker pajamas and white socks. Hell, no matter what clothes I wore, when people saw the look in my face, they knew it was time to shut up and listen...because from this point on, I was all business:
“Thanks for barging into my hotel room without asking...I assume people really want to hear me out, after my crushing defeat to young Flamingo in the Asgard Ice Coffin Match...on live ACW pay-per-view. The grandest stage of all...a place where all wrestlers strive to make it into the card in some way. Be it through a simple dark match to the grand main event, being on the show for some alone is the greatest of experiences.
Not me...”
I take a brief pause, placing my hands together, my elbows now resting onto my thighs, as I recollect my thoughts. Should I go on about myself...or get to Flamingo? Either way, I have to do both...so I might as well start with the hype and save the best for last.
“I’m a man who’s traveled the world for a while now now. Almost four long years it has been since I took my first step and plunged myself deep into the world of professional wrestling. Being a proud graduate of both Inoki Dojo USA and the Kaientai Dojo, going straight to Japan, then Mexico, then the Indies out here in North America, and then came ACW. Years upon years of putting my body on the line, putting relationships and the ideal life I had planned for myself aside and quite frankly...every damn second of it has been worth the sacrifice. The sacrifice of loving, marrying, becoming a husband and a father. Quite frankly, thanks to the business, I’m not even sure whether I’ll be able to do those things someday...but that’s another story, for another day...
Right now, I want to talk about you, Adrian Flamingo.”
I put an emphasis on the name. A man who keeps creeping up in my nightmares as of late, someone who I can daresay I have underestimated. And it’s not the kind of dreams where he destroys me in one shot, no...the motherfucker keeps chasing, and chasing, and chasing me until he finally catches up. Before I know what happens next, I’m usually up on my feet and sweating.
“Flamingo, there’s no need for me to even say it, but I will. You have gotten my number the past few months. When I stepped into the Asgard Ice Coffin Match, I knew I would be facing a hungry superstar...a man who wouldn’t be denied of his chance. But in that match...
I held back, Flamingo. As I looked into your face, fear ran through my eyes. I began worrying. The way you pounded me with your punches, the kicks, and every other move you used...damnit, it felt like I was being thrown around by Ruthless all over again. Every time I looked into your eyes, it was like seeing a devil trying to destroy me into a million pieces and scatter my ashes to oblivion.
Can you imagine it? Nick Durden, Enigmatic Charisma himself, is afraid of an underdog. But truth be told, you aren’t an underdog Flamingo. I am! You have to prove that you’re worthy of still being a champion. But I...I have to go above and beyond again.”
I paused again. I could feel the blood flowing through my veins a bit faster now, and the heartbeat beginning to pick up. His presence. No, our presence! A presence that deserved to be heard...
“I have to prove that I’m worthy of it again! The way I went off with my concussion was the worst possible way ANYONE could go. Tonight, Flamingo, it isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about accomplishing something else...something I’ve set to do ever since the Genocide. This leads me to this question.
Have you ever heard of the story of Icarus?”
I paused for a second, clutching on to my head with my right hand, letting a small groan of pain, closing my eyes in the process. It hurt...why though? I felt fine, no flu or any sickness. Suddenly, I felt my body throbbing, as I let out another groan of pain. It was as if someone else was trying to rip me out of my body. This feeling lasted for at least an entire minute, before I couldn’t help it anymore. I was slipping away into darkness as the seconds ticked...and before I knew it, my eyes were opened...but not by my own will. Within me, I couldn’t do anything but to watch...watch the yang overpower the yin. At first, I felt like screaming...but perhaps this time, it was the time I let him take the spotlight.
I can only hope you do well from this point on.
Sickness...
~~~~~~~~~~
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:27:20 GMT -5
It was a rare occasion for me. To be out and in full control...sure, I had done it for the months before the shoulder injury and such. But believe me...this time, Nick and I agreed on something. Maybe it was time to fight fire with fire...madness with madness...
“No? Then allow me to explain, my dear mortal...
Icarus was the son of Daedalus, a highly respected and talented Athenian artisan. The legend says Daedalus helped reveal the secret of the Labyrinth to Theseus, the noble king of Athens who slayed the Minotaur. King Minos of Crete threw him and Icarus onto the Labyrinth himself for this offense, so that they would never be able to escape. However, being the genius he was, he used feathers and wax to create a set of wings. He warned Icarus to be careful...not to fly too low due to the water, which would make the wings heavier and harder for him to fly on and not to fly too high, for the Sun would melt the wax if he did so.
However, poor Icarus’ ability never lied upon heeding the advice of others. He, like a child, couldn’t help but to feel overwhelmed by the thrill of flying. So, he continued to rise in the air. Over the hills, over the mountains, and soon, he was right up there with the Sun itself. That’s where it all went wrong for young Icarus. The Sun melted the wax that held the wings together...and as soon as they were melted...”
As soon as the word “melted” escaped my mouth, I clapped my hands fiercely, my eyes looking upon the camera as if I were possessed. But in truth, it was one of Nick’s key characteristics. When he told a story he enjoyed, he got into it...and he wouldn’t be taken lightly until he was done. And neither will I...
“He shot straight down into the sea...dead from the moment he hit the waters. The fall from grace is enormous, Flamingo, and I know this better than anyone else who’s currently in this roster. Ever since Genocide, you and I both have been working feverishly to take our rightful place atop ACW! It means the world to us! But to do that, just like young Icarus, we need our wings.
And Flamingo, you possess those wings...they are in your grasp in the form of respect of all these fans and your fellow ACW superstars! Now, I know you’re listening to this, so we are going to make one thing straight.”
There was a quick pause on my part, as I begin taking a deep breath...as I let go of it, I looked over at the camera with the same intense look on my face as I would have if anyone tried to harm her...to harm the angel both Nick and I adored.
“The day we succumb to the likes of you in a straight-up one-on-one match will be the day hell freezes over!”
And I meant it too. Quite frankly, Flamingo can kiss my God-like ass if he thinks that he can intimidate me. Sure, he may have gotten onto Nick’s mind a few times over the past two weeks, but I’ll be damned if I let myself be scared by some sideshow freak.
“You have something we want, Flamingo...no, you have something we need! Something we won’t hesitate to get it. If I had to strike you, hurt you, or even end your career to get it, Flamingo, I’ll do it. I have already collected the feathers from the last flight; all I need now is the wax...the fame and glory that will come when I pin your shoulders to the mat 1, 2, 3.
Tonight, as we step into a sacred place, a land where greater men before us have wept and bled...you won’t be quite going up against the same, happy-go-lucky, energetic Nick Durden. And I have you to thank for that. By allowing himself to fear you, Nick awoke something much deeper within our human body, soul and mind. He awoke his own personal self-defense mechanism...us! But most importantly, you awoke something much deeper...a scar of the past you couldn’t just close your big mouth about.
Adrian Flamingo...”
I stood up. By this moment, the cameraman was bringing his lenses closer, focusing on the look on my face that was showing a slow change from the normal color of my skin to red...a red that by itself showed the anger built through my veins, as my fists were closed and my body was starting to tremble.
“YOU...AWOKE...THE WRATH...OF A FUCKING GOD!”
I paused for a moment...and I could feel Nick’s presence now slowly making its way around, he would regain full control within the next few minutes. I had to finish this...not as Sickness, not as Nick Durden, but as the pompous, conceited, cocky and goddamn deadly persona...the Sickness himself!
“And by doing so mortal, you awoke memories...an extreme amount of them, most of them memories in which I have to redeem myself for. After Genocide, I wished to rest in peace, just like you made Nick do once you put him into that Ice Coffin. But once again, it seemed Nick Durden could not escape my shadow...the shadow of my actions! I may have taken cheap ways out of matches in the past, but not even you can deny it Flamingo, I left an extreme amount of carnage and destruction on my way.
From Leon Chase getting the damnedest guillotine leg drop of his life through the announcers’ table to me single-handedly taking all of the Rioters and beating the holy hell out of them one-by-one, you can’t deny it Flamingo! You can’t deny my power and what I can do to mortals like you!
Tonight, within the nightly sky of London, I make my return to the wrestling circle. Perhaps, with more glamour and admiration than ever before on the part of the fans. Fans all around the world may hate me, but they have been waiting patiently. Waiting patiently for my return, and what I would have to say...and I say this!
Adrian Flamingo, you committed the biggest sin of your career! You imposed yourself in my way...and once I’m done taking the wax from you, I’ll construct my wings again. And I’ll fly as high as the Sun once again, in my hopes of reclaiming my spot at the pinnacle of ACW.
I will touch the Sun...and by time I do so...ALL WILL KNEEL, ONCE AGAIN, BEFORE A GOD!”
I found myself kneeling down, clutching my head in pain after screaming such...my body trembled yet again, and it was fully covered in red now...a red of anger that went unnoticeably by, as now Nick was the one back in control. Before going back onto my own small slumber, I could hear he was out of breath, not from the long-winded speech...but because today, he dealt with not old me...but also a ghost of the past.
A ghost he’ll allow to come out and play for one match only...
I found myself slipping away, but not before hearing these last words out of Nick’s mouth, an out-of-breath voice showing a confidence I’d never seen before.
“Believe it...‘cause it’s JUST...THAT...SIMPLE!”
...that’s a good boy, Nick!
Fade.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:28:55 GMT -5
Match 4: Iron Man Match Nick Durden vs. “Astonishing” Adrian Flamingo (Credit: Michael)
STAYIN’ ALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE
Pink lights flood the arena as Adrian Flamingo appears, sporting the same old ever-flamboyant entrance coat, feathered boas, headband, and overly large aviator sunglasses.
Looky, looky, looky, looky, looky, looky look here Look at shorty got back to the action for a dance Hold on, there’s too many in the wolf pack And besides, there be cats dropping on her Buying her fake furs and taking her to the fever Wide is his campaign Even he spends She spends his Franklins at the mall with her friends Material girl living in a material world But it’s all right ‘cause it’s Saturday night So this the funkmaster so pump the BGs And all you college students playing your Ouijas Check the spelling R-E-F-U-G-E-E Get the CD from Sam Goody Tee hee
Flamingo struts his way down to the ring as the crowd showers him in adoration.
Phillip: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is an IRONMAN MATCH! Introducing first...from Venice Beach, California...he weighs in at two hundred and five pounds...“ASTONISHING”...ADRIAN...FLAMINGOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Maxwell McNally: Hello and welcome back to Spring Into Hell. Maxwell McNally and Eddie Edison here. And I’m gonna tell you, Eddie, it’s matches like the one coming up that remind me why I got into the wrestling business in the first place.
Eddie Edison: Well said, Max. Get ready, folks, because the two brightest stars in ACW will face off in an Iron Man match. You heard me right. Sixty minutes. No timeouts, no water breaks, no nothing until the buzzer sounds and the man with the most number of pinfalls or submissions is deemed the victor.
Maxwell McNally: The last time we even saw anything close to this was the match from Samhain 2006 when BK London and Yoko Satoshi fought to a sixty-minute draw for the ACW World Championship. If this match comes even close to matching the action and excitement of that one, we’ve got a true five-star classic on our hands.
You ain’t even close with the rhymes that you wrote Don’t be mad ‘cause you broke Let me clear my throat Aha aha
Flamingo climbs up the steps and enters the ring.
Time for a change Grab the mike and sway this way In loaded, just a rhyma You just a small tyma Hoping that the game treat that ass a little kinda
Flamingo gestures charismatically to the 90,000 strong, who continue to sing his praises.
Lights cut to dark. The intro to “What I Want” by Daughtry kicks into gear as blinding white lights chaotically flicker near the entryway, illuminating Nick Durden’s enigmatic silhouette hopping on his feet and headbanging, getting himself psyched up for the impending match.
It always seemed that I was sorry for the things that I did But never did a thing about it 'til I let you in
The lights return as Nick steps out from the entryway. He flashes a quick look to both sides of the audience before running to the left side of the stage and taunting enthusiastically, inciting uproarious cheers.
It's kinda funny about the time that I was falling apart You came and put me back together now
Nick runs to the opposite side of the stage and repeats, receiving a similar ovation.
'Cause what I want And what I need Has now become the same thing you’ve been offering
Nick returns to the center of the stage and begins his march to the ring.
Phillip: And his opponent...he weighs in tonight at two hundred and five pounds...he hails from Venice Beach, California...NICK...DUUUUUUURDEEEEEEEEEEEN!
McNally: Over the past few weeks, Nick Durden has become a man obsessed with exacting revenge for his loss against Adrian Flamingo at Genocide.
Edison: The Asgard Ice Coffin match was certainly a brutal one, but this one promises to be even more DAAAAAAAAANGEROOOOOOUUUUS, especially with the intensity that Nick has shown in recent times.
With about ten feet remaining between himself and the ring, Nick breaks out into a sprint and slides into the ring. He flashes a quick look to the audience before rising up to his feet.
As days go by I’ve finally become what you want me to be
Nick walks to one turnbuckle and mounts the second rope, taunting to the audience once more. He dismounts and walks to the other turnbuckle and repeats. Once he dismounts the second turnbuckle, he tosses away his trench coat and begins stretching out.
Raymond Allen Fleming can see that both men are anxious to begin and wastes no time in calling for the bell.
DING, DING, DING!
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:29:11 GMT -5
The match begins with a rudimentary tie-up. After the two struggle for leverage for a few moments, Nick puts to use some of his explosive strength and shoves Flamingo straight back down to the mat. Flamingo rolls back onto his feet and stares back at Nick in a bit of surprise.
McNally: Every once in a while, something manages to astonish the Astonishing One, and Nick Durden’s surprising brute strength has done just that. Durden has come to play tonight, make no mistake about that.
Flamingo takes a breath and charges toward Nick for the tie-up again, only to get shoved down to the mat once more! When Flamingo regains his footing, there’s a definite quality of frustration etched across his face. Nick merely stands in the center of the ring, motioning for Flamingo to jump back into the action. The two take some time to strafe around the ring before engaging in another tie-up. This time, Flamingo acts quickly to push Nick back ever so slightly, granting him just enough space to take Nick down in a drop toe hold. Flamingo then floats over to beside Nick’s head. When Nick tries to raise himself up to all fours, Flamingo places his body across Nick’s upper back to weigh him down. Flamingo then tucks Nick’s near arm between his legs and rolls sideways to trap Nick in a crucifix pin.
1.................
KICKOUT
Both men pop back to their feet, and this time, Nick stares at Flamingo in a bit of surprise. The two allow themselves a quick breather while strafing around the ring once and immediately go back to the tie-up. Nick acts first by taking Flamingo into a side headlock. Flamingo twists his body inwards to wriggle his head out of Nick’s grasp while throwing up his far arm to wrap it around Nick’s head, effectively taking him into a side headlock. Nick takes hold of the arm Flamingo has wrapped around his head and pries it away from his head to pop himself loose. Nick takes that same arm and twists it up and behind Flamingo’s head into an overhead wrist lock. Nick then uses his near leg to sweep out Flamingo’s feet from under him, forcing him down to the mat. Flamingo rolls backward to twist his arm back into position, also getting back to his feet in the process. Nick continues to keep control over Flamingo’s arm, Nick’s arms wrapped around it while pressing it against his chest. Flamingo frees himself by quickly jerking his arm away from Nick. Flamingo then takes Nick’s near arm into an extended wrist lock and wrenches it forward. Flamingo pulls Nick in toward himself and takes him over with a fireman’s carry. Flamingo quickly backs away into his corner as Nick rolls through the impact and back onto his feet. Seeing that Nick has recovered already, Flamingo decides it isn’t worth it to pursue the assault and instead decides to back off into his corner to take a breather.
McNally: Excellent strategy from Flamingo here. He knows this is a marathon, not a sprint; therefore, he won’t risk too much to try and get a quick pinfall here.
Nick backs away into the opposite corner and allows himself some time to catch his breath as well. The two eventually tie up once more. After grappling for a while, Nick throws down Flamingo’s arms to break the tie-up. Flamingo lunges in for another tie-up. This time, Flamingo throws his arms down to break it up. Now Nick moves in to lock up with Flamingo. This time, Nick is able to power Flamingo back into the corner. After some beckoning from RAF, Nick backs away from Flamingo, though he is sure to keep his hands up so as not to catch a cheap shot from Flamingo. Nick returns to the center of the ring, and Flamingo follows soon afterward. Flamingo extends his hand, drawing Nick to move in for a test of strength, but as soon as Nick takes a step forward, Flamingo hurls forth a toe kick. However, Nick quickly pulls his body away and out of range. Flamingo extends his hand once more, and yet again does Nick move in to engage him, though this time Nick throws forth a roundhouse kick aimed for Flamingo’s knee. Flamingo is able to quickly pull his leg up and out of the way of the strike. Both men tie up. Flamingo takes hold of Nick’s arm and spins around to twist it behind Nick’s back into a hammerlock. Nick steps backward and under Flamingo’s near arm to twist it behind Flamingo’s back into a hammerlock. Nick jerks Flamingo’s arm upward a few times to apply more pressure. Nick then forces Flamingo down into a prone position. With the hammerlock still applied, Nick quickly jerks Flamingo’s arm toward himself, almost snapping it at the elbow joint. Flamingo is eventually able to fight back into seated position. Nick pulls Flamingo back to his feet. Flamingo steps backward and under Nick’s arm while twisting his arm behind his back to apply a hammerlock of his own. Nick steps backward and under Flamingo’s arm to counter it into another hammerlock. Flamingo quickly backs up into the corner, squashing Nick between himself and the turnbuckle. Flamingo then drapes his free arm around the top rope to earn his freedom.
As Flamingo backs away into the center of the ring, Nick stays at the corner and takes a few deep breaths before moving in to engage his opponent. They lock up into a two-handed knuckle lock. This leaves Flamingo without a way to guard his ribcage as Nick strikes with a roundhouse kick. Flamingo releases the knuckle lock and clutches his side for a brief moment. Once Flamingo has recovered, he launches a toe kick aimed for Nick’s abdomen, but Nick turns his body to the side and swats away Flamingo’s foot with his near hand. The two lock up once more into the knuckle lock. Flamingo places his head underneath Nick’s arm, and after releasing Nick’s hands, Flamingo quickly sidesteps to end up behind Nick and lock arms around his waist. Before Flamingo can fully cinch in the hold, Nick jerks his body to the side to break Flamingo’s grip. Nick then takes hold of Flamingo’s arm and wrenches it forward. Flamingo rolls forward to twist his arm back into position. After getting to his feet, Flamingo performs a one-handed cartwheel, then takes Nick’s arm and wrenches it forward. Nick uses his free arm to strike Flamingo in the wrist, forcing Flamingo to release him. Nick then drops down to the mat and hooks his legs around Flamingo’s to take him to the mat with an inverted drop toe hold. Nick immediately springs up to seat himself across Flamingo’s back and pull his head up to apply the camel clutch. However, Flamingo is able to pry Nick’s hands apart. Flamingo then forces himself back up to all fours and takes hold of Nick’s legs before sweeping them out from under him, causing Nick to fall backward to the mat. Flamingo keeps hold of Nick’s ankle as he gets to his feet. Flamingo drags Nick back to the center of the ring and flips him over into prone position before pouncing on Nick to apply a side headlock. Flamingo drapes his near leg across Nick’s back to keep him pinned to the mat. Nick is eventually able to fight his way back to his feet and backs Flamingo up into the ropes. Nick bounces Flamingo off the ropes and uses the recoil to shove Flamingo away to the opposite ropes, effectively popping his head out of Flamingo’s grasp. As Flamingo runs to the opposite ropes, Nick returns to the center of the ring. Flamingo bounces off and hits Nick with a shoulder block, but Nick doesn’t budge. Instead, Nick throws a knife-edge chop, though Flamingo ducks. When Nick turns to face him again, Flamingo takes him into a side headlock. Flamingo then grounds Nick with a side headlock takeover. Flamingo places the bulk of his weight across Nick’s chest to pin his shoulders to the mat.
1..................
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:29:36 GMT -5
Nick jerks his body sideways toward Flamingo to lift a shoulder off the mat. Flamingo traps Nick’s near arm between his legs for good measure. Nick throws his legs up and wraps them around Flamingo’s head to lock in the headscissors. Nick uses his hand to elevate himself high into the air and pull up on Flamingo’s neck. Flamingo rolls to the side to force Nick into a seated position. Nick still keeps the headscissors applied. Flamingo places both hands on Nick’s knees and pushes up to pop his head out.
POW!
Nick catches Flamingo in the jaw with a forearm strike.
POW!...POW!
Two more in quick succession are enough to daze Flamingo, and Nick forces Flamingo’s head back down to the mat and applies the headscissors once more. This time, Nick hooks his arms under Flamingo’s to further trap him. Flamingo is eventually able to separate Nick’s hands, forcing Nick to unhook Flamingo’s arms. Flamingo again places his hands on Nick’s knees and pushes up to pop his head out from Nick’s grasp. This time, Flamingo immediately pounces on Nick by wrapping his near arm around Nick’s neck and forcing him down into the mat in a side headlock. Nick is eventually able to fight his way back up to his feet, Flamingo keeping the side headlock applied. Nick tries to lift Flamingo up for a belly to back suplex, but Flamingo uses the momentum to complete a full backflip and land on his feet behind Nick. When Nick turns to face Flamingo, Flamingo grounds him with a side headlock takeover. Flamingo keeps his arm wrapped around Nick’s head to apply another side headlock. Nick rolls to the side and places his arm in between Flamingo’s leg to roll him up into a school boy!
1...............
........2.........
Flamingo rolls himself back into seated position, reapplying the side headlock. Nick fights his way back to his feet and backs Flamingo up against the ropes. Nick grabs hold of the middle rope, forcing Flamingo to release him. Flamingo lets go.
THUD!
Nick drills a shoulder into Flamingo’s gut.
THUD!......THUD!
Two more to drive home the point. Nick turns away from Flamingo and locks him in a three-quarter facelock before taking him to the mat with a snapmare. Nick applies a sleeper hold soon afterward. Flamingo twists his body outward so that he and Nick end up in a prone position and quickly pulls his head out from under Nick’s arm. Flamingo then immediately takes Nick into a front facelock. Flamingo pulls Nick back up to his feet and shifts it into a cravate, then shifting that into a side headlock. Flamingo takes Nick to the mat with another side headlock takeover, keeping the side headlock applied afterward. In retaliation, Nick thrusts his near arm outward to rub it up against Flamingo’s face. Nick eventually pushes himself back to his feet and makes his way to the corner. Nick grabs the middle rope, and Flamingo is forced to break the hold. Nick backs away, but not before...
CHOP!............CHOP!......CHOP!...CHOP!
Nick whips Flamingo into the opposite corner. Flamingo sticks his foot out to stop a collision with the turnbuckle. Nick charges at Flamingo with a clothesline aimed for the back of Flamingo’s head, but Flamingo ducks. When Nick turns to face Flamingo, Flamingo takes him down with a side headlock takeover, yet again cinching in the side headlock.
McNally: Flamingo cleverly setting the pace of the match with this rest hold. You can really tell it’s acting to wear Durden down.
Nick yet again pushes up to his feet. This time, Flamingo runs to the turnbuckle and runs up to the top rope. Flamingo pushes off and spins both himself and Nick around back to the center of the ring. Flamingo then takes Nick down with another side headlock takeover, the side headlock tenaciously applied as always. Nick gets to his feet once more.
PUNCH! PUNCH!
Quick punches into Flamingo’s exposed abdomen.
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!....PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!.......PUNCH! PUNCH!
The flurry stuns Flamingo enough to allow Nick to lift Flamingo up and slam him back down with a belly to back suplex, but Flamingo still keeps the side headlock applied!
Edison: What incredible tenacity from Flamingo here! He’s keeping the hold cinched in tighter than that squirrel holding onto the nut in those Ice Age commercials!
Nick fights up to his feet and backs Flamingo up against the ropes. Nick uses the recoil to shove Flamingo away to the opposite ropes, effectively popping his head out of his grasp. Nick returns to the center of the ring as Flamingo bounces off and nails Nick in the chest with a shoulder block. However, Nick doesn’t seem to feel any impact as he keeps his footing firm. Nick points to the ropes, signaling for Flamingo to try the move again. Flamingo runs to the ropes and bounces off with another shoulder block, but Nick’s resolve is just as strong as it was last time as he refuses to go down. Nick shoves the palm of his hand toward Flamingo’s head and smears it straight across Flamingo’s face! Nick commands Flamingo to go for another shoulder block. Flamingo follows suit and runs to the ropes, bouncing off with of course another shoulder block, but Nick yet again is unyielding to his attack. Flamingo looks back at Nick in utter amazement before turning away from him, presumably to run for the ropes again, but it was only a feint! In the blink of an eye, Flamingo spins around to face Nick again and launches a clothesline, but Nick ducks. When Flamingo turns to face Nick again, he gets some furious open-handed slaps across the face.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!....SLAP! SLAP!
Nick whips Flamingo to the ropes. When Flamingo bounces off, Nick hurls him over with a hip toss! Nick moves in to continue his attack, but Flamingo throws his legs up and kicks out to shove Nick away. This gives Flamingo just enough time to get to his feet. Nick runs toward him again, and Flamingo takes him over in an arm drag! Nick rolls through and gets to his feet while Flamingo rises to his knees. Nick charges at Flamingo again, and Flamingo uses his arm to sweep Nick’s feet out from under him. After Nick falls back to the mat, Flamingo gets to his feet and tries for an elbow drop, but Nick moves out of the way! Both men spring back to their feet, but Nick is a split second quicker as he grabs a tuft of Flamingo’s hair and bends him forward. Nick then tries to throw a toe kick into Flamingo’s exposed face, but Flamingo lifts his head up just quickly enough to watch Nick’s foot sail past his face. Flamingo sidesteps to end up behind Nick and roll him up into a school boy!
1..................
..........2............
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:30:41 GMT -5
Nick scampers toward the ropes and slides out under the bottom rope. He stands near the barricade with his hands on his hips and his chest heaving as he struggles to catch his breath.
McNally: It’s rare to see Durden running from a fight, but Flamingo’s putting together one hell of an effort here.
A fan directly behind Nick can be seen heckling him, and Nick promptly respnds by launching a mule kick to kick the barricade straight back at the fan. Nick is eventually forced to reenter the ring by RAF’s impending 10 count. Nick and Flamingo have a brief stare down before closing in on each other again. Nick lunges at Flamingo for the tie-up, but Flamingo sidesteps to end up behind Nick and lock arms around his waist. Flamingo lifts Nick high into the air, only to slam him straight back down to the mat stomach-first! Flamingo places the bulk of his weight across Nick’s back as he continues to squeeze the air out of him. Nick fights his way up to all fours. Flamingo releases Nick and quickly scurries over to his head to apply a front facelock. Nick twists his body outward away from Flamingo to pry his arm open and effect his escape. Nick then shoves Flamingo down into prone position, but Flamingo quickly scurries back around into seated position and spins around to face Nick once more before applying another front facelock. Nick counters again by twisting himself outward and yet again shoves Flamingo down into prone position. Nick floats over to Flamingo’s head and tries to apply the front facelock, but Flamingo follows suit and slips out of Nick’s grasp. Flamingo lunges forth to try and take Nick into a front facelock of his own, but Nick quickly pulls his head out and rolls over to seat himself across Flamingo’s back. Nick reaches down for Flamingo’s head to set up for a camel clutch, but Flamingo places his arms over the back of his head to block.
McNally: Smart defensive maneuver from Flamingo there.
Edison: I believe many martial arts masters call that “The Way of the Armadillo.”
McNally: How many martial arts masters do you know, exactly?
Edison: ....er, back to the action.
Nick tries to pry Flamingo’s arms apart to expose his head but eventually realizes it is to no avail. Nick rises up off Flamingo’s back, but not before slapping him right between the shoulder blades, telling him to get back up as well. Flamingo does so, and he and Nick lock up into another test of strength.
HEADBUTT!
Without his arms to guard him, Flamingo is left wide open to a headbutt from Nick!
HEADBUTT!...HEADBUTT!...HEADBUTT!...........CHOP!............SLAP!...SLAP! SLAP!
Nick throws more slaps, but Flamingo puts his arms up to block them.
KICK!
Roundhouse kick straight into Flamingo’s face. This stuns Flamingo, forcing him to drop his guard.
SLAP! SLAP!
Nick tries for a lariat, but Flamingo ducks.
ELBOW!
Thunderous Bionic Elbows from Flamingo!
ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!.........ELBOW!
Flamingo tries for a clothesline, but Nick ducks. When Flamingo turns to face him again, Nick hits Flamingo with a booming roundhouse kick that catches him square in the jaw!
McNally: Flamingo trying to get into a striking contest with Durden, and that can’t be the smartest of tactics. Durden has proved himself to be one of the most lethal strikers in this company.
Flamingo collapses to the mat and rolls out of the ring. Nick moves over to the corner and takes a rest as he leans against the turnbuckle. Flamingo eventually labors back to his feet and rolls back into the ring. Nick moves to meet him in the center of the ring. Nick cocks his leg for a roundhouse to Flamingo’s knee, but Flamingo has the foresight to sidestep and pull his knee out of range. Nick lunges at him for the tie-up, but Flamingo ducks. When Nick turns to face him again, the two lock up in a test of strength. Nick eventually overpowers Flamingo and pushes down on his wrists to force him down to his knees. Flamingo falls onto his back and throws his legs up to wrap them around Nick’s neck, presumably in the hopes of taking him over with a hurricarana, but Nick keeps his footing firm. Nick drives more weight down on top of Flamingo to pin his shoulders to the mat.
1................
.........2...........
Flamingo pulls his left shoulder off the mat! Nick bears down with more pressure this time to pin Flamingo’s shoulders to the mat again.
1.....................
...........2.........
Flamingo raises his right shoulder! Flamingo unwraps his legs from around Nick’s head and places his feet against Nick’s stomach. Nick pulls Flamingo up so that he’s back onto his feet again. Flamingo then hops up and plants his feet against Nick’s stomach before falling backward and taking him over with a monkey flip! With his hands still clasped around Nick’s, Flamingo rolls over onto his stomach, rolling Nick over as well. However, Nick recovers to rise to his feet a split second faster and proceeds to push down on Flamingo’s wrists, forcing him to drop to his knees. Flamingo falls backward and kicks out toward Nick’s arm! Nick unclasps hands with Flamingo and reels back as he favors his arm. Flamingo gets to his feet and pursues by planting a stomp on Nick’s head. Flamingo raises Nick to his feet and wrenches forward the same arm he targeted with that kick. Flamingo then plants a series of punches down onto the trapped arm.
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
Flamingo takes Nick over with an arm drag. Flamingo covers.
1.................
.........2..........
KICKOUT
Flamingo raises the targeted arm off the mat, only to slam it straight back down! Nick bellows in agony. Flamingo pulls Nick up into seated position and drills a dropkick into Nick’s targeted arm! Flamingo pulls Nick to his feet.
CHOP!
Nick is sent reeling into the corner. Flamingo doesn’t let up.
CHOP!..............CHOP!
Nick suddenly explodes from the corner and turns the tides as he grabs hold of Flamingo by the head and spins around before shoving Flamingo back into the corner. Nick then unloads a chop of his own! But just as quickly as the momentum came to him, Nick has lost it as Flamingo grabs hold of Nick’s head and spins around to shove him back into the corner. Flamingo hurls a thunderous CHOP that drops Nick into seated position. Flamingo pulls Nick up and away from the corner. Flamingo then takes Nick’s injured arm and twists it behind his back into a hammerlock. Flamingo forces Nick down to the mat into prone position with the hammerlock still applied. Flamingo drags Nick back up to his feet and shifts the hold into an extended wrist lock. Nick tries for a forearm strike with his free arm, but Flamingo ducks. Still holding onto Nick’s arm, Flamingo violently jerks it away from Nick, almost as if he’s attempting to pull it straight out of the socket! Flamingo then buries a shoulder block into Nick’s near shoulder. Flamingo steps under Nick’s arm and wrenches it forward again. Flamingo then twists the arm to the outside as he backs away toward the corner. Still holding onto Nick’s arm, Flamingo then climbs to the top turnbuckle and in true Undertaker fashion, begins walking across the top rope. Flamingo takes a few steps and leaps off to hit a leg lariat across Nick’s injured shoulder! Flamingo pulls Nick up, only to ground him with a snapmare, applying the sleeper hold soon afterward. Flamingo also makes sure to hook his leg around the shoulder he’s been targeting this whole time. Flamingo then reaches under with his free arm to take hold of Nick’s injured arm and twist it behind his back into a hammerlock. Flamingo then shoves Nick down into prone position. After fighting his way back up to his feet, Nick throws a few elbows back into the side of Flamingo’s head.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:31:02 GMT -5
WHAM!............WHAM!...........WHAM!
This forces Flamingo to release Nick. Nick runs to the ropes and bounces off, straight into an arm drag from Flamingo! Flamingo wraps his arm around Nick’s near arm and pulls up to hyperextend the elbow. Flamingo also plants a knee into Nick’s neck to keep him pinned to the mat. Flamingo then pulls Nick up into seated position and pulls Nick’s arm up and behind his head into an overhead wrist lock. Nick manages to get to his feet and with Flamingo still holding onto his arm, Nick throws his body forward to flip Flamingo over and back down to the mat in a judo throw! However, Flamingo just rolls through the impact and back onto his knees while keeping the overhead wrist lock applied. Flamingo forces Nick down to the mat and pins his shoulders down.
1..................
.........2...........
KICKOUT
Flamingo pulls Nick back up into seated position. Flamingo release the hold, but not before drilling another dropkick into the arm immediately afterward! Flamingo raises Nick to his feet and takes hold of his arm into another extended wrist lock. Flamingo then wrenches Nick’s arm forward, but Nick strikes back with a forearm strike! Flamingo retaliates by wrenching Nick’s arm forward. Nick throws another forearm strike. Flamingo wrenches Nick’s arm forward. Nick throws a toe kick into Flamingo’s wrist, forcing him to release Nick’s arm. Nick then executes a 360 spin and decks Flamingo with a discus elbow strike! Nick grounds Flamingo with a snapmare, followed quickly by a knife-edge chop across his back. Nick then throws a roundhouse kick aimed for Flamingo’s chest, but Flamingo catches Nick’s leg! Flamingo falls backward, causing Nick to fall face-first to the mat. Flamingo then floats over to Nick’s head and applies a side headlock. Nick pushes back up to his feet and backs Flamingo into the ropes. Nick then tries to shoves Flamingo away to pop his head out from Flamingo’s grasp, but Flamingo grabs hold of Nick’s arm again and pulls him into another side headlock! Nick backs Flamingo into the ropes and shoves him away, but yet again does Flamingo grab hold of Nick’s arm and pull him back into another side headlock. Nick powers his way to the ropes again, but this time, both men go through the ropes and to the outside! Amazingly, they both manage to land on their feet, Flamingo keeping the side headlock applied throughout the tumble. Nick then wastes no time in lifting Flamingo high into the air and dropping him in a belly to back suplex! Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and rolls him back into the ring. Nick slides in and makes the cover.
1.................
..........2...........
KICKOUT
Nick pulls Flamingo up and flips him over with a snapmare. Nick slaps a seated Flamingo across the back with a knife-edge chop and tries for another roundhouse kick into Flamingo’s chest, but Flamingo catches his leg again! Nick slaps Flamingo across the back again, forcing Flamingo to release his leg, allowing Nick to smack Flamingo in the chest with a roundhouse kick! Nick runs to the ropes and bounces off to land a knee drop onto Flamingo’s face! Nick covers.
1......................
.........2.............
KICKOUT
Flamingo crawls over to the corner and pulls himself up by the ropes, only to be caught by a quick flurry from Nick.
JAB!..........CHOP!...........JAB!.........CHOP!.........JAB!...........CHOP!
Nick sweeps Flamingo’s feet out from under him with his leg. Flamingo drops into seated position. Nick places the sole of his foot across Flamingo’s face and smears it across in a facewash combo!
FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH!
Nick runs to the opposite ropes and bounces off, hoping to land a running facewash, but Flamingo wisely rolls away to turnbuckle to his side. Nick gives chase, only to catch a toe kick to the abdomen. Flamingo catches a dazed Nick with a series of Bionic Elbows.
ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!
Flamingo whips Nick into the opposite corner and charges at him to land a clothesline. Nick falls flaccidly into seated position. Flamingo now takes a page out of Nick’s book and places the sole of his boot against the side of Nick’s face before swiping it across in a facewash combo!
FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH!
Flamingo runs to the opposite ropes and bounces off to land a final running facewash! Flamingo pulls Nick away from the corner and makes the cover.
1.....................
..........2...........
KICKOUT
Flamingo pulls Nick up and whips him into the corner. Flamingo then climbs to the top rope so that he’s standing on the turnbuckle directly behind Nick. Flamingo places his knee across Nick’s back and falls forward, driving Nick face-first into the mat! Flamingo rolls Nick over onto his stomach and covers.
1...................
.........2..............
Nick places a foot on the bottom rope to break the pinfall! Flamingo grabs hold of the leg Nick draped across the rope and hooks it into another cover.
1....................
.........2.........
KICKOUT
Flamingo raises Nick to his feet and grabs hold of his arm before wrenching it forward. Still holding onto Nick’s arm, Flamingo then tries for a hooking heel kick, but Nick uses his free arm to catch Flamingo’s leg and plants a roundhouse kick into the knee of Flamingo’s other leg! Flamingo drops to one knee. Nick forces Flamingo down into prone position. Nick then places Flamingo’s captured leg between his ankle and thigh and falls across Flamingo’s back before grabbing hold of Flamingo’s head and pulling it backward into an STF! Flamingo hurls some vicious elbow strikes back into Nick’s head.
POW!...POW!
Nick is forced to break the hold. Nick takes a moment to shake out the cobwebs before lifting Flamingo to his feet. Nick whips Flamingo the opposite corner. Nick runs after him, straight into a back elbow from Flamingo. Nick stumbles back to the center of the ring. Flamingo climbs to the top rope facing away from the ring and leaps back with a reverse crossbody, but Nick quickly sidesteps out of the way, leaving Flamingo to crash and burn to the mat! Nick pulls Flamingo up and gets behind him. Nick then takes Flamingo into an inverted facelock and hits the Irish Screwdriver! Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and lifts him up for a vertical suplex. Nick holds him up there for a while before falling into seated position and driving Flamingo between his legs in a Blue BrainWash! Nick hooks the leg for the cover!
1...........................
............2..............
.............KICKOUT!
Edison: Incredible resolve from Flamingo! The very move that allowed Durden to defeat him for the very first time has just failed to put him away!
Nick drags Flamingo up to his feet again, and Flamingo comes out of nowhere with a series of knife-edge chops.
CHOP!.............CHOP!.............CHOP!...............CHOP!
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:31:35 GMT -5
Flamingo runs to the ropes and bounces off. Nick drops into prone position to allow Flamingo to hurdle over him, but as Nick is getting to his feet, Flamingo comes to a sudden stop and strikes with a dropkick! Flamingo pulls Nick up, and Nick immediately counters with a leg sweep that catches Flamingo straight across the knees! Flamingo falls face-first to the mat, allowing Nick to take hold of his leg and flip him over onto his back. Nick then hooks his arms around Flamingo’s legs and flips him over into a Boston crab. When Flamingo begins clawing his way to the ropes, Nick unhooks his arms around Flamingo’s legs and instead drapes Flamingo’s legs over his shoulders.
McNally: Sound mat strategy from Durden there. This new positioning of the submission hold allows him to place his full weight across Flamingo’s back.
However, despite the clever positioning, Flamingo is still able to make his way to the ropes. Nick releases him and raises him to his feet before whipping him into the corner. Nick follows up his assault with another striking combo.
JAB!..............PUNCH! PUNCH!.........PUNCH! PUNCH! SLAP!
Nick whips Flamingo to the opposite corner so hard that Flamingo bounces right off and bellyflops to the mat. Nick grabs a tuft of Flamingo’s hair and pulls him up to all fours before drilling a series of toe kicks into his face.
KICK!..............KICK!...............KICK! KICK! KICK! KICK! KICK! KICK! KICK!
Amazingly, Flamingo pushes himself back to his feet just in time to launch a punch into Nick’s jaw. Nick strikes back with a slap. Flamingo counters with a Bionic Elbow, Nick right back with a chop.
ELBOW!....CHOP!...ELBOW!....CHOP!....ELBOW!
Nick finally breaks the deadlock with a thunderous European uppercut that floors Flamingo. Nick covers.
1..................
.........2............
KICKOUT
Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and again whips him hard into the turnbuckle so that he bounces off and falls back to the mat. Nick pulls Flamingo up to his knees and strikes with a roundhouse kick combination to Flamingo’s chest.
KICK!.................KICK!.........KICK!......................KICK!
The final one sends Flamingo reeling into the corner. Now with Flamingo in seated position, Nick shoves the sole of his foot across Flamingo’s face in a facewash combo.
FACEWASH!...FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH!
Nick runs to the opposite ropes and bounces off to land a running facewash! Nick tries to pull Flamingo back up by the hair, and RAF seems to have had enough with this and gives Nick the order not to pull on Flamingo’s hair. Nick bumps chests with RAF and backs him up into the corner, but this only leaves Nick open to a clubbing forearm across his back from Flamingo! Flamingo pulls Nick back to the center of the ring and buries some toe kicks into his abdomen.
KICK!......................KICK!.....................KICK!
Nick comes charging back with a running elbow strike! Flamingo stumbles back in a daze. Nick takes Flamingo into a front facelock and buries alternating knee lifts into his sternum.
KNEE!...KNEE!...KNEE!..........KNEE!
Upon release, Flamingo drops like a sack of bricks to the mat. Nick covers.
1....................
..........2............
KICKOUT
Nick pulls Flamingo up into seated position and gets to his feet before drilling a roundhouse kick into his back. Nick again pulls Flamingo up by the hair, giving RAF no choice but to begin the five count for the illegal hold. Nick is sure to release before five. Nick decks Flamingo with an elbow strike that backs Flamingo into the corner. Nick unloads another striking combo.
JAB!...CHOP!....JAB!...CHOP!
Nick whips Flamingo to the opposite corner. Nick gives chase, only to catch a boot to his face for the trouble! Nick staggers back to the center of the ring, and Flamingo climbs up to the second rope and leaps off to nail a diving clothesline on Nick! Nick rolls out of the ring and to the outside. As Nick is stumbling around, Flamingo runs to the ropes opposite of him and bounces off to dive through the ropes and barrel into Nick with a tope suicida! Flamingo gets to his feet and grabs hold of the timekeeper’s chair. Flamingo walks over to the barricade and sets up the chair. Flamingo raises Nick to his feet and drags him over to the chair before seating him onto it. Flamingo then unloads some more Bionic Elbows.
ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!
Believing Nick to be adequately stunned, Flamingo runs to the opposite end of the barricade, only to come charging back at Nick and bury the sole of his boot into Nick’s face!
Fans: ONE MORE TIME! ONE MORE TIME!
Flamingo is more than happy to oblige as he moves to the ring and pulls out another chair from under the apron.
McNally: You’ll notice RAF not counting out these two men. There’s no point for this to result in a double count out.
Flamingo then sets up that chair on the side of the barricade opposite of Nick. Flamingo moves back to Nick and pulls him to the opposite chair before seating him. This time, Flamingo drives the sole of his boot into Nick’s throat to choke him. Flamingo then slugs Nick with a few more punches before running to the opposite barricade. As anticipated, Flamingo comes barreling back toward Nick to drill his boot into Nick’s face! Flamingo then mounts the apron while waiting for Nick to get back up. As soon as Nick labors up to his feet, Flamingo leaps off and catches Nick’s head between his legs for a hurricarana, but Flamingo is unable to flip Nick over! Nick holds Flamingo suspended in the air for a second, then swings him sideways, slamming him into the barricade! Nick lifts Flamingo to his feet and blasts him with a roundhouse kick that forces Flamingo to take a seat in the chair. Nick runs to the far end of the barricade and runs toward Flamingo in hopes of landing his own yakuza kick, but Flamingo explodes up out of his seat and greets an incoming Nick with a Bionic Elbow! Nick isn’t dazed, though, and strikes back with a vicious knife-edge chop!
ELBOW!....CHOP!.....ELBOW!.....CHOP!......ELBOW!...... CHOP!.......ELBOW!........CHOP!..........ELBOW!...... ..CHOP!...... ELBOW!........CHOP!........CHOP!.........CHOP!.................CHOP!
The final chop sends Flamingo back into his seat. Nick runs to the opposite side of the barricade again and comes charging back toward Flamingo, this time successfully jamming a yakuza kick straight into Flamingo’s face! Nick pulls Flamingo back up and rolls him back into the ring, following him soon afterward. Flamingo pulls himself up by the ropes and leans against the turnbuckle, but this only leaves him open to a jab from Nick. Nick then whips Flamingo to the opposite corner. Before colliding with the turnbuckle, though, Flamingo grabs hold of the top rope to stop his run. Flamingo then hops up so that his body is suspended horizontally in the air, allowing him to catch Nick’s head in between his legs. Flamingo tucks his body in, using a headscissors to pull Nick into the turnbuckle! Flamingo runs to the opposite corner and runs back toward Nick, just in time to catch a boot to the face! Flamingo stumbles back to the center of the ring. Nick runs after him and plants him in an STO! Nick covers.
1......................
...........2............
..............KICKOUT!
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:32:53 GMT -5
Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and tries to whip him into the ropes, but Flamingo counters and sends Nick into the ropes. Nick hooks his arms around the top rope to prevent himself from bouncing back. Flamingo runs toward Nick, and Nick flips him over the top rope in a back body drop. Flamingo lands on the apron. When Nick turns to face Flamingo, Flamingo thrusts a shoulder through the ropes, hoping to catch Nick in the stomach, but Nick sidesteps. With Flamingo’s head still sticking through the ropes, Nick launches a toe kick straight into Flamingo’s face! Flamingo is sent tumbling to the outside. Nick runs to the opposite ropes and bounces off to flip over the top rope and come crashing down on top of Flamingo with a high angle senton! Nick pulls Flamingo up and rolls him back onto the apron. Nick mounts the apron and raises Flamingo up to his feet so that both men are standing on the apron. Nick sets Flamingo up for a suplex, but Flamingo hooks his leg around Nick’s to block. Flamingo then drills a punch into Nick’s exposed abdomen. Nick counters with a knee strike into Flamingo’s ribcage. Nick removes his head from under Flamingo’s arm to take him in a front facelock. Nick then leaps sideways to drop off the apron and drill Flamingo’s head to the apron in a DDT! Nick reenters the ring. Flamingo manages to get to his feet and climbs onto the apron at around the 8 count. Nick lifts Flamingo up for a suplex, but Flamingo wriggles out of Nick’s grasp and lands on his feet behind Nick. When Nick turns to face him, Flamingo drills a dropkick into Nick’s knee! Flamingo runs to the opposite ropes and bounces off, straight into a burning lariat from Nick! Nick covers.
1....................
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KICKOUT
Nick pulls Flamingo up and plants him in a scoop slam. Nick climbs up to the top rope with a 450 splash, but Flamingo moves out of the way! Both men lie motionless on the mat for a while. Eventually the two manage to get to their knees. Flamingo acts first with a Bionic Elbow. Nick strikes back with a forearm strike.
ELBOW!..................FOREARM!.......................ELBOW!................FOREARM!.................ELBOW!................. FOREARM!..............ELBOW! ................FOREARM!......... .......FOREARM!..............SLAP!
Nick gains the upper hand and pulls Flamingo to his feet.
ELBOW!...ELBOW!
Nick tries for a lariat, but Flamingo ducks. Before Nick can turn to face him, Flamingo traps Nick’s arm against his chest and drills a hooking heel kick into Nick’s gut that causes him to double over. Still holding onto Nick’s arm, Flamingo steps over Nick’s arm, placing it between his legs. Flaming then lifts up his leg, driving his heel up into Nick’s face. Flamingo turns to face Nick again and decks him with a series of Bionic Elbows!
ELBOW!...............ELBOW!...............ELBOW!.................. ELBOW!.......ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!
Flamingo runs to the ropes and bounces off, only to be caught in a powerslam from Nick! Nick covers.
1.....................
.........2..............
KICKOUT
Nick takes hold of Flamingo’s arm and places it between his legs before falling backward to lock in the juji-gatame. Flamingo flails his legs wildly, eventually able to hook one around the bottom rope. Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and bends him forward to take him into a standing headscissors. Nick then lifts Flamingo up for a powerbomb, but Flamingo takes Nick over in a hurricarana! Nick rolls through the impact and back onto his feet, and Flamingo decks him with a running Bionic Elbow! Flamingo covers.
1......................
.............2............
KICKOUT
Flamingo pulls Nick up and drags him over to the corner. Flamingo then lifts Nick up into belly to back suplex position and seats him on the top rope facing away from the ring. Flamingo turns away from Nick and reaches back to grab hold of Nick’s head before falling down into a Cradle Robber from the top rope! Flamingo pulls Nick slightly away from the ropes and covers.
1...................
..........2...........
KICKOUT
Flamingo raises Nick to his feet and takes him into a front facelock. Flamingo then seats himself on the top rope. Flamingo spins around, hoping to land a tornado DDT, but before Flamingo call fall back down to the mat, Nick tosses Flamingo away so that he lands on his feet in the center of the ring. Nick runs at Flamingo and tries for a clothesline, but Flamingo ducks. When Nick turns to face him, Flamingo hits a toe kick and applies a front facelock. Flamingo then runs to the corner and up to the top rope before spinning around and drilling Nick’s head into the mat with a tornado DDT! Flamingo covers.
1....................
...........2............
KICKOUT
Flamingo takes Nick into a side headlock and presses his weight across Nick’s chest to pin his shoulders to the mat.
1..................
Nick raises his far shoulder off the mat. Flamingo keeps the side headlock applied. Nick scurries over to the ropes and places his leg onto the bottom rope. Flamingo is forced to release Nick. Flamingo pulls Nick up and sets him up for a suplex, but Nick hooks his leg around Flamingo’s leg to block the attempt. Flamingo drills a knee into Nick’s gut, but this doesn’t stop Nick from lifting Flamingo up into a suplex. However, Flamingo wriggles out of Nick’s grasp and lands on his feet behind Nick. Flamingo runs to the ropes, and Nick greets him with a Gyroscope Kick! Nick covers.
1..................
...........2............
..............KICKOUT!
Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and lifts him up into a fireman’s carry. Then Nick throws Flamingo forward, dropping him stomach-first across his knee! As Flamingo pushes himself up to all fours, Nick runs to the ropes and bounces off to smack Flamingo across the face with a toe kick! Nick spins Flamingo around and lifts him up into an Argentine backbreaker rack. Nick then tosses Flamingo forward. As Flamingo falls down, Nick raises his knee, jamming it into the back of Flamingo’s head for Le Petite Morte! Nick covers!
1......................
.............2..............
.............KICKOUT!
Edison: My goodness! Not an ounce of quit in Flamingo tonight as he kicks out of another finisher!
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:36:08 GMT -5
Nick stares down at Flamingo in disbelief for a brief moment. However, he knows he can’t let up on Flamingo if he hopes to win this match. Nick lifts Flamingo to his feet and runs to the ropes, bouncing off with a clothesline, but Flamingo ducks. Before Nick can face him, Flamingo grabs hold of Nick’s arm and twists it behind his back into a hammerlock. Flamingo reaches around with his free arm and wraps it around Nick’s head, spinning him around into a front facelock. Finally, Flamingo falls backward to drive Nick’s head into the mat with a DDT! Flamingo covers.
1...................
..........2............
KICKOUT
Flamingo raises Nick to his feet and runs to the ropes. Flamingo bounces off with a clothesline, but Nick ducks. When Flamingo turns to face him, Nick is there to greet him with a toe kick that doubles Flamingo over. Nick traps Flamingo into a standing headscissors and plants him in a powerbomb, rolling Flamingo up into a bridge pin afterward.
1.................
...........2...........
KICKOUT
Nick hooks his arm around Flamingo’s leg and rolls him over onto his stomach before applying the STF. Despite Nick’s earnest efforts to weigh him down, Flamingo is able to pull himself to the ropes and drape his leg over the bottom rope. Nick pulls Flamingo up and gets behind him to lock in the full nelson. Flamingo raises his arms high into the air and quickly pulls them down to separate Nick’s hands and break the hold. Nick slaps Flamingo across the back and reapplies the full nelson. Flamingo throws an elbow back into Nick’s head to break the hold.
POW!...POW!
Two more for good measure. Flamingo turns to Nick again and hits a dropkick into Nick’s knee! Nick drops to one knee. As he pushes himself back to both feet, Flamingo runs to the ropes and bounces off to flip over Nick and roll him up into a sunset flip.
1................
..........2...........
KICKOUT
Both men bound to their feet again, but Flamingo is a split second faster to land a thunderous Bionic Elbow that sends Nick to the mat again! Flamingo covers.
1...................
..........2............
KICKOUT
Flamingo pulls Nick up and plants him in a scoop slam. Flamingo climbs to the top rope and feints a 450 splash, but instead leaps off to come crashing down on Nick with a 1978 Flamingo Special! Flamingo covers!
1......................
.............2............
..............KICKOUT!
Edison: And now it’s Durden’s turn to astonish the masses, kicking out of the same move that has put him away so many times!
Flamingo furiously pounds the mat in frustration before raising Nick to his feet. Suddenly, Nick comes out of nowhere to launch a lightning quick flurry of slaps.
SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!...SLAP! SLAP!
Nick tries for a roundhouse kick, but Flamingo ducks. Before Nick can turn to face him, Flamingo hops onto Nick’s back and applies a sleeper hold. Flamingo chokes Nick for a moment before Nick collapses to the mat in a flaccid heap. RAF raises Nick’s arm high into the air to see if he has lost consciousness. RAF lets go, and Nick’s arm falls back to the mat!
Crowd: ONE!
RAF repeats, only to get the same reaction!
Crowd: TWO!
McNally: This could be it. Can Flamingo take the advantage late into the match?
RAF lifts Nick’s arm up and lets go, but it doesn’t fall back to the mat! Instead, Nick rolls onto his stomach and pushes up back onto his feet. Flamingo shifts the hold into a side headlock. Nick lifts Flamingo high into the air and drops back to drill Flamingo in a backdrop driver! Both men get to their feet and run at the other to hit simultaneous clotheslines on each other!
Crowd: HO-LY-SHIT! HO-LY-SHIT!
Edison: There’s absolute carnage in the ring right now! It looks like the aftermath of an Irish family reunion!
Flamingo manages to get to his feet first and takes Flamingo into a front facelock. Flamingo then backs up to the corner and seats himself on the top rope. Nick buries some punches into Flamingo’s ribcage to force Flamingo to release him. Nick then unleashes a series of jabs into Flamingo’s face.
JAB!...JAB!...JAB!
Nick turns to face away from Flamingo and places his hands under Flamingo’s arms to spread them out to the side. Nick then flips Flamingo forward and slams him between his legs in Jesus Christ Pose!!
Crowd: THIS-IS-AWE-SOME!
*CLAP, CLAP, CLAPCLAPCLAP*
The two crawl to their respective corners and pull themselves up by the ropes. They desperately gasp for breath while hanging on for dear life by the top rope. Suddenly, the adrenaline begins coursing again as the chants of 90,000 strong are about to blow the roof right off Wembley. Nick and Flamingo charge in and lash out at each other with the same intensity they displayed at the very beginning of this match.
ELBOW!....CHOP!...ELBOW!...CHOP!...ELBOW!...CHOP!...FOREARM!...KICK!...KNEE!
Nick whips Flamingo to the ropes, and Flamingo bounces off to blast Nick with a shoulder block! Nick rolls under the bottom rope and out of the ring. Flamingo exits the ring to stand on the apron. When Nick turns to face him, Flamingo leaps off the apron to hit a double axe handle on Nick! With Nick lying near the barricade, Flamingo places his foot on top of Nick’s throat and steps down to choke him. Flamingo lifts Nick to his feet and rolls him back into the ring. Nick gets up as Flamingo reenters the ring and strikes back with a chop, but Flamingo counters with some Bionic Elbows.
ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!...ELBOW!
Nick is sent staggering into the corner. Flamingo whips Nick to the opposite turnbuckle. Flamingo runs after him and nails him with a clothesline. Flamingo begins wailing on Nick with some wild punches.
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!...PUNCH!........PUNCH!
The beating drops Nick into seated position. Flamingo plants the sole of his boot against Nick’s throat and steps down to choke him again. Flamingo pulls Nick away from the corner and drapes his neck over the middle rope. Flamingo then seats himself across Nick’s upper body to choke him against the middle rope, though he’s sure to unseat himself by RAF’s four count. Flamingo raises Nick to his feet and pulls him slightly away from the ropes before dropping him in a scoop slam. Flamingo grabs hold of the top rope and hops onto the bottom rope, using the recoil to propel himself high into the air and come down to drill two feet into Nick’s sternum. Flamingo pulls Nick up and clubs him across the back with a forearm. Nick retaliates with another thunderous chop. This time, though, Flamingo is not dazed in the slightest and merely glares back at Nick menacingly. Nick follows up his attack with a forearm. Flamingo hurls a Bionic Elbow that sends Nick staggering into the ropes. Nick drops to his knees as he drapes his upper body over the middle rope. Flamingo pursues by placing his knee across Nick’s back and pressing Nick into the rope, yet again making sure to let go before RAF’s five count. Flamingo lifts Nick to his feet and slugs him once. Nick responds with a series of his own punches.
JAB!...JAB!...JAB!
Another Bionic Elbow is enough to stop Nick’s flurry. Flamingo takes Nick to the mat with a snapmare and applies a sleeper hold afterward. When Nick manages to fight up to his feet, Flamingo nullifies any hope of a comeback with a forearm across the back. Flamingo whips Nick to the corner. Flamingo charges toward Nick and decks him with a clothesline. Nick collapses back down to the mat. Flamingo covers.
1.....................
..........2............
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:37:49 GMT -5
Nick places a foot across the bottom rope. Flamingo pulls Nick up to all fours and seats himself across Nick’s back to apply the camel clutch. Nick manages to reach out and grab the bottom rope. When Flamingo raises Nick to his feet, Nick comes out of nowhere with a series of chops.
CHOP!........CHOP!........CHOP!........CHOP!
Nick runs to the ropes and bounces off, but Flamingo is there to greet him with a Bionic Elbow! As Nick pushes himself back to his feet, Flamingo climbs to the top rope and leaps off to land a dropkick! Flamingo covers.
1.......................
.........2.............
KICKOUT
Flamingo plants two stomps across Nick’s back and pulls him up before ramming his face into the top turnbuckle. Flamingo tries to whip Nick to the opposite corner, but Nick counters and sends Flamingo to the corner. Nick runs after Flamingo, only to catch a boot to the face. Nick stumbles back to the center of the ring. Flamingo climbs up to the second rope and flies off with another double axe handle, but Nick drops to one knee so that Flamingo lands crotch-first onto Nick’s raised knee! Nick runs to the ropes and bounces off to hit a yakuza kick that catches Flamingo square in the jaw! Nick runs to the ropes again and bounces off to hit a senton splash across Flamingo’s gut! Nick covers.
1......................
.........2.............
KICKOUT
Nick pulls Flamingo up and strikes with another jab/chop combo that backs Flamingo up into the corner. Nick whips Flamingo to the opposite corner. Nick runs to Flamingo and hits a back elbow strike. Nick takes a few steps away from Flamingo and hits a Gyroscope Kick! This drops Flamingo into seated position, leaving himself open to a facewash combo.
FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH! FACEWASH!
Nick runs to the opposite ropes and lands the concluding facewash. Nick then drills a roundhouse kick into Flamingo’s throat. Nick pulls Flamingo up and unloads more strikes.
JAB!...............JAB!..................KICK!
Nick drags Flamingo away from the corner and grounds him with a snapmare, following that up by pulling Flamingo’s head back and dropping an elbow down into Flamingo’s nose! A close-up shows blood trickling from Flamingo’s nostrils.
Edison: You better believe that’s blood, folks. It’s the true indicator that things have gotten truly DAAAAAAAAANGEROOOOOOOOOUS!
McNally: Also keep in mind that an injury to the nose will make it harder for Flamingo to breathe. At this point so late in the game with the score still tied, any small advantage could completely sway the momentum.
Nick isn’t satisfied at the damage he’s already done and drills another elbow into Flamingo’s nose. Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and slugs him with a forearm strike. Nick runs to the ropes and tries for a clothesline, but Flamingo ducks. When Nick turns around, Flamingo tries for a clothesline of his own, but Nick catches Flamingo’s arm and hurls him over in a judo toss! Flamingo rises to his knees, and Nick slaps him across the chest with a roundhouse kick, followed by a toe kick into his face.
Nick lifts Flamingo to his feet and unloads another striking combo.
UPPERCUT!.....JAB!.......UPPERCUT!..........JAB!
Nick runs to the ropes and bounces off with a leg lariat, but Flamingo ducks. As Nick turns toward Flamingo again, Nick throws a discus elbow, but Flamingo throws up both arms in front of his face to block. Flamingo throws a toe kick, but Nick catches his foot. Nick then sweeps out Flamingo’s foot from under him and rolls him over onto his stomach before cinching in an ankle lock! However, Flamingo’s instincts tell him to tuck and roll, and the motion throws Nick forward, straight into RAF! Nick collides with the ref, seemingly knocking him out cold. Before Nick can comprehend the situation, Flamingo pounces on him from behind and locks in the Wet Dream!
Edison: THE WET DREAM! This move has managed to put away virtually everyone who has fallen victim to it!
Timekeeper: Ladies and gentlemen, there is one minute left in this matchup.
Flamingo jerks violently jerks Nick’s body from side to side to further cinch in the hold. Nick’s limbs flail wildly as he tries to shake Flamingo off. After struggling for about 30 more seconds, however, Nick eventually realizes this effort is to no avail and is left with no choice but to tap out!
McNally: Durden has indeed tapped out, folks, but referee Fleming is unable to call for the bell!
Flamingo releases Nick and moves over to RAF in an attempt to resuscitate him. Nick quickly springs up from his feet and lifts Flamingo into an Argentine backbreaker rack. Nick then tosses Flamingo forward, and as Flamingo falls down, Nick raises his knee to jam it into the back of Flamingo’s head for Le Petite Morte! As Nick falls on Flamingo for the cover, RAF has shaken out the cobwebs and crawls over to make the count!
ONE............................................
...................TWO...........................
...............................THR-
DING, DING, DING!
Edison: Time has run out! RAF didn’t count to three!
Phillip: Ladies and gentlemen, due to the time limit expiring, this match has been declared a draw!
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:39:45 GMT -5
Fans: BUUUUUUUUUUULLSHIT! BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUULLSHIT!
McNally: And the 90,000 plus here at Wembley is in a complete uproar. They obviously wanted to see a winner in this incredible match.
Nick has recovered by now, and he doesn’t seemed to be too pleased with this decision either. He gets straight in RAF’s face and pleads his case for the match to continue. Flamingo eventually regains enough consciousness to follow suit as he too demands that the match be allowed to continue. RAF’s conviction is legendary, but not even he can resist the demands of 90,000 raging fans and two raging superstars as he signals to the timekeeper to continue the match.
Phillip: Due to decree by referee Raymond Allen Fleming, this match will continue to sudden death!
The crowd explodes in excitement and the cheers are even more thunderous than before.
DING, DING, DING!
Nick and Flamingo dive headfirst into the action yet again. After grappling in the tie-up for a while, Flamingo bends Nick forward and clubs him across the back with a forearm. Flamingo then whips Nick into the corner. Flamingo charges to Nick and drills a big boot into his face! Flamingo whips Nick to the opposite corner. Flamingo runs at Nick again, but Nick moves out of the way. Flamingo sticks his hands up to prevent a full-on collision. Flamingo spins around and runs at Nick, who immediately catches him in an STO! Nick covers!
1......................
...........2...............
...............KICKOUT!
Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and places his head underneath Flamingo’s arm for a belly to back suplex, but Flamingo counters by driving his near elbow down into Nick’s head. Nick is forced to release Flamingo, who tries to capitalize with a clothesline, but Nick ducks and promptly counters with a gamegiri! This, however, doesn’t drop Flamingo. Nick gets to his feet again and picks Flamingo up into a fireman’s carry. Nick then flips forward to slam Flamingo back-first into the mat with a Fall From Grace! Nick covers.
1........................
............2............
KICKOUT
Nick pulls Flamingo up and sets him up for a powerbomb, but Flamingo refuses to be lifted up. Nick keeps Flamingo bent over and grabs a tuft of his hair before drilling some toe kicks into his face.
KICK! KICK! KICK!
Nick traps Flamingo in another standing headscissors to set up for the powerbomb again, but Flamingo flips Nick over and sends him back to the mat! Flamingo climbs to the top rope, but Nick has recovered and slaps him across the face a few times.
SLAP!.............SLAP!.............SLAP!
Nick climbs to the top rope and sets Flamingo up for a superplex, but Flamingo grabs hold of the top rope to block. Flamingo punches Nick in his ribcage to force his release. Nick counters by leaping backward and back into the ring to hit Flamingo with a gamengiri! Flamingo collapses off the top rope and back into the ring. Nick drags him away from the ropes and covers.
1.....................
..........2...........
KICKOUT
Nick pulls Flamingo up and unleashes another punching combo.
JAB!......JAB!.....JAB!......CROSS!......JAB!......JAB!
Nick runs to the ropes and bounces off to hit Flamingo with a yakuza kick. Flamingo staggers back into the ropes and bounces off to hit Nick with a shoulder block. Nick doesn’t budge as he runs back to the ropes. Flamingo runs to the ropes opposite Nick. The two bounce off and hit each other with simultaneous shoulder blocks. Neither man seems to feel any effect, that is, until Flamingo unleashes another Bionic Elbow that drops Nick like a sack of bricks! Flamingo lifts Nick to his feet and whips him into the ropes. When Nick bounces off, Flamingo leaps on top of him with a Lou Thesz press for the cover!
1....................
...........2...........
KICKOUT
Flamingo pulls Nick up and places his head underneath Nick’s arm to set up for a belly to back suplex, but Nick grabs hold of the top rope to prevent himself from being lifted up. Flamingo turns around to face Nick and wrap his arm around Nick’s neck before taking him down in a sambo suplex! Flamingo covers.
1...................
..........2.............
KICKOUT
Nick and Flamingo get to their feet at around the same time. Flamingo runs to the ropes and decks Nick in the back with a clothesline, but Nick doesn’t falter. Flamingo runs to the ropes and tries for another clothesline, but Nick ducks and hooks his arm under Flamingo’s to take him in a half nelson before flipping him backward in a half nelson suplex! Nick raises Flamingo to his feet and locks in a sleeper hold. Flamingo drops into a seated position and drives the crown of his head into Nick’s chin. Nick isn’t fazed too much, though, and applies another sleeper hold on the seated Flamingo. Flamingo pushes himself back to his feet and elbows Nick in the gut to free himself. Flamingo runs to the ropes and bounces off, only to be caught in another sleeper hold. Nick momentarily releases the hold and slams Flamingo’s face into the mat with a bulldog. Nick pulls Flamingo back up onto his knees and locks in the sleeper hold again. Still applying the submission, Nick pulls Flamingo up and spins him around. Nick then lifts Flamingo upside down and drops into a seated position to drill him into the mat with a reverse emerald fusion! Nick rolls Flamingo onto his stomach and seats himself across his back before locking in a cobra clutch. Finally, Nick rolls over while wrapping his legs around Flamingo’s waist to lock in the Blackout!
McNally: That’s the RNX! Durden’s finishers have so far been unable to put Flamingo away, perhaps Renix Williams’ finisher will be able to do the job!
Flamingo desperately reaches for the ropes, only to see that they are hopelessly out of reach. Flamingo then tries to drag himself to the ropes using his legs, but his strength is being quickly sapped as Nick chokes the life out of him, leaving him unable to resist the tapout!
DING, DING, DING!
Phillip: Here is your winner...NICK...DUUUUUUUUUUUURDEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!
“What I Want” roars from the PA as Nick finally lets go of Flamingo.
McNally: Finally, after almost 70 minutes of heart-stopping action, we finally have a winner, but Flamingo shouldn’t have any regrets about his effort either.
Nick isn’t even able to stand as RAF tries to raise his hand into the air. However, the sweet melody of the Wembley faithful cheering at the top of their lungs inspires Nick to rise up and triumphantly thrust his arms high into the air. Flamingo eventually catches his breath again and gets to his feet as well. Flamingo is about to leave the ring, but Nick runs over to him and places a hand on his shoulder. Flamingo turns to face Nick as Nick extends a hand. Flamingo contemplates this situation for a moment and eventually decides to take the handshake, inciting the crowd into a new level of chaos. Flamingo then takes it upon himself to raise Nick’s hand into the air in the ultimate act of sportsmanship.
McNally: What a fitting end to one of the most special matches we’ve seen in ACW’s illustrious history.
Edison: And the best part is we’re just getting started with Spring Into Hell. Stay tuned, ladies and germs, this night is far from over.
Fade out with a shot of Nick standing tall on the second turnbuckle as the crowd continues to rain adulation down upon him.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:45:52 GMT -5
Segment: The world in a (pint) glass
Thursday, May 17th, 10.30pm
It’s been for too long for Alicia Laureano’s taste since she’s been home; she could hardly get on the flight from Germany fast enough. The fortuitous location of May’s PPV has given her a very welcome few days at home, and Alicia has been making the most of them, catching up with her family and friends.
Tonight sees her spending the evening with a pair of gentlemen not entirely unfamiliar to the ACW audience. Reg and Ron’s association with Alicia goes back quite some time, and the precise details are shrouded in mystery; for now, it suffices to say that they’ve been through several major events together, both in ACW and in times previous.
There’s only one place to find the brothers of an evening in London; the little-known pub called the Innsmouth Arms. Located underground next to one of the capital’s buried and forgotten rivers, in a vault originally dug out as a secret bomb shelter in WWII, it occupies a space somewhere between the dull ordinariness of normal life and the shadowy realms of legend…
Like all good authentic pubs, the interior is a little worn, and the furniture looks as if it’s been through several rounds of bar fights, which of course it has. The public bar is busy this evening, standing room only; not that this is a problem for Alicia, since Reg and Ron have their own table. It’s not marked in any way; the regulars simply know that if they try and muscle in, it’s not good for their continuing health.
Ron pushes his way through the throng to where Alicia and Reg are sitting. Reg is watching the tv, which is trailing the forthcoming cup final.
Alicia: So, how much of Chelsea’s success are you going to take credit for?
Reg smirks.
Reg: It is not for us to say, darlin’. We just show up and do the odd ritual or two, invoke the ancient and wrathful spirits of the metropolis, an’ stuff.
Ron: Yeah, that’s why Abramovitch ain’t bovvered about losing Jose. The top brass in the order keep ‘im informed about the important things.
Alicia just laughs.
Alicia: You know, I often wonder if I’m the most gullible person in the world, listening to you guys and your strange religious practices.
Reg picks up his pint and sups before answering.
Reg: You mean you’re casting aspersions on our venerable calling as druids of Isis? I could ‘ave you done for one of them tolerance laws. We just operate on the fringes of what everyone else chooses to think of as normal, love.
Ron: Plus at least we don’t go followin’ people around like the bleedin’ Scientologists. We ‘ad a big bust-up wiv them last year, didn’t we bruv?
Reg: Yeah, that was a good ‘un. That Tom Cruise really is a tiny little bugger in person, but he’s decent with a semi-automatic. He could’ve done more proper movies instead of that Eyes Wide Shut crap.
Ron: You gotta hand it to ‘em, when Travolta flew in wiv ‘is private Harrier and strafed all the way across Clapham Common, I were shittin’-
Ron stops and covers his mouth.
Ron: Er, I mean I was quite surprised, like.
Alicia looks at him askance.
Alicia: All right, now I know you’re having me on… that’s why I hang out with you two, you allow me the comforting fantasy that my life is sane compared to yours. And what’s got into you lately, Ron? You’ve not threatened to glass anyone all night, even when Baz beat you at pool.
Big Baz, a man the size of a small family hatchback, smirks at Ron and goads him with a rude gesture. Ron flushes, but does his best to ignore it.
Ron: It’s nuffink, I just feel like bein’ sociable.
Reg: Ey, you tell Ali about your Darren yet?
Ron’s eyebrows jump up, and at once he smiles with pride.
Ron: Darren had one of them Olympic tryouts last month, ‘e did really well. Gonna train with the team, might even make it to the big one… top stuff.
Alicia smiles with pleasure.
Alicia: That’s wonderful, Ron, I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any news.
Ron beams.
Ron: I’d ‘ave brought ‘im wiv me tonight, but he’s got practice. He would’ve really liked to meet you, I can’t get ‘im away from the telly when ACW’s on. He says good luck against that Scott bloke.
Reg: Oh yeah, that Andrews fella, right? No worries, you’ll duff ‘im up proper.
Alicia: I wouldn’t go that far… but I’m certainly hoping for a great match. I’m determined to get the best out of Scott Andrews in that ring.
Reg: I would’ve wanted to muller someone who got my other half fired. Y’think you can actually get the guy to see things your way?
Alicia shrugs.
Alicia: I won’t know until the bell rings. But as tempting as revenge may be in the short term, it won’t get me or him anywhere in the long run. I’d prefer to remain optimistic, you know?
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:47:14 GMT -5
Reg leans back, balancing on the rickety chair with his feet on the table as only one greatly skilled in the pub arts can.
Reg: Alright, then. Since we’re talkin’ shop, give it to us straight… what’s your take on the queer quartet with the big title, then? They’re always on the pissin’ box takin’ up decent fighting time.
Alicia smiles a little.
Alicia: Oh, I wouldn’t stoop to that level of tittle-tattling, Reg.
Reg just looks at her out of the corner of his eye, you can almost see him counting internally. 1…2…-
Alicia:…oh, bollocks to it. Let’s start with the so-called champion, shall we?
She takes a swig of beer, readying herself for a healthy round of opinionated discourse. Reg just smiles with his eyes closed, and even Ron stops hassling Big Baz for crisps to listen, albeit with a gob full of ready salted.
Alicia: Wyvern… paper-thin, two-dimensional motivation, and a serious case of green-eye… he’ll be brought down messily and in short order, if Senator doesn’t get the job done, BK will finish him off, and that’s assuming his own side doesn’t kick him to the kerb first. Kudo’s just an inferior version of Wyvern… both are dangerous, but only in the way a really angry pitbull is dangerous. Apply the right kind of tool for the situation, and they’re nothing very interesting at all. A shame, really, because they’re both capable of so much more… but of course, that’s exactly the sort of thing their “management” don’t want them to believe.
Ron: I could ‘ave ‘em. Both at once. Nonces.
Alicia: Too right.
Alicia and Ron give one another the “fists together” gesture, touching knuckles. Reg just lets the industrial strength slagging continue; he knows that it’s good to release your contained frustrations every so often, and listening to a proper, alchohol-fuelled bitching is seldom dull.
Alicia: Then we’ve got her royal highness, the woman with more faces than the hydra-
Ron: The wha’?
Reg: The hydra, big snakey thing with a lot of heads. It was in ‘Ercules, your Darren watched that video ‘undreds of times.
Ron: Aaah, the one with the guy with his ‘ead on fire? Yeah, that weren’t too bad.
Reg: See, you learn something new every day, bruv.
Alicia: Yes, which is more than I can say for Ms. Saito, she loves to teach, but her stock of knowledge is dwindling embarrassingly, it’s like listening to a warped old piece of vinyl. Nothing that woman says surprises me any longer, at least when she had Chance to torture she was as sharp as glass… now she just parades around, talking about overturning the status quo as if being a total cow was in any way earth-shattering. So she supposedly controls the world title? Only by proxy, and that’s no better than being one of those insufferable soccer moms who imagine that they bask in some sort of reflected glory from their wretched offspring when in fact everyone is secretly laughing behind their back. Sorry, but no amount of verbal performance can disguise that.
Alicia tops herself up from her glass. Ron stares into his, and mulls sagely before pronouncing his judgment.
Ron: …..Yeah. I wouldn’t do ‘er, she’s a munter.
There is the sound of a glass breaking behind them, and then a bit of a scuffle. A dart comes whizzing past Ron’s ear and buries itself in the table in front of the three of them.
Ron: OI!
Ron chucks the dart back where it came from, and there is a yell of pain, followed by a thankfully garbled stream of expletives. Ron hesitates… then slowly stands up, peeling back his sleeves.
Ron: You want some, sunshine? I’ve got some for ya! Come ‘ere!
Reg and Alicia watch as Ron throws caution to the wind, and wades into the now escalating scrap. The lack of furniture in the vicinity suddenly makes sense. Reg folds his arms.
Reg: I knew he’d kick off eventually. He’s been really tryin’ to control his temper, like, he wants to set a good example for his lad. At least if he rips it up at bit here, it’ll be out of his system. He’s a good bloke at heart.
Alicia nods. Ron may be lechy, unsophisticated, and not the brightest button, but she still feels a warmth for him. And she can understand his need for that certain kind of physical release… it’s one she is not totally unfamiliar with herself. Reg finishes his pint.
Reg: Any road up… you didn’t finish your moaning.
Alicia seems to prickle slightly, but tries to brush it off.
Alicia: Oh, you mean the good doctor? He’s… well, he’s… he’s not anything, really. I can’t say I have many thoughts on that topic.
Reg rolls his eyes and leans forward a touch.
Reg: Come off it, Ali. I’m not blind, whenever the bloke shows up or is mentioned, you get the look, that look. You know what I’m talking about.
Alicia actually blushes a little.
Alicia: I do not!
Reg: You fuckin’ well do.
She chews her lip uncomfortably, then folds her own arms defensively.
Alicia: All right, you want to know what it is that drives me NUTS about Starkweather? It’s… it’s the fact that he is completely, totally and fundamentally incapable of contesting a fair fight. I’m not sure if it’s purely a choice or if there’s some kind of psychological block which renders him thus, but that’s the way it is with him.
Reg: Eh? Elaborate a bit, sweetheart.
Alicia folds her legs under her chair, becoming more animated as she talks.
Alicia: Listen, don’t get me wrong… I don’t want to paint Starkweather as some kind of pantomime villain. I can absolutely believe that he’s almost immune to physical suffering and the petty sniping of his critics… I refuse to speculate on just what lies in his past, but whatever it is, it must have been about as close as you can get to a living definition of Hell. When you’ve been through something of that magnitude, I totally believe that things such as the fear of injury, pain, maybe even death… they are exposed as being a long, long way from the worst that can happen.
She sips her drink, pausing to reflect on this idea with a visible shiver. It’s clear that she is in no way being supercilious.
Alicia: The thing is, Reg, those so-called weaknesses which Dr. Starkweather dismisses with nary a thought… they’re the currency of human experience, they’re the price we pay to live. A lot of people claim to be fearless, and they talk a lot of crap… but to my way of thinking, to truly be without fear is a curse I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. Without fear, there is no courage…. Without courage, there can be no warriors, no heroes, no… no anything of substance. Just to exist in any meaningful way requires courage.
Reg nods slowly. Alicia purses her lips.
Alicia: Have I entered rambling territory again? Stop me if so.
Reg: Nah, I find it reassuring to hear you off on one of your meandering pseudo-intellectual trains of thought, or whatever you call it.
Alicia: Groovy. Anyway, that’s why I just can’t feel anything genuine about Alexander Starkweather. I despise many of his actions, but there’s always a difference between the behaviour and the person. I can sometimes feel a little disappointment, maybe even sadness, because I’m sure there was a time once before he shrouded himself in his layers of mental armor when a contest with him would have been something glorious. But that’s long gone…
Alicia sighs.
Alicia: Dr. Starkweather is undoubtedly hugely talented, exceptionally intelligent, and demonstrably committed to his goals. But that’s not enough; when you step into the ring in my line of work, there is an expectation that all parties put something up as capital – pride, a title, the risk of pain and injury. Something uniquely personal and of real value. I honestly don’t think Starkweather is capable of that in his current condition. If he loses a match, it means little; if he suffers pain, it is of no significance. He insulates himself with his self – proclaimed superiority, declares that he will never submit to an opponent, and the opponent knows this at once to be true, thus making any efforts in that direction pointless. And the result of all this is that Dr. Starkweather is left standing as a man bankrupted of passion, with nothing whatsoever to offer his opponents as a meaningful emotional incentive to challenge him. That is why I say that he can never truly fight a fair and competitive match, it’s akin to fighting someone with a mental impairment, and I really don’t want to fight a cripple, literal or otherwise. That is not a victory… that is a tragedy.
The sounds of random violence bounce around the room as Alicia and Reg ponder the ups and downs of life. After a few seconds, Reg scratches his chin.
Reg: I get what you’re saying. I think you shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the fella, though.
Alicia looks genuinely surprised at this.
Alicia: How so?
Reg: I think that you’re tryin’ to judge a wolf as if it were a show dog… the two require completely different terms of reference. Listen, Ali… it’s all very well justifying your feelings to yourself like this, but we all know that if things keep on goin’ the way they have, eventually you’ll have to decide what really matters to you. You won’t necessarily be the one to choose how these battles should be fought. It’s up to you to dispense with your own preconceptions before you try to analyse the analyst.
Alicia looks at the floor; she can see the sense in Reg’s words, and it just makes her more adrift than ever. Reg puts his hand over hers.
Reg: Don’t go building anyone up as unbeatable… everyone has demons, y’know. Anyone who claims to have beaten them has only ever earned a brief respite, or buried them so deep that they start to eat away at the core. Everyone has a weak point… and sometimes, it’s exactly the thing which they think is their greatest strength… a double-edged sword is their weapon of choice. Get it?
Alicia wrinkles her nose as she thinks, but a change in her eyes shows that she is, perhaps, “getting it” just a bit. The noise in the back seems to have died down, and Ron staggers over, a little bit cut up but otherwise none the worse for wear.
Ron: That was fuckin’ great, Dave got me with a peach of a right. What you two been chinwaggin’ about?
Reg: We were discussing that Starkweather geezer.
Ron thinks about this for 0.00002 of a second.
Ron:…Oh, ‘im. E’s a wanker.
Alicia and Reg look at one another, and Alicia just has to smile, for reasons even she can’t fathom entirely. She stands up and gives Ron a hug.
Alicia: Ron, you lug, you’re a diamond.
Ron looks pretty surprised, but shrugs with a grin.
Ron: Cheers, love. Fancy a shag, then?
Alicia rolls her eyes.
Alicia: You know the answer to that. But I’ll buy you another pint instead, up for it?
Ron gives her a slightly scolding look.
Ron: You needed to ask? Get ‘em in, love.
Alicia picks up the empty glasses; there’s a lot more life in this night yet. She looks for the landlord, but the bar area is empty. A voice comes from outside…
Landlord: NO, we are not a bleedin’ WINE BAR! Sodding skanky outworlder tourists, if I ever catch that bloke from the Guide I’ll…
He stomps back inside. Alicia glances at Reg.
Alicia: Come on… surely not? The Hitchhiker’s Guide?
Reg just grins.
Reg: I told you, things get complicated at the fringes.
Alicia just shrugs, and puts her hand in her pocket once again. She knows it’ll be some time before she gets back to her distinctly unusual watering hole, and she intends to make the most of it…
Fade.
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Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on May 19, 2007 14:48:20 GMT -5
Segment: Did You Miss Me? (Credit: XS3)
As we slowly fade into the arena, the crowd settles into their seats. They've already been treated to great action thus far in the program. But all of a sudden, the screen becomes illuminated as the fans see someone sitting in a chair in a locker room. The figure can be seen with a tattered trenchcoat with the sleeves coming down to the elbows. On his head rests a white towel, shrouding his face for a short little while. Who is this man? What is his purpose tonight? Words suddenly emerge from his mouth, words that are soothing yet somewhat chilling at the same time.
Man: "ACW… I do believe we have some catching up to do. A thousand apologies for being away for so long but what choice did I have? My family missed me so I had to oblige them by coming home and taking care of them. Now that they're ready to see me do the one thing I love to do, everyone in the locker room shall be put on notice."
The man reaches for his towel and throws it off of his head. His face is finally revealed to the fans and everyone watching at home. It's none other than XS3. The crowd lets out a collective pop as they see one of their favorites come back. However, he is not alone. A woman wearing a black tanktop, blue jeans and socks comes into view and sits down on XS3's lap in an innocent manner. The woman is Christine Leon-Irvine, the wife of XS3.
XS3: "Yes, my time has come to fulfill my destiny that has forever eluded me… All I need is a little more hard work and my time on top of the ACW kingdom will come at last. That is the straightforward honest truth. I've sat idly by and watched others claim what I've felt was rightfully mine. I've been in the wrestling business for seven brutal years and not once have I had my crowning moment. That will all change soon enough."
XS3 then puts on of his arms around Christine's back and his other arm underneath her legs. He stands up with her in his arms and plants a kiss on her lips before setting her back down on the ground. The two then hold hands as XS3 looks to the camera.
XS3: "So ACW, take notice. You've heard all those times when I was talking about destiny before? Well, this time I mean it! No more am I going to stay down while some upstart claims the throne. It's my time to shine and everyone here needs to realize that. I know most of my fans that paid to get in and see this show have been waiting for me to get another chance at becoming the ACW World Champion. For that, I thank you guys. Every time you guys have chanted my name, I become more motivated. So keep that in mind next time you chant my name in the arena. You people are the reason why I'm in ACW."
The camera suddenly shifts its focus to the fans in the arena that are cheering on XS3. A small "XS3" chant can be heard circulating throughout the arena before it finally becomes loud enough for XS3 to hear. He smiles, basking in his small moment of glory. Christine winks at the camera as XS3 motions for the fans to quiet down, which they eventually do.
XS3: "Oh, and one more thing. Thunderkiss… I really respect that spear you did in respect for me. I always knew that deep down, somewhere in that cold heart of yours, you could pull off a small act of kindness. You're the greatest rival I've had to date and I look forward to another encounter one day."
XS3 and Christine then turn towards the door with their hands still held in each other's and leave the locker room. The crowd is left to react to that segment until the next one occurs…
End segment.
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