DEFIANCE ROAD 2023 Night 1

♫ "Safe in New York" by AC/DC ♫

BOOM!

Pyro explodes from the rampway and we are LIVE in New York City at Madison Square Garden! The rampway and stage looks like a highway leading to the ring, while underneath the DEFIAtron big screen, there is an LCD Statue of Liberty but she is holding her red DEFIANCE FIST in the air. As the camera pans around, there are signs and excitement everywhere!

#JUSTICE4SCOTTYFLASH
STILL WAITING ON DR. NED VS. DR. PHIL, WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG?
MASKED VIOLATOR IS KIND OF A TRIGGERING NAME FOR SUCH A SWELL GUY
DEACON THE EGYPTIAN BAD-ASS, KEEP ROLLIN' ROLLIN' ROLLIN'
LUCKY SEVENS? I HAVE POCKET PCPS
AARON KING VS. ???, I LIKE ???'S CHANCES
STARTING TO WONDER IF TA COLE IS A REAL TEACHING ASSISTANT
I'D LET TERESA AMES MUCKBANG ME ALL DAY
WE NEED MOAR DISCORD CHANNELS
I WILL DEFY
TERI MELTON IS IN MY WHEELHOUSE
I'M READY FOR THE LANCE WARNER EXPERIENCE
"HEY, MAYBE YOU'RE GETTING A RAISE!", HE SAID 
SOMEONE DO A WELFARE CHECK ON SCOTTY FLASH
SOMEONE DO A WELFARE CHECK ON DAN LEO JAMES
RAINBOW CITY RONIN LETS GOOOOOOOOO
NED REFORM IS A DOCTOR LIKE BILL COSBY IS A DOCTOR
OK WAIT, NO, LET ME PICK SOMEONE ELSE
JJ ALL DAY
SAY IT AINT SO, SCOTTY
60 MORE MINUTES!
JJ DIXON IS THAT DUDE
MV1 IS THE FIXER
ARE YOU HOT UNDER THE MASK, MV1? 
MIX IT UP
I WANT MV1 TO VIOLATE ME BUT HE IS TOO NICE OF A GUY TO DO THAT TO ME
TAKE A LEFT ON SUNSET BOULEVARD TO GET TO DEFIANCE ROAD

We go to the announce team, Darren Keebler and Lance Warner at their station.

DDK:
Welcome Faithful to Night One of DEFIANCE Road. I'm "Downtown" Darren Keebler, with my partner Lance Warner.

Lance:
Hello everyone! We have a great night tonight coming up. Let's look at the card.

The match graphics roll through.

FAVORED SAINTS SIX-WAY FRAY: NED REFORM (C) vs. TA COLE vs. TERESA AMES vs. URIEL CORTEZ vs. TITANESS vs. MINUTE
IRON MAN: JJ DIXON vs. MASKED VIOLATOR #1
AARON KING vs. ???
ALVARO de VARGAS vs. DEACON
UNIFIED TAG TITLES: THE LUCKY SEVENS (C) vs. PCP vs. DANGEROUS MIX

DDK:
Our opening contest, ladies and gentlemen, promises to be frantic and intense! Ned Reform, the reigning Favoured Saints Champion…

Lance:
Oh, is he champion? Has he mentioned that at all?

DDK:
…defends against five other competitors! He’s run afoul of Titanes Familia, and tonight might be time to pay the piper because he’ll be in the ring with Uriel Cortez, Titaness, AND Minute!

Lance:
Not to mention Teresa Ames, a person he professed to want to “help” and then brutally attacked at DEFtv 181 in Toronto.

DDK:
The final competitor is TA Cole, who we have to assume will be looking to aid Reform in retaining the championship. And help he should, because Ned does not have to be pinned in this match to lose the belt! There is no champion’s advantage.

♫ “Fur Elise” by Cole Rolland ♫

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

DDK:
And we’re getting right to it, Lance!

As the MSG house lights turn purple, Ned Reform - wearing the Favoured Saints Championship around his brilliant waist and sporting a spiffy special PPV singlet - walks through the curtain. He stands in front of the entranceway, smirking and looking around the arena as he pats his championship twice on the faceplate.

Darren Quimbey:
The following contest is a FAVOURED SAINTS SIX WAY scheduled for ONE FALL and is the opening contest for DEFIANCE Road! Introducing first, weighing in at 227 lbs and hailing from Litchfield, Connecticut… the defending Favoured Saints Champion… NEEEEEED REFORM!

Reform’s smirk breaks for a moment so he can mouth, “DOCTOR Ned Reform.” And bless their souls, a few of the more rebellious and edgy members of the New York Faithful actually say it along with him. Reform resumes smiling and looking around at the people until he makes a “cut it” motion with his hand. As his theme fades out, he produces a mic to a fresh chorus of boos.

Ned Reform:
NEW! YORK! CITY!

Cheap POP!

Ned Reform:
Yes! The center of the world! I cannot accurately convey the levels of excitement that coursed through these sophisticated veins when I was informed that my crowning championship defense would occur in, and I quote… “the world’s most famous arena.”

Another hometown cheer.

Ned Reform:
Yes. Which, given the substantial build up, I was shocked to arrive this morning to such… well, at the risk of sounding pedestrian… such a dump.

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

Reform begins to walk down the aisle as he talks.

Ned Reform:
Yes, yes, I know. New York has its head so far embedded in its filthy posterior that it reacts with vitriol to the unfortunate truth. But whether you can accept it or not, this arena should have been torn down years ago to make room for something of some actual practical use. Perhaps an Arbys?

Reform lowers the mic for a moment as he soaks in the hatred. He’s still on the move.

Ned Reform:
“Ohhhh, but Doctor Reform” you say. “There’s so much history. So many ‘iconic’ professional wrestling moments have graced these hallowed halls.” And to that I respond: you and I have widely divergent definitions of the word “iconic.” I mean, really. I’m supposed to care about the “prestigious” history of this sport? Am I also supposed to treat the locations of Professional Hotdog Eating Contests with equal reverence? Let’s be reasonable.

DDK:
Utterly disrespectful to the titans of our industry.

Ned Reform:
This is not the sight of a history changing battle. This is not the spot upon which some brave revolutionary changed the world. This is an old, decrepit, sweaty building where brainless idiots spent time bleeding all over other equally brainless idiots. The fact that this is treated as some sort of holy site is, quite frankly, emblematic of everything wrong with our culture.
Reform has reached the ring, and he walks up the steps and gets inside.

Ned Reform:
And yet tonight… Madison Square Garden finally gets a touch of class. This breeding ground of barbaric stupidity meets, for the first time in history, your Favoured Saints Champion… DOCTOR Ned Reform! And tonight, when I show Cortez, Titaness, and Minute where they are in the pecking order… when I show Ms. Ames that she is so deranged she is even beyond my help… MSG will be witness to its first truly “iconic” moment in history!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A gleam in Reform’s eye.

Ned Reform:
And thus… New York City… this one is for you.

Reform clears his throat. And he begins to… sing!? And sing terribly. 

Ned Reform:
♫ Start spreading… the neeeeeeeeeeews! ♫

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

Lance:
Oh, dear God.

Ned Reform:
♫ I’m leaving… toooooooday! ♫ 
[aside] No… seriously. I’m going to get out of here as soon as I possibly can.
♫ You’ll make a brand new start of it… thanks to Doc Reeeeeeform! ♫

DDK:
We apologize for how off key he is, ladies and gentlemen.

Reform’s singing may be bad, but he’s getting into it… completely with exaggerated dance moves.

Ned Reform:
♫ If I can… ♫
BUM BUM
♫ Get out of here… I’d rather be… ♫
BUM BUM
♫ ANYYYYYWWWHHHEEERRRREEEE! ♫
♫ You need to grow up… New York…. NEEEEEEEWW YOOOOOORRRKKK! ♫

Reform drops the mic, bowing amongst the boos… apparently proud of his performance. 

This is everything
The Glitch Mob, Mako, The Word Alive
It's BOBBY by the way
Let's get it

♫ “RISE (remix)” by Glitch Mob, Mako, The Word Alive and BOBBY ♫

The lights flicker back on and the crowd EXPLODES!

Left side of the ramp: The silhouette of Titaness! Wearing a blue top with gold trim and pants of the same color held together by a gold belt design. Her hair is tied up in a small series of ponytails in a mohawk style, ready to scrap.

Right side of the ramp: Uriel Cortez, arms in the air! Wearing a brand new set of blue and gold thigh length trunks, kneepads and boots. Wrists taped in a golden color! Ready to chop souls out of bodies.

Front of the ramp: Gold and blue lucha mask with blue and gold tights! Minute makes a MAD MAD dash to the ring… so quickly in fact, Reform takes a beat and leaves in case The TJ Tornado that just pinned him a couple weeks ago gets some funny ideas! Minute looks out to the LOUD MSG Faithful, then leaps to the top rope, then to the adjacent rope, then backflips into the ring!

DDK:
Minute heading out ahead of the pack! Gotta wonder if that means something!

Lance:
We heard from Uriel Cortez and Titaness during DEF Radio. They said that all was well within their camp after Minute’s recent behavior, but we can’t forget. There can only be one winner here!

Titaness poses in front of the ring, flexing her muscles before grabbing the ropes and flipping backwards to land on her feet inside. Cortez brings up the rear by pulling himself up the ropes and into the ring. Cortez doesn’t take his eyes off Reform, nor does Titaness.

DDK:
Ned Reform angered Uriel Cortez and Titaness by throwing cold coffee in her face and costing them the Unified Tag Titles back to the Lucky Sevens after they used some instant rematch provision they snuck into their contract. Since then, they have been on a warpath for payback.

On the outside, Reform clutches his championship belt and paces, never taking his bug eyes off the challengers.

♫ “The Ending” by Papa Roach ♫

Suddenly, the arena comes unglued as Teresa Ames saunters out on stage. She points to the crowd as they point back at her and everyone, errr, CHEERS? Yes, they cheer, they all rejoice at the sight of the Tasty Gurl. She’s brought to near tears as she covers her mouth with her hands in reaction to the raucous response she’s getting.

DDK:
Here’s something I never thought I’d see! The crowd is LOVING Teresa Ames.

Lance:
It’s not hard to get behind her from recent events. Look, she did some zany stuff by falling in love with buildings, however, she genuinely put her all into Ned Reform’s “recovery” program and I think the Faithful noticed her going down an even worse path. In addition, it doesn’t hurt when the person you’re going to counseling for, unceremoniously knocks you unconscious.
Ames screams to the fans as they reciprocate. She struts to the ring with confidence as adrenaline chills shoot directly down her spine.

Darren Quimbey:
Introducing another challenger, from Joliet, Illinois, deciding to disclose her weight as “healthy and proud” she is the TASTY GURL, she is TERESA AMES!

She even slaps hands with some of the fans before eyeing down Ned Reform with a fair amount of distance between the two.

DDK:
That’s five of the six competitors in this six-way fray for the Favoured Saints Title! And… oh, no what the hell is Reform doing?

Ned Reform stands on the apron. Teresa Ames looks ready to cut a fool, Uriel and Titaness try to make The Good Doctor spontaneously combust with looks alone. He finally locks eyes with Minute!

Ned Reform:
You! Masked man! Are you content to remain second fiddle forever? Or will you seize this moment and show these condescending giants what you are made of? Carpe diem, me amigo!

Minute has only one response for Ned Reform.

Minute:
Besa mi culo, puta!

No translation needed there as the Faithful cheer! When Reform sees his reasoning won’t work on The TJ Tornado, his attention is on Teresa.

Ned Reform: 
Ms. Ames… Mr. Cole was quite rude to you, and for that I sincerly apologize. Rejoin us, and your true healing can really begin...

Her response is RUNNING OVER AND SLAPPING HIM IN THE FACE!

He’s visibly stunned from the hit as the crowd pops huge!

DDK:
Ned Reform had that coming! And TA Cole’s not even made his entrance yet!

♫ “Fur Elise” by Cole Rolland ♫

Better late than never, TA Cole makes his way out on top of the stage… only to see Ned Reform almost getting strangled by Teresa Ames! He takes off towards the ring to save his mentor!

Lance:
Here comes TA Cole!

DING DING

Lance:
…And there GOES TA Cole as this match kicks off! One fall to a finish for the coveted Favoured Saints Title!

Ned Reform shoves Teresa away from him in the corner and tries to make a quick retreat… but two pairs of hands grab The Sage of the Stage by his arms!

Teresa Ames AND… TITANESS?

Reform struggles with the two trying to keep him restrained.

DDK:
This match is already wild! Teresa Ames and Titaness working together in ANY capacity.

Lance:
That mouth of Reform has made him so many enemies!

Titaness nods to Teresa as they hold Reform in place. Uriel rubs his hands together with Minute watching on…

THWACK!

The MSG crowd collectively wince after Reform falls to his knees from being struck with what many call DEFIANCE’s Deadliest Hands!

Lance:
As many Uriel Cortez chops as we’ve called, that was a top five, easy! 
Reform tries to hobble up… then gets a STIFF double chop from Titaness!

He crumbles to a knee when Minute takes off a glove, then warms up his hands… and even HE gets in on it, cracking Reform with a straight open-palmed chop to the chest! Minute then holds Reform out. Teresa hasn’t gotten a turn. She looks like he’s going to go for a chop… then RAKES HIS EYES to a loud pop! Reform slumps into the corner while the crowd applauds all four for doing the wrestling lord’s work.

DDK:
Might be the first type of cheer I’ve heard for an eye rake!

With Reform down on the ground, Cortez wants to follow up, but TA Cole snatches his leg on the outside. The Star Student gets a stomp from The Titan of Industry! Cole is hurt when Cortez makes an executive decision to deal with TA Cole on the floor, leaving Minute, Titaness and Teresa all alone with The BRAIN of DEFIANCE!

Lance:
Still don’t like his odds! Three on one!

Titaness lines up and then charges at the corner, gut-checking The Favoured Saints Champion with a big running spear in the corner! Ned Reform slumps over when Minute charges and hits a backflip kick, lands on his feet, then SMACKS Ned upside the head with a big enzuigiri! He gets rocked right out of the corner when Teresa gets her own shot in, connecting with a downward spiral!

DDK:
Ned being taken to task by EVERYONE he’s pissed off in the last few months!

Teresa goes for a cover on the champ!

ONE…

TW…

but Titaness pulls her off! Then Titaness tries to go for a cover!

ONE…

TWO…

Teresa pulls her off! So Minute runs into the pile and jackknife’s Reform’s legs!

ONE…

TWO…

BOTH Teresa and Titaness break it up!

DDK:
Oooh! That’s the ONLY thing saving Ned Reform right now from outright losing that title! Everyone wants them some of the champion and what’s more… they all want to BE Favoured Saints Champion!

Lance:
Remember, this title is a fast track to the Southern Heritage Title! Four successful defenses gets you a shot! Matt LaCroix and Henry Keyes are the only former titleholders who have successfully cashed in successfully on that!

In the middle of the arguing between the three, Ned Reform tries to sneak out, prompting Teresa to see it. They all stop their arguing when she wants Titaness to throw her! Titaness shrugs and picks her up…

Teresa Ames:
YASSSS QUEEN!

Titaness quietly shudders at the sentiment… then PITCHES Teresa right at Ned on the outside, wiping out the champion on the floor!

DDK:
MORE bizarre partnerships to kick off DEFIANCE Road here tonight!

Cortez smacks Cole with another chop at ringside as Titaness watches the spill on the outside… prompting Minute to try and japanese leg clutch roll-up off the ropes on Titaness!

ONE…

TWO…

NO!

Titaness powers out!

OOOOOOOH!

DDK:
Minute ALMOST took the match right there! On one of his own partners!

Lance:
Hey they all agreed! Every person for themselves tonight!

Titaness turns her head at Minute, who tries to offer a cheeky handshake. Titaness grabs the hand and shakes it… then tries to pull Minute into a clothesline! The quicker TJ Tornado ducks underneath and then tries an inside cradle…

But The Show of Force STOPS him cold with strength alone! She powers him up into a huge vertical suplex instead..

No!

Minute slides free and lands behind her. Titaness misses a clothesline as The TJ Tornado keeps flying by, then comes back with two-revolution headscissors to take her over! Minute gets cheers from the crowd when he goes for a big handspring…

Caught!

DDK:
Counter by Titaness! Spinebuster! Cover!

ONE…

TWO…

NO!

Lance:
Minute gets that shoulder up!

Cortez continues to do battle with Cole on the outside and STUNS him with another chop! Meanwhile, Teresa Ames is still doing her best to go after The Good Doctor by attacking him with punches on the outside, but he tries to scoot out of the way and finally throws her aside! She tries to jump on The Good Doctor, but he finally manages to catch her with a boot and delivers a swinging neckbreaker on the outside!

DDK:
Swinging neckbreaker delivered on the floor by The Good Doctor! Teresa’s focus has solely been on Reform and he finally manages to score an offensive move there!

Titaness continues to go at it with Minute inside the ring. She picks him up and has the lucha in a press slam, but he quickly squirms out! The Littest Flippy-Doo tries to take over Titaness with a sunset flip, but she grabs him by the arms and pulls him up! He lands on his feet!

Outside, Uriel Cortez has TA Cole cornered against the nearby ring post. He gears up and charges full speed ahead… But Reform pulls Cole out of the way, sending the big man crashing body first into it and nearly moving the ring a few inches!

DDK:
Ooh! Reform saves his protege from being crushed by a vengeful Uriel Cortez!

Cortez slumps to a kneewhen Cole and Reform each grab and arm and then push him into the post again! Cortez is left hurt! Inside the ring, Minute gets a boot from Titaness. She picks him up for the Titanium Driver… NO! REVERSED INTO A HURRICANRANA!

Lance:
Titanium Driver countered… OOH! Into The Thinking Man’s Uppercut from Ned Reform on the outside!

When Minute looks over, he sess Titaness and Ned Reform leaning through the ropes, smirking at the luchador.

DDK:
Minute realized what just happened! Minute up!

He starts to charge at Reform, but a big pair of hands wraps around Minute’s waist! It’s TA Cole who THROWS the unsuspecting Titanes Familia member with a release German suplex across the ring! Now the crowd sees The Philosopher King and his powerful protege as the last men standing!

DDK:
What a turn of events! Reform lays out Teresa! Helps Cole dispatch with Cortez! Minute and Titaness didn’t realize what was happening until it was too late!

Minute is slumping all across the mat when Reform instructs Cole to hit one more. TA Cole does as the champion asks and then hits another big release German suplex that sends him bouncing off the canvas!

Ned Reform:
Again!

The crowd jeers as Cole nods. He picks up a slumping Minute then hits a THIRD release suplex! After Minute crashes down from the impact, Reform hurriedly tries to pick the bones!

Lance:
What a crock if this match ends this way!

He pushes Minute onto his stomach and goes for the cover.

ONE!

TWO!

NO!

The TJ Tornado kicks out! Ned Reform casts an angry look at him!

DDK:
CLOSE one! Reform wants this win! Remember, Minute pinned him which led to his entry into this match.

Reform rolls off Minute, eyes bugging out of his bald skull. He barks some brief orders to Cole, jerking this thumb up toward the top rope. Levi picks up Minute, setting him up in the electric chair. Ned, meanwhile, climbs up to the top rope. Cole and Minute face away from Reform, who balances himself on the top before leaping forward and drilling the luchador into the mat with a bulldog!

DDK:
Academia!

Reform covers, hooking the leg as deep as he can…

ONE!

TWO!

THREEE - NO!! Titaness out of nowhere to break up the pin!

Cole is on Titaness in a flash, sneaking up behind and sending her head over heels with another German suplex! Teresa Ames comes out nowhere with a springboard dropkick from the top rope into the ring, sending Cole flying forward. Ames takes a second to celebrate, but her head is nearly taken off by a stiff clothesline from The Good Doctor! Reform tosses Ames out of the ring… Titaness is down, Cole is stunned by the dropkick… Ned Reform stands alone.

DDK:
The champion is the only man standing!

Ned looks around to The Faithful, seemingly trying to process their hatred. And then… a smile. A lightbulb goes off. Reform turns to Cole, who has just gotten to his feet and is shaking the cobwebs away. Reform slaps Cole on the shoulder. Levi turns, and Ned… points down. Cole is confused, but Reform points to the mat with greater intensity. 

Lance:
I think Reform is telling Cole to lay down for the pin!

Surprisingly, the always loyal lap dog… seems to pause and consider this. The fans around the ringside area begin to yell at Cole to not listen. Reform, sensing that for the first time maybe ever his henchman isn’t immediately complying, goes red in the face. He continues to point to the mat like his life depends on it.  Levi runs his hands through his hair… sighs… nods… and then begins to lay down as a smile breaks out over Reform’s face.

DDK:
Unbelievable. What a proud champion to retain this way.

Ned immediately drops down for the cover…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

…NO! Cortez pulls Carla Ferrari out of the ring by the leg!!!

DDK:
Cortez is back in the game!

And is he ever. Cole goes after him, but Cortez shrugs off his shot and answers with a chop that causes Cole to grab his chest in pain. Reform charges… right into a Cortez bodyslam! Cole gets body slammed! Reform eats a chop that causes him to do a flip. Cole gets a bit boog. Ned gets sent off the ropes into a back body drop that nearly puts him into orbit! Cole gets grabbed… bent back…

Lance:
BIG BUSINESS!

Cole goes down hard following the brutal chop! Cortez with the cover!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE - NO!

DDK:
Reform breaks up the count.

Cortez gets off Cole, getting right to his feet. Ned rolls over, sitting down in the ring… and slowly looking up at the giant red wood standing over him. Reform does an exaggerated gulp as Cortez nods and cracks his knuckles. Ned begins to scoot backwards on his ass, holding out a single hand in the “stop” motion as he shakes his head “no.” Cortez stalks him with a grin.

Lance:
The Good Doctor has nowhere to go!

Cortez reaches down and grabs Ned by the neck… bringing him to his feet as The Sage on the Stage begs for some mercy. Uriel lifts Reform straight off his feet and holds him into the air by his neck as his educated feet kick for all they’re worth. We don’t get to find out what Uriel had in mind, though, as Cole hits him from behind. Reform gets dropped and turns to the other Honor Society member. The Titan of Industry blocks an attempted shot by Levi Cole and responds with a chop so mighty it takes the young athlete right off his feet!

DDK:
Uriel Cortez is ON FIRE! We might be looking at a new Favoured Saints Champion!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The crowd deflates as Cortez’s onslaught is stopped by a low blow via The Good Doctor! The big man doubles over, holding his titans of industry in pain. Reform takes advantage of his exposed head and leaps into the air and drops him down with a fameasser! With Cortez flat on the mat, Ned stands over him and gestures dramatically with his hand.

Lance:
The arrogance of this move…

Ned extends a single finger and twirls in a circle, pointing to all sections of the capacity New York crowd as they shower him with jeers. When he’s completed a full rotation, he uses the finger to point to his brain with a smirk. Ned Reform leaps into the air, driving a standing elbow drop deep in the heart of Uriel Cortez!

DDK:
Thinking Man’s Elbow Drop. Allegedly.

ONE!

TWO!

DDK:
SWANTON BY TERESA AMES!! SHE BREAKS THE COUNT!

Reform scurries across the ring to the safety of his partner, with Cole shielding him from the deranged Teresa Ames. Ames stares down both members of The Honor Society… and suddenly, she notices that Titaness has sidled up by her side. A strange sight as Titaness stand across from Reform and Cole. The two women look each other in the eye. Titaness shrugs and Ames breaks out into a big shit eating grin! This is her dream come true. Their moment is interrupted as Cole and Reform charge, with Cole taking it to Titaness and Reform trading shots with Ames. Reform and Levi both try to Irish whip their respective opponents across the ring, but the ladies reverse BOTH Irish whips and send them instead! Both Reform and his star student rebound in simultaneous spears! 

RAAAAAAAAAAA!

DDK:
The fans are loving this unusual dynamic duo!

Lance:
Teresa measures Reform… CTRL + ALT + ASLEEP! The champ is down!

DDK:
And now she has it! Does Teresa get her payback on Ned Reform tonight? 

ONE!

TWO!

… DEADLIFT BY TITANESS!

GUTWRENCH SUPLEX!

A mixed smattering of boos and cheers for the breakup of the cover, but Titaness has to do what she can to go for the gold!

DDK:
This wacky alliance of Teresa and Titaness has to be short-lived! Titaness had to save the Favorued Saints Title for herself! 

Titaness searches for Ned Reform, who has just rolled out of the ring! She jabs the air but when she turns around… TA Cole is there to take The Show of Force off of her feet with a HUGE belly to belly suplex!

Lance:
TA Cole with that massive belly to belly suplex planting Titaness!

TA Cole looks for Ned Reform, but after his noggin was given a floggin’ by Teresa Ames with CTRL + Alt + Asleep and an empty ring all to themselves…

DDK:
TA COLE IS GOING FOR IT! COVER ON TITANESS!

ONE!

TWO!

THR.. KICKOUT!

DDK:
Those precious seconds could have cost TA Cole! Imagine the reaction of Ned Reform if his own subordinate won the title tonight!

TA Cole decides to go for broke and then hooks Titaness up on his shoulders with The Letter Jacket! He has Titaness up in the Torture Rack! She tries to fight her way out … but she doesn’t have to! Minute comes back into the match by running off the ropes in front of TA Cole and CRACKING him right in the mouth with his signature handspring enzuigiri!

DDK:
The action in this one is getting unreal! Everybody throwing everything at one another to win the Favoured Saints Title!

Lance:
In the entire history of the title, this is the most challengers we’ve ever seen in one match!

Titaness falls to the mat and TA Cole gets knocked to the outside as The TJ Tornado is all alone. The MSG Faithful let out a roar when Minute looks out to one side where TA Cole lands…

Then Teresa Ames on another side!

Then Ned Reform.

Then a HUGE grin underneath the mask of The Littelest Flippy-Doo!

DDK:
Minute is about to show why he’s the primer aerial artist in DEFIANCE today! His dives are unreal!

He locks onto TA Cole on the outside and the ZIPS right through the middle and bottom rope, WIPING TA Cole out into the guardrail with a rocket-like suicide dive!

DDK:
Balo De Velociodad! He calls that the Speeding Bullet!

After hitting Cole, he slides back into the ring and then points at Teresa Ames! He jumps off the other side of the ring, walks UP the top turnbuckle, then executes a spinning corkscrew crossbody on top of The Tasty Gurl! The Faithful lose their minds!

Lance:
THAT’S TWO!

DDK:
And where does he go next?!

The fired-up Minute stands and SHOUTS to the Faithful! The Titan of the Skies lives up to his name and then walks up to the ring post, then quickly ascends to the top turnbuckle.

DDK:
Now where the hell is Minute going?

Lance:
I don’t know! I’ve never seen him do this!

Minute gets onto the top turnbuckle and sees Ned Reform starting to stand, but the Favoured Saints Champion is all the way on the other side. Minute then ROPE WALKS across the ring quickly! The entirety of Madison Square Garden is going insane!

DDK:
WHAT IS HE DOING?

The Titan of the Skies takes EVERYONE’S breath away when Reform looks up and sees Minute rope walking all the way across the ring into a HUGE tornillo moonsault off the top rope, wiping out both he and the defending Favoured Saints Champion in the process! The crowd is standing up and applauding!

DDK:
That… that was INSANITY! I don’t know what else to call that!

MINUTE!
MINUTE!
MINUTE!
MINUTE!

Lance:
Minute is called The Titan of the Skies! He should add Ruler of the Ropes to his list of monikers after that!?

Having the crowd in the palm of his hand, Minute picks up Ned Reform and throws him back inside the ring! He pitches him into the corner, then runs to the other side… He looks out to the crowd!

DDK:
He’s got Ned Reform right where he wants him! Can he become the Favoured Saints Champion for the second time in his DEFIANCE career?!

The crowd is on their feet when he runs again and then nails The Good Doctor with another death-defying rope-running move … Estrella Fugaz!

DDK:
Estrella Fugaz! The rope-running corner dropkick connects! New champ! New champ!

Minute makes the cover!

ONE!

TWO!

Lance:
NO! ONCE AGAIN, TA COLE MAKES THE SAVE TO KEEP THE TITLE WITH NED REFORM!

DDK:
COLE SAVES HIS MENTOR! WE COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE HAD A NEW CHAMPION RIGHT THERE!

Cole even GRABS Minute and hurls him out of the ring to LOUD jeers before… he takes the pin for himself!

DDK:
WHAT IS COLE DOING?! HE’S TRYING TO PIN NED REFORM!

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

Reform FINALLY kicks out! And looks up to see TA Cole looking like he’s made the worst mistake of his life! The crowd buzzes for Cole trying to win the title for himself!

DDK:
I can’t believe it! What was Cole thinking?!

Lance:
Well, is he really breaking any rules? EVERY man for himself! Matches like this are what makes the Favoured Saints Championship our most unpredictable, but highly sought-after title in DEFIANCE!

Before Cole can even plead his case any further as he’s in the corner, a head comes up behind him, scowling at both he and Reform.

URIEL CORTEZ.

DDK:
The Titan of Industry is back!

Cortez climbs over the top rope! Cole tries to stop him with a headbutt! Then a headbutt for Ned Reform!

DDK:
Cortez hasn’t forgotten that low blow… or basically EVERYTHING Reform has done to he and Titaness in the past few months!

The Titan of Industry takes Cole over the ropes to the floor! Minute gets up and then motions for Cortez to help him and he does! He aids Minute by giving him speed to hit a sliding dive… to hit Cole with a sliding splash on the floor to wipe out Ned Reform’s Star Student!

Lance:
Minute has him! Cortez is ALL ALONE with Ned Reform!

The crowd roars for him about to get his comeuppance. Cortez cocks a hand back… but Ned goes low and tries another low blow! This time, Cortez quickly closes his legs together to trap his arm!

DDK:
That’s ONE way to stop a low blow!

Then Cortez kicks him in the face and turns him INSIDE-OUT with the Chop of Ages!

DDK:
CHOP OF AGES! NOBODY’S LEFT TO SAVE NED REFORM!

Cortez brings him down and drags him to the middle of the ring! He goes for the cover!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE… BROKEN UP BY MINUTE!

DDK:
Minute breaks up the pin and saves Reform’s title!

A collective “OHHHHHH” rises up from the New York Faithful as Uriel angrily gets to his feet… and gets in the face (or at least as close as he can) of his long time tag team partner! Minute, despite the size difference, doesn’t back down an inch.

Uriel Cortez:
I HAD HIM! HE WAS DONE! HE'S BEEN FUCKING WITH US FOR MONTHS!

Minute:
NO! Every man for himself! YOU don't get to decide who wins!

The camera cuts to a different angle and we can no longer hear their conversation, but reading their body language it's clear they are not happy with each other.

Lance:
We thought something like this might happen… building tension has boiled over at the worst possible time… a Pay Per View Championship match!

The argument is getting increasingly more aggressive and the fans are on their feet - a buzz growing that these two brothers might actually be building up to coming to blows. Titaness appears, getting in between her husband and Minute. To her fellow Titanes, though, she might as well not even be there: they continue to bicker right through her massive frame! In fact, Cortez politely moves her aside so that he can continue to bicker with Minute… and while his attention is turned…

DDK:
Teresa Ames strikes!!! Roll up on Titaness!!

ONE!

TWO!

Lance:
She stole it!

THREE!!!

 

 

…NO! Titaness powers out at 2.999999. Ames falls backwards, running her hands through her hair, kicking the mat, and screaming in absolute frustration. Cortez and Minute momentarily end their confrontation, realizing that Titaness also was nearly caught by Teresa. That’s when The Honor Society strikes: Cole jumps Cortez from behind and Reform knocks Minute to the ground. Titaness gets back to her feet and start to wail on Teresa!

DDK:
All six competitors going at it! This has broken down!

Ames gets a brief flare up of offense against Titaness… but then she runs directly into a HUGE spear that sends them both tumbling out of the ring! Likewise, TA Cole runs at Cortez with a Cactus clothesline, and they both spill out onto the floor… leaving Reform and Minute alone in the ring.

DDK:
Reform in control… he hooks Minute for a neckbreaker… sloooowly turns him…

Ned allows himself one shit-eating grin before falling and planting the luchador with a neckbreaker. Sitting on the mat, Reform is all smiles as he claps for himself and encourages the fans to do the same. His smiles fades when…

Lance:
Minute kips up!!

Quick as a hiccup, Minute gets a head of steam off the ropes and plants the still sitting Reform with a shotgun dropkick to the dome! Ned is laid out. Minute looks around: Cortez and Cole are brawling on the ramp and Titaness clotheslines Ames over the barricade, following after her in anger. It’s just him and The Good Doctor. With his signature speed, he gets a running start and straight up leaps up to the top rope. 

DDK:
Minute lays it all on the line… Minutiae!!

Lance:
This is how he beat Reform at DEFtv 181!

…BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

DDK:
Reform gets the knees up!!

This time it’s The Good Doctor who moves quickly, moving the hurting Minute into position, hooking his arm, and dropping down with La Magistral! 

ONE!

TWO!

Titaness slides into the ring… but she’s half a second too late.

THREE!

DING DING DING

DDK:
I… I don’t believe it. Reform retained… legitimately!

Darren Quimbey:
The winner of this match and STILL Favored Saints Champion, Dr. Ned Reform!

The fans can’t believe it either. Titaness can’t believe it. As Ned’s theme kicks in, it catches Uriel’s attention from the ramp and HE can’t believe it. But you know who can believe it? The Favoured Saints Champion.
Reform pounds the mat in pure joy before quickly rolling under the bottom rope as Cortez enters. The Good Doctor snatches the championship belt and holds it over his head as he jumps for joy like he just won the FIST all around the ringside area.  Holding the belt over his head, he marches up the ramp and TA Cole is elated, looking for a high five… but Reform simply storms past him and disappears behind the curtain.

DDK:
Trouble in paradise?

Lance:
Maybe. But either way… this is Ned Reform’s first successful championship defense since winning the belt. You have to believe he has his eyes set on a SOHer opportunity at DEFCON…

Titaness looks at Uriel and it looks like he realizes the folly of what's just happened. Uriel tries to make what good he can do to salvage the situation and offers a hand to Minute to help the defeated luchador. 

But Minute SLAPS his hand away!

Another concerned reaction booms up from The Faithful. Angrily, Minute rolls out of the ring and leaves under his own power… WITHOUT any of the other Titans.

DDK:
I did not think I would be saying this six months ago or so. But coming up next is a match I am truly looking forward to calling -- a 60-minute Ironman match between “The Special Attraction” JJ Dixon and MV1! 

Lance:
Both of these two competitors have become major forces here in DEFIANCE the past few months. And this is of course a rivalry that started at DefTV 177, when MV1 got the best of JJ Dixon in a match that had everyone talking. Soon after, Lord Nigel paid his longtime fancy Teri Melton a large sum of money for JJ to “take care” of MV1. And what followed were a series of mind games that ultimately came at the emotional and financial expense of Lord Nigel, which ended with The Uncut Gems fleeing our awards ceremony in a hot air balloon -- with a massive cult following exploding around DEFIANCE's lovable rogues!

♫ “The Fixer” by Pearl Jam ♫

The music bounces as the Faithful hit their feet. When the verse hits, red, yellow, and blue pyro explode all around the stage. When the smoke clear, Masked Violator #1 is standing alone, a single arm and single finger raised high in the air. Dressed in a bright red wrestling singlet with matching boots and pads, his wrestling mask is a vibrant blue trimmed with reds and yellows. Suddenly sprinting towards the ring, the lustrous blue cape he is wearing billows behind him.

DDK:
This is going to be a match unlike anything else we will see over the course of this two night event. 

Lance:
It’s going to be a blast to call!

In the ring, MV1 sweeps the blue cape off of his shoulders and hands it to a ringside attendant with a polite nod of the head. Loosening up in the ring, MV1 eyes the arena with appreciation as the lights slowly dim once more.

♫ “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins ♫

The lights in the arena go dark and the crowd starts to buzz as The Uncut Gems are on the DefTRON for their Sorkin Walk-And-Talk Entrance. Zoltan is in the back in his dark suit. JJ is in the middle wearing a light pink floor-length sequined robe with his initials on the front chest. And Teri is in the front, wearing a pink pillbox hat with funeral netting, dangling silver earings, a necklace with some kind of pink amulet, a glittering pink shawl over a black dress, cigarette holder in hand. 

JJ Dixon:
MV1! Tonight is the night. I know how good you are. And you know how good I am. And you know how good you are. And I know how good I am. We’re the ones The New York CIty Faithful are buzzing about. Let’s see who the better man is tonight... and let’s burn this mother down.

Teri Melton:
For months, I have told the world that...

She pauses as the crowd gets ready to say it along with her.

Teri Melton:
Teri Melton! Is Ready! For Her Closeup!

She pauses and turns to the side and holds her hands out.

Teri Melton:
Tonight...”The Special Attraction” JJ Dixon is ready for his! 

JJ makes his DiamondHands and lets out a loud yelp. A spotlight turns on at ringside as Teri emits her cigarette smoke high in the air, Zoltan stands next to her arms-crossed, and JJ is on the apron bobbing up and down. They three of them makes DiamondHands as the crowd follows suit, and JJ takes off his robe and slingshots over the ropes, amped up and jumping up and down. 

DDK:
This crowd is on their feet already in anticipation of a rematch of one of the best matches we saw in all of 2022, a year filled with classics up and down the roster! 

JJ Dixon!
MV1!
JJ Dixon!
MV1!
JJ Dixon!
MV1!

Lance:
An Ironman match is one of wrestling’s great wars -- one that tests the competitors’ stamina, but also one of how someone incorporates a strategy for a 60-minute match but adjust their tactics along the way as the unexpected unfolds.

DDK:
And how do you see MV1 approaching the match?

Lance:
Well, Masked Violator One was considered for a long time as one of wrestling’s best kept secrets, although the secret has been out for a while now. He’s experienced in a lot of different types of wrestling from his travels around the world, and a great “chess player” in the ring. He’s also one of the best pure athletes in DEFIANCE as well. But, most importantly, he also has a victory over JJ Dixon, which is something that has to be in the mind of The Special Attraction!

DDK:
And JJ Dixon?

Lance:
Well, what we’ve seen from JJ over the past few months has been really miraculous. We forget now, but he came close to retiring from professional wrestling just a few months ago before he was brought under the wing of Teri Melton - the so-called Gangster In A Gucci Dress, and DEFIANCE’s unlikely Rookie of The Year - who has sought to hone The Special Attraction’s elite athleticism into a more complete wrestler -- 'That Dude' as he calls himself. And JJ also has in his back pocket his finishing move, Sunset Boulevard, which he can hit suddenly without much setup - perfect for a match like this!

DDK:
And this crowd is already on their feet and Referee Carla Ferrarri calls for the bell --

DING DING

DDK:
And away we go! The 60 minute timer is clicking down, and JJ Dixon and MV1 are circling each other and finally we have a collar-and-elbow tie-up! Both men jockeying for advantage... and they both break the hold! JJ pulling on the top rope as Teri Melton is offering some kind of advice. And MV1 clapping his hands like a basketball player in a full-court press.

Lance:
One of the things about an Ironman match is that you really have to balance pacing yourself along with trying to win the first fall. Winning the first fall is a gigantic advantage... but it’s one easily lost if you spent too much energy in hopes to get it. Both of these guys are just trying to ease the adrenaline that’s kicking in right now.

DDK:
We have another collar-and-elbow tie up... And this time, MV1 gets the advantage with a side headlock on JJ! Now MV1 goes for JJ Dixon’s left arm for a hammerlock, but JJ scrambles away and slides away and shakes his head telling MV1 no!

Lance:
In their first match, MV1 really worked over JJ’s left arm, which he continually managed to target to regain advantage throughout the match, and it was a real difference maker! And just a few weeks ago the legendary Oscar Burns targeted that same arm throughout their match -- which JJ won, albeit with the help of a drone attack from Declan Alexander. JJ and Teri have worked a lot on how to defend against this type of attack. I’m actually surprised MV1 has decided to return to that strategy, but go with what takes you to the dance!

DDK:
They lock up again, and MV1 goes for the left arm again! But JJ ducks under into a hammerlock - NO! Rollup!

One!

Two!

No!

DDK:
MV1 with a kickout! Now JJ with an inside cradle!

One!

Two!

No!

Lance:
JJ already going for two quick roll-ups! He really understands the importance of the first fall, and is showing MV1 that he has to be careful for these types of counters! But JJ might also be tipping his hand a bit.

DDK:
A third lockup, but JJ with a hiptoss takedown! And he now gets MV1 up and whips him into the ropes - and they both hit each other with a shoulderblock that bridges neither man! They both bounce off the opposite ropes - JJ drops down and MV1 hops over. JJ with a leapfrog - no, MV1 pauses and goes for the left arm, but JJ again slides out of the way and brings MV1 down with a takedown to the legs but MV1 quickly grabs the ropes.

Lance:
MV1 showing that he’s still looking for that arm he targeted in their first match that Oscar Burns, arguably the greatest technician in wrestling history, tormented just a few weeks ago! 

DDK:
Both men up again, and JJ quickly with a waistlock. He charges the ropes, and rolls MV1 up! No, reversal! MV1 with the cover!

One!

Two!

No!

DDK:
And MV1 with an inside cradle!

One!

Two!

No!

And JJ slides out of the ring as Teri comes over, whispering advice in his ear as JJ looks to gather himself!

Lance:
JJ is definitely an emotional kid, and not a bad idea to calm himself down, 

DDK:
They lock up again, but JJ with a knee to the shoulder! He goes for a suplex! No, MV1 blocks it with his leg! JJ again tries for the suplex. And again MV1 blocks! MV1 with a suplex of his own, but JJ reverses! JJ now bounces MV1 off the ropes and goes for a roll-up -- no, holds onto the ropes! JJ rolls back, kips up as MV1 charges! JJ drops down, MV1 off the ropes, and JJ leaps - FLYING HEADSCISSORS THAT SENDS MV1 DOWN!

Lance:
There’s that athleticism and explosiveness that Teri Melton has been helping JJ Dixon refine!

DDK:
MV1 up and charges, JJ Dixon sidesteps and whips MV1 into the ropes and hops for another headscissors -- NO! MV1 cartwheels as he was sent to the mat! And he has JJ’s left wrist, drives an elbow near the tricep, and now drops down right onto the left shoulder and arm and wrenches in a very snug armbar as he straddles JJ’s back! And JJ grimaces and pounds the mat with this right arm.

Lance:
On top of JJ feeling the pain that comes with your arm being worked on like this, he has to feel just a lot of frustration. He tried so hard to prevent MV1 from being able to work that arm and wasn’t able to fend him off. MV1 had the confidence to be able to make that happen, and he also realized it would get in JJ’s head!

DDK:
And MV1 is saying something to JJ we can’t pick up, but no doubt emphasizing this point! But, also... will you listen to this crowd and applauding this early action?

Lance:
I know we want to stay objective here... but this has really been some fantastic stuff we’re seeing here already, and we’re just getting going!

DDK:
JJ is trying to feel with his legs how close he may be to the ropes, and realizing he’s very much in the middle of the ring. And now MV1 is now bending JJ’s elbow, and now his hand by the fingers!

Lance:
By doing so, MV1 is extending the radius of the part of JJ Dixon’s arm that’s now hurting.

DDK:
Now JJ hooks his other arm around MV1 and pushes back with his arms for a pinfall -- no! MV1 just simply readjusts the wristlock! Now JJ is trying to bridge up and out of the hold, but MV1 just lays back down on the armbar! But JJ has enough room to push up on his knees and grabs the top rope to break - no, JJ with a forward flip! That slips MV1’s grip. JJ with a waistlock and a roll-up!

One!

No!

MV1 powers out of it. JJ hard off the ropes AND A SHOTGUN DROPKICK TO MV1’S RIGHT KNEE! RIGHT AS MV1 GOT TO HIS FEET!

Lance:
And you could really see the knee buckle after that really high-impact dropkick!

DDK:
Now JJ quickly goes over and grabs the right ankle. A quick hard kick to the thigh! And another! Followed by a third! Quick spinning toe hold - and JJ drops down on MV1’s knee! JJ quickly back up, and now with an ankle lock that turns MV1 into a half-crab! Teri is now yelling something to JJ and he nods in agreement! He puts his knee behind MV1’s and slams it into the mat, before pulling back up, pulling back on the toe of MV1’s boot while having his foot implanted on MV1’s right knee! And JJ screams out “Come on!” as MV1 is wincing in pain.

Teri gleefully applauds and turns around and shows the crowd she’s clapping as many in the crowd follow-suit!

Lance:
You can just see the excitement from JJ right here. He’s putting the pieces together right before our eyes and doing a good job with finding a limb of his own to attack! And going for a knee and ankle is a good idea, since MV1’s unbelievable finisher the One-derstruck is a forward flip off the top rope. 

DDK:
And we’ve passed the 15 minute mark of this encounter. Neither man has scored a fall yet, but I’m really impressed with the technical abilities of both men. 

Lance:
Both men have gone into the early part of this matchup certainly looking for a fall, but looking to grind down their opponent. Both men understand that 60 minutes is a punishing affair, and what you do now could very easily have a massive payoff down the line! 

DDK:
JJ still holds onto the ankle lock as MV1 gets up on his left leg... ENZIGUIRI TO THE BACK OF JJ’S NECK AND HEAD THAT SENDS HIM FLIPPING FORWARD AND ONTO HIS BACK! COVER!

One!

Two!

No!

And MV1 tries to go for the left arm again, but JJ instead swipes both legs out from MV1 and kips up to his feet -- quick dropkick to MV1’s right knee, and JJ Dixon quickly grabs a hold of MV1’s right ankle and twists!

Lance:
What a smart batch of wrestling there from JJ Dixon. Quick counters in a match like this are so important. And JJ has clearly been working on his mat game to keep MV1 at bay, and now has control of a limb himself!

DDK:
JJ now twisting that ankle, and he drops a knee to MV1’s right thigh! And another! And another! Now JJ stands up and slowly spins that ankle around. And again with some knees to the thigh!

Lance:
I really like what JJ’s doing here. Mat wrestling is not his strength. But he’s keeping it simple and is trying to wear down MV1’s right leg by bruising it. JJ’s strategy to target that right leg - or, more likely, Teri’s strategy - could pay off long-term as this match continues!

DDK:
JJ holding that ankle lock again. But MV1 pushes himself up on his other foot... He feints a second ENZIGUIRI! JJ ducks -- MV1 with a SCISSOR KICK! QUICK PIN! And now MV1 immediately hoists JJ up... SHOULDERBREAKER ONTO THE LEFT ARM as JJ screams in pain!

Lance:
But MV1’s also holding his right knee, which he had to use to connect with the move!

DDK:
MV1 gets up first with a knee to JJ’s stomach and a front-face lock...Snap suplex with a floatover!

One!

Two!

No!

Now MV1 pops his hips and rolls JJ up for another... no! JJ blocks with his leg! Cradle!

One!

Two!

No!

Lance:
Another two near-falls there. I have to say, I’m really surprised that we’re still deadlocked at zero falls a piece as we’re 20 minutes into the match. It just goes to show how even and well-prepared both men are!

DDK:
Now MV1 wisely tugs on JJ’s arm to get control. He whips JJ into the ropes - no, reversal. JJ puts his head down for a back body drop but MV1 hops over! BICYCLE KICK RIGHT TO JJ’S SKULL!

One!

Two!

Threenoooo! JJ just kicked out!

Lance:
That’s the second good kick MV1 has landed to JJ. But again you could see him wince just a little bit after the leapfrog as his knee has clearly taken some damage! 

DDK:
Now MV1 picks JJ up and whips him hard into the ropes... SPEAR! HE JUST SPEARED JJ RIGHT OUT OF HIS BOOTS!

ONE!!!

TWO!!!!

THREENOOOOO! 

JJ just got his foot on the ropes!

Lance:
MV1 has really picked up the pace these past few minutes! I think he realized that JJ had found some success on the ground and decided speeding things up might be more advantageous!

DDK:
MV1 up first with a waistlock around JJ! JJ with an elbow and a reversal! He runs MV1 into the ropes for a roll-up -- no, he instead uses a spin kick to MV1’s jaw! Now JJ gets up and whips MV1 into the ropes... HE PICKS HIM UP... PRESS SLAM THAT DROPPED MV1’S THROAT ACROSS THE TOP ROPE!

Lance:
And that’s a momentum stopper!

DDK:
MV1 picking himself up in the corner and JJ charges... RUNNING BIG BOOT ACROSS THE FACE! JJ with a full-nelson for Sunset Boulevard! No! MV1 drops down to reverse - NO! JJ HOOKS THE LEGS!

ONE!

TWO!

THREEEE!!!!

Darren Quimbey:
The winner of this fall is JJ Dixon! He leads One falls to Zero!!!

DDK:
JJ is jubilant, pumping his fist like Tiger Woods at the Masters! Teri Melton is pointing at him, saying “I told you so!” And JJ turns to the crowd and raises his hands in that DiamondHands pattern as Teri follows... and so does much of the sell-out crowd here tonight!

Uncut Gems!
Uncut Gems!
Uncut Gems!

Lance:
That looks like it was part of their strategy here tonight! JJ hadn’t attempted Sunset Boulevard at all, which surprised me. But it looked like he was saving it not just to try and hit the move, but to catch MV1 trying to counter it. Which he just did, using the same type of roll-up he used in his drone-caused upset of Oscar Burns a few weeks ago! Of course, getting blasted across the face with a running big boot also will give you some cobwebs and not make you realize the trap you just stepped into! 

DDK:
Almost 25 minutes has elapsed in this match. Their first match went just under this length of time and both men still look like they have a lot left in the tank! I know JJ certainly does as he hurries to MV1. He whips him into the ropes -- BIG BACK BODY DROP! JJ quickly onto the ring apron and he springboards... THE SPECIAL ATTRACTION WITH THE WIREHANGER CLOTHESLINE FROM WELL OVER HALFWAY ACROSS THE RING!

ONEEEE!!!

TWOOOO!!!!

THRENNNOOOO!!!

MV1 barely kicked out! Teri is pounding on the mat, and this crowd is clapping and stomping along! JJ now picks MV1 up... BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover!

ONNEEE!

TWOOOO!

THREENOOOO!

Again, MV1 kicks out! Now JJ is climbing the top rope, maybe looking for a moonsault! MV1 quickly pops up and falls on the ropes, sending JJ spread eagle on the top turnbuckle!

Lance:
MV1 was just hanging on by a thread right there! That could have just saved him from going down another fall!

DDK:
Now MV1 slowly climbing to the top rope with JJ perched on top with him... this looks really dangerous for both men... MV1 WITH THE POISON HURUCANRANA!!! JJ JUST CRASHED HARD! MV1 CRADLES THE LEGS!

ONNEEE!

TWOOO!!!

THREEEE!!!!

Darren Quimbey:
The winner of this fall is Masked Violator One... the match is now tied one fall a piece!

Holy Shit!
Holy Shit! 
Holy Shit!

DDK:
The crowd stunned at that incredible move, as MV1 is trying to catch his break and holds up 1 finger to the crowd! He’s usually a little more reserved than that, but you can just see how much this matchup means to him as well!

MV1!
MV1!
MV1!

Lance:
MV1 decided to go for a Hail Mary pass there and it worked! That could have just kept him in the match because JJ Dixon was coming really close to getting his second pinfall! Instead, his lead lasted just about four minutes. That’s something that’s likely weighing in his mind right now.

DDK:
And both men are in opposite corners taking a deep breath and trying to regroup, with Teri Melton and now the almost always completely silent Zoltan also both offering JJ some advice! 

Darren Quimbey:
There are 30 minutes remaining! There are 30 minutes remaining!

Lance:
And the crowd all rises at once, giving both men a giant ovation for what we are watching so far tonight! These two men are throwing it all out there tonight, like we knew they would, in what is the biggest match of each of their singles careers!

DDK: 
Both men up and walking to the middle but MV1 meets JJ with a sidekick to that left arm! Now the masked man quick to grab that arm for an Irish Whip - no, Short-Arm Clothesline while holding onto to the arm! He picks him up again - another Short-Arm Clothesline with the arm still clutched! And now he grapevines JJ’s left arm in a modified cross-arm breaker, really yanking on it! JJ screaming in pain and it looks like he’s contemplating tapping out!

Lance:
That’s something in an Ironman match you have to consider! Gritting out a submission hold like this could easily come back to hurt you considering we still have 30 minutes left! But obviously tapping out puts you at a disadvantage going forward.

DDK:
JJ instead rolls over and is getting up, but MV1 still with that wristlock! And Number One now has a hammerlock... HAMMERLOCK DDT! FLOAT OVER COVER!

ONE!

TWO!

THREENNNO!

Lance:
MV1 positioned himself on that pinfall attempt so JJ would have to get that injured shoulder and arm up. That’s just one of those little things he does so incredibly well, and they add up so much throughout a match like this!

DDK: 
MV1 now picks JJ up again.. Gutwrench suplex! But not! JJ with a spinning leg sweep to that right knee when he landed on the mat! And now he’s quick to his feet, holding the right angle, with a knee to the thigh! And another! And a third!

Lance:
We really are seeing JJ Dixon mature tonight. In their first matchup, JJ was not nearly as focused on these types of attacks. But you can just sense he’s realized the importance of developing his mat game and ring-work.

DDK:
JJ stands MV1 up while still holding the right foot... KNEE BREAKER! And MV1 lets out a little bit of a yell in pain!

Lance:
But look at JJ! Even though he’s one of the strongest pound-for-pound performers here in DEFIANCE, you can only do so much heavy lifting after your arm has been successful worked over by a master technician! He’s holding his left arm really close to his body.

DDK:
Both men getting up... JJ with a boot to the stomach. STUNNER! But MV1 spins and catches himself on the top rope -- JJ WITH SUNSET BOULEVARD -- NO! MV1 wisely hooks his leg between the middle and bottom ropes. AND OH MY GOD! JJ JUST CLOCKED MV1 with a superkick to the jaw that sends the masked man to the floor! He walked right into that when he was turning his way back into the ring!

Lance:
Teri now pumps her first and is saying something to Zoltan. They no doubt practiced that, too!

DDK:
OH MY GOD! JJ LEAPS UP TO THE TOP ROPE FROM A NEAR STANDING POSITION! NO HANDS AT ALL! THAT WAS SOMETHING OUT OF A SPIDERMAN COMIC! THE SPECIAL ATTRACTION IS GOING TO FLY -- SHOOTING STAR PRESS!!! HE JUST CRASH LANDED ONTO MV1 AND BOTH MEN ARE ON THE FLOOR! JJ DIXON! IS! THAT! DUDE!

Holy Shit!
Holy Shit!
Holy Shit!

Lance:
We’ll be seeing that in highlights for the rest of our lives! And I absolutely love it - going for broke like that! Both men are going to start taking more gambles since this has been so evenly matched. 

DDK:
JJ quickly trying to get back in the ring, but MV1 grabs him and meets him with a knife-edged chop that sounds like a shot from a rifle. He now goes to roll in - JJ grabs MV1 and returns him to the floor and hits a knife-edged chop with his right hand that echoes throughout the building! He’s screaming at MV1 telling him he wants more! And he obliges with another chop! And MV1 is screaming at JJ to bring it! Now JJ responds with a giant chop of his own!

Lance:
MV1 really took advantage in their first match with his chops, which are some of the best in the business. The Uncut Gems took specific note of that and began overhauling how JJ trains in order to better take punishment like that, especially in a match like this!

DDK:
MV1 with another chop that sends JJ back a step, almost into the steel post! But JJ with a blistering chop of his own! And now MV1 responds! JJ with another! MV1! JJ! MV1! JJ! Teri Melton is yelling at JJ to get back in the ring but he’s not hearing as these two men are blistering each other’s chests with these devastating chops!

Lance:
These two men are so focused right now in chopping each other to smithereens! 

DDK:
Carla Ferrari with her head between the ropes telling both men to get back in the ring, but neither man cares! They are just slugging it out with those huge chops back and forth! Their chests are so beat red! And this crowd is absolutely loving it, on their feet once again!

Lance:
There are legal moves, of course. And in a way, it’s a great sign of respect both of these men have for each other! 

DDK:
Carla Ferrari is motioning for something and says something to our ring announcer...

Darren Quimbey:
Ladies and gentlemen.... Carla Ferrari has ruled both men out with a double countout! The match now stands at two falls a piece!

DDK:
Neither man gets an advantage from that exchange on the floor, and both men return to the ring! 

Darren Quimbey:
20 minutes remaining! There are 20 minutes remaining in this match!

DDK:
Both men continue their exchange of chops, and you can see some small ticks of blood coming from each man’s chest! MV1 with another sidekick to the arm - No, JJ catches it! He spins MV1 around, no, MV1 with a dragon screw, but JJ ducks under with a roll-up!

One!

Two!

No!

JJ up first with a lariat - no, MV1 ducks under with a backslide!

One!

Two!

NOOOO! JJ instead bridges up out of that move! MV1 with a look of disbelief! Now JJ with a backslide!

One!

Two!

NO!

Both men up and JJ bounces off the ropes -- Pump kick! NO! MV1 ducks under and rolls JJ up!

One!

Two!

No!

Lance:
The physical and mental stamina needed to constantly try to try to counter each other’s moves like this is incredible. And these fans are counting along with every pinfall attempt. But neither man will break!

DDK:
Both men get up - JJ with a quick kick to MV1’s injured right leg. JJ steps behind - SUNSET BOULEVARD! NO! MV1 just backpedalled JJ hard into the corner! And MV1 grabs the left arm and yanks it hard over his shoulder! JJ screaming in pain!

Lance:
Both times in the match that JJ went for Sunset Boulevard resulted in him gaining either a pinfall or hitting MV1 with a huge dive to the floor! That time, MV1 was not messing around!

DDK:
Now MV1 grabs the left arm and whips JJ into the ropes -- HE POPS HIM UP - CUTTER! A GIANT POP UP CUTTER! Now MV1 as quick as he can going to the top - he’s looking for One-Derful! But JJ wisely rolls towards the other corner! BUT MV1 FLIES ANYWAY! INCREDIBLE! A FROG SPLASH NEARLY 3/4’S ACROSS THE RING!!! COVERRR!

ONNNEEE!

TWOOOO!!!

THREEE!!!!

Darren Quimbey:
The winner of this fall ---

DDK:
Wait! No! I’m mistaken! Teri is hopping up and down screaming! She's pointing out -- correctly -- that JJ’s foot was actually under the bottom rope! Carla is waiving off the fall! And MV1 is on his knees looking at her in disbelief!

Lance:
That was indeed the right call! JJ Dixon was actually face down when MV1 connected with that incredible frog splash! He had to roll him over onto his stomach and in doing so it inadvertantly placed JJ’s foot under the rope! And that shows the advantage Teri Melton is bringing -- making sure she grabbed Carla’s attention so she corrected the call! 

Holy Shit!
Holy Shit!
Holy Shit!

DDK:
MV1 is also now looking at JJ, shaking his head, wondering exactly what the hell he has to do to put this kid away! He drags JJ away from the ropes - LABELL LOCK - No! JJ scrambles away, but MV1 still retains wrist control and has an armbar on the left arm, wrenching it back! 

Lance:
JJ really feeling a lot of pain in that left arm, especially in the shoulder!

Darren Quimbey:
10 minutes remaining! We have 10 minutes remaining in this match!

DDK:
And this crowd is letting both men hear it!

JJ DIXON!
MV1!
JJ DIXON!
MV1!
JJ DIXON!
MV1!

Lance:
I have to agree! I could watch these guys all night!

DDK:
MV1 up... and JJ just shoulder tackled that right knee! MV1 holds the right knee, screaming!

Lance:
A key move this late in this dramatic match. 

DDK:
Both men on the mat, just completely spent! But JJ is up and grabs the right ankle -- spinning leg lock! And a second! And a third! Now he wraps the leg... FIGURE FOUR! FIGURE FOUR! MV1 screaming in pain, but he grabs the bottom rope!

Lance:
JJ had the right idea. He should have positioned himself better for a possible submission, his inexperience showing, but that got some of the job done!

DDK:
JJ again up and he whips MV1 into the turnbuckle and he charges... BACK HANDSPRING INTO A MASSIVE ELBOW! You can see that hurting his shoulder, but JJ does not care! Now JJ turns and is pushing MV1 up to the top turnbuckle. MV1 trying to fight out of it, but he’s just spent. JJ on the top rope... MOONSAULT BODYPRESS!!!! He crawls for the cover!!!

OONNNNEEEE!!!

TWOOOO!!!!!

THREEENNNOOOOOOO!!!!

Lance:
MV1 somehow kicked out! He somehow kicked out! The resiliency of this man! Of both these men!

Holy Shit!
Holy Shit!
Holy Shit!

DDK:
JJ looking at Teri who looks like she has been through the ringer with this match! She’s telling him to just stay on him! JJ picks MV1 up and whips him off the ropes - Death Valley Driver - NO! MV1 with an elbow to JJ’s left neck and shoulder! And JJ collapses to the mat! 

Lance:
JJ thought he had enough to power through, but MV1 saw otherwise!

DDK: 
MV1 WITH THE LABELL LOCK! JJ SCREAMING AND TRIES TO DRAG OUT OF IT, BUT MV1 READJUSTS AND THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING! MV1 YANKING BACK! AND JJ DIXON TAPS! JJ DIXON TAPS! JJ TAPS!

MV1!
MV1!
MV1!

Darren Quimbey:
The winner of that fall... Masked Violator 1! He now leads this match 3 falls to 2!

Lance:
Teri is almost despondent at ringside!

DDK:
AND MV1 GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE LABELL LOCK! HE IS YANKING BACK! HE IS WRENCHING IT BACK!  JJ MIGHT TAP! JJ MIGHT TAP! TERI IS BESIDE HERSELF! 

Lance:
This could be it! If MV1 goes up by another fall, then this match is over!

DDK:
JJ desperately trying to get out of this! JJ trying to find a way out! He reaches with his right leg to the ropes -- HE KICKS OFF THE BOTTOM ROPE AND ROLLS MV1 UP!

ONE!!!!

TWO!!!!

THREEE!!!!!!!

UNCUT GEMS! 
UNCUT GEMS!
UNCUT GEMS!

Darren Quimbey:
The winner of that fall... JJ Dixon! This match is now tied 3 falls to 3!!!

DDK:
Unbelievable! JJ Dixon managed to reverse out of the LaBell Lock! And Teri Melton just about feinted watching that! 

Lance:
MV1 went for it. You have to love the logic. He just made JJ tap out from that submission. He targeted JJ’s left arm and shoulder for the entire match. And he was hoping to either get a second fall via a submission or grind JJ to the mat and run out the clock, hoping the less inexperienced JJ wouldn’t be able to find a way out. But JJ found a way to not just get out of this, but to tie it up! And I wouldn’t have it any other way! 

DDK:
And neither can these fans!

Both these guys!
Both these guys!
Both these guys!

DDK:
Both men in opposite corners. MV1, by himself, shaking out that right knee as much as he can. JJ desperately stretching out his left arm as both Teri Melton and Zoltan are shouting encouragement to him!

Darren Quimbey:
There are five minutes remaining. There are five minutes remaining in this match!!!

DDK:
And MV1 holds up this index finger as he stomps on the mat! He screams out a giant ‘COME ON!’ and JJ Dixon flashes his Diamond Hands! And he screams out ‘ALLRIGHT ALLRRIGGGHHHT!”’ 

Lance:
Both guys are really embracing this moment, and they are absolutely drawing from the palpable energy and adrenaline in the arena!

DDK:
Both men charge to each other -- MV1 WITH A CODEBREAKER! CODEBREAKER! MV1 slowly crawls over and drapes a hand across JJ’s chest!

ONEEEE!!!

TWOOOOO!!!!!

THRNOOOOOO!!!!

Lance:
MV1 read that perfectly and saw JJ’s overexcitement and used it against him! As we all have seen -- he is always a few moves ahead of everyone else -- MV1 is Him, as JJ put it. But JJ just managed to get the shoulder up!

DDK: 
Both men finding the will to get up to their feet after this greuling, exhausting campaign! MV1 bounces off the ropes for a scissor kick -- NO! JJ CAUGHT MV1! POWERBOMB! JJ HOOKS BOTH LEGS AND FLIPS FORWARD WITH A CRADLE!

ONNNEEE!

TWOOOOO!

THRRRNNNOOOO!

Somehow MV1 got his right shoulder off the mat!

Lance:
JJ might have hooked MV1’s legs a little too hard, which let him have enough leverage to get the shoulder up!

DDK:
Both men are on the mat, breathing so heavily!

Darren Quimbey:
Four minutes remaining! There are four minutes remaining in this match!

DDK:
Both men up… MV1 with a go-behind and he rams JJ into the turnbuckle and rolls him up — NO! GERMAN SUPLEX WITH A BRIDGE!!! 

One!!!

Two!!! 

Threeenoooo!!! 

Lance:
JJ just got the right shoulder up! He is still favoring that arm! But MV1’s right leg gave out right before the pinfall! 

DDK:
MV1 up first… JJ WITH A SPINEBUSTER!!! HE JUST PLANTED MV1’S SKULL INTO THE MAT!!!

ONE!!!!

TWO!!!!

THRENOOOO!!!

Lance:
MV1 kicked out with just pure, limitless heart! The only person who might be able to say they have the same characteristic is his opponent in the ring tonight!

Darren Quimbey:
Three minutes remaining! There are three minutes remaining in this match!

DDK:
Both men so wobbly as the get up… backs to each other and they both turn - SPINNING LARIATS! THEY BOTH FALL TO THE MAT! 

Lance:
These two are both on the same wavelength. It just goes to show how even this match has been!

DDK: 
Both men on their backs... trying to find the resolve and trying to figure out exactly what they have to do to get one more fall on the man across the ring from them! JJ up first… MV1 with a small package!

One!!!

Two!!!

Threeenooo!!!

DDK:
JJ now cradles MV1! 

One!!!!

Two!!!!

Threeeenooooo!!!!

MV1 kicked out!

Darren Quimbey:
Two minutes remaining! There are two minutes remaining in this match!

DDK:
Teri Melton is hyperventilating! She could have sworn that was three!

Lance:
It was that close! 

DDK:
JJ now gets up and he hoists MV1 up... and he drops him stomach first across the top rope before he tumbles and falls to the mat!

Lance:
I don’t know if JJ has the strength right now to lift MV1 up over his head, and he had to readjust!

DDK: 
JJ now attempts to pick MV1 up for the Death Valley Driver! No, he can’t with his shoulder... BUT HE TRIES AGAIN AND HAS MV1 UP... HE HITS IT WITH A CARTWHEEL! SPRINGBOARD ONTO THE SECOND ROPE... SPINNING KICK CLEAR TO MV1’S FACE!

ONNNNEEEEE!

TWOOOOOO!!!!

THRREEEEENNNOOOOOOO!!!!!

Lance:
How? Just how? That connected clear as day but MV1 still got his shoulder up!

Darren Quimbey:
One minute remaining! There is one minute remaining in this match!

DDK:
No one has been sitting down for at least the past 10 minutes! All tied up with 60 seconds left in this incredible, epic instant classic! JJ up first but MV1 meets him with one of those devastating chops to the chest! MV1 now getting back to his feet with another chop that sends a little blood splattering from JJ’s chest! And now a third chest that propels JJ back to the corner!

Lance:
The mental fortitude from MV1 to remember a possible Achillie’s Heel for JJ at this moment of the match is just minboggling.

Darren Quimbey:
30 seconds remaining! There are 30 seconds remaining in this match!

DDK:
MV1 has JJ with a knee to the midsection and has him hunched over... DOUBLE ARM DDT! DOUBLE ARM DDT!!! And MV1 now gingerly gets up, limping on that right leg! And he’s climbing the top rope, trying to keep his balance! The crowd stomping and screaming! ONE-DERSTRUCK! NO! NO! NO! JJ DIXON ROLLED OUT OF THE WAY! JJ DIXON JUST ROLLED OUT OF THE WAY!

Lance:
On top of the exhaustion, I can’t help but think the damage to that right knee kept MV1 from getting to the top rope quick enough!

Darren Quimbey:
20... 19.... 18... 

DDK:
Both men on the mat... JJ KIPS UP! JJ KIPS UP AND LETS OUT A GIANT SCREAM! MV1 SITTING ON HIS KNEES TRYING TO GET UP!

Darren Quimbey:
17... 16....

DDK:
JJ with the Full-Nelson... SUNSET BOULEVARD! SUNSET BOULEVARD! HE HOOKS THE LEG! CARLA FERRARI COUNTS!

ONNNEEE!

TWOOOO!!!!

THREEEE!!!!!!

JJ GOT THE FALL! JJ GOT THE FALL! JJ GOT THE FALL! THIS CROWD IS APOPLECTIC! JJ LEADS 4 FALLS TO 3!

Darren Quimbey:
13... 12...

DDK:
JJ turns over, facedown on the mat! Drained and exhausted... BUT MV1 GETS UP HE IS TRYING FOR THE LEBELL LOCK!

Darren Quimbey:
11... 10...

Lance:
NEVER COUNT MV1 OUT! NEVER COUNT MV1 OUT!

DDK:
MV1 trying to clasp his hands as JJ is fighting with all of his strength!

Darren Quimbey:
9.... 8...

DDK:
JJ BREAKS FREE! JJ BREAKS FREE! HE IS CRAWLING TOWARD TOWARDS THE ROPES! HE FALLS TO THE MAT AS MV1 FOLLOWS WITH HIS LAST CHANCE TO TIE THINGS UP!

Darren Quimbey:
7.... 6...

DDK:
AND JJ DIXON JUST ROLLED OUT OF THE RING TO THE FLOOR! THE KID IS GOING TO WIN THIS! JJ DIXON IS GOING TO WIN THE MATCH! JJ DIXON IS GOING TO WIN THE MATCH!!!

Darren Quimbey:
5.... 4....

DDK:
MV1 CAN ONLY LOOK ON AS TERI MELTON FALLS TO THE FLOOR, TEARS IN HER EYES AS SHE CRADLES JJ’S FACE SCREAMING IN JUBILATION!!!! MV1 COLLAPSES TO THE MAT IN UTTER EXHAUSTION! I CAN BARELY HEAR MYSELF THINK!!!

Darren Quimbey:
3.... 2... 1...

DING DING DING

Darren Quimbey:
THE WINNER OF THIS MATCH... BUT A COUNT OF FOUR FALLS TO THREE.... THHHEEEE SPECIALLLL ATTRACCTIOON!!!! JAYYYY!!! JAYYY!!! DIXXXONNNN!!!!

Lance:
Oh my god. Oh my god. Now I am hyperventilating... JJ with a pin with just mere seconds to go, and MV1 came just a fraction of an inch of perhaps tying things with professional wrestling’s version of a buzzer beater! And this crowd is beside itself!

60 More MInutes!
60 More Minutes!
60 More Minutes!

DDK:
Teri and Zoltan are helping JJ up to his feet! And he’s rolling into the ring, crawling on his hands and knees! And MV1 is slowly getting up, too! 

Lance:
They just saw a war between two wrestlers... two men... who gave more than they knew they possibly had! 

DDK:
MV1 up first as JJ is still on his knees, breathing like a marathon runner! And MV1 offers his hand! He lifts him up... with an amazing show of sportsmanship! And JJ now hugs MV1, as the two men are exchanging some kind of words to each other. This Madison Square Garden crowd is giving both men a standing ovation! JJ points at MV1 and he holds up 1 finger in the air in tribute to his opponent, the other half of this epic! And the crowd follows along!

MV1!
MV1!
MV1!

DDK:
MV1 with another hug for JJ... and now he takes his right arm and holds it high in the air, and points at him! MV1 now steps out of the ring as Teri and Zoltan step in from the other side, giving his rival his moment! 

JJ goes to a corner middle rope and stands! Teri and Zoltan are both applauding as he slowly struggles but gets his Diamond Hands up as Teri and Zoltan also follow!

UNCUT GEMS!
UNCUT GEMS!
UNCUT GEMS!

Lance:
Tonight we saw not one but two stars born right before our very eyes! But the one who burned brightest at the end was that man... The Special Attraction... JJ Dixon... with one of the gutsiest performances DEFIANCE has ever witnessed!

DDK:
And to quote Teri Melton... The Uncut Gems... and especially that man JJ Dixon... are ready... for their closeup!

JJ climbs down from the corner, wobbly, holding his arm. Teri walks over to him and puts both of her hands over the side of his face in a very motherly fashion. Zoltan stands behind them and even he cracks a smile.

Teri Melton:
You did it! You did it!

Getting right to the next match on the show, Tom Morrow of the Better Future Talent Agency stands on the ramp! 

DDK:
Oh no! We are getting right down to brass tacks with Tom Morrow making his arrival tonight.

Lance:
Speaking as less of a commentator and more of a wrestling fan, I hope something happens to Tom Morrow with tacks.

DDK:
Lance Warner and his hot mic ladies and gentlemen!

Morrow looks out to the crowd.

Tom Morrow:
Better Future Talent Agency is ruling the present! You will see the Lucky Sevens destroy everyone and everything to keep the Unified Tag Team Titles! You will see Alvaro de Vargas take Deacon’s place as the top monster in DEFIANCE Wrestling! But you will also see the future of my group of DEFIANCE Wrestling’s most talented and destructive athletes!

Morrow wants all the attention to the entrance.

Tom Morrow:
This man has a singles match right here in Madison Square Garden where he will be fighting for his future! He stands six feet two! He weighs two-hundred thirty-four pounds with a meanstreak a mile wide and a body count – the kind of how many women you’ve bedded – two miles wide! He is Pretty Dangerous! He is the Baby Faced Killer! He is The Pensacola Playboy! He is AAAARRROOONNN K! I! N! G! KING!!!

♫ “I Am The Greatest” by Logic ♫

The beats start playing and strutting out to the theme wearing blue sunglasses, a blue leather jacket and black and blue colored leather pants is Aaron King! For once he is not taking a drink of whiskey.

DDK:
This match was made by Tom Morrow a few weeks ago. If you remember, it was King and the Lucky Sevens against the Pop Culture Phenoms and David Fox where PCPs and Dangerous Mix would be shut out of title shots if they lost or win the title match here at the show. King was pinned by David Fox which earned both teams the Triple Threat match for the Unified Tag Titles we will see at DEFIANCE Road.

Lance:
Morrow told Aaron King to be focused on tonight’s match. He wants King to show him how serious he is about his spot in the group. Call it tough love or whatever you would like, but this is a huge match in Madison Square Garden for Aaron King … but he won’t know who is opponent is until they come out.

Aaron King is in the ring. The blue shades and blue leather jacket go off quickly. King looks very fired up for a big singles match in MSG. The crowd boos him as he talks some trash. Then he yells to Tom Morrow that he is ready. King’s music cuts.

Tom Morrow:
Aaron King! My boy! Are you ready for your opponent? 

King nods to him. 

Tom Morrow:
Now full disclosure before this match begins, my boy! I believe that you believe you’re ready for tonight’s match! I told you that you would be fighting for your spot in Better Future Talent Agency after that unfortunate mishap where you got pinned and forced the Lucky Sevens to defend their titles against two different teams tonight! 

Aaron King looks disappointed but he looks ready to accept whatever opponent he is fighting. 

Tom Morrow:
…. But as I told you all Better Future Talent Agency always has its eyes on new talent! On that notion a great opportunity has recently come up!

Lance:
A great opportunity? What is he talking about?

Tom Morrow:
As your manager, I must advise you that I’m adding a second stipulation to this match! If you win, you get to keep your spot. But if your opponent wins … then I have a shiny new contract ready for them to join and take your place! So are you ready to fight for your spot, King? Are you ready to show me that you are the future of DEFIANCE Wrestling? 

Taking all of that new information in Aaron King gives Morrow a thumbs up. 

Tom Morrow:
I applaud you taking this as an opportunity for growth, Aaron, and facing this challenge head on! . Now let’s go to the opponent. 

Aaron King looks as ready for this match as he can be. 

Tom Morrow:
His story is not only tragic, but it’s so, so marketable! This man overcame adversity! He overcame two potential career threatening injuries! Heck, if I may be so bold, this man overcame death because he wanted to get back here and come back to perform for all of you ungrateful nimrods! I am proud to say that I had a hand in setting up this opportunity for him to return at Madison Square Garden of all places! 

Lance:
Two injuries? Death … wait a minute … 

Tom Morrow:
He has been gone for the last fourteen months turning himself into a not-lean, super-mean powerful machine! He weighs in at two-hundred and fifty-one pounds of pure perseverance! 

DDK:
No … we’ve heard all this before recently … 

Tom Morrow grins like he’s just received a lottery check! 

Tom Morrow:
He is looking to make his future in DEFIANCE Wrestling a much better one for you and me alike! He is … 

 

NATHAN!!! EYE!!!

A big mixed reaction of shock, cheers and jeers fills MSG! Rapid clapping starts along with deep bass beats as the lights flicker in shades of sky blue. Three words appear on the DEFIA-Tron in neon red: 

CONCEPTUALIZE
ACTUALIZE
REALIZE

♫ “All Eyes On Me” by Jean Deaux ♫

Wearing a new white coat, white pants with the three words emblazoned all over in different colors, white wrestling shoes and most importantly, a pair of Prince-inspired silver-tinted “third eye” sunglasses! Out comes a brand new Nathan Eye! Aaron King looks almost ghostly pale to see him coming out but the look on Nathan Eye’s face is nothing less than revenge on his mind! 

DDK:
Oh my God! It’s Nathan Eye! We have seen video packages on DEFOnDemand and recently on DEF TV 181! He’s back … and he’s trying for a spot in BFTA?!?!

Lance:
Darren! Remember! It was three people who put Nathan Eye on the shelf when he was trying to help Dex Joy fourteen months ago! It was Arthur Pleasant and Jack Harmen! Pleasant has been MIA! Harmen has been dealing with Tyler Fuse. And the last man … 

DDK:
God, you’re right! Aaron King was the third attacker that injured him! Morrow set this up! He knew what this was! 

Nathan Eye ignores a very mixed response from the people because he has Eyes on the Prize. That prize in question appears to be payback for King’s part in that attack when he used to work for The Scourge. Nathan Eye gets to the ring and takes off his own coat and sunglasses. He poses on the ring ropes for the mixed response from the DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful!

Lance:
Those video packages reeked of a bit of pompousness, if I can be frank … but you cannot ignore the work put in! Look at him! He’s put on gotta be what, fifteen or twenty pounds of muscle!

DDK:
Nathan Eye was already an athletic freak of nature before those injuries, but tonight he looks even better!

Nathan Eye jumps into the ring but gets greeted from a kick by Aaron King who takes advantage of Nathan getting caught up in his own return! 

DING DING

DDK:
Aaron King doesn’t want to give Eye a chance to take him out first!

The match finally kicks off when Aaron King attacks Nathan Eye with repeated elbow strikes in the corner. He keeps on firing them until the referee is telling him to stop attacking in the corner and let him free. Aaron King has to listen immediately. 

Lance:
Aaron King is literally fighting for his own spot in BFTA, but he can’t get too aggressive. If he gets disqualified, that would have to mean Nathan Eye gets his spot, right?

DDK:
The burning question I have is how and why Nathan Eye even wants to align himself with the biggest snake oil salesman in DEFIANCE Wrestling history! 

King grabs Nathan Eye and throws a knee to the chest. He throws Nathan Eye to the ropes, but the new strength by Nathan Eye allows him to block it. Natty Eyce grabs him and then he throws King up in the air with a big pop-up toss! 

DDK:
Look at that! Those added muscles that Nathan Eye put on are for more than show! 

King gets up but Nathan Eye doesn’t appear to have lost too much in the way of agility when he kicks King’s face off with a running drop kick next! King is nearly kicked right out of his boots! Nathan Eye gets up and hooks King’s arms. He picks him up … 

And he makes holding a two-hundred and thirty-four pound man look super easy as he holds him in the air. Tom Morrow looks very impressed with the new BFTA hopeful and less so that King is being manhandled by the aforementioned hopeful. Eye looks up at him and then throws him on the ground with a twisting underhook slam. Nathan Eye goes right for the pin fall! 

One …
Two …

King kicks out but he is in agony right now. 

DDK:
King almost lost that spot quickly with that move! 

Lance:
Look at Nathan though! Now he’s taking the fight to King. He literally said he had the last fourteen months to think about that entire ordeal … but doing it with Tom Morrow possibly at your side? 

Nathan gets a more serious look on his face and starts running his foot across King’s face. 

Nathan Eye:
Fourteen months! You took fourteen months away from me, you son of a … 

The Pensacola Playboy tries standing, but gets taken down with a running thesz press by Eye before the Handsome Face swings away with left handed punches! He brings them down in rapid fire succession to the face until now the referee has to call for a break from Nathan Eye or he gets disqualified. He stops punches away and checks on his hand to make sure there’s no lasting damage. 

DDK:
Nathan Eye fighting with a lot of anger tonight. This isn’t the same self-help type of person we have been seeing in these video packages. 

Lance:
Imagine though that you get the chance to come back from injury to fight the person that helped do that to you. Never been there myself, but that’s easily where his head is at. 

He aggressively forces King up to his knees … but King fights back with a slap to the face to disorient him. He strikes him with a right hand and then tries another big whip. Eye turns the tables again and King goes for the ride. Natty Eyce charges in but he gets a kick from King first. King comes out of the corner, but Nathan stops him by applying a wrenching full nelson hold!  

Lance:
Aaron King tried to fight back, but other than that quick jump start this match has been 90% Nathan Eye on the offensive! 

Pure Perseverance starts to shake King around violently as the fans are torn between cheering Nathan for his return but also for wanting to win this match and potentially earn Aaron King’s spot in Better Future Talent Agency! Eye is shaking him around with a lot of venom and vigor almost like he’s trying to do lasting damage to King! 

DDK:
I can understand wanting this opportunity that Nathan Eye does … but going through Tom Morrow to get it? 

King tries to fight his way out of the full nelson, but before he can, Nathan Eye throws him in the air and right back down to the canvas with a big full nelson slam first! King hits the mat again while Eye is looking at his own two hands and balling up both fists like he can’t believe the power he’s given himself now. 

Lance:
He needs to be going for a cover … but I think he’s trying to hurt Aaron King first! 

The Pensacola Playboy is still hurt from the slam. Nathan goes for the second pin fall. 

One …
Two
NO!!!

Aaron King saves his Better Future spot with a second kick out but Nathan continues to beat on him with more lefts. 

DDK:
Nathan Eye used to have a lot of fire in that ring but now he’s just become a tank and he’s overpowering King at every step of the way! 

Lance:
Both of these men are fighting for this spot on Better Future Talent Agency. Tom Morrow is loving this! 

He is as he is rubbing his hands together. He can clearly see potential dollar signs in both men. Nathan Eye grabs King by the chin and slaps him! Again! Again! Again!

Nathan Eye:
I’m taking my career back and I’m taking your spot! 

He slaps the back of King’s head again. Nathan Eye gets ready for a lariat and comes off of the ropes but the Pensacola Playboy is the first of the two men to strike. He drops Nathan Eye with a big single leg kick of his own off the ropes!

DDK:
King Me by Aaron King! The single legged drop kick on Nathan Eye rocks him! 

Aaron King looks around and gets no love from the DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful. Nathan Eye is blinking rapidly and may be in la-la land right now. 

Lance:
That was a great move by Aaron King, but can he even follow that? Eye has controlled this brief match so far! 

The Pensacola Playboy is looking at Tom Morrow to see if he can get a read on what he’s thinking and he appears to be subdued. King concerns himself more with trying to stay on Nathan Eye. He throws more punches and he manages to get Nathan Eye back into the ropes. Eye tries to reverse course for the third time but King hits him with an elbow out of that on his feet and then hits Nathan Eye with a released german suplex. 

DDK:
Aaron King fighting back now to try and save his career here! He gets Eye off his feet for the first time. 

Lance:
Now can he sustain this? Aaron King doesn’t deserve a whole lot of sympathy period. But he does deserve a chance to be employed and Morrow messing with people like this is reprehensible. 

Aaron King hits the corner that Nathan Eye is in and hits a flying elbow to Eye’s chiseled jaw. He pulls him out of the corner by his arm and then hits a double knee back breaker to drop Eye. He covers Nathan and tries to put a foot on the ropes. 

One …
Two …

Nathan Eye pushes his way out!

DDK:
A lot of power in that kick out by Nathan Eye! King taking any advantage he can to win and keep his spot. 

Tom Morrow does look impressed with the fact that King is taking initiative and doing whatever he can to survive. King gets on his feet and he has Eye locked in his sights for whatever move he wants to do. He charges off the ropes and then tries to pick Eye up with a uranage back breaker called the Party Down but Eye shakes him off. The Handsome Face tries hitting another clothesline but King blocks it with a kick to the arm and then runs the ropes himself. 

Lance:
Reversals! Leap frog by Nathan Eye! 

Nathan Eye leaps clear over Aaron King. The Pensacola Playboy comes back right into a powerful spear by the returning DEFIANCE Wrestling star! 

DDK:
That was impressive! Nathan jumps over King with the leap frog and hits a spear when King comes back! 

Nathan Eye stands up from the spear and then locks up Aaron King’s neck in the inverted face lock. He slowly gets King up and then grabs his tights. He’s up vertically but then Nathan Eye brings him down right into a michinoku driver! 

Lance:
Powerful move by Nathan Eye! Any idea what he calls that, Darren?

DDK:
No idea! That’s a new one in his playbook! 

Eye casually sits and grabs the limp leg of Aaron King. He counts the call. 

DDK:
Is that it? 

One …
Two …
Three!!!

DDK:
That’s it! Just like that! 

Nathan Eye stands up over Aaron King after the sudden victory! Tom Morrow is certainly mixed as he watches this happen. 

Darren Quimbey:
The winner of the match … NATHAN EYEEEEEEEE!!!

Tom Morrow steps inside the ring and he takes Quimbey’s microphone away from him. 

Tom Morrow:
Correction, fat boy … 

He goes over and raises Nathan Eye’s hand. He looks down at Aaron King on the mat.

Tom Morrow:
The winner of the match … and the NEEEEEEWWWWWWWest addition to Better Future Talent Agency! NATHAN EYEEEEEEEE!!!

Nathan Eye reaches over and gives Morrow a big hug that gets the boos rained down on him! 

DDK:
No! No! Nathan, you won this match all on your own! You don’t need this twit! 

Lance:
I’d have called him a different T-word if it didn’t mean I’d get fired. 

Morrow looks at Nathan. 

Tom Morrow:
Nathan … you won! But my boy … 

King still hasn’t picked himself up off the mat entirely following Nathan Eye’s new finisher. Morrow points at King. 

Tom Morrow:
… That piece of crap over there took away fourteen months of your career away. 

DDK:
WHAT?!?! HE WAS JUST TALKING HIM UP BEFORE THE MATCH?! 

Lance:
That’s not shocking! How many people has Morrow used and abused once someone has outlived their usefulness?! 

Morrow talks to Eye. 

Tom Morrow:
You now have his spot in Better Future Talent Agency … along with a new signing bonus you get for winning this match … but he’s still on the roster with you. What’s to stop this little waste of roster space from coming after you for this? Don’t you think you should maybe do something about it? Eyes on the Prize and all that right?

Nathan Eye looks at Tom Morrow and then looks at Aaron King. He’s won the match without any controversy. He now has Aaron King’s spot in BFTA.

Tom Morrow:
There’s your prize, Nate! Fourteen months to think about what you would do in this moment and now that moment is here. What are you going to do with it? 

Nathan Eye looks between Morrow and King … and then he pummels King with relentless left hands! 

Lance:
No! You’ve done enough to this guy! I get wanting payback. We’ve seen this very thing in this sport, but you’re a better man than this, Nathan! 

Nathan continues punching and punching. The referee of the match tries to take Nathan off of him, but Nathan shoves him down to loud jeers from the DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful! 

DDK:
Come on! That signing bonus Morrow just talked about is gonna go to the fine for pushing our referee! 

Lance:
Nathan’s eye looks like it’s only seeing red!

He grabs King and then throws more left hands! A few knee strikes to the side of the head strike the Pensacola Playboy until he is left in a heap seated against the steel stairs. Nathan Eye shows no remorse right now for Aaron King or for knocking down a referee. He looks like he is going to walk off … 

DDK:
I don’t know what he was going to do, but cooler heads need to prevail here. 

… but Nathan has second thoughts! He runs right at the corner and he kicks the shoulder area of King between his boot and the steps! King lets out a torturous scream and grabs his shoulder! 

Lance:
Nathan Eye kicks that shoulder between the stairs! Aaron King did this to him a long time ago, but Eye already won this match and took Aaron King’s Better Future Talent Agency spot! This was literally kicking him while he’s down! 

Nathan Eye now standing atop the steps! The DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful now jeer him completely for taking things one step too far! Tom Morrow looks very satisfied with BFTA’s newest member. Nathan points his fingers to his own two eyes. 

Nathan Eye:
Eyes on the Prize and you can do anything you want! 

Nathan Eye steps down and leaves King to his potential injury. Tom Morrow leaves side by side with Nathan Eye and talks business with his new client. 

DDK:
I can’t believe Nathan Eye would sign a deal with the devil. I’m happy he made his return, don’t get me wrong … but this was the last way I expected it to happen. 

Lance:
Out of all this … what is his best friend Dex Joy going to think?!

DDK:
We’re getting to our next match momentarily and this one has all the makings to be one of the more violent battles during the two-night DEF Road event! The former FIST of DEFIANCE, Deacon, looks for revenge when he goes one-on-one against the volatile and dangerous Alvaro de Vargas!

Lance:
Deacon’s manager, Magdalena, had been out with injury over the past several months. The act was originally perpetrated when Deacon was still the FIST and all fingers pointed to his challenger at the time, Lindsay Troy or Vae Victis. But shortly after the loss of the title, Alvaro de Vargas revealed himself as that attacker and threw a fireball in Deacon’s face. 

DDK:
Deacon would miss a month of action while Alvaro de Vargas ran roughshod for a few shows, anointing this new dangerous side of him as “Supernova Cubana.” ADV had been left out of the ACTS Tournament that Lindsay Troy won, and de Vargas placed the blame on Deacon who masterminded that tournament and since then, he has had a vendetta against The Mute Freak. 

Lance:
Indeed! On DEFtv 181, ADV and Tom Morrow laid a pre-match trap for Deacon, only to be thwarted by the returning Magdalena! Now that she’s back in the big man’s corner, it’s all evened up. ADV flanked by Tom Morrow. Deacon with Magadalena. And these two monsters are going to tear one another up! Now let’s go to Darren Quimbey in the ring for this next grudge match! 

Darren Quimbey is now in the ring dressed for the occasion tonight as he starts the introductions. 

Darren Quimbey:
The following contest is set for one fall! Introducing first… 

Darkness covers the arena. The crowd pops, even before they hear the first haunting tones of the Gregorian chant. Then, the cheers really intensify.

Magdalena:
In the old days, there was an altar built, a test, challenge between a group of priests and a man.

On the screen, a group of stones reside, placed in a circle, about half the height of man.

Magdalena:
The priests were prophets, and I use that term loosely. They served Ba’al.

Robed people slowly walk toward a set of stones, about half the height of a man. Each, in turn, places a piece of wood on this altar.

Magdalena:
They prayed for fire, but it did not come. They cut themselves, gnashed at their flesh, and cried for many hours, but still… nothing. Until the man, their opponent, took center stage.

A spotlight shines from the stage, pointed up. The Deacon stands in its glow. He wears no robe, already ready for battle. The crowd pops.

Magdalena:
Then, and only then, did fire come down from heaven.

Sparks explode around the ring, ramp, and stage. The Deacon steps through it, his eyes already fixated on the job before him. Behind him, Magdalena steps through the curtain & keeps pace with the Mute Freak.

Lance:
The Deacon’s focus is all on that ring. He knows what he’s facing tonight, but unlike earlier, this time, he has Magdalena back by his side.

Deacon steps onto the ring apron, then once again over the ropes. He makes it into the ring and simply waits for the arrival of his opponent. Payback the only thing in mind right now. 

Darren Quimbey:
And introducing… quote… once again… The BFTA Brainchild! Better Future Talent Agency’s manager… Tom Morrow. 

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

Dressed to the nines himself in a blue pin-striped suit, Tom Morrow casually saunters out fo rthe second match in a row. Recently, leading BFTA’s newest member Nathan Eye to a major victory! Now, hoping to make it two for two. Deacon is in the ring trying to remain as stoic as possible with Magdalena glancing from Morrow to Deacon and back again. Tom Morrow smiles down at the both of them from the stage as he turns on his signature BFTA headset connected to the house mic. 

Tom Morrow:
Deacon! The night for you to FINALLY atone for your crimes is here! You left this man out of the ACTS Tournament when he wanted it. Your little wench at ringside had to go and run her mouth because he was left out and SHE got what she deserved when ADV put her out! 

Magdalena shakes her head and tells him to bring out Alvaro. 

Tom Morrow:
And after tonight, he’s going to finish the goddamn job he started! Teah, that’s right. I said it… GOD! DAMN! JOB!

Morrow cackles at his own bad joke. 

Tom Morrow:
Introducing the man that will PROVE tonight that his light BURNS FAR BRIGHTER than anything you think you have protecting you! He stands at 6’8”! He weighs in at 278 pounds! And tonight, his path to the FIST will BURN right through you! 

Tom grits his teeth. 

Tom Morrow:
He is ”SUPERNOVA CUBANA!” HE IS ALVARO DE VARGAS!

Lights out. 

A new theme starts to reverb through the arena, unfamiliar to The Faithful. 

The lights show a burning yellow star in space. The flames continue to rise. The heat continues to burn brighter… 

The colors then become blue… and white… 

♫ “Empire of Ashes” by Like A Storm ♫

The thundering guitar riffs and intro lead to the towering menace storming through the curtains…

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Bright blue-white pyro explodes from the stage as Alvaro de Vargas has traded his old attire for pristine white with light blue flames running up one leg. The arena is covered in alternating flashes of blue and white. Hiding his eyes behind a pair of now blue-tinted sunglasses, his walk is more deliberate than before. He takes his time as the jeers get loud. An angry sneer greets Deacon as the monster takes his time. 

DDK:
This new Alvaro de Vargas. This goes beyond even that dangerous, spite-filled monster he was when his sole focus was on defeating Henry Keyes. But almost different… like ADV found a way to tap into that obsession and become even MORE dangerous.

Lance:
And that is such a scary thought… he’s injured people. He injured Jack Mace last year and put him out on the shelf for at least a year. He handed Henry Keyes possibly the worst loss of his career. And now he wants to add probably the biggest scalp in his singles career with a win over Deacon. 

DDK:
Much easier said than done. 

Deacon waits and watches carefully. Alvaro de Vargas leaping onto the ring apron, then staring down The Mute Freak before he steps inside. Alvaro takes his blue-tinted glasses and palms them in his hand… before BREAKING them in his grip. The music and light show stops as both monsters stare one another down. 

DDK:
This has to easily be the most personal battle that Deacon has been a part of since he took the FIST from Crimson Stalker at last year’s DEFCON. ADV injured Magdalena. ADV took Deacon out for a month with a fireball to the face. But now, if he wants to get closer to the FIST and prove he belonged in the ACTS Tournament, he NEEDS to defeat Deacon here tonight. 

The two monsters don’t budge from their respective corners while their respective cornermen… and women, in Deacon’s case, watch one another carefully. The official calls for the bell…

DING DING

Right at the bell, both monsters collide with shoulder blocks, thinking the same thing! They collide, but neither monster goes down, so ADV jumps on him with a flurry of hard rights before Deacon can go for his next move! 

DDK:
Right into the fight! With a match this personal, a typical feeling out process is going out the window!

Lance:
They are! Alvaro getting right to the rights!

ADV fires another big right, but Deacon manages to grab the arm before he connects with another one! He backs ADV up with a hefty right of his own and staggers back the monster. He takes Alvaro into the ropes and sends him off! He comes back and tries taking his head off with a quick clothesline early… 

ADV ducks!

Then The Cocky Cuban comes back the other way with a HUGE running spear! 

Lance:
Good lord! One minute in and Alvaro de Vargas already gets Deacon off his feet! 

Alvaro unleashes an evil laugh and starts heckling Deacon in Spanish! 

Alvaro de Vargas:
Quemo más brillante! I! Burn! Brighter!

Deacon tries to get himself as quickly off the ground as he can, but Alvaro moves faster still and then runs the giant into the corner! ADV goes mad with more stinging right hands! He throws them over and over until the official orders him to break or get himself disqualified. ADV snaps at the official and screams at him to back off!

Lance:
ADV isn’t playing games tonight! 

DDK:
But look, Lance! Neither is Deacon! 

Alvaro turns back to inflict more punishment on The Mute Freak. 

Problem?

Deacon GRABS him by the throat with both hands and hurls him right into the corner! Big back elbows from The Mute Freak catch Alvaro upside the head to the delight of the Madison Square Garden Faithful! Morrow yells at the official while Magdalena looks elated to see Deacon back to fighting form against Supernova Cubana. 

DDK:
ADV coming straight ahead at Deacon to start, but I bet he’s regretting that now! 

Deacon pulls ADV out of the corner and pulls the back of his neck, then brings down a HUGE forearm right to the chest, knocking ADV to the canvas! The Cocky Cuban is left gasping for air when Deacon grabs him again… THUD! Another huge clubbing forearm! Alvaro hunches over again and is left reeling with a towering Deacon lurking over him, ready to deliver more punishment for what Alvaro did to Magdalena. 

Lance:
Deacon taking his time here tonight. He wants to make Alvaro HURT tonight after injuring Magdalena. It’s true, Deacon did come up with the tournament that Alvaro believes he was shunned from, but participants were the call of DEFIANCE matchmakers. 

DDK:
True, but in ADV’s mind, everyone is at fault but him for his lack of title matches! Never on himself. 

The Faithful are making noise for the former FIST of DEFIANCE punishing Alvaro for his crimes against both he and Magdalena. Deacon goes to pick ADV up, only to get stopped with a throat thrust from Supernova Cubana! The Mute Freak is left gasping now himself when ADV tackles him right into the corner and begins attacking the midsection with a trifecta of shoulder thrusts! 

Lance:
And just like that, Alvaro takes over! 

ADV has Deacon doubled over and then SPIKES a pair of hard 12-6 elbows aimed right at the neck! The taller Deacon is doubled over for the moment, then Alvaro measures him up. He charges forward and KNOCKS Deacon right over the ropes with a big running clothesline! 

DDK:
He knocks Deacon o… NO! DEACON LANDS ON HIS FEET! 

Lance:
WHAT?!

Taking the moment to gloat, Alvaro struts around like he owns the ring, but when he turns around to see Deacon standing straight up, he gets a shock! The former FIST of DEFIANCE grabs both of Alvaro’s legs and trips him up before taking him to the floor with him! Alvaro gets battered with more big shots, then Deacon backs him Magdalena silently. She moves to give Deacon a wide berth… 

WHAM!

…For de Vargas to get sent CRASHING into the guardrail! The fans nearby jump back a few feet as the rail gets sent back a few inches from the impact! 

DDK:
Listen to this crowd! The Faithful are firmly behind Deacon! They want to see him punish Alvaro and teach him a lesson! 

Lance:
They really do! 

Deacon rolls under the bottom rope quickly, only to resume the walk outside so he can reset the official’s count and continue to bring the pain to Supernova Cubana. Deacon waits for Alvaro to stand as he waits. He has The Cocky Cuban lined up in his sights and charges before he FLOORS him completely with a big running clothesline! ADV is flat on the mat outside with Deacon shaking the feeling in his arm to make sure it’s still usable! 

DDK:
What a shot by Deacon! The former FIST of DEFIANCE taking his time. 

Lance:
Over twenty years in the sport! He’s fought against some of the absolute best in this sport! 

Tom Morrow screams for worry of his client getting manhandled by The Mute Freak! He rolls Alvaro back inside the ring and then climbs inside shortly thereafter. Alvaro tries to get himself back up in the corner. He’s still reeling from being rocked by multiple shots from The Mute Freak. And it’s about to get worse… 

DDK:
Oof! Running splash in the corner by Deacon! 

Lance:
And he’s not done! 

Deacon palms the back of Alvaro’s head and throws him into the opposite corner before hitting a huge stinger splash in the opposite corner! Alvaro is about to fall, but Deacon keeps him upright by booting him back into the corner. He backs up a few steps… and then connects with a third splash! 

Lance:
Third time was a charm if your name is Deacon! Not so much for ADV right now! 

DDK:
What is Deacon going for here?

Deacon sends de Vargas off the ropes for a whip, then catches him off the ropes with a fireman’s carry! Alvaro tries to struggle his way free… but Deacon PRESSES him high in the air before sending him crashing down to the canvas from just over seven feet in the air! 

DDK:
Ooh! Modified press slam by Deacon! And he goes for a cover!

ONE… 

TWO… NO!

Lance:
First pinfall of the match, but ADV kicks out just after two!

DDK:
He’s taken a lot of punishment so far after an aggressive opening! Can he continue?

Alvaro tries to sit up first, but Deacon grabs him by the neck and kicks him down. He bounces off the ropes and then lands a big knee drop right to the chest! ADV is hunched over in pain again when Deacon pushes him back to the mat for a second cover. 

ONE…

TWO…

NO!

De Vargas kicks out! Deacon tries to go after him again after the kickout, but Alvaro rolls away and escapes to the floor!

DDK:
Deacon has Alvaro retreating! He’s wanted this match since Alvaro confessed what he did to Magdalena and making the most of it!

Lance:
And she has a front-row seat for this beating that he’s getting! Tom Morrow doesn’t look happy! 

Morrow shouts in Alvaro’s direction. 

Tom Morrow:
Alvaro! Look out! That holy asshole on your six! 

Deacon looks like he has a plan to run over the ropes… 

DDK:
Is this wise? Remember in his title match with Lindsay Troy that he tried My Death Is Gain, tweaked his knee and that injury arguably led to the loss of the FIST!

Big D looks like he may take the dive… but instead, he decides better of it and opts to climb to the outside. Smatterings of boos from people who wanted to see him jump… but they cheer when they get something just as good. 

Alvaro gets spun around by Deacon and gets snatched up by the throat! He plans a chokeslam on the floor and tries to hoist Alvaro up… 

ELBOW! ELBOW! ELBOW!

The series of elbows catches Deacon by the side of the head. Then when Alvaro see his chance, he tackles Deacon by the side and RAMS him right into the ring post! Deacon hunches over while Alvaro takes a moment away to catch his breath! 

DDK:
Deacon almost ended things for good right there off that chokeslam on the outside, but Alvaro counters by ramming him into that post! 

Deacon isn’t knocked off his feet entirely, but he is hurt and stumbles around which gives Alvaro the chance to go on the attack. He snarls at Deacon from the ring apron and then charges across…

RUNNING MISSILE DROPKICK OFF THE RING APRON! 

The MSG Faithful BUZZ after Alvaro takes a run off the ring apron and gets the Deacon off his feet once again! ADV is hurt from the landing as well, but Deacon took the brunt of the big kick! 

DDK:
Where the hell did Alvaro pull THAT from? He just wiped out Deacon with that missile dropkick off the apron!

Lance:
And from a man the size of Alvaro de Vargas, that’s a dangerous weapon indeed!

Another replay catches the big move off the ring apron knock Deacon to the floor outside! And finally back in real time, Alvaro slowly gets up to his feet first and still looks at Deacon with the same contempt-filled stare he’s greeted him with since the start of tonight’s match. He grabs The Mute Freak and rolls him up under the bottom rope. He shoves the former FIST of DEFIANCE back inside the ring, then climbs inside for his first cover of the match!

ONE…

TWO…

NO!

A big pop comes up from the MSG Faithful after the kickout. The only ones who aren’t happy with this are Morrow and ADV himself as he swears in Spanish under his breath. 

DDK:
A big move there from Alvaro, but only a two-count!

Lance:
This version of Alvaro may indeed be more deadly. He’s more reckless than before! Never used a move like that before! 

ADV stands up and grabs Deacon by two handfuls of hair. He pulls him up and hits a knee lift to the chest. He doubles him over and tries a big slam, but Deacon throws an elbow of his own to keep ADV from his next move! Now Deacon tries, but Supernova Cubana elbows him instead to stop him from whatever move he wants!

DDK:
Both men trying a move, but both fighting to keep from being taken over!

Lance:
OOH! ADV with a headbutt! 

He stumbles The Mute Freak back into the corner and then grabs the arm. Deacon reverses and he hurls ADV into the corner instead. Alvaro collides with the corner, then Deacon collides with HIM by way of a big corner clothesline!

Lance:
And now Deacon counters! 

Deacon has ADV where he wants him and then runs off e corner for perhaps another splash… 

But gets shocked when ADV runs right behind him and KICKS him upside the head with a huge big boot in the corner! The big smack educes loud groans from the crowd before ADV hooks the neck and drops Deacon down with a huge DDT out of the corner! 

DDK:
I don’t know how the hell ADV did that, but he shook off that clothesline to deliver that corner big boot and the DDT!

Lance:
Both men are throwing bomb after bomb at each other, but I think ADV finally slowed this one down with that big boot and DDT out of the corner! 

DDK:
You might be right! ADV with another cover!

ONE…

TWO…

SHOULDER UP!

Lance:
No! Deacon with another kickout! 

DDK:
Revenge is on his mind! ADV is wanting to prove he can hang with the top of DEFIANCE! He’s been on the cusp a few times now, but needs this win if he really wants to be in line for a possible title shot! 

ADV then swarms Deacon! He drills him with some big knees to get him over onto his stomach, then applies a front facelock. He gets a knee up into the crowd of Deacon’s head! Then another! Then another! 

DDK:
ADV might have found a weak point in that neck! Remember, just outside, Deacon got shoved into that ring post and then that DDT!

Lance:
That’s a smart gameplan! These monsters have thrown bombs, but if you find a weak point on your opposition, Alvaro de Vargas will find a way to exploit it! 

Tom Morrow:
That neck is your target, Al! Turn him into a paraplegic!

Alvaro nods as Deacon tries to sit up, only to BOOT him viciously in the back of the head! Deacon winces after the big shot and tries to protect his neck from further damage as he moves near the ropes. Alvaro is licking his proverbial chops now that he has something to focus on and then hits a big knee to the back! Big D winces again and leave his neck open for Alvaro to ground him with a modified grounded neck submission, TWISTING the neck in a way necks are not meant to bend!

DDK:
There he goes! Working the neck! Deacon’s going to have a hard time manevuering around that ring if ADV keeps attacking it. 

Lance:
Oh, no… think about this, Darren! ADV’s key moves! Ardiendo, the piledriver. That stretch plum submission he’s won recent matches with! He calls it Inmolacion… both target the neck!

DDK:
You’re right! That’s brilliant. Sickening, but brilliant! 

ADV stands over Deacon and continues twisting at the neck of The Mute Freak. The official asks Deacon if he wants to give up. 

Deacon:
NO!

Supernova Cubana snarls as he locks up the neck again. 

Alvaro de Vargas:
Enviar, pendejo! Enviar! I’ll break your neck if you don’t tap! 

But Deacon refuses to give into the trash-talking Alvaro and starts to move upwards, getting cheers from the MSG Faithful! He starts to stand, despite de Vargas twisting and torquing away at his neck! Magdalena cheers him on and starts turning to The Faithful before 

DDK:
Deacon trying to get free and Magdalena willing the people to cheer him on!

The former FIST stands up and throws a pair of back elbows to try and soften up ADV! He tries to get him to let go… but ADV retaliates with another STIFF headbutt to stun him, then snaps him back down to the mat with a big jumping neckbreaker! 

Lance:
No! Alvaro counters before Deacon can fight back! He brings him down with that brutal neckbreaker!

Then ADV gets up and follows that up with a HUGE leaping knee drop off his own, no doubt a receipt from earlier but this one aimed at the neck of Deacon! The Mute Freak clutches his throat, but Supernova Cubana shoves him to the mat and goes for another cover. 

ONE…

TWO…

KICKOUT!

DDK:
Deacon not staying down! He won’t allow ADV to get what he wants tonight! Not without a fight!

Lance:
But look! ADV is right back on him! 

Deacon sits up, but Alvaro is already on him by hooking the arm and then RAINING down elbow after elbow after elbow to the side of the neck! He hits about five vicious downward elbow shots to the area as the crowd jeers him! 

Alvaro de Vargas:
¡Magdalena lastimada! ¡Estás siendo quemado! ¡Te lo merecías todo!

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!

ADV switches from the elbows to a half-nelson neck crank as he tries to twist away at the neck again! 

DDK:
We were wrong! We said at the start of this match there wouldn’t be holds being worked, but Alvaro has targeted that neck! 

Despite all the punishment he’s taken, Deacon continues to fight against his rival and tries to stand, but ADV stops him with another elbow to the neck! Deacon falls to a knee, then ADV runs off the ropes… then BLASTS the former FIST of DEFIANCE with a big running knee lift to the chest!

DDK:
Abajo Vas! Cover by ADV!

ADV presses his shoulders down! 

ONE…

TWO…

TH… KICKOUT!

Deacon kicks out with his legs! Alvaro lets out a loud growl and damn near puts a fist through the mat out of frustration! 

DDK:
I don’t believe it! Another kickout from Deacon! He’s been grinding down on that neck, but it hasn’t stopped Deac from fighting through this!

Lance:
Give Alvaro credit, there isn’t many people on this roster who can hold court with Deacon on size alone. He’s been grinding him down in the last few minutes!

Morrow tells ADV to attack! Supernova Cubana continues pressing on while Magdalena continues to will on Deacon from his corner. Deacon is in a kneeling position with Alvaro grabbing the left arm and working over his neck! He continues to twist and away at the neck… but Deacon manages to fight his way back and push his way free. 

DDK:
Alvaro tries to take the arm… NO! 

Deacon grabs him first and SNATCHES Alvaro right into a vicious short-arm clothesline! ADV sinks like a stone after the brutal shot, but the former FIST of DEFIANCE finds himself worn down! 

Lance:
That was a brutal shot by Deacon! Alvaro tried to go back to the neck by snatching the arm, but Deacon got him first!

DDK:
But what does he do from here?! Can he even follow up?

Tom Morrow’s heart is about to sink into the pits of his stomach while Magdalena is getting the crowd going again, leading chants for Deacon as both big men remain on the ground!

WE BELIEVE!
WE BELIEVE!
WE BELIEVE!
WE BELIEVE!

DDK:
The MSG Faithful doing their best to get Deacon back into this! If he has any chance of weathering this onslaught from Alvaro de Vargas, this is it!

Deacon slowly fights to the corner and gets fully vertical again! He kicks Alvaro in the chest and then HURLS him as hard as he can at the faraway corner! Alvaro arches his back after the big hammer throw in the corner and stumbles into an extra-stiff big boot to the face! 

Lance:
Deacon getting back into this one! He just took Alvaro’s head clean off with that big boot! 

DDK:
And I think Tom Morrow is about to have an aneurysm! 

The BFTA Brainchild is screaming and hollering at Alvaro to fight back, but the only fight he gets is a BIG clothesline from The Mute Freak, sending him up and over the top rope and taking a big fall to the floor! Deacon feeds off the energy of a fired-up sold-out MSG crowd and paces around the ring! 

DDK:
Deacon has Alvaro de Vargas where he wants him… is he going to try for My Death Is Gain this time? Can he risk any more potential injury after taking the damage to his neck from Alvaro?

Deacon is still favorign his neck, but he looks out to the sea of rabid fans going bat guano for what’s happening right now. He sees Alvaro starting to scurry around ringside, so he starts to climb to the top rope and perches himself carefully. Magdalena looks like she’s advising against taking any unnecessary risks, but with Alvaro scrambling up to his feet… 

Morrow blows a gasket trying to warn Alvaro… 

Too late! 

DIVING CROSSBODY TO THE FLOOR ON ALVARO DE VARGAS!

Lance:
NO WAY! NO WAY! 

DDK:
DEACON CHOOSING A DIFFERENT FORM OF MY DEATH IS GAIN! DIVING RIGHT ONTO ALVARO WITH THAT CROSSBODY TO THE FLOOR!

Both men are down! Deacon is hardly moving after the incredible dive, but Alvaro isn’t moving at all, period, full stop. A replay on the DEFIATron shows the dive executed from a pair of different angles, including a slow motion dive to the floor! 

HOLY SHIT!
HOLY SHIT!
HOLY SHIT!
HOLY SHIT!

Tom Morrow is pleading with Alvaro to get up and fight back, but when he sees Deacon start to tower to his feet first, Morrow makes a hasty exit stage left and backs away. He shoots a dirty look across the ring at Magdalena, who shoots back a smirk and a wave at him. 

DDK:
Deacon took a huge risk to do that damage to Alvaro, but he did it! He gets him back into the ring to end this! 

The former FIST of DEFIANCE looks up and holds both hands high as the crowd sense the end! He kicks Alvaro when he tries to rise, then hits him with a big spinning powerslam! 

DDK:
That’s it! That’s it! Deacon with the cover!

He hooks the leg of Supernova Cubana!

ONE…

TWO…

THR… KICKOUT!

Lance:
Two and a half! Two and a half! 

DDK:
But Deacon doesn’t argue with the official! He’s going for the kill! 

He holds his arms out to the sides and the crowd knows what’s coming next! The same move he spiked Alvaro de Vargas with on the go-home show before DEFIANCE Road! 

Lance:
Here we go! Altar Call coming up! Altar Call coming up! 

The Mute Freak buries a boot into the gut of Alvaro and then hoists him up! He has him up… but Alvaro kicks his legs and fights for dear life! He finally slips out the back and into the nearby corner!

Lance:
No! Alvaro knew what was coming! He slips free of the Altar Call and gets to the corner! 

Deacon charges, only to catch a huge kick from Alvaro upside the head with a big boot! He stumbles the big monster back, then CRACKS him with a stiff big boot! Deacon stumbles down to a knee when Alvaro gnashes his teeth together… then rocks the giant with a STIFF superkick to the chin!

DDK:
SCORCHER! SCORCHER! IS THAT IT!?

Alvaro falls on top of Deacon’s chest back-first, then secures one of his legs in the cover!

ONE…

TWO…

TH… NO!

Deacon THROWS the shoulder up! 

DDK:
No! Alvaro hurries up! He charges off the ropes… big boot to Deacon on the ground! 

Lance:
Alvaro cracks him… but where is HE going?

Alvaro limps over the ropes and heads to the ring apron. He looks right out to Deacon and then starts to climb the top rope himself. 

DDK:
Low number of times that we have seen Alvaro go to the top rope, but he can! I don’t know what he’s going for here?

He gets to the top rope and waits as a groggy Deacon struggles to stand. When he gets to his feet, Alvaro takes flight…

TOP ROPE BLOCKBUSTER ONTO A STANDING DEACON!

MSG IS GOING CRAZY!

DDK:
Alvaro stealing a page out of Deacon’s old playbook! Deacon hasn’t used this move in DEFIANCE, but he calls that overhead neckbreaker the Fire From Heaven!

Lance:
Darren! He’s sticking it to Deacon AND working that neck at the same time! 

ADV scrambles into a big cover on the big man as the MSG Faithful have collectively lost it!

ONE…

TWO…

THR… KICKOUT!

Deacon just barely gets the shoulder up before the three-count! 

Lance:
Deacon’s still in this! I thought that was it! ADV beating him with his own move would have been such a slap in the face! 

DDK:
But what damage could that have done to his neck?

Alvaro still can’t believe it! Magdalena breathes a sigh of relief herself! On the other side of the ring, Tom Morrow is reading the official the Riot Act!

Tom Morrow:
You illiterate asshole! You cross-eyed half-wit! You slow bum! Three! One! Two! Three! See how easy that was?!

Lance:
Oh, shut up, Morrow! That was NOT a three-count no matter how much you wanted it to be!

Morrow’s bitchfit continues while an angry Alvaro punches the mat a second time. Tom screams at Alvaro to keep his focus and finish the job. He nods and then slowly climbs to his feet, standing over The Mute Freak. He leads him to his feet by grabbing Deac by the hair and then setting him up slowly into a standing headscissors position. The Faithful know what’s coming up next… 

DDK:
No, no! Ardiendo coming up! He hits this? Deacon’s neck! This match! Both done! 

He milks the moment for the jeering Faithful… but before he can hit the move, a HUGE surge of power shifts the match! Deacon snaps Alvaro up and over with a back body drop in the center of the ring! He falls to a knee and tries catching his breath this late into a physically grueling match, then balls up a fist…

Lance:
Deacon saved himself from Alvaro’s piledriver! And now he’s got Alvaro by the throat! YES! CHOKESLAM! 

The ring SHAKES from the impact of the powerful chokeslam! Deacon tries to end this match and hooks both legs of Alvaro on the cover to make sure he stays down! 

ONE…

TWO….

THRE… KICKOUT!

DDK:
NO! BARELY! ALVARO BARELY KICKED OUT!

Lance:
But Deacon not done! He knows he’s got Alvaro! 

The neck slows down Deacon, but the former FIST of DEFIANCE feels the tide changing and the crowd cheering him on! He sets Alvaro up again for the Altar Call…

When Tom Morrow tries to get involved! He jumps on the apron and starts screaming at the official… but Magdalena has seen enough! She grabs his leg and trips him up, sending him falling off the apron to mass cheers from the crowd!

DDK:
Magdalena takes out Tom Morrow before he can get involved! 

Lance:
And now Deacon is closing in on the victory! 

He still has Alvaro trapped, but before he can lift him up… Alvaro twists his way out! He strikes Deacon with a big right, but Deacon fires back with a huge right, then a back elbow to send him to the ropes. 

DDK:
Alvaro trying to avoid the Altar Call at all costs!

Alvaro clutches the ropes, but Deacon tries to pull him away to set him up for the crucifix powerbomb a third time! He tries to force ADV away, then ADV almost shoves him into the official! 

Lance:
No! Deacon almost went into the ropes, but stops himself… 

When Deacon moves past the official, he gets a HUGE punch right to the throat from Alvaro! 

Lance:
Oh! That was awful! That SOB struck him in the neck! 

Seeing a big chance, Alvaro measures him up… then STRIKES Deacon across the jaw with the Garra del Tigre spinning backfist! The impact sends Deacon collapsing to his knees, still clutching the neck from where ADV throat-punched him! The MSG Faithful JEER Alvaro as he hooks Deacon center of the ring. 

DDK:
ARDIENDO! ARDIENDO! THAT’S IT! THAT’S IT!

The piledriver DROPS Deacon and he crumbles over to the side as the MSG crowd go into a frenzy. Alvaro looks like he’s going to go for the pin… 

Lance:
No… what’s he doing?

Alvaro LATCHES in the Inmolacion! The stretch plum neck lock is LOCKED in! Deacon can BARELY move after all the punishment that he’s taken in the last few moments… 

 

But he’s trying! 

DDK:
No! Deacon took Garra del Tigre! He took Ardiendo! And now he’s locked in Inmolacion! Can he get out? 

Deacon is BARELY registering anything as his arm starts to finally go limp! Morrow is still nursing a sore face after being tripped up by Magdalena, but she’s watching what’s happening! She can’t believe Deacon’s in the position he finds himself in, but he’s still struggling, just barely clinging to life! 

Lance:
Come on, Deacon! Live to fight another day! 

DDK:
There’s no way that neck isn’t in a bad position! No way! No how! Crescent City Kid had a few weeks off just being in that new submission of ADV’s! What can this do to Deacon?

Deacon isn’t moving! 

WE BELIEVE!
WE BELIEVE!
WE BELIEVE!

The chants ring out… but Deacon isn’t responding. The look on Magdalena’s face shows the knows when enough is enough… 

She throws in a white towel in the ring! And that’s enough for the bell! 

DING DING DING

The bell has rung! Brian Slater continues to call for the bell, but Alvaro isn’t letting go of the Inmolacion! 

Darren Quimbey:
Here is your winner as a result of referee stoppage… ”SUPERNOVA CUBANA” ALVARO DE VARGAS!

♫ “Empire of Ashes” by Like A Storm ♫

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

The jeers FILL Madison Square Garden, but Alvaro doesn’t care! He’s seeing red and still has the Inmolacion locked in tightly, still squeezing and tearing away at the neck of Alvaro de Vargas!

DDK:
ALVARO WINS THE MATCH… BUT ENOUGH OF THIS! YOU’VE WON THE DAMN MATCH! STOP! 

Lance:
HE’S NOT STOPPING! 

Magdalena still looks on with worry as she sees Deacon STILL in the clutches of the stretch plum, having his neck twisted and torn apart! She’s finally seen enough and reaches under the ring… and has a kendo stick in hand!

Lance:
Magdalena looks like she came prepared tonight! She had that same kendo stick when she made her return, attacking Tom Morrow when he and Alvaro tried to set Deacon up fo an ambush! 

She slides into the ring while Alvaro is still none the wiser to what’s going on around him… 

THWACK!

THWACK!

THWACK!

THWACK!

She throws shot after shot to make Alvaro finally relinquish his grip on Deacon! He continues to attack him with the cane to loud cheers from The Faithful! 

DDK:
Alvaro has this coming! Everything he’s done to these two! Everything! 

The kendo stick has been worn out across Alvaro’s back! She tries to swing again… 

But Alvaro finally uses his arm to trap the cane in his grip… 

THEN HEADBUTTS MAGDALENA! 

DDK:
ALVARO ATTACKS MAGDALENA, TOO! HE’S OUT OF CONTROL! 

Tom Morrow finally gets up and is elated to watch not only his crown jewel triumphant, but that he’s laid waste to both the former FIST and Magdalena! 

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Lance:
We have seen Alvaro do some horrific things in DEFIANCE. His list of what he calls “burn victims” has a number of wrestlers on it… but this is a whole new level of depravity.

DDK:
And… I don’t think he’s done!

Darren’s keen powers of observation are correct as he frantically tears apart a section of padding on the ringside floor. He exposes the concrete below… Then grabs Deacon by the neck as he’s fallen near the ropes…

DDK:
No, no, no… remember, he did this to Jack Mace months ago after their match! 

Lance:
What the hell?! Stop! Stop! He’s done enough damage to that neck! He can’t take this! 

Supernova Cubana grabs Deacon and sets him up. The gasps of the crowd fill the arena quickly… 

 

ARDIENDO ON THE CONCRETE!

DDK:
HE’S OUT OF HIS GODDAMN MIND! ALL THIS BECAUSE YOU GOT LEFT OUT OF A TOURNAMENT?! YOU TORTURE THESE TWO?! FOR ALL THAT?! 

Alvaro finally sits up… 

NOW has a smile on his face as Deacon is now bleeding from his forehead, limp on the floor and unmoving. Magdalena has been knocked out-cold by Supernova Cubana as he sits up and revels in the jeering. 

BOOOOOOOOOOO!

He falls to a knee near Deacon and twists his head with a sick smile. 

Alvaro de Vargas:
I TOLD YOU ALL! I WOULD BEAT THE LEGEND! NOW… I WILL BE THE LEGEND! 

Alvaro and Tom Morrow finally take their leave from ringside as trainers and EMTs are finally able to get through the war zone left behind by the BFTA Crown Jewel. Alvaro finally grins from ear to ear for the first time in months. Morrow is right behind him, reveling in all that he’s done. 

DDK:
We have to get some order restored here quickly, folks. This is reprehensible. We’ve seen Deacon involved in some bitter, BITTER feuds in the past. Victor Vacio. Crimson Stalker. And he triumphed over those men… but tonight, he met his match. 

Lance:
Piece of garbage. No doubt… this is the biggest win of Alvaro de Vargas’ career. But he just tainted it with what he’s done tonight. 

As they reach the top of the stage and EMT’s finally work at the bloody and beaten Deacon and unconscious Magdalena, Alvaro takes one last look at the damage caused tonight… 

And grins. 

The attention is back to Darren Keebler and Lance Warner in the announce booth where they get ready to commentate on the main event of DEFIANCE Road: Night One! 

DDK:
The Lucky Sevens have done all they can to try and avoid this match from happening since winning the titles back from Titanes Familia. They have thrown roadblocks in the way of the Lucky Sevens Lethal Lottery at the Dangerous Mix and the Pop Culture Phenoms, tried to pit them against each other but in the end, both teams plotted together and worked together to get here tonight! 

Lance:
Better Future Talent Agency want to make it three straight wins tonight but this is a match where the Lucky Sevens don’t have to be pinned to even lose the titles! Lucky Sevens defeated an unlikely team of PCP member Klein and Dangerous Mix member Mushigihara to retain the titles. PCP and the Dangerous Mix then conspired to steal the Triple 7 Express, the bus of the Lucky Sevens! 

DDK:
Then Tom Morrow proposed an All or Nothing six-person tag between David Fox, Elise Ares and The D against the Lucky Sevens and Aaron King. Fox and PCP had to win or they would be barred from competing for the titles! They won with Aaron King taking the fall … and you all saw what happened to him earlier as a result of that. 

Lance:
Now we are to tonight’s main event which could be a total show stealer! The Lucky Sevens defend the Unified Tag Team Titles in Madison Square Garden against one of the most decorated tag teams in DEFIANCE Wrestling history, the Pop Culture Phenoms and the hungriest tag team going today, the Dangerous Mix!!!

The lights in Madison Square Garden immediately shift to a royal purple with golden accents as the synth kicks in. The Faithful in the World’s Most Famous Arena roar as the Pop Culture Phenoms make their first entrance on the corner of 8th and 31st. 

♫ “Live For The Night” by Krewella ♫

What the NYC Faithful don’t expect, however, is for Elise Ares to lead out the Radio City Rockettes kickline. 

DDK:
Are you kidding me?!

Lance:
How do they have all these connections?!

Dressed in violet and gold dance uniforms, very similar to Elise’s ring attire, Manhattan explodes as The D brings up the rear but ends up in the middle of a single-file line across the entrance reaching from the announce table to the stage. Then to the beat of “Live For The Night” the duo begin to kick with the most famous dancers in the world. Cellular camera lights explode from all around as the Pop Culture Phenoms lead the kickline!

DDK:
Only in DEFIANCE ladies and gentleman!

Lance:
What a way for the Pop Culture Phenoms to make an entrance in an attempt for their third DEFIANCE Unified Tag Team Championship.

As the kickline breaks off from Elise and The D, they drop their purple leather jackets to the ground and hit a fist bump before making their way towards the ring with their own personal Rockettes cheering line on both sides of the aisle.

Darren Quimbey:
Introducing first from Hollywood, California. Weighing in at a combined weight of 298 pounds. The D. Elise Ares. The POP. CULTURE. PHEEEEEEEEEEEEEENOMS!

DDK:
The Lucky Sevens have been their kryptonite, Lance. Not a single time has the Pop Culture Phenoms ever defeated the Lucky Sevens and it all started with a Tiger Cage. What do they need to do to break the curse, Lance?

Lance:
They have such a size disadvantage against the massive Lucks that it’s always going to be an uphill battle, Darren, but they’re going to have to utilize their intellect… or sometimes lack thereof, to win. Also, don’t forget there is another team involved.

DDK:
That’s true, Lance, maybe adding Dangerous to the Mix will work in their favor! Another big body to help wear down the tag team champions. Also, let’s not forget those two teams get along a little better with each other than with the Lucky Sevens. If they don’t get in each other’s way they can end this reign tonight.

On the top rope now inside the ring, Elise Ares’ LED sunglasses flash “TITLES” “COME” “HOME” before she takes them off and launches them into the Manhattan Faithful. On the opposite side of the ring The D begins pulling white t-shirts that had been hanging from around his waist reading “I <3 THE D” in the exact font you expect and launching them into the crowd. The Rockettes then return backstage as Elise and The D meet up in a corner of the ring and begin to talk strategy.

♫ “Run Rabbit Junk” by Hideyuki Takahashi♫

The entrance to Madison Square Garden lights up in a sea of red and white, like sirens, as one of DEFIANCE’s rising teams steps into the arena and stares down their fellow challengers.

DDK:
This team’s made some waves in recent times, earning a shot alongside the Pop Culture Phenoms tonight, but do they have it in them to finally cross the finish line and win the belts?

Lance:
They’ve been there before as former Wold Trios Tag Team Champions, but this is a completely different game, and the Dangerous Mix has their work cut out for them.

Darren Quimbey:
Their first opponents; at a total combined weight of four hundred eighty-four pounds… DAVID FOX! And the GOD-BEAST, MUSHIGIHARA! They are… The DANGEROUS! MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIX!!!

Fox leads the way, tagging hands along the way as the monstrous Mushi simply stomps his way to ringside. The pair doesn’t slow down one bit, or lose their focus, as they get to the ring apron. Fox climbs up to the second rope and points to the PCPs and nods. Mushi stands on the apron, facing one side of the crowd, and leading them into a monstrous shout of…

“OSU!”

DDK:
Well, you can’t argue that the Mix, much like the Phenoms, are fan favorites here in DEFIANCE.

Lance:
While you’re not wrong, I suspect ANYONE would be a fan favorite against their opponents tonight.

Both members of the Mix get onto the mat, keeping focus on the Phenoms while waiting on the champions.

For the third consecutive match tonight Tom Morrow is out yet again. 

Lance:
Professionally speaking, Darren … I’m already sick of this wind bag.

DDK:
I’m sick of him and I’m sick of the fact that Better Future has won their previous matches by injuring opponents! 

Tom Morrow is grinning from ear to ear!

Tom Morrow:
Tonight, Madison Square Garden, you will get to witness the Better Future Talent Agency complete a clean sweep! 

The D and Elise Ares mock Morrow in the ring. David Fox and Mushigihara are already over this. 

Tom Morrow:
Tonight, ladies and germs … and I mean that, New York is a grotesque cesspool of anger and disease. You’re a bunch of shit-heads to have to buy any championships you’ve ever won.

BOOOOOOOO!!!

Tom Morrow:
My giants don’t have to buy anything because they are money!!! They are fighting at a combined six-hundred and twenty five pounds and a combined height of fourteen feet tall! After the bonus of winning tonight’s big show, they’ll be able to stack a pile of money as tall as they are! So without further delay let me introduce them to you! They are forever and always YOUR Unified Tag Team champions! They are the undisputed masters of the Five-Star Beatdown and tonight, you are all going to be looking at a TEN-Star Beatdown Classic tonight! 

Tom lifts both of his hands up and points behind him to the stage. 

Tom Morrow:
“The Big Money Monster” Mason Luck! “The Beast of the Bright Lights” Max Luck! They are the two time and forever Unified Tag Team champions! 

Big wide grin!!!

Tom Morrow:
THE!!! LUCKY! SEEEEEVVVVVEEEEENNNNNSSS!!!

MSG now goes pitch black like they forgot to pay the electric bill this month.

A new version of the Lucky Sevens Slot Machine logo starts to appear on the DEFIA-Tron illuminating in the darkness. 

Three numbers appear in gold as an old western theme starts to play. Three bells ring in tune with the numbers stopping on the digital slot machine. 

7 7 7 

WINNERS!!!

♫ “Ecstacy of Gold (Bandini Remix)” by Ennio Morricone ♫

Stepping out onto the massive DEFIANCE Road stage, Max and Mason Luck appear with all five belts between them … but with brand new ring attire built more for fighting than for wrestling. Both men wear dark tattered jeans with thick leather belts and cowboy boots. Mason’s belt and boots are clad with red designs, Max's identical, but in green. Wearing black gauntlets on their arms, the twin seven foot monsters both bang their gauntlets together and scream in unison with the entire arena showering them with jeers. They raise the titles up … 

And pyro shoots everywhere from the stage! Pyro from up above the DEFIA-Tron, pyro across the stage, and obnoxiously long-lasting pinwheel pyro on either side of the stage, firing off in red and green colors! 

DDK:
Ugh … these gaudy pyro shows they have built into their stupid main event contracts. 

BOOOOOOO!!!

DDK:
The Lucky Sevens are sporting brand new looks tonight. They’re dressed more for a fight than a wrestling match tonight, but look at them. Both of these men are physical specimens which makes them even more dangerous. 

Lance:
Their track record in 2022 speaks for themselves. Ending the longest reign to date of the Unified Tag Team championships by defeating the Saturday Night Specials in a violent street fight! DEFY Award winners for DEFIANTS of The Year and Shock of The Year for their alleged involvement in what happened to the original Ballyhoo Brew. Gage Blackwood, the former FIST, injured at their hands. Many teams were injured at their hands. They were fired, won the gold from SNS through a legal loophole, then strong armed DEFIANCE Wrestling into new contracts negotiated by Tom Morrow to get their jobs back because DEFIANCE Wrestling needed those coveted titles back. 

DDK:
They’ll be public enemy number one in this match without a doubt. Both the Phenoms and Dangerous Mix respected talents with long DEFIANCE Wrestling tenures and both teams have been wronged by these bullies. They may find themselves having to work together to stop these bruisers if they want to win the gold tonight. 

Mason and Max get to the ring. They both walk on opposite ends of the squared circle and then the giants step inside simultaneously. Tom Morrow is clapping and barking like the seals he probably clubs in his spare time when he watches them parade around with the gold. Mason and Max hold the titles up and come just shy of shoving them in the faces of PCP and Dangerous Mix who try ignoring them to focus on a path to victory. Mason and Max look as ready as they can be. 

DDK:
This three way match for the Unified Tag Team titles! Anyone can tag anyone into the match and one fall to a finish! Whoever has the pinfall or submission is going to walk out with the gold! 

Lance:
The Dangerous Mix are looking for their first Unified Tag Titles. Pop Culture Phenoms held every version of those belts! Tag Titles! Trios Titles! A brief run as the Unified Tag Titles. Mason and Max are two time defending champions looking to keep the gold in the biggest threat to their titles yet. 

The referee of the match collects the titles from Mason and Max. 

DDK:
These titles have been great main event fixtures. Mason and Max have gone so far as to call those titles their own version of the FIST, our top singles title! Every team wants to be on  top of the mountain. 

Mason and Max bump elbows together but when one of them tries to start, the referee tells them that David Fox and The D are going to start! Mason and Max yell at the official! 

DDK:
Hey! This was random draw backstage who would start! And it wasn’t either of the brothers! It was The D and David Fox!

On the outside Morrow tells them both to calm down and get to their corners. Mason and Max do as they’ve been instructed but aren’t happy with it. David Fox gives them the double middle finger and The D throws in a shiteating smirk. 

DING DING

The D and David Fox stare across from one another. They get ready to square off together in the ring. The D side steps a kick attempt from David Fox then tries a go behind. Fox grabs The D’s leg behind him and trips the Netflix A-Lister. Fox shifts around to deliver a penalty kick, but the Director of Defiance leans back to avoid it and reaches up for a school boy. Fox rolls out of that quickly to get back to his feet. 

The D meets him with a head lock take down but then finds himself in between Fox’s legs (minds out of the gutter) before he nips up and out of the hold. Fox hits a takedown and tries to pin The D, but the Netflix A-Lister kicks out quickly. The D rolls backwards and up to his feet. He tries to take down David Fox with a head scissors off the ropes, but Fox manages to go with the roll to get back to his feet. He comes back with a high roundhouse kick but The D lets himself fall backfirst to the mat to avoid the blow. As he nips up, the D catches Fox under the chin with a nip up dropkick, taking Fox off his feet.

Lance:
Wow! That was great! 

The D throws out his hands in a taunt, soaking in the cheers from the Faithful, but Mason Luck tries for a blind tag! The D is just out of reach laughing at his (pun intended here) bad luck. 

The D:
Not today, dick-heads! 

Mason tries to enter the ring but Max is quick to hold him back. Navarro is right there to keep them in line.

DDK:
That was a great exchange by The D and David Fox! Fluid fantastic technical exchange, punctuated with two pissed off Luck Brothers!

Lance:
Hector and Max Luck even, making sure cooler heads prevail.

DDK:
For now.

The D picks up David Fox by the neck and leads him to a head lock … but lets Elise tag Fox and make both PCP members legal?

Lance:
Oh no … we know these shenanigans, don’t we, Darren? 

DDK:
We do. 

The Lucks protest in their corner as David Fox looks confused … but puts two and two together as he’s ushered back to his corner. Elise hits a finger poke on The D and he falls back like a gunshot! 

DDK:
The Pop Culture Phenoms have won gold in this fashion before! Both of their Tag Title runs were won this way! 

Elise tries to cover her own partner! 

One …
Two …

David Fox kiboshes that ingenious move by pulling Elise off of the D, pulling her by the leg to the corner of the Dangerous Mix. He climbs onto the apron, reaches over the top and tags himself back in! 

DDK:
Nice try by the PCPs! The Lucky Sevens might owe Fox for keeping their titles from being stolen. Not that they actually would! 

Fox back in and he attacks The D quickly! He hits a hard kick to the chest! The D gets the wind kicked out of him and then a second kick takes him clear off his feet! The Vanguard is fired up after the kick and then follows with a running bulldog from the side. Fox covers The D for Dangerous Mix’s first attempt to win the Unified Tag Team titles!

One …
Two … no!

Fox tries a tighter cover by hooking a leg! 

One …
Two … no!

DDK:
Every count is crucial in this match! These matches tend to get incredibly chaotic so it's in the best interest of every team involved to go for covers early and often! 

Lance:
You have to have both eyes in the back of your head and keep your head on a swivel! 

For now the Lucky Sevens can only watch the action without being tagged into the match! Fox has the D on his feet and throws him at the one neutral corner. He tries for a big boot in the corner, but he only hits the corner with his foot. The D rolls out of the corner and makes a quick tag to Elise! The South Beach Starlet leaps with the greatest of ease and hits a springboard head scissors on Fox. He goes rolling across the ring and right into a corner when Elise stands up. 

Elise runs at the corner Fox is in but he tries to get her out of the way with a back body drop. The Queen of Sports Entertainment style lands on the apron and doubles over Fox with a shoulder. She rolls over his back to get back into the ring, runs, and then hits the Cuban Necktie! 

DDK:
Cuban Necktie by Elise! Followed up with a springboard leg drop! 

One …
Two … No!

Mason and Max Luck are getting more irritated with each pinfall they aren’t a part of. Strangely, Tom Morrow doesn’t seem to react much. 

DDK:
The Lucky Sevens might be having flashbacks to losing to Titanes Familia back at Acts of DEFIANCE a few months back! They won the titles back with that crooked one-time Instant Rematch clause that Morrow snuck into his contract, but to lose again? That would send them over the edge!

Lance:
Why isn’t Morrow freaking out?

Elise waits for Fox to get up and she tries a super kick, but Fox snatches the leg first and spins her around. He catches her by both arms and then takes her down into a small package! The Lucks start yelling! 

One …
Two … No!

Lance:
The Lucks look like angry dogs on a chain ready to bite, but they’ve been confined to their corner since this has started. 

DDK:
It serves them right! They spent weeks conspiring against the PCP’s and the Dangerous Mix to get away from their titles and now they reap what they sow! 

Max and Mason’s shouts go largely ignored as Fox pulls Elise and makes a quick tag to Mushigihara for the first time! Both Fox and Mushi work together with the God-Beast hitting the ropes. Fox hits a Sayama special (side headlock spun into a drop toe hold) then Mushi hits a big elbow drop to the back of Elise! 

DDK:
What a double team! That might do it! 

Mushi makes a cover! 

One …
Two …

Mason Luck of all people enters the ring and yanks The King of Monsters off of Elise first! The referee yells at Mason to return to the corner and he does … then flips off the ref. 

DDK:
Strange alliances happen in matches like this! It’s every team for themselves so they may have to unintentionally aid others to save their own titles!

Lance:
The Lucks are really chomping at the bit right now to get in. They must not want to have a big money match where they aren’t even included!

Fox wants another tag from Mushi. Mushi holds Elise up for David Fox to get a clear shot with another hard kick after the tag! He goes quick and applies an ankle lock to Elise! 

DDK:
Trying to ground the South Beach Starlet! She can fly with the best of them in DEFIANCE Wrestling but this will compromise that! 

Elise struggles in the hold against Fox but the DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful are cheering her on to make a big comeback! She tries to make a quick climb to the ropes but when she can’t do it that way, she flips herself forward and pulls out another head scissors to snap Fox over!

DDK:
Nice escape from Elise!

But Fox goes forward unwillingly after the roll! Elise gets up and hits the ropes for a big corkscrew cross body … but before she leaps off and wipes out Fox with the big move, Max Luck tags in. 

Lance:
Ooooh no! 

Tom Morrow is elated as Max Luck comes in like the wrecking machine he is. He jumps down off the apron and pulls out David Fox first! Fox is out on the floor first when he gets dropped with an extra forceful big boot to the face!

DDK:
Here they go! Neither team REALLY wanted the towering and dominating Lucky Sevens involved with this match, but now they don’t have a choice! 

Elise gets up and sees Max Luck standing over David Fox on the outside. The Queen of Sports Entertainment Style tries catching Max Luck off guard with a leaping drop kick through the ropes … 

Mason is there to stop it first! 

DDK:
No! Now they have Elise! 

Mason and Max both grab Elise with a double press … 

THEN SHE GETS THROWN INTO THE FRONT ROW!!!

Lance:
THE LUCKS HAVE LOST IT! ALL THAT TIME SITTING ON THE SIDELINES HAS ONLY MADE THEM ANGRIER!!!

A loud chant of “Holy shit!” rings out through the arena. Mason and Max both bump their gauntlets together but Mushigihara has seen enough standing by. He runs at Max with a big clothesline that doesn’t knock down the Beast of the Bright Lights, but he does stagger him! 

DDK:
Mushi isn’t sticking around and waiting! He knows something has to be done about the Lucky Sevens here and now! 

He attacks Mason and the DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful are all about watching the God-Beast take it to the Big Money Monster! He scores with a forehand chop on Mason. Then one on Max! He turns his attention back on Mason but he is already there to throw a knee into Mushi’s stomach and then whips him as hard as he can into the crowd barrier! 

Lance:
That throw was vile! I think Mushigihara moved it back a few inches! 

Mason Luck signals to Max and then he runs at Mushi with a knee strike to his chest as he is against the barrier. With a big solid throw he sends Mushi right into a massive flying back elbow on the floor! 

Now both brothers stand over Mushi and the crowd is booing cause they know what comes next after the double-team. Tom Morrow gets in on it at ringside! 

Tom Morrow, Max & Mason Luck:
KA-CHING!!!

BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

But those jeers turn upside down (or something compared to that) when The D surprises both on the apron! 

He scores with a super kick on Mason that staggers the big man! 

He scores with a super kick on Max that staggers the other big man! 

DDK:
The D is the only man left standing right now after this onslaught! 

Lance:
And he’s got them both stunned! 

The D takes a moment to crotch chop the Lucks, and then springs with a big moonsault off the middle rope to fly with a big springboard moonsault off the middle rope to both Lucks … 

But they catch him first! 

DDK:
He tried to catch them by surprise with those kicks first but it wasn’t enough! 

Lance:
That’s why you NEVER hesitate, or give your quarry a moment of relief.

They both pick up The D as he shouts.

The D:
STOP IT! NOT FAIR!

The Lucks do not stop, and they hit a double body slam dropping him on top of David Fox! 

DDK:
That was brutality! 

Lance:
That’s exactly what these monsters do. Whatever it takes to make that Almighty Dollar. 

Bodies are littered everywhere at ringside. Max is the legal man in all of this with David Fox. Mason helps his brother by picking up the Slayer of Giants in a press and then hurls David clear over the ropes and back inside the ring! 

Lance:
AAHHHHH!!! That strength is something! 

DDK:
The Lucky Sevens now have a clear path to retaining the gold! 

Max Luck gets in and then measures Fox … he jumps up off the ropes right into a bone-crushing Box Cars elbow drop right into Fox’s ribs! 

Lance:
That might be it! There’s no one around to break this up!

Max makes a lateral press. 

One …
Two …
No!!!

Max’s eyes almost fall out of his skull when he sees Fox’s shoulder rise! 

DDK:
Close one! I don’t know how Fox kicked out of that, but he’s in a very bad spot to be in. 

Lance:
Mushigihara is still out on the outside! Elise just finally got out from being thrown into the first row and The D is slumped over. David Fox is all alone with these monsters. 

Max Luck grabs David Fox and twists his arm around before pulling him to their corner now. Mason sees Mushigihara trying to rise on the outside. 

Lance:
Scratch what I just said … Mushi is trying to get back up and save David after the Lucky Sevens wiped everyone else outside. 

Mushigihara tries to get through the ropes, but Mason locks in the Winning Hand claw on Mushi’s skull! He holds him in the ropes with Max striking down David Fox and then stepping up to the top rope! He walks a few steps and some of the DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful can’t help flashing pictures of the athletic feat. He jumps off the top buckle and drops the hammer on Fox! Max poses for the hot crowd only to be jeered heavily in return. Mason lets go of the claw on Mushi in the ropes and that allows Max to kick him through the ropes and back down to the ring side floor. 

Lance:
Max hits Walking the Strip then helps Mason take care of the God-Beast! Mushi is down again! 

DDK:
The Lucky Sevens have staked their territory now. Elise and The D are still out. Mushigihara is out and it might just be a matter of time now before the Lucky Sevens retain!

Lance:
You might be right. 

TAG! 

Mason is the legal man now. He picks up David Fox and holds him in the side walk slam position. Max milks the moment and starts running at the ropes.

DDK:
Double team incoming? 

And there is a double team coming … but it isn’t from the Lucky Sevens! 

It’s from the PCP’s! They both work together to pull the ropes down on Max and that sends the Beast of the Bright Lights falling right out of the ring! The DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful are losing it! 

Lance:
They took too long to finish off David Fox and just paid for it thanks to Elise Ares and the D!

Elise blows a kiss at Mason, who sees what happened to his brother. He hoists Fox onto his right shoulder but the Slayer of Giants slips out. He uses a spinning kick to the knee and then one to the gut to double Mason over, then lives up to his nickname with a running thrust kick. Mason drops to his knees then Fox hits an inverted stomp facebreaker. 

DDK:
The Slayer of Giants takes one of the biggest men in the ring off his feet!

Mason sinks into the ropes where Elise Ares and the D are waiting! Elise drops the leg as the D charging knee strikes, with perfect timing to the temple of Mason Luck! Mason is temporarily dazed. Now, thanks to great teamwork from the other teams, the Big Money Monster has been dropped. 

Lance:
Mason out! Cover by Fox! 

One …
Two …
No!!!

Mason forces Fox off of him with a massive shove. Mason gets to a corner where Max is back up and tags in. Max climbs over the ropes but by now, Mushigihara is back in the game with a tag of his own! 

DDK:
Mushigihara is the only other person in this match that could match power with either of the Sevens! Here’s his chance! 

Mushi smacks Max with chops to his chest! Whoos ring out all throughout the Garden when he hits each shot. Max fires back with a chop of his own. The monsters keep chopping each other over and over!

Lance:
The Beast of the Bright Lights versus the God-Beast himself! 

The DEFIANCE Wrestling Faithful enjoy the sight of big meaty men you know the rest. Max stops a chop and hits a punch to halt the chop battle, but Mushi wins the battle with more of his own and then a swift elbow. He lands a manhattan drop on the Beast of the Bright Lights and then comes at him with a leaping shoulder off the ropes to take Max off his feet for the first time in the ring since the match started! 

DDK:
Mushigihara levels Max Luck! 

Lance:
Yeah, but look! 

The God-Beast revels in the moment but Elise Ares and The D work together to sneak up behind him and double him over with a pair of drop kicks. He gets sent packing into the ropes but when Elise and The D stand up, Mushi hits right back, grabs each by the throat. There’s only a moment where the D’s eyes go wide and he shakes his head vigorously, before Mushi launches them both simultaneously over the top rope! 

DDK:
This is wild! Mushigihara is cutting loose right now and wiping out everyone that moves! 

Lance:
That long standing alliance between the PCP’s and the Dangerous Mix has to be over, eh?

Mushgihara only gets to enjoy the moment briefly because when he turns around Mason Luck is back in to deliver a big jumping knee strike to the God-Beast! Mason has boos rained on him like a torrential downpour from the cheap shot but he ignores it all. 

He doesn’t see the sneaky d called The D tag Mushi to make himself legal. 

DDK:
Mason doesn’t see the tag!

Lance:
The PCP’s are back already? How?!

Elise Ares is perched on one side of the apron and The D on the other. They continue to do what they have been doing all match and that is double team the larger opponents with a double springboard missile drop kick! Mason is hit square in the chest by four pairs of feet and knocked out of the ring. Elise Ares and The D both nip up to their feet at the same time and soak in cheers from an ultra-hot MSG crowd! Elise turns to the crowd. 

Elise Ares:
Que Tal Eso?!

DDK:
Where are they going now? 

Lance:
With the Pop Culture Phenoms? And a ring? Anywhere they want! 

The D and Elise cross one another and quickly run up to separate top turnbuckles. Both of the Lucks haven’t made it to their feet fully so they are both caught completely off guard by a pair of jumping top rope moonsaults from the top turnbuckle all the way to the floor! 

DDK:
The PCP’s have done it and completely wiped out the Lucky Sevens! 

Lance:
Under normal circumstances the larger opponents could have caught them, but they never saw it coming! 

The crowd goes wild as the PCP roll back up to their feet and try to gather their bearings, completely unaware of the specter making his way above them, on the top rope.

DDK:
David Fox sees an opening, but what is he doing climbing up the ropes?!

Almost as if he could hear the commentary, Fox looks at Darren Keebler and cracks the faintest of grins.

DDK:
…oh, no.

The longtime DEFIANCE veteran makes a “spin cycle” gesture with his hands, before leaping off the rope to the outside of the ring, making a spin in the air before colliding with BOTH members of the Phenoms!

Lance:
WHOA! DID YOU SEE THAT, KEEBS?!?

DDK:
DAVID FOX DUSTED OFF AN OLD TOOL AND CONNECTED WITH THE *TROJAN FALL!* HE HASN’T USED THAT MOVE SINCE… SINCE HE WRESTLED UNDER THE NAME TROY MATTHEWS!

Lance:
Wow… has it really been that long?

The Phenoms are laid out on the floor, and David Fox is pulling himself back up to his feet, glee etched on his face as he grabs The D by the scruff, before rolling him back into the ring! Fox follows up by whipping The D into the nearby corner, then rallying forth with a running big boot to the face! The D collapses from the corner and plops face-first on the mat, as Fox rolls him over and covers! Tom Morrow clapping on the outside.

ONE!

TWO!

THE D MANAGES TO GET A SHOULDER UP!

DDK:
What a string of offense to survive, Lance! Even Morrow is impressed! First David Fox plows into both The D AND Elise Ares with that Trojan Fall, THEN he gets The D into the ring and cracks that big boot into his skull! How is The D still in this?!

Lance:
Sheer will and determination Darren. We’ve seen that before from the D. He doesn’t go limp easily.

DDK:
Lance!

Lance:
Angus still pays me to make dick jokes.

Fox looks down at his opponent and scoffs, before pushing himself back up to his feet and giving The D a yank (yeah, yeah) to help him get up to his own. Fox marches to the corner and lines up his shot.

DDK:
We may see The Rough Divide here, and if Fox can land that axe kick, we may see new Unified Tag Team Champions! The D struggles, but manages to get onto a knee, just in time to see Fox rushing towards him… and roll away from the killing blow!

Fox drives his heel down, but only hits mat, as The D manages to roll into the PCP corner, where Elise Ares is waiting for a tag!

The D gets the tag, but not before springing off the second rope and rattling the veteran with a flying back elbow! The D rolls out of the ring and Fox returns to his feet, only to look up at Elise Ares, hurtling towards him with a flying crossbody she holds onto for the pin!

ONE!

TWO!

Fox kicks out and tries to shake the cobwebs out, but Elise doesn’t let him. She grabs both sides of his head and lifts him, catching Fox with a stiff elbow shot, and a second sending him back stepping. Fox grabs one side of his head, bells ringing, as Elise irish whips him back into the corner. The D gets to his feet, and Elise raises her hand high to the Faithful.

DDK:
I think David Fox is about to be put on DEFIANCE’s Blacklist!

Elise grabs the top rope and starts stomping Fox, tagging in the D. The D continues stomping as Hector Navarro ushers Elise out. Once she’s out, she tags right back in, and then it’s more double stomps until Hector shoves out the D. This repeats two more times times before Mushi rushes in and just shoulder tackles the D clear through the middle ropes. Mushi climbs out to meet him, as Mason Luck takes this sudden opportunity to rush in

DDK:
That’s just not fair! He’s not even the legal man!

As Navarro protests Mushi and the D on the outside, Mason grabs the legal woman Elise around her waist in a rear waistlock and shakes her like a ragdoll. After a few moments, he hurls a dizzy starlet across the ring into the Luck’s corner. Mason gets Hector’s attention and points as Max Luck tags himself in. Max rushes into the far corner and catches a kneeled and stomped David Fox with a charging knee. 

Lance:
Ooo, that boot. Lucky David got his hands up and blocked a bit of that knee or this would be game over. 

Max lifts Fox to his feet. 

Max Luck:
This! [shakes Fox] Is your Example.

DDK:
Fox! Quick mid kick to the thigh, another, and a third takes Luck down. Fox spins and kicks Max square in the chest! 

Lance:
I think they heard that at the top of the Empire State Building!

DDK:
What an example!

Fox takes off the ropes and returns to lay another stiff kick to Max’s chest, sending him to the mat. Mason is off his corner yelling at the D on the other side of the ring. David looks down at one half of the fallen tag team champions, and rushes to the unoccupied Luck’s corner, but it’s not unoccupied for long.

DDK:
Bad move! That’s Luck territory!

Lance:
Sin City!

Mason just palm slaps Fox’s chest from the outside of the ring. Hector slaps his hands above his head. Mason enters, and Max and Mason both climb up to meet David Fox.

Tom Morrow is beside himself.

DDK:
COIN FLIP! OFF THE SECOND ROPE! That impact! 

Lance:
This could be it. Wait, why isn’t… oh!

Navarro waves off the count. Mason looks at him confused, as Hector claps above his head, pointing at both Mason and Max. He then tries to start ushering a prone Fox out of the ring to his corner.

DDK:
Morrow can’t believe it! Hector wants Mason and Max to square off!?

Lance:
He made Elise and the D do it earlier!

Mason and Max look at each other across the ring as the Faithful chant “Let them fight!” Tom Morrow climbs onto the apron in protest, waving it off.

Mason lightly jabs Max in the jaw. Max sells it like a gunshot tumbling into the Dangerous Mix’s corner and landing onto a recovering David Fox. Mason looks back at Navarro.

Mason Luck:
Tag.

Mushi protests but Fox waves him off. Before Mushi can reach over the top rope, Max shoves Fox toward the center of the ring, toward Mason. Big Money Mason lifts and slams Fox in quick succession with a pump handle backbreaker.

DDK:
Jack Pot Drop Lance! That could break a man’s back!

Lance:
It may have done so to Fox Darren!

Mason puts his whole frame on top of Fox and hooks a leg.

ONE!

TWO!

Mushi has had enough! He barely breaks up the count with a boot to Mason’s skull. Hector tries to direct him back to his corner, but the God-Beast wants none of it. It allows Mason to lift Fox up and drag him back to the Seven’s corner.

DDK:
I get where Mushi’s heart is, but sometimes you’ve gotta think with your mind. This is exactly what the Sevens want. Isolating Fox, attacking him, wearing him down. It’s only a matter of time if PCP or Mushi can’t legally get back into this match.

Fox is reaching out his hand trying to tag anything, but it’s Mason who tags Max in to make sure they don’t have to repeat their faux fight. Mason grabs Fox and irish whips him into Max, who hits him with a kitchen sink to the gut.

DDK:
Ca-Ching! NO! Fox ducks the “Ching” and bounces off the corner, Tornado Fang!

Fox discus throat thrusts into Mason, as the big man grabs his adam’s apple in pain. Fox rolls underneath Max and dives!

DDK:
ENTER, THE GOD-BEAST!

Mushi enters the ring and leaves his feet for a running shoulder block that takes down the Bright Light Bad Ass. Mushi grabs Mason and tosses him up and over the top rope. As Max gets back to his feet, Mushi lifts Max off the canvas and holds him aloft for a bit, before planting Big Money Max with a snappy scoop powerslam! The God-Beast climbs onto the ring apron and targets Mason with a flying shoulder tackle, taking Max’s brother off his feet on the outside.

Lance:
You should have said enter God Mode Darren! Mushi is on a roll!

Mushi slips back into the ring as he looks at the fallen Max. He looks up just in time to catch a diving Elise. Elise starts shaking her head no toward Mushi. The D pleads with him from his corner, as Hector tells Mushi to get Elise out of the ring.

Mushi however, needs to get his reps in.

Lance:
Osssssu Press Darren! How many reps do you think you could do?

DDK:
The real question is how many reps can he do with Elise!

Lance:
I’m guessing infinite.

DDK:
AND there’s the big slam! 

Elise quickly powders out of the ring. Mushi looks at the D in the corner, ready for him to try his hand.

The D elicits laughs as he puts up both hands and hops off the apron. He then begins to look over Elise.

This distraction allows Max to recover. He charges toward God-Beast in God Mode.

DDK:
URANAGE! Max Luck just bounced head first off the canvas. I don’t think he’s used to being tossed around like that!

Mushi dives on top for the cover.

ONE.

TWO!

DDK:
B-MOVIE!

The D sprang up to the apron and corner in quick succession before leaping with his patented frogsplash just in time to break the pin.

Lance:
Whoo boy! One tenth of a second later and we would have had new Unified Tag Team Champions.

DDK:
The last time Mushi held one of those historical belts was with Dante and Fox, then known as Troy Matthews. 

Lance:
So long ago, we’ve lost the tape!

Mushi grabs the D and hurls him over the top rope, but in such a graceful way that the D actually manipulates the toss to land feet planted on the outside. On the ring apron, Elise Ares has gingerly recovered. 

DDK:
Hector checking on Elise. I hope she can continue. She seems to be complaining of an injury.

Meanwhile, the Faithful stir as in the ring, two men begin to roll Max Luck out, and slip him under the bottom rope. They, uhm, both, kind of look like the Luck twins.

DDK:
Is… Is that Klein? 

Lance:
The bigger question, is that Flex Kruger?

DDK:
Or maybe Flex Luck tonight!

Mushi charges at the D on the apron, as the D pulls the top rope down, he reaches over it and slaps Mushi as the God-Beast tumbles to the outside. Hector counts it as a tag.

DDK:
Wait. Are they doing it again!?

Lance:
I think so!

Elise assures the official Navarro she can continue, as Flex falls back first onto the canvas. Klein slips out of the ring and crawls underneath the ring, trying to obscure the actual Max’s body with the ring apron’s tarp. He slips out under the bottom and “shhhs” the camera.

DDK:
The PCP are going to win the tag team titles for a THIRD TIME, by pinning each other.

Lance:
Only they could do this… and somehow get cheered.

DDK:
The D! SPRINGBOARD NOTHING! Into a cover!

ONE!

Lance:
That’s it!

TWO!

THR--TOM MORROW?!

In the ring, Tom Morrow has slipped inside. He literally dove underneath Hector’s hand so it couldn’t hit the mat for a three count. 

DDK:
Morrow! Again! The secret weapon of the Sevens! The D almost stole this one! He’s trying to plead his case!

Hector is irate, wanting to eject Morrow before Tom points down to the man the D covered. While now having his hair buzzed short so he looked more like the twins, dressed like the twins…

You can’t fake being seven feet tall.

Hector now turns his attention toward the D, and starts yelling at him for trying to pull a ruse on him. The D protests. 

The D:
It’s what we do!

Morrow slips back outside, over to where Max had fallen. He tries to help him up, and whispers something into his ear. A moment later, Max slides back into the ring, and meets the D. The D hits a spinning wheel kick.

DDK:
With everything!

Lance:
But it doesn’t take the big man off his feet!

Indeed, Max stumbles back and falls into the Dangerous Mix’s corner. David Fox reaches out and tags himself in. As Fox charges, the D tries to drop down for his Johnny Cage Low blow, but it leaves him exposed for Fox’s charging bicycle knee.

DDK:
BLAZING STAR STRIKE! Fox with the classics! D is dazed. Fox lifts him, ROUGH DIVIDE!

The D’s eyes roll into the back of his head as Fox hits him with the Step-Up Axe Kick. Fox dives on top and hooks both of the D’s legs.

ONE!

TWO!

Elise is on the top rope, but Mushi rushes on the apron and shoves her off into the awaiting arms of Klein and Flex!

THREE!

DDK:
THEY DID IT! THE DANGEROUS MIX DID IT!

Lance:
We have new Unified Tag Team Champions Darren! I’m so proud! And grateful that the dominant reign of these charlatans, the dominating Lucky Sevens is FINALLY over!

The crowd is losing their minds! They cannot believe that the Dangerous Mix are your new Unified Tag Team Champion! 

Darren Quimbey:
Your winners and the neeeewwwww Unified Tag Team champions … David Fox and Mushigihara … the DANGERROOOOUUSS MIXXXX!!!

Lance:
I’m still stunned, Darren! But they deserved it! David Fox and Mushigihara, the only team to have never won these titles in this match can now put their name in history as the Unified Tag Team champions! 

DDK:
The Lucky Sevens have to be pissed with this decision! Not even involved in the decision here tonight and they lose the gold! 

David Fox and Mushigihara are handed the gold in the ring. Elise dejectedly leaves the ringside area with the rest of the PCP crew but give the new champions a salute to end the show.

DDK:
Tom Morrow almost had a clean sweep tonight, but his own prophec … WAIT!!! LANCE!!! WHAT THE HELL!?!

The PCP’s are halfway up the ramp when Max Luck lays out David Fox with a thunderous running lariat! Mushigihara also gets blindsided by a Winning Hand from Mason Luck … WINNING HAND SLAM!!!

Lance:
SORE LOSERS! THAT IS ALL THE LUCKY SEVENS ARE!!!

And at the center of this … 

Tom Morrow. 

Smiling. 

With a piece of paper out from his pocket that he hands to the referee. The referee reads it over. He looks disturbed by what he’s reading, but Morrow points out something. 

Tom Morrow:
Tell them! 

Lance:
What is this? Oh God … is this that Instant Rematch clause? The same one they hit Titanes Familia with?! 

DDK:
No … they said that was a one-time clause in their contracts! What the hell is going on?

The referee talks to Darren Quimbey at ringside and relays whatever is on the contract. The PCP’s are frozen at the top of the ramp. The D is hurt and being held upright by Klein. 

Darren Quimbey:
Ladies and gentlemen … I have just been informed that due to a special clause in the contract of the Lucky Sevens … any Unified Tag Title defenses involving multi-man rules … can only be won by pinning the Lucky Sevens! Pinfalls against other teams are prohibited!

Lance:
THAT CAN’T BE TRUE!!!

Max and Mason look at Tom Morrow! This seems to be news to them but he is tapping his forehead! They both look giddy as can be when they realize what this means. 

Darren Quimbey:
Therefore as the pinfall did not involve the Lucky Sevens, this match MUST BE RESTARTED!!!

DDK:
WHAT!? SO EVERYTHING … TOM MORROW HAD THIS PLANNED!!! THAT’S WHY HE WANTED THIS AS A TRIPLE THREAT!!! LET EVERYBODY FIGHT, GET THEM EXHAUSTED, THEN STRIKE WITH THIS ... THIS BULL? 

Lance:
WHAT THE ENTIRE HELL?! THIS IS BEYOND RIDICULOUS!!!

Massive booing fills the arena! 

DING DING

Max and Mason quickly snatch David Fox off the mat! Elise Ares tries to run down the ramp when they get Fox in the air for a power bomb and Winning Hand combo … 

DDK:
SEVEN STARS!!!

Elise makes it to the ring, but Max blocks her from re-entering the ring! The D is in no condition to help. Mushi is still down! Mason makes the cover!

DDK:
THIS … THIS IS A SCREW JOB!!!

The referee counts the fall. 

One …
Two …

THREE!!!

DING DING DING

♫ “Ecstacy of Gold (Bandini Remix)” by Ennio Morricone ♫

Trash starts to fill the ring quickly after such a complete farce of a restart! Mason and Max Luck are handed back the gold that was just recently in the hands of the Dangerous Mix just mere moments ago … but now does not count! Mason and Max Luck bump their titles together and celebrate among the booing of Madison Square Garden’s large fanbase! 

Darren Quimbey:
Your winners … and still the Unified Tag Team champions … THE LUUUCCCCKKKYYYY SEEEEVVVEEEENNNSSSS!!!

DDK:
I’M … THIS IS UNREAL!!! TOM MORROW HAS DONE EVERYTHING HE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LUCKY SEVENS KEEP THIS GOLD! THEY’RE BAD ENOUGH ON THEIR OWN! THEY’RE MONSTERS, BUT THIS CONTRACT THAT GOT THEM BACK INTO DEFIANCE! LETTING THEM PICK CHALLENGERS, THESE NEW CLAUSES THAT POP UP .. HOW DOES ANYONE HAVE A FAIR CHANCE AGAINST THEM?!

Lance:
I’M GONNA SAY IT! THIS IS BULLS … 

DDK:
LANCE! NO! YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT! YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT … BUT THIS IS DISGUSTING!!!

The Lucky Sevens and Tom Morrow walk out of the ring and they head to the top of the ramp! Garbage is pelted at them, but the twin terrors of DEFIANCE Wrestling have screwed over what should have been another happy ending! 

DDK:
Tom Morrow’s prognostications of a clean sweep for Better Future Talent Agency have come to pass! Nathan Eye ousted Aaron King to be a part of BFTA! Alvaro de Vargas injured both Deacon and Magdalena! And now The Lucky Sevens retain the Unified Tag Team championships via another screwjob with their new contracts!

Lance:
And tomorrow night, we have Vae Victis in action with the FIST and the Southern Heritage titles on the line! Dex Joy against Corvo Alpha in a grudge match! Oscar Burns versus Declan Alexander and Scrow versus the House of the Harvest! 

DDK:
The show is done for tonight, but we will see you tomorrow! Good night, DEFIANTS!

A disappointed PCP are at ringside together, Klein dressed as Mason Luck yelling boo. David Fox has not moved and Mushigihara is crawling toward his partner. On top of the ramp, The Lucky Sevens hold the Unified Tag Team titles! Next to them, Alvaro de Vargas and Nathan Eye both come out to join their fellow BFTA members on the stage with Tom Morrow yelling into the camera!

Tom Morrow:
Clean sweep baby! Clean sweep!!!

The show ends with Tom Morrow and the entire clientele of BFTA both on stage! The most significant night in the tenure of Better Future Talent Agency!

THIS.

IS.

DEFIANCE.