Post by Admin on Mar 26, 2022 23:35:39 GMT
The camera pans over the capacity crowd at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italty! The fans are raucous as a pyro display goes off around the stage made to look like the entryway of an ancient Coliseum. The camera pans out and zooms in on fan signs!
LISSIE HAS NO HOPE
I BOUGHT A LEMON SHIRT
WENDIGO? MORE LIKE PLEASE DONT EAT ME
DO YOU GUYS WANNA HAVE A SLEEPOVER TIL NIGHT 2?
CYPHER LEAKED (ON) MY DUDES
TIGERS SHOULD EAT POLITICIANS IRL TOO
I BOUGHT A LEMON SHIRT
WENDIGO? MORE LIKE PLEASE DONT EAT ME
DO YOU GUYS WANNA HAVE A SLEEPOVER TIL NIGHT 2?
CYPHER LEAKED (ON) MY DUDES
TIGERS SHOULD EAT POLITICIANS IRL TOO
Will Ashford: And welcome EVERYONE to Night One of Absolution!
Chet Morley: APWO’s First PPV and it’s a two night banger! Tonight, we’ll decide a slew of future contenders for the titles being decided tomorrow night.
Will Ashford: That’s right, Chet. We already know Donny Mason will be challenging for the Hardcore Title and i’m getting word that that match will be at the NEXT POWER TRIP!
Chet Morley: WOW! On Free TV? What a nut our boss is. Speaking of nuts, we got Lissie Hope and Cypher finally putting their rivalry to bed.
Will Ashford: Along with that, we got Eli Buchanan and Frank Jefferson vying to see who will challenge for the World Title at our next PPV Odyssey.
Chet Morley: Which, we’ll have more announcements from Emiliano Hernan concerning that PPV tomorrow night!
Will Ashford: But to start things off…we got a battle between former friends and partners. Wendigo seems to have infected Kitty Dark’s mind, and FM Young is intent on getting revenge for being screwed out of the title picture.
Chet Morley: My money's on the monsters. Because I think they’ll eat me if it aint.
Will Ashford: Either way, let's send it to the ring!!
“Handsome” Jack Bytheway: The following match is a FIRST BLOOD MATCH! The combatants will go until one draws blood, the person who draws first blood is the Winner! There will be no pins, no submissions, no time limit, and no countouts…
The lights fade to blood red, and the screen comes to life with heavy static, showing a silhouette of a woman standing in a barren warehouse, smoking a cigarette. The rumble of thunder gives away to the driving rock beat of "You Make Me Sick" and that sedate image melts away as though doused in acid. The scenes flow between shots of Kitty’s life outside the ring, to match footage revealing a dark-haired woman beating the holy hell out of both men and women. The veteran herself steps out at the top of the ramp alone, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she rolls her shoulders, getting ready for battle. She's followed closely by her husband Hunter Donimari as she strides purposefully towards the ring, pausing every few feet to glare haughtily at the fans that have the audacity to try and reach out to touch her. She slides under the bottom rope, languidly doing a very cat-like yoga stretch while the crowd showers her with hatred. She seems utterly oblivious although there’s definite malice in her eyes as she pulls her hair back into a messy ponytail, securing it with a plain black elastic band.
“Handsome” Jack Bytheway: Introducing first, from The Canadian Wilderness weighing in tonight at 135 pounds..KITTY DARK!!
The explosive intro to Amaranthe's "Helix" tears through the speakers around the arena; the lights around the stage taking on a pulsing strobe effect that seem to sync in with the tempo of the drums. Smoke rises in front of the curtain, obscuring the walkway from those watching.
I can't stop you from breathing
Give it all and then see you leave it
I will stand and defeat it
Undertow, stuck in the middle
Lift the veil of the darkness
Be the voice of the broken hearted
Just like you, I unleashed it all
To reverse my heartbeat
As the lyrics begin, FM Young comes walking out from within the churning smoke; intensity behind every step. She paces the stage, watching the roaring crowd with her hardened, golden amber gaze as she comes to stand in the center of the stage. Her arms shoot out and up into the air and she brings them in in an X in front her chest, tucking her chin down but keeping those alluring eyes on the ring ahead of her.
All the voices in my mind
And the times that we denied
As I will reach into the light
We cannot get out of
Above FM, high up at the top of the video wall, pyro goes off, sending down a shower of sparks the full length of the stage. She stands there, holding her pose for a moment; the ferocity in her face growing ever more intense before she drops her arms and begins her walk to the ring; she never loses the intensity in her approach. If anything, she seems to be more fired up the closer she gets. FM makes it to the steps where she practically explodes up them and onto the apron, wiping off her boots before stepping through the ropes.
Make a start with the Helix
Take us through the tide
You can hide in this feeling
I know we can see it
All the stars are right
Set my heart in the Phoenix
Until the end of time
So forgive us
For sinning
Make a start with the Helix
FM steps towards the center of the ring, but only before a moment before she hits the corner and climbs the turnbuckle; one foot on the middle, one on the top and gives an Archer's pose to the audience. She gives the faintest of smirks to the fan favorite reception she's given before climbing down to the mat and removing her entrance gear as she prepares for the match.
“Handsome” Jack Bytheway: And her opponent, from Saville Spain she weighs in tonight at 206 pounds…FM YOUNG!!!!!!
Neither woman bother waiting for the bell to charge at one another, FM withstanding the initial rage fueled barrage in order to take control and lay in some stiff strikes herself that take the MultiUniversal Champion off guard. Dark looks to regroup on the outside, but as Young readies herself to make chase, she gets hung up throat first across the middle rope, digging her nails and clawing at the face of FM Young. Dark finally backs up to allow the official time to check and see if Young’s been busted open or not.
Chet Morley: Kitty Dark wasting no time here in trying to draw blood from her partner in the APWO tournament and one has to wonder if this is the influence of a certain creature come to life.
Will Ashford: Well I don’t know about all the creepy stuff, but what I see clear as day is a vicious competitor in Kitty Dark who is willing to do everything it takes to tear apart anyone who stands in her way.
Seeing she’s good to continue, Kitty slides back into the ring from the other side, in order to get another calculated cheap shot in. However, as she runs in for a jumping side kick, FM ducks under and powers Dark up with ease, driving her down to the canvas hard with a wicked spinebuster that gets a cheer from the sold out crowd. Going into the mount position, she starts raining down strikes. Dark does her best to cover up, the referee keeping a close eye on her face to make sure she isn’t bleeding. FM decides to let up on the strikes for a moment, looking to stretch out the punishment for a bit, hooking the head of Kitty Dark and locking in a seated front facelock.
Will Ashford: FM Young here uncharacteristically taking some time to deliver extra pleasure in the suffering of her opponent. Even with her laying in those extra strikes to the back of Kitty won’t lead to her getting cut open and winning this match. Not to mention the Splat champion still has some fight left in her.
Chet Morley: Her arms may be flailing about, but there’s only so much time you can be in a hold like that before your body gives out on you and you pass out.
Will Ashford: Thank you Captain Obvious…
The official looks to check on the condition of Kitty, but she snaps back to life, using one of her hands to rake the eyes of Young, forcing her to release the hold. She then takes the mount, using the advantage to smash her head over and over, the crowd booing her actions, getting extra loud as she begins biting at the head of FM Young who is fighting to get out of this position.
Chet Morley: FM Young could be in some serious trouble here, Kitty’s got that temper of hers flaring.
Seeing that she hasn’t drawn any blood just yet, Dark gets to a vertical base and starts laying in stomps wherever she can land in frustration. She creates a little distance, allowing Young to stagger, only to bring her right back down with a running tilt-a-whirl headscissors, continuing to lay in some kicks afterwards. FM fights back up to her feet though, pushing Kitty back and catching her at the pass with a beal, nearly sending Dark across the ring. Young looks to get back into the swing of things with the Man-Machine Interface, but Dark trips her up, sending her into the middle turnbuckle with the drop toe hold before spinning her around and landing her patented Seeing Red!
Will Ashford: This could be it! Referee checking on FM Young to see if she was busted open!
The official gets a good look at the nose of Young and while it is red from the rough landing, there is no blood! Stepping back to allow the action to continue, the referee and sold out crowd look on as a now irate Kitty Dark rushes in with a stiff kick to the midsection of FM Young, taking all the wind out of the proud warrior, verbally berating her as she does. Once again creating some distance, Kitty looks to put an end to things, going for the WAMH which will be sure to break the face of her opponent. The charge is cut off at the very last second though, FM Young leaping with all she has to snatch Dark midair and lay her out with the Heart of the Phoenix! Both competitors are down now as the crowd is going absolutely insane for the effort these two are putting into this match.
Will Ashford: This has been intense. I couldn’t call it with a gun to my head.
Chet Morley: I say we give it a shot.
Suddenly, a fan screams out in terror and the cmaera cuts to Wendigo crawling over a guardrail! Her head jerks to cock from one side to the other before throwing her head back and letting out a blood curdling scream. Kitty Young sits up first, looking out at her pack leader and smiling. Wendigo sidles up to ringside and reaches in, handing Kitty something.
Will Ashford: Is that…A SCREWDRIVER?!
Chet Morley: Jesus fucking christ what is wrong with these people?!
Kitty slowly, laborously gets to her feet and stalks FM who reaches out to the ropes, steadying herself. The fans do all they can to warn her but she turns and Kitty swipes at her forhead with the screwdriver..NO! FM catches her wrist! She headbutts Kitty away who drops the screwdriver! FM picks it up and begins stalking Kitty. Meanwhile, Wendigo goes to the corner Kitty has backed herself up into. She reaches for the ringpost.
Chet Morley: CAN SOMEONE PLEASE WRANGLE THE MONSTER?!
As FM nears Kitty suddenly reaches out and snatches her before she can do anything with the screwdriver she yanks her back face first into…OH MY GOD WENDIGO RIPPED OFF A TURNBUCKLE PAD! FM YOUNG’S FACE CRASHES INTO THE EXPOSED STEEL! SHE’S BLEEDING! REF JACKSON CALLS FOR THE BELL!
Will Ashford: OH BULLSHIT!
Chet Morley: You gonna tell her?
Will Ashford: Pass.
Winner: Kitty Dark
Will Ashford: Thank God for Tren!
Chet Morley: Yeah, I don't like agreeing with you but I would have liked live cannibalism a LOT less.
The NFW World Champion stares out at the Pack as they slither away into the audience. He checks on FM as Whisper and the other trainers hit the ring to check on her.
Chet Morley: This next one is one I been waiting for.
Will Ashford: Same, Chet. Like a lot of the card on both nights this one is filled with bad blood!
Chet Morley: Yeah, Eli's. And Frank is gonna spill it all over the mat!
"Handsome" Jack Bytheway: The following contest is a STEEL CAGE MATCH to determine the Number one contender for the APWO World Heavyweight Title. To win, a competitor must escape the cage with both feet touching the floor. There will be no pins, no submissions, and No Disqualifications! Introducing first...
"Get your money" by Ol' Franky Bastard blares forth to a chorus of boos as Frank walks out onto the stage. He wears a suit jacket with his ring gear. He poses, nodding his head to the music. He walks obnoxiously slowly to the ring sneering and smirking all the way. He does a full lap of the ring before climbing up the steps and through the ropes. He stands in the middle of the ring, taking off his suit jacket like a stripper before throwing it at an official to put away.
Handsome Jack Bytheway: Currently in the ring, from Manhattan New York and weighing in at Two Hundred and Twenty-Five pounds….Franklin Jefferson!!!!
Chet Morley: Finally, A man we can all cheer for!
Will Ashford: You and I are miles apart on what we root for, Chet.
Chet Morley: Hating Jefferson is practically hating America! You hate America, Will?! YOU A COMMIE WILL?! RED WILL THE TERRIBLE!?
Will Ashford: You take your meds today, Chet?
“Welcome to the Jungle” by GnR blares forth to a mixed reaction that’s still better than Franks as. "Tiger Red" Eli Buchanan walks out onto entry way, accompanied Charlotte O'Neal, wearing his tiger mask. He stops and drops to one knee, raising his fists in the air. Charlotte walks around behind him and pulls the mask off of him. He rises to his feet and the two kiss before taking each other's hand and walking down to the ring. As ringside, Eli helps Charlotte up the stairs before leaping up onto the apron. He holds the ropes open for Charlotte, before springboards up onto the top rope and rolls into the middle of the ring up to one knee where and rising his fists in the air once more while Charlotte O'Neal stands behind him and smiles.
Handsome Jack Bytheway: In the ring now, from Galeph, Ontario, Canada he weighs in tonight at Two Hundred and THIRTY-five pounds…”Tiiiiiiger RrRRRRRReeeeed” ELI BUCHANAN!!!”
Will Ashford: We might only be a couple of months in as company, but since show one where these two locked up they haven't liked each other. Jefferson's constant barbs also seem to have brought out the worst side of Eli.
Chet Morley: I don't care how well you do it, you keep playin' with fire you get burned eventually.
Will Ashford: You do have to wonder, even with the prize on the line in this match...is Buchanan after that? Or does he just want Jefferson hurt?
Eli helps his wife out of the ring while staring down Jefferson as Handsome Jack steps out of the ring and ref Cargill slides in to join the combatants. Eli and Buchanan never break eye contact as the cage slowly lowers down upon the ring. Cargill calls them both to the center of the ring to go over the basic rules of the match ,or lack thereof. She then dismisses them back to their corners before calling for the bell to get the match underway.
Eli and Frank walk to the middle of the ring and begin jawing back and forth. Eventually, Eli breaks the verbal stalemate by shoving Jefferson away who just smirks and returns, getting right into Eli’s face before suddenly cranking his head back and smashing the crown of it against Eli’s face. This sets it off as the two begin trading shots in the middle of the ring, neither one giving any ground until Jefferson nails Buchanan right in the nose again.
Will Ashford: That mask might be padding some of these blows but you can tell Eli felt that one!
Chet Morley: Bet they both felt all of 'em Will. They're punches. You don't not feel punches....well, maybe yours.
Jefferson takes advantage of Eli being stunned and runs him face first into a wall of the cage. Eli bounces off and crumples to the mat. Jefferson stands over him, shouting insults before hauling off and kicking him in the ribs once. Jefferson hauls Eli up and shoves him into a corner, laying in body shots before slingshotting him across the ring, bouncing off the opposite ringpost from the impact and falling to the mat.
Chet Morley: Jefferson pushing his advantage early on. Can't let up though, filibuster his ass!!
Will Ashford: You...you DO know that he isn't actually in Congress, right?
Jefferson leans over the ropes, pressing his face to the cage as he begins blowing kisses to Charlotte on the outside. She looks appropriately repulsed and flips Jefferson the bird. Frank only smirks and runs back to Eli..only to find he has gotten up and charged him with a big lariat that turns big Frank inside out!! Eli motions for Jefferson to get up and when he does nails him with another before shouting for him to get up!
Will Ashford: And that's what you get for messing with another mans wife!
Chet Morley: He was just offering her an upgrade!
Will Ashford: Something you've never been.
Chet Morley: Now just wait one cotton pickin' second, i know your pasty DnD playing, LARPing a-
Will Ashford: LOOK! WRESTLING!
Jefferson gets up and Eli captures him in a lightning quick belly to belly! As Frank gets up he’s leveled with a beautiful picture perfect dropkick! Again! Jefferson gets up, but Eli telegraphs another belly to belly and Frank elbows him in the side of the head to escape, before whipping him into the ropes and catching him by the back of the head to run him into the wall of the cage again! Once more, Eli bounces off the cage and crumples to the mat.
Will Ashford: Jefferson's mean streak is a mile wide and deeper than the ocean, I swear.
Chet Morley: Which is why he SHOULD have been in the main event tomorrow night! But no! Eli had to stick his stupid kitty nose where it didnt belong!
Jefferson takes a minute to check and verify that his lip is busted open before he spits a wad of blood and saliva onto Eli. The then yanks him up, setting him up for a Monument Driver but Eli shoots up, vaulting Frank over in a back body drop. Frank pops up only to be caught with an exploder! Eli pulls Frank up by his buzzcut, and begins punching him in the forehead over and over until Jefferson reaches back to thumb him in the eye which causes Eli to back off. Jefferson gets up and charges in once more but Eli catches him..BELLY TO BELLY OVERHEAD INTO THE SIDE OF THE CAGE!!
Chet Morley: AMERICAN HERO NO!!!!
Will Ashford: You heckin' Fangirl.
Chet Morley: OH fuck y---....heckin'?
Jefferson yells out in pain and slides down between the cage and the ropes. Eli takes immediate advantage and begins to stomp on Jefferson’s head before shoving it into the cage face first with his boot, Grinding the wound opened up by his punches until it opens wider, soon covering Jefferson in a crimson mask! Eli reaches down, grabbing at the wound and wiping the blood across his chest to the cheers of a bloodthirsty Roman audience.
Chet Morley: What a sicko.
Will Ashford: What's more, he needs to focus and stay on Frank.
Chet Morley: For once, you're right. Like him or not, Jefferson can go and go hard.
Charlotte goes to one side of the cage and waves Eli over, who goes and takes a few items from her. It’s a lighter, lighter fluid and paper! He’s looking to make a fireball! Eli sets to work as Jefferson gets free. Just as Eli turns back to Jefferson, he charges in with a running big boot that levels Eli! Jefferson looks possessed and covered in blood! Charlotte begins yelling for Eli to get up but Jefferson is having none of it, pulling him up by the mask.
Chet Morley: fuckin told ya!
He gets Jefferson up on his shoulders and…Capitol Hill Conquest!!! Jefferson gets up slowly, half stumbling to the cage door and motioning for it to open., Ref Jackson does on the outside, but Jefferson stops. He slowly turns to Eli and strides over. Cargill tries to stop him, but Jefferson shoves her out of the way to a chorus of boos! He grabs the lighter fluid and begins dousing El’s mask in it! Charlotte begins getting into the ring with Ref Jackson but its too late as Jefferson drops the light zippo onto Eli’s mask!!
Chet Morley & Will Ashford: HOLY SHIT!
Jefferson walks out confidently, with a devilish smirk on his face as he steps out onto the apron and hops to the floor. Medical staff and refs quickly put Eli out before he can become too hurt, but the match is over!!
Winner: Frank Jefferson
Chet Morley: Jesus fuckin Christ....I WAS RIGHT! GO FRANK!
Will Ashford: That got out of hand quickly...you gotta wonder. Is this over? Or will Eli seek vengeance?
Chet Morley: He's 0-3 vs Frank. I'd call it a wash and go pick on someone else to feel better.
At the top of the ramp, Frank Jefferson stops to look over his shoulder. He then flips Eli the bird before ducking behind the curtain. The refs are helping Eli out of the ring, when suddenly SHAY appears from behind the curtain. She runs down the ramp and practically leaps over the referees who try to stop her as she tackles Eli! She begins laying in rights and lefts on his face before Security are able to pull her off. She breaks free though and nails him with one final superkick before relenting and being dragged away by securtiy as Charlotte screams at her.
Chet Morley: haha Tiger man go boom
Will Ashford: What a show we’ve had so far, and this is only NIGHT ONE of Absolution!
Chet Morley: Wait, there’s more? I don’t know if I could handle any more action!
Will Ashford: Well Chet, I hope you’ve still got something left in the tank, because coming up next is our MAIN EVENT of the evening!
Chet Morley: Hoo’ boy, this ain’t gonna be pretty.
Will Ashford: Cypher and Lissie Hope finally go one on one after months of back and forth warfare, both physical and virtual!
Chet Morley: They’re gonna tear apart each other in this Emperor’s Rules Match, say Billy, what the heck ARE the Emperor’s Rules?!
Will Ashford: I was just getting to that - this match will be held off-site in an abandoned warehouse, where an Emperor will officiate the match - no referee!
Chet Morley: Sounds gnarly, but how does someone, you know, win?
Will Ashford: Basically by brutalising their opponent until the Emperor gives them the thumbs down - thumbs up means you just carry on!
Chet Morley: Jeez, this could get nasty, especially since this is an intensely personal feud over a girl!! There’s still some question whether or not she will even be in attendance!
E A R L I E R
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AIRLINE | IDENTIFICATION | STATUS | DEP 🠮 ARR | MANIFEST |
QATAR AIRLINES | QTR901 | ENROUTE / ONTIME | Wed 10:50PM AWST PER 🠮 DOH DOH 🠮 FCO 12:50PM Thu | . . . KELLEY, A. KIRK, B. KWON, Y. LANGDON, R. LEBBY, J. . . . |
Will Ashford: We don’t believe Emma Langdon is in the building, so who will the Emperor be? Let’s throw over to the scene of the potential crime, and get things started!
The camera cuts to a dimly-lit warehouse, where Cypher and Lissie Hope are positioned on either side of the warehouse, currently restricted by chain-link gauntlets. The “audience” is comprised of a dozen ghost-like ancient Roman statues, but just the torsos and heads sitting on pedestals, their extremities dismembered - but several of them wear ancient Roman gladiator armor, helmets and masks. It’s a scene reminiscent of a church, but with a twist - the gladiator’s cathedral.
Overseeing them, from a platform, is a large crate. The two wrestlers wait impatiently, unable to charge one another because they’re being held by staff members from behind.
Lissie Hope: Let me go, goddammit. I’m gonna lose it if I gotta wait any fucking longer.
Cypher: Always so impatient.
Lissie Hope: Shut your fucking mouth.
A crane, driven by one of the APWO staffers, comes into shot. It swings around, then connects the hook to a groove in the top of the crate.
The crate is slowly lifted up, revealing…
ROB LANGDON!!
Chet Morley: Who the HECK is that?
Will Ashford: That’s Emma’s father! Rob Langdon is a former wrestler, former World Champion, and he’s been staying relatively quiet throughout all of this, until now!
Chet Morley: Guy looks like an absolute clown!
Will Ashford: He used to wrestle under the alias Shadow Demon, and I think that’s the side of him we’re getting tonight!
Rob is clad in a lavish purple gown with white fur lining the inside, he’s donned full clown makeup and even has a jeweled crown barely hiding his green hair.
Cypher: Nice to see you again, Rob. It’s been a while.
Lissie Hope, nearing tears and paralyzed, feels her body go limp as she watches the reunion between Emma’s father, Rob, and Cypher. Soon thereafter, her face contorts to a scowl and once again, she is fighting against the guards, but they’re keeping her firmly in place.
Rob Langdon: Tyler - here’s to this being the last time I ever lay my eyes on you again. I do not envy your position - but you did this to yourself.
Rob gives a signal to the guards, who start unshackling Lissie and Cypher.
Rob Langdon: And you, Lissie - I put my faith and my trust in you once. I asked you to care for my daughter.
Lissie Hope: I know.
Rob Langdon: You broke that trust.
Lissie Hope: I know… and I’m sorry.
Lissie winces with the sound of the shackles slamming onto the concrete.
Rob Langdon: Make up for it.
Lissie Hope: How?
A maniacal smirk crosses the face of Rob Langdon as he looks down at Cypher from his perch.
Rob Langdon: Make him pay.
Lissie nods her head in understanding, as the sound of a mallet against a gong signifies the start of the war!
Rob Langdon: Let the contest begin!
Still stunned by the Emperor’s reveal, Cypher is caught off guard as Lissie tackles him to the ground and starts laying into him! The rights and lefts are flying as it’s clear she’s waited a long time to finally start getting some retribution. Cypher manages to wriggle his legs up and kick Lissie off of him, finally freeing himself. He gets to his feet but Lissie is back on the attack, drilling him with a knee to the gut. She grabs him and tosses him shoulder-first into a pile of steel barrels, knocking them to the ground. Cypher rolls around in pain, clutching his shoulder, as Lissie plots out her next move. Lissie pulls him up and hooks his arm, looking for SUPLEX ONTO THE BARRELS! NO! Cypher escapes, sliding behind her and kicking her forward. She whips around and charges at him, but Cypher grabs her by the leg - FLAPJACK ONTO THE BARRELS!
Cypher takes a moment to recover as Lissie tries to get the air back into her lungs after a gut-first landing on the barrels. The Superior Design rudely pushes a guard off of his chair and snatches it up, turning back to Lissie. He raises it in the air, then brings it down … nobody home! The sound of steel on steel echoes through the warehouse as the chair connects with the barrel, Lissie having moved away at the last second! He swings a second time, but Lissie ducks it and connects with a step-up enziguri! The blow rattles Cypher but doesn’t knock him off of his feet. Lissie charges again but is halted by a flying chair! She catches the chair, thrown by Cypher, but he immediately follows up with BOOM, HEADSHOT! The superkick smashes the chair into Lissie’s face and knocks her to the ground!
Cypher snatches the chair and smashes it over Lissie’s back, over and over! The Blackheart is defenceless, and the Superior Design is making her pay. Cypher rolls her over and drives the top of the chair into her throat like a guillotine! Lissie is struggling to breathe as the blows keep coming, crushing her windpipe.. Cypher digs the chair into her throat, putting as much pressure as he can to try and choke out his opponent as Rob Langdon watches on from above. Cypher sneers at him, taking his eyes off the prize for a moment.
Cypher: I’ll go until she can’t fucking breathe, clown!
Rob shrugs, seemingly unphased by Cypher’s threat. Frustrated, Cypher lets up, leaving Lissie to cough her lungs up. Sneering at her with disgust, Cypher opens the chair, then places it around Lissie’s head. Connecting with a few right hands for good measure, Cypher bounces the chair off of the ground, further damaging Lissie’s throat. He stands the chair up, leaving Lissie fully exposed, then backs up. He measures Lissie, then makes eye contact with Rob. Rob is now beginning to look slightly concerned, but not ready to concede anything yet. Cypher charges forward…DOWNLOAD COMPLETE!! Cypher connects a brutal Kinshasa to Lissie while she’s trapped in the chair!
Cypher stands over Lissie, who is struggling to catch her breath - on the verge of hyperventilating. He looks up to Rob, then back to Lissie, before pulling her up by the chair, which is still over her head. Cypher presents the Blackheart to Rob, who raises his fist into the air and delivers…
A thumbs up.
Cypher: Fine, I’ll finish her, I did say I would end her career.
He lifts Lissie into a fireman’s carry, poised to deliver GAME OVER!!
NO!
As Cypher sends Lissie up for the GTS, she counters into a DDT on the way down! The move drills Cypher’s head into the cold hard ground with such force that even Rob winces. Lissie finally frees herself from the chair, looking to get her second wind. Cypher hasn’t moved since being spiked into the concrete, and The Blackheart slowly but surely makes it to her feet.She looks down at the man before him, the one who ripped away her loving relationship and then laughed afterwards. Lissie wipes a tear from her eye, then looks over at one of the guards, who is clutching the shackles that they were bound in before the match began.
Lissie Hope: You’re going to pay for EVERYTHING you’ve done.
She rips the shackles out of the guard’s hands, then places them over Cypher’s arms. She then drags Cypher along the floor, pulling him by the chain attached to the shackles. As he’s pulled along by Lissie, Cypher slowly begins to regain consciousness. He looks down to see his feet sliding along the floor, then looks up to see his arms trapped by the gauntlets. Now realising the situation he’s in, he starts kicking out, trying somehow to free himself but there’s no escape. Reaching her destination, Lissie grabs the hook from the crane which was used to lift the crate up earlier, and wraps the chain over it!
Rob Langdon: I like the way you’re thinkin’, oi you, give her a hand will ya?
Helping out, Rob motions for one of the guards to get in the crane. The guy obeys, hopping in the crane and beginning to raise its arm! Cypher, wild-eyed, is lifted into the air by his arms, unable to defend himself! He shouts expletives as he’s lifted off of his feet and is now dangling from the hook, his arms above his head. Lissie’s face cracks into a smile, the Blackheart no doubt beginning to think of all the horrific things she’s about to inflict on the Superior Design.
Cypher: Wait, wait, wait, please don’t, I’m sorry!
Lissie Hope: It's too late for that, Tyler.
Lissie avoids the defensive attack as Cypher kicks his feet at her, still hanging from the crane. She reaches below, and arms herself with a sledgehammer! With her hand gripping the head, her knuckles turning white, she lifts the weapon into the air, and…
WHACK!
WHACK!
WHACK!
WHACK!
WHACK!
Cypher’s body is mangled, his hair matted with blood as it drips from the tip of his nose. He’s nodding off into unconsciousness as Lissie stands before him, a spray pattern of his blood staining her flesh and clothing. She drops the sledgehammer that she bludgeoned him with to the floor, the cracking sounding echoing through the warehouse - the gladiator’s cathedral. The silence in the atmosphere is deafening as Lissie, breathing heavily, the tears running out of the corners of her eyes, looks from one set of eyes to each of the onlookers. One by one until her eyes are magnetized towards those of Rob Langdon.
Lissie Hope: Cut him loose.
A catatonic Lissie says, and the crane operator starts lowering Cypher down until he falls into a heap onto the cement. Lissie’s eyes continue to stare a hole through Rob.
Lissie Hope: Is this what you wanted to see?
Her words drip with anger, with hurt, with resentment. Rob slowly extends his hand, his fist rolled into a ball. For what seemed like an eternity, he extends his thumb… and points it up!
Will Ashford: My God! Hasn’t Cypher had enough??
Chet Morley: It doesn’t seem like Rob Langdon is satisfied yet! He wants this war to continue!
Will Ashford: Lissie Hope has sacrificed her honor and abandoned her integrity tonight! As someone who’s so prideful about what she can do in the ring… this had NOTHING to do with wrestling!
Chet Morley: This has been an absolute war! This transcends championships, and frankly, I’m so glad nobody was there to witness it in person!
Will Ashford: Nobody except Rob Langdon! He’s seeing his daughter’s tormenter being brutalized tonight!
Lissie is absolutely exhausted - mentally, emotionally, and physically - as her eyes plead with Mr. Langdon to end the fight. She stares at him before grabbing a fistful of Cypher’s bloody hair, holding his maimed head up in the air. Rob Langdon once again repeats his thumbs up motion.
Cypher spits blood in Lissie’s direction.
Cypher: I’m not - *cough* - done yet - *spit* - you stupid, fucking BITCH!
Lissie recoils as Cypher spits a mouthful of blood into her eyes! Freeing himself from the gauntlets, Cypher grabs the chain connected to them and whips it across Lissie’s back. A stinging pain rips through Lissie’ spine, and a scream catches in her throat. Cypher is seething now, a wild look in his eyes. He swings the chain in the air, the air whistling through the links as he prepares to bring it down on his nemesis once again.
Cypher: You think you’re the hero here?!
WHACK!
Cypher: Do you know what you’ve taken from me?
WHACK!
Cypher: How much that eats at me?
WHACK!
Cypher: WHY HER LISSIE?
Tears well in Cypher’s eyes as he holds the chain above his head…but he doesn’t bring it down. Instead he falls to his knees, the battle beginning to take its toll on not just his body but his mind as well. He sobs, seeming to stare right through Lissie as she lays stomach-first on the ground. The impact of the chain has left crimson marks across her back, the wounds beginning to bleed.
Cypher: Why did it have to be her…
The question hangs in the air. Cypher bows his head, clutching the chain in his fists, knuckles bloodied and white. Tears fall, the droplets of salty water landing just inches from Lissie’s face. For the first time he stands before Rob and Lissie not as Cypher, but as Tyler Norrie. The young man who fell in love with Emma Langdon, and truly valued her. The man who learned how to wrestle from her father, who overcame the disappointment of a failed career in e-sports to try and still make something of himself. The one who became consumed with jealousy after the relationship failed, leading him down a dark path of deception and deceit.
The path which has led him here, to this moment. Standing before his mentor, charged with betraying him and his daughter. Violating their trust in the most despicable ways possible. Was there hope for him? Could he change his ways? For what had he accomplished through this crusade except for consigning himself and those around him to misery?
Rob Langdon: Tyler?
Cypher: Rob…I’m sorry.
Rob Langdon: I’m sorry, too.
Cypher: You are?
Rob Langdon: I’m sorry because it’s too late to plead forgiveness…
Cypher’s fatigued eyes widen in anguish.
Rob Langdon: Far too late.
WHACK!
Lissie SLAMS a ceramic statue over Cypher’s head, shattering it into a million shards and pieces! Cypher’s knees buckle but somehow, he maintains his footing. He slowly turns to look at Lissie, the blood now pouring down the sides of his face. Lissie’s determined look no longer show any signs of hesitation or empathy as she grabs Cypher by the head and tosses him into the row of statues, knocking several of them off their perch. With a series of right hands, Cypher braces himself on one of the pedestals, inching his body so he’s sitting on one, emotionless and catatonic and resigned to the punishment he’s receiving.
Rob Langdon: Lissie -
Rob’s voice is muted, just above a whisper. Lissie reaches down and grabs something off the ground - a decorative ornament that adorned one of the statues’ heads. It’s a crown made of a vine of twisted spikes.
Rob Langdon: He’s yours.
She holds the crown in her hands, before wedging it on Cypher’s head.
Rob Langdon: Finish the job.
Lissie looks over at Rob and, with tears streaming down her face, she nods her head in acquiescence. She grabs one of the gladiator’s shields in her hands, before raising it up in the air.
Lissie Hope still has the shield high up in the air.
Rob Langdon: Ḑ̴̡̦̦̝̣̯͙̠̫̈́̉̀͑̐͗̎̈́̀̓Ó̴̤̤̤̟͉̩̲̠̏͂͜ ̵̧̮͚̹̬̪͓͑ͅÌ̵̡̤̠̲͇̲̼́̀̀̀̓͒́̿̈́̌T̷̛͕̣̾͑͋̓̑̄͗̃́̔̀̕ͅ,̸̢̤̪̻̙̀ ̸̢̢̡̱̱̗̱̰̦͕̠̦̪̈̒͆̃͝͠͝Ḽ̸͗I̴̡̧͉͈̘͇̙̓̓̈́Ś̴̻̭̭̼̪̝̞̥́̚͠ͅṢ̷̢̧͈̳̥̯͉͎̫͐̅͑͆̇̂͒̈́Ȋ̷̫͕͇̝͉͖̱̖̗͕͈͈̒́̇̄͒̎̉̚͜͝E̷̡̢̼͍̺͍͈̯͕̹̳͛͗̑.̴̧͇̬̮̥̼̊͋̅͋̍̔͒̋̿̎͗̚̕
In Cypher’s eyes, while raising the shield over her head, she saw the face of Emma Langdon.
Dropping the shield to the ground below, Lissie fell to her knees, sitting at the base of the pedestal in front of Cypher. As he swayed back and forth with the crown of spikes on his temple, he faded in and out of consciousness until finally, he collapsed, falling off of his perch. Lissie, still kneeling down and in a mess of emotions, looks up at Rob Langdon.
Rob, his own facepaint morphing with a mix of sweat and tears, extends his balled up fist.
And he extends his thumb, before point it downwards!
The sound of the gong being struck with the mallet erupts through the abandoned warehouse.
Chet Morley: That’s it! Lissie Hope has done it!
Will Ashford: What an intense battle that was! Again, these two have been at each other’s throats for months, and it finally culminated in this instant classic! I don’t even think Lissie has realized that she’s won the match!
Chet Morley: I don’t think she even cares, Will! This was not about winning a match - this is about winning a war! This is about winning a heart!
Will Ashford: I don’t think we can even begin to process the magnitude of this match, Chet! What these gladiators are thinking, what these warriors are feeling - what a goddamn cap to night one of Absolution!
Chet Morley: This one delivered! And tomorrow night, we crown the first ever APWO World Champion!
Will Ashford: I’m Will, and this is Chet - goodnight, folks!
The feed pitches to black with a final shot of medics rushing in to cater to the wounds suffered by Lissie Hope and Cypher.
Lissie Hope remembers the first night she laid eyes on Emma Langdon.
She descended the escalator slowly as she exited the Sacramento airport terminal. Lissie stood at the bottom, watching her glide towards her. The rest of the passengers seemed to continue moving, almost at a warped pace, while she seemed to emerge from a portal with a halo glowing around her body. Her porcelain skin and bleached hair blended with the pale neckline of her blouse, her white, fitted trousers morphed with the arches and bends of her figure. She appeared ghost-like - the most beautiful ghost Lissie had ever laid eyes on.
WHACK!
“Don’t burn yourself!” Lissie declared, quickly dabbing Emma’s lip with a napkin as she recoiled from the burn of the coffee. They sat opposite each other the morning after spending hours into the night lying in bed talking about everything - their past; their future; the things they’re proud of; their biggest fears. Lissie let her hand hover close to Emma’s face, and with her tender fingers, squeezed Lissie’s warm fingers until their flesh melted. “I’m so happy I’ve met you,” Emma said, without even thinking. Lissie leaned over the table and kissed her, tasting the coffee lingering on her lips.
WHACK!
“I don’t want him to win,” a tearful Lissie said, her thoughts veering towards the night before, when Cypher uploaded a picture of Emma’s naked body to the internet for all of the world to see. She had trusted him - once - and she layed there skiddish and vulnerable for him. And in a vile act of spite and retribution, he sought to embarrass her.
“This isn’t a game,” Emma said, attempting to be strong so she could comfort Lissie, even if she, herself, was the one who was violated. “This isn’t your fight to win. There’s nothing FOR you to win.”
“I’m going to hurt him, Emma,” Lissie said, her eyes intensifying with hatred and determination. “I’m going to maim him.” A pause. “I’m going to kill him.”
WHACK!
Lissie’s face is glowing as she’s standing under the LED lights. The chatter of nearby patrons and the sound of their feet skidding across and slapping the laminate flooring with every purposeful step is a stark contrast to Lissie standing in silence, her eyes glued to the bright crystal on display. “I like that one,” Lissie said, the smile spreading the length of her face, the tears forming on the corner of her eyes. “And who is it for?” the clerk asked, reaching into the case. “The love of my life,” Lissie answered, watching as the clerk held it in the palm of her hand.
WHACK!
. . . You had to go. I don’t blame you - I run away from my problems, too. There are things I can’t deal with, and there are times when I’ve tried to take the easy way out. And I’m not saying this was easy for you - this isn’t easy for me, either. I can’t just let you go, Emma. Not without you hearing what I have to say. Not without you knowing what I’m willing to do. I’m going to fight for you, everyday, every way, until you tell me to stop. Until you make me move on. Because right now, I can’t - not if there’s even a little bit of a chance that you’ll reconsider. And if you won’t, then I can’t move on without answers.
If I can even move on at all.
Please, just call me back. Do me this courtesy. If you ever loved me, you would. It’s not fair that you made me love you. That you let me absorb you. I’m intoxicated by you. If I keep breathing you, Emma - you’re going to poison me - you’re going to kill me. . . .
END MESSAGE
WHACK!
Cypher’s body is mangled, his hair matted with blood as it drips from the tip of his nose. He’s nodding off into unconsciousness as Lissie stands before him, a spray pattern of his blood staining her flesh and clothing. She drops the sledgehammer that she bludgeoned him with to the floor, the cracking sounding echoing through the warehouse - the gladiator’s cathedral. The silence in the atmosphere is deafening as Lissie, breathing heavily, the tears running out of the corners of her eyes, looks from one set of eyes to each of the onlookers. One by one until her eyes are magnetized towards those of Rob Langdon.
Lissie Hope: Cut him loose.
A catatonic Lissie says, and the crane operator starts lowering Cypher down until he falls into a heap onto the cement. Lissie’s eyes continue to stare a hole through Rob.
Lissie Hope: Is this what you wanted to see?
Her words drip with anger, with hurt, with resentment. Rob slowly extends his hand, his fist rolled into a ball. For what seemed like an eternity, he extends his thumb… and points it up!
Will Ashford: My God! Hasn’t Cypher had enough??
Chet Morley: It doesn’t seem like Rob Langdon is satisfied yet! He wants this war to continue!
Will Ashford: Lissie Hope has sacrificed her honor and abandoned her integrity tonight! As someone who’s so prideful about what she can do in the ring… this had NOTHING to do with wrestling!
Chet Morley: This has been an absolute war! This transcends championships, and frankly, I’m so glad nobody was there to witness it in person!
Will Ashford: Nobody except Rob Langdon! He’s seeing his daughter’s tormenter being brutalized tonight!
Lissie is absolutely exhausted - mentally, emotionally, and physically - as her eyes plead with Mr. Langdon to end the fight. She stares at him before grabbing a fistful of Cypher’s bloody hair, holding his maimed head up in the air. Rob Langdon once again repeats his thumbs up motion.
Cypher spits blood in Lissie’s direction.
Cypher: I’m not - *cough* - done yet - *spit* - you stupid, fucking BITCH!
Lissie recoils as Cypher spits a mouthful of blood into her eyes! Freeing himself from the gauntlets, Cypher grabs the chain connected to them and whips it across Lissie’s back. A stinging pain rips through Lissie’ spine, and a scream catches in her throat. Cypher is seething now, a wild look in his eyes. He swings the chain in the air, the air whistling through the links as he prepares to bring it down on his nemesis once again.
Cypher: You think you’re the hero here?!
WHACK!
Cypher: Do you know what you’ve taken from me?
WHACK!
Cypher: How much that eats at me?
WHACK!
Cypher: WHY HER LISSIE?
Tears well in Cypher’s eyes as he holds the chain above his head…but he doesn’t bring it down. Instead he falls to his knees, the battle beginning to take its toll on not just his body but his mind as well. He sobs, seeming to stare right through Lissie as she lays stomach-first on the ground. The impact of the chain has left crimson marks across her back, the wounds beginning to bleed.
Cypher: Why did it have to be her…
The question hangs in the air. Cypher bows his head, clutching the chain in his fists, knuckles bloodied and white. Tears fall, the droplets of salty water landing just inches from Lissie’s face. For the first time he stands before Rob and Lissie not as Cypher, but as Tyler Norrie. The young man who fell in love with Emma Langdon, and truly valued her. The man who learned how to wrestle from her father, who overcame the disappointment of a failed career in e-sports to try and still make something of himself. The one who became consumed with jealousy after the relationship failed, leading him down a dark path of deception and deceit.
The path which has led him here, to this moment. Standing before his mentor, charged with betraying him and his daughter. Violating their trust in the most despicable ways possible. Was there hope for him? Could he change his ways? For what had he accomplished through this crusade except for consigning himself and those around him to misery?
Rob Langdon: Tyler?
Cypher: Rob…I’m sorry.
Rob Langdon: I’m sorry, too.
Cypher: You are?
Rob Langdon: I’m sorry because it’s too late to plead forgiveness…
Cypher’s fatigued eyes widen in anguish.
Rob Langdon: Far too late.
WHACK!
Lissie SLAMS a ceramic statue over Cypher’s head, shattering it into a million shards and pieces! Cypher’s knees buckle but somehow, he maintains his footing. He slowly turns to look at Lissie, the blood now pouring down the sides of his face. Lissie’s determined look no longer show any signs of hesitation or empathy as she grabs Cypher by the head and tosses him into the row of statues, knocking several of them off their perch. With a series of right hands, Cypher braces himself on one of the pedestals, inching his body so he’s sitting on one, emotionless and catatonic and resigned to the punishment he’s receiving.
Rob Langdon: Lissie -
Rob’s voice is muted, just above a whisper. Lissie reaches down and grabs something off the ground - a decorative ornament that adorned one of the statues’ heads. It’s a crown made of a vine of twisted spikes.
Rob Langdon: He’s yours.
She holds the crown in her hands, before wedging it on Cypher’s head.
Rob Langdon: Finish the job.
Lissie looks over at Rob and, with tears streaming down her face, she nods her head in acquiescence. She grabs one of the gladiator’s shields in her hands, before raising it up in the air.
Lissie remembers bits and pieces of her Initiation.
Her mind altered by the foreign contents of the punch she was coerced into drinking - loosening all of her inhibitions and morality - she remembers how heavy her feet felt as she limps towards the altar. She remembers parting the sea of onlookers, the Tragedian masks concealing their identities. She remembers being lead to the captive, his broken and mangled face leaving him unrecognizable and anonymous. She remembers the Dark Man, Mr. Saltair, slithering behind her, his fingernails digging into her shoulder, as if he was injecting her with his venom.
Lissie Hope still has the shield high up in the air.
She remembers their calls of encouragement. The promise of a better future - to be loved and supported in ways she had no conceivable idea of since the loss of her brother. She remembers placing all of her trust in them, and how vulnerable and impressionable she was. She remembered coming face to face with Mr. Saltair, and staring deep into the caverns of his eyes. It was then when everything changed.
Rob Langdon: Ḑ̴̡̦̦̝̣̯͙̠̫̈́̉̀͑̐͗̎̈́̀̓Ó̴̤̤̤̟͉̩̲̠̏͂͜ ̵̧̮͚̹̬̪͓͑ͅÌ̵̡̤̠̲͇̲̼́̀̀̀̓͒́̿̈́̌T̷̛͕̣̾͑͋̓̑̄͗̃́̔̀̕ͅ,̸̢̤̪̻̙̀ ̸̢̢̡̱̱̗̱̰̦͕̠̦̪̈̒͆̃͝͠͝Ḽ̸͗I̴̡̧͉͈̘͇̙̓̓̈́Ś̴̻̭̭̼̪̝̞̥́̚͠ͅṢ̷̢̧͈̳̥̯͉͎̫͐̅͑͆̇̂͒̈́Ȋ̷̫͕͇̝͉͖̱̖̗͕͈͈̒́̇̄͒̎̉̚͜͝E̷̡̢̼͍̺͍͈̯͕̹̳͛͗̑.̴̧͇̬̮̥̼̊͋̅͋̍̔͒̋̿̎͗̚̕
Finally, after spending a year burying the memory in the back of her mind, she remembers placing the crown of spikes on the captive’s head. She remembers seeing the faces of Howard Black, Mae Ashby, and Robbie Hope in has after every time she struck down on the crown of his head, driving the spikes deeper and deeper into his skull. She remembers turning into the monster she had never wanted to embrace.
In Cypher’s eyes, while raising the shield over her head, she saw the face of Emma Langdon.
Dropping the shield to the ground below, Lissie fell to her knees, sitting at the base of the pedestal in front of Cypher. As he swayed back and forth with the crown of spikes on his temple, he faded in and out of consciousness until finally, he collapsed, falling off of his perch. Lissie, still kneeling down and in a mess of emotions, looks up at Rob Langdon.
Rob, his own facepaint morphing with a mix of sweat and tears, extends his balled up fist.
And he extends his thumb, before point it downwards!
The sound of the gong being struck with the mallet erupts through the abandoned warehouse.
Chet Morley: That’s it! Lissie Hope has done it!
Will Ashford: What an intense battle that was! Again, these two have been at each other’s throats for months, and it finally culminated in this instant classic! I don’t even think Lissie has realized that she’s won the match!
Chet Morley: I don’t think she even cares, Will! This was not about winning a match - this is about winning a war! This is about winning a heart!
Will Ashford: I don’t think we can even begin to process the magnitude of this match, Chet! What these gladiators are thinking, what these warriors are feeling - what a goddamn cap to night one of Absolution!
Chet Morley: This one delivered! And tomorrow night, we crown the first ever APWO World Champion!
Will Ashford: I’m Will, and this is Chet - goodnight, folks!
The feed pitches to black with a final shot of medics rushing in to cater to the wounds suffered by Lissie Hope and Cypher.
The bell barely gets a chance to sound off before several of the superstars bolt out of the ring in search of a ladder in order to get things rolling on obtaining the contract that hangs high above the ring. Left in the ring are young upstart Yui Watanabe and Helena Handbasket. The two eye one another a moment before Helena gives a signal and the two deliver stereo basement dropkicks to the larger Legion and Jessie Roberts who each were trying to bring a ladder into the mix. Giving her a thumbs up after reaching a vertical base, Helena watches as Azurine Vebbins blindsides Watanabe with a release German Suplex, facing off with the Da Hardheaded Housewife for a split second before both are taken down to the canvas by a painful meeting with a well-tossed ladder courtesy of Molly Hatchet who then goes snap happy with it to the others as they try to take her down. The crowd erupts at the wild, yet calculated display before encouraging the Devil Scot to go for the big prize floating above.
Chet Morley: This match kicked off in chaos and I kind of love it.
Will Ashford: It’s certainly promising to be exciting! It looks like Handbasket and Hatchett will be the women to beat n this contest.
Chet Morley: They’ve been at each other’s throats for two weeks. Smart money says let em fight it out.
The Devil Scot seizes the moment, setting the ladder up and halfway up it in a flash. Just then Molly gets flattened by the much larger though less angry Legion, who barrels into Molly and the ladder. Molly goes crunch beneath the steal and Legion has control of the ladder now. Legion’s hitting anyone in striking distance with the fucking thing, Azurine goes back off of her feet, Kenzie tumbles to the outside after being struck in the midsection. Jesse is the one who puts the breaks on Legion’s reign of ladder madness. The Hawkeye Warrior grabs the ladder when it’s swung at her and with sheer force, shoves Legion down, grinding the top of the ladder into her. Meanwhile, Hatchett and Handbasketing are brawling on the outside, and it looks like the two of them are trying to take each other apart using the steel steps and ring barricades.
Chet Morley: Somebody better start doing some lasting damage or no one is gonna win.
Legion eats several ladder shots from Jessie, before rolling out of the way, allowing for Jessie to set up the ladder again. This is stopped by Helena, who is free of her previous Molly parrels and has gotten her own damn ladder! This Handbasket uses a ring rope propelled missile as she yeets it at Jessie and the other ladder. Ladders and people everywhere! Helena hops into the ring, kicks Jessie and aside and sets up her own ladder. Helena scouts Azurine coming through and catches her a couple of fists to the face, wrestling her up for an xploder suplex that sends the Hardheaded Housewife to the other of the ring. Molly then returns to the action with a perfectly timed Hatchett Bomb that Catches Helena right on the jaw! Helena limp bricks it, and Molly clambers up the ladder, with Legion scrambling uup the other side! The pair exchange
Will Ashford: It’s hard to follow this lightning-quick action here today, but these women are definitely giving it their all.
Chet Morley: The question with most of em is all of what though. Most of them are nuts.
Yui and Jessie are exchanging blows on the apron until Yui ducks a big forearm and grapples Jessie into a position where she uses the rope to help her launch Jessie off the apron! Legion and Molly are fighting ontop of the ladder! Molly has her hands on the briefcase with Legion wrapped around her midsection trying with all her demon might to pull the ginger down! Until the ladder rocks! Once, twice! Azurine and Kenzie have knocked over the ladder! Again! Molly and Legon topple to the outside where they roll around in pain.
Will Ashford: You’ve called them all crazy and I’d like to tell you that I will be hiding under the table and hoping any of them don’t land on it!
Chet Morley: Eh, the only thing these girls want is that ladder match contract and probably to hurt each other.
Azurine grins at Kenzie and helps her right the ladder, Azurine outstretches her hand as if to be polite enough to let Kenz goes first. Kenz makes sure that’s what’s going to happen by bashing Azurine's face into the ladder! Azurine crumbles and Kenz doesn’t get up the ladder. Because Yui comes in with a vicious springboard DDT! They start fighting each other around the ring, with Yui getting Irish whipped into the ladder! The ladder tips into the ropes as Jessie works to right it, kicking Yui out of the way as the Hawkeye warrior sets it up. Molly’s got the other ladder and she rams it into Jesse’s back from the ring ropes! The blond bombshell yowls in pain and falls off the ladder. Hatchet uses the other ladder to push her aside. Molly angles the ladder on the ropes and the other ladder under the briefcase! Hatchett tests her creation and scampers up the bridge she’d made! The others are brawling around the ring, Azurine actually hits Kenzie with the Sweetheart Sockhop!
Will Ashford: That’s some kind of evil dangerous genius there on Hatchett’s part.
Chet Morley: If it looks stupid but it works, it’s not stupid.
Molly Hatchet used her bridge to get almost all the way up the ladder. She’s got her hands on the briefcase. When the camera pans out to reveal Helena Handbasket setting up a third ladder! They start trading blows with each other, when Handbasket through trying and failing by kicking it several times realizes she’d cant topple Molly’s ladder contraption! Molly leaps for the briefcase but Helena leaps for Molly! SCREW U KNEE STRIKE! Helena jumps between the ladders and nails Molly in the kisser with the Screw U! Hatchets head goes slamming back and Handbasket scrambles to catch the ladder! The whole rig sways but Helena immediately leaps for the briefcase! The wild modern art of ladders keels over, leaving Helena dangling on the chain!
Chet Morley: We always knew Handbasket was a Basketcase!
Helena undoes the chain without so much as a second’s hesitation, seeming not to care as she hit the pile of ladders clutching the briefcase to her. The match ends on the blond sprawled out waving the TV title contract above her head!
Will Ashford: That will do it for Night One of Absolution: The Price of Power! Be sure to tune in tomorrow night as we crown the champions these contenders will battle at Odyssey! Or whenever Helena chooses!
The show fades as Donny Mason, Shay, and Alix Mayne all come to the ring to celebrate with the ecstatic Helena.
Chet Morley: This match kicked off in chaos and I kind of love it.
Will Ashford: It’s certainly promising to be exciting! It looks like Handbasket and Hatchett will be the women to beat n this contest.
Chet Morley: They’ve been at each other’s throats for two weeks. Smart money says let em fight it out.
The Devil Scot seizes the moment, setting the ladder up and halfway up it in a flash. Just then Molly gets flattened by the much larger though less angry Legion, who barrels into Molly and the ladder. Molly goes crunch beneath the steal and Legion has control of the ladder now. Legion’s hitting anyone in striking distance with the fucking thing, Azurine goes back off of her feet, Kenzie tumbles to the outside after being struck in the midsection. Jesse is the one who puts the breaks on Legion’s reign of ladder madness. The Hawkeye Warrior grabs the ladder when it’s swung at her and with sheer force, shoves Legion down, grinding the top of the ladder into her. Meanwhile, Hatchett and Handbasketing are brawling on the outside, and it looks like the two of them are trying to take each other apart using the steel steps and ring barricades.
Chet Morley: Somebody better start doing some lasting damage or no one is gonna win.
Legion eats several ladder shots from Jessie, before rolling out of the way, allowing for Jessie to set up the ladder again. This is stopped by Helena, who is free of her previous Molly parrels and has gotten her own damn ladder! This Handbasket uses a ring rope propelled missile as she yeets it at Jessie and the other ladder. Ladders and people everywhere! Helena hops into the ring, kicks Jessie and aside and sets up her own ladder. Helena scouts Azurine coming through and catches her a couple of fists to the face, wrestling her up for an xploder suplex that sends the Hardheaded Housewife to the other of the ring. Molly then returns to the action with a perfectly timed Hatchett Bomb that Catches Helena right on the jaw! Helena limp bricks it, and Molly clambers up the ladder, with Legion scrambling uup the other side! The pair exchange
Will Ashford: It’s hard to follow this lightning-quick action here today, but these women are definitely giving it their all.
Chet Morley: The question with most of em is all of what though. Most of them are nuts.
Yui and Jessie are exchanging blows on the apron until Yui ducks a big forearm and grapples Jessie into a position where she uses the rope to help her launch Jessie off the apron! Legion and Molly are fighting ontop of the ladder! Molly has her hands on the briefcase with Legion wrapped around her midsection trying with all her demon might to pull the ginger down! Until the ladder rocks! Once, twice! Azurine and Kenzie have knocked over the ladder! Again! Molly and Legon topple to the outside where they roll around in pain.
Will Ashford: You’ve called them all crazy and I’d like to tell you that I will be hiding under the table and hoping any of them don’t land on it!
Chet Morley: Eh, the only thing these girls want is that ladder match contract and probably to hurt each other.
Azurine grins at Kenzie and helps her right the ladder, Azurine outstretches her hand as if to be polite enough to let Kenz goes first. Kenz makes sure that’s what’s going to happen by bashing Azurine's face into the ladder! Azurine crumbles and Kenz doesn’t get up the ladder. Because Yui comes in with a vicious springboard DDT! They start fighting each other around the ring, with Yui getting Irish whipped into the ladder! The ladder tips into the ropes as Jessie works to right it, kicking Yui out of the way as the Hawkeye warrior sets it up. Molly’s got the other ladder and she rams it into Jesse’s back from the ring ropes! The blond bombshell yowls in pain and falls off the ladder. Hatchet uses the other ladder to push her aside. Molly angles the ladder on the ropes and the other ladder under the briefcase! Hatchett tests her creation and scampers up the bridge she’d made! The others are brawling around the ring, Azurine actually hits Kenzie with the Sweetheart Sockhop!
Will Ashford: That’s some kind of evil dangerous genius there on Hatchett’s part.
Chet Morley: If it looks stupid but it works, it’s not stupid.
Molly Hatchet used her bridge to get almost all the way up the ladder. She’s got her hands on the briefcase. When the camera pans out to reveal Helena Handbasket setting up a third ladder! They start trading blows with each other, when Handbasket through trying and failing by kicking it several times realizes she’d cant topple Molly’s ladder contraption! Molly leaps for the briefcase but Helena leaps for Molly! SCREW U KNEE STRIKE! Helena jumps between the ladders and nails Molly in the kisser with the Screw U! Hatchets head goes slamming back and Handbasket scrambles to catch the ladder! The whole rig sways but Helena immediately leaps for the briefcase! The wild modern art of ladders keels over, leaving Helena dangling on the chain!
Chet Morley: We always knew Handbasket was a Basketcase!
Helena undoes the chain without so much as a second’s hesitation, seeming not to care as she hit the pile of ladders clutching the briefcase to her. The match ends on the blond sprawled out waving the TV title contract above her head!
Will Ashford: That will do it for Night One of Absolution: The Price of Power! Be sure to tune in tomorrow night as we crown the champions these contenders will battle at Odyssey! Or whenever Helena chooses!
The show fades as Donny Mason, Shay, and Alix Mayne all come to the ring to celebrate with the ecstatic Helena.