12/8/2016 - Mane Event

Grace Kazoulis sits with Mandeville Nelson, Chad Gomez and Bastian Krull at the broadcast table. The Sheracles rocks a thick black hoodie with the color splashed face of a male lion wearing sunglasses on it, a no-too-subtle hint at her affiliation with Lion´s Road.

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
Greetings Grace Kazoulis, recent challenger for the Heritage Championship belt and most recently winner of a grudge match against Brody Howitzer... any thoughts about that match?

GRACE KAZOULIS:
Yes, a few. All things considered I liked it. In Duluth the fans booed me when I did what I promised I would do – give Brody a taste of the Sheracles. I don´t blame the fans. The whole point is that they love or hate a wrestler. If they want to hate me I´m fine with it. Only if they are indifferent I haven´t done my job. Boos or not I´m still gonna do what I think is right. Now I´ve set my eyes on the Emperor Ian for some payback and then who knows? Maybe at a shot for another title match. It is true enough that I lost to Corey Cruelty but that is not going to discourage me.

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
Speaking of paybacks. You watched the Kenneth Starr show last week I presume. What do you think of it?

GRACE KAZOULIS:
I think it almost made me throw up. I´m not sure who was more pathetic Jan van der Roost or the Starr clan. Jan has my deepest respect that he walked out and said he wanted to right something he perceived as wrong. That´s just my kind of man. But apologize to the red-haired It-girl? The Superstarr already suffers from an overblown ego and after that show it surely got even worse. Righting wrongs is one thing but Jan really overdid it here. There was no need for that apology. A man like Jan van der Roost humbling himself before a bimbo and her husband…

Grace shakes her head in disgust.

GRACE KAZOULIS:
Now I suppose Jan´s idea of making up for what he perceived as his mistake has something to do with me as well. As Sarah said in a moment of accidental honesty I held her leg and she lost because of it. Yup. So what? She had that coming. Sarah has been cheating and getting away with it since she joined Lions Road or more likely since she left grade school. The only thing that was wrong about it is that now a good guy like Jan feels the need to humble himself before the Starr pack. I never imagined he would otherwise I might have reconsidered my action to spare him that humiliation. That´s about the only thing I regret about what I did to Sarah. If you ask me she got exactly what she deserved only not enough of it.

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
Now that sounds like some serious dislike…

GRACE KAZOULIS:
Excuse me, have you been here the last couple of months? What can you possible do except dislike Sarah and that dude that tags along with her?

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
I don't disagree with you there, but don't you anticipate some kind of payback? Does that bother you?

GRACE KAZOULIS:
Yeah, I´m already shaking in my boots. The only one who has trouble right now is Jan. Again I see where he is coming from and I theory I applaud it. I just think he swallowed too much pride last time in Duluth. Sarah being who she is played on his sense of honor and Jan being who he is had no real choice.

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
So what are you planning to do about this possibly escalating situation?

GRACE KAZOULIS:
I´ll do exactly what I would do if it hadn´t happened. Lift heavy, train hard and let things unfold.

Kazoulis gets up and makes her exit. 

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
And unfold it will! We'll be right back!

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COMMERCIAL BREAK

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The scene heads to the back. We see Julian Cutlass in the locker room asleep in a lounge chair with an open book in his lap. He wears a black hoodie with ブラクLION’S ROAD emblazoned across the front. The King of Lions and the Pride titles sit on a nearby bench.

From around the corner peeks the heads of Jeremy Squire and Jimmy Winner. They are in their wrestling attire.

JIMMY WINNER:
Damn, Germy! Look at those belts!

JEREMY SQUIRE:
You think that could be us one day?

Winner snickers.

JIMMY WINNER:
Oh, sure.

Jeremy Squire cautiously tiptoes so as not to disturb the Blazin’ King. He picks up the King of Lions title and wraps it around his waist.

JEREMY SQUIRE [whispering]:
Check me out, bro.

Throwing the Pride title over his shoulder, Jimmy Winner struts around confidently as Cutlass is sound asleep.

JIMMY WINNER [whispering]:
This feels so natural, brah!

:
Did I miss my invitation to the champions’ party?

They turn around to see Alexander Irvine, decked out in athletic gear. He has the Pride title draped across his shoulder. The two immature frat boys are slack-jawed. And scared. Very scared.

JEREMY SQUIRE:
Oh shit.

ALEXANDER IRVINE:
Don’t worry. It’s about to get a lot worse.

JEREMY SQUIRE:
Don't hurt u--

JIMMY WINNER:
Shut up!

ALEXANDER IRVINE:
Oh, you’re gonna wish you were so lucky in about two seconds…

Just as the words left his mouth, Francine comes marching into the locker room like she’s the combination of a hurricane and a third-world dictator. She pushes Jimmy and Jeremy out of her way, bowling them over in a fit of rage as she stands above Cutlass with her hands on her hips.

FRANCINE SHIELDS:
WAKE THE F*** UP JULIAN!

With that, the Blazin’ King stirs awake and stretches after his catnap with a big yawn.

JULIAN CUTLASS:
What’s up, Francine? And Alex…

He glances toward the Frat Boy Express who are still stuck frozen wearing his titles. His lips twist in confusion as his brows furrow.

JULIAN CUTLASS:
Is this a dream?

FRANCINE SHIELDS:
How dare you think you can go behind my back and schedule a title defense with Lion’s Road?

JULIAN CUTLASS:
Come on, Francine… I thought you’d be excited about it.

FRANCINE SHIELDS:
Excited…? EXCITED?! You think that being cut out of the loop makes me EXCITED?!

JULIAN CUTLASS:
But Hammerstein and Chrenshaw are in top-form right now. How can I pass up the opportunity to fight ‘em?

FRANCINE SHIELDS:
Look, when you get in that ring, you do whatever you like. But outside of it, when it comes to administrative matters, you had better consult with me first.

Francine storms out. Irvine wears a smirk.

ALEXANDER IRVINE:
Well-played, Jules.

He gets out of the chair onto his feet and stretches an arm across his chest. Irvine and he start walking out of the room.

JULIAN CUTLASS:
I’m excited for this match tonight. Say, you think that food truck is still outside in the parking lot? I’m starved…

Jimmy Winner and Jeremy Squire as still frozen with the championship belts around their waist. As the two men have gone, they glance toward another with awe. Suddenly, Cutlass pokes his head back in the locker room with a grin.

JULIAN CUTLASS:
When do you guys think I can get those belts back from you?

The scene cuts away.

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COMMERCIAL BREAK

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The scene opens in upon a vacant arena, the lights that illuminate the ring are the only ones on and they show us where grudges die, the steel cage. Inside stands The Unnatural, The Wolf, and next week The Tyrant of Terror Alexander Irvine. The camera zooms in from behind, the only thing separating the camera from the man is the cage fencing. ½ of the Pride Champions stands with his back to the camera. He wears only his wresting gear, as if already standing before Pulver next week.

“No exit left. No exit right. Encapsulated within a realm of steel where we will be sealed off from the protection of god and the devil.”

Turning around slowly, The Wolf’s piercing gaze impinges past the camera. Burrowing deep within the souls of those who dare to gaze into the projection of his image. His trademark smirk is gone and an icy cold demeanor fills it’s place, sending chills down the spines of the weak.

“Ever since our first encounter in the Pride Tournament the fates that govern above have sent us down this path Pulver. Since August 18th, the Tokyo Roar Tour, our fates have been intertwined to lead us down to this convergence, the steel cage. I saw something in you after you pinned me, making The Streak the first Pride of Lion’s Champions. Your untapped potential intrigued me, that latent ability to surpass the boy you are and to metamorphosis into the man, the champion, you could become.”

The smirk comes to his face, his eyes close as he lowers his head slightly. Fists clenched as his forearms raise and his biceps tighten.

“First I beat your team in our three-man tag. Paying of Adonis to attack you after the match where I imbed the seed of doubt. Your madness. But when you later tried to remove it. I robbed you of King of Lion’s gold in the scramble match, as if to scream at you that you weren’t ready. Burying it deeper where it lay. The Streak’s relationship then started to shake, and from that moment the seed grew and Black Lion’s Road liberated the Championship and I sacrificed The Tokyo Tiger…for you.

But I wasn’t done. You had to wrestle with your own demons so I became their manifestation. Transformed before you into all you hated. You lost self-control and twice baptized yourself in my blood. But the DQ victory was not my victory, that darkness inside you bubbling to the surface and the death of your baby-faced image was...”

Suddenly, The Wolf leaps forward towards the camera and grasps the chain fence in front of him, pressing his forehead against the cold steel as he stares into the camera before him. His grip on the cage is so tight that his arms start to shake and rattle the cage, his veins buldge with rage, pumping with the fury of all the warriors who rest in Valhalla.

“BUT NEXT WEEK IS THE FINAL TEST. IT WILL BE YOUR REBIRTH OR THIS STEEL CAGE WILL BE YOUR CASKET! I LIVE AND BREATHE FOR NOTHING BUT THE COMBAT IN WHICH THE GOD’S GIFT ME WITH IN THIS RING. HERE I WILL UNLEASH UPON YOU THE BERSERKER FURY THAT FEEDS MY MIGHT! YOU WILL HAVE NO WHERE TO RUN, NOW WHERE TO HIDE, NO SECURITY TO SEPARATE YOU FROM MY WRAITH! I WILL SHOW YOU YOUR RESTING PLACE IN THE REALM I CALL HOME, WHERE NIGHTMARES ARE THE BEST PART OF MY DAY AND YOUR FEARS ARE THE BED IN WHICH I REST MY HEAD! YOU HAVE WRESTLED YOUR DEMONS AND NOW YOU WILL WRESTLE MINE. THE CHARGE OF PAIN, THE SMELL OF COMBAT, I HAVE LIVED FOR YOUR FRUSTRATION BUT IN COMBAT IS WHERE WE’LL BE. IF YOU RUN I WILL CATCH YOU. IF YOU HIDE I WILL FIND YOU. BUT IF YOU MEET ME HERE IN THIS RING I WILL FIGHT YOU AND I AWAKEN YOU!”

Irvine releases the cage as he steps back, his arms still in the air. His breathe is slow, deep and methodical. His skin is still red and flush with his veins still pulsing. The camera starts to fade to black, leaving us with a few more moments of deep breathing.

---

---

It’s dark. The camera draws in closer upon chain-linked fence. Behind it are ropes and a canvas. It’s a wrestling ring. Lights go off, and they shine down on the ring and the cage walls around it. We’re in an empty arena. It’s covered in darkness and the only thing that is lit up is the ring. In it, stands Matt Pulver. Clad in his light blue wrestling attire, he stands stoically in the middle of the ring, slowly looking around at the steel that surrounds him. He begins to walk across the canvas and inspect the chain-linked walls.

“Alexander Irvine. Matt Pulver. Steel Cage match.”

He kicks at the bottom of the wall, lightly.

“No escape.”

With a pause he looks up towards the camera.

“I’ve never been in one of these before. But you know, it feels like I have.”

The Swede looks off into the distance and continues his slow walk across the canvas, before continuing.

“For the past three months, I’ve felt like I’ve been trapped in a cage with you, Irvine. No matter how hard I’ve tried, I can’t escape.

You’ve antagonized me, gotten inside my head, played mind games and even attacked me outside of the ring. So I tried to ignore you, thinking it would make you go away.”

He kicks the cage wall again, this time a little harder, before he speaks up again, this time with more anger in his voice.

“But there was no escape.”

There’s another short pause as he takes a few more steps, glancing at the awe-inspiring steel structure and collecting his thoughts.

“You continued and continued… You injured my tag team partner and mentor… You beat me within an inch of my life without breaking a sweat… Until I realized that the only way out, is to accept that there’s no escape and to face you head on! So that’s what I did! I fought you head on, even if it meant losing a part of myself. Because at least that’s better than the alternative.”

He starts to pace around inside the structure with more intent, and what could be described as certain restlessness. His voice takes on a tone that matches this.

“Every other big match that I have had in my career, I’ve gone into with the mindset that I can’t lose. I believed that if I focused so hard on winning that losing wasn’t an option I wouldn’t lose. That I would fight through everything because my only option was to win. This time though, it’s different. I’ve had enough matches now that I know that sometimes it’s better to be realistic. And I know you well enough, Alex, to know how dangerous you are. You’ve broken me down so many times, to the point where I can’t lie to myself even if I wanted to. I know the danger I’m putting myself in. I know that, realistically, I might not be walking out of that cage.”

His voice, as well as his facial expression, turns more somber.

“So this time, I’ve accepted the fact that I might lose. I’ve even come to peace with the fact that you might end my career. So you can lay it on me, Alex. Bring your all. Because I’m going to take it! You can beat me up and knock me down how many times you want, I’m going to fight through it. Because if this is my last match, I’m gonna give it my absolute all.”

With his eyes fixed on the camera, an even more serious aura comes over him.

“This is my life. So you’re gonna have to take away my life, if you’re gonna take my career from me!”

He pauses and collects himself, before stepping across the light-up canvas and right up to one of the cage walls.

“I’m walking into that cage a dead man, Alex. And there’s only one way to walk out of it alive.”

A small grin forms on his lips, but his eyes remain stone cold serious. Soon his lips follow suit, and he leans in even closer towards the camera and grabs the cage with his hands.

“You think you know what you’re doing. You think you have this all figured out. And I hope for your sake that you do. Because there’s nothing more dangerous than a cornered animal.”

His face is so close to the camera that you can almost see a sadistic smirk beginning to re-emerge, as his eyes remain their focused glare straight into the camera’s lense.

“And you better pray to whatever gods you believe in, that you’ll be able to put me down before I bite.”

The scene fades out on the close-up on Matt Pulver’s face through the chain-linked fence.

---

COMMERCIAL BREAK

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JAKE AARONS:
This bout is to be fought over a special fifteen minute time limit with one fall, one submission or knockout to decide the winner! Introducing first from London, England! He weighs in at two hundred and thirteen pounds... BEN CHRENSHAW!

Chrenshaw smirks and raises his arms.

JAKE AARONS:
His opponent from Whynot, Mississippi by way of Why, Arizona! He weighs in at two hundred and sixty seven pounds... HAMMERSTEIN!

Hammerstein finishes stretching on the ropes and looks ready to go.

JAKE AARONS:
Your referee for this bout is Xavier Price!

The bell sounds as Ben Chrenshaw adjusts his face mask before circling around with his foe, Hammerstein lunges at him but Chrenshaw dodges and under hooks the arm and throws him against the ropes.  He tries to do something with the advantageous position, but Hammerstein turns things around and backs Chrenshaw against the ropes.  Xavier Price starts his five count but Hammerstein backs away at two with a clean break.  Chrenshaw springs off the ropes and the two men circle around once more, but this time engage in a collar and elbow tie-up.  The Crippler gets the advantage with a top wrist lock and forces Hammerstein down to the mat after he trips him up.  The former Heritage and Iron Champion puts Hammerstein's elbow in a 12-6 position on the mat, holds it in place with his foot and then gets up and stomps it with his other foot! Hammerstein rolls away in agony as Chrenshaw backs off with that sick smirk on his face.  Hammerstein and the Crippler lock up again... Chrenshaw grabs the afflicted arm and twists him into an arm wringer, but Hammerstein quickly turns it back around on him with an arm wringer of his own! Chrenshaw rolls forward then pops up, then arm drags Hammer down to the mat! He keeps the arm lock applied while putting his boot on the face of Hammerstein!

CHAD GOMEZ:
There's some torque you can appreciate, Bas!

BASTIAN KRULL:
Pressing the face down in the opposite direction while barring the arm back, it's a brutal looking hold and equally painful!

Hammerstein pushes the foot of his face and gets up, then quickly takes Chrenshaw down with arm drag of his own.  He gets up, puts his knee on the neck/spine of Chrenshaw and begins yanking the arm back.  Chrenshaw yells in pain, but "NO!" is his reply to Price's question of whether he wants to give up.  Hammerstein abandons the hold, not wanting to wear himself out on a submission that won't yield him any results so he turns his attention to Chrenshaw's leg - placing it on the mat and then leaping up... bringing his nearly two hundred and seventy pound frame down on top of it! Chrenshaw cries out in pain again as Hammerstein keeps the weight on the leg, then yanks the ankle up... Chrenshaw reaches up and grabs the frosted tips of Hammerstein's hair but Xavier Price starts a count.  Chrenshaw releases at four and manages to roll over, bringing his free leg to the back of Hammerstein's head! Hammerstein staggers forward and Chrenshaw limps to his feet and immediately stomps Hammer in the head as he's down on one knee holding the middle rope.  Hammerstein gets yanked to his feet and pulled into a front chancery... Chrenshaw throws an arm behind his head and hooks the tights... high vertical suplex! He floats over for the cover!

1...

...

2-KICK OUT!

Chrenshaw rolls off, sits Hammerstein up and drives a knee into his back and clutches both hands under his chin as he presses forward with the knee.  Chrenshaw digs his fingers into the mouth of Hammerstein, fish hooking him - drawing a five count from Xavier Price.  Chrenshaw releases the hold, but reapplies it without the fish hooks... well, initially anyway.  Hammerstein gets fish hooked again and fights to his feet... Chrenshaw 12-6 elbows him on the top of the head and the big man falls down onto his knees and grabs the middle ropes, holding his noggin in pain.  Chrenshaw climbs up on Hammerstein's back and presses his foot against the back of his neck, pressing him down against the rope.  Chrenshaw breaks at three on Price's count and gets admonished for his tactics - Chrenshaw turns and smirks at Price when the referee tells him his next call is a yellow card.  Chrenshaw bounds toward Hammerstein, who elbows Chrenshaw in the solar plexus and roars to his feet. Chrenshaw goes for a punch, still winded and gets blocked - Hammerstein waylays him with an axe bomber-style lariat! Chrenshaw falls to the mat and staggers back up in a daze... SCOOP SLAM FROM HAMMER! Lateral press!

1...

...

2...

KICKOUT!

Hammerstein takes a page out of Chrenshaw's book from earlier and immediately applies a chin lock right out of the pin. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
I'm surprised how differently Hammerstein is fighting here tonight.

BASTIAN KRULL:
There's a shot at the World Championship at stake, the King of the Lions title... a title I don't think Hammerstein ever imagined he'd be in the position to challenge for - all due respect - but here he is, one fall, submission or knockout away from it.  Some might argue that changing what brought you to the ball is a bad idea, but considering he's fought Ben Chrenshaw twice before, I think it was probably a good idea to change the game plan up a bit.  Ben Chrenshaw is a student of the game and was no doubt watching as much footage as he could. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
The big rumour I heard is that Hammerstein was sparring with James Edwards and Matt Pulver the last few weeks.

BASTIAN KRULL:
It would explain the mat work.

Hammerstein drives his knee into Chrenshaw's spine and yanks both arms back.  Chrenshaw pulls them in a bit to try and get to his knee and manages to do so, Hammerstein holds on... Chrenshaw runs forward to the turnbuckles and kicks off... Hammerstein switches, grabbing him in a rear waist lock and uses the Crippler's own momentum to hit him with a bridging German suplex!

1...

...

2...

Chrenshaw grabs the ropes with his hand.

Hammerstein gets up, a bit winded and this allows Chrenshaw time to recover and get back to his own feet.  Chrenshaw twists around as he rushes Hammerstein, nailing him with a spinning elbow strike that drops him to the mat.  The Crippler pushes himself off the mat and leaps over to cover him.

1...

...

2-KICK OUT!

Chrenshaw pulls Hammerstein up and applies a side headlock, Hammer tries to punch his way out of the hold but resorts to backing him into the ropes and shooting him out.  Chrenshaw comes off the ropes and tries to shoulder block Hammer, but the big man doesn't move.  Chrenshaw rushes against the ropes again, but this time Hammerstein drops down and Chrenshaw goes over top and hits the opposite set of ropes.  Amazingly, Hammerstein leap frogs over Chrenshaw, but the Crippler stops dead in his tracks behind Hammerstein... watching him land awkwardly, rolling his ankle... CHOP BLOCK! Hammerstein cries out in pain as the Thunder Bay crowd lets out a collective "NO!" to which Ben Chrenshaw gets up, smirking and nods.  He grabs the leg and kicks Hammerstein in the hamstring a few times before going for the Wrinkle in Time single leg crab, but Hammerstein upkicks him off! Chrenshaw staggers away and dumps himself over the top rope! He gets up on the floor and asks Price where the red card is! "WOW DUDE!" follows and Price produces a yellow card for Chrenshaw!

JAKE AARONS:
Referee Xavier Price has issued a yellow card to Ben Chrenshaw! His first public warning!

CHAD GOMEZ:
What!? How!?

BASTIAN KRULL:
Oh come on, the upkick that Hammerstein delivered was meager at best and you're telling me that you buy that it sent Ben Chrenshaw up and over the top rope? He tried milking that for all it was worth and it got him a yellow card!

CHAD GOMEZ:
He kicked him in the face mask!

BASTIAN KRULL:
He did not! He kicked him in the chest!

CHAD GOMEZ:
You must've been one of those replacement referees the NFL had. 

Chrenshaw shakes his head on the outside of the ring and takes a stroll around the squared circle before climbing back in on the side he exited on, Hammerstein rushes to his feet and drives his shoulder into Chrenshaw's gut then reaches over and hooks him up for a suplex... he hoists him up and over... back into the ring! Hammerstein floats over for a cover!

1...

...

2-NO!

Hammerstein gets up and Chrenshaw rolls onto his stomach, the fan favourite turns and drops a knee onto Chrenshaw's back/ribs and the Crippler shoots to his feet in pain, diving to the corner so that Hammerstein can't immediately follow up.  Price gives him the ten second count and Chrenshaw comes out at seven, but eats a European uppercut that sends him back! Chrenshaw gets pulled out of the corner again and eats a second one! This time he falls to his knees and tries to get back up as Hammerstein backs up into the ropes... he rushes out, leaps into the air but Chrenshaw catches him and slams him into the mat! He grabs both legs for leverage and tries to turn Hammerstein over, but the affable man from Why, Arizona will not turn! He sort of bridges up and then twists - sending Chrenshaw tumbling across the ring! Chrenshaw staggers back to his feet... Hammerstein roars off the ropes again... TOMAHAWK CHOP! Chrenshaw goes down in a heap and Hammerstein covers!

1...

...

2...

FOOT ON THE ROPE!

Hammerstein pulls Chrenshaw up and backs him against the ropes with several knife edge chops before he shoots him across the ring.  Hammerstein roars after Chrenshaw, springing off the ropes but the Crippler leaps high into the air and calf kicks him! Hammerstein falls to the mat and Chrenshaw does too, Hammerstein crawls toward the corner and puts his back against the bottom turnbuckle to keep an eye on Chrenshaw as he's trying to regain his breath.  Chrenshaw storms to his feet and kicks Hammerstein in the chest before grabbing his legs and tries to yank him out of the corner but Hammer is hanging on! Chrenshaw improvises and kicks Hammerstein's back! Hammerstein's resistance lessens and Chrenshaw yanks him out of the corner, slamming him to the mat and easily turns him over! He switches from two legs to one and the Wrinkle in Time is applied! Hammerstein writhes in pain, but says no each time Price asks.  Chrenshaw can be heard telling him to give it up.  Hammerstein pulls himself close to the ropes and Chrenshaw wrenches back more, Hammerstein digs his fists into the mat and tries to power out but Chrenshaw readjusts his position.  Hammerstein claws his way to the edge of the ring - underneath the ropes - to get the hold broken up and rolls out of the ring.

BASTIAN KRULL:
Not a strategy that would work exceptionally well in an Iron bout - you'd lose a point for the rope break and one for exiting the ring, but here it's as an effective a strategy as any!

Chrenshaw rolls out of the ring after Hammerstein, who's having trouble standing.  Price count reaches five as Chrenshaw catches Hammerstein trying to hobble away and goes to bang his head off the ring apron, but the Hammer blocks it and elbows the Crippler in the stomach! He grabs his head and smacks it against the ring apron and watches Chrenshaw fall to the ground.  Hammerstein climbs onto the ring apron as Price's count reaches fourteen and Hammerstein debates getting back inside the ring... but he watches Chrenshaw get back to his feet and decides to leap off! A double axe handle doesn't go as planned because Chrenshaw kicks him in the leg! Eighteen is the count as Chrenshaw stomps Hammerstein and grabs the ropes to climb back inside... nineteen... HAMMERSTEIN GRABS HIS LEG! Chrenshaw feverishly tries to shake him off, but Price reaches twenty! The place goes nuts as Chrenshaw jumps off the apron, grabs Hammerstein and chucks him into the guardrail! Price comes out to break it up, but Chrenshaw pushes past him and heads to the back in a huff.  Security comes out and escorts Chrenshaw to the back while medical staff help Hammerstein to his feet and cart him off to the back.

CHAD GOMEZ:
So what happens now?

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
I'll get on the phone and give you an update after the next match. 

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COMMERCIAL BREAK

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JAKE AARONS:
This is your main event bout of the evening! It is for the Iron Championship! It is to be fought with a fifteen minute time limit or television time remaining! One fall, one submission, one knockout or points decision to decide the winner! Introducing first the challenger from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania! He weighs in at two hundred and twenty pounds... AJ KNIGHT!

Knight raises his arms, noticeably absent are his wrist gauntlets.

JAKE AARONS:
His opponent from Lexington, Kentucky! He weighs in at two hundred and four pounds! He is the current, reigning and defending Iron Champion! JAMES EDWARDS!

Edwards holds the Iron title up before handing it to a stage hand.

JAKE AARONS:
Your referee for this bout...

Aarons looks over and conspicuous by his absence is Cordell Garner, the ring crew shrugs and tell Aarons they don't know where he is and both Edwards and Knight deny having seen him.  Xavier Price rushes back out to ringside for the second time in as many matches and slides into the ring.  He quickly checks both men over and calls for the bell. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
What was that all about? Where's Garner?

BASTIAN KRULL:
Good question, I was talking to him earlier - he was very excited about officiating this bout tonight. 

Both men loosen up as they circle about the ring, the size difference is obvious as Knight has fifteen pounds and three inches in height on the champion Edwards.  The two men lock horns and jockey for position with Knight initially guiding Edwards back into the corner, but then he stops dead in his track and shoves him into the corner.  Knight backs off with a smile on his face while Edwards looks unfazed and walks out of the corner to lock up once again.  They grapple and this time, Knight skips the easy going part and shoves Edwards back into the corner.  Knight backs off again and tells him to come forward again.  Edwards does so and gets backed into the ropes with the collar and elbow tie-up, Knight begins to back up on the break but goes for a forearm shot that misses because Edwards ducks it! Edwards turns around and uses not one, not two but three right hand slaps on Knight - sending the challenger reeling across the ropes! Edwards grabs Knight and whips him into the ropes and as he bounces out, Edwards nails him with a Sambo suplex on the return! Edwards is quick to his feet and Knight staggers up rather quickly himself only to eat a jab! Knight swings wildly in retaliation, but the Iron Champion takes him down to the mat with as side headlock!

BASTIAN KRULL:
What is particularly interesting to me is that both of these men are fan favourites, but not in the squeaky clean traditional sense.  AJ Knight loves finding little ways to get under the skin of his opponent whether it's in the ring or through his words while James Edwards is a straight-laced individual.  He doesn't care much for small talk, he's very introverted from my conversations with him.  I think that his behaviour rubs people the wrong way and they forget that he is a very, very dangerous athlete inside the ring.  Well disciplined in striking and while his ground game won't win any awards, he's still very solid on the mat.

Edwards gets a one count on Knight, who quickly remembers to watch his shoulders on the mat... Knight swings his hips and uses Edwards' side headlock against him, cradling him into a pin! It also gets a one count before Edwards swings back into proper position.  However, they don't stay there for long as AJ Knight makes his way back to his feet and backs Edwards into the ropes and shoots him out.  Edwards comes back with a back elbow on the unsuspecting Knight, sending him to the mat.  Edwards bounces off the ropes again and Knight jumps to his feet then leaps over Edwards and then turns to grab him on the return, looking for a hip toss but Edwards turns it back into a side headlock and takes his challenger back down to the mat.  Knight gives up a quick one count again, but tries fighting back up to his feet.  He gets to his knees and Edwards takes him down again and cranks on the hold, but Knight grabs Edwards' ear and pulls it! Knight gets a five count for it, and Edwards releases the hold when Knight lets go - holding his ear in pain.  AJ gets up to his feet, rubbing his neck as Edwards pulls himself to his feet in the corner.  Knight runs in and knees him in the solar plexus before using his left hand to push Edwards' face back and then popping him in the mouth with a big right!

CHAD GOMEZ:
A good ol' technical punch to the mush!

Edwards stumbles out of the corner and Knight grabs his ear again, placing his other hand on the champion's neck and drives him head first into the adjacent top turnbuckle! He grabs Edwards and shoots him across to the opposite corner and charges in with a forearm but no one is home! Edwards ducks out of the way and Knight hits hard.  He stumbles back out into a big slap from Edwards that rocks him! Edwards backs up into the ropes and rushes out... BOOT TO THE GUT FROM KNIGHT! Edwards doubles over in pain and stumbles over to the ropes where he topples out to the floor. 

JAKE AARONS:
James Edwards has been deducted a point! Nine remain!

BASTIAN KRULL:
Fans, if you're wondering about that call - I can only assume that Xavier Price recognized that it wasn't the kick that sent Edwards out of the ring, it was Edwards himself.  He had a lot of momentum coming off the ropes, got kicked in the gut and took a spill to the floor. 

Edwards' urgency to get back into the ring speeds up a bit when a fan yells that he's only got a ten count and Price's count is at seven, Edwards hops onto the apron still reeling from the effects of the kick and gets grabbed by Knight.  Edwards tries to strike him, but gets blocked and driven into the top turnbuckle! The Iron Champion falls to his knees on the apron and Knight hops out of the ring.  As Aarons is telling us that Knight is now at nine points also, he grabs Edwards' foot and yanks him off the apron.  He lands hard, back first across the edge of the apron and Knight smiles at his handy work and rolls back inside.  He tells Price to count, but the referee wisely exits the ring and checks on Edwards first.  Edwards insists he's OK and Price tells him he's going to start the count, Edwards begins to stir as Price gets back in at begins the count.

CHAD GOMEZ:
Remember, Bas! The titles can change hands on ring outs and disqualifications so Edwards could be in trouble!

Edwards grabs the bottom rope at the count of eight and tries to pull himself in, but falls.  Knight looks happy about it and turns around to celebrate, but Edwards leaps up and dives into the ring! The crowd pops huge as Edwards fights through the obvious pain (and huge mark on his back from where he hit) and clobbers Knight as he turns around with right hands! He backs him into the ropes, then kicks him in the gut.  He locks on a front chancery and hoists him up... but Knight falls on top of him as his back can't hold the challenger in the air!

1...

...

2...

...

3-FOOT ON THE ROPE!

Edwards gets docked a point, but I'm sure he doesn't mind one bit.  Knight nearly trips over Edwards getting to his feet to yell at Price about the count, but "WOW DUDE" is all he gets besides the reconfirmation that the count was two.  Knight kicks the ropes in frustration and turns around... SECOND GOSPEL! BICYCLE HIGH KNEE! Knight falls back against the ropes, then gets grabbed by Edwards who snapmares him over.  Edwards bounces off the ropes and nails the Violent Gospel! The PK kick sends the already dazed Knight to the mat and Edwards goes to leap on top, but Price tackles him and calls for the bell.  Edwards looks angry as all hell that Price tackled him especially considering the state of his back, but Price calmly explains the situation and Edwards begrudgingly nods.  Aarons comes to ringside for the official announcement.

JAKE AARONS:
Referee Xavier Price has called a stop to this bout! Your winner via knockout and still champion - JAMES EDWARDS!

The medical staff pile in and check on Knight, who's trying to get to his feet and protest the referee's call but the medical staff keep him stationary.  Edwards takes his Iron title and in a rare show of extroversion, he walks to where the protesters stand and raises his title high before leaving. 

BASTIAN KRULL:
AJ Knight can argue that call as he likes and I'd be surprised if any athlete didn't.  It's wired into you from your first day in a sport, if you get hit - get back up but the fact is, Knight was out.  I don't know if it was the knee or the kick, but Price made the right call.  These referees worked closely with various athletic commissions after the Johnny Ajax incident to educate themselves and ensure they recognize when a fighter has been knocked out.  You may not think a pinfall after a knockout is a big deal, but there's a lot of variables there - a fighter can drive his forearm into his opponent's face on the pin and jar the head even more.  So, I for one welcome the new safety precautions being taken. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
Can't really disagree there.

BASTIAN KRULL:
So, that's going to wrap it up for us here tonight.  Be sure to jo--

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
Hold on, guys, I've been passed along a note about the scuffle earlier in the Roost and Smirnov bout.  Next week is going to have... wow, Sarah Starr and Jan van der Roost up against Grace Kazoulis and Alexei Smirnov in a tag team bout.  Whoever scores the fall will be granted a title shot against James Edwards' Iron Championship in the new year. 

BASTIAN KRULL:
That's a trouble waiting to happen tag match.

CHAD GOMEZ:
Yeah, yeah... what about Chrenshaw and Hammerstein?

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
Two words, Chad.  Triangle Survival.  Julian Cutlass will defend the title against both men in a Triangle Survival match! This comes on top of an already loaded card featuring the Steel Cage Match between Alexander Irvine and Matt Pulver, the Heritage Championship bout between Corey Cruelty and La Cucaracha and El Hijo de Pollo's open challenge which we learned has been accepted by Kraken! Don't miss the final event of 2016! See you then!

CHAD GOMEZ:
See ya!