1/12/2017 - Mane Event

We come back from commercial to find our opening bout already underway!

SAM HEWITT:
Hello fight fans! I'm Sam Hewitt alongside Chad Gomez and I'm afraid the action has already begun during the commercial! Newcomer Justin Seville was making his entrance, Kris Slade got the jump on him!

Slade throws Seville inside the ring and climbs in himself, grabbing him and whipping him into the corner! Slade charges in, but Seville moves and begins blasting the much taller man with kicks to the outer thighs! Slade then gets pulled from the corner by the hair and rammed into the top turnbuckle! Referee Robbie Morris admonishes Seville about the hair pulling, but Seville mouths off back to him.  This allows Slade to nail him with a back elbow though, dropping him to the mat.  Seville tries to get back up, but eats a boot to the side of the head before Slade pulls him up and throws him onto the middle rope, driving a knee into his back while he rakes on the eyes! Morris admonishes him too! Slade shoves Morris aside and begins blasting Seville with punches to the face! Morris pulls Slade off of him and pulls out a yellow card.

JAKE AARONS:
Referee Robbie Morris has issued a yellow card to Kris Slade! His first public warning!

Slade bitches away to Morris about it, but stops when he sees the masked man take a seat in the front row.  Slade leans over the ropes and yells at him, telling him to be a man before turning his attention back to Seville.  Serious Seville clocks Slade with a right hook, sending him spinning around like a top! Slade swings wildly, but Seville ducks and returns to the kicks to the thigh! He shoves Slade back into the corner and begins repeatedly clotheslining him! After a fifth, Seville backs off and lets Slade stumble out... ROLLING E-NO! Slade ducks the elbow and stumbles back to the middle of the ring, Seville turns around and charges... but Slade leaps up and clocks him with a jumping knee!

SAM HEWITT:
Oof! Not a move that Kris Slade has traditionally been known to finish a match with, but the Skull Cracker jumping knee could very well be a finisher if he chose to utilize it. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
It's a big man and a big knee coming right at you.

Slade grabs Seville and chucks him out to the floor in front of the masked man, then goes out himself and pulls him up... telling the masked man that this will happen to him! "FIGHT ME!" Slade screams repeatedly, and the masked man doesn't oblige him but Seville sure does! A second right hook knocks Slade down to his knees! Seville grabs him by the hair and chucks him inside the ring, looks curiously at the masked man who still hasn't moved and slides inside.  Slade crawls toward the ropes, but Serious Seville grabs Slade up by the hair again and throws him to the mat! Morris produces a yellow card for him!

JAKE AARONS:
Referee Robbie Morris has issued a yellow card to Justin Seville! His first public warning!

Seville doesn't even bother arguing with Morris and instead pulls Slade up to his feet and hooks the arms... DOUBLE UNDERHOOK SUPLEX! Slade lands hard, but gets up and retreats into the corner where Seville rushes in and shoulder thrusts him again! And again! And again! Slade doubles over in pain and Justin Seville grabs him by the wrist and whips him across the ring... Slade hits the corner hard and staggers out... EXPLODER SUPLEX! Seville gets up, calling for the end... Slade is pulled to his feet and Piledriven into the mat by the Seville Driver! Seville goes for the lateral press!

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3!

Seville gets up and exits the ring, raising his arms as he walks by the masked man who pays no mind to the newcomer and instead stares at Kris Slade inside the ring.  Seville stops and watches as he climbs over the guard rail and into the ring, shaking Slade's unconscious hand before exiting back into the crowd.  Seville shakes his head for the camera, then says "Is this the best you've got?" as we head to commercial.

- COMMERCIAL BREAK -

We return from the break with James Edwards and Jimmy Winner lined up in opposite corners. Referee Buster Powell gives both men a stern glance and calls for the bell as they come out and circle one another. Winner and Edwards lock up and as they jockey for position the camera zooms in on the King of Lions Champion, Julian Cutlass, who looks he would rather be anywhere but in Winner’s corner.

Sam Hewitt:
The champion looks none too pleased with having to accompany the newest member of Black Lion’s Road to the ring.

Chad Gomez:
Well he and Irvine were the ones to say they would take on an apprentice to whoever won a contest at their show on New Year’s Eve.

Back in the ring, Winner has succeeded in backing the Iron Champion up into the corner. He elbows Edwards in the face and lights into him with a few knife edge chops. Winner turns and looks back at Cutlass for some sign of approval. He doesn’t get it. Cutlass rolls his eyes and tells him to turn around. Winner does, right into a running Yakuza kick from Edwards. Pole Shift Kai! Cutlass in frustration puts a hand to his forehead.

Sam Hewitt:
Edwards turns Winner inside out with a brutal kick.

Chad Gomez:
Look at Cutlass with his head in his hands!

At ringside, the KOL Champion stands with his arms crossed and a sour expression. The other champion, James Edwards, lays a few stomps to the body of Winner as if he is trying to make up for the slow start. He pulls Winner to his feet and peppers him with a few chops to the chest. Winner screams for Cutlass to help him. James knees Winner in the gut and pulls him in for a nasty looking double underhook brainbuster. Instead of going for the cover, Edwards moves into the opposite corner facing Winner.

Sam Hewitt:
Edwards is looking for the Violent Gospel.

Chad Gomez:
Winner just might be the third person to get knocked out by it in as many matches too.

It takes a while but Winner comes to and groggily rises to a knee. Edwards has him right in his sights. The situation couldn’t be more perfect. He plans his foot to run forward...then hesitates. Edwards shakes his head and slumps back into the corner to give Winner time to recover. When Winner is finally back on his feet, Edwards charges forward brings a knee up for the Second Gospel. He hits nothing but air! On instinct alone, Winner cradles Edwards. 1...2….Edwards powers out.

Sam Hewitt:
Edwards backed away from the Violent Gospel, an unusual move on his part.

Chad Gomez:
There is no news or rumors about him not using the move or the head office putting the screws on it either.

Edwards knows he made a mistake and wastes no time in moving back in on Winner. He rather roughly grabs the BLR trainee and brings him level. Edwards wallops Winner with a half-dozen Muay Thai slaps to the face, followed by one spinning back fist and then another. Double Tap! Winner does not go down, so Edwards scoops him up in the fireman's carry position. GTS! The force of the knee shot to the head sends Winner back against the ropes. Edwards spins him around and grabs a leg. Snap bridging Regalplex!

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3!

Sam Hewitt:
The Iron Champion stays perfect in singles competition with a nice flurry of offense.

Chad Gomez:
And with a brutal new move to boot. Did you see the angle Winner’s neck hit the mat?

Edwards pounds the canvas in triumph as the medical crew pulls Winner out of the ring and helps him to the back. Cutlass sighs with disappointment in his trainee and follows them. Buster Powell retries the Iron Championship and brings it to Edwards before raising his hand in victory. James hardly notices, his eyes never leave Julian Cutlass as the show heads to commercial.

- COMMERCIAL BREAK -

JAKE AARONS:
Your referee for this bout is Brian Shelzi!

The bell sounds to begin round one and La Cucaracha and Grace Kazoulis quickly shake hands before circling about the ring. Cucaracha rushes, slides between Kazoulis' legs and gets up just as Sheracles turns around... DROPKICK! Kazoulis reels back into the ropes and stumbles out... Cucaracha nails her with an even higher angled dropkick and once more, Kazoulis stumbles back but this time rests against the ropes. The former Heritage Champion gets up and begins blasting Kazoulis with forearm shots before trying to Irish whip Kazoulis across the ring, but there's a reversal and it's Cucaracha who goes in. Cucaracha comes back off the ropes and leaps into the waiting arms of Grace Kazoulis, who shows off her power by hoisting Cucaracha high above her head and showing it off to each side of the ring. Cucaracha yells about how she's afraid of heights and is going to barf, so Kazoulis swings her down into a backbreaker! The crowd OOHS as Cucaracha's flexibility is put to the test as Grace puts one hand on Cucaracha's thigh and another on her chest and begins pushing down, really driving that knee into Cucaracha's back! Referee Brian Shelzi asks the double Pollomania Champion if she'd like to submit, but she responds with "NO!" so Kazoulis pulls her up and then slams her back down across her knee! She goes for a quick cover!

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2-KICK OUT!

Cucaracha is certainly aided by the Heritage Rules, giving her ten seconds to try and get her back in working order while Kazoulis backs up and waits.  Cuca gets to her feet at nine, milking every second she can and takes the fight to Kazoulis, who dodges the attack - Cucaracha leaps onto the second rope and immediately leaps back off... TORNA-NO! Kazoulis, despite being trapped in a front chancery prevents the Roach from DDT'ing her into the mat.  She plants Cucaracha's feet back down on the mat, but the ever crafty Cockroach wrenches in the front chancery as she's being back toward the ropes, hops up to the second rope again and this time borrows a page out of the Super Pollo playbook and fakes a Tornado DDT and instead small packages Kazoulis!

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2-KICK OUT!

SAM HEWITT:
A terrific fake from La Cucaracha!

CHAD GOMEZ:
She's used to fake, I had to spend about ten minutes talking to her this afternoon at lunch.  She tried to tell me one of her relatives wrestled Farmer Burns, she produced a picture that was very obviously photoshopped.  Tried to charge me ten bucks just for looking at it.  Canadians!

Both women get up and lock-up, Kazoulis easily over powers her and whips her across the ring.  Cucaracha gets posted, and Kazoulis tries charging in with the shotei palm strike, but Cucaracha dodges it and Kazoulis gets posted herself! Cucaracha slingshots herself onto the top rope and tries to hurracanrana Grace, but Sheracles throws her off and blasts her with the Shotei anyway! The bell sounds to end the round as Cucaracha exits the ring reeling from being turned inside out.  The second and stage hands roll her back inside and try to get her recomposed in the sixty second rest period, Kazoulis coughs a bit from the posting she got.  The bell sounds to begin round two and Cucaracha still hasn't fully recovered and eats an easy knee to the gut and gets thrown into the corner, Kazoulis whips her across the ring! Cucaracha hits hard and stumbles back out... SCOOP SL-NOPE! Cucaracha slides out the back door but can't capitalize quickly enough and winds up in a bear hug as a result! Kazoulis thrashes her back and forth, as Cucaracha flails wildly! She repeatedly shouts no to every question asked by Brian Shelzi, including "Do you feel okay?" which elicits some laughter from the crowd.  Kazoulis loosens her grip briefly, and the former Heritage Champion takes advantage! She stomps Kazoulis' foot and sends her stumbling backwards with the waist hold still applied, Cucaracha levels her with shots to the head as Kazoulis bumps into the corner! Her grip is broken and Cucaracha falls, but manages to land on her feet and quickly leaps onto the second, then the top rope... RACHA RAN-NO! Kazoulis swings her back up and Cucaracha begins pounding away! Kazoulis throws her backwards and Cucaracha lands head first across the top turnbuckle and falls to the mat! Referee Brian Shelzi begins his ten count for her as Kazoulis staggers away holding her face.  Cucaracha tries to get up on all fours, but falls back down as the count reaches eight... at nine, she rolls out of the ring and stands up on the floor!

CHAD GOMEZ:
What a dumb mo--Why hasn't anyone ever thought of that!?

SAM HEWITT:
I suppose it's up to a referee's interpretation of the rules, I imagine if she rolled out of the ring and wasn't standing when she hit the floor that the count would've continued to ten but because she technically got to her feet... the count is broken, despite having to answer a second ten count on the floor now. 

Kazoulis is arguing with Shelzi, thinking it should be a knockout but Shelzi tries to explain his decision to her.  She isn't a fan of the answer and goes out after Cucaracha! She clubs the Cockroach and then hoists her up... SCOOP SLAM on the floor! Cucaracha writhes in pain on the ground before Kazoulis pulls her back up and rolls her inside the ring.  Cucaracha despite being in all kinds of pain, tries to create as much distance as she can before Kazoulis gets back inside the ring.  When she does, the Cockroach charges her... but runs right into a knife edge chop! The Roach tries to summon her fighting spirit and continue on despite it, but fails and winds up in the Iron Claw! La Cucaracha stomps Kazoulis' foot and grabs onto the ropes to break the hold, Kazoulis stumbles away and Cucaracha closes the distance... JAWBREAKER! Kazoulis falls back into the ropes and Cucaracha rubs her noggin in pain, Sheracles charges out at her but a dropkick to the knee sends her into the ropes, effectively giving herself a drop toe hold.  She pulls herself off the ropes... BACKDROP SUPLEX FROM CUCARACHA! She bridges it!

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BELL SOUNDS TO END ROUND TWO!

Cucaracha argues with Shelzi, saying something about basketball clocks and his response is, "I don't watch basketball".  Cucaracha asks about baseketball, but also gets a negative response.  She walks away shaking her head as Kazoulis is helped to her corner.  Cucaracha dumps the water over her head and looks like Alex Owens from Flashdance with the way she's trying to keep her adrenaline flowing.  The bell sounds to begin the third and Cucaracha storms out like a bat out of hell and kicks Kazoulis in the gut, hooks a leg... SPINS OUT! KAFKA PLEX! BRIDGE!

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3-NO!

Cucaracha emerges surprised, but fights back to her feet and waits for Kazoulis to answer the ten count.  Kazoulis gets up at six and Cucaracha charges across the ring, looking for a sling blade but Kazoulis spins out of it and blasts Cucaracha with the Ottoman slap! The former Heritage Champion falls to her knees and Kazoulis yanks her up, stuffs her between her legs and lifts her into a crucifix position! Kazoulis lifts her even higher! She turns around, leaving Cucaracha's legs dangling over the top rope... then charges forth... POWE-CUCARACHA REVERSES IT IN A RANA! PIN!

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KAZOULIS KICKS OUT TOO LATE!

Kazoulis gets up, shocked at what just transpired while Cucaracha is equally surprised.  Kazoulis marches over to Cucaracha and yanks her to her feet... then extends her hand, Cucaracha winces in pain but returns the gesture and gets patted on the back for her victory.  Kazoulis exits the ring and Cucaracha leaps onto the second rope and soaks in the crowd's response as we head to commercial.

- COMMERCIAL BREAK -

JAKE AARONS:
This Heritage Cup first round bout is to be fought over three five minute rounds with one fall, one submission or a knockout to decide the winner! Introducing first in the red corner... from Keokuk, Iowa and weighing in tonight at two hundred and fifteen pounds... ALEXANDER IRVINE!

Irvine gets a largely mixed reaction as he slaps his right forearm and raises his arm in the air.

JAKE AARONS:
His opponent in the blue corner... from Tokyo, Japan and weighing in tonight at two hundred and twenty eight pounds... KENSHIN TAKAMURA!

The returning Tokyo Tiger gets a great pop as he leaps up onto the ropes and panders to the North Bay crowd.

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

SAM HEWITT:
You can cut the atmosphere in here like a knife, Alexander Irvine and Kenshin Takamura inside the ring for the first time since October 20th when Irvine dropped Takamura shoulder first across the ring apron with an inverted Death Valley Driver. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
And look at that, Sam - no handshakes to speak of. 

The bell sounds and Irvine lunges forward at Takamura, backing him into the ropes but chuckles and returns to the middle of the ring.  Takamura is unimpressed and goes for a lock-up, but Irvine grabs him in a waist hold as the Tokyo Tiger tries to apply a side headlock to hang on as he backs into the ropes.  Irvine goes to pull Takamura off the ropes, but the side headlock is used to reel him back in.  Price's count reaches three as Irvine releases the waist hold momentarily to shove Takamura's forearms up higher and immediately returns to the waist hold, but Takamura cracks him with a palm strike to the side of the head to create some space between them.  Price dives in between them and orders each to back away.  Surprisingly, the two men oblige the order and return to opposite sides without incident but they're back at it again before Price can tell them to commence which elicits a "WOW DUDE!" as Irvine gets a leg trip on Takamura, taking him to the mat.  He keeps a hold of the leg so he can continue his ground attack, he gets the Tokyo Tiger in a stepover toe hold and reaches up to pull back on his head and begins hammer fisting Kenshin's shoulder with his free hand.  Takamura lets out some cries of agony, but refuses to say no when Price asks him if he wants to.

CHAD GOMEZ:
Not smart, it took him almost three months to come back from the last injury! You figure this guy would be a bit more careful this go round. 

Takamura reaches the ropes, forcing the action to be broken up and the two fighters return to their feet and quickly engage in a knuckle lock that doesn't end up anywhere.  They back off, circling the ring and not once taking eyes off of each other... Irvine shoots in, Takamura grabs a front chancery and the two jockey for position some more.  Irvine gets a front chancery of his own applied and tries to set Kenshin up for a suplex, but Takamura spins out of it and takes Irvine down to the mat by the arm! He wrenches back on it, driving his elbow into the shoulder several times before leaping to his feet and stomping the shoulder! Takamura turns around and backs off, having hit the grounded strike in time enough not to receive a yellow card.  Irvine pulls himself up in the corner, smiling as he holds his shoulder.  Irvine shakes it out and the two dart across the ring as though they were twenty some years old again, Irvine gets a front waist hold and Takamura tries to grab the side headlock again but a belly to belly suplex dumps Takamura on the mat! He floats over for a pinfall, but as Takamura instinctively kicks out - Irvine clamps on a keylock! Takamura quickly swings his leg over the bottom rope to break the hold and Price is quickly to force him to.  Irvine gets up without incident, but stomps Takamura's shoulder as he goes to back away.  The bell sounds to end the first round as Price holds up a yellow card.

JAKE AARONS:
Referee Xavier Price has issued Alexander Irvine a yellow card! His first public warning!

Irvine doesn't even try to protest, he heads back to his corner as Jimmy Winner hops on the apron, seconding Irvine as part of his BLR trials.  Takamura gets up and his second immediately goes to ice his shoulder, the Tokyo Tiger winces in pain as he sits down and sees Irvine snarling at him from across the ring.  Takamura doesn't break eye contact with him and although the two don't utter so much as a word across the ring to each other, you can tell they're talking shit in their heads. The bell sounds to begin the second round, Irvine gets up and kicks the stool out of the ring and tells Takamura to hurry up and get in the middle of the ring! When he does, Irvine locks up with him but the two get backed into the corner and are forced to break.  The do so without incident and return to the middle of the ring where they offer a knuckle lock, test of strength... Irvine tries to cheap shot with a kick, but Takamura pulls Irvine in as he tries to, side headlock... hip throw! Takamura keeps the side headlock applied on the mat, but Irvine uses his legs to headscissor Takamura and break up the headlock. Takamura tries to create enough of a space to squeeze his head out from between the Wolf's legs, while Irvine tries to grab Takamura's arm and apply an armbar! Irvine grabs the arm and straightens it out... Takamura quickly turns into his side and grabs his hand to lessen the pain and defend the hold, Irvine uses is leg strength to push Takamura back down to the mat and wrench on the hold again, but Takamura reaches the ropes and forces a break.  Irvine gets up, mocking Takamura by holding his shoulder in pain.  Takamura shakes his head and gets to his feet, doing his best to ignore his shoulder to spite Irvine. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
How do you think his shoulder is feeling?

SAM HEWITT:
It's probably not feeling 100%, but it's well enough that he wanted to get back into the ring. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
Irvine is going to wear it down until it's 0%! What do you think he's going to do then!?

SAM HEWITT:
I think Takamura will fight until he can't fight anymore, Chad.

The two circle again and Irvine goes in a for a take down, but gets walloped by a kick to the chest by Takamura! The crowd pops huge as Irvine falls to the mat and Price starts the ten count, Irvine gets back up at five ready to fight and Takamura kicks him again, but Irvine absorbs it and catches the leg! He grabs Takamura's head... FLAWLESS PLEX! The Fisherman's suplex hits, Price dives into position for a cover but... Takamura is on the ropes! Irvine gets up frustrated, while Takamura pulls himself up in the corner and shakes his cobwebs out.  Irvine charges at him, pulling him out of the corner and the two jockey for position, Irvine gets underhooks on him and then falls to the mat, sending Takamura over top of him! Irvine lands in side control and again focuses on the arm with the injured shoulder, holding onto it at the wrist and dropping quick elbows on the shoulder while brushing Takamura's face disrespectfully with a back hand slap.  Irvine grabs the arm, putting all his weight against Takamura's shoulder and the Tokyo Tiger yelps with pain... but swings his hips up, locks his legs around Irvine's head and pulls himself free with the headscissors.  Irvine kips up out of the hold, and the two come to a stand off just as the second round expires.

SAM HEWITT:
Pretty notable scene as we end the second round, Kenshin Takamura is heavily favouring that shoulder after Alexander Irvine had the armbar applied and boy was he wrenching back on it, gritting his teeth - I think he was prepared to snap it if Takamura wouldn't tap out. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
I have no doubt.

Both men march out of their corners to begin the third and final round, Takamura gets a leg trip on Irvine and quickly leaps on top, catching him as he's on all fours.  Takamura hooks his legs around Irvine's left arm, then hooks the right arm with a single arm and begins elbowing Irvine in the face, but the Wolf... he punches Takamura in the face and frees up his arms, pushing off the mat and squatting to his feet with Takamura still on his shoulders! The crowd appreciates the display of strength with a great pop! Irvine Samoan drops him and goes right back to the armbar he had in the second round, but Takamura gets to the ropes and rolls out of the ring.  His second comes around to apply the ice bag to the shoulder, but Price tells him he needs to get back to his corner and Takamura needs to get back into the ring! Takamura goes to climb inside, but Irvine kicks him in the shoulder! Takamura falls onto the apron and Price backs Irvine up, admonishing him and pulling out a yellow card!

JAKE AARONS:
Referee Xavier Price has issued a yellow card to Alexander Irvine! His second public warning!

Takamura storms back inside the ring, dodging Irvine's attack and nailing him with an elbow strike! He grabs Irvine and whips him into the ropes... SPINNING HEEL KICK! Irvine goes down, but stumbles back up into... SLING BLADE! Takamura goes for a quick cover out of that, but gets a two count.  He pulls Irvine up to his feet with him, stuffs him between his legs... RUNNING POWERBOMB! Takamura gets up, fighting the five count and rushes to the apron, then the top rope... HIGH FLY FLOW IN TIME... NOBODY HOME! Irvine rolls away and the force of Takamura's elbows hitting the mat leaving him writhing on the mat in pain, Irvine pulls himself up in the corner, watching as Irvine struggles to do the same.  The Wolf charges... HALF NELSON SUPLEX! Takamura lands on his head and shoulder from the sloppier than usual suplex, but struggles back to his feet once more.  Irvine roars across the ring with the Battle Cry, directing the forearm smash at Takamura's shoulder! Takamura falls back into the corner and Irvine closes the gap, repeatedly bashing his shoulder with hammerfists while he uses his other hand to press Takamura's face against the turnbuckle.  Price gets in and separates the two, but Irvine gets in a final blow before willingly walking off.  Price admonishes him and reminds him that he'll be DQed if he does it again.  Takamura holds his shoulder in pain, prompting Price to ask him if he wishes to continue.  Takamura responses positively and gets back up... Irvine shoves Price aside and grabs Takamura, spins him around and drives him shoulder first into the ring post! Irvine goes to pull him out of the corner, but Price stops him and the ringside doctor rushes over to check on Takamura.  Irvine impatiently stands in the corner, blocked by Xavier Price who is then called over by the ringside doctor.  Irvine goes to press the attack, but stops when he hears the call.  Aarons is given the message to relay.

JAKE AARONS:
Our ringside physician, Dr. Pierson has called a stop to this bout in the third round in concern for the condition of Kenshin Takamura's shoulder.  Alexander Irvine has the choice on whether to accept the stoppage victory or render this bout a no contest.

Irvine laughs and says, "what do you think?" as Price returns to keeping him backed up against the ropes. 

JAKE AARONS:
Your winner by doctor stoppage... Alexander Irvine!

Takamura gets up, shaking his head at the doctor's call and moves his shoulder - despite being in a world of hurt doing so in an attempt to demonstrate that he's OK.  Irvine pushes Price aside and drives after Takamura, who dodges the attack and blasts Irvine with the Tiger Strike! Irvine gets nailed by the buzzsaw kick and falls out to the floor prompting stage hands rush to his aid as we head to commercial. 

JAKE AARONS:
This King of the Lions title eliminator bout is to be fought over a fifteen minute time limit or television time remaining!

Big pop.

JAKE AARONS:
Introducing first in the red corner! From London, England! He weighs in at two hundred and thirteen pounds... BEN CHRENSHAW!

A mostly negative reaction for the Crippler.

JAKE AARONS:
His opponent in the blue corner! From Leksand, Sweden! He weighs in at one hundred and seventy five pounds... MATT PULVER!

While Matt Wrestling gets a wildly favourable response.

JAKE AARONS:
Your referee for this bout is Cordell Garner!

The bell sounds to begin our main event and both fighters engage in a collar and elbow tie-up, Pulver takes charge with an arm wringer and wrenches on it before Chrenshaw rolls forward, pops up and reverses it into an arm wringer of his own.  Chrenshaw kicks Pulver in the calf, knocking him to the mat but the young Swede kips up and then does a forward roll of his own... reversing the arm wringer back into one of his own! Pulver trips him and drops for a cover, but barely gets a one count.  Both fighters return to a vertical base and engage in a lock-up, but they jockey for position and find neither man gaining position so they break.  The Crippler calls for a knuckle lock, and Pulver accepts it... they each struggle to gain and upper hand before Chrenshaw drives his head under Pulver's arm and hoists him up and over, dropping him to the mat.  Pulver scrambles to his feet as Chrenshaw slowly backs into the corner and allows him to do so.

CHAD GOMEZ:
Look at that, Chrenshaw is already inside Pulver's head! He wasn't even trying to do a follow up attack and Pulver was scrambling to avoid it.

SAM HEWITT:
They've fought each other multiple times... tags and singles, I think Pulver knows what to expect from the man by now.

The two get in close to grapple again, but it's Pulver who strikes first - dropping the Crippler with a dropkick to the knee! Pulver quickly rolls Chrenshaw onto his stomach, then Pulver sticks his foot between Chrenshaw's legs, crosses both legs over and slaps Chrenshaw's body, forcing his arms to come back.  Pulver rocks him back and forth before finally getting him back into a Mexican surfboard.  Pulver puts his free leg on the back of Chrenshaw's head as he yanks the arms back, creating a mighty uncomfortable situation for the Crippler but Chrenshaw to his credit stays calm and refuses to submit.  Pulver releases the arms and kicks Chrenshaw's head, sending him forward as he uncrosses his legs and gets back to his feet.  He sits Chrenshaw up and applies a chin lock, Chrenshaw fights up to his feet after a struggle and nails him with a backdrop suplex! Chrenshaw swings his hips and returns to his feet, but Pulver ankle picks him and takes him down to the mat! Pulver tries to clamp on the single leg crab, but Chrenshaw clocks him with an upkick sending him tumbling back into the ropes, giving the Crippler enough time to get to his feet.  Chrenshaw charges forth, but gets hip tossed by Pulver!

SAM HEWITT:
You always hear talk about how a steel cage match changes a fighter, but I think you're seeing great evidence of it right here.  Matt Pulver has been in charge of the match since the opening bell, besting Ben Chrenshaw at every turn. 

Pulver hip tosses Chrenshaw again, but hangs onto the arm and applies a single chickenwing before transitioning the hold into a hammerlock.  Pulver rolls Chrenshaw onto his stomach while keeping the hammerlock applied, then leaps up... driving the knee into his arm! Chrenshaw yelps and rolls out of the ring, kicking the guard rail as he does.  He walks around the ring, shaking his arm out as chants of PULVER! PULVER! PULVER! begin filling the venue.  Chrenshaw leaps back on the apron and climbs inside the ring, offering up a knuckle lock again... Pulver complies but gets kicked in the gut and smashed in the back with a forearm as he doubles over.  Chrenshaw backs him into the ropes and quickly shoots him out.  Chrenshaw nearly decapitates him on the return with a vicious calf kick, leading Cordell Garner to check on Pulver.  The Crippler shoos him away and grabs the arm of Pulver, pulling him back up and clamps on a front chancery before throwing Pulver's arm over his head and snapping off a suplex! Pulver sits up in pain, but this proves to be the wrong move as Chrenshaw is on him immediately with a rear chinlock! Chrenshaw drives the knee into the spine to increase the pressure, forcing Pulver to put his foot on the bottom rope to make Chrenshaw break the hold.  The former Heritage and Iron Champion isn't happy about it, but releases it and then stomps on Pulver's leg, the one he put on the bottom rope before he pulls him up to his feet and looks for another suplex... but this time he throws him forward and drops him stomach first across the middle rope! Chrenshaw quickly remembers to grab him and guide him back inside the ring because if Pulver fell to the outside, it would be an automatic disqualification.  Chrenshaw rolls Pulver onto his back and covers!

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2-KICK OUT!

Chrenshaw returns to the rear chinlock, but Pulver reaches up and yanks down the head - kneeing him in the process! Chrenshaw staggers back into the ropes, Pulver scrambles to his feet but eats a rebound lariat! Chrenshaw goes for another cover!

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FOOT ON THE ROPE!

Chrenshaw yanks the foot off the rope and covers again.

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KICK OUT!

The Crippler gets up, stomps on the leg once more and grabs it, looking for the single leg crab but Pulver catches him with an upkick and kips up! Chrenshaw tries the lariat again, but Pulver ducks... GERMAN SUPLEX! BRIDGE!

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KICK OUT!

Pulver pulls Chrenshaw up, then tries for a Northern Lights suplex... but Chrenshaw clubs him in the back and then rears back... knees him in the gut! With Pulver doubled over, Chrenshaw grabs him in an inverted facelock and pulls him into the Dragon Sleeper - the CS Lewis! Pulver tries to fight it, but Chrenshaw drops to his knees and Pulver's legs begin showing less signs of life, but he still swings them... trying to get to the ropes.  Chrenshaw focuses on applying pressure rather than backing Pulver away from the ropes, proving to be a mistake as Pulver drops his foot on the rope.  The Crippler pulls him off instead of breaking the hold, so Cordell Garner gives him a five count... Pulver knees him in the head at four! Chrenshaw stumbles back, falling through the bottom and middle ropes.  Pulver gets up, takes a knee as he tries to get some colour back in his face after being choked.  Pulver gets up, leans over the ropes and tries to suplex Chrenshaw back into the ring but the Crippler drives a fist into Pulver's midsection and counters the move by suplexing Pulver to the outside! Pulver lands awkwardly on his leg and yells out in pain, Chrenshaw lies on the apron smiling before rolling back inside the ring.

CHAD GOMEZ:
How good is Ben Chrenshaw?! Even when the man does a desperation move, it works out in his favour!

SAM HEWITT:
This could prove to be a pivotal point in this match.  Also, for the record - not a disqualification because Chrenshaw was not in the ring at the time of the move. 

In a moment eerily similar to their match last summer, Pulver is having leg trouble and could very well be counted out.  Ben Chrenshaw rolls back out, grabs Pulver and goes to throw him back inside the ring but Pulver throws him into the apron! Chrenshaw writhes in pain and gets thrown back inside the ring, Pulver slowly climbs up onto the apron... slow enough to give the Crippler time to recover and he cuts Pulver off with a forearm shot! He grabs Pulver and suplexes him back inside the ring! Chrenshaw rolls through, pulling Pulver back up and looking for another... but grabs the leg... PULVER SMALL PACKAGES HIM!

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3-NO!

Chrenshaw's bad luck with flash pins doesn't continue as he kicks out just in time.  Pulver doesn't get much time to get up as Chrenshaw chop blocks him from behind, then drags him into the centre of the ring and begins kicking away at his leg in frustration.  Chrenshaw tries to clamp on the hold, but Pulver reaches up and begins firing shots at the Crippler! Chrenshaw tries to grab both legs for better leverage but Pulver swings his hips and sends Chrenshaw flying! Pulver turns and pulls himself up with the ropes... Chrenshaw gets up, charges across the ring... HAMMER OF THOR! Pulver lunges into it, and falls into Chrenshaw after hitting him - effectively guiding him to the mat for the pinfall!

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3!

Pulver rolls off, holding his arms up in victory but turns his attention immediately back to his leg.  Chrenshaw looks to be out cold! Pulver lays down and rolls out to the apron, then sits with his legs dangling over as the ringside doctor checks him out.  He hops off the apron, wincing in pain as some stage hands come by to help.  Pulver rejects the help and slowly, and a bit unsteadily heads toward the back.  Pulver slaps hands with a few fans and stops to sign an autograph despite the pain.  He limps up the aisle and stops, just in time to see Ben Chrenshaw charging up after him... the Crippler kicks his leg out from underneath him and shoos the broadcast team, retrieving a chair.  Security and stage hands rush up, but Chrenshaw is able to smash the leg with a chair once before they intervene.  He throws the chair down and gets escorted to the back as stage hands assist Pulver as the show ends.