7/6/2017 - Mane Event

The bell sounds at the call of referee Xavier Price, Grace Kazoulis and Matt Stone engage in a lock-up and Kazoulis backs the showman up into the corner forcing Price to step in and call for a break.  Kazoulis goes to back up, not appearing to be up to any tricks but the Ottawa, Ontario native kicks her in the gut! He follows it up with two consecutive European uppercuts then grabs her by the hair and drags her across the ring - slamming her into the top turnbuckle! He grabs her by the hair a second time and slams her again! Kazoulis comes to a rest in the corner, but Stone keeps on the attack - delivering a shoulder thrust to her midsection as she's pressed against the corner.  Stone backs off before the count can reach five and showboats a bit, then heads back... only to eat a big right hand from Kazoulis! Stone goes down, but rolls back to his feet.  Kazoulis goes for a swing, but Stone ducks it and rolls forward.  He pops up to his feet, leaps up and over a charging Sheracles... causing her to rebound off the ropes.  He drops down, but Kazoulis elbow drops him in the back of the head! He gets up, holding his head and Kazoulis grabs him... SCOOP SLAM! Stone rolls onto his side and scrambles toward the ropes, Kazoulis yanks him up to a vertical base then shoots him across... he hits the ropes, BACK BODY DROP by Kazoulis!

SAM HEWITT
Some great high impact offense in the early moments of this match by the Sheracles, Grace Kazoulis.  Both fighters in this one coming off wins in their last matches, definitely looking to cement a claim for a Heritage title shot with a win here tonight.  For Kazoulis, she's trying to make her second challenge for the belt having fought Corey Cruelty for it back in November of last year while Matt Stone is trying to earn his first and only challenge thus far. 

Stone slowly gets up to his feet, but is spun around and locked in a bearhug! Stone tries to size up Kazoulis' head with his hands and Mongolian chop his way out but she increases the pressure! Stone shouts an obscenity as she does.  He reaches over for the ropes, but she's got him dead centre of the ring.  Stone tells Price to "ask him" and Price... is as confused as you or I.  He gets in close and asks Stone if he'd like to submit, and he responds with... A THUMB TO THE EYE OF GRACE KAZOULIS! It goes undetected as Price was inquiring about Stone's status in the hold.  Kazoulis releases Stone and he powders out to the outside to try and relieve some of the soreness and stiffness in his back.  After a quick walk, he gets back in the ring at six.  Stone extends his hand, asking Kazoulis to show some sportsmanship... she puts her hands on her hips and looks at the crowd incredulously...

CHAD GOMEZ
She can't believe that THE MATT STONE wants to shake her hand!?

SAM HEWITT
After he just thumbed her in the eye.  What a guy.

When it becomes obvious that Kazoulis isn't going to fall for this charade, Stone goes for a kick... but unlike earlier in the bout, she catches it and Stone hops on one foot apologizing profusely.  She spins him around and locks on an abdominal stretch! Stone grunts, but wiggles free and hip tosses Kazoulis to the mat.  She gets up and he blasts her with a quick kick to the gut again.  He clamps on a front chancery and goes for a suplex, but she blocks it and then counters it with a vertical suplex of her own! She makes a quick cover - not hooking the leg!

1...

...

2-KICK OUT!

Kazoulis gets up and tries to drag Stone up with her, but the Abominable Showman shoulders her in the midsection and backs her up into the corner to try and buy himself a moment or two.  Price steps in and tries to separate the two.  Stone goes to back away, but grabs both of Kazoulis' legs and swoops them out from underneath her! She hits her head on the second turnbuckle and Stone drags her into the middle of the ring.  He lets go of the legs and nonchalantly walks around to her side where he kisses his first and slams it down into her head! Stone gets up, asking the crowd if they want two - they boo in response and he takes this as a yes... looking for a second, but there's no one home for this fist drop! Stone shakes his fist out in pain as Kazoulis has rolled away and crawls back up to her feet.  She uses the ropes to steady herself after hitting her head, feeling a bit wobbly... she watches as Stone gets up... rushes in... SHO-NO! Her palm strike attempt is interrupted by Stone once again going back to driving a shoulder into her midsection! He backs her into the corner again and drives it in a couple more times! He then steps onto the second rope and raises his fist...

ONE...

TWO...

Kazoulis pushes him off! He lands on his feet and charges in... BOOT THE FACE!

SAM HEWITT
You got to believe that after all she said about Matt Stone running his mouth that that kick was well placed.

CHAD GOMEZ
Maybe, but where else are going to kick him running in like that? Aim for the head, just like zombies.

Stone staggers around, Kazoulis shakes the cobwebs out and darts after him but the Canadian fighter drops to the mat and Kazoulis goes over the top rope and to the floor! Price immediately exits the ring to check on her quickly and after determining that she's OK he climbs back inside and begins the ten count.  Stone gets to his feet, telling him to count faster... but Kazoulis is back up and about to get into the ring at eight so Stone exits to the apron and kicks her in the head! She falls and Stone gets back in the ring, Kazoulis hops back up and gets on the apron... Stone greets her with a knee to the gut and tries to suplex her back inside, but Kazoulis blocks it... then tries to suplex him up... presumably a gourdbuster into the ring because outside would result in a disqualification.  Nevertheless, Stone manages to get himself back down on solid ground and knees Kazoulis in the gut! She falls to her knees on the apron and Stone drags her through the middle and top ropes... sticking her between his legs.  A fan yells out "PILEDRIVE MISS DAISY!" and Stone hoists her up, but she flails her legs... SHE BACKDROPS HIM! Stone gets up... SHOTEI FROM KAZOULIS! Stone goes down and rolls out of the ring, looking for a breather... but Kazoulis isn't interested in time outs! She follows him out, Stone rushes around the corner and drops down.  Kazoulis comes around and ducks the blindside attack attempt, Stone is hoisted up into a Gorilla Press! Kazoulis walks toward the ring, looking to press slam him back into it but he wiggles free and rams her her into the ring post! Stone sizes her up... then charges in... NO ONE HOME! Kazoulis ducks, but Stone manages to stop himself before he collides with it.  Kazoulis tries to get back inside the ring upon hearing the NINE count, but Stone dives in desperation, grabbing her foot and preventing her from making the count! The bell sounds with Price declaring both fighters have been counted out.  Kazoulis slides back out of the ring and grabs Stone, hip tossing him onto the cement floor! Stone hobbles to his feet, dumps himself over the guardrail and hobbles away as Kazoulis steams at ringside.

We return from commercial and are immediately taken to a video package.

MARCH 30th, 2017
La Cucaracha grabs a hold of the belt's strap... goes to unclasp it... LIVER SHOT BY IRVINE! Cucaracha's eyes widen and she slips on the rung... then slowly falls off the ladder. Irvine grabs the top of the ladder to hold on as she hits the mat. He looks up, reaches... climbs up another step... reaches and unclasps the belt as the bell sounds.

MAY 27th, 2017
Irvine sluggishly mounts on top of Fujiko Mine. With a roar, he begins raining down punches! Fujiko can't afford to reach for the ropes because she'd eat a blow right to the face, so she remains covered up. He sends numerous punches to the face that just keep coming on the same deadly rhythm! Fuji's arms are taking a bruising as she just tries to deflect some of the blows but Irvine just keeps sinking them in! Fujiko tries to wriggle away... blow... after blow... after blow... Fujiko's hands fall away from her face! She's defenceless!

JUNE 15th, 2017
Whitaker pushes the bottom rope closer and Drake tries to stretch out for it. Garner is unable to see it from his vantage point, but looks back - Whitaker lets go and continues slamming his hand on the apron. Drake inches closer and closer... he reaches out, Whitaker pushes the rope forward again. Drake is within reach... he grabs for it... IRVINE PUNCHES WHITAKER IN THE LIVER! The rope goes back to its normal position and Drake misses it! Chrenshaw wrenches back... Drake grabs his head in pain then taps! Irvine slides in the ring and slaps hands with Chrenshaw as the two each boot Drake, who lays on the mat in pain. Irvine gives Drake a facewash as he tries to push up off the mat. Richie rolls onto his back and flips Irvine off, the Wolf smiles and turns to Chrenshaw. The Crippler nods and Irvine raises his foot, ready to stomp Drake's face but Carl Whitaker, staggered and hurt bounds into the ring and clocks Irvine with a right hand! Irvine goes down!


"That's the thing about fire; its destructive, dominant, dangerous. It will engulf and eat nearly anything and everything in its path; a hunger that cannot be sated. But a raging inferno can only go on a rampage for so long before fading away; leaving nothing but a memory behind. Every fire eventually collapses upon itself, finding nothing to consume left but itself. But I'm a man that's been thrown into the fire time and time again and every single time I emerge from that burning building smelling like smoke. I smell like smoke but I look like a million bucks because this Texas Bull is fireproof.”

"You smell like smoke and look like a million bucks because your not willing to get burned and earn what you want. Make no mistake about it, I don't hold what you want Carl, I'm who you want to be. I'm a man who's honest and transparent, I don't kiss ass or suck dick, yet still I'm on the top of this federation because I bleed for Lion's Road. I'm the devil who has sold his soul to mankind to commit violence upon them."



"Cry for the Bad Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd begins and Carl Whitaker strolls out from the back to a mixed reaction. He surveys the scene ahead briefly before climbing down the stairs and walks around the ring to the opposite side where he climbs the ring steps and enters, removing his ring jacket. Motorhead's "In the Year of the Wolf" blasts as the stage erupts with fire. Through the smoke emerges Alexander Irvine with his head cast down. He takes a moment on the stage, slowly lifts his head and releases the smoke from his mouth. He marches down the stairs, the Heritage Championship glistening under the stage lights. He climbs the stairs to the ring, removing his BLR shirt on the apron and tosses it aside. He steps through the ropes and walks over to his corner... throwing a few kicks and punches before bouncing back and forth shaking his arms out. He removes the Heritage strap and hands it to referee Cordell Garner.

JAKE AARONS
Ladies and gentlemen, this bout is to be fought over a twenty minute time limit with one fall, one submission or a knockout to decide the winner! Introducing first fighting out of Beaumont, Texas! He weighed in this morning at two hundred and twenty eight pounds... making his first challenge for the Heritage Championship... CARL WHITAKER! Introducing his opponent... fighting out of Keokuk, Iowa! He weighed in this morning at two hundred and fifteen pounds... he is the current, reigning and defending Heritage Champion... ALEXANDER IRVINE!

Referee Cordell Garner calls both men into the middle of the ring.

JAKE AARONS
Your referee for this bout is Cordell Garner.

Garner goes over the rules with both men and asks them if they want to bump fists. Irvine's gaze is full of fury, he extends it but Whitaker smirks and backs up. The bell sounds. Irvine and Whitaker each come out of their corner and put their fists up, Whitaker remains much more calm and relaxed in his demeanour while Irvine bounces about looking for an opening. The Heritage Champion uses a couple jabs to find the range between the two men, but Whitaker's stance doesn't change. Irvine moves in, trying to swoop in and blister Whitaker with a leg kick but Ol' Stonehands absorbs it and swings! This causes Irvine to duck last second to narrowly avoid head being fired like a cannon. Irvine goes for a takedown, but Whitaker sprawls out and then releases Irvine from his grip. Irvine gets up and gathers himself, watching Whitaker intently as he does. The two circle, extending their arms to find the range once more. They lock-up, but are too close to the ropes to effectively grapple. Garner calls for a break, Irvine wriggles free from Whitaker who is backed against the ropes. He pats Stonehands on the chest and then slaps him across the face! Whitaker's eyes go red and he swings for the fences, Irvine ducks it and grabs him in a clinch and unloads some knees into his chest! Irvine lets go of Whitaker, throwing him into the corner and then charges in... KNEE! KNEE! KNEE! The Heritage Champion stops briefly and eats a throat thrust! Irvine staggers backwards, but doesn't have a chance to catch his breath as Whitaker grabs him... SCOOP SLAM! Irvine writhes in pain on the mat, but the Bull gives him no room to recover - stomping away on his arm until he forces Irvine to roll out of the ring.

SAM HEWITT
We're seeing glimpses of Carl Whitaker's game plan early on - attacking the right arm of Alexander Irvine.  You soften up the dominant hand, you lessen the effectiveness of not only his signature liver shot but any submissions he clamps on will be significantly weaker also. 

Garner grabs Whitaker and asks him to back up while Irvine gets up off the ground on the outside and smiles before taking a walk around the length of the ring.  He climbs up on the apron and gets in at eight, but is met by a takedown attempt! The corner saves Irvine from going down as he was unbalanced coming in and also serves to save him from whatever Whitaker had planned because it forces a break.  The Bull puts his hands up and backs away, but then blisters the chest of the champion with a knife edge chop! Whitaker smiles at the sound of it hitting Irvine's chest and then winds up for a second... Irvine ducks it and turns around, Whitaker spins... DISCUS LARIAT~! Irvine goes down! Whitaker grabs Irvine and feeds him a couple knees, then grabs him up in a front waist lock... looking for that belly to belly suplex... but Irvine headbutts himself free! He does a quick go behind, Whitaker tries to hit him with a back elbow smash but Irvine abandons the waist lock and instead takes him to the mat with a Fujiwara armbar! Whitaker's groans of pain are heard as Irvine cranks back on the arm, the Bull looking to grab the ropes that are so very close to him with his other arm - and does! Irvine rolls to his feet and watches Whitaker attempt to climb back to his feet, hitting him with several kicks to the arm as he does.  Irvine fakes a kick, then blasts Whitaker with an elbow smash! Whitaker falls onto all fours and Irvine scrambles across his back, clamping on an Anaconda Choke! Irvine rolls with it, Garner gets into great position and watches as Whitaker is fading quickly... but a huge roar of the crowd causes him to look up and see that the Bull has draped his foot over the bottom rope. 

CHAD GOMEZ
And just like that - Lilly and Logan's meals are safe for now!

Irvine lets go and backs off, Whitaker crawls to his feet but retreats in the corner... the Heritage Champion delivers several knees to his midsection.  Whitaker doubles over in pain, but stands straight back up... and delivers a TEXAS SIZED UPPERCUT to Irvine who staggers back but comes back with a smile and knees Whitaker again! THEY START TRADING! KNEE! UPPERCUT! KNEE! UPPERCUT! KNEE! UPPERCUT! KNEE! UPPERCUT! KNEE! Whitaker falls to his knees and Irvine throws him down to the mat then stands over him as he lays there.  Garner tells him to pin him or back off for the ten count, so Irvine uses his foot to roll Whitaker onto his back and places ONE FOOT on his chest.

1-KICK OUT!

Irvine chuckles and ducks behind Whitaker as he sits up, the challenger looks around for his opponent... but the Wolf finds him first! He clamps on a front chancery... GUILLOTINE CHOKE! He drags Whitaker to his feet and stands on his tip-toes to really crank it in.  Whitaker knees Irvine in the thigh out of desperation, bringing him back down to a flat base and then bulls him into the corner turnbuckles! Whitaker breaks free and backs up, but the Heritage Champion charges out and clamps on the guillotine choke again! Whitaker drives him into the corner once more, but Irvine tightens his grip in anticipation of it! Whitaker thrashes around, trying to find a way out before his lights go out... he grabs Irvine in a front waist lock... NORTHE-

OH

MY

GOD!

SAM HEWITT
I don't even know what you'd call that!

CHAD GOMEZ
I mean, I THINK he was going for a Northern Lights suplex but between the energy that he's expended and the choke being applied, he just didn't have enough oomph to get him up and over... but this may have worked out for the better!

A replay shows a pretty normal Northern Lights suplex to start, but Whitaker's legs go wobbly on him and Irvine crashes head first into the mat! Garner is checking on Irvine, who rolls onto his stomach and begins trying to crawl over to the ropes.  Whitaker lays on the mat, chest heaving but his eyes fixed upwards - watching Irvine's movements.  Irvine gets to his feet, leaning on the top rope as Garner's count reaches five.  Whitaker gets up slowly, Irvine pushes off the ropes and makes his way over... sizing the Bull up... HE GOES FOR THE LIVER! HE HITS IT!

BUT...

STONEHANDS CAUGHT HIM WITH THE RIGHT HOOK ALSO!

Irvine crashes down onto the ropes again while Whitaker writhes in pain on the mat, Garner begins the count on Whitaker.

1...

2...

3...

4...

Irvine drops to his knees, smacking himself in the head a couple of times.

5...

6...

Shaking his head out, Whitaker is trying to crawl toward the ropes.

7...

8...

Whitaker grabs the ropes.

9...

PULLS HIMSELF UP!

Irvine hears the count stop and eyes the big screen, watching Whitaker fight through the pain of the liver shot to walk over to him.... Irvine turns, ELBOW SMASH! Whitaker goes down and Irvine plops on top of him.  Garner slides into position!

1...

...

2...

...

3!

Irvine lays motionless on top of Whitaker as his music plays, Garner checks both men out and rolls Irvine onto his back.  The Heritage Champion answers a few basic questions as he lays on the mat and then attempts to sit up, but can't.  So he rolls onto his side and climbs up that way, accepting his belt once he gets to his feet. 

SAM HEWITT
Fans, if you know Alexander Irvine - he's not too keen on pinfall victories.  He likes the definitive nature of a knockout or a submission, so I don't think that pinfall was intentional.  He was just knocked silly by Carl Whitaker's right hook and put whatever he had left into that elbow. 

CHAD GOMEZ
Give your due to Carl Whitaker.  I've never seen someone fight through a liver shot and get back up... we almost had a double knockout! He planted his fist into the side of Irvine's skull just as the liver shot connected! I don't know if that lessened the impact of the liver shot or what, but Whitaker got back up from it.  Amazing.

Irvine leans down to Whitaker as the stage hands are tending to him, says a few words then bumps his fist into his shoulder before exiting the ring.  Irvine climbs the steps, stands tall on the stage - one defense away from a Heritage clause.