2/8/2018 - Wrestling from the Lion's Road

The program returns from commercial with Ben Chrenshaw on the apron, he smirks as he dips down and steps through the ropes.  AJ Knight walks from his corner and extends his hand, Chrenshaw pauses and looks at AJ with an incredulous grin... then nods, slapping it.  AJ shrugs as if to say good enough and hustles around Chrenshaw as Cordell Garner sounds for the bell to begin the second stage. 

SAM HEWITT
Here we go set to begin the second stage of the gauntlet.  It's a teacher vs. student, master vs. apprentice - Ben Chrenshaw vs. AJ Knight.  AJ managed to dispatch of David Troy in just four minutes with a palm strike and a quick jackknife hold netting him the win.  Chrenshaw is a bit more methodical than David Troy so look for this one to push up against the time limit.

CHAD GOMEZ
Which is great news for Justin Seville.  His first match in three months, he might have some ring rust... so the fact that he gets to step in there fresh with a guy who's already competed in one or two matches is a big help for him.

Knight approaches Chrenshaw who keeps backing away, AJ stops and asks if they're going to fight or not.  Chrenshaw beckons him, AJ shakes his head and points to the mat in front of him and draws a line with his finger.  Chrenshaw backs up and leans against the turnbuckle, as comfortable as he can make himself.  AJ says fuck it and storms the gates, Chrenshaw tries to push out of the corner but AJ shoots in and gets a leg... taking him down to the mat.  He quickly takes Chrenshaw's back and applies a rear waist hold and then rolls him over for what looked like a German suplex-style bridge attempt - however, Chrenshaw continues rolling right to the ropes.  Garner begins the five count for AJ to release the hold and at four he does, Chrenshaw gets up and motions to Garner that AJ yanked his tights.  Garner gets up in his face about it, AJ denies it of course and Chrenshaw cracks a smile.  AJ doesn't look too impressed by the mind games and gets ready to go again.  The two teammates lock-up and jockey for position, each man pushing the other back a few steps before reversing the process.  Chrenshaw grabs a wrist and pulls an arm wringer out of the collar and elbow tie-up then executes a fireman's carry takedown! He tries to take command from side control, but AJ kicks his legs up and wraps them around Chrenshaw's head to apply the headscissors.  Chrenshaw kips up out of the hold and then tells Garner that AJ yanked his hair.  Both Garner and AJ look confused as AJ didn't even use his hands to apply the headscissors. 

CHAD GOMEZ
This is the first time AJ Knight and Ben Chrenshaw have locked up one on one and we've all seen the amount of respect that both these men have for each other, but I love the dynamic here - Chrenshaw's taught AJ a lot... but the Crippler can get inside your head like no one else.  Don't get me wrong, AJ's a great worm... but he's no Ben Chrenshaw. 

Another lock-up leads to Chrenshaw pulling a side headlock out of it.  AJ drops to a knee and lifts Chrenshaw's left leg off the mat, but the Crippler applies more pressure and AJ abandons that strategy and opts instead to push Chrenshaw into the ropes.  The former Heritage Champion is shot off, AJ drops to the mat in an attempt to trip him up but Chrenshaw stomps him in the back! The Crippler grabs AJ up off the mat, but the Crusader explodes... hoisting Chrenshaw up and dropping him across his knee with an atomic drop! Chrenshaw doubles over in pain, AJ follows it up by popping him with a rolling forearm shot! Chrenshaw goes down, AJ is fired up... but when he decides to go for the pin, Chrenshaw has rolled out to the floor! AJ realizes his exuberance got the better of him there and cost him the opportunity to maybe score another quick win.  Chrenshaw picks himself up off the floor and rubs his face as he takes a stroll around the ringside area, Knight tries to go out after him but Garner tells him to back it up and continues his count.  He reaches six, Chrenshaw grabs the ropes and slings himself back in under the bottom rope. 

SAM HEWITT
Chrenshaw displaying some of those veteran tactics you mentioned.  AJ hit the combination and the Crippler powdered out of the ring, disrupting the momentum that AJ was able to build.

Chrenshaw locks up with AJ again, but the younger of the two backs the Crippler up into the ropes and surprisingly breaks clean.  Chrenshaw nods, impressed by his partner but then swings at him.  AJ BLOCKS IT! He clobbers Chrenshaw with a forearm shot! Chrenshaw goes down and rolls out again, but AJ is hot on his trail! Chrenshaw slides back in, but AJ grabs his legs and hops between the bottom and middle ropes to grab a side headlock on Chrenshaw! Chrenshaw fights up to his feet and pushes AJ into the ropes and sends him off, AJ comes back and the Crippler ducks the attempted running attack.  He clamps on a choke sleeper... but AJ jolts forward and drops... Chrenshaw lets go of the hold and grabs the top rope to stop himself from hitting the top turnbuckle.  Knight dropkicks Chrenshaw in the back of the leg! The Crippler groans in pain as his knee buckles, but AJ stays focused despite a brief look of concern on his face.  He grabs Chrenshaw's leg and pulls him away from the ropes - then hooks the leg under his arm and turns him over!

CHAD GOMEZ
Here's a kid with something to prove - he's got the single leg crab, the Wrinkle in Time... applied on Ben Chrenshaw!

The fans are loud as Chrenshaw holds his head in pain. 

...

He digs his elbows into the mat and slowly lurches forward, reaching out for the ropes. 

...

HE GRABS THEM! Chrenshaw's grabbing of the ropes forces Garner to tell AJ to release the hold and after a four count, he does.  Despite not wanting to, AJ listens to Garner's command to allow Chrenshaw a chance to get up and away from the ropes.  Chrenshaw gets up to a knee and turns towards AJ, glaring at him.  The Crusader runs up and grabs the Crippler, but a shot to the gut interrupts whatever he had in mind.  Chrenshaw grabs him and sends him through the ropes and to the floor, which of course earns him a yellow card. 

JAKE AARONS
Ladies and gentlemen, referee Cordell Garner has issued a yellow card to Ben Chrenshaw for throwing his opponent through the ropes and to the floor! This is his first public warning!

Chrenshaw rolls out after him and picks him up, slamming him head first into the apron.  AJ falls down, but Chrenshaw hoists him onto the apron... then grabs his leg, he essentially delivers a cutter to it - bringing it down over the apron! AJ rolls into the ring, hurting a ton from that.  Chrenshaw has to take a moment and allow his own leg to recuperate though, which gives AJ ample opportunity to recover inside the ring.  Chrenshaw slides in, AJ stomps on him several times then hauls him to his feet.  He looks to be going for a swinging neckbreaker out of the front chancery, but Chrenshaw senses it's coming and pulls free.  He kicks AJ in the gut, applies a front chancery of his own... SUP-nope, AJ blocks it.  He tries again, but AJ blocks once more.  Chrenshaw tries a third time and gets him up...

KNEE TO THE HEAD FROM AJ!

CHRENSHAW FALLS!

AJ LANDS ON TOP AND HOOKS THE LEG!

1...

...

2... HE'S GOT THE TIGHTS!

...

3!

AJ rolls off and raises his arms in victory, Chrenshaw sits up... a bit flabbergasted, he looks like he wants to tell Garner what happened but instead gets up and offers his hand to AJ.  Knight is suspicious... but extends it.

SAM HEWITT
Even in a battle of underhanded tactics, there's sportsmanship to be had. 

Chrenshaw pulls AJ to his feet and says a few words, before yanking him right into his knee! The knee finds its mark in AJ's stomach and he grimaces in pain as he falls to the mat, trying to catch his breath.

CHAD GOMEZ
Is a knee to the bread basket sportsmanship, Sambo? Or is that a receipt?

Chrenshaw stands over AJ and utters one word, "WIN!" before turning to exit the ring, limping a bit. 

---

---

Our final commercial break ends, Justin Seville is walking down the aisle rubbing his hands and smirking as AJ Knight sits against the ropes, breathing heavily.  He grabs the ropes and pulls himself up, Seville charges the ring and begins beating on AJ! He grabs him and chucks him out of the ring! Garner holds up a yellow card, but does Seville care one bit? Not at all! He follows AJ out to the floor and grabs him, slamming him against the guardrail back first! AJ cries out in pain, Seville pulls him up by the hair and socks him with a right hand that sends the self-proclaimed "New Ace of Lion's Road" down onto the cold, hard floor.  Seville spots the shirt and grabs it, unfurling it and turning to the crowd and camera to laugh at it.  He twists it up and wraps it around AJ's neck, pulling him up as he pushes his knee into the spine.  Cordell Garner jumps out of the ring and gets in Seville's face, administering a five count.  Seville lets go at four and wipes his face with the shirt before chucking it on the ground.  Seville pulls AJ off the floor and throws him up onto the apron and rolls him inside. 

CHAD GOMEZ
There were lots of debates on social media this past week from fans on who would be the best third opponent for AJ Knight if he got through the first two.  This just might be the worst case scenario for AJ Knight.  You're two matches in, your own partner kneed you in the solar plexus for cheating to win and now you've got to contend with a dude that hates your guts for costing him the King of Lions Championship last April. 

Seville yanks AJ up to a vertical base and throws him into the corner.  He begins working the body with punches and as AJ begins to lurch forward, Seville rocks him with a clothesline! AJ begins stumbling out.  Seville charges forward, looking to hit a bulldog but AJ pushes him off into the turnbuckles! Seville stops himself just short of striking and turns around...

SUPERKICK BY AJ!

Seville falls backwards into the corner and takes a seat.  AJ staggers to his feet and begins stomping away on him, Garner's count reaches five and he pulls AJ away and pulls out a yellow card.  Garner wedges himself between AJ and Seville, trying to push AJ back but this allows Seville to poke him in the eyes! AJ grabs his face as he falls to his knees, unable to see at this moment in time.  Garner looks at Seville, but the Serious man from North Carolina is busy overselling in the corner.  Mere seconds later, a miraculous recovery has been made by Seville and he grabs AJ and clamps on a front chancery.  He tries to hoist him up, but AJ blocks the suplex attempt.  Seville pushes AJ back into the corner and drives a shoulder into the midsection and then blasts him with a corner clothesline once more.  AJ staggers out, falling against the ropes.  Seville pulls at his singlet, bringing him into the center of the ring and applies a rear waist hold... BACKDROP SUPLEX! He turns over and makes a cover!

1...

...

2...

...

3-NO!

Seville argues with the count but gets up and begins pushing AJ with his boot, edging him toward the ropes.  Seville charges into the ropes and nails a baseball slide, sending AJ out to the floor with no regard to his landing.  Garner gives Seville his second yellow card and tries to keep him inside the ring as AJ recovers on the floor.  Seville exits on the adjacent side and comes around where AJ is on one knee, he grabs the Crusader and sends him careening into the ring post! AJ's head bounces like a ball off of it and he falls to the ground, Garner jumps out of the ring again and orders Seville back inside or he's disqualifying him.  Seville chuckles and tells him whatever you say goes before rolling inside, Garner checks on AJ who lifts his head.

SAM HEWITT
Oh my goodness, AJ's face is covered with blood from being driven into the ring post!

Garner is asking AJ if he can continue and AJ responds not in words, but by movement.  He gets to his feet and although he's wobbly as hell, he grabs the middle rope and begins climbing back in.  Seville grabs him and pulls him through the ropes.  He yanks him into position for the Piledriver! He tries to lift him, but AJ fights it.  Seville sets him back down and AJ tries to power up and back drop Seville, but drops to his knees unable to do so.  Seville tries again, but still nothing.  Seville shoves him back against the ropes, AJ bounces off and cracks Seville with a forearm shot! The crowd comes alive as Seville spins around from the shot but cuts off the comeback with a right hook.  AJ drops to a knee as Seville shakes off the effects of the forearm, "Serious" grabs AJ who shoves him away.  Seville comes right back...

LEAPING ENZUIGIRI!

Seville falls down, AJ does too.  He looks up, face bloodied beyond recognition and tries to feel his way over to Seville.  The crowd roars when he's close and he slumps his body on top.

1...

...

2...

NO!

AJ rolls off and the camera shows a bunch of AJ's blood on Seville's chest.  The North Carolina native rolls onto his side and uses the ropes to help him back to his feet, AJ Knight is breathing heavily on the mat - lying amongst his own blood.  The crowd begins roaring with chants of "AJ! AJ! AJ!" and Seville yells at them to shut up, AJ seems to come alive from this energy and rolls up to his knees.  He gets up but eats a boot from Seville, sending him back down to a knee.  Seville sizes him up and goes to grab him, but AJ yanks him to the mat...

FUJIWARA ARMBAR!

AJ tries his damnedest to apply pressure, but its meager at best.  Seville escapes easily and gets back up, he slams a forearm down across AJ's back and pulls him in for the piledriver.

AJ BACK DROPS HIM!

SAM HEWITT
I have no idea where this kid is getting the energy from! He's lost a ton of blood from being run into the ring post, he's fought two different opponents already and he's being taken to task by Justin Seville but still the kid has some fight left in him!

Seville rolls under the ropes, AJ wipes his eyes and looks around for him but all he sees is Dr. Pierson enter the ring.  Pierson grabs him and checks him over, but the doctor gets piefaced by AJ! Garner gulps knowing that's a disqualification... but he tells Pierson to stay out.  He'll call it if he needs to! Pierson can be heard saying he's in no rush to get back in there after that.  AJ crawls on his hands and knees, dripping blood on the mat as he does.  AJ darts to his feet, Seville cracks him with a flying knee strike! AJ goes down in a heap and Seville falls on all fours.  Garner begins counting both men.

1...

2...

3...

4...

Seville grabs the top rope and pulls himself to his feet.

5...

6...

7...

AJ rolls onto his stomach and pushes up, but falls.

8...

AJ pushes up again, this time getting his knees up underneath him.

9...

SEVILLE RUNS UP! GRABS HIM!

PILED-NO!

AJ somehow, someway pushes Seville back against the turnbuckle to prevent him from executing the move.  Seville hammers down on his back with forearm shots, AJ falls down to his knees.  Seville pulls him up by the hair and slaps him down! AJ falls into the centre of the ring, Seville steps out of the corner and drops to the mat.  He clamps on an arm triangle!

AJ is fighting it!

Somehow!

AJ is struggling!

Seville tightens it and AJ's attempts to fight it grow weaker and weaker.

GARNER STOPS THE MATCH!

The bell sounds, Seville keeps the hold applied for a few seconds longer than necessary but lets go after being yanked off by Garner.  Seville gets up and raises his arms, laughing in victory as the crowd boos the shit out of him.  AJ is attended to by medical staff as Seville stands up on the second rope with his arms raised, wiping the blood of AJ across his chest.

SAM HEWITT
Justin Seville makes a triumphant, if not controversial statement in his return to Lion's Road and puts a damper on AJ Knight's quest to run the gauntlet.  This was not a match to be had by a man who has fought twice prior tonight, but AJ Knight - all the credit in the world - he hung in there until the very end. 

CHAD GOMEZ
This k---

As AJ Knight is being helped out of the ring, Justin Seville exits after him and clears the medical staff away from him.   He grabs the bloodied Crusader and pulls him in for the Piledriver.

SAM HEWITT
Oh no... not on the floor! The move is dangerous enough in the ring! Revenge is one thing, this is trying to end a career!

Seville pie faces several stage hands who try to interrupt the move, but throws AJ down when he sees Ben Chrenshaw sprinting down the aisle to a massive pop.  Seville slides back inside the ring and invites the Crippler inside, but Chrenshaw drops to a knee and checks on his partner as the show closes out.