BRADY ROSSEN
Ladies and gentlemen, this Heritage Heavyweight Championship bout is to be fought over a twenty minute time limit with one fall, one submission or a knockout to decide the winner!
A superb pop! There's a good amount of energy in the air as Manowar's "The Power" blares onto the PA system.
BRADY ROSSEN
Fighting out of Keokuk, Iowa! He stands five foot ten and weighs two hundred and thirty pounds! ALEXANDER IRVINE!
The venue's lights go down and begin flickering as Eric Adams' strong vocals kick in and with them emerges the Unnatural - the one and only Alexander Irvine. A towel hides his face, but it is shown thrown backwards as he raises his head. Carl Whitaker is accompanying him, but Irvine turns and says something. Whitaker nods and the two bump fists before heading to the back.
BRIAN SHELZI
The recent developments with the WALL may have caused you fans to forget that this man loves a good fight and I can only speculate that's why he sent Carl Whitaker to the back.
Irvine trots down the aisle, then rolls into the ring as "World On Fire" by Corrosion of Conformity cuts into the Manowar tune. The riffs and drums lead the way for the vocals, which kick in as Bam Markham storms out from the back, Heritage Heavyweight title in his hand.
BRADY ROSSEN
Fighting out of Boulder, Colorado! He stands six foot four and weighs two hundred and eighty pounds! The current, reigning and defending Heritage Heavyweight Champion! BAM MARKHAM!
BRIAN SHELZI
And check it out - there's no Cam Markham in his corner. These are two men ready to duke it out... but will it stay free of interference is the real question.
Bam Markham climbs the stairs to get up onto the apron, a dojo student holds the ropes open...
BUT ALEXANDER IRVINE BLASTS HIM WITH AN ELBOW!
The strike sends the Heritage Heavyweight Champion back down to the floor, but he stays on his feet and charges right back into the lion's den. Irvine begins stomping him before he can get back to his feet, mixing in some forearm clubs for good measure. Markham gets up despite the onslaught, but the first man to achieve the Triple Crown frets not - he delivers a knee to the girthy midsection of the champion and then adds a second for good measure. He backs up and falls against the ropes, springing him off for some momentum and leaps up... FLYING KNEE! Markham is staggered, but only falls back into the ropes as Irvine drops to the mat. The challenger recovers but so too does the champion...
AND MARKHAM DROPS HIM WITH A BIG BOOT!
Well, drops him may not be the proper term. Irvine spins out from the shot and tries to recover by grabbing the nearest set of ropes, but the angry young man from Boulder, Colorado doesn't view that as a reason to stop and bowls into Irvine with a lariat that takes them both over the top rope - Cactus Jack style!
BRIAN SHELZI
There was never any doubt that this one was going to be a war but my god! Bam Markham showing very little regard for his own safety with that lariat! No disqualification on that because both men went over. If it was only Irvine, we would've had a new Heritage Heavyweight Champion in the shortest time ever.
Markham recovers first and gives Irvine no reprieve, throwing him into the guardrail! Irvine slowly falls to the ground, clutching his back in pain before attempting to crawl back toward the ring. The Heritage Heavyweight Champion, ever helpful, grabs Irvine up and throws him under the bottom rope to put him inside. Cordell Garner also jumps back into the ring, having gone out to try and maintain some order if possible. Markham climbs up into the ring, stepping through the ropes and watches as Irvine gets on all fours... then hoofs him in the head! Irvine goes rolling into the corner, trying to get a defensive position to ward off Markham's attack but the big man drives his knee into Irvine's head and holds it there, pushing it against Irvine's dome as Garner counts to five. Garner grabs Markham and spins him around, showing him a yellow card. Markham walks away, shaking his head.
CORDELL GARNER
I have issued a yellow card to Bam Markham for refusing to break by five! This is his first public warning!
Markham turns back and sprints into the corner, Irvine dodges the attack and Markham collides with the turnbuckles! Irvine turns and smokes Bam's face with a forearm, then begins levelling him with kick after kick to his stomach. For the first time in the bout, Markham is in trouble as Irvine pulls him out of the corner in a plume clinch and begins driving knees into the chest and head. A shot drops Bam to his knees, Irvine clamps on a front chancery and tries for a DDT but Markham shoves him off and rolls out of the ring.
BRIAN SHELZI
A smart move by the champion! Markham, having seemingly been rocked by a knee gets outside the ring and takes a walk. He's got a big head, but that just makes it an easier target and Irvine found the right button. Credit where it's due - the big man's still in it. That's a shot that would've dropped a lot of fighters.
Irvine acts like he's going to give chase but Garner gets in between him and the ropes, Irvine puts his hands up in innocence and backs off. As Garner turns around to count Markham out, Irvine rolls out of the adjacent side and rushes after the champion. Markham is sent flying by a knee to the back, driving him into the guardrail rather unceremoniously. Garner gets out of the ring and admonishes Irvine, but gets shoved in response. Irvine turns around and grabs Markham's leg and tucks his foot in between the rails before stomping on it! Irvine pushes his weight down, driving the foot deeper against the rail before heading back inside the ring. Garner resets the count and Markham works to free his ankle from the rail, a task easier said than done. Some fans wearing DANGEROUS MIX shirts try to help, but security tells them they can't touch the fighters. Markham yanks his leg in anger, unable to free it. He then kicks the guardrail with his free leg... then a second time! His foot comes free and Markham gets up to his feet at seven, he grabs the ring ropes and tries to get inside but Irvine's there to play block. Markham hoofs him with a left, knocking him backwards and then dumps himself through the ropes.
BRIAN SHELZI
A solid left hand shot from Bam was enough to back his challenger up a bit, but it certainly wasn't the left hand we're used to seeing from the Heritage Champion - I'm not sure Irvine would be still standing.
Irvine responds with a savate kick, catching Markham in the thigh. Markham's leg buckles, Garner warns of the shot being in close proximity to the groin.
ALEXANDER IRVINE
Does he have any balls?
The crowd laughs as Irvine grabs Markham and yanks him to his feet, attempting to pull him into his desired position. It looks a lot like a cowboy directing a bull by the horns though, Irvine manages to push the champion into a corner and smashes him with an elbow before taking the foot he worked on earlier and placing it over the middle rope. Irvine grabs the foot and pulls it through - using the middle rope to divide the leg in half. The Unnatural begins kneeing the unholy fuck out of Markham's thigh before Garner issues him a yellow card.
CORDELL GARNER
I have issued a yellow card to Alexander Irvine for refusing to break by five! This is his first public warning!
Irvine impatiently waits for Garner to finish his spiel, the camera shows Markham's thigh is all red from the shots. Irvine goes in and delivers a kick to it before backing off, Garner drops to the mat to check on the champion who insist he's OK. Irvine casually strolls up, grabs the leg and slaps on a kneebar. Markham quickly rolls to the ropes, grabbing a hold of the middle and bottom while Irvine takes his time releasing the hold. Irvine is forced back into the corner by Garner to give time for Markham to get back up. It takes the champion until the count of eight to return to a vertical base, but he does - Irvine clocks him with a forearm, Bam returns fire with a headbutt.
IRVINE IS ROCKED!
The Unnatural wobbles, but maintains his balance and before Markham can follow up - Irvine kicks him in the thigh! Irvine falls backwards into the ropes, trying to shake the cobwebs as Markham is down on a knee. Irvine starts but then stops, grabbing the ropes to readjust. When he sees Markham getting to his feet, he goes for broke...
BATTLE CRY - FLYING FOREARM SMASH!
Markham crumples to the mat, but unfortunately for the challenger - so does he. Garner checks both men out then begins his ten count, Irvine tries to get on all fours by three but collapses back to the mat. Markham manages to turn onto his stomach at five, Irvine gets to a knee and then falls forward, grasping the top rope as he attempts to pull himself up at seven. Markham puts a knee underneath himself at eight, then sprints forward - crashing against the ropes to beat the count. The crowd applauds the effort by both men, but then pop as Irvine grabs Markham in a rear waist hold and tries to pull him off the ropes...
HE DOES!
BACKDROP SUPLEX!
BRIAN SHELZI
Oh, good lord!
The ring shakes! The crowd roars in approval, but then roars even louder as Irvine gets to his feet and Markham isn't too far behind him. Irvine stalks his prey...
FLYING K-NO!
POWERBOMB!
Bam covers!
1...
...
2...
...
3-NO!
BRIAN SHELZI
You're kidding me!
Markham looks at Garner in disbelief, the fans are silent!
BRIAN SHELZI
It wasn't a full proper powerbomb like you're used to from Bam Markham, he used Irvine's own momentum against him but still. That was a vicious impact and for Irvine to kick out - last possible second or not is huge.
Markham stumbles to his feet, taking refuge in the corner as Irvine gets his bearings about him. The former champion gets up and immediately gets a boot to the mush, Markham grabs him and hauls him up for a powerbomb but Irvine grabs his hair with his left hand and begins pounding him with his right! Markham's leg can't withstand the weight and he falls onto his back, Irvine gets up...
DOUBLE STOMP TO THE FACE!
The crowd erupts in a holy shit chant. Irvine cracks a smile through his bloodied mouth and grabs hold of Markham's head, applying the front chancery once more. He goes to drop back, but Markham back drops him! Irvine lands hard, but fights through the pain and returns to his feet. Markham clocks him with the left hook!
IRVINE GOES DOWN!
Garner checks on him and then begins the ten count.
1... 2... 3...
4... 5... 6...
Irvine begins stirring.
7... 8...
He rolls off the apron, instinctively and stumbles on his feet before falling back into the guardrail.
BRIAN SHELZI
Technically, he's broken the count. Don't get on me about why there's a separate count for inside and out, if a guy's out - he's out. Irvine's on his feet an--well, hahaha.
Shelzi's laugh is a result of Irvine, barely able to stand flipping off Markham inside the ring. The Unnatural can't even hold himself to face the angry Bull from Boulder as he rolls out of the ring to grab him, Irvine slugs him but Markham responds with a knee to the gut. He goes to direct him into the ring, but changes his mind. He stuffs Irvine between his legs...
POWERBOMB ON THE FLOOR!
The crowd gasps, more holy shit chants as Markham rolls back inside. Garner checks Irvine out, then does the ten count but you could give him a thirty count - he's not getting up! Garner calls for the bell, Markham raises his arms but falls to his knees, huffing and puffing as Garner hands him his belt. Markham gets back to his feet and raises the belt to a roar from the St. Paul crowd, no doubt impressed by his performance this evening. Medical staff are checking on Alexander Irvine and soon Carl Whitaker is out with them to check on the general, Irvine wearily extends his hand upon hearing Whitaker's voice and Ol' Stonehands helps him up. Markham leaves the ring, heading up the aisle. Whitaker is prepared to help Irvine walk, but the curmudgeon veteran pushes him away and insists on walking himself. He's slow and has to stop at several points, resting against the guardrail, but keeps a steady pace as the fans show their appreciation for the dastardly bastard.
BRIAN SHELZI
Helluva night! Don't miss Beach Blast! See you next week!
