11/8/2018 - LR 110

We open with Sam Hewitt welcoming us to the program, emanating from Sudbury, Ontario - the City of Lakes! He quickly introduces Brian Shelzi and the duo get to work introducing the evening's card.  In the main event, Bam Markham will attempt to make his fifth defense of the Heritage Heavyweight title when he battles Rafa.  Shelzi expresses intrigue at this matchup, saying that Markham hasn't battled a man near to his size since the decision match back in April (Pat Cross, if you're keeping score) and while Rafa lacks experience, the kid has got size and his football experience is a definite asset.  "Markham will be a wrecking ball, just rolling toward you.  Rafa's got experience dodging those types, but it's what he does after the dodge that will dictate how this match goes".  Hewitt nods and moves on to the finals of the Iron Road, Mushigihara vs. Eric Dane, Jr - a Heritage Heavyweight title shot up for grabs.  Shelzi laughs at Dane's misfortune - as he's the smallest guy on the roster and has to battle the 6'4" / 294lbs Mushigihara.  Should he get past him, he then has to contend with one of Bam Markham or Rafa - two large men in their own right.  He notes that Dane's got spunk, but it's a tall order in front of him.  Hewitt reminds viewers that David Troy will be in action next week, defending the World's Heavyweight title against Ben Chrenshaw when LR 111 comes to you live from Barrie, Ontario. 

Back from break, Brady Rossen quickly introduces both Mushigihara and Eric Dane, Jr, who are already inside the ring.  The crowd does nothing to hide their disdain for EDJ, who encourages it by jumping on the middle rope and cupping his hand to his ear, telling the Sudbury crowd that he can't hear them! The place gets even louder! Mushigihara's "OSU" seems to somehow travel over top of that sound and Dane hops down, knowing the Behemoth means business!

Starting at the opening bell, Mushigihara grabs Dane and nearly throws him out of his boots with a Biel! Dane exits the ring after he recovers from the impact, claiming that "Sushi" yanked his tights, but Buster Powell shakes his head in response.  Dane slams his hands on the apron, demanding justice and then turns to the fans - asking for them to chant "YEL-LOW CARD!" but instead gets chants of "PUS-SY!" and now its his turn to shake his head.  Dane jumps back on the apron and acts like he's going in, but decides not to and this of course draws the ire of Mushigihara, who comes stomping over looking to grab EDJ and Biel him again! However, Dane slaps him and ducks down, dropping to the floor again.  Mushigihara exits the ring and begins chasing after the second gen Dane.  The Constellation leaps onto the apron, then turns around.  Running dash across the apron...

SHOOTING STAR KNEE STRIKE FROM APRON TO THE FLOOR!

Mushigihara is staggered! He stumbles backwards and lands against the guardrail, Dane recovers to his feet and can't believe the former sumo wasn't taken off his feet! Dane looks around frantically as Mushi starts to get back up, then decides on something.  He charges, leaping onto the guardrail and charging across... he puts both knees up, but Mushi's mighty palm thwarts his effort! Dane drops to the ground, a bit disoriented and crawls to the ring post, Mushigihara times his attack and as soon as EDJ gets up, he roars straight at him! Dane climbs up and into the ring, Mushi puts his hands up and blocks himself from crashing into the ring post.  Dane leaps onto the top rope and more or less steps off, driving both feet onto the Monster of Mito! Once more, Mushi staggers back.  Dane climbs back on the apron, then dives off with a double knee strike! Mushigihara falls back into an unfolded steel chair and the crowd chuckles! Dane has a look on his face like he's wondering what he's got to do! Shelzi points out that Powell's being incredible lenient on the count outside, which Hewitt attributes to the importance of this tournament final. 

Eric Dane gets back inside the ring, Mushigihara gets up and starts back inside but Dane tries for a baseball slide, Mushi side steps it and is about to deck his smaller foe... but that doesn't happen.  Mostly because Dane drops down and goes under the ring apron, Mushigihara looks annoyed... and reaches down to pull it up, but Dane pops up on the other side and scurries up to the top turnbuckle and shouts "KAWASAKI!" before cannonballing himself at the former sumo.  Mushigihara goes down! EDJ gets up, celebrating like he just scored the winning touchdown in the Superbowl and even tries to slap hands with a few fans, who largely leave him hanging.  Dane then uses Mushi as a stepping stone to get back inside the ring and urges Powell to count.  The ex-footballer's count reaches eight when Mushigihara grabs the top rope and climbs up on the apron to break the count.  Dane gulps, but then drives hard... dropkicking Mushigihara! The big man is rocked by the shot, but still hangs onto the ropes.  Dane tries to springboard off the middle rope, then clobber Mushi with a kick but it's ducked and Dane lands hard.  The Japanese Behemoth climbs inside the ring, Dane hurriedly tries to get to his feet and bounce off the ropes.  Whatever the Jr. Dane had in mind is stopped when Mushigihara goozles him, hand around the throat.  The Monster from Mito lifts him up, Dane kicks him in the face and gets dropped! He tries to follow up with a knife edge chop, but Mushi looks down and then looks at Dane...

"OSU!"

His invitation to try it again is accepted, Dane slaps him again... to similar results.  Mushigihara grabs him and pins him against the ropes, he smiles as he slams his massive mitt into Dane's chest! EDJ flops onto the mat like a fish, Mushi raises his arm and the crowd roars back with "OSU!" Dane recovers and is immediately scooped up into a Military Press, he tries to wriggle free but then Mushigihara lifts him higher and he decides it's a bad idea.  This process occurs for at least ten reps before he throws Dane down! EDJ scrambles back up, ducks a forearm smash and heads up top once more! Mushigihara grabs him...

ERIC DANE, JR. HEADBUTTS MUSHIGIHARA!

And falls down.

Mushigihara backs up, looking down at Dane, who's bloodied up from the strike.  The Japanese Behemoth looks at Powell, who shrugs.  Mushigihara then steps over, climbs to the second rope...

"OSU!"

DEATH STAR!

The Vader Bomb connects!

1...

...

2...

...

3!

Mushigihara sits on his knees, gets his arm raised and then grabs Dane's hand and shakes it before standing up.  Mandeville Nelson comes in and presents him with a trophy as Dr. Pierson checks on Dane, Mushigihara graciously accepts the tournament trophy with a nod and poses for pictures.  Hewitt reminds viewers that Mushigihara now has a shot at the Heritage Heavyweight title, but Shelzi wonders... will he fight his own teammates?

AJ sighs and scratches the back of his head.

AJ stops.

Once more, AJ tries to collect his thoughts.

AJ looks down, trying to compose himself but it's not working.

Last week, he spent maybe three minutes in the ring.  He got Matt and I to do his work for him.  Now Matt's out, for God knows how long and that son of a bitch has the shot at Troy... and it's all on me. 

AJ starts thinking a bit.

AJ KNIGHT

So as for what's next for AJ Knight? I don't know. I need to figure out how to stop being a child, and grow up before I do that.

AJ sadly walks off, leaving Hewitt to tell the camera crew to cut it off. 

The intro to "Send it Up" by Kanye West signals the arrival of football's most hated man, Rafa! The crowd boos as the lights go down and the lights begin moving to the beat, Marion Payett is first out and tries to rally the fans in his client's favour... to terrible results.  Rafa walks out, shaking his head.

The duo make their way down to the ring, climbing in as Corrosion of Conformity's "World on Fire" interrupts Yeezy.  The fans roar as Bam Markham stomps out, the Heritage Heavyweight title being held up behind him by Cam Markham, his grandfather. 

Bam moves swiftly down the aisle, eyeing the ring the whole time.  However, he turns back to look at Cam for a moment and well, we don't have to wait long for this one to get heavy! Rafa heads outside and greets Bam Markham on the floor and the two heavyweights start swinging! As you might expect, the brawling Bull from Boulder gets the upper hand in this particular exchange, blasting the ex-footballer with right hands that wobble him backwards.  Bam tries to wind up the left hand early, but Rafa blocks it and butts the Bull in the head! Markham is stunned enough that Rafa follows up with an elbow that seems to have a bigger effect, sending the champion reeling against the ring apron.  Rafa shoves him inside the ring and Bam staggers up, then falls back down to his knees as he tries to get across the ring to the opposite ropes.  Rafa slides in behind and catches the Heritage Heavyweight Champion with a big time tackle! Cam Markham yells at his grandson, telling him to take a breather but the younger Markham doesn't stay down for long, opting to return to a vertical base...

ONLY TO BE POWERSLAMMED!

Indeed, the Sudbury crowd is eating it up! He hooks the leg!

1...

...

2-NO!

The champ beats his challenger to his feet, but not by much.  However, it's enough to regain the advantage as he runs and drives a knee into Rafa's back, sending him into the corner! Bam grabs his head and slams it against the top turnbuckle causing the ex-footballer to fall to the mat whereupon Markham stomps him in the head! The stomp causes Rafa to come back up to his knees, holding his head in pain.  Markham stands over his foe, wraps his arms around the challenger's waist and lifts him up, but can't get him all the way! Markham sits him down, Rafa drives a fist into his midsection not once, but twice! And that doubles the champion over, Rafa smashes an elbow against Markham to stand him straight up again, then drops a level - driving his shoulder into the midsection and pushing him into the corner! Garner begins the five count, but Rafa manages to slam the shoulder into Markham's gut three times in those five seconds.  Cam Markham takes exception to this, criticizing Garner for counting slow, while Marion Payett tells Cam he needs to get his old man eyes checked!

Rafa grabs Markham and tries for an Irish whip, but it gets reversed and Markham follows him in so closely that Rafa doesn't get a chance to ponder his choices before a lariat smashes his neck and chest area.  Rafa drops to his knees, the ex-footballer then gets sent face first to the mat in a hurry as Bam simply throws him down.  Rafa comes back up, not too pleased with that impact, but a big boot might make him reconsider his stance! Rafa goes down near the ropes, forcing Garner to step in and order Markham to stand back and let the challenger recover.  Markham begrudgingly does so, Cam Markham beckons him to the corner and tells his grandson he's doing great and to keep on him.  Payett's advice to Rafa is strangely the same.  Rafa gets up at five, then drops back down to his knees to make Bam think he hasn't gotten up yet.  The Bull from Boulder not seeing the stand-up, having his face towelled down by his granddad.  Bam gets back to it, Rafa storms across the ring from a three point stance and drives into the champion...

WHO GOES DOWN!

Rafa's getting into it now! He motions for Bam to get back up, and Markham slowly does.  Rafa goes for a second...

BUT EATS A LARIAT!

Bam covers!

1...

...

2...

...

3-NO!

Payett shrieks as Rafa kicks out, then rolls to his side.  Markham is on his knees, but gets to his feet and drags his opponent up to a standing position with him.  Markham drives his own head into Rafa, putting him on wobbly legs.  Markham backs up into the ropes...

LARIAT!

Rafa is down! Markham kicks the ropes where Payett is standing and shouts something, but all we hear and see is an inaudible noise and a load of saliva.  Payett wipes his face with the towel from Rafa's corner, looking disgusted by the whole exchange. 

1...

...

2-NO!

Both Markhams growl at Garner about the count, but he insists it was two.  Markham grabs Rafa and whips him into the ropes, but the ex-footballer ducks the left hand, rebounds off the ropes...

FOOTBALL TACKLE!

Marion Payett slams his hands against the apron, screaming for his client to get up.

Rafa has some difficulty getting to his feet, allowing Markham some time to recover also.  Rafa staggers again, Markham charges full force toward him but Rafa leaps, nearly leaping right over the charging bull.  However, Bam still catches him enough to pin him between the turnbuckle and his massive frame.  Rafa uses elbows to try and get free before Garner's count reaches four... at which point, Markham hoists Rafa up into the air and turns around.  Rafa repeatedly punches Markham in the head, getting put back down on his feet.  Rafa grabs the dirty mane of Markham...

AND PULLS GUARD!?

Indeed, the crowd is confused as all hell, but Rafa tries to work the jiu-jitsu game against Markham.  Ol' Bammer tries to pull his head free from Rafa's grip...

AND DOES!

Rafa tries to regain control, dodging punches as best as he can.

Rafa manages to pull his legs up and starts wrapping them around Markham's neck and arm and the big man thrashes around, like a dog that doesn't want to be picked up.  Rafa tries to ride this bull as best he can and swings his other leg over, then squeezes!

TRIANGLE CHOKE!

A hammerfist from Bam loosens Rafa's grip, allowing the champion the opportunity to readjust his own grip.

AND HE PICKS RAFA UP!

The crowd gasps as Rafa is brought high into the air, and the ex-footballer looks at Payett with an "oh shit" look across his face.  Payett yells, telling him to hang on! "I think!?" and so Rafa squeezes his legs together.  Markham slams him down, but not with the force you'd expect.  Rafa has to readjust nonetheless, but this allows Markham to fire up again, hoisting the two hundred and forty three pounder up like he's nothing.  Rafa tries to rock backwards and it works to a degree, stumbling Bam.  Markham regains his footing and tries to raise Rafa higher to put more impact on his slam, but once more, Rafa rocks backwards...

BOTH MEN CRASH THROUGH THE ROPES TO THE FLOOR!

A hush comes over the crowd as both Marion Payett and Cam Markham check on their respective fighter.  Dr. Pierson rushes to the scene, waving his arms.  Garner signals for the bell and Rossen quickly relays Garner and Pierson's call - a no contest.  The crowd boos lightly, but most are more concerned with the fighters' safety.  Everyone is standing up, looking to see movement. 

A slow-mo replay shows both men hitting the middle rope, snapping it as they fall out to the floor.  The crowd gasps seeing the replay and the impact in slow motion.  More medical staff comes out to assist the scene.