11/24/2016 - Mane Event

Backstage Becky Chande stands beside the Iron Champion, James Edwards, who has his belt draped over his shoulder and is already dressed to fight.

BECKY CHANDE:
I’m here with one-sixth of tonight’s main event and the reigning Iron Champion, James Edwards. James, how are you tonight?

Edwards shrugs his shoulder in a manner that suggests he either doesn’t know or doesn’t care.

BECKY CHANDE:
Okay, I’ll drop the small talk and get straight to business. Last week you had what some are calling harsh words for your opponent in your first title match, AJ Knight, do you have any comments on the subject?

JAMES EDWARDS:
I wasn’t meanin’ to throw any shade his way. I call it like it is, that’s all.

BECKY CHANDE:
And what exactly are you “calling” about AJ Knight?

JAMES EDWARDS:
The guy had his head in the clouds during the finals of the Iron Road. He was more determined to prove what that he was an upstandin’ citizen instead of focusin’ on putting me down for the count. That’s the reason why I’m here with the gold, and he is still chasin’ it.

Becky Chande:
The finals of the Iron Road was certainly a close match. It feels as though Knight is confident he had you beaten…

JAMES EDWARDS:
No he didn’t.

BECKY CHANDE:
He had you prone and was ready for his DDT.

JAMES EDWARDS:
That’s true, but he didn’t have me beat. The only way to defeat somebody in this sport is three-count, submission, or knockout. I know there are others ways, but that chicken shit stuff doesn’t count in my worldview. I’m the one who got the three-count. Not him. I’m the one who took his chances. Not him. I’m the one who came to fight, not teach a lesson. The more AJ focuses on that and his stupid ass quest for redemption the less likely his chances are of beatin’ me on December 8th.

BECKY CHANDE:
Fair enough. Anything else you want to touch on before we wrap this thing up?

JAMES EDWARDS:
Yeah, I actually have some news I'd been wantin' to share...

Edwards doesn't even get a chance to finish. AJ Knight comes into the interview area sarcastically clapping for Edwards with his usual facial expression.

AJ KNIGHT:
James, congrats! That was a hell of a match with Chrenshaw 2 weeks ago. I mean you know the part I saw, I wasn't able to see everything because you know...

AJ points to his eye; Edwards looks annoyed that AJ is interrupting his interview

AJ KNIGHT:
But hey no hard feelings James, you did what you had to do man. But see from the sidelines two weeks ago, I think I figured you out. I figured what is best in life to you. To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women!

James gives AJ a slightly quizzical but mostly annoyed look AJ notices it and shoots a quizzical look back.

AJ KNIGHT:
What you don't get the reference? Conan the Barbarian? James, look I know it was well before our time, but that's no excuse for being culturally illiterate!

James is now seemingly more annoyed at AJ's nonchalant demeanour in regards to him, A.J rolls his eyes before continuing with his speech.

AJ KNIGHT:
Whatever. See like I said, two weeks I wasn't able to see the match as well as I would have liked, but I would have had to be blind to miss the look on your face when you felt the nose of Chrenshaw shatter, and when you saw the blood pouring out. And spoilers that was more than focus wasn't it? That was satisfaction. It was just a moment, but in that moment who you are showed full force who you are and where you stand.

Knight chuckles.

AJ KNIGHT:
Well that looks like it got your attention, didn't it champ? That's not the only place I've noticed it either. Whenever you talk about what happened to Johnny Ajax, or me. Whenever you talk to or about the protesters, there's a glimmer of pride in your voice. I 'couldn't keep my vision'? That was funny James because you swelled my eye shut right?

AJ's demeanour now becomes much less jovial.

AJ KNIGHT:
See I look into your eyes, and I see a man who wants desperately to deny who and what he is to everybody here, but you can't can you James? At the end of the day, you know just as well as I do, that what I'm saying is the 'Gospel' truth. Deep down, you're a cold-blooded sadist.

AJ leaves with a cocky grin plastered on his face, as he heads out the door he turns to say one last thing.

AJ KNIGHT:
See you in the ring, champ.

Chande and Edwards stand in silence for a moment after AJ's exit before Lion's Road's ace reporter breaks the silence.

BECKY CHANDE:
Any comments on that?

JAMES EDWARDS:
He still doesn't get it.

Edwards leaves without another word as the scene comes to an end.

---

---

Backstage we stumble upon two dudes. It’s Jimmy Winner and Jeremy Squire rocking street clothes. No one is surprised that those two get along. Ole Jimmy comes from money and looks like a Tommy Hilfiger ad in the back of GQ magazine while Monsieur Squire in his plaid shorts, flip flops, and black shirt with neon green block lettering that reads: BE CRAZY, BITCHES could just as easily siphon his living expenses from his mommy and daddy’s piggy bank.

JEREMY SQUIRE:
Yo, I'm a fucking winner, bro.

JIMMY WINNER:
You're not J-I-DOUBLE M-Y Winner, though.

The Frat Boy Express walks on down the hall and at some point they turn a corner, stop in fright, and then jump back behind the corner as though they’ve stumbled upon a lion. Turns out they’ve stumbled upon the King of Lions.

JEREMY SQUIRE [whispering]:
Bro, that’s Julian Cutlass, bro.

JIMMY WINNER [also whispering]:
...bro...

They peak around the corner like schoolchildren. Julian Cutlass sits on a crate reading a book. He’s already in his wrestling gear, though he wears a pair of Black Lion’s Road~JAPAN!! gym shorts. The King of Lions title and the Pride title sit next to him, stacked atop one another. The two nervous wrestlers look at each other, nod, swallow the lumps in their throat and cautiously stroll toward him.

JIMMY WINNER:
Ahem... sup... "champ"?

Cutlass ignores him and flips a page of his paperback copy of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. The cover is old-school, pulp fiction style and features a giant squid attacking a submarine.

JEREMY SQUIRE:
Readin’ a book huh?

JIMMY WINNER:
Hah! Stace and France musta given him homework!

JEREMY SQUIRE:
I'd hit that, bro.

JIMMY WINNER:
No doubt!

Cutlass finally averts his eyes above the pages and narrows his gaze.
 
JULIAN CUTLASS:
I don’t have homework.

The two of them laugh nervously and exchange glances that display a mix of fear and confusion.

JEREMY SQUIRE:
So, what’re you reading for, bro?

A scowl breaches Cutlass’ countenance.

JULIAN CUTLASS:
No reason…

And then he smirks – and somehow when Julian Cutlass’ expression of pleasure is more terrifying than that of anger.

JULIAN CUTLASS:
…bro.

The two men look between one of them for answers, but neither is sure of a response. They back away just sort of mumbling nonsensical replies, shrugging, and waving their hands until they finally turn the corner of the hallway. When they are out of sight, they nearly collapse against the wall and catch their breaths.

JEREMY SQUIRE [back to the wall, panting heavily]:
Dude, we were so fucking SMOOTH back there!

JIMMY WINNER [exasperated, hands on his knees as if about to vomit]:
So smooth...

---

COMMERCIAL BREAK

---

The camera follows Hammerstein as he walks from catering to his dressing room. Suddenly, he’s jumped from behind by Ragin Bull. Bull whips Hammerstein into a wall. The popular wrestler collapses to the floor, as Paulie Rod joins his partner in putting the boots to Hammerstein. Hammerstein begins fighting his way to his knees when Paulie and Da Bull grab him by the arms. Jimmy Winner enters the frame and gets nose to nose with Hammerstein.

JIMMY WINNER:
Hey, there, Hammy! After last week, I bet you're feeling pretty good about yourself, I mean you were up until just a few minutes ago. See, you goofy bastard, you took advantage of us when we weren't ready. So we just thought that we'd give you a little receipt. Pull him up, boys.

Paulie and Bull pull Hammerstein to his feet, still holding him up by his arms. Winner reaches out and slaps Hammerstein across the left cheek, then backhand slaps him across his right cheek. Hammerstein is seething, to which Jimmy smiles and pulls back to deliver a big slap. Hammerstein reaches out and kicks Winner in the groin. Jimmy crumples to the floor, groaning, as Hammerstein looks to Bull and grins just before biting him right on the bridge of the nose. Bull releases his grip on Hammerstein and leans over against the wall, holding his nose. Hammerstein looks at Paulie, who realizes he's still holding his arm. Paulie tries to get away, but Hammerstein grabs him, gorilla presses him and throws him into Bull. Winner staggers over and grabs Hammerstein by the wrist. Hammerstein spins around and drives his head into the concrete floor with a snap DDT. Hammerstein gets to his feet and turns to walk back to his dressing room, but walks right into James Edwards, who has the Iron Title slung over his right shoulder. The Iron Champion and the crowd favorite lock their eyes in an intense stare and just when it looks as if they may come to blows, Edwards looks over at the three men laid out on the floor...

JAMES EDWARDS:
Damn, man. You gonna wear yourself out before our match?

Hammerstein looks at Edwards incredulously.

HAMMERSTEIN:
PFFFFTT! Hell, Champ, I'm just gettin warmed up. See ya out there, champ.

Hammerstein smile wryly, pats the Iron title and walks away, leaving Edwards shaking his head.

---

---

JAKE AARONS:
Ladies and gentlemen, this next bout is a lumberjack match! It is to be fought to one fall with a ten minute time limit and is for a future shot at the Heritage Championship!

As Aarons finishes his introductions, several of the lumberjacks emerge from the back - Jan van der Roost, Grace Kazoulis, the Ninjas, Chuck Cooper, Kraken, Brody Howitzer, Emperor Ian, Kris Slade and Wolf Andersen are the ten lumberjacks that will be surrounding the ring. 

JAKE AARONS:
Introducing first from Rochester, New York! She weighs in at one hundred and thirty pounds... SARAH STARR!

The dubstep of "Superstar" by Pegboard Nerds featuring Krewella hits and the lights flash red and black with the beat.  Sarah Starr struts out of the lion's mouth as a solid red spotlight shines down on her.  With the focus entirely on her, she confidently walks down the aisle shouting fans down along the way.  The lumberjacks part and let her climb the stairs and into the ring.  She spins around as the spotlight flashes and then slowly brings the lights up as she walks back to the corner.

JAKE AARONS:
Introducing her opponent from Toronto, Ontario! She weighs in at one hundred and twenty nine pounds... LA CUCARACHA!

"Cuka Rocka" hits and the crowd pops, but the lion's mouth opens up and the nostrils spew purple smoke as usual but La Cucaracha doesn't stumble out as she normally does.  The lights come on then go back down again as her music restarts.  Still nothing.  Sarah Starr tells Xavier Price to count her out, which Price responds by telling her that the match doesn't have any count outs.  Starr lets out a "WOW DUDE" and Price looks livid and the crowd pops for the catchphrase steal! La Cucaracha slides into the ring from the back door, I guess and catches Sarah Starr as she turns around with some right hands! Price calls for the bell and we're underway! Starr bumps all over the ring for Cucaracha's punches and tries to retreat to the corner, but the Canadian Cockroach grabs her and slings her out of the ring.  Cucaracha instinctively goes out after her and Jan van der Roost and Grace Kazoulis stand on each side of them to ensure that no one tries to attack while they're both on the outside.

CHAD GOMEZ:
This isn't supposed to happen! They're supposed to be throwing them back in!

Cucaracha does it herself, then climbs back inside quickly before anyone decides to lay hands on her.  Starr stumbles to her knees, but gets grabbed by Cucaracha and whipped across the ring.  Starr comes running back and Cucaracha leaps up into the air... SLING BLADE! Cucaracha gets up, feeding off the energy of the crowd and slaps her knee a few times.  She hits the ropes, but gets tripped up by one of Kraken or Howitzer.  They both turn around, claiming innocence but Cucaracha gets up, grabs the top rope and launches herself over onto them - taking them both out! Well, Kraken doesn't go down - he merely stumbles back into the guardrail but Cucaracha gets up and rushes back inside before any damage can be dealt to her. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
That was stupid! Why would she think it was one of them?

BASTIAN KRULL:
There's three people on that side of the ring, Chad - Brody Howitzer, Wolf Andersen and Kraken.  Is it a coincidence that she gets tripped up by two people that a) have a beef with her and b) support her opponent? No? Didn't think so. 

She climbs to her feet and walks over to Sarah Starr, who rakes her in the eyes! Cucaracha stumbles away doubled over and Starr gets to her feet, mockingly slapping her knee before rushing up and clobbering the Cockroach in the side of the head with it! Cucaracha goes tumbling between the ropes and out to the floor on the side where Kris Slade and Emperor Ian are.  The two men stomp away on her before picking her back up and throwing her back inside the ring.  She staggers to her feet and eats a European uppercut that sends her back into the corner.  Starr closes the distance between the two and lights up the Canadian's chest with chops! Cucaracha tries to stagger away, but Starr yells "bitch, I didn't say you could move!" and throws her back into the corner and drives a knee into her gut.  She grabs Cucaracha and dumps her out on the side of Kraken, Howitzer and Andersen again.  Cucaracha tries to scramble to her feet and rush back inside, but Andersen trips her as he nonchalantly walks by her.  Howitzer double axe handles her in the back and he and Andersen each grab an arm and hold her in position for Kraken, who backs up to get a run at it.  He charges, but Grace Kazoulis, the Ninjas, Chuck Cooper and of course Jan van der Roost all come to her aid and prevent Kraken from smushing her! Starr kicks at Kazoulis, causing her to back off and then reaches down and then grabs Cucaracha by the hair, bringing her back inside the ring.

BASTIAN KRULL:
I guess I got to hand it to Sarah Starr because even without Kenneth Starr here at ringside, she's been using the tools available to her - repeatedly dumping La Cucaracha out on the side where her... friends? allies? whatever you want to call them are. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
Pest Control!

BASTIAN KRULL:
Sure, I mean, Kraken is out here because he's being paid to be and I think Brody Howitzer is just still salty that La Cucaracha managed to beat him pretty convincingly on the last tour.

Starr grabs Cucaracha and pulls her into a front face lock and then snaps her up... then back down with a suplex! She floats over and makes the cover!

1...

...

2-KICK OUT!

Starr argues the count, as do some of the heels at ringside.  "TROIS! TROIS!" proclaims Kraken, who slaps the apron in frustration.  Starr grabs Cucaracha and tries to pull her to her feet, but the Roach fires some shots into her gut.  Starr staggers back and Cucaracha springs to her feet, hitting the ropes and comes flying out look for her forearm but Starr ducks and Cucaracha soars over the top rope but manages to get caught by the Ninjas! The two masked enhancement talent place her back on the apron without issue.  She thanks the "alien dudes" and ascends the turnbuckle... she leaps off with a crossbody block! Right into a pin... Starr reverses it!

1...

...

2...

...

3-NO!

So very close, Starr screams at Price in frustration and the heels let the referee have it too! Starr stomps Cucaracha several times as the popular face tries to get to her feet, but Starr helps with that by bringing her up, snapmaring her back down and then backing up into the corner.  Starr rushes forward, rolling neck snap! Cucaracha springs to her feet like a slinky, hits the corner turnbuckles and flops back down to the mat.  Starr pulls her up to her knees and then backs into the corner... Cucaracha gets up and in her dazed state, looks about for Starr who grabs her from behind and drives her knees into the back of Cucaracha's head! Cucaracha falls forward and rolls across the ring.  Starr basks in the cheers of her heel associates and calls for the Starrstruck.  Cucaracha is clearly a bit loopy after the knees to the head and isn't getting up so quick, Price checks on her but Starr pushes him away from her and backs up again.  Cucaracha finally gets to her knees, then staggers to a vertical base.  Starr goes to run forward, but someone has her leg! She turns around to investigate... Grace Kazoulis! She tries to yank her foot away just as she lets go and she spins around... SMALL PACKAGE!

1...

...

2...

...

3!

The place pops as Sarah Starr kicks out a second too late and La Cucaracha scrambles out of the ring to the heel side, then quickly bounds under the ring and comes out on the side of Roost and Kazoulis.  Starr is livid inside the ring, screaming at Xavier Price about the miscarriage of justice! Howitzer and Kraken both climb into the ring and support her while Wolf Andersen walks out, wondering aloud when he's getting paid for this.  Emperor Ian leaves in the midst of all this and Kris Slade tips over the timekeeper table.  Chuck Cooper and the Ninjas gather up with Roost and Kazoulis and hoist the Cockroach onto their shoulders! Starr points at Grace and is so mad that she can't even muster words and settles on screaming instead.

---

COMMERCIAL BREAK

---

We return from commercial with the former Iron Champion Ben Chrenshaw dropping consecutive elbows on AJ Knight's leg before clamping on a single leg lock. Knight manages to transition from his seated position and get up to his his knees and slaps Chrenshaw in the face a few times before the Crippler wrenches it in tighter and sends the young lion back to the mat in pain. Chrenshaw reaches up and tags the King of the Lions in. The crowd roars for Cutlass, who pulls Knight off the mat and drills him with forearm strikes, backing him up into the ropes. He shoots him out and waylays him on the return with a palm strike! Cutlass pushes Knight out of the ring with his foot and then points to Matt Pulver which undoubtedly draws the biggest pop of the night. Pulver hurries in and then the two men circle around before locking up, Cutlass backs Pulver up into the ropes and referee Cordell Garner calls for a clean break.  Cutlass raises his arms and goes to back off, but Pulver repeatedly elbows him in the face! Cutlass doubles over in pain and Pulver grabs his wrist and shoots him into the ropes.  Pulver roars and leaps into the forearm smash, driving the King of the Lions to the mat.  Pulver gets up and kicks Cutlass in the chest a few times, forcing the champion to his feet to avoid the blows.  Pulver grabs him, snapmares him to the mat and applies a chinlock.  Cutlass doesn't waste any time trying to get up and manages to do so without much of a fight.  He tries to back up into his corner, but Pulver changes the direction and Hammerstein reaches in to slap Pulver's back and make the tag.  With the ten second rule in play, Pulver and Hammerstein each grab an arm and whip Cutlass across the ring.  Pulver gets him on the rebound with a dropkick to the knee and quickly rolls out to avoid the yellow card, while Hammerstein nails a beautiful running elbow just as Cutlass lands on the mat!

BASTIAN KRULL:
Look at how crisp that elbow drop was! Hammerstein's confidence in the ring has improved dramatically.

CHAD GOMEZ:
Look, Bas, I don't like the dweeb, but Eli Buchanan's fire ball to the face of Hammerstein seemed to have the opposite effect of what was intended.  Sure, he was out for a bit for his face to heal up but ever since he came back... he's been an entirely different cat.  The old Hammerstein would've been eaten alive by Ben Chrenshaw, but this one held his own.  I'll give him that.

Hammerstein makes a quick cover after dropping his nearly two hundred and seventy pound frame on the fifty pounds lighter Cutlass, but the champion kicks out at two.  Hammerstein rolls off and climbs to his feet while Cutlass gets up quickly and tries to beat him there, but Knight and Pulver alert Hammerstein and Mr. No Joke turns and blasts the King of the Lions with a lariat! To his credit though, Cutlass absorbs the blow and stumbles on wobbly legs... then falls back into the corner.  Hammerstein lights him up with some knife edge chops, but the fan favourite gets maybe a bit too overzealous and shushes the crowd as he holds up his hand for a chop, Cutlass cracks him with an elbow that sounds horrible because of the crowd's silence.  Causing a gasp from the audience and the men on both sides to wince.  Cutlass grabs the staggered Hammerstein and launches him into the ropes before charging him... LARIAT! Hammerstein nearly lands on his head and Cutlass flattens him out to make the cover.

1...

...

2-KICKOUT!

The crowd is surprised, but the King of the Lions doesn't seem to be.  He grabs Hammerstein and pulls him over toward the corner, reaching out for a tag... Edwards extends his hand, but Chrenshaw slaps it away and tags back in instead.  Chrenshaw simply pushes the wobbled Hammerstein to the mat and begins stomping him repeatedly.  Hammerstein retreats to the corner to get away, but the Crippler pulls him up and blasts him with a slap to the face! He then whips Hammerstein out into the ropes, then nails him with a calf kick! Instead of covering, Chrenshaw stomps him a few more times before sitting him up and applying a figure four neck lock.  Hammerstein rolls over to get closer to the ropes, but just as he's reaching for it - James Edwards leans down and tags Chrenshaw.  The Crippler gets up as Garner is counting to ten and gets nose to nose with Edwards, who tells him "I'll break it again!" to a pop from the crowd.  Chrenshaw smirks and exits the ring.  The new Iron Champion grabs Hammerstein in a cravate and is about to roll forward to complete the move, but Chrenshaw trips him up from the outside! The two men land awkwardly and Edwards gets up, telling Chrenshaw to get in the ring and fight.  Cutlass admonishes Chrenshaw while trying to play peacekeeper, but the two continue arguing.  Chrenshaw tells him to focus on the match and Edwards turns around into a powerslam! Hammerstein stumbles back up to his feet, bounces off the ropes and drops his weight on Edwards - running senton! He covers!

1...

...

2...

KICK OUT!

Edwards rolls out onto the apron and then plants both feet on the floor, gasping for air.  Cutlass hops into the ring and blasts Hammerstein with a shot to the face causing him to fall against the ropes, Cutlass pulls him up and does it again... then Hammerstein roars back with a shot of his own! Cutlass shakes it off and cracks him again, but Hammerstein slams both hands against his chest, eats another shot and then begins speedballing Cutlass' head between his left and right hand punches! The champion staggers back and Hammerstein bounds off the ropes, but a lariat sends him down to the mat! He covers!

1...

...

2-SAVE BY KNIGHT!

Cutlass shakes off the kick to the back of the head that Knight just gave him and drags Hammerstein away from the corner.  He pulls him over to his corner and reaches out, Edwards gets up on the apron and leans in to tag Cutlass before Chrenshaw can get it.  The Crippler chuckles and folds his arms over the top rope while Cutlass and Edwards pull Hammerstein into the middle of the ring and each take off in opposite directions, but come charging in with flying elbows - now available in stereo! Before Hammerstein can topple over, Edwards pulls him in for a front facelock.  He begins to hoist him up, and Cutlass stops leaving the ring despite the eight count to help Edwards keep him upside down for the suplex.  Cutlass quickly exits the ring and Edwards brings Hammerstein crashing down to the mat with a suplex! He covers!

1...

...

2-KICK OUT!

CHAD GOMEZ:
Y'know, if being a pro-wrestler doesn't work out for Hammerstein - he's shown here tonight that he'd be a great human punching bag. 

BASTIAN KRULL:
No doubt about it, Hammerstein desperately needs to make a tag.  Both Knight and Pulver have been in the ring, but it was so brief that I think they're probably feeling like they just left the locker room.  You certainly want to freshen up on the apron, but the idea behind quick tags is to not only keep the pressure on your opponent but it's to keep your adrenaline going at the proper rate.  This trio of Cutlass, Edwards and Chrenshaw is not one I want to come back into a match cold against. 

Edwards is slow to get up after the suplex, and crawls over to the ropes to help him return to a vertical base.  He does so successfully and then grabs Hammerstein up off his knees and applies a cravate, wrenching it in tightly.  Hammerstein picks him up off the mat, but Edwards clamps it on tighter to force him to put him back down.  Feeling as though Hammerstein's not fighting it enough, Edwards loosens it up and tries for an ace crusher but Hammerstein pushes him away - Edwards runs into enemy territory and AJ Knight cheap shots him! The shot turns Edwards around just in time to see two hundred and seventy pounds of mass hurdling toward him! Pulver and Knight dive for safety as Hammerstein crushes Edwards with the Stinger Splash! Hammerstein leans over the ropes in exhaustion as Edwards remains underneath him.  Knight tags himself in and with the help of Garner and Pulver, peels Hammerstein off and help him out to the apron.  Knight pulls Edwards up before whipping him into the ropes - he dropkicks him on the rebound -  Edwards falls back into the ropes so Knight grabs him and scoop slams him to the mat! He follows that up with a knee drop and covers!

1...

...

2-KICK OUT!

Knight pulls him up and several forearm shots follow, he then pushes him back into the corner and spins with a rolling forearm! Edwards eats the shot full force and stumbles away in pain.  Knight waits patiently... then superkicks him as he turns back toward him.  Edwards falls back into enemy territory, but neither Pulver or Hammerstein make any attempt to cheap shot him - as you might expect - Knight walks over and instead of tagging in one of his partners.  He grabs Edwards and chucks him out of the ring! He drops down and rolls out after him, making automatic tags for both sides but each side watches as Knight pulls Edwards up and whips him into the guardrail! Burning Heart hits hard, but seems to get fired up by it as he comes running out with vengeance in mind but Knight picks him up as though he's going to do an inverted atomic drop... but instead drives him into the edge of the apron! Edwards falls to the ground clutching his back and Knight repeatedly stomps on it.  He pulls Edwards up and rolls him back into the ring, Knight slides in after him.  Garner asks either side if someone is going to come in on the automatic tag and Chrenshaw looks as though he's going too, but ends up shaking his head as Knight stomps Edwards some more.

BASTIAN KRULL:
You always wonder about these great tag matches when they're announced - who's going to coexist, who isn't - I'm surprised that virtually every combination in this match is getting along just fine with one another.  Besides Ben Chrenshaw of course.  Both Cutlass and Edwards seemed content with putting aside any past issues with Chrenshaw for this bout, but the Crippler apparently harbours a grudge against the Burning Heart, James Edwards.

CHAD GOMEZ:
Oh, spare me the BS, Bas.  It's one thing to defeat a man, to wrestle a championship away - that's the nature of this sport, there's no getting around that.  James Edwards is reckless though, he may have very well ended Johnny Ajax's career with the Violent Gospel.  He BROKE Ben Chrenshaw's nose, Bas... is it fine and dandy for a man to try and put another man on the shelf and take food from his loved one's mouths? To take earnings from his pocket?

BASTIAN KRULL:
There's a reason the referee instructs you to intelligently defend yourself before every match.  Injures can and will happen, Ben Chrenshaw was lying on the mat and completely aware of what was going on.  It's HIS job to defend himself, his job to get himself out of that position and guess what? He didn't.  I don't believe for one minute that James Edwards intended to break his nose so much as he was trying to lure him into a disadvantageous position, but that's what happened.  Concussions happen too, I'm very happy that we're finally taking them seriously enough to do what we can to prevent them but they're still going to happen. 

Knight pulls Edwards up to his feet and clamps on a front face lock and begins driving knees into his sternum.  Edwards tries to pull away, but Knight yanks him back into the face lock and backs into his corner where he tags in Matt Pulver.  Pulver comes in and the crowd expresses their excitement about this match up, Knight drops Edwards to the mat with a swinging neckbreaker and Pulver grabs a leg, looks right at Ben Chrenshaw and applies a single leg crab! He contorts his and the Iron Champion's body in such a way that he is able to grab Edwards' arm and yank it back while still maintaining the crab hold.  Edwards writhes in pain and refuses to answer Garner's question, instead trying to wriggle his free leg and catch a rope with it.  He comes within inches and Chrenshaw slyly walks over, sticks his foot inside the rope and yanks it back causing Cutlass to bolt into the ring and break the submission up.  Cutlass gets in Chrenshaw's face again, but the only man to submit our King of the Lions Champion just smiles and walks back to his corner.  Cutlass shakes his head and joins him on the apron, opting to save his breath.  Pulver grabs Edwards' arm and steps over, applying the Yamashita Special.  Edwards twists his body, alleviating the pressure and manages to grab Pulver's foot and knock him off balance - freeing himself up in the process.  Edwards hops into Pulver's guard and the Swedish young lion manages to grab Edwards' arm before he can strike down on him, and goes for a kimura... well, maybe not.  Pulver pushes his head away and rotates his hips, putting his shin right underneath Edwards' chin and begins pushing away.  Cutlass bolts into the ring and breaks up the hold again, knowing full well that if the Omaplata is completed that Edwards could tap in seconds.  Cutlass' interference draws in AJ Knight, while Hammerstein is still recovering on the apron.  Chrenshaw doesn't budge.  Knight shoves Cutlass out of the way and attacks Edwards as he's getting up in the corner.  Cutlass is grabbed by Pulver and tackled into the adjacent corner while Chrenshaw slowly walks over to Knight and Edwards fighting and smiles as Knight glances up at him, then motions for him to continue.  Hammerstein grabs Chrenshaw from inside the ring and tosses him in! Chrenshaw butt scoots away from his former challenger as Edwards clobbers Knight with a back fist! Knight stumbles away and up against the ropes.  Edwards charges him, but Knight chucks him over the top rope just as Chrenshaw hoofs Hammerstein in the groin with a upkick! Referee Garner calls for the bell! Pulver and Cutlass both snap back to reality and cease fighting, curious as to what happened.

BASTIAN KRULL:
I don't envy Garner's job, I'll tell you that much. 

CHAD GOMEZ:
No kidding.  This one went to hell real fast.

Garner speaks with Aarons as Hammerstein rolls out of the ring and medical staff greets him in the aisle and rushes him to the back.  Edwards is attended to by some other medical staff, but pushes them away.  Pulver grabs Knight and tries to calm him down, while Cutlass asks Chrenshaw what happened but the former Iron Champion just gets up and ignores him. 

JAKE AARONS:
Referee Cordell Garner has called a stop to this match as a result of both sides committing red card fouls!

Pulver gets Knight out of the ring, who seems to be apologizing to his partner.  Pulver stays between Edwards and Knight as he walks Knight to the back, Cutlass spins Chrenshaw around asking him what he did but Chrenshaw headbutts him! The protective face mask making it ten times more damaging than a normal headbutt! The King of the Lions goes down in a heap and security dives inside to separate them, but Chrenshaw ducks out of the ring and walks around the ring.  He stops and smirks at Edwards before continuing onto the back.  While Cutlass tries to shove medical staff away and rushes to the back after Chrenshaw, Edwards rises to his feet, wincing in pain.  He marches up the aisle and heads for the lion's mouth, but suddenly turns around and motions for a mic from Mandeville Nelson.

JAMES EDWARDS:
This ain’t gonna take long, I swear. I didn’t get a chance to say this backstage because A.J. felt the need to puff his chest out like a stupid ass gorilla…

Nelson points to his watch, telling James to hurry up.

JAMES EDWARDS:
Aight, aight. Earlier this week I accepted the open challenge to face Black Lion’s Road for the tag belts on next week’s show….

The crowd explodes at the announcement and Nelson seems just as excited and butts into James’ personal space.

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
Really? That’s fantastic news! Who is your partner?!

Edwards backtracks from the over excited host with an annoyed smirk on his face.

JAMES EDWARDS:
Get outta my grill, and I’ll tell ya.

Nelson mouths “Sorry.”

JAMES EDWARDS:
You can’t just pick any partner for a fight like this. I needed somebody with focus; somebody who knows what they want and ain’t afraid to follow their own road to get there without apologizin’ for any bumps along the way. That criteria left only one option, one I think will surprise y’all: Jacob Hammerstein!

The pop is one of surprise - some out of euphoria and some out of complete shock.  The din picks up when Hammerstein limps out of the lion's mouth, an ice bag on his balls.  He looks shocked between winces of pain.  Hammerstein appears to be trying to talk Edwards out of it, but the two trade words - muffled by the roar of the crowd.  Hammerstein seems to relent and extends his hand to Edwards, who gives him a curious look then smiles before returning it with a firm grip.  Meanwhile, Mandeville Nelson snakes his way behind Edwards and snatches the microphone back.

MANDEVILLE NELSON:
Well fans, it is official, next week the team of James Edwards and Jacob Hammerstein will take on Black Lion’s Road for the Pride Championships!

The show ends with the crowd cheering and the new tag making small talk as the scene fades to black.