Tex: Ladies and gents, welcome to the biggest show of the year, TCW ENDGAME!! We have an action-packed night ahead of us, with every championship potentially on the line!

Banter: So let's see some action!!



Sammy Eubanks: The following triple threat contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the TCW AFTERSHOCK CHAMPIONSHIP!



Tex: Our first title match of the night is about to begin, and we have a very unique contest shaping up here.

Cain: That's right – two champions will be in the ring in a kind of sneak preview of tonight's main event. Red Barker is a big star in FWRFed and he's looking to walk out of Endgame as a double title holder.

The lights dim as Izumi's music begins, the arena going dark...and when the lyrics begin, she comes out in a white spotlight, flashing a peace sign to the crowd as a small pyro erupts from the stage.

Sammy: Introducing first, from Kyoto, Japan...IZUUUUUUUUMIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!

She runs full speed to the ring, and works the crowd for a little bit, raising her arms on top of the turnbuckle as the lights come on...

Banter: She's quick, huh?

Tex: Certainly Izumi is a very promising young talent, following in the footsteps of great female competitors like Baroness, Rachel Hunter, Kristina Marie Lawless, Freya and the woman who tonight might become Triple Crown Champion, Indigo.

Cain: This would be Izumi's first taste of gold, but Red Barker and DeSean Blackwell will not be easy opponents to beat.

"A Country Boy Can Survive" starts to play and Red Barker pushes his way through the curtain, looking surly. He sneers at the crowd and gestures to his own belt as he swaggers down the ramp.

Sammy: And her opponents, first... from the State of Oklahoma... weighing in at 290 lbs...he is the FWRFED REVOLUTION CHAMPION... REEEEEEEEEEEED BAAAAAAAAAARKEEEEEEEER!!!!!!!!!

Tex: Red is exactly the kind of guy Izumi doesn't want to have to face – he's what we in the business call a hoss.

Banter: No, he's what you call a hoss.

Red climbs into the ring and throws up his arms, getting showered with boss. He grins through his beard and strides to the corner, where he removes his jacket and belt, but not his hat.

The arena lights turn black and blue, the Twistedtron shows a limo driving through the streets, it stops in front of the arena and the door opens and out steps DeSean decked out in his trademark wrestling gear. After a 2 seconds of silence the beginning drums of Oasis Supersonic begins to play, DeSean walks through the curtain head down, with his hoodie covering his face.

Sammy: And from Greensboro, North Carolina... weighing in at 219 lbs... he is the TCW AFTERSHOCK CHAMPION... "THE TECHNICIAN" DESEEEEEAAAAAAAAN BLAAAAAAACKWEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL!!!!!!!!!!

I need to be myself

DeSean flips the hood back and outstretches his arms

I can't be no one else
I'm feeling supersonic
Give me gin and tonic
You can have it all but how much do you want it?

Syncing his steps to the beat, DeSean stops and forms a cross with his fist, he then outstretches his arms, pyro shoots off behind him.

Cain: DeSean Blackwell has been a man on a mission recently. I've never seen him look like such a threat – at Friction he came within a hair of beating Darkness.

Tex: I've said for years that The Technician just needs to find the right attitude and tap into the intensity I've seen him display before to become a real breakout star. Tonight I'm sure he has no plans whatsoever to drop that title.

You need to find out
Cos no one's gonna tell you what I'm on about
You need to find a way for what you want to say
But before tomorrow

DeSean walks down the ramp arguing with some fans while clapping the hands of others, he hops on the apron and and slowly walks down the side. He stops, leaps on the top rope and backflips in. He pumps his fist and raises his arms getting a mixed reaction but mostly cheers, he yells "I'm back baby" and pumps his chest screaming this is "my show"

Cos my friend said he'd take you home
He sits in a corner all alone
He lives under a waterfall
Nobody can see him
Nobody can ever hear him call
Nobody can ever hear him call

DeSeam hands off his belt to the referee and jumps up and down flexing his arms. His two opponents watch him carefully, but he seems generally unperturbed. There is a brief "DE-SEAN! DE-SEAN!" chant which causes him to grin and then, as the bell rings he edges towards the centre of the ring.

Tex: DeSean has started to build up a genuine following recently.

Banter: Recently?! Don't you remember his glory days in Infinity?

Cain: I remember him beating up a paralysed man to help steal his belts...

Banter: A paralysed albino man – everyone knows those guys are evil.

All three competitors stand off for a moment, but then DeSean makes a dive for Red and kicks him in the gut. He hammers him with a forearm and whips him across the ring. He nearly crashes into Izumi but she leapfrogs him and then gets floored by a clothesline from DeSean. Red has hit off the opposite ropes and now flies towards DeSean too, but he's cut off by another forearm. The Revolution Champion scrambles to his feet, but DeSean takes him down with an armdrag and he is bounced towards the ropes and takes a quick powder.

Tex: The Aftershock Champion is in control in the early going.

Cain: But he has to watch his back – both of his opponents would prefer to end this by pinning him, I'm sure.

As DeSean plays to the crowd, Izumi attacks him from behind with a kick to the back of the knee. She clubs his back as he stumbles into the ropes and then turns him around. She goes for an Irish whip, but DeSean reverses and Izumi is sent into the ropes. She handsprings though and flies at him with a back elbow. DeSean goes down and she runs to the corner and leaps up to the top rope, only for Red to get up on the apron and push her off.

Red enters the ring and picks DeSean up. He flips him over with a scoop slam and makes a cover...

One...


Tw...not enough!

Red mounts DeSean and hammers him with right hands, but now Izumi is up and crashes into Red with a front dropkick. He goes sprawling and Izumi heads after him with stomps. She kicks him out under the bottom rope and then vaults over the top rope, diving into Red as he gets to his feet.

Cain: Izumi with a great high flying move!

Banter: Well she may be fast, but I'd like to see her outfight Red or outwrestle DeSean.

Tex: You just might see that in this very match, Banter. Izumi is certainly holding her own so far, even though she is by far the smallest and least experienced participant in this match.

DeSean gets up in the ring and sees that both his opponents are down on the outside. He slides out of the ring and goes after Red, lifting him up and sending him staggering back against the apron with right hands. He winds up for a big move and charges, but Red throws himself out of the way and DeSean hits the apron. He stumbles backwards and Red floors him with a big clothesline. Red lifts his arms in celebration, but it's short-lived as Izumi jumps up onto the apron and flies at him with a diving hurracanrana. Red is sent spinning away and lands on his back as Izumi flips back up to her feet and goes after DeSean. She manages to lift him up and roll him into the ring before diving in after herself and going for the cover...

One...


Two...kickout!

Cain: Some of our fans may remember that Izumi first appeared in TCW at the side of the mysterious Inferno – a man who brutalised DeSean not too long ago. She wrestled for a spell in FWRFed before coming here at the same time that Inferno went to FWRfed.

Banter: Did they do a trade or something?

Tex: I believe it was just a coincidence. It does mean that Izumi is more familiar with Red than DeSean is though, since she's wrestled in the same promotion as him. That could prove to be a decisive advantage.

Izumi snaps on an armbar and DeSean thrashes around, trying to escape. Eventually he works his way to the ropes and Izumi is forced to break. She beckons for him to stand up then rushes at him with a quick combo of kicks, finished off with an enziguri. DeSean drops to his knees and rolls over onto his back. Izumi is about to press her advantage when Red grabs a handful of her hair from behind and yanks her away. She elbows him in the chest and then turns around, kicking him in the gut. Red is staggered and Izumi hits a dropsault, flipping right over and landing on top of DeSean in a pinning position...

One...


Two...


Th...no! DeSean kicks out!

Cain: What a pinning combination that was! Amazing!

Izumi stomps DeSean down and makes a triangle with her hands. As he stands up, she charges in, but DeSean picks her up and drops her with a spinebuster. He bounces right back up to his feet and rounds on Red who is trying to sneak up on him and sends him back against the ropes with a punch. Red's hat is knocked clean off and DeSean whips him across the ring. He hits a leg lariat on the way back and then heads right for the corner. Red is reeling and, as he gets up, walks right into the Alpha Flight.

Tex: The Technician got some amazing air with that flying clothesline. This could be all over.

DeSean pins...

One...


Two...


Thr...and Izumi breaks it up with a low dropkick!

As DeSean rolls away, Izumi tries to put the triangle choke on Red, but he pokes her in the eye and struggles up to his feet. Izumi leans on the ropes and Red kicks her in the knee, staggering her. He lifts her into a big vertical suplex and then drops an elbow. Briefly, he looks around for his hat, but he can't find it so, with a put upon sigh, he lifts Izumi up and whips her into the corner. He follows her in and lays in punches and stomps. The referee intervenes, but Red just shoves him away.

Banter: Hey, watch it, Red – you don't wanna get yourself disqualified.

Cain: I don't think Red Barker has that much respect for the rules, Banter.

DeSean intervenes instead, pulling Red away and spinning him around. He kicks him in the stomach and manages to get him up in a powerbomb position.

Tex: DeSean is going for the Hangman's DDT, but if he hits it, he's going to send Red right into Izumi too!

Cain: That's just smart wrestling, Tex.

Izumi looks up and realises her peril, so throws herself at DeSean's legs, knocking him over and sending he and Red sprawling. Red lands on top of DeSean and grabs his leg, putting him in a pinning predicament...

One...

But Izumi is right there with an enziguri to the back of Red's head. With DeSean still down, Izumi hops up to the top rope and turns around in mid air, nailing him with a split-legged moonsault. She covers...

One...

And now Red breaks it up with an axe handle.

Cain: The near-falls come thick and fast as they do in all Aftershock Title matches. Since the belt's rules were changed so it can only be defended in triple threat situations, we've seen some classic matches.

Tex: Yes, I truly believe that the Aftershock Championship has gone from an extraneous belt for up and coming wrestlers to a genuine accolade that is fiercely contested amongst some of the best stars on the roster.

Red lifts Izumi up onto his shoulders and then brings her head into the mat with a brutal death valley driver. He goes for the pin...

One...


Two...


Thre...no! Izumi just kicks out in time!

Red can't believe it, but he gets up to his feet and lifts Izumi. He whips her into the corner but she jumps up and lands on the top rope. Red gapes at her as she throws herself off with a moonsault crossbody. She crashes into Red and the impact bounces her up to her feet, whereupon DeSean spins her around and kicks her in the gut before nearly breaking her in half with the Deadly Death Drop.

Tex: Big move from DeSean! This may be all right here!

DeSean covers...

One...


Two...


Thre...shoulder up!

Cain: Impressive resilience from Izumi. She's really impressing me in this match so far.

Banter: I dunno. I'm not really into Asian chicks.

Tex: I don't think Isaiah meant that she impressed him in that way...

Banter: There are other ways for women to be impressive besides their physical appearance? Who knew?

Cain: As amusing as your attempts to set the women's liberation movement back forty years are, Banter, we have a match to call.

DeSean shoves Izumi up and goes after Red instead. He drags him up but gets a punch to the midsection. Red headbutts him and whips him across the ring. He goes for a clothesline but DeSean ducks and hits off the opposite ropes. He leaps towards Red with a flying forearm and sends him crashing to the mat. DeSean kips up and signals for something big.

Tex: The Technician may be going for another Hangman's DDT, but can he get Red up? He outweighs him by some seventy pounds.

DeSean lifts Red and, with a tremendous effort, flips him up onto his shoulders. He staggers and Red comes to. He punches DeSean in the face, but he can't stop the momentum of the Hangman's DDT as DeSean brings him neck-first into the mat. DeSean reels backwards, throwing out his arms, and then turns just in time to meet a shining wizard from Izumi.

Cain: Izumi from nowhere!

Banter: No, she came from right over there. The ring's right in front of you – you don't have to watch the whole match through that little monitor.

Izumi kneels on the mat, catching her breath. The fans are cheering for her as she heads over to Red and makes the cover...

One...


Two...


Thre...kickout!

Tex: What resilience from the Revolution Champion!

Izumi can't believe it, but throws herself at DeSean and covers him instead...

One...


Two...no, DeSean's foot is on the rope!

Angrily, Izumi tugs his foot free and covers again...

One...

But Red hauls her up and dumps her down on the mat. He goes for a cover of his own...

One...

And Izumi breaks it up with a stomp. She tries to lift Red up, but he hits her with a forearm. Izumi staggers backwards and Red bounces back against the ropes before charging towards her and sending her spinning through the air like a top with The End.

Banter: Ouch!

Tex: Red delivers that massive clothesline with extreme force, and I believe that this match will be over if he can capitaise...

Red is about to make the cover, but he sees DeSean groggily pulling himself to his feet. With a sick grin, he winds up again and, as DeSean turns around, hits The End again. DeSean bounces off the ropes and then falls straight forward, hitting the canvas face-first. Red rolls him over and covers...

Cain: Both Izumi and DeSean have be taken out by that clothesline of Red's, and it looks like we have a new Aftershock Champion.

One...


Two...


Thre...KICKOUT!

Tex: He kicked out! DeSean kicked out!

Banter: How'd he do that?

Tex: Boy, I never stop being impressed by this young man. What heart and tenacity he has to survive a move like that.

The crowd goes crazy as Red stares around in disbelief. He shakes his head and stands up again. DeSean rolls over onto his stomach and starts to pick himself up. Red raises a hand.

Cain: Red will try to finish this off once again.

Banter: He should watch out though – Izumi's on the top rope behind him!

The Revolution Champion sees Izumi out of the corner of his eye and turns to intercept her a second too late. As DeSean lies against the ropes facing the other way, Izumi leaps off the turnbuckle and spins Red head over heels with a hurracanrana. She hangs on, rolling him up into a pin...

One...


Two...


Three!!!

Tex: Izumi just pinned Red behind DeSean's back! She came out of nowhere!

DeSean turns around as the bell rings and stared open-mouthed at Izumi as she throws her hands in the air in celebration.

Cain: DeSean can't believe what just happened!

Tex: We'll see a replay so that the former Aftershock Champion can catch up...

DeSean watches the Twistedtron in amazement and then stares daggers at Izumi as she is presented with the Aftershock Title. She lifts it up and runs around the ring manically, going crazy as the fans cheer her.

Red gets to his feet, rubbing his head and watches her along with DeSean.

Banter: I think Izumi might want to get out of there while the going's good...

Cain: That might be an idea.

Izumi almost runs into DeSean who glowers at her and then takes a step forward. She grins and extends a hand, but he bats it away with a growl. She tries with Red, but he just stares at her.

Tex: I guess these two aren't feeling as sportsmanly as the new Champion.

Izumi grins and then backs away before making a sharp exit and leaving up the ramp, still holding the belt above her head triumphantly. In the ring, DeSean and Red exchange an uneasy glance.






We pan to a lockerroom where it's so smokey you can barely see who's in there.

Ghetto Fire: So are we supposed to go for the match right now...

Stoner: I don't even knoooooow....haaaaaa.

Brickey: "......."

Yasmin: Oh shuuttt up, you blockhead.

Ghetto: Where did all the stuff come from??

Stoner: Who cares bro?

We go outside to the hallway where we see a certain rich man smirking and walking away laughing.

Shamrock: Well that gives me the night off....

Sammy Eubanks: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the TCW TRANSCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP!

Tex: This match is a highly anticipated bout – not because of the history between these two men, but because of their reputations as individuals who can put on a real show.

Cain: That's right, Tex. Matt Strikmore has developed a following over the last couple of years because of his skill as a ring technician. He's one of the best technical wrestlers in history.

Banter: So why isn't he World Champion?

Tex: Well it's not all about ring generalship, Banter. You've seen how many Darklings, Indigo Warriors and DeSeaniacs are in the crowd tonight. Matt Strikmore has his own contingent out in force, but he's yet to tap into a fanbase the way that some of the top stars in TCW do.

Cain: Yeah, but I think Matt Strikmore is on the cusp of really breaking out and fulfilling his potential. Along with DeSean Blackwell who we saw in action earlier this evening and his opponent Stephen Hawthorne, we're seeing the beginnings of a new generation of superstars.

1940s style jazz music starts to play and Stephen Hawthorne steps out onto the stage to relatively little fanfare. He gets a significant pop and nods to himself and the crowd as he walks down the ramp.

Sammy: Introducing first... from Long Island, New York...weighing in at 180 lbs...STEEEEEPHEEEEEN HAAAAAAAWTHOOOOOOOORNEEEEEE!!!!

Tex: Stephen Hawthorne made his surprise return at Friction, saving his old tag partner Freya from an attack by Duo. He was also the unexpected recipient of this TC-title shot in place of Twisted Brown – a controversial decision, but I don't think anyone would argue that Hawthorne deserves it.

Banter: Why? What's he even done recently?

Cain: He has been injured, Banter...

Banter: Pffft. So what?

The arena lights dim as the screen screen is covered in silent static. The opening riffs of "We Are Godzilla, You Are Japan" begin as the static starts to dance in tune. As the lyrics begin, the entrance ramp is showered in green light as Matt Strikmore rushes out, pausing to look over the crowd.

Sammy: And his opponent...from Wildwood, New Jersey...weighing in at 220 lbs...he is the TCW TRANSCONTINENTAL CHAMPION... MAAAAAAATT STRIIIIIIIIKMOOOOOOOOOOOOREEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Transcontinental Title wrapped around his waist, Matt points his right fist toward the ring, and grasps the underside of his forearm with his left, a large number of the crowd mimicking. Matt, smiling as he walks down the ramp, leans back into the guard rail and throws up the gesture again, the crowd behind him doing the same. Matt runs the rest of the way to the ring, sliding under the ropes and stands in the middle of the ring. Tossing up the gesture one last time, he slowly spins a complete rotation to see all of the crowd. Unwrapping the Transcontinental Title from his waist, he raises it in the air, brings it down to give it a kiss, then hands it off to the referee.

Cain: Strikmore seems more than ready to make his mark on the grandest stage of them all!

Banter: What's with the elbow thing?

Tex: I don't know, Banter. I guess you'd have to ask Matt about that.

Banter: Talk to that dork? I can do without some stupid comic book analogy to explain everything.

Hawthorne and Strikmore stand opposite one another as the referee lifts the title into the air. As the bell rings, they lean in and shake hands and then begin circling as the fans cheer.

Cain: A great show of respect between these two athletes as this match begins.

They circle and Hawthorne is the first to attempt an attack, ducking in and trying to trip the Transcontinental Champion. Strikmore grabs him around the waist, looking for a big move early on, but Hawthorne gets underneath him and brings him down to the canvas with a fireman's carry. He tries a seated chinlock, but Strikmore gets a grip on his leg and rolls him across his back and to the mat. He presses down, pinning Hawthorne's shoulders to the mat...

One...Hawthorne kicks out and rolls up to his feet.

Tex: Strikmore going for an early pin attempt there. He wants to put on a show, I'm sure, but there's no shame in wanting to put your opponent away as quickly as possible.

Banter: Hey, there's nothing more insulting to the other guy than not trying your hardest. Well...maybe saying something about his mom...

Strikmore is on him quickly, grabbing a front-facelock, but Hawthorne reverses into a wristlock and flips Strikmore onto his back. He goes to drop a leg across Strikmore's throat, but he rolls clear and twists the waistlock around into a hammerlock. Strikmore struggles in the hold, then drops to one knee and reverses into a hammerlock of his own. Hawthorne tries to twist out, but Strikmore cuts him off with an elbow to the shoulder. Strikmore releases and Hawthorne and he staggers away. He waits for him to turn around and then nails a dropkick.

Strikmore goes for a cover...

One...

Not enough!

Strikmore lifts Hawthorne to his feet and whips him across the ring. He goes for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker but Hawthorne spins free and lands on his feet. He knees Strikmore in the gut then grabs him by the back of the head and smashes him face-first into his knee. Strikmore staggers backwards, clutching his face, and Hawthorne kicks him in the gut again, fighting him back to the ropes. He whips Strikmore across the ring and looks for a dropkick, but Strikmore bats him away.

Cain: Innovative counter from Strikmore there. So far, these two appear evenly matches. Strikmore has the size advantage, but Hawthorne has great quickness and real heart.

Tex: He would be a worthy Transcontinental Champion, for sure.

Strikmore jumps down to the mat, putting Hawthorne in a side headlock, but Hawthorne rolls onto his back and pushes Strikmore up onto his shoulders...

One..

Strikmore kicks out, then rolls right onto his feet. Hawthorne flips over onto his front but then gets a face full of Matt's boot as he kicks him while he's down. The impact sends Hawthorne staggering up to his feet and he stumbles backwards, holding his mouth. Strikmore pulls him into a front-facelock and lifts him up into a suplex. He holds him in the air for three seconds...four...

Tex: Strikmore with the delayed vertical suplex!

And finally drops him to the mat with a crash. Strikmore covers...

One...


Tw...kickout!

Strikmore rolls Hawthorne to his feet and whips him off the ropes. He brings him down with a hiptoss on the way back and then drives an elbow into his shoulder before hooking in a chinlock. Hawthorne tries to pry his way free, but Strikmore's grip is form. Hawthorne elbows Strikmore in the gut, but he can't shift him. Finally, he plants his feet on the canvas and pushes himself upwards. He drops down abruptly, jarring Strikmore's chin against the top of his head. Strikmore staggers back and Hawthorne rolls onto his back, kicking Strikmore in the face as he goes so.

Banter: That's it – take no prisoners!

Cain: These two men have great technical skills, but this match is swiftly becoming a quite brutal affair. They respect one another, but the stakes are high, and I know that they want to push each other to the limit.

Strikmore is reeling against the ropes as Hawthorne attacks, coming at him with punches and kicks. He backs up and then clotheslines him over the top rope. Strikmore tumbles to the floor, but gets right back up to his feet and trips Hawthorne from the outside. Strikmore yanks him out under the bottom rope and drops him hard to the floor.

The Transcontinental Champion takes a few seconds to get his breath back, but this also gives Hawthorne the chance to recover. He turns around and walks right into an inverted atomic drop. As Strikmore hops away, Hawthorne strikes, smashing him across the temple with a high knee.

Tex: I didn't expect this match to spill outside the ring, but both men are more than capable of holding their own in a less traditional environment.

Cain: Right. They're both veterans of some truly vicious matches.

Strikmore is down and Hawthorne muscles him up, sliding him into the ring and then diving in afterwards to make the cover...

One...


Two...


Th...kickout!

Hawthorne shakes his head, then lifts Strikmore up. He grabs a side headlock and tries to bring him to the canvas with a takedown, but Strikmore flips out and lands on his feet. He spins around on his heel and crashes into Hawthorne with a clothesline. Hawthorne goes down hard and Strikmore quickly grabs a headscissor. Hawthorne tries to push his way free, but has to settle for slowly turning Strikmore over onto his front. He yanks his way out and then clubs the TC champion down with an axe-handle to the back.

Cain: Hawthorne managing to break that hold eventually, but it's taken its toll. His neck must be hurting right now.

Banter: And then, bang! It's Ring Slinger...uh...city.

Hawthorne hauls Strikmore up and into a back suplex. He holds the bridge...

One...


Tw...Strikmore kicks out!

Hawthorne goes to pick Strikmore up, but he trips him and flips over into a prawn hold...

One...

But Hawthorne pushes upwards in an amazing show of strength and turns Strikmore over. He tries to lift him up into a piledriver, but Strikmore reverses into a back body drop. He drops a leg and then picks Hawthorne up before whipping him into the corner. He goes in with a knee lift and then hits a snap suplex. Strikmore sits up and claps his hands, getting the crowd behind him before hitting off the ropes and dropping a running elbow.

Cain: And now Strikmore is building up some momentum. If he can keep Hawthorne off-balance, he'll be able to put him away and end this with another great victory.

Tex: Hawthorne is going to keep fighting to the last though – I know that he and Strikmore have a good relationship backstage, and that this is a pure athletic contest as far as they're concerned, but sometimes those are the matches that bring out the best in the competitors.

Strikmore sits Hawthorne up and puts him in an inverted front-facelock. Hawthorne kicks and writhes in the hold, trying to get free. He pushes himself upwards and forces Strikmore up to his feet. He slams his feet down onto the canvas to get momentum to lift himself up so he can flip free, but Strikmore grounds him again.

Cain: Hawthorne is attempting a very innovative counter here. All bets are off when you get two such gifted athletes in a match.

Hawthorne tries a second time, and now manages to flip right over. He lands on his feet, but Strikmore doesn't relinquish the hold and remains attached to Hawthorne, his back arched painfully. Hawthorne gets a grip underneath Strikmore and lifts him onto his shoulder. He drops him down right on his neck and covers...

One...


Two...not enough!

Hawthorne wipes a strand of hair from his face and heads to the corner. The crowd cheers as he climbs to the second turnbuckle. Strikmore gets up to his feet and Hawthorne leaps off, hitting him with a double axehandle.

Banter: Hey, don't knock the classics.

Tex: If it ain't broke don't fix it, right? Hawthorne with some traditional but effective offence there.

Strikmore staggers against the ropes and Hawthorne presses his advantage with a forearm. He whips Strikmore across the ring and brings him down with a Japanese arm drag on the way back. Hawthorne jumps up, revitalised, and hits off the ropes, getting a low dropkick in on Strikmore.

The fans are cheering for Hawthorne as he jumps up and down, pumping himself up. Strikmore gets up groggily, and Hawthorne floors him with a clothesline. He pumps his fist and then hits another as Strikmore gets up. Finally he signals and kicks the TC Champion in the gut before flipping him up onto his shoulder...

Cain: Hawthorne going for the Noir Drop!

But Strikmore wriggles free. He lands in a crouch and then hooks Hawthorne's arms, pulling him down with a backslide...

One...

And Hawthorne plants his feet and rolls through, getting Strikmore up onto his back again with a staggering effort of will. He takes a few stumbling steps and then drives him down into the mat.

Tex: He hits it!

Cain: But I think it took a lot out of Hawthorne too!

Hawthorne flops over onto his back as Strikmore cradles his head and rolls around on the mat. Strikmore slumps down as Hawthorne breathes hard. He eventually rolls into his stomach and crawls his way over to Strikmore. Slowly, he makes the pin...

One...


Two...


Thr...no! Strikmore has his foot on the rope!

Banter: Oooh, nearly got him!

Tex: Strikmore with some great ring presence there. It's these kinds of smarts that have made him perhaps the most successful Transcontinental Champion of all time.

Hawthorne beats the mat with his hand and drags Strikmore away from the ropes. He hooks his leg again...

One...


Two...


Th...kickout!

Tex: I thought we had a new Champion there!

Cain: Strikmore has held the title for a long time now – I have to wonder how he'd look without the belt around his waist.

Banter: Well for a start his pants would fall down.

Hawthorne picks Strikmore up and throws him into the corner. He pounds on him with rights and lefts before starting to lift him up. He gets him up to the top rope, but Strikmore recovers and clubs Hawthorne on the back. He grabs him around the head and then takes him down with a swinging DDT. Hawthorne is planted head-first and Strikmore is down too. The referee starts counting...

One!

Two!

Strikmore gets up to his knees and begins crawling towards Hawthorne...

Three!

He rolls him into a cover, but Hawthorne knees him in the face. He falls back into the corner and Hawthorne scrambles up and charges in with a spear. Strikmore throws himself clear though and Hawthorne goes shoulder-first into the ringpost. Strikmore rolls him up from behind...

One...


Two...


Kickout!

Tex: He nearly had it!

Strikmore makes a grab at Hawthorne, but he rolls out of the way and trips him with a drop toehold. Strikmore falls into the ropes and bounces back, landing high on his shoulders. Hawthorne is on him in an instant, folding him up into a pin...

One...


Two...


Kickout!

Cain: And now Hawthorne with a near fall!

Strikmore trips Hawthorne and pushes him up onto his shoulders...

One...


Two...


Kickout!

Banter: It's like when someone distracts you from sneezing... Make it to three already, someone!

Hawthorne punches Strikmore in the face and gets to his feet. He hooks him up for a suplex but Strikmore reverses out in midair and lands on his feet. Hawthorne stumbles and Strikmore takes his opportunity, jumping up and pulling Hawthorne down into the Ring Slinger.

Tex: Ring Slinger from nowhere! Strikmore with a huge move!

Cain: This might be all!

Hawthorne bounces away, and Strikmore jumps on top of him, hooking his leg...

One...


Two...


Three!!!

Tex: Strikmore retains! Strikmore retains!

The referee raises Strikmore's hand as his music plays and hands him his belt.

Cain: A hard fought match ends with a victory for Matt Strikmore, but let's not take anything away from Stephen Hawthorne who took the TC Champion to the limit and came very close to victory here.

Matt reaches through the ropes, grabbing a microphone from the time keeper. Leaning exhaustively against the ropes, he gestures for Stephen to stay in the ring.

Banter: What's he up to?

Tex: It looks like Strikmore has something to say.

"This. This is wrestling," Strikmore says, breathing hard. "It's not about spectacle. It's not about pyro or video packages. This is about an art. It's two opponents stepping through these ropes, and not leaving until one is declared better. Tonight, Stephen and I did everything short of ripping our own hearts out and leaving them in the ring, and we did it for your enjoyment and to show what this business means to us. What you fans mean to us. And by the looks of things, you enjoyed it."

Matt holds the microphone out to the crowd, who resound with cheers.

Cain: He's right – it was a great match.

"TCW isn't about wrestling anymore, but that's going to change. It has a small foothold here in the TC division, but tonight, we started climbing. When there are wrestlers across the ring like Hawthorne and DeSean, that change is inevitable. Welcome back, everyone. Welcome back to wrestling."

He hands over the microphone to the ref, and walks over to Stephen. Grabbing him by the arm, Matt raises his hand. The pair get another round of applause as they walk back up the ramp.

Banter: Huh?

Tex: Some interesting words from the Transcontinental Champion there. What do you think he's getting at, Isaiah?

Cain: Obviously Strikmore feels a certain amount of dissatisfaction with the current state of TCW. Let's hope he doesn't let any bitterness get the better of him in the future.

Tex: Up next, we have a match a long time in the making!

Cain: That's right, Tex! Pat Wow and Duo are going to show down and throw down, and both sides will be looking to make this the last time the other dares come after them!

Tex: I can't wait to see Pat get creamed!

Eubanks: Introducing first, hailing from Orlando, Florida, weighing in at 235 pounds, he's your hero and mine, PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT WOOOOWWW!!

Everyday is a new day
I'm thankful for
Every breath I take
I won't take you for granted (I won't take you for granted)
So I learn from my mistakes
It's beyond my control
Sometimes it's best to let go
Whatever happens
In this lifetime
So I trust in love (so I trust in love)
You have given me
Peace of mind

Pat WoW! bursts out onto the stage, waving to the already ecstatic crowd.


I feel so alive
For the very first time
I can't deny you
I feel so alive
I feel so alive
For the very first time
And I think I can fly

Pat races to the ring, slapping hands as he runs. Inside the ring, he jumps around, pointing to the crowd and raising his arms in the air. They cheer wildly for his every move.

Tex: The crowd sure does love that Pat!

Eubanks: And his opponent, at a combined weight of 520 pounds, Cage and Elsie, DUUUUUOOOOO!

Junior Kickstart begins to play, pumping up the crowd, as Duo appear on the ramp. Elsie is jumping and ready for action. The crowd boos loudly but Elsie keeps her hyperactivity going as she heads for the ring.

Cage follows close behind her, remaining focused. He makes no indication that he even notices the crowd.

Elsie heads to the corner, climbing the turnbuckle, keeping the crowd booing, while Cage climbs into the ring, his massive form taking center-stage.

The ring bell rings, starting the match.

Cage races across the ring, slamming his massive frame into Pat's body. Pat hits the mat hard.

Banter: This is gonna be a slaughter... I love it!

Pat leaps to his feet, only to be knocked right back down by Cage's massive forearm. The crowd boos loudly.

Raising his foot, Pat boots Cage in the knee, sending the behemoth into a tumble. Pat dives out of the way, letting the big man hit the mat.

Pat heads for the ring ropes, bouncing off of them, leaping through the air. Cage's arm shoots upward, slamming into Pat, knocking him to the mat.

Cage climbs to his feet and Pat quickly leaps up, hitting Cage with a kip-up hurricanrana!

Cain: Pat just... broke the laws of physics!

Tex: Because he pulled off a hurricanrana move off on Cage?

Cain: No, because... how the hell do you go from a kip up to a hurricanrana?!

Tex: You don't... Unless you're Pat WoW!

Pat heads for the ropes again, and falls flat on his face thanks to Elsie grabbing his ankles. The ref races over, yelling at her to behave herself.

Banter: Now hold on just a minute... Technically, Elsie is in this match! She's part of Duo!

Tex: I hate to say it, but you're right. And it looks as if the ref is agreeing now as well.

Elsie leaps into the ring as Pat and Cage rise to their feet. Cage can clearly be seen ordering Elsie out of the ring, but no one excepts her to listen. Taking advantage of the distraction, Pat flies off the ropes, knocking Cage backward into the ropes on the opposite side of the ring.

Cain: Finally a success!

Pat continues his attack with a huge dropkick, launching Cage over the ropes and outside of the ring. As he catches his breath, Pat is struck from behind by Elsie with a clothesline. Pat stumbles forward.

Turning around, Pat comes face to face with his young opponent. She runs at him again with her arm outward, hitting Pat across the chest.

Tex: Ha! He's just standing there!

Grabbing Elsie by the arm, Pat starts shouting and pointing outside the ring as Elsie struggles to free herself.

Cain: What class! Not only won't he attack her, he's trying to send her to safety!

Pat turns around once more, stunned as Cage leaps over the ring ropes. The snarling monster is now right in his face. A huge fist heads towards Pat's head, but Pat ducks, rolling out of the way.

Leaping onto Cage's large frame, Pat pulls the big man down hard, hitting him with a DDT as best he can.

Turning his attention back to Elsie, Pat grabs her under his arm, dragging her to the ring ropes. He gives her a gentle shove and points outside of the ring again. Elsie argues with him for a moment, then suddenly dives out of the way.

Pat flies over the ring ropes, hitting the ground hard. Cage stands in the ring, shouting at both him and Elsie.

Rubbing his head, Pat moves around the ring, Cage following his every move inside the ring. Finally, Pat shrugs and dives in, managing to slide right between Cage's legs.

Pat sends his foot through the air, crashing his boot down in the middle of Cage's back. The big man lurches forward, holding his spine in pain.

Cain: Pat's turning this thing around now!

Heading for the ropes, Pat uses the momentum to hit Cage with a huge dropkick. The big man falls face-first onto the mat.

Backing away as Cage rises to his feet, Pat lets the big guy stand back up. Racing forward, Pat grabs onto Cage, one arm across the monster's chest.

Tex: Is this it? The Wow Bottom??

Cage shoves forward and Pat stumbles back a few steps.

Cain: No! But wait!

Pat leaps forward, grabbing Cage's head in his hands. Pat jerks him forward, sending Cage down hard.

Tex: The Mark of Silence!!

Shoving the big man over, Pat drops for the pin. The ref dives in to count.


ONE!!







TWO!!!






THREE!!!

Cain: I can't believe it! Pat took down that monster!

Eubanks: Your winner, the unstoppable PAAAAAAT WOOOOOOOOOW!!






Sammy Eubanks: The following contest is scheduled for one fall...

Red lights illuminate the pale form of Dante, kneeling on the stage. As his music picks up, flames erupt around him, framing him in infernal fury.

Sammy: Introducing first...from the City of Dis, in the Sixth Circle of Hell...weighing in at 242 bs...this...is JAAAAAAAAAAAAASOOOOOOOOOOOOON DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANTEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The flames belch higher into the air, threatening to engulf the Endgame set as Dante stands up and begins his measured walk to the ring.

Cain: Jason Dante who, last year, was defending the World Title in Endgame's main event now makes his way to the ring.

Tex: Indeed, it is a very different Dante that we see before us now. A year of frustration has left him without a direction and angry at his inability to score victories.

Banter: So in other words he's a loser?

Cain: Not a loser, Banter, but Lance Canada put him through hell earlier this year and since his wife gave birth to his first child, he's been unable to dedicate himself to his career.

Tex: A baby can do that to a man.

Dante climbs into the ring and removed his coat and shades, throwing them dismissively into one corner. His pallid face is impassive as he watches the stage for his opponent.



Sammy: And his opponent...from Oxford, United Kingdom...weighing in at 143 lbs...she is the TCW BLEEDER CHAMPION...FREEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freya walks out onto the stage, lifting one hand above her head to acknowledge her fans, many thousands of whom are in attendance tonight.

Cain: Freya has held the Bleeder Title since Endgame last year – everyone is talking about Darkness's dominance, but what about Freya, huh?

Tex: I don't think I've seen a serious challenge to her title since Bamlicious earlier this year. She appears utterly unassailable.

Cain: You can bet Dante will want to be the man to change that though. These are two former stable-mates, former friends, but Dante's problems started when Freya scored an upset victory over him in June. Since then, he's struggled to achieve.

Banter: Think he's gonna try to bust her open?

Tex: I would imagine that Dante is aiming to walk out of here not only with a hard-won victory, but also a second reign as Bleeder Champion in hand.

Freya rolls into the ring and removes her belt as she eyeballs Dante carefully. She hands over the title to the referee and starts to limber up. Dante prowls his side of the ring, not taking his eyes from Freya.

Tex: And just to remind everyone, there is more than a championship potentially on the line here. For over a year now, Commissioner Stern has been trying to rid TCW of these former members of the New Hellfire Club and all that's been standing in her way is their strangleholds on their respective titles.

Banter: So if Freya loses, she gets fired?

Tex: That would seem to be the situation, yes.

The bell rings and the crowd pops as Freya and Dante start to circle. They lock up and Dante swiftly overpowers Freya, forcing her against the ropes. The referee calls for the break and Dante releases after a few seconds. Freya comes at him again, and he brings her to the mat with a drop toehold. Immediately, he crosses her ankles, looking for a submission of some kind, but Freya kicks her way free, catching him in the jaw and sending the former World Champion staggering back against the ropes. She hops to her feet and then brings him down with an armdrag, holding on with an armbar afterwards.

Cain: Freya seems to be in control of this match in the very early going. She's a competitor of astonishing skill and speed, but Dante has such amazing heart and resilience, and I've ever seen him more determined than this.

Banter: But she's beaten him before, right? This isn't a big deal.

Tex: I doubt very much that a competitor of Jason Dante's calibre can be taken in by the same tricks twice.

Dante fights his way up to his feet and breaks free with a forearm to Freya's face. He presses his advantage with a kick to the gut and then looks for a suplex. He gets her up in the air, but Freya wriggles free and lands on her feet behind him. She jumps up, looking for an early Lungblower, but Dante grabs her head from behind and dumps her to the mat over his shoulder. He drops to one knee and secures a reverse chinlock.

Cain: Freya could have had him then – last year at Endgame, it was that very move that injured Kermit and won her the Bleeder Title.

Tex: And there's no need to remind anyone watching tonight of how vulnerable Dante's back and neck are after he was paralysed just a couple of years ago.

Dante cinches in the hold and Freya claws at his arm. She gets a foot underneath herself and tries to push up into the air, but Dante shifts his weight and presses down. Freya tries a new tactic instead, rocking slightly forward and unbalancing her opponent, sending him tumbling to the mat. She scrambles on top of him, hooking his leg for a cover...

One...kickout!

She picks Dante up and whips him across the ring, but he reverses and sends Freya tumbling over the top rope. She lands on the apron, but Dante charges with a Yakuza kick and knocks her down to the floor.

Tex: Dante has bought himself a little breathing room with that move perhaps.

Banter: That or he's getting her to the outside so he can beat the crap out of her and make her bleed...

Dante slides out of the ring, but Freya is up already and flies at him with a leg lariat. He goes down and Freya jumps up to the apron. She waits for Dante to climb to his feet and then dives at him, using her body as a weapon. The two competitors both go down, but Dante clearly took the worst of it and rolls over onto his front.

Freya rolls in and out of the ring, breaking the count and then lifts Dante up. She smashes his head into the apron for good measure, then rolls him in under the ropes.

Cain: Freya is making good use of the ringside area – we know all too well about her innovative offence and her ability to improvise weapons from her surroundings.

Tex: She's certainly a resourceful young woman.

Instead of going for a cover, Freya drops a knee on Dante's outstretched arm. He yells in pain and clutches it to himself, but Freya claws it free and quickly snaps on a cross armbreaker. Dante writhes, trying to escape the hold, but they're very close to the ropes and he is able to roll Freya onto her back and into the ropes, necessitating a break. Freya reluctantly releases and Dante backs off, massaging his arm slightly. Freya rolls onto her stomach and lies near the ropes, watching him through narrowed eyes.

Banter: Ooh, something about her just makes me feel creeped out sometimes...

Tex: Freya has that intense predatory gaze.

Cain: Right, and she's focusing on that arm that Dante is favouring. You can never show weakness like that in a match.

Banter: She smells blood in the water.

Freya jumps up to her feet and goes after Dante, but he trips her and she hits the ropes, getting hung up on the middle one. Dante seems to seriously consider imitating his opponent for a second, but instead he hits off the ropes on the other side of the ring and jumps on Freya's back, crushing her larynx against the rope with the weight of his body. Freya falls to the canvas, but Dante is relentless, lifting her back up and then dropping her with a vertical suplex. He covers...

One...



Tw...not enough!

Dante picks Freya up again and now he goes for a scoop slam, but she twists free on his shoulder, spinning over his back and grabbing his injured arm, locking in a triangle hold as they both fall to the mat.

Cain: An incredible counter from the Bleeder Champion! Dante is in trouble!

Dante thrashes on the mat, trying to break free, but Freya's grip is firm. He tries to work his way over to the ropes, but he can't make it. Freya twists on his arm, putting torsion on the injured area. In desperation, Dante reverses course, surprising Freya as he pushes her back onto her shoulders and rolls her up...

One...



Two...



Thr...no! Freya kicks out!

Tex: Dante very nearly had her there! Excellent ring presence from the veteran!

Dante doesn't let his advantage slip through his fingers. He hauls Freya to her feet and knees her in the stomach. He throws her into the corner and then follows in with a knee lift. Freya sinks down to one knee, but Dante is on her again, lifting her up onto the top rope. He climbs up after her.

Cain: Dante is looking for a big move off the top rope...

Banter: It's gonna go wrong!

And indeed it does as Freya recovers her wits and pushes Dante off. He lands on his back, but bounces right over and up onto his feet. He dashes right back up to the top rope, taking advantage of Freya's positioning as she has just climbed higher, looking to hit a diving attack of some kind. Dante locks Freya in a head and arm clutch and hurls her from the top rope with a modified suplex.

Tex: Huge move! Dante may have done enough here!

Hitting the canvas has stunned Dante too though and it takes him a few seconds to stagger up and make the pin...

One...



Two...not enough!

Dante catches his breath then lifts Freya up from behind. He puts her in an inverted front facelock, but Freya spins free, grabbing his injured arm and dragging him down into a fujiwara armbar.

Cain: Dante was looking for the Broken Reflection, but Freya countered with that armbar.

Tex: This is the move with which she relentlessly assaulted Dante in June, targeting that same arm.

Banter: Smart.

Dante grits his teeth and tries to pull himself free, but Freya has him locked into the hold tight. He reaches out for the ropes, but can't get there. Finally, he rolls forward onto his back, subjecting his arm to agonising torsion, but also locking Freya in a headscissor. Both competitors are caught in a deadlock for an instant before they roll apart and both lie flat out on the mat.

Cain: Dante got out of that move the only way he could, but it took a harsh toll on his arm.

Banter: Well what choice did he have? Even I know he ain't gonna tap out now.

Tex: True. I think the best Freya can hope to achieve with a submission hold is wearing Dante down – he'll never submit.

Dante holds onto the ropes as he sits up. He shakes out his arm, but there is some visible swelling and redness at the shoulder now. Freya stands up and waits for him to get to his feet. They circle, then Dante dives in with a kick. Freya catches his leg and steps over, knocking him down with a heel kick. She's on him in an instant, looking for another armbar, but Dante rolls away and into the ropes. She grabs him from behind and wrestles him up to his feet. He flails at her with an elbow but she ducks and places her shoulder against his midsection.

Cain: Freya may be looking for a northern lights suplex, but I don't know if she has the strength to get him up.

Tex: Never underestimate Freya Green, Isaiah.

She plants her feet, but Dante wraps his arms around her stomach and flips her up into the air before bringing her down with a thunderous powerbomb. He folds her up against the canvas...

One...


Two...and Freya makes a grab at his arm, locking her legs around his head too and pulling him down to the mat.

Tex: Freya with another triangle hold! She countered from nowhere!

Dante roars and rolls Freya back onto her shoulders. He heaves her off the mat and spins around, performing a manic pirouette with Freya still attached before dumping her over the top rope and to the outside.

Banter: Now that's counter wrestling!

Cain: Dante with an incredible reversal, and now both wrestlers are down but, crucially, Freya is on the outside.

Tex: I think she landed pretty badly there.

Dante lies in the middle of the ring, clutching his damaged arm, while Freya remains motionless in a heap on the outside. The referee begins to administer a count...

One!

Two!

Dante drags himself up to his knees and shakes the sweat from his eyes. His shoulder has started to bruise an ugly purple colour now.

Three!

Freya still hasn't stirred.

Cain: The Bleeder Champion may be about to get counted out.

Banter: So the belt wouldn't change hands, right?

Cain: Well she isn't bleeding, so it wouldn't change hands anyway...

Four!

Five!

Dante stands up and pushes past the official. He climbs slowly out of the ring.

Six!

He grabs Freya with his good hand and laboriously hauls her to her feet. He tries to move her towards the ring, but all he manages to do is dump her against the apron.

Seven!

Freya comes to her senses and bashes Dante on the back with a clubbing blow as he slumps against her. He staggers back.

Eight!

Freya reaches up and grabs the middle rope. She pulls herself up and over the top rope.

Tex: Now Freya is back in the ring! It could be Dante that will be counted out!

Nine!

Realising his peril, Dante makes a dash towards the ring, but Freya didn't land in the ring, and instead flipped right over and through the ropes to crash into Dante with a flying baseball slide!

Cain: The count is broken!

Dante writhes on the protective mats on the outside as Freya stands up and then stomps his injured arm. She cracks her neck and then picks him up by his hair, dragging him back towards the ring. She gets him up and rolls him in under the bottom rope. Dante slumps lifelessly down and she grabs his arm, lifting it and then bringing it down hard against the edge of the ring.

Banter: I think that'll wake him up!

Dante rolls to the inside, holding his arm, and Freya climbs in after him. She signals and lifts him up. Pointing to the corner, she grabs him in a three-quarter front facelock and runs towards the turnbuckle.

Tex: Freya is going for the Lunar Eclipse...

But as she runs up the turnbuckles, Dante comes to his senses and grabs her from behind, wrapping her up in the Gilded Cage as they rotate through the air. Freya yelps in surprise as she is driven down into a sitting position on the mat and Dante fully locks in his signature hold.

Tex: Gilded Cage! Gilded Cage! What a counter!

Cain: Dante has it locked in, and this is a move that has proven very deadly for him in the past.

Tex: But he couldn't break Darkness with it, and last time it failed to stop Freya either!

Freya tries to fight free, but to no avail. Dante bares his teeth; it's clear that performing this move is incredibly painful for him too due to his arm injury. He tries to lock it in tighter, but his arm is looking dangerously bruised now. Freya manages to plant her feet against the mat and starts to push upwards. Dante attempts to use his weight to his advantage again, but Freya is less worn down than him. She gets upright and makes a lunge for the ropes.

Cain: This is how Freya countered this move in June...

Her foot brushes the ropes, but Dante drags her away. Unwittingly though, he loses his balance and falls backwards. Freya attempts to take advantage, but Dante keeps the Gilded Cage locked in and rolls through, pulling Freya back to her feet again. Now on the other side of the ring, Freya kicks out and finds the ropes, pushing backwards and knocking Dante over a second time. The impact forces him to release and she presses his shoulders down and hooks his legs with her own...

Tex: History repeats itself!

One...



Two...



Thre...Dante kicks out!

Cain: It did not work this time! So close!

Dante is up immediately and he tries to spear Freya down, but she counters with a drop toehold and Dante trips right up into the ropes, getting hung up on the middle one.

Banter: How convenient!

Cain: Not for Dante is isn't.

The fans cheer as Freya signals with a howl and then runs the ropes, going for the OX4. She careers through the ropes but he throws himself clear and she meets thin air. Stumbling as she lands on her feet, Dante takes advantage of the distraction and pulls her down into a small package...

One...



Two...



Thr...kickout!

Tex: He nearly had it! Freya was nearly down for the three!

Freya and Dante are both up now and they trade desperate blows, but Dante gets the advantage with a European uppercut and spins Freya around. He snaps on an inverted front facelock and then sends her crashing into the mat with the Broken Reflection!

Cain: Dante with a huge move, but he can't capitalise – he was forced to use that injured arm to drop the elbow!

Dante rolls over onto his stomach, clutching at his elbow. His shoulder has started to turn black now, and it's obvious something is seriously wrong.

Banter: Hey, is Freya bleeding?

Tex: I don't think so...

Freya is lying with her hands across her face protectively. She lets her arms flop down to the canvas and Tex is correct in that she is not bleeding – her face is simply flushed from exertion.

Dante staggers up to his feet. He lifts his good arm and signals for the Hellfire Driver. He grabs Freya by her hair and lifts her slowly, but she recovers herself and hooks her foot around his ankle, pitching forward and sending him crashing into the mat. She jumps forward, looking for another fujiwara armbar, but Dante rolls through the hold, catching Freya off guard and spinning her over onto her back. He wraps an arm around her legs and folds her up, linking his hands to secure the pin...

One...



Two...



Three!!!

Cain: Dante wins! He rolled her up out of nowhere!

Dante stumbles away and then falls down to the canvas as his music plays. His injured arm lies limply at his side as he places one hand over his eyes.

Tex: Dante with a huge victory! He has gone some way, I think, to repairing his damaged ego!

Banter: But she wasn't bleeding, right?

Cain: That's right, Banter. Freya didn't bleed, so the Bleeder Championship does not change hands.

Freya sits up and looks over at Dante with a frown. Slowly, she stands up and is then handed her Bleeder Title. She slings it over one shoulder and walks towards Dante. She extends a hand and helps him to his feet. He gives her a slightly goofy grin.

Tex: It looks to me like Dante is feeling a lot better about himself now.

Freya gives him a friendly pat on the cheek and then lifts his good arm into the air. The crowd shows its appreciation as Dante staggers across the ring and ascends the turnbuckle, lifting his hand in the air above him.

Cain: Dante scores a big win on the grandest stage of them all and perhaps now we'll begin to see the Dante of old returning.

Tex: But first, he's going to have to get some medical attention for that arm.

Freya applauds Dante in the ring as he continues to celebrate for the fans.

Backstage, Freya pokes her head around a doorway. "Are you okay?"

Dante looks up from the bench where Dr. Baxter is bandaging his shoulder. He gives her a half-smile. "It's better – you really did a number on me there."

"Yeah, well you won, didn't you? What are you complaining about?"

Dante gestures to his shoulder. "Hello? Anyway, it's not a problem. I just want to put this whole episode behind me now."

Freya nods. "Right."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

"How serious?"

They both look around and there, on the other side of the doorway, is the World's Heavyweight Champion himself, Darkness.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready for your match, Buffy?" Freya asks him.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Jason..."

"Darkness. Look, about what happened..."

"I understand that you weren't yourself."

"No, but that's exactly it," Dante says as he gets up from the bench, "I was myself...more myself than I'd ever been before...and you saw what that made me do."

"We all carry the shadow inside us, Jason," Darkness says in a low voice, "it's what makes us what we are. The trick is to control it."

Dante smiles. "How many times are we all going to have to learn this lesson, do you think?"

"I don't know...maybe a few more."

Freya sighs. "Well this is a very touching moment I'm sure, but you have a match and you need to go home and rest."

"Home...right...I haven't actually been back yet..."

"Ah, that'll be a fun conversation with the wife then."

Dante grimaces. "One thing at a time. My professional life is looking up – hopefully my personal life will follow suit."

Darkness straightens and steps away from the door. "Time for me to go. I'll see you both later, I expect. All things being well..."

Freya watches him go and then turns back to Dante. "Hey, remember that conversation you two had before the Road to Glory?"

"What about it?"

"Hang on, let me go and find Stephen. Back in a sec."

Freya dashes off, leaving Dante in the doctor's room, looking after her. "You want some pain killers?" Baxter asks.

"No thanks – I think I can handle it."




Sammy Eubanks: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for...THE 411FED AND ECF UNIFIED WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The nearly 80,000 fans packed into the Estadio Antonio Vespucio Liberti rise up as one, a great swell of emotion rolling across the night.

Tex: The atmosphere in here tonight is amazing. Darklings and Rainbow Warriors in their droves have packed out the arena and this is the match they came to see.

Cain: It is simply breathtaking to look out and see a crowd like this. Some would argue that this event – and these fans – have been tainted by the events in Buenos Aeries over the past few weeks, but one cannot help being astonished by the enthusiasm on display here.

Sammy: Introducing first...



Rainbow coloured pyros erupt from the stage, fanning out in red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and finally indigo. There is a deafening roar as Indigo steps out into the stage and lifts her hands above her head.

Sammy: The challenger...from Sydney, Australia...weighing in at 150 lbs...she is the FWRFED WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.... IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cain: The Rainbow Warriors are all on their feet for their heroine! Just last month, she returned to FWRFed and took back the belt you see around her waist now!

Tex: And those who saw Heatwave will be familiar with this reaction Indigo is getting. The cheers are deafening – I can hardly hear myself speak.

Banter: Yeah, it's great. Why can't there be people drowning you out all the time, Tex?

Indigo walks down the long ramp to the ring, leaning across to slap the hands of fans as she goes. She walks up the steps and climbs through the ropes, then lifts her arms as she stands in the middle of the ring and explosions go off overhead, raining multicoloured sparks down on her.

Cain: Indigo won the Road to Glory in Peru, and that is what got her this match tonight. She is looking to be the person who can do the seemingly impossible – end the World Title reign of Darkness.

Banter: Is a 150 lb woman really the way to go about doing that?

Tex: Commissioner Stern certainly seems to think so. She has promised that, if Darkness loses his titles here tonight, his career in TCW will be over.

Sammy: And her opponent...



Abruptly the mood changes. The whole arena is bathed in blacklight and now the other half of the crowd rise up. An ethereal chanting reverberates across the thousands in attendance and up into the cold Argentinean night. A fat full moon hangs overhead, clearly visible in the dark sky due to the open-air arena.

On the Twistedtron, the view cuts to backstage. The door opens and Darkness is framed against the shadows.

Cain: There he is! The World Champion! Tonight he may be facing the greatest threat to his reign since he took the belts at Endgame last year.

Tex: Indeed. Darkness has proved utterly unassailable since then. The question on everyone's minds is whether this will be the end of this mammoth title reign, whether the most dominant force in professional wrestling history will finally come a cropper and whether, indeed, he even should have such a stranglehold on the belts.

Cain: The ramifications are huge either way. The violence in the streets of Buenos Aeries these last weeks, the Congressional Investigation headed up by the new president, the words of Matt Strikmore earlier tonight – all point to a TCW that may be in serious trouble if it continues to be led by this man.

As the chanting continues, Indigo is dwarfed in the centre of the ring, surrounded by tier after tier of rabid fans. She looks from side to side uncomfortably.

Darkness has reached the gorilla position and jogs up the steps, belts in hand. The view cuts back to the stage and there is a moment of anticipation before, just as the music kicks in, his massive pyro erupts, bathing the arena in orange light.

Sammy: From Chicago, Illinois...weighing in at 218 lbs...he is the 411FED AND ECF UNIFIED WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION...THE MAN...THE MYTH...THE ICON...THIS...IS DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The pop is titanic as Darkness steps out from the flames. Unperturbed, he walks calmly down the ramp, his eyes not leaving the ring and its occupant. Flames streak down towards the ring, framing him in flickering light. His eyes seemingly blaze in sympathy as, all around him, the thunderous "DARK-NESS! DARK-NESS! DARK-NESS!" chant sounds.

Cain: For those of you keeping score at home, Darkness has reigned from Endgame to Endgame. His current reign is over a year long and, in itself, is the longest anyone has held either the 411fed Championship or the ECF Championship. However, he is now on his second title reign and, combined, he has held the belts for almost exactly two years. He has almost doubled the length of the previous record, held by Jason Dante. He has been pinned only five times in his career and he has never tapped out.

Banter: Wow.

Tex: Indigo has a mountain the size of Everest to climb. Darkness will not go down without the fight of her life.

Darkness enters the ring. He walks past Indigo and mounts the turnbuckle, lifting his belts above his head. Again, the roar is colossal, its volume seeming to shake the ring. He looks out at his fans and then steps down. Slowly the lights come back on and his music dies as he stands face to face with the challenger.

Cain: Of course, we shouldn't sell Indigo short. This is a woman who went from being fired and stripped of her Championship to winning the Road to Glory and now stands on the cusp of perhaps becoming the first ever Triple Crown Champion.

Tex: There is certainly a feeling of history repeating itself. Just three years ago, at Endgame 2005, another woman stood in her position. Similar build, similar style – the same finisher – a champion looking to unify two great lineages. Rachel Hunter was the first ECF and 411fed Unified Champion, and she defeated Misfit, Darkness's former tag partner, to do it. Similar opponents, with similar stories.

Banter: It sure is a crazy coincidence...

Tex: Rachel Hunter ran into the brick wall that was a certain 'Rookie Sensation' in his meteoric rise up the ranks. Will Indigo be Rachel Hunter at Endgame, or Rachel Hunter at Breakdown? The World Titles – and perhaps more – hang in the balance tonight.

Darkness hands over his belts to the referee who lifts them above his head. He makes a brief circuit of the ring, showing off the titles, then hands them over to the timekeeper. Darkness and Indigo approach one another as the referee confers with both of them, laying down the rules. They both nod and step away. With a sweep of his hand, the referee signals for the bell.

Banter: Here we go!

The crowd pop for the bell, but then there is a tense silence as the two gladiators circle. They each make tentative lunges, but it comes to nothing. Indigo reaches out, looking for a grip, but Darkness dodges away.

The fans begin their chanting again. "LET'S GO INDY!"

A counter chant starts from the other side. "LET'S GO DARKNESS!"

"LET'S GO INDY!"

"LET'S GO DARKNESS!"

Tex: Everyone in this arena is on the edge of their seat, waiting to see how this match will play out, and what the future of professional wrestling will be as a result.

Indigo and Darkness both back away as the chanting reaches fever pitch, each retreating to a separate corner. Indigo looks out across the crowd and smiles. Darkness actually looks a little unnerved, looking up at the rows of people cheering for him with something like dread. He rolls his shoulders and moves back towards the middle of the ring, with Indigo doing likewise. They circle again, and then abruptly both surge towards one another and lock up. There is a huge cheer.

Cain: A lock up! And what can Indigo achieve with this? For all her skill and her heart, Darkness has a considerable strength advantage!

Darkness proves Cain's words as he pushes Indigo towards the ropes. She tries to put the breaks on, then suddenly drops down to one knee and brings Darkness down with a fireman's carry. She attempts to snap on a chinlock, but Darkness grabs her wrist and scrambles to his feet, putting her in an arm wringer. He segues into a hammerlock, but Indigo grabs the ropes and he breaks.

Tex: So much intensity, so much on the line. We've seen that Indigo can handle Darkness in the ring, but will the pressure be too much?

Banter: You talk like she's the only one who should be nervous – Darkness could lose his titles and his job! Whatever happens in this match, Indigo is still going to walk out as a World Champion.

Cain: That's a good point, Banter. Indigo made her emotional return to FWRFed recently, and that must surely be where her heart lies. This match was booked at Commissioner Stern's behest, and I wonder how complicit Indigo really is in all this.

They lock up again and now Darkness grabs a headlock. He wrenches away and tries to bring Indigo down to the mat, but she gets her arms around his waist. Planting her feet, she attempts to get him up for a back suplex, but she can't lift him. Darkness spins around and reaches underneath Indigo, looking for a powerbomb or a piledriver, but Indigo grabs his legs and trips him. Instantly, she flips over, covering with a prawn hold...

One...kickout!

Tex: Not even a one-count there. It's going to take an awful lot more to stop Darkness, I think.

Darkness is up on his feet and charges at Indigo, but she floors him with a drop toehold. She grabs his foot and goes for a submission, but Darkness rolls over onto his back and kicks her away. He kips up and then crashes into her with a clothesline. Indigo goes down, but bounces right back up to her feet, only to walk into another clothesline. Darkness drags her up and goes for a short arm clothesline to finish off the trifecta, but Indigo ducks and goes behind. She hits a dropkick, and Darkness goes sprawling forward into the ropes.

Cain: Indigo's speed and quickness are astonishing to behold. Darkness, as we've said before, is used to being the fastest and most agile man in any given match. Consistently, it has been against opponents who outmatch him in that regard that he has faltered – the likes of Bruce, Freya and Strikmore.

Indigo pounds on Darkness from behind and then tries to roll him up with a schoolgirl. Darkness kicks out though, keeping hold of Indigo's arm and locking in a cross armbreaker. Indigo flails, and then grabs the bottom rope. Darkness waits for a count of two before releasing. He jumps right to his feet and lifts Indigo. He gets a scoop slam and then goes to drop a knee, but Indigo rolls clear. She spins upright and flies at Darkness with a forearm. He goes down and Indigo is on him instantly with a cover...

One...


T...not enough!

Tex: Both competitors seem to be evenly matched at this stage. As this match goes on, who is going to have the advantage, Isaiah?

Cain: I would have to say that Darkness will become more dangerous the longer this goes on. His stamina and endurance is legendary – he will continue fighting no matter how worn down he is, and Indigo will not be able to match that kind of pace, I feel.

Banter: So she'd better try to finish this as quickly as possible then?

Cain: That would be the most logical strategy, yes.

Indigo has Darkness in a front facelock on the mat. She pushes herself up and comes down hard onto the canvas, trying to increase the pressure, but Darkness pushes up to his knees and lifts Indigo up to her feet. He elbows her in the gut, freeing himself, then grabs the back of her neck and drops down into a jawbreaker. Indigo staggers away and Darkness gets up, massaging his neck. He hooks Indigo up from behind and lifts her, before bringing her down into a shin-breaker.

Tex: Darkness may be looking to target that knee. We've seen him focus on the leg of an opponent in the past, preparing for the Darkshooter.

Cain: That's the move with which he won his first World Title against Rachel Hunter. Using it tonight would certainly be appropriate.

Darkness stomps on Indigo's leg and then puts her in a half crab. He kneels down low, putting all the pressure on her knee rather than her back and gets a secure grip with his good hand. Indigo grunts in pain and claws across the canvas, trying to reach the ropes. Darkness pulls back, but Indigo is managing to drag them both towards the edge of the ring. Abruptly, Darkness releases and turns the half crab into a toehold, reaching forward and grabbing Indigo around the chin at the same time.

Tex: Darkness with a transition into an STF!

Cain: He put the brakes on Indigo there, cutting her off from the ropes.

Indigo tries to claw her way free, but she finds no purchase on the smooth plastic of Darkness's prosthetic hand. Instead, she starts to rock from side to side, finally unbalancing Darkness enough to break free and make a grab at the ropes. The referee calls for a clean break and Darkness disentangles himself from his opponent. Indigo pulls herself up with the ropes and shakes her leg out.

Banter: Uh oh, don't give him any ideas!

Cain: Right. We saw earlier tonight the mess Freya made of Dante's arm when he showed that weakness. Darkness is going to pick up on that body language and he will exploit the injury in any way he can.

Darkness approaches, hands raised to his face. Indigo backs away, moving towards the corner, her own arms lifted, trying to anticipate his attack. The World Champion is too fast though, darting in with a martial arts kick to Indigo's damaged leg. She staggers against the corner and Darkness presses his advantage with a flurry of punches and kicks, flattening her against the turnbuckle. Indigo puts her hands across her face, defending herself from the furious blows until the referee calls for Darkness to break and then is forced to drag him away and let Indigo stand up.

Cain: Darkness has that martial arts background. We don't see evidence of it too often, but when he does unleash those unorthodox strikes, he can do some real damage.

Banter: I never heard that he had a black belt or anything...

Tex: I believe his speciality was Muay Thai, Banter, which doesn't have belts.

Banter: Oh right. Nice excuse.

Indigo stands up, but Darkness moves in again and whips her across the ring. She bounces off the ropes and he charges, crashing into her with the Shadowed Wizard. Indigo does down hard and Darkness goes for the pin...

One...


Two...kickout!

Cain: Darkness with that near fall after the Shadowed Wizard. He and Indigo are going to duelling signatures pretty soon, I think.

Tex: Whether Indigo's version of that same move will be more or less powerful, I don't know.

Darkness rolls Indigo up to her feet, then hits a dropkick to the knee. Indigo staggers away and then Darkness dives at her with a chop block. Indigo yelps as she hits the mat, but Darkness is on her already, hooking her back into the half crab. This time Indigo is near to the ropes though and grabs them straight away. The referee counts, and Darkness waits till he reaches four to release.

Banter: Oooh, what a sneak!

Tex: Darkness usually plays by the rules, but I guess he wanted to do as much damage as he could there. With an injured knee, even four extra seconds in a hold like that are sheer agony.

Indigo clutches at her knee as she lies in the ropes. Darkness is up on his feet and hops from one foot to the other, cracking his neck at the same time. His lean body is already covered in a slick sheen of sweat. Indigo pulls herself up and Darkness charges in, but Indigo gets underneath him and sends him over the ropes. He lands on the apron and jumps up, springboarding off the top rope, but Indigo telegraphs it and leaps up into a dropkick that sends Darkness flying backwards and crashing to the outside.

Cain: Amazing counter! Indigo kicks Darkness right out of the air!

Darkness staggers up and slumps against the apron, only for Indigo to grab the ropes and kick him backwards so he sprawls against the guardrail. Fans slap Darkness on the chest and pat his back as he stumbles forward and walks right into a vaulting body press from Indigo.

Tex: Indigo flies, and now the tables have been turned!

Indigo limps to her feet as Darkness lies on the protective mats, holding his head. She stomps him on the head and then drags him to his feet. He goes face-first into the apron then she goes to whip him into the ring post, but he reverses and Indigo finds herself hurtling towards it instead. Somehow, she recovers her wits and jumps up, landing awkwardly on the apron. Darkness just stares at her for a second, then falls prey to a cross body that sends him back down to the floor.

Cain: Indigo's agility is keeping her in this match so far. She has a considerable advantage over Darkness on the outside, it seems.

Indigo leans against the apron, catching her breath. She shakes out her leg again and then rolls into the ring. She stands up and walks backwards, beckoning for Darkness to get up and come after her. He obliges, slowly standing and then climbing in under the bottom rope. Indigo charges, hitting him with a dropkick to the face and then dragging him up and dropping him with a DDT. She covers...

One...


Two...no! Shoulder up!

Banter: I think Darkness might be in trouble.

Tex: You could be right, Banter. That misstep earlier has cost him dearly.

An "IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO!" chant starts up as the FWRFed Champion backs off and lets Darkness stand. She runs at him and then floors him with a shining wizard. Darkness rolls on the canvas, hands across his face, and Indigo lifts a hand.

Banter: Oh no, not this!

Darkness stands up slowly, shaking his head to clear it, as Indigo winds up. There is a deep rumble as the fans stamp their feet and then she hurtles towards him, slamming her palm into his face.

Cain: The Shotei! And now Darkness is in real trouble!

Amazingly, Darkness starts to climb to his feet again and Indigo signals for second Shotei. She charges, but Darkness trips her with a drop toehold and lifts her by her leg. Indigo tries to roll free, but Darkness steps over and locks in another STF. Indigo tries to writhe free, but his grip is strong. She reaches for the ropes, just a few inches away, but can't get to them.

Tex: This could be all over here!

The fans are cheering for Darkness now as Indigo lifts her hand, but she doesn't tap, instead grabbing a handful of Darkness's wet hair. She tugs at it, and the referee moves in, asking her to let go. She keeps tugging and then Darkness suddenly releases.

Banter: Huh?

Cain: I'm not sure what happened there – maybe Darkness is just very protective of his hair?

Tex: I think Darkness saw that Indigo was about to get disqualified. If I know Darkness like I think I do, he doesn't want this match to end that way.

Banter: So she tricked him?

Tex: In a manner of speaking.

Darkness grabs hold of Indigo's foot and drags her to the middle of the ring. He steps over and looks for the STF again, but Indigo balls her fists together and smashes him in the nose. He rolls away and she jumps up, careful not to put too much weight on the damaged leg. Carefully, she approaches him, hands raised. She grabs him by the hair again, but he spins around and locks his legs around her foot, tripping her into the ropes. With a yelp, Indigo falls backwards. Darkness keeps his grip on her ankle and then stands up, grabbing her legs and steps through crossing them across his knee.

Cain: Uh oh!

Tex: Darkness may be going for the Darkshooter, and Indigo is going to be in serious trouble if he can lock it in!

Darkness tries to turn Indigo over, but she won't let him. She rocks back and forth, trying to break free, then reaches out and grabs his hair again as it hangs down across his eyes. She pulls him closer and grabs him around the head, dragging him down to the mat and rolling him onto his shoulders...

Tex: Indigo with an improvised small package!

One...



Two...



Thre...no! Darkness just kicks out!

Cain: She nearly had it! She nearly had it!

Tex: Darkness was just a fraction of a second from being pinned there: what an ending that would have been to this match.

Indigo rolls away clutching her injured knee as Darkness recovers on the mat, breathing hard.

Banter: What's up with her?

Cain: Darkness still had her legs in that grapevine as she pulled him down into the cover. I think it put some strain on her injured knee.

Tex: Then that near fall could be the defining moment of this match if Darkness can capitalise...

Darkness pushes himself up to his knees. He shakes the sweat from his hair and stands up. Indigo is on her knees now and stares at Darkness as he walks towards her. He lifts his prosthetic hand threateningly. Indigo stands up, retreating into the ropes, and then Darkness strikes, grabbing her around the throat. He hauls her up into the air, but Indigo counters, wrapping her legs around his head and bringing him down with a hurracanrana. Indigo dives up and then collapses into one corner. Darkness gets up to one knee and she pushes herself onto the second turnbuckle, then up to the top as he stands. She signals and then dives off, hitting him with a cross body.

Cain: Indigo with a huge move off the top rope!

She holds on for the cover...

One...


Two...

Darkness rolls through...

One...


But then lifts her up and swings her around, grabbing her by the throat. He lifts her and brings her down to the mat with the Slayer Slam!

Banter: Buh-bye, Indigo!

Cain: Darkness has her in position! This match could be about to end!

The crowd are at fever pitch as Darkness lifts Indigo's legs and steps between them, now turning her over into the Darkshooter.

Tex: Darkness has his signature hold locked in! Indigo is in the middle of the ring with nowhere to go!

Darkness reaches back, putting maximum pressure on her knee. Indigo's face is pressed to the mat and her arms planted firmly on either side of her. She pushes herself up, shaking her head at the referee's inevitable question.

Cain: Indigo won't quit, but she has nowhere left to go now. What choice does she have but to tap out?

Indigo slams both hands into the canvas and tries to pull herself forward. Darkness resists, but Indigo gradually drags them both across the ring. The World Champion plants his feet as Indigo crawls forward using her elbows, reaching out for the ropes that are still a few feet away. Darkness straightens and tries to shuffle forward, but the momentary release of pressure is just what Indigo needs to make a lunge forward. She doesn't reach the ropes, but she's inches away now.

"IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO!"

As the tens of thousands of Rainbow Warriors chant her name, Indigo finds the strength to push forward, reaching out desperately and taking hold of the bottom rope.

Tex: She did it! Indigo gets to the rope and the hold must be broken!

The referee counts Darkness and, at four, he finally lets go. He steps into the middle of the ring, breathing hard, and then turns around, leaning down with his hands on his thighs. He watches Indigo through strands of sweat-slicked hair that hang down across his face.

Cain: This is exactly how Darkness won the title last year – he's looking to put Indigo away with the Darkness DDT...

Indigo drags herself to her feet with painful slowness using the ropes. She leans on her arm and then turns around just as Darkness straightens. He kicks her in the gut, grabs her head and then spins her around, driving her down into the mat with the Darkness DDT.

Tex: Darkness DDT! Darkness DDT! That's all she wrote!

Darkness hooks the leg...

One...


Two...


Thre...KICKOUT!

Banter: Whoa!

Cain: Indigo kicked out! Indigo kicked out! This match continues!

Darkness can't believe it. He stands up, wiping the hair from his eyes. The sweat has rubbed off most of his face paint now, revealing the livid white scars across his eyes. He grabs Indigo by her hair and picks her up. He measures her and goes for another kick to the gut, but this time she grabs his foot and brings him down to the mat with a dragon screw.

Tex: Indigo with that leg whip and now Darkness might be about to get a taste of his own medicine!

Indigo grabs his legs and steps through. She nods and then turns him over into the Darkshooter.

Cain: Indigo has the Darkshooter on Darkness! He has never tapped, but what if he did to his own hold?!

Banter: Well that would do it, wouldn't it?

Darkness roars in pain and reaches for the ropes. Indigo leans back, but the hold is clearly taking its toll on her too – she's been forced to cross Darkness's ankles across her injured knee. Darkness claws across the mat, but Indigo is forced to let go. She limps across the ring and then turns around, her hand raised.

Cain: Indigo is signalling that she is about to end this, once and for all.

Darkness climbs to his feet using the ropes and then turns around, walking right into the Shotei. He bounces against the ropes and then staggers into the centre of the ring. Indigo charges again and floors him with a second Shotei. Darkness flops down, flat out in the centre of the ring.

Tex: Indigo has Darkness down, and now she surely has to capitalise.

Banter: It looks like she has other ideas...

The fans are going crazy as Indigo points towards the corner and nods. She limps towards the turnbuckle and climbs. Darkness is still out in the middle of the ring as Indigo crouches on the top rope and then stands up.

"IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO!"

She jumps up and pitches forward, hurtling through the air with the Indigo Splash. Flashbulbs pop as she crashes into Darkness, the impact bouncing her off.

Tex: Indigo with her signature move! That's got to be all!

Darkness clutches at his stomach and rolls away. Indigo dives towards him, rolling him onto his back and hooking his leg...

One...


Two...


Three!!!

Banter: She did it!

The crowd go nuts, but the referee is waving his hands.

Tex: No, wait, look – Darkness has his foot on the rope.

Indigo looks at the referee in disbelief, but he points, showing her that Darkness's other foot is indeed on the bottom rope.

Cain: What ring presence from Darkness. Even on the edge of consciousness, he managed to get his foot on the rope.

Tex: This match continues!

Indigo stands, clearly favouring her leg. Darkness starts to pick himself up, but she's on him, dragging him up. She puts him in a front facelock and hooks his arm across her neck.

Banter: What's she doing? She'll never get him up!

Tex: She's hit it on larger men. If Indigo can land the brainbuster, I'm certain this match will be over.

Indigo lifts, straining to get Darkness into the air.

"IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO! IN-DI-GO!"

She gets him up and the Rainbow Warriors go wild, but suddenly her leg gives way and she releases Darkness, dropping him to his feet.

Cain: Indigo couldn't hold him, her leg was too hurt!

Tex: All of Darkness's focus on that knee may be about to pay off.

Darkness throws back his head, flicking the hair from his eyes and fixes Indigo with a murderous stare. She gapes at him and then he kicks her in the stomach and grabs her head.

Banter: Here we go!

Tex: Darkness is going for his finishing move!

Darkness looks out at the crowd for a moment before grabbing the back of Indigo's tights, lifting her up and spinning her around with terrifying velocity. She crashes head-first into the canvas and he immediately folds her up into a cover...

Cain: The Darkness DDT! Can Indigo kick out?!

One...


Two...



Three!!!

The fans surge to their feet as Darkness falls back onto his knees and bows his head.

Tex: Darkness retains! Darkness retains! My God what a match!

Banter: I can't believe he did it!

Cain: I thought for sure that Indigo was going to score the upset here tonight, but Darkness proved once again that when it comes to resilience, to ring generaliship, there is simply no one better in the business.

Tex: But let's not take anything away from this young woman: she came within a hair of putting an end to this most dominant of title reigns, and becoming the Triple Crown Champion.

Banter: Yeah, it's not like she's leaving empty handed here...

The referee hands Darkness back his belts and he lifts them up above his head. Still on his knees, he throws his head back and roars in triumph, his primal cry answered by the thousands of Darklings in the crowd.

Indigo slumps in the corner. She rolls her kneepad down and massages her knee. The timekeeper slides her own belt under the ropes and she picks it up, holding it across her lap.

Tex: Tonight, Indigo came up short, but there is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that she is as worthy a World Champion as there has ever been. She remains the FWRFed Champion and I have a feeling that there will be many more opportunities for her to become a legend in this sport.

Darkness stands up and looks down at Indigo from across the ring. She stands up slowly and lifts her World Title, holding it across her chest and patting a hand against it. He gives her a crooked smile and nods as she shoulders her belt and then slides out of the ring.

Cain: I think these two have reached an understanding of sorts. I know that Darkness is a man who deeply respects a worthy opponent, and there's no question that Indigo was one tonight.

The fans are on their feet, giving Indigo a standing ovation as she limps up the ramp. In the ring, Darkness also claps her and then, as his music plays, turns and walks towards the turnbuckle. He lifts his belts as he climbs and then holds them in the air. Across the top of the arena, thunderous pyros go off, lighting up a ring of fire against the dark night sky.

Tex: And so it continues – the mammoth title reign of the most dominant force in wrestling history was not ended tonight. The question we must ask ourselves, is just who can stop Darkness?

Banter: No one!

Cain: You may be right, Banter. Darkness has proved himself perhaps the greatest World Champion of all time tonight, but at what cost to the industry?

Tex: It's a good question, Isaiah.

Darkness steps down from the turnbuckle and walks towards the ropes. He shoulders his belts and goes to step through the ropes.



Banter: What the hell's this?

Tex: 'Hell' is the ring word, Banter – that's the New Hellfire Club's music! What's going on?

Darkness frowns at the ramp and then steps back into the ring. As the song kicks in, flames burst from the stage, framing three individuals standing there. Dante, Freya and Stephen Hawthorne make their way down to the ring.

Cain: Is this what I think it is?

Tex: I think it may be, Isaiah! An NHFC reunion!

Dante dives into the ring. His shoulder is bandaged from his earlier match. Freya is in after him with Hawthorne taking up the rear, hanging back somewhat. Dante squares up to Darkness and then holds out his hand. Darkness looks at him for a long moment before taking his hand and then being pulled into a rough embrace. The fans cheer as they separate and Freya then hugs Darkness too. Awkwardly, Hawthorne gives Darkness a pat on the back as they part.

Banter: So the old gang is back together, is that it?

Tex: I think so. Darkness and Freya both kept hold of their titles. I don't know what the future holds for Dante and Hawthorne but, for now, I don't think the NHFC are going anywhere.

Darkness heads back to the turnbuckle and the other members of the group do likewise, each taking up a corner. Darkness lifts his belts as Dante pounds his chest and Freya gives the fans a thumbs up. Hawthorne nods slowly, his face impassive, as he looks out at the crowd.

Cain: What a night it's been – so many incredible matches and Endgame moments. Darkness retains in an amazing contest, and now the NHFC have reunited around him.

Banter: Aww, isn't it lovely?

Tex: I don't think Commissioner Stern will agree with you, Banter but, for tonight, it's Darkness's moment.

Darkness lifts up his titles again, bellowing in triumph as the chant resounds through the night.

"DARK-NESS! DARK-NESS! DARK-NESS!"