Ascension - February 2nd, 2022 - New York, New York

A picture appears on the huge screen for WLCW..


MAURO RANALLO: Well the lights are flickering about here in the arena and there’s a message on the screen.



PAT MCAFEE: It’s Road Dogg Jesse James! He’s in World League Championship Wrestling. I gotta text my dad, I didn’t know!

MAURO RANALLO: We’re live here at Ascension with the place erupting for the one time New Age Outlaw and D-Generation X member. Pat, do you think you have time to do that?

PAT MCAFEE: Annnnd done! We’re good. Look at Jesse James has a smile on his face greeting the fans as he heads to the ring.

The Road Dogg, dressed in blue jeans, white button up shirt, and a tan blazer, has in fact made it just about to the ring steps.

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: That's right, your ass betta call somebody! Now, let me get myself safely up in this ring. Last thing we need is a major injury by climbing steps.

The Road Dogg makes it into the ring and the crowd cheers again. Jesse James enjoys the moment.

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: M-S-Gggggggggggggggggg! It's me, it's me, it's the D-O-Double-G! Here, doin' what I do best, talkin' the talk and walkin' the walk. We’re here walkin' around WLCW like we runnin' this biz-nitch. And when you up runnin’ the show, you know we doin' things DOGG-Y STYLE!

The fans go wild.

MAURO RANALLO: The crowd is lovin’ the Road Dogg, Pat.

PAT MCAFEE: He’s got them in the palm of his hand, bringin’ in the old time feelings of wrestling days gone by. I love it!

James appears to clear his throat, some of which is heard on the microphone.

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: As I clear my throat, lemme take note that you guys and gals, here at Ascension, may be ready. Well? New York City, ARE YOU READY?!

James looks around, holding his hand to his ear a bit, acting like he can't hear the crowd. James shakes his head. He taps his fingers on the microphone.]

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: No, no, no, no, no. I don't think you heard me. New York City. I said....ARE! YOU! READY?!

Crowd goes wild again. James nods his head and smiles.


ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: That's what I'm talkin' about!

MAURO RANALLO: The Road Dogg really hyping up the fans here in Madison Square Garden.

PAT MCAFEE: We’re on a flash back, Mauro!

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: So, for all these fans in attendance here at Ascension, and those millions watching at home.....

Crowd noise dies down. James drops his head over the microphone to start the finale. He then, in a sense, comes to life again.

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Luhhhhhh-adies-and-Gentlemen-boys-and-girls, CHILDREN, of all ages, Stoneworth-Investments-Incorporated, the World Wrestling Network and THE ROAD DOGG, JESSE JAMES, proudly brings to you, standing at six foot three inches tall and weighing two hundred-forty-five pounds, from LaSalle, Illinois, the future World League Championship Wrestling HEAVYWEIGHT-CHAMPION-OF-THE-WORRRRRLD, the Wrestler Known As Brady Booker!

Jesse James motions to the very place he entered from as the music for Brady Booker starts..


The music blares, as the crowd is still cheering, more for The Road Dogg than for this entrance. Nonetheless, it’s a loud noise.

MAURO RANALLO: Brady Booker making a big entrance, even though he’s not got a match anywhere on the Ascension card, Pat.

PAT MCAFEE: The first big pay-per-view event for World League Championship Wrestling should probably have everyone coming out with a big entrance, Mauro.

Booker looks similar to James in attire, except his jean pants are black, with a WLCW t-shirt on under a blue blazer. The crowd noise dies down as Booker makes it to the ring. Upon entering, James embraces a smiling Booker with a hug!

MAURO RANALLO: It seems that this duo are very happy to get out here to the lights of the WLCW crowd. The hug of mentor and student, quite a powerful impact. Especially for two people that are, again, not completely involved in any of the matches tonight.

PAT MCAFEE: They’re having their moment and it’s one that may not happen ever again. This is WLCW and it’s the top tier of the pro wrestling game, fans.

The two men end their bromance and James hands the microphone to Booker. Brady looks around the arena as the crowd is weaning in their applause for this period of time. James applauds his student briefly, just as Brady starts to speak.

BRADY BOOKER: Thank you, Road Dogg. As many people use tonight to ascend into your living rooms, some will look to ascend into championships, and others will look to ascend into being called a defending champion, I, Brady Booker, look to ascend myself into the same areas of this sport. World League Championship Wrestling.

Jesse James is heard just off the mic applauding, and saying “Bravo! Bravo!” Booker looks at him puzzled.

BRADY BOOKER: What?

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Oh. I was just giving you some kudos. You’d hear the word “Bravo” after a performance of opera or an orchestra that was really good. Then there’s Bravo network. Oh, the best one is, Bravo is used in the phonetic alphabet for the letter “b” and the phonetic alphabet is used by military and first responders. Since your first and last name starts with “b,” I could call you “Double Bravo.”

BRADY BOOKER: Oh. Well. Good for them. And me, I guess. Thanks.

James gives the “two thumbs up” pose, with a smile. Booker focuses back on addressing the audience..

BRADY BOOKER: Anyway fans, you are going to get a pleasant surprise each and every time you see The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker, me, in a World League Championship Wrestling ring. Because I am The Wrestler WLCW needs. I’m The Wrestler, pronounced like t-h-e-e, like “my country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.” But this thee, is me, and it’ll be for you that I show proof that only I got the moves and I got the holds to be around here as championship caliber. Only I can entertain you better than anyone else under contract with this company. The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker proves that to the world very, very soon.

Booker hands the microphone back to James.

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: To quote McConaughey, “alright, alright, alright!” Now, before we go, one last thing from the Brady Booker Show. Some of you know this next part, some of you don’t. But don’t worry, old Road Dogg is here to help. Now, when I raise the microphone up over my head in a moment, I need to hear all you Madison Square Garden fans to yell at the top of your lungs just two little words: Suck it.

James pauses..

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Everybody got it? Good.
The Road Dogg looks at Brady Booker, and winks. He pauses for a breath..

ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: And if ain't down with that, we got two words for ya,....

James holds the microphone up over his head as the crowd sporadically yells "SUCK IT!" James and Booker high five, as Booker’s music hits and the two men head back to the back.

MAURO RANALLO: As the two men, James and his student, Brady Booker, leave we have to wonder just where do we go from here.

PAT MCAFEE: Oh, we gotta go back to some action, Mauro baby! From nostalgia of the past to nostalgia for making dreams come true with some title matches.

---

Three men all with the same goal in mind in this one. Win the match and become the number one contender for the WLCW World Heavyweight Championship. Three men who have would have a right to gripe about how the title contender battle royale played out at the end. No one more so than Malakai Black. He actually seemingly ‘eliminated’ Cody Rhodes from the match, only for Cody to slide back into the ring and unceremoniously eliminate him and his opponents in this match tonight. Kevin Nash had an incredible run in the battle royale and has been on a decent run from the WLCW’s starting point. Looking to regain all that was once thought lost for him, a win tonight puts him back on the marquee for the first time in a very long time. It would be well deserved for the man once known as Big Sexy because he seems more focused, in shape and as ready as he’s ever been. Then there’s Brock Lesnar. A man who isn’t exactly used to not getting his way. Intimidating in almost every facet, tonight’s match is about taking back what he thinks is rightfully his – a place in the main event. He’s been a dominating force for the better part of the last fifteen years in the world of professional wrestling. Seemingly having not lost a step, he’s ready to run – not walk – through his competition tonight and be the number one contender for the most prestigious prize in all of professional wrestling. Tonight’s match means something a little more to each one of these men, but only one can take home the win tonight and cement their place in the world title match. The bell sounds and this one is officially underway here.

PAT MCAFEE: I have been waiting all night for this one. These guys are focused and ready. A world title shot is on the line here!

RENEE YOUNG: These three were eliminated by Cody Rhodes after he had already been thrown out of the match on Storm. This is more of a second chance for each of them to be here for this opportunity!

MAURO RANALLO: Indeed so. Gracious of Mick Foley to set this up for each man. Each of them are more than deserving to be in that world title match later tonight. C’est le vie however as it’ll be Rhodes and Miro for the world title later tonight and the winner of this match likely has a date with the winner of that one very soon!

The three men measure each other out after the bell sounds. Lesnar doing his hopping back and forth on each foot as Nash tightens his gloves on each hand. Black hasn’t moved in his corner and stands with his arms and hands by his side. Malakai twists his neck a bit and pops it a few times before finally taking a step towards the middle of the ring. Lesnar nods and motions for him to keep coming when out of nowhere, Nash comes in with a big back elbow right across Lesnar’s chest and neck. Brock is knocked back into the corner where the big man…well, in this case, the slightly bigger man in Nash goes to work. Black stands in the middle of the ring and watches the two behemoths go at it in front of him. Nash hits Lesnar with a few more back elbow smashes in the corner before grabbing Brock and whipping him towards Black, who is still just standing and ominously watching. He wasn’t expecting Nash to whip the beast towards him though as Lesnar drills Black with a clothesline, taking him down to the mat before turning his attention back to Nash. The two walk towards one another and go chest to chest now, neither one of them backing down. Malakai is back to his feet though and hits Lesnar in the back with a spinning heel kick, knocking the beast into Nash and both of them into the corner! Lesnar stumbles back out of the corner and is met with a chop block from behind by Black, taking Brock down to one knee. The former football standout is hobbled a bit as Malakai measures him up from behind now. With Lesnar down on one knee though, Nash springs out of the corner, going past the downed Brock and drilling Malkai with a clothesline of his own, taking him down. Black is staggered a bit, staying down a bit longer than he did after the Lesnar clothesline. Brock is back up to his feet now and shaking his leg, trying to get some feeling back into it. He’s grabbed from behind by Nash and tossed out of the ring, smacking into the mats on the floor. Nash turns his attention back to Malakai Black again.

RENEE YOUNG: Smart move here from the ring veteran. Get rid of one opponent and focus solely on the other.

PAT MCAFEE: Just seems like whichever two are focusing on one another right now are getting blindsided and taken down by the third.

MAURO RANALLO: That’s the danger of triple threat matches though. Hard to stay focused on one opponent for too long.

Nash picks Black back up to his feet, but Malakai swipes up and through Nash’s arms, knocking them off of him. He does a palm strike right to Nash’s chest, making him grimace and stumble back a step. Kevin takes a step back towards Black, but again, Malakai drills him in the chest with an open palm strike! Nash reaches up at the now reddened area of his chest, Lesnar crawling back up the apron now. Black goes for a spinning crescent kick on Nash, but he’s able to duck under it. Malakai’s leg goes sweeping by the ducked Nash and Lesnar catches him from the other side of the ropes, on the apron. He pulls Black towards him and hoists him up, picking him up and driving him over his head for a T-Bone Suplex over the top rope and to the floor below! Black’s back hits the mat with a splat as Lesnar turns his attention back to Kevin Nash in the ring now. As Brock steps between the ropes, Nash brings a double axe handle smash down across the beast’s back. Lesnar seems unphased by this, staying on his feet and driving a right hand punch into Nash’s face. Kevin is knocked back a bit and Lesnar stays on the offensive, one…two…and then a third punch to Nash, who has stumbled back to the middle of the ring. Lesnar grabs Nash and lifts him up, hoisting him over his head for a belly-to-belly suplex! The almost seven footer crashes into the mat as the crowd cheers at the impressive show of power and force. Brock isn’t done though and wants more, walking over to the downed Nash and picking him back up to his feet. He goes to grab him for a second suplex, but before he can lock it in, Nash reaches up and scrapes at Lesnar’s eyes, blinding him for a few seconds. That’s all the opening Kevin needs as he brings his knee up, driving it into Lesnar’s midsection and doubling the beast over. This only angers Brock as he rises back up, grabbing Nash by the head and running him towards the top turnbuckle in the corner, smashing his head and face into it. Nash staggers back a bit and Lesnar grabs him from behind, lifting him up for another German suplex and driving him into the mat with it! Lesnar is back to his feet quickly and lets out a scream to this Madison Square Garden crowd, who steam back at him.

RENEE YOUNG: Guys, I think the beast is just getting warmed up now.

PAT MCAFEE: This is bad news for Nash and Black!

MAURO RANALLO: Indeed so because once Brock gets in this zone, there may be no stopping him.

As Lesnar goes over to pick up Nash for another suplex, there’s a loud THWACK as Brock turns around to see a now worried Malakai Black standing there with a kendo stick in his hand. He tried to smash it across the beast’s back. Well, he did smash it across his back but with little to no result from it. Lesnar grabs the end of the stick and pulls it and Malakai towards him, grasping them both and a big belly-to-belly suplex! Now he has both men down and maybe should be going for a pin in this situation, Lesnar only has one thing on his mind - inflict more pain. Nash is struggling back to his feet, so Brock helps him back up, grabbing him by the back of the head. Kevin kind of wobbles back and forth a bit as Lesnar lets go of him, devling a few strikes to the big man’s chest and stomach area. Nash tries to fight back but Brock is firmly in control of this one right now. He grabs around Nash’s chest and lifts him up, driving him down with a belly-to-belly suplex! Lesnar springs back to his feet, turning his attention back to Black who is trying to get back to a vertical base. Brock grabs Black and goes to put him up on his shoulders for the F5, but Black blocks it with a knee to the side of the beast’s head. Lesnar doesn’t relinquish the hold, but Malakai had picked up to the kendo stick on the mat near him before Lesnar grabbed him. He drives the handle of the stick right into Lesnar’s rib area, forcing Brock to break his grip and let Malkai down. Brock grabs at his rib area and takes the kendo stick strike right across the face! He’s knocked back and leans on the ropes. As he’s leaning on them, Nash recovers and comes towards him with a big boot right to the jaw! Taking Lesnar up and over the top rope to the floor. Black and Nash exchange looks in the ring now but Kevin motions for them to go to the outside of the ring and continue their work on Lesnar. Black slightly nods and both men step out of the ring and start going to work on Lesnar.

MAURO RANALLO: It would seem as though Kevin Nash and Malakai Black have a working agreement here now.

PAT MCAFEE: Not a bad idea! Incapacitate the beast and make him a non factor!

RENEE YOUNG: Yeah, easier said than done guys.

Nash and Black are indeed working together, lifting Lesnar back to his feet now. Both men each grab an arm and whip the beast into the ringside barricade, moving it significantly. Lesnar clutches at his back, his arm hanging over the barricade to keep him on his feet for now. Nash seems to be stalking him as Black stands there, breathing heavily and watching them much like he did at the start of the match. To be honest, all three men are breathing heavily and laboring in this one now. Nash grabs Lesnar by the head and pulls him back up to his feet fully. Black goes to work now with a kick to the midsection and then a spinning back kick right to the chest, knocking Lesnar back into the barricade again. Nash comes running in with a clothesline across the chest taking Lesnar up and over the barricade and into the front row of fans! An audible gasp from the crowd there as the beast is sprawled out in the most expensive seats in the house! Nash doesn’t wait though, grabbing Malakai Black from behind and turning him towards the ring, smashing his face on the ringside apron! Black is caught off guard as Nash rolls him back in the ring. Rolling in after him, Kevin grabs the downed Black and pulls him back up by the arm, pulling him towards him quickly for a short armed clothesline! Nash takes down the straps on his singlet and motions that he’s thinking about going for the powerbomb. The crowd starts to murmur in anticipation as Nash lifts up Black and scoops him up from the side, dropping him down with a backbreaker across his knee! Weakening him up enough to where he can finish this one off. Nash pulls Black back to a spot to set him up for the powerbomb, but before he can lift him up and drop him down, he’s hit from behind by an angry Brock Lesnar. Nash releases his hold on Black, who falls to heap on the mat. Brock turns Nash around and kicks him in the stomach before getting under him and lifting him up, putting him on his shoulders and dropping him with an F5! Lesnar doesn’t go for the pin though, instead choosing to stalk around the ring in a circle, staring at Nash, who is seemingly not moving. Brock puts one finger up to signify he is going to give him one more. He grabs Nash and pulls him back up, lifting him up onto his shoulders again. As Lesnar turns towards the center of the ring to drop the big man off his shoulders, he’s hit square in the jaw with a huge CRESCENT KICK TO THE FACE from Malakai Black! Lesnar is knocked out cold as Nash tries to land on his feet, but as Kevin does, Black shoves him from behind through the ropes and to the floor! Malakai goes for the pin on Lesnar! 1…2….3! He’s done it!

---

MAURO RANALLO: Malakai Black has done it! What an absolutely great match between these three!

PAT MCAFEE: Lesnar had it! He had them both beat and went for one more F5!

RENEE YOUNG: A costly mistake from the beast and he took a kick right to the face for it.

MAURO RANALLO: And now Malakai Black is the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. Redemption for a man who likely should have been in the main event tonight!

PAT MCAFEE: While I won’t go that far, I will say that Black certainly earned my respect here tonight. This is a great win.

RENEE YOUNG: Black will definitely have his eyes on the main event tonight and who comes out of that one.

MAURO RANALLO: Well fans, before we get into the next match, we want to go over the schedule as we start the march towards our next SuperShow.

PAT MCAFEE: I cannot wait for this announcement, this is so dope.

MAURO RANALLO: So far in the early incarnation of WLCW, we’ve traveled pretty much all around the North America and that will continue into next month. On February 23rd, Vengeance will be live from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia as we cross the border for the first time!

RENEE YOUNG: Then Storm will emanate from Detroit, Michigan as WLCW visits the Little Caesars Arena for the first time on Saturday, March 5th.

PAT MCAFEE: We’ll then head to the Pacific Northwest as Vengeance will be coming to you all live on Wednesday, March 16th from Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington!

MAURO RANALLO: Those three dates are all leading up to the next SuperShow for WLCW on Saturday, March 26th when we will be live for our first outdoor arena show, Clash at the Canyon where we will be set up live at the Grand Canyon of all places!



PAT MCAFEE: One of the seven great wonders of the world and we are going to see some of the greatest wrestling ever there!

RENEE YOUNG: You heard it right. We are setting up a ring and viewing area for fans at the Grand freaking Canyon of all places! WLCW management have really outdone themselves on this one!

MAURO RANALLO: Tickets go on sale tonight at midnight for Clash at the Canyon and we expect to sell out quickly with limited seating available.

PAT MCAFEE: Reserve those tickets people! You don’t want to miss this show!

MAURO RANALLO: Enough about the upcoming shows, let’s get back to the ring and keep this one going!

We fade up on a shot of the WLCW Women’s World Championship hanging above the ring. The camera slowly zooms in on the title belt as the fans get louder, beginning to clue in on the fact that the much anticipated title match is coming up next. We abruptly cut to the ringside area where we see a large cage sitting just to the side of where the ramp comes to an end, which will serve as the penalty box. A lone referee stands nearby with the key to the padlock. There are at least six ladders standing around the ringside area, creating an ominous atmosphere. The fans are ready for it, loudly chanting “we want ladders” as our announce team takes over.

RENEE YOUNG: It’s time, boys! The Queen of the Mountain match is upon us and ya’ know what? I’m ready for it! These ladies have been beating the crap out of each other for weeks in preparation for this match and now it’s time to see which one of them is walking away with the ultimate prize! It’s gonna be a fight!

MAURO RANALLO: You’re absolutely right, Renee! It’s going to be crazy! It’s going to be insane! A fight?! You’re darn tootin’ it’ll be a fight but tonight is Saturday night and if my good friend ELTON JOHN has taught me anything, it’s that SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING!

PAT MCAFEE: This is the match I’ve been waiting for! Sure, there’s been some hot and heavy action among some of our other competitors, but nothing has been as heated as what’s gone on in the build-up to this match! Just ask Hikari Noa how heated it’s been! Julia Hart nearly blinded her with FIRE! THAT’S PRETTY HEATED, AM I RIGHT!?

We go to the ring where Justin Roberts is standing by, microphone in hand.

JUSTIN ROBERTS: Ladies and gentlemen, it is now TIME for the QUEEEEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN MATCH! AND IT IS FOR… THE WLCW WOMEN’S… WORLLLLLLLD CHAMPIONSHIIIIIIIIP!

The fans cheer loudly. Justin waits for the reaction to die down just a bit before continuing.

JUSTIN ROBERTS: The rules… are as follows. The WLCW Women’s World Championship is hanging above the ring. Five women begin the match at the same time. In order to become eligible to climb and retrieve the championship, a competitor MUST register a pinfall or submission victory over another woman in the match… if a competitor is pinned or submitted, they will spend two minutes inside the PENALTY BOX at ringside! The first eligible woman to climb the ladder and retrieve the championship will become the NEWWWWWW WLCW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONNNNNNNN!

The fans cheer loudly. Justin Roberts touches his ear piece as he receives information from backstage. He nods and then delivers the message.

JUSTIN ROBERTS: Ladies and gentlemen, I have been asked to remind you that, per the stipulation attached to their tag team victory on the January 12th edition of Vengeance, Momo Watanabe and Julia Hart have the ADVANTAGE of beginning the match… ALREADY ELIGIBLE TO RETRIEVE THE CHAMPIONSHIP!

The fans boo and Justin Roberts exits the ring as we get ready to start the match!

---

All five women are in the ring, with the referee standing in the center. At ringside, we see Tamina Snuka, Kagetsu, and Drake Maverick in his motorized wheelchair. As the fans buzz with anticipation, the referee points up at the championship belt, drawing everyone's attention to it, what it's all about, before calling for the bell to start the match to a huge pop! Wearing an eye patch thanks to Hart's actions, Hikari Noa immediately charges across the ring, ready to tear Julia to pieces! Jamie Hayter and Momo Watanabe advance on one another but Sasha Banks stops their confrontation cold by nailing Momo out of nowhere with a SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Momo tumbles to the floor and Sasha Banks strikes a pose, shouting "THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT!" before Jamie Hayter NAILS HER with a brutal forearm strike! Julia Hart escapes to the floor and runs away from Hikari Noa but doesn't realize Hikari has stopped chasing her and is lying in wait behind the ringsteps! As Julia Hart rounds the next corner, Hikari climbs onto the steps and nearly turns her inside out with a LEAPING CLOTHESLINE! The fans pop huge as Hikari rises to her feet, all pumped up, only to get nailed from behind by Momo with a stiff forearm! Hikari and Julia are down! Momo eyes a ladder and prepares to make use of it... but Jamie Hayter comes out of nowhere with a SUICIDE DIVE, taking her out! Hayter is up first, followed by Julia Hart. Hayter grabs two handfuls of Julia's hair and prepares to send her back into the ring, under the bottom rope, but the fans are going wild out of nowhere! Hayter looks up just in time to see SASHA BANKS FLYING FROM THE TOP ROPE! FLYING CROSSBODY ONTO HAYTER AND JULIA!

MAURO RANALLO: Someone check the weather! Looks like it’s CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF BOSSSSSS TIIIIIIIIME!

PAT MCAFEE: Is anyone even left standing at this point?! The match just started!

RENEE YOUNG: They’re here to win, fellas! They’re gonna do whatever it takes to walk away from here tonight with the women’s championship! We’re only seeing a preview of what’s about to go down tonight!

Sasha Banks rises to her feet first and snatches Hikari Noa by the hair. She tosses her into the ring and follows her in. She immediately goes for a cover but only gets ONE before Hikari bridges out! Sasha looks annoyed and pulls Hikari to her feet before planting her with a snap suplex! Sasha hangs on and goes for another! And another! THE THREE AMIGOS! The fans begin a loud “EDDIE” chant, which quickly turns to boos when Julia Hart slides a ladder into the ring! Julia follows it inside and charges across the ring to nail Sasha with a forearm to the back! Sasha tumbles through the ropes to the floor and Julia Hart struggles to set the ladder up in the center of the ring! Once she’s got it standing, she begins to climb! She gets about halfway up before Momo Watanabe slides into the ring and grabs her ankle, snatches her off, and catches her around the waist coming down… before PLANTING HER WITH A RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans pop huge as Julia lands on her head and neck! Momo begins climbing but Hikari Noa returns to action, climbing up the opposite side to try and stop her! But Jamie Hayter quickly returns to the ring and positions herself beneath Momo… BEFORE PLANTING HER WITH A POWERBOMB OFF THE LADDER! Jamie Hayter looks satisfied with what she’s done, but she’s snatched around the ankle by SASHA BANKS and pulled out onto the floor! Hayter and Sasha trade forearm blows as Hikari Noa finishes her ascent to the top of the ladder and stands on the top! The belt is right there but she’s not eligible to grab it! Instead, she looks down at Momo lying on the mat and flies… ICE COASTER OFF THE TOP OF THE LADDER ONTO MOMO WATANABE! Hikari hooks both legs! ONE! TWO! THREE!

PAT MCAFEE: THAT’S HOW YOU FREAKIN’ DO IT!

RENEE YOUNG: She got the pin! Hikari Noa is eligible to climb the ladder and win this thing!

MAURO RANALLO: AND JUST LIKE HOCKEY LEGEND TIGER WILLIAMS, MOMO WATANABE IS ABOUT TO SPEND SOME QUALITY TIME BY HERSELF… IN THE PENALTY BOX!

Another referee helps Momo out of the ring and ushers her into the cage at ringside. Hikari Noa smiles and waves at Momo before trying to climb the ladder. She gets about halfway up before Julia Hart returns to the action, climbing on the opposite side! Once they reach the top, both eligible competitors begin trading forearms like women possessed! On the floor, Sasha Banks and Jamie Hayter continue to fight it out until Tamina Snuka inserts herself! Sasha Banks falls out of the way just as Tamina comes in hot, nailing Jamie Hayter with a BRUTAL RUNNING AVALANCE! Sasha immediately slides back into the ring and sees Julia and Hikari fighting at the top of the ladder! Smiling, Sasha pushes the ladder over and both women catch their upper bodies on the top rope, slingshotting them back into the ring like ragdolls! Sasha homes in on Julia Hart and waits on her to get back up! Julia has no idea what's waiting on her until Sasha nails her with a LUNG BLOWER and flips her over into the BANK STATEMENT! JULIA HART IMMEDIATELY TAPS OUT!

MAURO RANALLO: MAMA MIA, JULIA HART IS TAPPING OUT!

PAT MCAFEE: THE BOSS HAS MADE HER MARK!

RENEE YOUNG: Oh, wow! Both women who entered the match with the advantage have been pinned or forced to submit! The advantage has been neutralized early on! I did NOT see that coming, gentlemen! At this point, the only woman who isn’t eligible to climb is Jamie Hayter!

Julia kicks and screams, refusing to go into the cage with Momo Watanabe but she has no choice! The referee pushes her inside and locks the door behind her! Julia pounds on the bars to be let out... but then slowly turns around to face Momo... only to receive a vicious kick right across her entire chest! Momo grabs either side of Julia's head and begins ragdolling her violently into every side of the cage before throwing her down into a seated position in the corner! Momo kicks away at Julia's head and chest until we hear a buzzer sound and Momo is freed from the penalty box! Momo charges straight for the ring but as soon as she slides under the bottom rope, Jamie Hayter catches her ankle and drags her back out! Momo and Hayter begin slugging it out! Inside the ring, Sasha Banks looks up at the title and pats her heart before nodding confidently! Sasha rights the ladder and positions it in the center of the ring. She begins to climb... but Hikari Noa returns to the action and catches her ankle! She pulls Sasha down from the ladder and they begin trading forearms! Sasha takes over with a knee lift and whips Hikari into the ropes... NO! Hikari reverses it and Sasha uses her momentum to fly through the ropes... TAKING HAYTER AND MOMO DOWN WITH A SUICIDE DIVE!

RENEE YOUNG: That was quick thinking by Sasha Banks!

MAURO RANALLO: BUT NOW SHE’S OUT OF THE RING! SHE’S LEFT HIKARI NOA INSIDE TO SEAL THE DEAL! DID SOMEONE CALL COREY HAIM, BECAUSE SASHA BANKS JUST HANDED HIKARI NOA THE LICENSE TO DRIVE!

PAT MCAFEE: Good GAWD, that was a great movie, Mauro!

A buzzer sounds, signaling the end of Julia Hart's time in the penalty box! Before Hikari can begin to climb the ladder, Julia Hart clobbers her from behind and mounts her, punching away! Hikari covers up, defending her wounded eye until Julia stands up. Julia gestures toward the back and the fans erupt in boos as Brian Pillman, Jr. and Griff Garrison make their way down to the ring! With no prompting, they begin setting up ladders for Julia! Pillman wedges one between the top and middle turnbuckles! Griff sets up a ladder bridge between the apron and the guardrail! The fans are going nuts with anticipation! Griff reaches under the apron and finds a steel chair, sliding it into the ring as well... then Pillaman finds... a cheer cannon just like the one Julia used to blind Hikari Noa! Pillman holds it up, smiling evilly... and slides it across the ring to Julia! Julia laughs and sizes Hikari up, waiting on her to stand up! As Hikari stands, Brian Pillman, Jr. grabs her arms and holds her in place! Julia launches the fireworks and confetti out of the cannon... but Hikari moves and Pillman gets it all in the face! The fans erupt! Pillman falls off the apron and onto Griff! EMTs rush to ringside and begin pouring water on Pillman's face as Griff looks on in horror! Before Julia can even process what's happened, she's face to face with Hikari Noa! The fans are buzzing with anticipation as Hikari shouts at Julia in Japanese before ripping off her eye patch to reveal that her injury is fully healed!

MAURO RANALLO: IT’S A MIRACLE!

PAT MCAFEE: YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT IT IS! ONCE I WAS LOST, BUT NOW I’M FOUND!

RENEE YOUNG: Hikari Noa is at full strength and you just KNOW she’s got one heck of a receipt to deal out to Julia Hart!

Julia panics and throws a wild haymaker but Hikari ducks it and cradles her! ONE! TWO! THREE! JULIA GOES STRAIGHT BACK TO THE PENALTY BOX! The fans erupt! Hikari is fired up! She returns to her feet and begins to climb the ladder, only for Sasha Banks to interrupt her and whip her into the corner with the ladder jammed between the turnbuckles! Sasha follows her in... DOUBLE KNEES! Sasha backs out of the corner and tries to rally the fans behind her... then charges in for ANOTHER DOUBLE KNEE ATTACK-- NO! JAMIE HAYTER INTERCEPTS WITH A LARIAT! SASHA TURNS INSIDE OUT! Hayter snatches Sasha up off the mat and picks her up... URANAGE BACKBREAKER! Hayter covers! ONE! TWO! THREE! SASHA BANKS IS SENT TO THE PENALTY BOX! JAMIE HAYTER IS NOW ELIGIBLE! Hikari Noa, favoring her back, charges out of the corner and throws a clothesline at Hayter but Hayter ducks it and Hikari Noa runs right into the returning Momo Watanabe who scoops her up and plants her with the BASTARD DRIVER! She covers, staring Hayter down! ONE! TWO! THREE!

RENEE YOUNG: WOW, WHAT!?

MAURO RANALLO: MAMA MIA, EVERYONE’S DOWN FOR THE COUNT!

PAT MCAFEE: NOT HAYTER! NOT MOMO! IT’S TIME FOR A FIGHT!

As Hikari Noa and Sasha Banks are escorted to the penalty box with Julia Hart, Momo Watanabe and Jamie Hayter just stare each other down. The fans are boiling over, ready to explode... when a hooded woman slides under the bottom rope and stands behind Hayter! It's the same mystery woman that ran over Drake Maverick on ERUPTION! Hayter doesn't seem to realize anything's going on until the woman throws her hood back to reveal... THE STARLIGHT KID! Starlight whips Hayter around and nails her with a forearm which Hayter barely sells before Momo comes in hot with the FLYING KNEE STRIKE TO HAYTER'S BACK! Hayter staggers forward through the ropes and falls to the floor! As she struggles back to her feet, she's suddenly wiped out by Starlight Kid with a MOONSAULT FROM THE TOP TO THE FLOOR! Momo Watanabe begins climbing, but as she gets about halfway, the buzzer sounds and Julia Hart is free! Julia flies under the bottom rope and catches Momo's ankle, pulling her down! Momo and Julia trade forearms before Momo takes over with a knee lift to the mid-section, sending Julia to her knees! Momo then tees off and BUZZSAW KICKS her head off her shoulders! Momo quickly begins to ascend again... but the buzzer sounds and now Sasha Banks is free again! Sasha climbs the turnbuckles from the outside and perches on the top turnbuckle... before leaping and knocking Momo off the ladder with a MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans erupt! Sasha struggles back to her feet and begins to climb... but the buzzer sounds again, freeing Hikari Noa! Hikari charges into the ring and begins peppering Sasha with palm strikes! Sasha fires back with a roundhouse kick but Hikari ducks it and catches Sasha around the waist... RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX! Sasha folds up and rolls to the apron where Tamina checks on her! Hikari begins to climb the ladder, but Momo is already up and climbing on the other side! Starlight Kid slides back into the ring and pulls Hikari down! Hikari immediately nails Starlight with a big right hand, knocking her down, but before she can capitalize, Hayter comes back out of nowhere and turns Hikari inside out with a lariat! Jamie Hayter goes wild, pushing the ladder over with Momo on it, then grabbing Starlight Kid by her mask and ramming her head first into the ladder set up in the corner!

PAT MCAFEE: What is even HAPPENING right now!?

RENEE YOUNG: Starlight Kid is here, and Jamie Hayter’s taking out the trash! That’s what’s happening, Pat!

MAURO RANALLO: Wait, hold on! WHAT IS JAMIE HAYTER UP TO NOW!?

Hayter tosses Starlight Kid through the ropes to the floor where she lands in front of the penalty box. Hayter then grabs Momo off the mat and tosses her through the ropes as well. Drake Maverick cheers Hayter on from his wheelchair as she tosses Starlight and Momo inside the penalty cage! She locks the padlock and roughs the referee up, demanding the key! The referee finally hands over the key and Hayter chucks it fifteen rows deep into the crowd! The fans pop huge! Hayter rolls back under the bottom rope and begins climbing! However, Tamina rolls into the ring and begins climbing on the other side! Both women reach the top and begin laying in heavy punches... until Julia Hart and Hikari Noa both roll back into the ring with the same idea! They work together and push the ladder over, causing Jamie to fall awkwardly and hit the ropes while TAMINA FLIES THROUGH THE LADDER BRIDGE OUTSIDE! SHE'S OUT! Julia and Hikari both charge and DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE Hayter over the top rope to the floor... then immediately turn and begin drilling each other with forearms! Julia takes over and whips Hikari into the corner where she goes head first through the rungs of the ladder! The ladder comes unstuck and it's over Hikari's head, resting on her shoulders! She begins spinning around, whacking Julia Hart in the head! Sasha Banks rolls back into the ring and gets whacked! Jamie Hayter hits the ring and gets whacked! Hikari Noa keeps spinning before slowly coming to a stop and falling out in the ring with the other three women! The fans go nuts, until they begin booing... when Sonny Onoo walks out onto the stage with a set of bolt cutters!

MAURO RANALLO: HE’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!

PAT MCAFEE: He didn’t sign the manager’s contract earlier tonight!

RENEE YOUNG: I don’t think he cares, but it’s clear that someone does! Look!

Officials try to stop Sonny Onoo from getting involved due to his non-manager status. One of them holds the manager's contract in front of him and Onoo looks down at ringside, seeing Starlight and Momo pounding on the cage and trying to get out. He sneers and takes the contract, then signs it! The fans boo loudly as Onoo makes his way down to the ring and begins working on the padlock with his bolt cutters! Drake Maverick quickly rolls over in his direction and parks right behind him. The fans are waiting anxiously, wondering what's about to happen! Onoo pops the lock, but before he can swing the door open... DRAKE MAVERICK STANDS UP! THE FANS GO NUTS! Confused, Onoo turns around and Drake decks him with a big right hand! TOTALLY LEGAL BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH MANAGERS NOW! Onoo staggers back and then does his best to run away with Drake Maverick following close behind! They disappear behind the curtain as the fans go wild!

RENEE YOUNG: Get him, Drake! YOU GO, BOY!

MAURO RANALLO: DRAKE MAVERICK CAN WALK! ANOTHER MIRACLE! I’M BESIDE MYSELF!

PAT MCAFEE: I CAN FEEL GOD IN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TONIGHT!

The camera zooms in on the broken padlock and we see Momo's hand remove it and toss it on the ground! The penalty box door swings open and Momo slides back into the ring. All four other women are still down and Momo surveys the carnage before grabbing the nearest ladder and setting it up in the middle of the ring. Outside the ring, we see Starlight Kid sliding a table from underneath the ring and setting it up outside before doing the same with a second table! Kagetsu watches the ring intently before gritting her teeth and reaching under the apron to find... A BARBWIRE BASEBALL BAT! Kagetsu begins yelling at Hikari to get up! The fans rally behind Hikari, chanting "HARD TO KILL" over and over! Hikari rolls over, looking out of it, and Kagetsu rolls the bat toward her! Hikari places her hand on the bat and grips it tightly! Momo begins climbing the ladder but Hikari returns to her feet and nails Momo across the lower back with the barbwire bat! Momo falls from the ladder and rolls out of the ring! Julia Hart struggles back to her feet and picks up the steel chair that was left in the ring. She opens it and takes a few steps back before running and using it to leap up to the mid-way point on the ladder! Hikari follows her up, still clutching the bat! They get to the top and Hikari pulls the bat back, ready to swing it... but Jamie Hayter comes alive and shoves the ladder over... SENDING JULIA HART AND HIKARI NOA THROUGH THE TABLES AT RINGSIDE! Kagetsu rushes over to check on Hikari! Jamie Hayter points at Sasha Banks as she tries to get back to her feet. Sasha motions for Hayter to bring it on and Hayter does just that, booting Sasha in the gut and POWER BOMBING THROUGH THE OPEN CHAIR! Jamie begins to climb the ladder but Momo Watanabe rolls back under the bottom rope! Hayter meets her with a clothesline, sending her down to the mat, but before she can do anything, Starlight Kid climbs onto the apron and THROWS SALT IN HER EYES! The fans erupt in boos and Starlight grabs her... and nails her with the SHIRANUI! Hayter is laid out and Starlight Kid picks up the ladder and positions the bottom rung across Hayter's chest! She runs over and helps Momo to her feet, having Momo climb on the side holding Hayter down! Starlight climbs behind her, taking some of Momo's weight on her shoulders and pushing her up. With no one left to stop her, Momo reaches up and unsnaps the championship belt, pulling it down and holding it to her chest!


The fans boo loudly as Momo and Starlight quickly descend the ladder. There's no fanfare or over the top celebration, just Momo holding the title over her head while Starlight Kid cackles evilly. They quickly exit the ring and begin walking up the ramp, walking past the carnage at ringside. The camera pans around, showing us Tamina still lying unconscious on the broken ladder bridge, Hikari Noa and Julia Hart lying still on the remains of two broken tables... Sasha Banks lying in visible pain on the broken folding chair. Jamie Hayter is conscious, staring up at the ceiling through reddened eyes, without the wherewithal to push the ladder off of her upper body yet.

JUSTIN ROBERTS: The winner of the match… AND NEWWWWWWWWW WLCW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPION… MOMO… WATA… NABEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Momo and Starlight Kid stop on the stage and turn to look at the mess behind them. Starlight laughs out loud again, then they turn and walk through the curtain.

MAURO RANALLO: Look at the carnage! We have a new women’s champion but at what cost?!

PAT MCAFEE: I don’t even know what to say right now. Every single one of these women should be proud of themselves! Without a doubt, one of the ballsiest performances I have EVER seen! I can’t believe what I just witnessed, for real!

RENEE YOUNG: No one is leaving this match the same way they came in, guys.

EMTs rush out from the back to check on everyone. The fans cheer loudly as Drake Maverick emerges from the back and slides into the ring to toss the ladder off of Hayter and check on her. She looks beaten up and disappointed but gives Maverick a nod to let him know she’s alright as he helps her sit up. Outside the ring, Hikari Noa is still gripping the barbwire bat, refusing to let it go as Kagetsu and an EMT check on her.

RENEE YOUNG: I honestly don’t know what happens next for these ladies.

MAURO RANALLO: A champion has been established, Renee. It won’t be difficult to find direction from here. Tonight, Momo Watanabe was the victor but what happens when she has to face one of these ladies one on one?

PAT MCAFEE: She didn’t do it by herself either. Maybe it’ll be Jamie Hayter that gets her hands on Momo first, maybe it’ll be Tamina Snuka… I don’t know. But someone’s gonna catch her one on one and that’s gonna be a hell of a thing to see after tonight.

We fade out on a shot of Sasha Banks being helped from the ring.

MAURO RANALLO: Fans, we’ve been seeing ominous messages on social media from someone claiming to make their presence known here tonight. I’m getting word that may take place very soon here as - -


The big screen blacks out, as the fans begin wondering what is going on, words begin to appear on the screen in fire as a voice begins to speak to them.

“For months, WLCW has been trying to find something to shatter the expectations of the fans, today those expectations are obliterated.”

A long pause as the stage lights blare white across the entire arena.

“Tonight, the man with the Devil stare arrives” The fans erupt into somewhat of a frenzy. The lights begin to flash red and white and then total darkness, after a few moments a single white light shines on to the stage from the rafters, as a man stands with his head down and back to the crowd, he slowly opens his arms wide and pulls one back whilst holding one out in front of him, as the titan tron flashes and a name appears on the screen.

DAMIAN PREIST!

The man turns around and it is none other than the man himself, Priest stands there with a cold hearted stare not saying much as he looks around the arena and motions a belt around his waist, he then mimics once more a bow an arrow shot towards the ring as a pentagram bursts into flames above it.

PAT MCAFEE: Wow! Now that’s how you make a debut, man!

RENEE YOUNG: Damian Priest!? Not who I would have guessed for that, but I love it! He’s a great get for this place!
MAURO RANALLO: Look for him to get involved quickly. And speaking of getting involved quickly, Matt Cardona has done just that and has an X-Division qualifying match tonight against his opponent Prince Devitt.

---

This is Matt Cardona’s debut on a main roster show after two wins on Eruption in the last few weeks. He’s come in with a bit of clout and certainly believing his own hype, saying he’s here to save the WLCW universe and end some careers along the way. His first trial is a focused and determined Prince Devitt. Devitt picked up a win in a highly contested triple threat match against CM Punk and Matt Sydal who faced each other earlier in the night. A good win for Devitt that got him going in the right direction. Now, he finds himself in this one on one match with Cardona with a shot at the X-Division championship on the line. The X-Division championship, of course, a gateway that could lead the holder to the world title scene or any championship scene they choose. A proverbial guaranteed stepping stone and right to ascend to the world championship. Opportunities for the championship are rare and that’s what makes this match so important here tonight as one of these two men will be fast tracked right into the number one contender spot for it. Two guys who feel like the wrestling world has passed them over multiple times before now have the chance to take their fates and their futures in their own hands tonight. The bell rings and this one is officially underway.

PAT MCAFEE: These are two of my favorites here in WLCW guys. This should be an absolute banger match.

RENEE YOUNG: Hard to disagree with that ‘banger’ guess. These two guys are both here and hungry. They want wins, they want titles and tonight is a great chance for either of them to take that next step.

MAURO RANALLO: These two could very easily be the future of WLCW and be fighting for a world championship down the line. It’s one on one here tonight though with an X-Division shot on the line!

The two look to measure one another up after the bell sounds. Devitt is giving up a bit of size and weight in this one to the considerably larger Cardona. Chelsea Green is at ringside to support her husband. Cardona looks over at her and gives her a smile and a nod before blowing her a kiss. That’s all the opening Devitt needed as he rushes and delivers a flatback dropkick right to Cardona’s chest, knocking him backwards. Matt hits the turnbuckles and bounces out of the corner, stumbling towards the middle of the ring as Devitt bounces off the opposite ropes, rushing towards him and grabbing him around the shoulder and neck area, spinning him to the mat with a sling blade! With Cardona down, Devitt reaches him down and pulls him up almost fully to his feet before putting his head under his arm and hoisting him up and over for a big suplex! Devitt is firmly in control of this one, going out on the apron and ascending to the top rope. He looks like he’s setting up for a diving double foot stomp down onto his downed opponent before Cardona realizes what’s about to happen and rolls out of the ring, into the waiting arms of Chelsea Green.

RENEE YOUNG: An absolute house of fire early on here is Devitt!

MAURO RANALLO: Firmly and I do mean firmly in control of these opening minutes.

PAT MCAFEE: If he hit that, it might have been over right then and there!

Devitt seems annoyed by this move and turns and looks like he’s going to jump on Cardona and Green on the outside of the ring. As Matt sees this, he turns Chelsea and faces her towards Devitt who begrudgingly gets back down on the apron. As he does so though, Cardona grabs his foot with both hands, pulling it towards him and forcing Devitt to fall back onto the apron. Matt is driving right fists into the downed Prince. Matt is still outside of the ring before rolling back in. Devitt is using the ropes to get back to his feet, but Cardona reaches over, grabbing him and lifting up for a suplex of his own back into the ring, crashing Devitt down into the mat. With Prince down, Cardona wraps his legs around Devitt’s upper chest and one arm, trying to squeeze a bit of air out of him and wear him down. A smart move from the bigger man as he knows Devitt’s speed is a major advantage he has, so if he can find a way to slow him down a bit, that’d be great for him. Devitt tries to fight off Cardona’s legs, but doesn’t have the upper body strength with Matt’s legs wrapped around him like anacondas. Finally, Devitt is able to break free by driving his elbow into Matt’s knee area a few times, finally forcing him to break the hold. Both men are getting back to their feet, but it’s Devitt who gets there first. A kick to Cardona’s midsection doubles him over. Devitt rushes towards him, barrelling over him back to back and landing behind him, bouncing off the ropes and delivering another standing flat back dropkick right to Cardona’s back, knocking him forward and face down to the mat. Cardona tries to catch himself on the ropes and has his head hanging between the second and third ropes with his arms draped over the second one. Devitt bounces off the opposite ropes and slides under the bottom rope where Cardona is, pulling himself up to his feet and backing up to the corner. He rushes towards Matt and drives his boots right into Cardona’s face, knocking him back and to the mat fully!

MAURO RANALLO: Well hello there! What a creative maneuver from Devitt!

PAT MCAFEE: Nothing creative about kicks like that, Mauro. Just dangerous weapons.

MAURO RANALLO: A creative use of kicks then, driving it into Matt Cardona’s face in that situation.

RENEE YOUNG: Creative or not, those are painful strikes.

Cardona rolls back into the ring as Devitt looks like he’s going to springboard himself up and over the top rope and back into the ring on his opponent. As he gets ready to hoist himself up, Chelsea Green grabs his foot from behind, stopping him and then quickly walking off after stopping him. The referee doesn’t see it but Devitt turns towards her and says some inaudible stuff that’s probably not great. As Devitt turns his attention back, Cardona is back to his feet, grabbing Devitt’s head and pulling his neck down across the top rope. Prince hangs on to the top rope so as to not fall back, but Cardona is on the attack with multiple shots right to Devitt’s chest. Repeated strikes until it looks like Devitt is gonna fall back, but he’s grabbed by Cardona. Devitt is still on the apron as Cardona pulls his head over the top rope towards him and drapes his neck across the top rope. Matt drives his elbow into the back of Devitt’s head repeatedly across the top rope. Four..five..six..and then a seventh time, leaving Prince Devitt lifeless draped over the top rope. Cardona goes to the corner and to the top rope. He points at the unresponsive Devitt, leaving the top rope and dropping a leg drop across the back of Devitt’s head, causing him to lurch forward and bring his whole body into the ring in a heap. Cardona recovers and goes for the pin. 1…2…3! Yes! No! Devitt has hit foot on the rope! Somehow the referee saw it at 2.9999. Cardona gets annoyed and grabs Prince’s leg, hooking it and pinning again. 1…2…No! This time a kickout from Devitt!

PAT MCAFEE: Ton of fight in both of these guys. Devitt looked down and out there.

RENEE YOUNG: They are giving each other their best shots and each of them are bouncing back.

MAURO RANALLO: Cardona firmly in control right now, however.

Matt lifts Devitt back to his feet and whips him into the corner. Right as Devitt turns and his back collides with the turnbuckles, Cardona is there with a clothesline right across the chest. Devitt stumbles out of the corner as Matt bounces off the ropes behind him and grabs him from behind, driving his head into the mat for a bulldog! Another pin but just a 2 count once again. Cardona seems to be getting frustrated with the smaller man having all this fight in him. As he goes to bring Devitt back to a vertical base, Prince kicks him in the stomach, getting some momentum back his way now. Cardona clutches at his stomach as Devitt hooks both arms for a double underhook suplex, dropping Cardona on his back and neck area! Devitt stumbles back a bit, clearly winded by the match so far. He clutches at his chest and stomach area with his other arm across the top rope, holding him upright. Cardona is rolling on the mat working towards getting back to his feet. He kind of surprises Devitt by springing up and rushing towards him. Devitt is quick to react though, ducking under and grabbing Cardona’s arm as he goes through, pulling him down to the mat. He’s got the armbar locked in! He’s looking to make Cardona tap with DEVITT’S END arm bar! Cardona is down and nowhere near the ropes! Devitt has him spun around right in the middle of the ring. The crowd is cheering as they want Cardona to tap! Not that they want to see Devitt win, but they want to see someone win! Cardona looks like he’s about to tap when Chelsea Green gets up on the apron and starts yelling at the referee. Of course, because the ref can’t stay focused, he stands up and tries to get Green off the apron, but she starts to step between the ropes when she sees that Devitt is not going to release the hold just because she’s on the apron. Green knows she can’t do anything or stop Prince because that would result in a disqualification.

MAURO RANALLO: You knew eventually she was going to become a factor in this one.

PAT MCAFEE: She’s just trying to make sure her man isn’t getting hurt!

RENEE YOUNG: Maybe she’s going to throw in the towel for him.

She is not, in fact, going to throw in the towel for Cardona. As she steps through the ropes, Devitt finally releases the armbar hold on Matt. Cardona clutches at his arm in clear pain and Devitt sneers, turning his attention towards Green, who now ducks between the ropes again and is on the apron. Prince tells her that she needs to get back down on the floor as the referee is still preoccupied with her presence near the action. Cardona comes rushing towards the distracted Devitt. He drills him right in the back and Green dives off the apron right as Cardona gets there, knocking Prince up and over the top rope. Matt follows after him and the two start to fight on the floor. Devitt is fighting to get back to his feet but Cardona is trying to keep him down. The two men are back to their feet now, drilling each other with lefts and rights. Cardona just shoves Devitt right in the chest, knocking him back and hitting his back on the ringpost. Cardona goes rushing in for a splash but Devitt ducks out of the way as Cardona smashes his face into the ringpost! Devitt grabs the downed Cardona and lifts him back to his feet, Matt’s face busted open and blood starting to cover him from where he drove his face into the post. Devitt tries to run Cardona into the barricade, but Matt drills a back elbow into the side of Prince’s head, knocking him back. He rushes towards Devitt and takes him and himself down with a huge clothesline! The referee’s count is at 8 as cardona looks up towards the ring, blood spilling down over his eyes and face. He rolls back into the ring before the referee says 9 and as he does, Devitt gets back to his feet. Devitt goes to roll back into the ring before the referee can count 10, but Chelsea Green was hiding in the apron skirt area and grabs Devitt’s foot so he can’t get back in the ring. The referee counts 10 and Devitt is counted out as Green releases her hold!

---

MAURO RANALLO: No! Dammit no! Chelsea Green just cost Devitt the match!

PAT MCAFEE: Oh man, that’s a frustrating one. Devitt couldn’t shake her grip free and the referee didn’t see it.

RENEE YOUNG: Matt Cardona stole one here tonight!

MAURO RANALLO: Stolen or not, Cardona wins and is the next contender for the X-Division championship. I don’t like it but that is what the end result means.

We switch into the arena where the fans are going wild. We quickly realize why when we see DAVE BAUTISTA standing in the front row with a smile on his face. Next to him, we see his Marvel Cinematic Universe co-stars, Kumail Nanjiani and Pom Klementieff. All three of them applaud and look around at the fans in attendance, in awe of their reaction.

RENEE YOUNG: Oh wow, would ya' look at that!

PAT MCAFEE: THE STARS ARE OUT TONIGHT AT WLCW ASCENSION! WE'VE MADE IT! WE'RE THE TALK OF THE TOWN, PEOPLE!

MAURO RANALLO: MAMA MIA, DID SOMEONE ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET!? GET OSCAR AND EMMY ON THE PHONE BECAUSE AWARD SEASON HAS COME EARLY IN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TONIGHT!

As the camera continues focusing awkwardly on our celebrity guests, we suddenly realize why as Matt Striker appears in the shot with a microphone, looking up at Dave Bautista. The fans are going wild and Matt Striker talks over them, desperate for a scoop.

MATT STRIKER: Dave Bautista, it's good to see you here, brother. It really looks like you're enjoying yourself with your friends-- KUMAIL NANJIANI and the bug chick from Guardians of the Galaxy 2, but before we get back to the action, the fans are dying to know... tonight's main event for the WLCW World Heavyweight Championship... who ya' got, Big Dave?! WHO IS TAKING HOME THE GOLD!?

Bautista looks out at the fans. Half of them chant "CODY! CODY! CODY!" while the other half chants "MIRO! MIRO! MIRO!" Bautista appears to be listening intently. He nods and leans into the microphone with a smirk.

DAVE BAUTISTA: The most important thing is that both guys have fun!

He looks out at the fans. They cheer, but it's a more confused cheer. Striker clears his throat.

MATT STRIKER: Of course! But seriously, Dave, who is climbing the ladder tonight to become the first-ever WLCW World Heavyweight Champ? Miro or Cody?!

Bautista thinks it over.

DAVE BAUTISTA: What is life... if not one giant ladder that we must all ascend?

Bautista grabs Striker's wrist, holding the microphone in place.

DAVE BAUTISTA: Enjoy the show, everyone! And go see my new film, S2BER. It's the sequel to my hit movie Stuber, except with a 2 in the place of the T and U because it's a sequel. It's very clever, and so is the movie. We worked very hard to make it enjoyable for all of you! God bless!

Bautista presses two fingers to his lips and then holds them in the air, showing his love for the fans. Matt Striker just shakes his head and walks away as Bautista and his friends go back to enjoying the show.

JUSTIN ROBERTS: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your main event for the evening!

---

The feeling of anticipation and excitement in this crowd for this match can be felt. The crowd has been ready for this match all night and it is finally here. Even after all the emotion, heartbreak and jubilation they’ve been through tonight, this Madison Square Garden crowd is collectively on their feet and ready to crown the first World Heavyweight Champion. On one side of the ring stands Miro. A man who has spent his whole wrestling career perpetually on the cusp of greatness. Always a contender but seemingly never able to reach that final step, tonight is – not ironically – his chance redemption for all of those times. Standing across the ring from is Cody Rhodes. A man who has seen his fair share of convoluted situations to wind up in this position. From his departure from WWE to his brief run in AEW to his eventual arrival in WLCW. Seemingly eliminated from the title contender battle royale, he snuck his way back into the ring to eliminate his competitors and put himself in the world title match. The fans, still completely unsure what to think of him, don’t seem to have fully bought in to what he’s been trying to sell them. All the pageantry, show and drama aside from these two, we are at the moment where it’s put up or shut up from these two. To say they want this bad would be an understatement. Of course both of them want to be the first WLCW world champion, but each man also wants to fulfill their destiny and potential with this win tonight. Cement not just their place in history, but their legacy – whether it be one of their own or their family. The world title hangs from the rafters and ladders surround the ring. The bell sounds and this world title match is officially underway.

RENEE YOUNG: One of these two men is going to walk out of Madison Square Garden tonight as the first world champion!

PAT MCAFEE: These two men more than deserve this opportunity. I expect them to put it all on the line tonight!

MAURO RANALLO: Rhodes. Miro. It’s been a hell of a journey to this point and it’s time for these two to bring us home.

There’s an intense stare down between these two before this one gets underway. For such a small amount of time since they became opponents, these two have really turned the intensity up to eleven. Miro puts his hands up in the fighting stance and starts to slowly move his way across the ring towards Cody. Rhodes bends down and starts approaching Miro as well. They lock up and work back and forth until Miro uses his strength advantage to push Rhodes back into the corner. There’s no referee to call for a rope break in a ladder match, but Miro raises his hands and holds them up as he takes a few steps back from Rhodes. He has a big smirk on his face. They go to lock up again, but Miro foregoes that and drills Cody in the face with a big right forearm blow. Now The Redeemer takes the early advantage by knocking Cody back with another blow. Rhodes staggers a bit before Miro grabs him, pulling him in tight and hoisting him over and down to the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex. Rhodes grabs at his lower back as Miro stands up kicking his opponent repeatedly in the lower back while he’s down. Multiple kicks…five..six..a seventh until Cody is able to roll towards the bottom rope and out of the ring. Miro doesn’t let him get far as he’s out of the ring after him. Cody is on all fours, struggling back to his feet as Miro comes off the apron and drives a double axe handle smash into his back, knocking him down fully. Miro grabs one of the smaller, six foot ladders at ring side and holds it over his head, crashing it down and smacking into Cody’s back. Miro, firmly in control of this one early on, tosses the ladder down near Rhodes. He picks Cody back up to his feet and grabs him from the side, lifting him up and over the ringside barricade into the front row! Cody is able to use the people in the front row to absorb most of the blow, but a few parts of him still hit exposed chair and the railing going over. The crowd moves as Miro grabs the barricade and pulls it open. Rhodes starts fight back a bit, driving his fists into Miro’s lower abdomen area, but it seems to be glancing blows that don’t affect him. Miro helps Cody back to his feet, but as he does so, Rhodes reaches up and scrapes at the big man’s eyes, temporarily blinding him. Now Rhodes drills Miro with a few big right fists, knocking him back a bit until he’s leaning on the railing he moved. Cody rushes him, drilling him with a clothesline taking them both up and over the barricade and back into the ringside area!

PAT MCAFEE: That’s about as violent of a clothesline as you’re going to see!

RENEE YOUNG: Miro put Cody up over the barricade and then Cody returned the favor!

MAURO RANALLO: They both look a little worse for wear after that one though.

Both men are struggling outside of the ring now to get back to their feet. Miro seems to have caught some of the ladder he discarded earlier with his landing as well. Cody is back to his feet first and helping Miro back to his. He shoves him forward, back first into the apron area of the ring. He pulls him back and shoves him forward again, back first into the apron. Miro grimaces a bit in pain as is leaning on him now, putting all his weight down onto him. Miro rears back and drives his head into Cody’s with a big headbutt, making Cody release the hold he had around him and knocking him back. He scoops Rhodes up and drops him onto the ladder at ringside with a bodyslam! You can hear the loud smack as Cody’s back crashes into the six food ladder on the ground. The crowd audibly gasps as Cody reaches for his back, crying out in pain. Miro grabs another six foot ladder from the ringside area and sets it on top of Cody, who is still sitting on top of the first six foot ladder. The crowd starts to murmur with anticipation as Miro goes up on the apron, staring down at Cody. His chest heaving up and down with each breath and he just stares at his downed opponent stuck between two ladders. Miro looks up at the crowd and them starting to realize what’s about to happen. He takes a few steps towards Cody and launches himself off the apron with a huge senton bomb! Cody is about to wriggle free from between the ladders just in time, rolling off and stacking the two ladders right as Miro hits it! His back and body splat right into the ladders with a huge crash! Both ladders are bent badly and almost broken in pieces now as Miro’s body lies within the wreckage. Cody Rhodes crawls towards the ring and reaches up, grabbing the apron, pulling himself back to his feet. He staggers towards the corner ring post, grabbing it for support as he gets there. He reaches down and picks up a ten foot ladder leaning on barricade, sliding it into the ring. He rolls in after it and stands to his feet, setting the ladder up after he does so. He starts to climb the ladder, albeit slowly as he’s still in pain after being slammed outside. The crowd starts to react a bit as Miro starts to move on the outside of the ring. He pulls himself up on the apron as Cody is about halfway up the ladder. Rhodes looks down and sees him and reacts by starting to climb quicker. This forces Miro quickly to his feet and rolling into the ring. He grabs the ladder and pushes it down, towards the ropes, knocking Cody off of it to the mat as the ladder crashes into the top rope. Miro falls down in a heap afterwards.

MAURO RANALLO: We almost had a new world champion right there! Holy cow, that was a lot closer than people think!

PAT MCAFEE: These two are already in rough shape.

RENEE YOUNG: I still can’t believe Miro got up and basically breaking two ladders with that senton. What an absolute monster.

PAT MCAFEE: He will not quit! I will promise you that!

Both men are down and laboring at this point. Rhodes tries to use the ropes for leverage as Miro is up to his knees, breathing heavily and clutching at his back. The ladder that was sitting awkwardly in the ring has fallen and folded down on the mat. Miro grabs the ladder and wedges it between the second and third rope in the corner. After setting that up firmly, Miro heads towards Rhodes who grabs Miro by his trunks as soon as he gets close, pulling him towards him and through the ropes to the outside once again. Miro lands awkwardly outside the ring as Cody, who is still down, rolls back under the bottom rope to the outside to join his opponent. The two fight back and forth outside of the ring, exchanging blows after getting back to their feet. Cody has Miro knocked down momentarily and grabs one of the ten foot ladders from around ringside. He sets up a small bridge with one end of the ladder sitting on the apron and the other end of it sitting on the commentary desk where Mauro, Pat and Renee are located ringside. Cody picks Miro back up to his feet and irish whips him towards the ladder, which hits chest first, knocking the breath out of the big man. He stumbles back into Cody, who grabs him from behind, lifting him up and dropping him with a back bodydrop outside the ring. Rhodes tries to capitalized, but it’s taken a bit out of him to lift Miro up and drop him like that. Cody motions for the people in the ringside area to move. Justin Roberts and the time keeper and medical doctor and they oblige, not wanting to anger him. He grabs the chair Roberts was sitting in and folds it flat. Miro is trying to get back to his feet and using the barricade as a bit of crutch. Cody lifts the chair over his head and goes to drive it down into Miro, but the big man moves right as the chair comes crashing down. It smacks into the ringside barricade with a loud clang and Miro rises up with an uppercut across Cody’s chin. He drops the chair harmlessly into the ringside area where Roberts grabs it and sits back down. Miro grabs Rhodes by the back his head and walks him towards the ladder bridge he made earlier, driving his face into one of the rungs. Cody’s head bounces back but into Miro’s waiting hands, where he drives his face into the ladder once again…and the one more time, before Cody falls backwards into a heap on the ground. Cody’s lip seems busted open, but not enough for any significant amount of blood to come out. The red liquid is noticeable on Cody’s lips and face though as he wipes it away from his mouth area. Miro, looking a bit exhausted, has his hands on his hips as he stands over his downed opponent before turning and looking at the championship belt hanging from the rafters of the arena. Miro grabs a smaller, six foot ladder and slides it into the ring. He hoists himself up on the apron, turning to look down at Rhodes, who is still recovering. Cody stares up at him and holds out a middle finger towards Miro! The crowd gasps and cheers audibly at the gesture as Miro’s face turns red, he jumps down off the apron and grabs Rhodes.

PAT MCAFEE: That…may not have been the best idea there from Cody.

MAURO RANALLO: This isn’t rush hour traffic! This is a world title match against the monster, Miro!

RENEE YOUNG: Yeah, I’d say the rage of Miro is a little more intense and angry than that of the average driver. Still, you shouldn’t ever flip off an angry man of Miro’s size.

Miro picks Cody back up to his feet and shoves him back first into the ladder bridge created earlier. Cody’s face shows a good amount of pain as he falls down to his knees. Miro reaches down to grab him, but again, Cody grabs him by the trunks, pulling him forward and face first into the ladder bridge! Miro is stunned and knocked backwards by this. Now it’s Miro’s face that’s bleeding as his nose starts to lose a bit of blood from that shot. Miro’s eyes go wide as he stumbles and tries to stay on his feet. Cody rises back up, breathing heavily and clearly laboring. Miro has his back turned and Rhodes grabs him from behind. CROSSHODES on the outside of the ring! Miro’s head and face are driven into the floor as both men are down outside the ring. The crowd react wildly to that move out of nowhere. Cody is face down, trying to get back to his feet. His head is bobbing up and down slowly as he gathers his arms and legs under him to get back to his feet. He pulls himself up slowly and stands above his downed opponent, blood still slightly coming from his lip. He yells out something indistinguishable to the crowd who respond in tow as he falls back, leaning on the apron. He turns and looks up at the world title and rolls back into the ring under the bottom rope. He grabs the smaller ladder that Miro just put in the ring and sets it up, hoping to ascend it to grab the title. He starts his climb as Miro starts to come to outside the ring. It’s clearly a race against time now for Rhodes as he slowly puts one foot above the other. People always talk about how annoying it is that people climb ladders so slowly in matches like these with so much on the line, but both men have been through a ton of punishment already and pulling your body weight up a ladder like this is no easy feat after that. Miro, once again, pulls himself up on the apron to see his opponent trying to win the match. So again he rolls into the ring. Cody sees him coming though and leaps off the ladder, hitting the rising Miro with a cross body splash off the ladder, taking both men down to the mat! A “this is awesome” chant breaks out from the sell out crowd and it’s hard to argue with them after all we’ve seen here tonight. Cody is able to get to his feet first after flying down onto the big man with the splash. He helps Miro to a vertical base, but it seems like Miro is almost out on his feet. Cody goes to whip Miro into the corner, but Miro reverses it and Cody goes back first into the corner with the ladder wedged in it! The ladder gets pushed further into the corner and turns sideways, falling out from between the ropes to the floor. Cody is in pain, falling down to his knees as Miro comes flying in with a huge side thrust kick right to Rhodes’ face! Taking him down!

RENEE YOUNG: What a counter from Miro!

PAT MCAFEE: And what a kick!

MAURO RANALLO: Pele! Freddy Adu! And now Miro all with devastating leg work!

Miro is now the one staggering and working to get towards the ladder. Cody isn’t moving downed in the corner as Miro gets to his feet and stabilizes himself enough to start climbing the ladder. As Miro is climbing and making a decent ascent, Cody starts to move a bit in the corner. Miro doesn’t even waste time, descending back down the ladder and landing in the ring. He walks over to Rhodes, who is struggling to his feet and picks him back up to a vertical base. Miro puts one hand under Cody’s leg and clasps it with his opposite hand, lifting him up and over for a t-bone suplex! That’s not enough for Miro though as he grabs Cody once again and picks him up to his feet. Miro again grabs him, lifting him and driving him into the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex! He rolls Cody over, face down and stomps right in the middle of his back. Miro mounts onto Cody’s back and locks his hands across Cody’s face, locking in the GAME OVER right in the middle of the ring! It’s not like anyone could stop the match anyway as it’s a ladder match and not a regular match. Cody reaches up in pain and tries to pry Miro’s hands off his face. Miro pulls back, a deranged and maniacal look on his face. Cody starts to tap the mat and some of the crowd cheer, thinking that’s the end of this one, but again, the match cannot end with a submission. Miro has the hold really locked in, seemingly to continually pull back on Rhodes. Cody has been in the hold for well over a minute now and Miro doesn’t look like he’s going to let go. As the hold is still being applied, the crowd turns their attention to a man hopping over the barricade and sliding into the ring. He has a steel chair in hand! He pulls back his hood to reveal that it’s Hollywood’s STEPHEN AMELL!!! The crowd has no idea how to react as he puts both hands on the steel chair and drives right into Miro’s unsuspecting back! Miro releases the hold on Cody, who falls face down onto the mat. Miro tumbles off of his opponent and tries to gather himself a bit. Amell stands there with the steel chair and looks up at the title, trying to figure out the best way to help Cody get there. Amell grabs the six foot ladder in the ring and tosses it outside. He rolls out of the ring, both men still in the ring knocked out and grabs a ten foot ladder, sliding it back into the ring. Amell gets up on the apron and is grabbed from behind…by another hooded man who jumped the barricade! Amell is picked up by the hooded person and lifted over their head. They turn, standing on the apron and face the ladder bridge made earlier! The person tosses Amell towards the ladder and he smashes through it! Breaking the ladder in half! The crowd gasps as the hooded person pulls their hood off…

RENEE YOUNG: OH MY GOD! THAT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US! WHO DID THAT!?

MAURO RANALLO: WHO IN THE HELL JUST THREW STEPHEN AMELL THROUGH A LADDER!?

PAT MCAFEE: YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

RENEE YOUNG: THAT’S CRAVEN KNYTE! CRAVEN KNYTE JUST PUT AMELL THROUGH THE LADDER!

It’s true. Craven Knyte stands on the apron in front an absolutely shocked Madison Square Garden crowd. Some of them don’t even know who he is or what his history with Cody Rhodes has been. Yet, here he stands after putting Stephen Amell through a ladder with a huge powerslam. Knyte now turns his attention back to the ringside area and is met with a huge side thrust kick from Miro right to the face! Knyte is knocked off the apron and lands on Amell and the broken ladder outside! Miro, seemingly with no idea who hit him with the chair, stands at the ropes, breathing heavily and looking down at the carnage and wreckage on the floor. He goes to turn his attention back towards Rhodes, but Cody is back to his feet and running at Miro. He goes for a flying crossbody splash on him, but Miro catches him somehow. He falls back into the ropes for support and hangs on. Cody drives his elbow into the side of Miro’s head a few times to try and get him to relinquish the hold. Miro holds on and walks towards the middle of the ring. He falls back quickly and tosses Cody over his head with a fallaway slam. Cody lands near the ropes and slides under them out of the ring near Knyte and Amell. Miro slowly climbs to his feet and grabs the ten foot ladder Amell slid into the ring moments ago. Rhodes is already fighting back to his feet on the outside though, pulling himself up on the apron and sliding back into the ring again. Miro barely gets the ladder set up as Cody is there right a big right punch to the face. Miro is staggered, falling back a bit and now Cody tries to go on the attack. Repeated punches from Cody have Miro reeling. Miro falls back into a corner and Cody comes rushing in with a clothesline! Miro stumbles out of the corner, grabbed from behind by Cody who runs forward with him in a headlock before pushing him forward and driving his head into the bottom rung of the ladder with an impactful bulldog! The crowd cheers wildly as Miro’s face is driving into bottom metal rung of the ladder. Cody sits on the ground next to the downed Redeemer, an almost evil grin comes across his face as he sits there. He looks around the ring, but all that’s in it is the ten foot ladder he just drove Miro’s face into. He rolls towards the bottom rope and slides out of the ring. He pulls the apron skirt and starts looking under the ring. He pulls out an all too familiar image for the fans. A black velvet bag tied up at the top. The crowd start to murmur with anticipation as Rhodes rolls back into the ring.

PAT MCAFEE: Well, I don’t like his intentions with that bag one bit.

RENEE YOUNG: Haven’t these two men put each other through enough!?

MAURO RANALLO: It would seem not as Cody Rhodes has every intention of using what’s in that bag and I think we all know what’s in there…

The bag is opened and spilled onto the mat and just as every fan could have guessed, it’s a bag filled with thumbtacks. The sharp and pointy objects start to litter the corner where Rhodes rolled back into the ring. The bag is seemingly emptied and Cody tosses the empty velvet container out of the ring. He stumbles over to Miro, who has started to move and try to recover, picking him back up to his feet. He pulls Miro over towards where he just emptied the thumbtacks and ducks his head under Miro’s arm, trying to lift him over for a suplex onto them! Miro fights back, not letting Cody lift him up. He drives his knee into Rhodes’ midsection, breaking any potential suplex situation. Cody swings with a big right, but Miro ducks under it, kicking Cody in the stomach area once again. Cody doubles over and Miro pulls him over to him, setting him up for a powerbomb! Miro lifts him up onto his shoulders. Madison Square Garden can’t contain their worry and excitement as Miro has Cody held up over the thumbtacks! Before he can drop him down, Cody drives his fist into Miro’s face once…twice…and then a third time. Miro is knocked back, dropping Cody in the process. With Miro staggered, Cody runs towards him, springboarding himself onto the ropes next to Miro, he goes for a DISASTER KICK but Miro ducks under it! Cody lands on his feet and Miro goes for another standing side thrust kick, but Cody moves out of the way of it! Miro kicks the ladder standing in the ring and knocks it onto its side! Cody grabs Miro from behind and looks to deliver another Crossrhodes, but Miro fights his way out of it this time! Both men countering each other multiple times now!

RENEE YOUNG: How do these two men have anything left after all of this!?

MAURO RANALLO: Look at them just countering each other’s best moves! These two warriors know each other so well!

PAT MCAFEE: Which one will come out of this with the advantage though!?

Both men now stand in the middle of the ring, much worse for wear than they were at the start of the match. Each one breathing heavily and covered in blood, bruises and eventual scars from this match. They stare each other down for what seems like an eternity but is only a few seconds before Miro rears back and drives a right hand into Cody’s face. Rhodes is seemingly only staggered by this as he responds quickly with a right of his own. The two exchanges punches in the center of the ring repeatedly until finally Miro drives he head right into Cody’s face with a huge headbutt, knocking Rhodes down to both knees. Miro spits on the mat, it landing right next to Cody and walks towards the downed ten foot ladder. He picks up and sets it up in the ring underneath the world title. He starts his climb on the opposite side of the thumbtacks, Cody still downed next to it. Rhodes gathers himself and starts the climb on the opposite side of the ladder. Both men slowly climbing and ascending towards the world title. Miro is the first to get there and he reaches up, knocking the title away from him. Cody is a few rungs below him and reaches up, punching Miro in the exposed area of his midsection as he reaches for the title again. Cody finally gets up to the top of the ladder and grabs Miro’s face, driving a right punch into him. Miro grabs at the top rung, hanging onto the ladder and coming back a right punch of his own. Now the two are staggered and exchanging blows on the top rung of the ladders. Miro seemingly gains control until Rhodes wrestles it back from him. All of this happening almost ten feet above the ring with the world title swaying between them! Cody takes the next step on the ladder, almost on the very top rung now. He rears back with a big right but Miro pokes him in the eye on top of the ladder! Cody is blinded, reaching up towards his eyes with one hand and hanging onto the ladder with the other! The thumbtacks are still littered on the ring mat behind Rhodes as his body stumbles back towards them before being pulled back towards the ladder! The crowd is at a fever pitch as these two men stand just a few inches from becoming the first world champion! Commentary has stopped completely as everyone just takes in the scene now! Cody, still blinded swings wildly towards Miro who pulls back to make Cody miss. Rhodes still can’t see fully so Miro grabs the title and has it in his hands! He tries to unclasp the buttons and undo it off the hook but before he can do that, Cody drives his head into Miro’s chest, knocking him back and releasing his grip! Miro grabs with both hands at the top of the ladder. He’s still one rung lower on his side than Cody is. Miro comes back, grabbing the somewhat blinded Cody and smashing his face and head into the top of the ladder! Miro picks Cody’s head up and smashes it into the top of the ladder a second time! Miro now climbs the extra rung and is standing with Cody’s head between his legs on the top of the ladder. Miro fumbles with the belt, trying to pull it off the hook but he can’t get a grip on it! Cody starts to move but has his head stuck between Miro’s legs! Miro can’t get the title off the hook or even grab the title now! He finally corrals it but Cody wraps his arms around Miro’s legs now! On the top rung, Cody starts to rise up, his head still between Miro’s legs! Miro’s feet leave the top of the ladder and Cody thrusts up, lifting Miro up and over him! Miro goes flying over the ladder and Cody, a huge BACK BODY DROP OFF THE LADDER ONTO THE THUMBTACKS! Miro lands on the thumbtacks from back body drop as the crowd audibly gasps and cheers the move! Cody Rhodes stands at the top of the ladder, staring down at his downed opponent and then up at the championship. He reaches up, grabbing the title and pulling it off of the hook to win!

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MAURO RANALLO: MY GOD! WHAT A MATCH! WHAT VIOLENCE! WHAT PASSION!

PAT MCAFEE: I WOULDN’T BELIEVE IF I DIDN’T SEE IT MYSELF!

RENEE YOUNG: CODY RHODES IS THE FIRST WLCW WORLD CHAMPION! SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK ON MIRO!

MAURO RANALLO: AN ABSOLUTE HERCULEAN EFFORT FROM BOTH MEN BUT ONLY ONE COULD WIN! ONLY ONE COULD WANT IT A LITTLE MORE THAN THE OTHER!

PAT MCAFEE: THESE TWO MEN JUST PUT EACH OTHER THROUGH LITERAL HELL! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! MIRO MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED!

The medical team slide into the ring to check on Miro as Cody Rhodes sits himself on the top of the ladder with the championship! Brand Rhodes, DDP, Preston Vance and the rest of the Rhodes Nightmare Family Crew come out from the back as the crowd has not stopped clapping their appreciation for the effort from both men here tonight!

Cody Rhodes stands with one foot on each side of the top of the ladder, holding the world title over his head as the first WLCW World Heavyweight Champion.

MAURO RANALLO: We have a new world champion but at what cost!?

RENEE YOUNG: What kind of shape will Cody be in on Vengeance!?

PAT MCAFEE: What kind of shape will Miro be in!?

MAURO RANALLO: Fans, what a night of pro wrestling! Maybe one of the best ever! Thank you for joining us and good night!

The scene fades with Cody standing at the top of the ladder with the championship and fades back to show the crowd behind him cheering, clapping and booing their new champion.