Storm - March 5th, 2022 - Detroit, Michigan

Prince Devitt is seen leaving his locker room in the back and heading towards the entrance area for his match when he’s stopped by someone with a match later on in the night, CM Punk.

CM PUNK: Hey.

Devitt stops and his eyes narrow a bit. He doesn’t answer.

CM PUNK: Listen, I know Vengeance was a bit of a bummer for you. I would have been bummed too. But you’re a hell of an athlete and one of the best pro wrestlers I’ve ever laced it up against.

PRINCE DEVITT: Please say you didn’t stop me to just shower me with compliments.

CM PUNK: No, that’s not why I stopped you.

Punk stops before choosing his next words.

CM PUNK: You pushed me on Vengeance in a way I haven’t been pushed in a long time, you know that? When I came back, it took me a long time to get that ring rust off of me and I still feel it every once in awhile when I’m in there. But on Vengeance? No, there was only the moment there. Me and you.

PRINCE DEVITT: Get to the point.

CM PUNK: Point is this, you’ve got your match tonight and I’ve got mine tonight. So, you go take care of business in yours and I’ll take care of business in mine and then you’ll be the first one in line for an X-Division shot from me. One on one. No interference, no outside crap,

Devitt smirks.

PRINCE DEVITT: You think it’ll just be that easy?

CM PUNK: No, I don’t. But I just wanted to make sure you knew that you had first shot with me when the time comes. Good luck out there.

PRINCE DEVITT: You too, I suppose.

Punk leaves as Devitt heads to the entrance area for his match as the scene fades.

---

The two men stand across the ring from one another, looking to get what would be a huge win for them tonight. Priest is here tonight making his WLCW debut after weeks of hype and build up and vignettes. He had some choice words for his opponent earlier in the week. A win in his debut over an opponent of this caliber is a huge first step for someone like Priest. Aspirations of big gold belts around his waist start tonight for him. His opponent has not had the cleanest and glowing record since coming to WLCW. An impressive debut win in a triple threat match was followed by tough losses to Cardona and Punk. A bounce back tonight would be huge for him, but certainly not a guarantee. Devitt has impressed management with his effort, but that effort hasn’t translated to wins. He’d love to change that here tonight and get back on the right track. A big matchup between two guys who could easily be championship contenders at some point in the very near future. The bell sounds on this one and this match is officially underway.

MAURO RANALLO: This strangely has a big match feel to it, Pat. Two guys really hungry to get a notch in the victory column here tonight.

PAT MCAFEE: Nothing strange about it. These are two men who are going to be real movers and shakers here in WLCW. To most, this is a SuperShow caliber match but for WLCW, it’s just another Saturday night. Just shows how competitive it is here!

MAURO RANALLO: Couldn’t agree more and a very good point. Unfortunately, someone has to come up short in these situations.

Hard to believe that these two men are respectively thirty-nine and forty years old. Still plenty of good years left in the tank between the two. A lot of years of wrestling experience between the two as well and they’ll need every bit of it tonight. Priest has the distinct height and weight advantage. Devitt will try and use his speed to keep the upper hand in this one though. Priest calmly takes a few steps towards the center of the ring and motions for his opponent to join him. Devitt tilts his head back a bit before taking a few steps back towards him. They meet in the middle and stare each other down. Devitt staring up with a glare in his narrow eyes and Priest with a smug smirk on his face. Damien is the first to try a strike but Prince ducks underneath it, driving a boot to the big man’s midsection. Priest doubles over and Devitt drives an elbow to the back of his head. Now Prince is off the ropes, driving a diving dropkick right into Priest’s knee, taking him down to one knee. He grabs Damien around the head and pulls him back, driving him into the mat with a DDT! Priest is face down now and Devitt jumps up, bringing a big leg drop down across Priest’s back and shoulders! He rolls Damien over, then grabs his head, pulling Priest towards him trying to lock in a Kimura lock on him! Priest tries to fight out of it and get himself free. Before Devitt can get it locked in, Priest is up to both knees and then plans his foot on the ground. He lifts the much smaller Prince up, as he tries to keep a Kimura locked in, but now Priest has him up, dropping him down on his back in a powerbomb-esque move! Devitt releases the hold.

PAT MCAFEE: Just pure strength from the big man there. That’s what he’s going to have to use to counter Prince’s speed!

MAURO RANALLO: Credit to Devitt though, he was trying to end this one early. Tried to lock in that Kimura lock but just couldn’t get the leverage he needed.

Priest grabs Devitt and pulls him back to his feet, whipping him into the corner now. Damien lines him up and comes running in for a splash on the smaller Devitt, but Prince ducks out of the way, making Damien crash into the corner. As Priest is still facing the turnbuckles, Devitt rises up with an enziguri kick right to the back of his head. Priest lunges forward, his face smashing into the top turnbuckle. Devitt grabs him from behind on his shoulders, pulling him back towards him as he falls to the mat putting his knees up, backstabber! Damien’s back bounces off of Devitt’s knees and he turns, landing face down on the mat once again. Prince, again, wants to try and end this one as he heads up to the top rope. Priest rolls over on his back, still trying to hold the small of his back with his hand. Devitt takes off, looking to hit the diving double foot stomp! Priest rolls out of the way though, but Devitt is able to see him move and roll through on the landing. Both men get to their feet quickly and rush towards each other. Devitt looks to be going for a sling blade but Priest drives his arm right through Devitt’s chest with a huge clothesline, turning him inside out and knocking him to the mat! Damien goes for the pin. Just a two count though as Devitt gets a shoulder up. Damien has that smirk on his face once more as he slowly gets back to his feet, pulling Devitt back up as well. Priest looks to be setting him up for a suplex as he does indeed hoist him up in the air, holding Devitt up for what seems like forever…probably at least ten to fifteen seconds before he drops him down, Devitt’s back crashing onto the mat!

MAURO RANALLO: What power! You could have baked a potato with as long as he held him up there!

PAT MCAFEE: Again, Priest has the strength advantage for sure. Can he capitalize on this though?

Priest is slow back to his feet, being very methodic in his attack. As he bends over to bring Devitt back to his feet, Prince rolls him up with a small package! 1…2…3! No! Priest just barely got out of it before the referee’s hand smacked down for three. Both men are quick back to their feet and this time Devitt does hit the sling blade on him. And then another! Priest is back up to his feet once more and is hit with a third sling blade, taking him down! Devitt goes for a pin, but Priest is the one who kicks out now after two. The men are both rising back to their feet but Prince is there first. He lines up the rising Priest, rushing towards him and drilling him in the chest with a flat back double foot dropkick! Priest lunges backwards into the corner, falling down into the seated position. Devitt goes for a baseball slide into the downed Priest, but he pulls himself back up to his feet with the ropes as Prince goes sliding between his legs and catching himself on the apron. He’s helped back to his feet as Priest reaches over the ropes and pulls him up, both men are on opposite sides of the ropes now. Devitt drives a right fist into Priest’s face, knocking him back. Devitt springs himself up onto the top rope, balancing there for a second before diving towards Priest, but Damien catches him, using Devitt’s momentum to turn and slam him down into the mat! Priest hooks the leg! 1…2…3! No! Again, Devitt barely kicks out but he gets the shoulder up! Priest tries to stay on the offensive, whipping Devitt into the corner. Damien comes in looking for the spear, but Prince lifts himself up, perching on the second rope as Damien’s shoulder goes crashing into the ringpost between the first and second rope! He grabs at his shoulder and stumbles back out of the corner. Priest is doubled over, holding his shoulder as Devitt cinches in the lock for the lifting single underhook DDT on Priest’s good arm. Can he get the big man up? Yes he can! Up and down with the Bloody Sunday! Devitt goes for the pin! 1…2…3! He go thim!

---

MAURO RANALLO: What a fantastic matchup between these two!

PAT MCAFEE: Devitt with the Blood Sunday almost out of nowhere there! Priest gave him an opening and he took it!

MAURO RANALLO: Not the debut Damien was hoping for, but this may not be the last time these two see each other in the ring.

PAT MCAFEE: No, you were right from the beginning…that had a big match feel in it all the way through and what a win for Devitt! He will definitely have his eyes on that Punk versus Cardona main event tonight after what we saw earlier from Punk and him in the back!

MAURO RANALLO: We’ve got more action for you fans, though. Coming up in tag team action between the Motor City Machine Guns and 2.0!

PAT MCAFEE: Yeah, we’ve been talking about this one since it was officially booked. This is a big match as far as title contendership goes.

MAURO RANALLO: Honestly could go either way, these guys are both good enough to get the job done here tonight.

PAT MCAFEE: Both teams have impressive wins up to this point and whoever gets this one tonight might have the most impressive win between them.

MAURO RANALLO: I like the dynamic of adding Keith Lee to the 2.0 world though.

PAT MCAFEE: Yeah, he won’t be out here tonight. Told to stay in the back and watch by Parker and Lee. 2.0 seem pretty focused on tonight.

---

The Motor City Machine Guns, under the tutelage of Steve Borden have been trending in the right direction since coming up short at Ascension in the tag team title match. A win over the Usos on Vengeance and a decent showing in the tag title match seem to have them poised for a next step. Shelley and Sabin may have finally gotten their footing under them and have a little bit of momentum on their side. Standing across the ring from them is the team of Jeff Parker and Matt Lee. The newest member of the group, Keith Lee, being told to stay in the back earlier in the night so he can see how a ‘real tag team works’ and ‘not be distracted.’ Parker and Lee have had an up and down time in the tag division since WLCW opened. A decent run in the title contender battle royale, they’ve had a hard time getting their feet under them. Their biggest win coming against the makeshift team of Braun Strowman and MJF – two former X-Division champions. Seemingly always a win or two away from being title contenders themselves, this match tonight should help solidify who is going to take the next step in the division and maybe even step up for a shot at the tag team titles. Matt Lee and Alex Shelley look like they’re the ones who are going to start this match off as the referee calls for the bell and we get this one started!

PAT MCAFEE: Solid tag team match here between two teams looking to challenge for the tag team titles.

MAURO RANALLO: No solid number one contenders for those belts held by the Wingmen right now. The dust may clear after this match enough to give a good picture of who that challenger may wind up being.

PAT MCAFEE: That’s a long winded way to say that this is kind of a non-de-facto number one contender match.

MAURO RANALLO: Well, I don’t think it’s necessarily our place to say something like that. I’ll leave that stuff up to Mick Foley.

Lee and Shelley lock up with Matt getting the early advantage, pushing his opponent into the neutral corner. The referee calls for a clean break, but Lee doesn’t give one, slapping Shelley across his exposed chest with a loud ‘thwack’ on impact. The referee admonishes Lee as Shelley holds his chest in pain, now getting an annoyed and angered look on his face. He springs out of the corner with a jumping fist right to Lee’s face, knocking him back but not off his feet. Shelley runs past Lee, hitting the ropes behind him and coming off with a flying clothesline, this time taking Lee down. Shelley tags in Sabin and they are looking to get a double team move in on Lee. Shelley holds Lee up the best he can in an almost bearhug like situation as Sabin is off the ropes and hits him across the face with a flying calf kick. This frustrates Parker as he comes into the ring now, looking to even it up. Lee is holding his face and jaw after the kick. Shelley rolls out of the ring as neither of the Guns see Parker, who grabs Sabin from behind and hits him with a reverse DDT! A scorpion deathdrop-esque move from the illegal man! Both Lee and Sabin are down now as the referee runs Parker out of the legal area. Lee struggles back to his feet and gets there first as Sabin is using the ropes to pull himself up. Lee now legally tags Parker back into the match and they start to go to work on Sabin together. They put their heads under each of Sabin’s shoulders and lift him up for a double back bodydrop, Sabin’s back smashing into the ring. Parker is back to his feet as Lee steps onto the apron now. Jeff pulls Sabin back up to his feet and brings through a big uppercut right across Sabin’s chest. Parker keeps a hold of Sabin’s head, holding him close and driving another hard right uppercut across Sabin’s chest before pulling Chris towards him and whipping him over his head with a snap suplex. Parker makes the quick tag back to Matt Lee, who comes back into the ring poised to stay on the attack. Lee rises up and drops down, driving his knee into Sabin’s chest. Lee goes for the pin but only gets a two count. Matt pulls Sabin back up to his feet but Chris drives some kicks into Matt Lee’s leg. Two, three and then a fourth kick, causing Matt to release the hold he had on Sabin. Chris bounces off the ropes as Shelley makes the tag on his back. Sabin rushes towards Lee and drives a dropkick right to his knees, taking him down. Sabin slides out of the ring as Shelley bounces off the ropes and hits the downed Matt Lee with a shining wizard, going for a quick pin! 1..2..Jeff Parker breaks it up!

MAURO RANALLO: The Guns are just so quick, Pat. You almost can’t even prepare for it because it comes in a flurry.

PAT MCAFEE: The Guns wrestle at a pace faster than I’ve done anything in my life…well, maybe except eat.

MAURO RANALLO: I love watching these guys work. Just an absolute clinic at times.

PAT MCAFEE: No one does it better at times than these guys.

Parker gives an extra kick to Shelley’s back as Matt Lee tries to recover from that kick to the face. Parker steps to the outside just long enough to get the tag and get Lee back out of the ring. Shelley is struggling back to his feet as Parker comes in and tries to get right to work on Shelley. He grabs him by the head and drives him towards the corner into the top turnbuckle. Parker quickly tags Lee back in. Lee whips Parker into the corner now and he splashes Shelley! Alex stumbles out of the corner and is hit with a drop toe hold by Lee, who holds the position with his legs wrapped around Shelley’s down on all fours. Parker is out of the corner, using Lee’s body as a table, putting his foot up on it, pushing himself up off Lee’s back into the air for extra height and dropping down a big elbow drop onto Shelley! 2.0 celebrates their tag team move together by raising their arms and yelling out at the crowd as Shelley grabs at his back a bit. Lee is the legal man, making the pin but he wasted too much time with Shelley kicking out at just an early two count. Probably wasted a bit too much time there as Lee yells at the referee for an apparent slow count. Shelley reaches up for Sabin’s hand for a tag but is grabbed by his foot, pulling him back towards the 2.0 corner. A quick elbow across the back shoulder blades from Lee stops any attempt to move towards a tag for Shelley. Parker gets the tag back into the ring as 2.0 both move towards the face down Shelley, grabbing a leg a piece. Parker and Lee grab Shelley by his waistband on his wrestling tights and fall backwards, pulling Shelley up and letting him go flying into the corner back first, smacking into the turnbucukles. Shelley drops down into the seated position in the corner as Parker measures him off taking a few steps towards the middle of the ring. He takes off towards the downed opponent, looking for a bronco buster, but Shelley ducks down and slides under him as he racks himself on the second turnbuckle!

PAT MCAFEE: Well, that’s gotta sting a little bit.

MAURO RANALLO: No, I would assume that doesn’t feel good at all, Pat. Can you relate to that during your days in the NFL?

PAT MCAFEE: Weird question but no. We wore cups during games, Mauro.

Shelley gets over to Sabin and makes the tag as the crowd comes alive. Sabin springs into the ring and rushes towards Parker, drilling him in the back with a double foot flat back dropkick to the back, shoving him even harder into the corner. Sabin grabs Parker from behind as he’s still racked facing the corner and pulls him back for a reverse DDT on his own! He goes for a pin, but Lee breaks it up at one. Shelley is in the ring and drills Lee, knocking him between the ropes and out to the floor below. Shelley hoists himself up and over the top rope with a plancha across the chest to the floor! Back in the ring, Parker is trying to gather himself as he’s grabbed by Sabin and hoisted up and brought down hard with a CRADLESHOCK. Sabin holds him down to the mat for the pin. 1…2…3! They did it!

---

MAURO RANALLO: 2.0 tried to use their tricks to get one here tonight but Sabin hits the Cradle Shock and that’s all she wrote!

PAT MCAFEE: What a big win for the Guns here tonight, Mauro! Tag titles in their eyes right now?

MAURO RANALLO: It wouldn’t surprise me. They’ve been laser focused since falling short at Ascension.

PAT MCAFEE: Sometimes we have to climb down to climb up, Mauro. Jack Donaghy said that.

MAURO RANALLO: Jack Donaghy? Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock?

PAT MCAFEE: You watch? It’s Wednesday, Lemon! Classic! Wait, what’s going on here?

Following the MCMG’s victory, Ryan Nemeth storms out of the back with a microphone, sans theme music. He wears a horribly obnoxious tye-dye-themed tracksuit. He appears overzealous and anxious.

RYAN NEMETH: Stop this! Stop this facade right now!

The crowd boos. Ryan certainly isn’t the most likable Wingman, wiping sweat from his temple.

RYAN NEMETH: Motor City Machine Guns! I don’t care how deserving you are of a chance at the Tag Team Titles! I don’t care if you’re the only functional tag team in this business! I don’t care if Steve Borden is actually Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a Steve Borden costume to avoid assassination, and that explains why he’s not Sting anymore, so as to not attract a lot of attention!

That does not deter the boos. Nemeth stands on the ramp, halfway between the ring and the entrance curtain.

RYAN NEMETH: The bottom line is that the agreement you came to with our finest stripper, as well as our publicist, brand strategist and general legal counsel…anything she promised you? It’s null and void!

The loudest boos yet.

RYAN NEMETH: There is no Tag Team Title shot! More importantly, and even more coveted than that…THERE IS NO ROCK BAND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY AT WINGMEN’S, THE WORLD’S MOST PREMIER BAR OF CARSON CITY, NEVADA!

That bar reference garners a more mixed reaction.

RYAN NEMETH: And if you want to question this premise, then question it! But it’s backed up by our special legal counsel, Clarence Mason!...who promised us his services pro-bono. Which makes sense. Because he tends to serve underserved communities. I have to think.

Awkward silence.

RYAN NEMETH: Anyway, if you don’t mind, I have a busy night ahead. Merry Christmas to all. To all, a good night.

Nemeth goes to turn around, but he’s interrupted by Chris Sabin, who holds a microphone of his own.

CHRIS SABIN: Yeah, I don’t think so, pal.

Nemeth sighs, annoyed, turning back around.

CHRIS SABIN: Maybe we don’t have to honor what your girl promised us. She’s kinda’ loopy anyway. But how about this. Give us one of your boys. Or even give us you. Your call. Against one of us next week. And if we win? We get the title shot. Simple as that.

Ryan instinctively shakes his head, shouting “no way!”.

CHRIS SABIN: Look. If we lose? If your boys get the win? We can never compete for the straps as long as you’re the champions. So?

Nemeth takes a second to think about it. Eventually, he nods.

RYAN NEMETH: Fine! You got it! You got it! Prepare to never get a chance at these titles! Ever!

Ryan slams his microphone down, his eyes brazen and intense, his cheeks red. His compadres Drake, Bononi and Avalon join him on the ramp, pointing threateningly towards the MCMG. They point threateningly back. Avalon picks up the mic.

PETER AVALON: We’re not even sure why you’re pointing threateningly at us! Because you are no threat to us! It’s just something that wrestlers are supposed to do when they’re antagonizing someone else at the close of the segment! So be forewarned! The implication here is not that you are a threat, but YOU are the threatened. You are a feral, threatened, ENDANGERED species. And you have been SEXUALLY SELECTED OUT of existence! You are ugly! You are not pretty! GOOD RIDDANCE!

Ba-boom. The microphone thuds to the ground. The Wingmen hoist their arms in the air, Nemeth hoisting one of the Tag Titles, Avalon hoisting another.

MAURO RANALLO: Sexual selection, huh? I’m pretty sure there’d be no Peter Avalon here if that was a thing anymore.

PAT MCAFEE: How insulting, Renee! He’s the prettiest man in this company!

MAURO RANALLO: We’ll see who the Motor City Machine Guns nominate to go against The Wingmen. And vice-versa! There’s a lot on the line. Who knows. Maybe it’ll be Steve Borden!

PAT MCAFEE: Or IS that Steve Borden?...

We cut to the backstage area as Josh Mathews waits for his cue.

JOSH MATHEWS: Fans, please welcome at this time, Julia Hart!

Hart comes into frame as he’s by herself. No Blondes by her side tonight.

JOSH MATHEWS: Julia, a lot of speculation and talk about what’s going on with the Varsity Blondes. Struggles on Eruption and then the win against Brandi and Dustin, but then the backstage attack after that. Brian and Griff not quite seeming to be on the same page.

JULIA HART: Josh, I won’t lie to you. This isn’t the greatest time in Varsity Blondes history. Brian seems to have gone off the deep end. I mean, he didn’t even show up for his match on Eruption.

JOSH MATHEWS: Tensions seem to have been running high between he and Griff for awhile now.

JULIA HART: I wish I could stand here and tell you exactly what’s going on. Those two need to sit down and hash it out, but Josh, I need to start focusing on me.

JOSH MATHEWS: Of course, the women’s division is on fire right now. Big win earlier in the night for Sasha Banks and a big match coming up here in a bit.

JULIA HART: Yeah, it’s a little heartbreaking to have to be dealing with Brian and Griff’s stuff and kind of get left behind in the division, you know? Like, I was in the women’s Queen of the Mountain match and now what’s going on with me? I’m relegated to an interview with you…no offense of course.

Mathews looks like his feelings are hurt but he tries to fight through it.

JOSH MATHEWS: None taken…

JULIA HART: It’s just that this is a super competitive division and I don’t want to be left behind. I came so close to winning Queen of the Mountain. So close…

JOSH MATHEWS: I can understand where you’re coming from.

VOICE: Aw, isn’t that just sad that little Julia doesn’t wanna get left behind, guys?

A voice interrupts the interview as the camera pans over to see Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jane standing there with fake sad looks on their faces. Julia shoots them a glare.

JACY JANE: I wouldn’t blame anyone out there for leaving this trash behind. Clearly a forgettable person and face if there ever was one.

GIGI DOLIN: Did you know the rest of the world doesn’t even have cheerleaders? It’s strictly a North American thing.

JACY JANE: What does that have to do with anything?

GIGI DOLIN: She’s a cheerleader.

JACY JANE: In the same vein that you’re a biochemist, Gigi.

JULIA HART: What the hell do you two want?

GIGI DOLIN: Oh, she’s one of those mean cheerleaders too. I like that.

JACY JANE: What we want is for you to end your interview time so Josh can talk to someone who will actually make an impact in the women’s division.

GIGI DOLIN: I think she’s talking about us.

JACY JANE: I am talking about us, Gigi.

JULIA HART: Please, I’d love to see either one of you go toe to toe with Momo, Noa, Banks or Hayter like I did.

GIGI DOLIN: Are these made up names?

JACY JANE: Sadly no, it’s the top tier of the women’s division…for now. This is a warning to you, little cheerleader and the rest of the WLCW women. Toxic Attraction is here and there is nothing and no one who can stop us.

GIGI DOLIN: No one can stop us!

JACY JANE: I just said that!

The two walk off bickering, leaving Julia there with an annoyed look on her face as the scene fades.

MAURO RANALLO: Toxic Attraction appearing here tonight and calling out Julia Hart!

PAT MCAFEE: Maybe not the best idea though, Julia has a little fight in her, but she’s been a little scattered lately dealing with Griff and Brian.

MAURO RANALLO: Fans, we have a contest coming up here between Eddie Kingston and Mance Warner, making his WLCW debut.

PAT MCAFEE: This one should be very interesting. Both guys are kind of cut from the same cloth…but also not?

---

This is an interesting matchup between two guys from vastly different backgrounds and lives. Mance Warner is making his WLCW debut tonight and Eddie Kingston is looking to bounce back after a tough loss to JD Drake on Vengeance. Warner isn’t going to make it easy for the Mad King though. Warner is a man driven by money and now that he’s signed his WLCW contract, the only guarantee of more money is to get the winner’s purse when he steps into that ring. Unfortunately for him, Eddie Kingston stands between him and that aforementioned winner’s purse right now. Kingston isn’t driven by much more than anger in any facet of his life. His professional wrestling career was certainly at the forefront of that anger. He’s been a bit sour since that loss to Drake and knows that beating Warner’s head in will help satiate that appetite for anger he has right now. Warner isn’t going to be an easy one though. Certainly not like some of the other matches we’ve seen here tonight so far. This one has a chance to be a rather good one between these two – vastly different, yet utterly similar – men. The referee calls for the bell and we have ourselves an official match.

MAURO RANALLO: I think Warner slammed a few Natural Lights on his way down to the ring.

PAT MCAFEE: He’s like Pigpen from Peanuts, Mauro. You can almost see his stench from here.

MAURO RANALLO: I don’t think Eddie cares much how bad his opponent smells. He just wants to beat up whoever is standing across the ring from him.

PAT MCAFEE: He might care, I mean, get a load of the look on his face right now.

MAURO RANALLO: The angry look?

PAT MCAFEE: Yeah…I guess that’s the look he normally has. Nevermind.

These two came ready to fight and it’s fighting that they came to do. Both men meet in the middle of the ring and start exchanging rights back and forth with one another. Eddie gets the early advantage, whipping Warner to the corner where his back smacks into it. Eddie is there quickly though with a knife-edge chop to his opponent. Then another chop and another until he’s drilling him repeatedly in the chest in quick succession! Kingston is feeling it now as he follows the chops up with a headbutt, smacking Warner in the head, but Mance seems to almost enjoy it, headbutting Kingston right back after it! Eddie’s eyes flare open in anger after Warner reciprocates the headbutt, but Mance raises his fingers up and pokes Eddie right in the eyes! That’s all it takes to knock Eddie down a bit as he reaches up in pain towards his eyes. Warner grabs him around the neck and head and swings Eddie for a neckbreaker, smacking his back and shoulders into the mat. Warner lifts himself up to a seated position on the top turnbuckle before standing and taking off, bringing his leg down across Kingston’s neck with a leg drop from the second rope! Warner goes for the pin. 1..2…No! Kingston got a shoulder up! Warner wants to stay on the offensive though as he pulls Eddie back to a vertical base, whipping him towards the ropes and getting him with a hip toss. Eddie clutches at his back as Warner lays in a few kicks to his chest. As Mance tries to get in one more kick, Eddie grabs his foot and pulls him towards him. He uses Warner’s leg to get up to a knee and then one leg, spinning and taking down Mance with a leg sweep maneuver.

PAT MCAFEE: Quick thinking there from Eddie Kingston. Warner isn’t a big guy, but that’s still a long way down for a fall like that.

MAURO RANALLO: Looks like Eddie isn’t going to rest and wants to capitalize on getting his opponent down there.

Warner gets to the seated position but Eddie locks in a reverse chin lock on him, digging his knee into Mance’s back for more leverage and pain. This goes on for about a half minute to forty-five seconds before Warner is able to fight his way towards the ropes and break the hold. The referee gets to four and it’s finally relinquished. Eddie is the first back to his feet as Warner is trying to use the ropes to pull himself up, but Eddie gets under his opponent’s legs, lifting him up and over the top rope, tumbling Mance to the floor. While not a battle royale, the elimination from the ring is still a painful one for Warner. He lands in a heap on the floor as Eddie quickly steps between the ropes and looks to continue the attack. Taking off from the apron – a la general manager Cactus Jack – and hitting Mance with a diving elbow drop on the outside! The crowd lets out an audible gasp as the elbow is driving right into the chest area of Mance Warner, who cries out in pain. Eddie is feeling the effects of it too, his hip area driven into the mat on the outside as well. He struggles to his feet and then grabs Mance by the back of the head, lifting him up and rolling him into the ring. Eddie rolls in after him and goes to pick him up once again, this time in the ring, but Mance was waiting for it and rolls him up in a small package! 1..2…3! Yes! No! Kingston just got out of the predicament.

MAURO RANALLO: Warner almost got the surprise win there!

PAT MCAFEE: Eddie thought he was in control there for a bit and Warner shocked him by playing possum. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s eaten possum in his day either.

MAURO RANALLO: Disgusting!

PAT MCAFEE: Nutritious!

Both men are back to a vertical base now. Warner strikes first with a kick to Eddie’s midsection, doubling him over. Mance grabs Eddie by the tights, pulling him into a piledriver position. He picks him up and drops him down quickly with a succinct and tight package piledriver, going for the pin. 1…2…No! Eddie gets a shoulder up. Warner argues with the ref saying it was a slow count. He smacks his hands together showing the referee how to count (albeit fast) and as he smacks three, Eddie Kingston grabs his arm and pulls it towards him, using his legs to push Warner’s body away from him. He’s got the arm bar locked in and he’s wrenching it back, trying to hyperextend the arm or worse! Warner is reaching with his leg as hard as he can while not trying to cause more damage to his arm and he gets his foot draped over the bottom rope. The referee calls for the break and Eddie really pulls back on the final few seconds before breaking the hold. Warner grasps at his shoulder as Eddie back to his feet, grabbing Mance and pulling him up. Warner tries to surprise Eddie again, this time with a big haymaker punch with his good arm, but Eddie ducks and Mance spins around, exposing his back to Eddie. Kingston grabs him, looking to lift him up and over for a belly-to-back suplex, but Warner uses his decent arm once again to break the hold. Eddie releases the hold and Warner looks for a spinning backfist on Kingston, trying to hit him with his own move! Eddie ducks though! Before Warner can react, Eddie spins and drives his fist into Mance’s face with a SPINNING BACKFIST out of nowhere! Warner lands in a heap on the mat and Eddie goes for the pin! 1..2..3! It’s over!

---

PAT MCAFEE: Wham! Just like that, it’s over! That’s all it takes, Mauro. Just one second for Eddie to end it!

MAURO RANALLO: Credit where it’s due, Mance Warner had a hell of a showing here tonight but just fell short at the end.

PAT MCAFEE: I’ll give credit for sure. Mance brought his fighting pants tonight and while they might literally be the only pants he owns, he came ready to fight tonight.

MAURO RANALLO: Well, a solid win for Kingston here tonight nonetheless. I think this Warner has some real potential though.

We cut to the backstage locker room area where Damien Priest is seen taking the tape off of his wrists and unlacing his boots after a tough loss. The room is quiet as the sound of the locker room door opening booms into the shared locker room. The winner of the previous match, Matt Sydal comes in, slicking his hair back.

MATT SYDAL: Whew! What a match, huh? Thought Nakamura would put up more of a fight given our history.

Priest gives him a cursory glance before continuing with his undressing. Sydal puts his hand up on Damien’s shoulder.

MATT SYDAL: Hey man, tough one out there tonight. You gotta keep your head up, though. This place can be brutal sometimes. I find a little meditation after a loss goes a long way in - -

He’s abruptly interrupted as if you can be interrupted in some other way.

DAMIEN PRIEST: Do not touch me.

MATT SYDAL: Hey man, I didn’t mean anything personal by it. I just know how tough a loss can be. I’ve had a few in my day and - -

DAMIEN PRIEST: Stop talking.

Sydal seems a little annoyed by that one.

MATT SYDAL: I was just trying to help, man.

Priest stands up to his feet and stares down at the smaller Sydal.

DAMIEN PRIEST: I can assure you, I do not need your help.

Sydal’s eyes narrow a bit and his eyebrows go up. He knows he should probably hold in the next statement but it comes tumbling out regardless.

MATT SYDAL: Are you sure about that? Because one of us was a winner tonight and the other one, well…

Right as the words come out, Priest’s hand shoots up and grabs Sydal by the throat.

MATT SYDAL: Hey!

DAMIEN PRIEST: Don’t not test me, Matt. This is not a time for your jokes or advice. This is a time for silence, reflection and leaving me the hell alone. Do you understand?

MATT SYDAL: Ack…I…ugh…I…

Priest lets him go and he takes a big breath.

MATT SYDAL: You’re a real prick, you know that?

Priest sneers and sits back down.

DAMIEN PRIEST: That’s the most genuine thing you’ve said to me so far. Now, be gone.

Sydal shakes his head as he grabs his bag and leaves the locker room. Priest goes back to unraveling the tape on his wrist as the scene fades back to the arena.

MAURO RANALLO: Tensions high backstage after that altercation from Priest and Sydal!

PAT MCAFEE: Number one contender for the women’s title in action right now though, baby! Can’t wait!

---

Jamie Hayter is at ringside while Kagetsu is nowhere to be seen. Hikari Noa is still a mess after the confrontation from earlier tonight. She rubs the back of her neck, a receipt from Bea Priestley's actions. She's covered in a sticky orange sheen and her hair is matted down. She probably shouldn't even be wrestling. Bea Priestley smiles at her from across the ring... and then the referee calls for the bell to begin the match, triggering Bea to charge across the ring as quickly as she can and go for a BICYCLE KNEE! Hikari Noa ducks underneath it and Bea's knee collides with the top turnbuckle! Hikari immediately snatches Bea from behind and pulls her down into a SCHOOLGIRL ROLL-UP! ONE! TWO! THR-- BEA KICKS OUT! Bea rolls immediately back to her feet, furious, and charges at Hikari, going for a big clothesline! Hikari ducks it and catches Bea's arm, swinging herself around into a crucifix position and pulling her down into a pin! ONE! TWO! THR-- BEA KICKS OUT! Both women roll back to their feet and Hikari executes a baseball slide between Bea's legs and yanks her feet out from under her before quickly rolling her over and tying her up in the BLUE RACER PIN! ONE! TWO! THR-- BEA KICKS OUT AGAIN!

MAURO RANALLO: MAMA MIA, PAT! HIKARI NOA IS HERE TO PLAY AND I DON'T THINK BEA PRIESTLEY IS READY FOR IT! FAST AND FURIOUS PINFALL ATTEMPTS FROM THE DEATHMATCH PRINCESS!

PAT MCAFEE: You got that right! It's obvious that what happened earlier tonight has NOT shaken up the one that's HARD TO KILL, Mauro! Bea Priestley sent a message earlier tonight but Hikari Noa received that message, wadded it up, and THREW IT BACK IN HER FRIGGIN' FACE!

Both women roll to their feet once again and Bea immediately nails Hikari with a high knee to the chest! Hikari goes down in a heap and Bea quickly snatches up both wrists and plants her foot on Hikari's chest... PLANTING HER WITH A REVERSE CURB STOMP! Then flips her over and nails her with a TRADITIONAL CURB STOMP! She quickly rolls Hikari back over and covers! ONE! TWO! THR-- HIKARI KICKS OUT! The fans pop as Hikari refuses to stay down. Jamie yells at Bea to finish her off. Bea grabs a handful of Hikari's hair and pulls her up to all fours before shoot kicking her right in the face! The impact sends Hikari up to her knees and Bea sneers before nailing Hikari right in the head with a BUZZSAW KICK! Hikari crumples to the mat and Bea walks a semi-circle around her before finally reaching down and grabbing Hikari by the hair again. She pulls her up to her feet and pulls her in... hoisting her up and PLANTING HER with a BRAINBUSTER ONTO HER KNEE!

MAURO RANALLO: OH! MY! GOODNESS! The neck of Hikari Noa has just been tested! You heard Bea Priestley earlier tonight! She claimed she was going to put a beatdown on Hikari-chan that would make her beg Jamie Hayter to take the title match off her hands... and I think that's what we're about to witness right now!

PAT MCAFEE: You can't count out Hikari Noa, Mauro! She's built to last! CAN'T STOP! WON'T STOP! SHE AIN'T GOIN' DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT! COME ON, PEOPLE! CAN'T STOP! WON'T STOP! CHANT IT!

Pat McAfee stands on the announce table, drawing a huge pop. He begins leading the fans in a loud "CAN'T STOP! WON'T STOP!" chant as Jamie Hayter looks around, annoyed. Bea goes for a pin... ONE! HIKARI KICKS OUT TO A HUGE POP! Bea immediately rolls Hikari over into a chinlock and holds her in place while talking trash the entire time. Hikari reaches for the ropes but she's too far away. Jamie Hayter paces back and forth, not taking her eyes off the action in the ring. Hikari begins fighting back to her feet. Bea tries to keep her down but Hikari begins elbowing her way out. Bea snatches a headlock to maintain control but Hikari backs her into the ropes and shoots her off. Bea comes back with a BEA TRIGGER but Hikari ducks it and executes a go-behind! She plants Bea with a GERMAN SUPLEX ALL ON HER HEAD AND NECK! The fans erupt... but Bea rolls straight back to her feet and immediately nails Hikari with the BEA TRIGGER! Both women are down in the center of the ring... and then the fans erupt in boos! The camera pans over to reveal Sonny Onoo standing on the stage with a big smile on his face. Momo Watanabe and Starlight Kid join him, watching the match with great interest. Momo carries the championship belt over her shoulder. The camera focuses on them standing on the stage.

MAURO RANALLO: What... what are these three doing here?! They're not supposed to be out here! This is Hikari Noa versus Bea Priestley! Sonny Onoo and Orphan Black have no business being here!

PAT MCAFEE: I think we're about to see some shenanigans, Mauro! I think these two bad, bad girls are about to get involved, brah, and it's not gonna be good! IT'S NOT GONNA BE GOOD FOR ANYBODY! Orphan Black, the Top Gaijins, and Hikari Noa... that's five volatile ingredients for a PIER SIX COCKTAIL!

They remain on the ramp as the referee reaches eight on the mandatory ten count. Finally, both women struggle back to their feet using the ropes. As soon as they're up, Bea zones in on Hikari and lunges forward, going for another BEA TRIGGER but Hikari ducks it and Bea gets tangled in the ropes! Without a second to think, Hikari leaps onto the middle rope and executes an impossible sunset flip variation that pulls Bea out of the ropes and jackknifes her right in the center of the ring! HIKARI HOLDS ON FOR DEAR LIFE! ONE! TWO! THREE!

---

The fans erupt as Hikari Noa falls back off of Bea with a look of disbelief on her face! Jamie Hayter is raging at ringside! Bea sits up and holds up three fingers, shouting "ARE YOU F[BLEEP]ING KIDDING ME!?" at the referee! The fans loudly begin chanting "HARD TO KILL!" over and over!

MAURO RANALLO: What did we just witness!? HIKARI NOA JUST STOLE ONE OVER BEA PRIESTLEY!

PAT MCAFEE: She didn't steal one! She earned one! I TOLD YOU, MAURO! I TOLD YOU! CAN'T STOP! WON'T STOP! CAN'T STOP! WON'T STOP!

Jamie Hayter slides under the bottom rope and immediately boots Hikari right in the back of the head! Hikari goes down and Bea scrambles across the ring, mounting her and pummeling her with forearm blows to the head! Hayter then pushes Bea off and mounts Hikari herself, nailing her with rights and lefts! The fans boo loudly as Hikari is completely defenseless. Working together, Bea and Jamie pull Hikari to her feet... and nail her with a seated DOUBLE BEA TRIGGER! Hikari looks totally out of it and falls flat on her back. Hayter and Bea look satisfied with what they've done... until MOMO WATANABE AND STARLIGHT KID HIT THE RING WITH STEEL CHAIRS! Bea and Jamie quickly exit the ring and back up the ramp. They walk past Onoo without incident. Bea and Jamie stand on the ramp, looking up at the ring. They're clearly pissed by this unexpected turn of events. Starlight Kid sets her chair up and sits in it, motioning for Bea and Jamie to "bring it on," but they don't. Instead, it's four middle fingers and they turn and walk through the curtain to the back!

MAURO RANALLO: What... what have we just witnessed!?

PAT MCAFEE: I don't know. I'm confused. I'm really confused, Mauro! What HAVE we just witnessed?!

Momo Watanabe holds the title belt in her hand, the strap dragging along the mat as she walks toward Hikari Noa. Hikari looks up at Momo, beaten nearly within an inch of her life. Sonny Onoo stands at ringside with a huge smile on his face. Starlight Kid turns around in the chair and looks down at Hikari with a sinister grin. Finally, Hikari uses the ropes to pull herself to her feet. Barely able to stand, she looks at Momo and Starlight and back to Momo... then raises her fists with tears in her eyes! She knows she's in no shape to fight them but she's gonna do it anyway!

MAURO RANALLO: God bless this courageous woman, Pat! Can't stop, won't stop is right! She's ready to take the fight to Orphan Black!

PAT MCAFEE: We're about to see a preview of what's gonna go down at Clash at the Canyon! Hikari Noa versus Momo Watanabe! THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!

Momo glares at Hikari and then smirks. The fans boo loudly... and then begin to respectfully applaud as Momo holds the championship belt over her head. She points at Hikari Noa and then pats the center plate on the belt. Without a word, Momo drops and rolls out of the ring. Seconds later, she's joined by Starlight Kid and they leave without incident with Sonny Onoo trailing behind them.

MAURO RANALLO: I don't know for sure what this means, Pat... but I almost feel like Momo Watanabe's disdain for Jamie Hayter has almost pushed her to... show some respect for another competitor? I don't know. I'm confused.

PAT MCAFEE: All I know is that Jamie Hayter and Bea Priestley are like wounded animals right now. They're pissed. Hayter wants that title shot, Hikari Noa has it... and she's gonna keep attacking her until she removes her from the equation. Clearly, Momo Watanabe respects the idea that Hikari Noa is her opponent, not Jamie Hayter... but, yeah, I'm confused. Either way, Momo versus Noa at the Canyon? IT'S GONNA BE A BANGER! AM I RIGHT!?

Hikari remains in the ring with tears in her eyes, trembling from exertion at the effort she's having to put into just standing after the beatings she's taken tonight. We fade to black on a shot of her staring off in the direction where Orphan Black left.

We cut to the backstage area where Matt Cardona is putting all the final pieces in place for his X-Division title match. Chelsea Green walks into the locker room with a surprised and concern look on her face and holding what looks to be a card of some kind in her hand.

CHELSEA GREEN: Did you see this?

MATT CARDONA: See what?

CHELSEA GREEN: This!

He looks up from finishing lacing his boots to see her holding a card in her hand and a box under her other arm.

MATT CARDONA: What the heck is that? A card? Was it in that box?

CHELSEA GREEN: Yes, from Cody Rhodes.

MATT CARDONA: What? Cody Rhodes? Where was it?

CHELSEA GREEN: On the outside of the locker room door. It was addressed to you.

MATT CARDONA: What does it say?

CHELSEA GREEN: You want me to just read it to you?

MATT CARDONA: Yeah, that’s fine.

CHELSEA GREEN: It says…

She opens the card and starts to read it word for word.

CHELSEA GREEN: “Matt, so proud of all the work you’ve been putting in lately. Do you remember that time we went to Six Flags New Jersey and the Kingda Ka got jammed up and we waited in line for like four hours?”

Matt chuckles a bit.

MATT CARDONA: Yes, yes I do.

CHELSEA GREEN: “Do you remember the promise we made to each other that day waiting in that line? We told each other that when the time came and it was right, we would be the world tag team champions together. We would stand atop the mountain together and do it as friends. I think about that often, Matt. Good luck in your match tonight and then you’ve got one more to go before you can cash in that X-Division title. Remember our promise when it’s time to cash in, Matt. The time is right. PS, here’s a gift for you and Chelsea. Have fun, you two.”

She holds up two tickets for Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Phoenix.

MATT CARDONA: What!? Did he just give us two tickets for Six Flags Hurricane Harbor? What a great guy.

CHELSEA GREEN: Yeah, it’s for the week of Clash at the Canyon when we’re going to be down there.

MATT CARDONA: Wow, what a gift. Cody is a good dude.

CHELSEA GREEN: That’s not all that’s in this box though. It’s heavy as hell.

She hands the box to him and his eyes widen as he pries it open and sees whatever else Cody sent him.

MATT CARDONA: Oh no you did not, Cody. This is sweet!

The scene fades as Cardona looks up at Green and smiles.

MAURO RANALLO: Pat, you can call me a skeptic or conspiracy theorist but I think Cody Rhodes is buttering up Matt Cardona to go for the tag titles so he doesn’t have to ultimately defend his title against him.

PAT MCAFEE: What!? You’re nuts, Mauro! Get your tinfoil hat, man! They’re just good friends!

MAURO RANALLO: Well, good friends or not, Cardona has a match tonight to defend that X-Division Championship. Win tonight and all he has to do is win one more time to get the automatic cash in for any title he wants.

PAT MCAFEE: Not gonna be so easy with CM Punk standing across the ring from him though!

---

This is an interesting match between two guys who have been trending in the right direction recently. CM Punk, a man with a long and storied history in the world of professional wrestling finds himself in a title match tonight. The reason that’s so important is because it is his first title match in almost eight years. Crazy to think that one of the most influential and gifted professional wrestlers of our generation has been out of the title scene for that long. That all changes here tonight as he has a chance to become the X-Division champion and start his ascent towards the WLCW World Title. His opponent and current champion, Matt Cardona, is attempting to make his second successful defense here tonight and move on to potentially one more title defense to cash it in and challenge for a title of his choosing. Since arriving in WLCW, Cardona has taken a non-traditional path to his success. Arriving shortly after the title contender battle royale, he found himself smack dab in a contender match for the X-Division title. He won and used that opportunity to cash in on Maxwell Jacob Friedman on an episode of Eruption. Then after winning the title, he made his first full title defense against a gamey Brady Booker on Vengeance. Now, after a flurry of matches in a short amount of time, Cardona faces maybe his hardest challenge tonight against CM Punk. While these two don’t have a long and storied history with one another, their paths crossed a few times in their careers. Certainly nothing as big as tonight though. The main event is here for Storm and the bell has sounded, getting this one officially underway.

MAURO RANALLO: The fans are absolutely ready for this one, Pat. Huge match between two of the best here in WLCW.

PAT MCAFEE: Fans aren’t the only ones who have waited all night for this. I’ve been waiting ten days since they announced this match. Circled it on my card immediately.

MAURO RANALLO: Put you on the spot, Pat. Who ya got?

PAT MCAFEE: You know I’m not foolish enough to do that. I’m just hoping for a hell of a fight and I bet we get every second of one!

The two circle one another around the ring, almost for a full rotation before finally coming to the center of the ring and locking up with the collar and elbow. Cardona has the significant height and weight advantage, but we saw that not mean a whole lot earlier in the night with the Devitt and Priest matchup. Sometimes it’s all about better execution and these are two of the best here in WLCW. Matt wrenches Punk’s arm around his back, leaving his other one free. He tries to elbow the champ in the side of the head, but it’s a pretty big ask as Cardona has the other arm locked in pretty tight. Punk finally works his way towards the ropes and hooks his foot on it, forcing Cardona to release the hold after four on the referee’s five count. As Punk turns around, Cardona just slaps him right across the face. The crowd starts at a murmur and works towards a fever pitch after the blatant show of disrespect. Punk still has head turned after the slap and slowly turns it back towards Cardona while giving him a glare. Matt motions for him to ‘come on’ and hit him and Punk slowly nods at him. It’s clear Matt is trying to get into his opponent’s head with that but Punk may not be the guy who falls for something like that. Punk goes for a punch but Cardona blocks it, coming back with one of his own, which Punk himself ducks under. A kick from Punk to Matt’s side and ribs area. Another kick, this time with the opposite foot before a big swinging back crescent kick catches a glancing blow on the champion’s face, knocking him back. Punk rushes towards Matt and ducks under a clothesline, coming off the opposite rope and leaping towards Cardona, driving his arm across his chest and taking him down with a big clothesline of his own. Punk quickly picks Matt back up to his feet and stops with his head right around Punk’s midsection. He brings his knee up into Matt’s down facing face and then another knee. Cardona brushes off a third and swipes up, knocking Punk away from him. He’s got what appears to be a small cut on his lip from the knees. Punk stays with the strikes though, first with a fist and then with a left footed kick to the midsection again. Cardona is knocked back as Punk comes off the ropes, looking to hit another flying clothesline, but the champ was ready for him this time. Catching the leaping Punk in the air and pulling him towards him and swinging him around, dropping him with a big bossman slam onto the mat!

PAT MCAFEE: Shades of Ray Traylor there with that powerful maneuver! Punk looked to be getting a roll there too. Nice stoppage of that attack from the champ!

MAURO RANALLO: He’s the champ for a reason and he’s only two wins away from cashing in that X-Division title shot guarantee.

PAT MCAFEE: Punk is gonna have to go back to the drawing board after that one!

Matt is on his knees above the downed Punk with his hands on his hips breathing a little heavier than he was at the start. He pulls Punk back to his feet as he rises up to a vertical base himself. Cardona whips Punk into the corner, rushing in and meeting him with a big clothesline just as soon as Punk’s back smacks into the corner. The champ walks to the nearest corner and lines Punk up for the big boot. After lining him up, he takes off towards him trying to run the boot into him, but just like with Brady Booker on Vengeance, Cardona misses the boot on Punk. Cardona’s leg is draped over the top rope as Punk slips between the ropes out to the apron. Cardona is trying to wriggle free as Punk drives his head into him for a headbutt, knocking him back and allowing him to pull his leg free off the top rope. Matt stumbles back a few steps as Punk springs himself up onto the top rope and thrusts himself towards Cardona with a flying shoulder tackle! Cardona is knocked down as the challenger goes for the pin. 1..2..No! Cardona got a shoulder up! Punk stays on the offensive though, pulling Matt back to his feet and twisting his body as he gets there, turning him until they’re almost back to back and dropping him down to the mat with a big neckbreaker! Matt is a little sluggish after that one, grasping at his neck Punk springs up to the top rope, looking for the big Macho Man-esque elbow drop, but Cardona sees it coming and rolls himself out of the ring and onto the apron. The champ tries to pull himself back up to his feet as Punk hops down off the top rope, much to the chagrin of the live audience. He walks with purpose towards Matt who is getting back fully to his feet. Punk arrives and drives a big right fist right into Matt’s face, but the champ holds on to the top rope so as to not fall or get knocked off the apron. Punk rears back with another punch attempt, but it’s blocked by Cardona. Matt grabs Punk by the back of the head and rushes him towards the corner, driving Punk’s head into the top turnbuckle. Punk is staggered a bit and Matt reaches over with both hands now, wrapping them around Punk’s head. He’s going to try and suplex him out of the ring to the outside! As he gets Punk up in the air and over the ropes, Punk manages to squirm free the best he can and drops down onto the apron next to Cardona. Both men are standing just outside the ring now. Punk goes for a big swinging kick, but misses, basically turning his back to Cardona, who grabs him from behind and rushes him towards the corner. Punk smack’s into the outside of the turnbuckles and into the ringpost, falling off the apron into a heap on the mat outside!

MAURO RANALLO: What a violent collision! We may need to check on Punk after that one!

PAT MCAFEE: Not where he wanted to be on that one. Dangerous no man’s land out there and credit where it’s due to Cardona, he took advantage of it!

MAURO RANALLO: The champion is doing everything he can to incapacitate the challenger in this one.

Cardona hops off the apron and stands over Punk, exchanging some words with a few fans in the front row before going back to work. He pulls Punk back to his feet who seems to be broken in half the way his body is reacting. Cardona whips Punk on the outside towards the barricade and Punk barely gets turned in time to take the brunt of the blow with his side and back. The steel guardrail part at the top, driving into his side just below his shoulder. Punk lets out a small cry in pain as the referee’s count has barely got to two as this isn’t a match likely to end in countout. Punk has himself draped over the top guardrail as Cardona stalks towards him, stopping right in front of him. He pulls Punk off of it and back to his feet. Punk’s arm instinctively pulls back towards his body, holding it near his side. Cardona lifts his weakened opponent up over his head, looking to bring him down across the top of the barricade, but Punk uses a quick knee to the side of Matt’s head to get him to drop him down, allowing Punk to slide off his back. Punk shoves him from behind, making Matt go chest first into the same barricade he was just driven into. Cardona turns around, trying to recover quickly and catch Punk off guard, but Punk drives a foot strike right into Matt’s stomach, causing him to double over. Punk grabs the champ around the head and pulls him towards him and down, driving his head into the mat on the outside with a DDT! The crowd gasps as both men are down now. Punk writhing in pain, holding his side from the steel barricade and Cardona not moving at all. The crowd recovers from what they’ve just seen and give the two downed men a standing ovation and a “this is awesome” chant. Awesome indeed as the referee’s count is just getting to five after what seems like almost a whole minute to two minutes outside of the ring now. Punk is pulling himself up on the apron with one arm as Cardona starts to move behind him. Punk is to his feet first, turning and pulling himself up to a seated position on the apron, looking down at Cardona. He’s breathing heavily and shakes his head at his opponent starting to move.

MAURO RANALLO: I don’t think Punk can believe Cardona is moving that quickly after that DDT on the outside like that!

PAT MCAFEE: These two men are giving each other their very best! Blow for blow! Punch of punch!

MAURO RANALLO: Punk thought he might have dealt the final blow, but it looks like it’s gonna take just a bit more to take down the champ here tonight.

Cardona is pulling himself up on the apron now as Punk rolls under the bottom rope and starts getting back to his vertical base. He’s up on his feet as the champion reaches the apron. Punk can’t capitalize on the positioning and Cardona gets himself back into the ring. Both men are on their feet and come to blows in the middle of the ring. The crowd goes electric, eating up each punch from each man. A right from Punk and then a right from Cardona. Two more exchanges until Cardona blocks a fourth punch from Punk. Repeated fists from the champion stagger the challenger as he stumbles back a few feet towards the ropes. Matt rushes in, looking for another big clothesline on Punk, but Punk is able to grab him and use his momentum to lift him up and drop him down across the top rope with a hangman! Cardona’s throat and chest area smack across the top rope as he bounces up and off of it, back towards the ring. Punk grabs the champ and hoists him up, looking for the GTS! Cardona elbows Punk in the side of the head, forcing him to release the attempt. Cardona shoves Punk from behind, as he turns, Cardona is trying to catch Punk with his leaping leg lariat finisher, but Punk ducks under it, kneeing the champ in the stomach as he turns around. Punk grabs Matt and whips him into the corner. Punk comes in and catches him right across the jaw in the corner with a rising knee strike, holding it there after connecting. Cardona has enough wherewithal to hook under Punk’s leg and start rushing forward out of the corner for a single leg powerbomb, taking both of them down to the mat! He holds Punk there and goes for the pin. 1..2..No! Punk is able to kick out again! Cardona is back to his feet first, driving an elbow right into Punk’s head as he tries to get up, taking him down. With his opponent down, Matt Cardona seems like he’s looking for his move. He sits down in the ring and starts unlacing his boot, potentially looking to use it as a weapon!

MAURO RANALLO: What the hell is Cardona thinking!?

PAT MCAFEE: He’s gonna take off his boot and smash CM Punk with it!

MAURO RANALLO: Certainly not a foreign object, but an object nonetheless!

PAT MCAFEE: It’s going to hurt like hell, I know that much!

Cardona has his boot off now and he’s holding it in his hands like a weapon, waiting for Punk to get back to his feet. Before Matt can take a swing, the referee sees what’s going on and grabs the boot, getting into a tug of war pulling match with Cardona over the boot! As Punk turns around, he sees the champ and ref fighting for control of the boot. As he gets near, Cardona finally is able to rip the boot free but as he does, he drills the referee right in the face with it, knocking him out! The boot goes sailing off the jaw of Charles Robinson and tumbles out of the ring. Cardona seems confused and before he can react, Punk kicks him in the stomach, doubling him over. He hoists him up on his shoulders and drills him with the knee right to the face. GO TO SLEEP on Cardona! Punk makes the pin. The fans start counting but there’s no referee there to make an official count. It’s by the time the fans get to eight or nine before another referee is down the ramp and slides into the ring. 1…2…3! YES! NO! Cardona gets a shoulder up! My goodness! 2.99999 for sure! Punk can’t believe it as Bryce Remsburg shows him how close his hand was to making the count. Remsburg checks on Robinson, who is still down. Punk sits on the mat, clearly laboring and breathing heavily. Cardona finally moves after kicking out and starts to slowly rise to his feet. Punk decides he’s going to go for another GTS and starts helping Matt back to his feet. He has a determined look on his face. He goes to hoist the champ up once again, but Cardona is fighting it now. Punk is able to get him up, but Cardona slips off his shoulders and down his back behind him. He shoves Punk forwards right into Bryce Remsburg, who just got back to his feet after checking on Charles Robinson. Remsburg is decked and tumbles through the second and third rope to the floor below! Punk reacts quickly as he turns in time to see Cardona trying to get him, swinging his leg up with a big crescent kick, striking Matt in the facing, knocking back and around, draping him over the second rope. Punk goes to check on the initial ref, Charles Robinson as Chelsea Green comes running down the ramp with the box she and Matt got from Cody Rhodes earlier. Chelsea holds the box up towards Cardona, who is still draped over the ropes. He reaches into and pulls out…an action figure?

MAURO RANALLO: What in the world is this? Is that an action figure?

PAT MCAFEE: It’s not just any action figure, Mauro! That’s a special edition steel plated Cody Rhodes WLCW figure! There’s only one hundred of them made! That’s the gift he gave Matt Cardona earlier!

MAURO RANALLO: That thing is steel plated!

PAT MCAFEE: Yes, I held one at the fanfest at Ascension and it was a load!

Punk finally gets Charles Robinson to start moving and turns his attention back to Cardona who is still draped across the ropes, hiding the steel plated item he was just handed. As Punk pulls Matt up, he brings his hand around and drills Punk right in the face with the steel plated action figure! A piece of it breaking off and flying to the mat below! Punk is knocked into next week as Cardona tosses the figure back out to Chelsea Green who puts it back in the box. Cardona goes for the pin. 1…2…3! It’s over!

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MAURO RANALLO: NO! NOT LIKE THIS, DAMMIT! NOT LIKE THIS!

PAT MCAFEE: HE’S DONE IT! HE BEAT CM PUNK! ONE MORE TITLE DEFENSE TO GO FOR ALWAYS READY, MATT CARDONA!

MAURO RANALLO: SICKENING, PAT. THAT’S HOW THIS HAS MADE ME FEEL. SICK TO MY STOMACH!

PAT MCAFEE: Sick or not, Matt Cardona has won a huge match tonight and is one win away from a guaranteed title shot!

MAURO RANALLO: That steel plated action figure, of all the things it could have been…

PAT MCAFEE: The gift from Cody Rhodes came into play in a big way tonight.

MAURO RANALLO: Fans, unfortunately, that’s all the time we have for tonight.

PAT MCAFEE: What an incredible night of pro wrestling!

MAURO RANALLO: We will see you at Vengeance in just ten days live from Seattle, Washington. Thank you for watching, have a great night!