Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers or JLA. They belong to Saban and DC Comics, respectively. And American Ninja Warrior belongs to NBC. I've really gotten into ANW over the past two years, even going back and watching every tournament of the original Japanese show, Sasuke, which belongs to the Tokyo Broadcasting Company. Anyhoo, enjoy this Elseworlds tale within C. A. Turner's MMPR/JLA Universe!
Author's Note: Italics indicate the broadcasters speaking and will be used during the competition. Anything that's not in italics is unrelated to the competition. Think of it as anything that wouldn't be shown during the broadcast.
JUSTICE WARRIORS
PROLOGUE
For the past two years, the Power Rangers had really gotten into a show called "American Ninja Warrior." It was an obstacle course competition show where whoever won actually won a cash prize of $500,000. However, the sixth season had just ended, and nobody had won yet. But that seemed to be part of the show's appeal: A competition where there was no guarantee that anybody was going to win. Since many of them were now old enough to compete (the required age was 21), they wanted to try out for the show. So they actually went out and built some obstacles to train on, each chipping in. Among the obstacles they built included a warped wall, a salmon ladder, and several balance and cliffhanger obstacles. Since she was dating Zack, Wonder Woman was at first the only Justice Leaguer who had interest in trying out. She had watched the show with Zack and the others and actually found it intriguing. Being an Amazon, she had some obvious advantages, but actually found the obstacles quite challenging. However, once she understood how everything worked, she was tearing it up in no time. Little by little, some of the Power Angels and some of the other Justice League members expressed interest and joined in, even offering to build more obstacles to train on at both the Satellite HQ and the Watchtower. Unbeknownst to everyone but Kelly, Batman had also built some obstacles in the Batcave and even did rock-climbing in the cave to help with his grip strength. Andros, Karone, and Zhane had even created some simulations on-board the MegaShip on which they and the other Lightstar Rangers could train on should they be off-world. They often spent whatever free time they had training, practicing, and working on their submission videos. They were all excited when they learned that they'd been accepted. The first two rounds of competition would be taking place in five cities: Venice, Dallas, St. Louis, Miami, and Denver. These would determine who went to the National Finals in Las Vegas to take on the world's toughest obstacle course: Mt. Midoriyama. The various Rangers and Justice Leaguers would be present in all five cities. As the days counted down, the excitement built up. And soon, it was time!
1: VENICE QUALIFYING
"Hello, everyone, I'm Matt Iseman alongside former NFL defensive end Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, and tonight, we renew our quest to crown the first-ever American Ninja Warrior."
"That's right, Matt," agreed Akbar. "More and more people are craving the opportunity to conquer Mt. Midoriyama. In addition to several returning veterans and many rookies, we also have a few surprise entrants to watch out for."
"Indeed," said Matt. "For the first time in history, we actually have real, live superheroes competing! You heard that right, several members of the Justice League of America have actually expressed interest in running our course! How exciting is that, Akbar?"
"Oh, it's very exciting, but it's also been met with a lot of controversy. Many people have cried foul because of this, but after intense negotiations, an agreement was reached with the competing Justice League members that should any of them win this competition, they will not keep the prize money for themselves, but instead, will donate it to the charity of their choice."
"But, you gotta admit, Akbar, controversy or no controversy, this is going to be an exciting season." As Akbar nodded in agreement, Matt continued, "And joining us this year in the booth, one of the Justice League's own, the Black Canary! She will be giving us the athletic backgrounds of the various Justice Leaguers…and whether or not they can make the grade." Turning to the guest broadcaster, Matt said, "Black Canary, welcome to the American Ninja Warrior family."
Black Canary, in her classic uniform, smiles and says, "I'm glad to be here, Matt. Thanks for having me. It's an honor to be with you and Akbar. But, let's get this year started… first things first, everyone must first get past the qualifying round."
"You are so right…um…is it Black Canary, BC, or…" Matt asks.
"Well…my identity isn't a secret…so just call me Dinah."
"Ok…Dinah. And for more on what our competitors will be facing, let's go down to the fourth member of our team, Jenn Brown."
Jenn Brown stood in front of the course as she stated, "Thanks, Matt. Our trip to Mt. Midoriyama begins with six obstacles our competitors must face here in Venice Qualifying, starting with the Quintuple Steps. Competitors must traverse five angled platforms before moving on to the next obstacle. Touch the water, and they're out. Next is the Utility Pole Slider, where competitors must hold onto the handles as they ride the pole down a twelve-foot track. Next is the Bridge of Blades, which competitors must race across without using their hands. After that is the Rope Swing into the Cargo Net, where competitors must bounce off a mini-trampoline and use the two ropes to reach the cargo net and climb underneath. Then, it's the Ring Toss, in which competitors must traverse three planks using the two rings provided. And last, but not least, it's the infamous, fourteen-foot high Warped Wall. Competitors will have only three attempts to scale it. Succeed, and you've automatically guaranteed yourself a spot in the Venice City Finals. Matt, back up to the three of you."
The competing Rangers and Justice Leaguers were all hanging out together, looking at the course and taking everything in while they snacked and had some cold drinks. Hal Jordan asked the assembled Morphin, Zeo, and Lightstar Rangers, "Where's Zack?"
"He and Diana are going to be competing in Dallas with Kelly," answered Jason Lee Scott. "Since…you-know-who can't guarantee that he'll be able to compete, Zack and Diana went with her so she'd at least have some company. The Hardys and Nancy will be there, too."
"Where's Rocky?" asked Kris Munroe.
"He's going to be competing in Miami with Christy," answered Tanya Sloan.
Adam Park continued, "Her dad is currently stationed in Fort Benning, GA, so she wanted to go there in the hopes that he'd be able to come down and watch."
"And I know that you're glad your sister Jessica's here to watch us here in Venice," added Tommy Oliver, getting a nod from the Red Zeo Ranger.
"Trey, Julie, and Will are going to be competing in Miami, too," said Jill Munroe. "Julie's scheduled to do a photoshoot a couple of days before the competition."
"Where are the Partridges?" asked Jamie Zedden.
"Keith, Laurie, and Bill will be competing in Denver with Eve since her family lives there," answered Kimberly Hart-Oliver. "Chris and Tracy went with them for support since they're not old enough to compete."
T. J. Johnson then added, "Andros, Zhane, and Karone with be there, too."
Looking at Ashley Hammond, Carlos Vallerte asked, "Are you nervous?"
"Very," admitted Ashley. "But it's an excited nervous. I can't wait to hit the course!"
"Where's Cassie?" asked Daniel Aydelott.
"She's going to be competing in St. Louis, along with Elle, Megan, and Tiffany," answered Aisha Campbell. "The BAU just finished a case, so Spencer and Daryl will be there."
"Aaron, my mother, and my kids will be here watching me compete," said Sabrina Duncan. Turning to Andrea Thomas, she asked, "What about the other Justice Leaguers?"
"Well, I'll be competing here as myself," answered Andrea. "J'onn will also compete here in Venice, but he'll be in his Martian Manhunter form."
"Superman will be competing in St. Louis, as will Black Canary, Barry, Hyde, Jackie, and the Dino Thunder Rangers," said Billy Cranston.
"And Firestorm will be competing in Miami as Ronnie Raymond, along with Hawkman, Hawkwoman, and Trey." finished Trini Kwan. Looking around, she added, "I think it's almost time to start. Wonder what Dinah is going to say about our competing abilities?"
"I'm so excited!" shouted Samantha Dean as she began jumping up and down enthusiastically. "Let's get ready to rumble!"
David Truehart asked Katherine Hillard, "You got any butterflies in your stomach?"
"I do," admitted Kat with a nod. "Hopefully, they'll settle down by the time my turn comes around."
Several competitors had already taken to the course…and many of them had failed. Only Kevin Bull and James "The Beast" McGrath had completed the course thus far. But, now, the first of the Rangers were ready to take to the course.
"Up next is Jason Lee Scott, a martial arts instructor from Angel Grove, California," said Matt. "Here to support Jason is his rather large group of friends and fellow competitors, whom we'll see compete later tonight, including his girlfriend Jamie Zedden." The timer started and Jason was off! "And off he goes, taking a cautious approach on the Quintuple Steps."
"It's probably best that he does, Matt," said Akbar. "Typically, this course doesn't favor a guy of his size, so energy conservation is key."
"Yes, Jason is certainly one of the bigger competitors we'll see tonight, but no problems so far as he gets through the Utiltity Pole Slider easily, then sprints and dives through the Bridge of Blades!" Black Canary commented. Jason landed hard, but quickly got back to his feet.
"Ooh, a hard landing!" exclaimed Akbar. "Let's hope that doesn't come back to haunt him."
Black Canary then added, "It could, but remember, this guy's a champion martial artist, so, like me, he should know how to take a hit."
Matt said, "Jason takes a deep breath and bounds off the trampoline, what agility for the big guy!"
"Wow! He's swinging and makes it to the cargo net with no problems!" exclaimed Akbar. "His feet look tangled up, but he's managed to get his back onto the platform, saving a ton of upper-body strength!"
Matt continued, "Now, if he can get his feet untangled, he can take on the Ring Toss, which will be the first true test of his upper-body strength." Jason took a deep breath and grabbed the rings, placing them one peg at a time. "I like his approach, quick but measured. It looks like he doesn't want to spend any more time on here than he has to."
"And notice how he's got his arms bent at a ninety-degree angle," said Akbar. "As long as he can keep his arms in that position, it should help limit the stress on his muscles."
"And with his long wingspan, the reaches seem to be no problem as he's transferring from plank to plank with little difficulty. He's through. Now for the Warped Wall…and he can't get up it on his first go!"
Black Canary then spoke, "Oh, wow, he stumbled bad. But notice how he's not panicking. He knows he's got two more tries. But he can't afford another mistake like that." Jason took a moment to compose himself before trying again…and succeeding! "There you go!"
"And the rookie does it!" exclaimed Matt. "He hits the buzzer and Jason Lee Scott is moving on to the Venice City Finals!" Jason's friends cheered as he got down from the top of the wall to be interviewed by Jenn Brown.
"Jason, you did it, your first time on the course and you dominated! What did you think?"
"It was great," said Jason with a smile. "I've never experienced anything like it and I want to do it again."
Jenn smiled and said, "Well, you'll get your chance, because you are moving on the Venice City Finals."
Jason gave a fist-pump and said, "Awesome. Hopefully, Jamie and my friends can join me." He then approached his friends, gave Jamie a quick kiss, and began slapping high-five with the others.
Matt then said, "Approaching the starting line is Adam Park, a student and martial artist from Angel Grove, hoping to join his friend Jason in the Venice City Finals." The timer sounded, giving Adam his cue to start. "And here he goes, bounding through the Quintuple Steps, amazing! No hesitation as he grabs the Utility Pole Slider."
"But the Bridge of Blades is going to be tricky," said Akbar. "Look at that! He sprinted through, and the bridge barely moved!"
"Adam pauses and readies himself before he hits the trampoline."
Black Canary smiled, then said, "I like that, he's centering himself because he doesn't want to make a mistake, and there he goes!"
"Good swing and catches the cargo net with his foot and crawls underneath, amazing!" cried Matt.
"But now he's gotta tackle the Ring Toss, which is no small feat," said Akbar. Adam grabbed the rings and began moving quickly and precisely. "Look at this! He's flying through the Ring Toss! If there's one way to fight fatigue, that's using speed!"
"And he's through, no hesitation as he sprints up the Warped Wall!" yelled Matt in amazement. "And Adam Park has just turned in the fastest time of the night so far!" Adam's friends cheered for him as he bowed and waved to the crowd with a smile on his face.
Matt said, "Up next at the starting line is our first Justice Leaguer of the night. She's the Red Power Angel, it's Jill Munroe."
Black Canary smiled as the timer sounded and Jill took off. "Nice two-footed technique through the Quintuple Steps."
"She's through the first obstacle," said Akbar. "The Utility Pole Slider shouldn't be a problem." And he was right, as Jill made it through with ease. Before either Matt or Akbar could utter another word, she then sprinted through the Bridge of Blades, just narrowly avoiding running into one of the blades as it tilted! "Oh, wow, Matt, did you see that?"
"I did and everyone is on their feet, they love Jill Munroe!" Kris, Hal, and Dan were watching and following, cheering her every move. "And look at this, no hesitation as she bounces off the mini-tramp and grabs hold of the rope!"
"And look at this, Matt, she's got good momentum and she's using that to her advantage as she reaches the other rope and swings into the cargo net!"
"And Jill is quickly underneath, amazing! But now comes the Ring Toss, which has already taken out several strong competitors. And look at this!" Jill was quickly placing the rings across the pegs, swinging from side-to-side and moving at a quick pace.
"Look at this!" cried Akbar. "She's making the Ring Toss look easy!" Jill quickly traversed across the three planks and swung to safety.
"And she's through," said Matt. "But now comes the Warped Wall. Very few women have ever attempted it, much less completed it. Can Jill add her name to that list?"
"My heartfelt opinion…yes. Jill is one of the most athletic and heartiest people I know, she loves a good challenge!" Black Canary stated.
After taking a moment to compose herself, she took off and made it up in one try! "Yes, she can! Dinah, you were definitely right about Jill!" Akbar smiled.
As Jill slammed the buzzer, Matt exclaimed, "And Jill Munroe has joined an elite group of women who have managed to complete the qualifying course and look at this!" As she celebrated on top of the wall, Jill treated the crowd to an impromptu fireworks display, much to everyone's delight!
"Showoff!" Black Canary giggled.
Once the celebration died down, Matt continued, "Up next is Jill's boyfriend Hal Jordan, an Air Force pilot who says he plans to go for the fastest time."
"That's all good, Matt," said Akbar, "but Adam Park's time is going to be tough to be." Noticing that Hal was sporting his father's bomber jacket, Akbar continued, "That bomber jacket he's wearing actually belonged to his father, who died when Hal was still a child."
"That's right. Hal is another good friend of mine, and he told me that since that fateful day, he always swore he would wear it right," Black Canary stated.
"Is he actually going to compete in it?" asked Mat. His question was answered when Hal smiled and began to unzip it. "No, look at this!" Hal took off the jacket, revealing a white sleeveless t-shirt that said, "NO FEAR," in big, bold, black letters.
Hal tossed the jacket to Jill, who shook her head and smiled saying, "What a ham. And Dinah just called me a showoff!"
Hal smirked and quipped, "Nice to know you care." Jill could only shake her head as the timer went off.
"And there he goes, bounding through the Quintuple Steps, leaps onto the Utility Pole Slider, and dives through the Bridge of Blades!" Matt barely had time to say all of this as Hal burst through the first three obstacles in less than ten seconds!
"WHAT?" cried Akbar. Hal quickly got to his feet, backed up slightly so he would have more room to run towards the trampoline, and hit it as hard as he could. "Hal Jordan really is showing no fear! And he's already onto the cargo net!"
"Jordan with a reckless pace, and now here he is onto the Ring Toss," said Matt. "And look at him go!" Hal got the ring in his right hand onto the first peg on the third plank before swinging from side-to-side to build momentum. He swung for the dismount and made it, before running up the Warped Wall on his first go!
Dinah then shouted, "And he's done it, Hal Jordan with the fastest time of the night so far!"
"Wow, he just blew Adam Park's time out of the water by almost 15 seconds!" exclaimed Akbar. Adam could only applaud what Hal had just done. The crowd was pretty excited, too, as Hal had completed the qualifying course in less than a minute.
"Let's go down to Jenn Brown," said Matt.
"Hal, you were amazing out there," said Jenn. "Your first time on the course and you just blew through it like a pro!"
"That was my intention," said Hal with a nod.
"You said you wanted the fastest time? Well, for the moment, you've got it. You beat Adam Park's time by nearly 15 seconds."
"Awesome," said Hal as he did a fist-pump. "Sorry to take the top time away from him that way, but you can't have fear if you want to succeed on this course."
"I like it, I like it," said Jenn. "Go celebrate with Jill and your friends, and we will see you in the Venice City Finals." Hal kissed Jill and slapped five with the others as they congratulated him.
Matt said, "Up next at the starting line is another Air Force pilot, Daniel Aydelott, and, Akbar, he and Hal Jordan have something of a friendly rivalry."
"Yeah, but I talked to Dan earlier today, and he said he wasn't planning on going for the fastest time, he was just going to go at the pace that he felt was right for him."
The timer sounded and Dan was off. Matt said, "And here he goes, bounding through the Quintuple Steps, but taking a more measured approach. Next is the Utility Pole Slider…and he's through."
"Now for the Bridge of Blades," said Akbar. "He takes a moment,…and sprints through! That's how you tackle the Bridge of Blades!"
"Off the mini-tramp, and he's got the rope. He transfers to the second, leaps,…and look how low he got on the cargo net!" yelled Dinah.
"Wow, he just saved himself a ton of upper-body strength right there," said Akbar. "Let's see if that helps him on the Ring Toss." After taking a moment to collect himself, he began steadily making his way through. "I like what he's doing here, swinging from side-to-side, trying to keep the lactic acid from building up in his arms."
"Well, from what Hal has told me, this guy is a man of many talents," said Dinah. "He sings, he plays the guitar, his parents actually taught him ninjutsu, and he even tap dances!"
"An Air Force pilot, a singer, a guitar player, a tap dancer, AND an actual ninja?" asked Akbar. "This course was MADE for Daniel Aydelott!" Dan then made his dismount onto the landing platform.
"And he's through the Ring Toss," continued Matt. "He takes a moment, collects himself, and explodes up the Warped Wall!" Dan pulled himself up, hit the buzzer, and screamed as he tore his shirt off Hulk Hogan-style, much to the delight of most of the women in the crowd! Kris could only blush as she saw her boyfriend showing off. But she didn't have much time to think about it as it was her turn next.
"Our next competitor is Kris Munroe, the Yellow Power Angel, and younger sister of Jill Munroe, who we saw run just a short time ago," said Matt. The timer sounded and Kris began, jumping onto the first step. "And Kris taking a more cautious approach on the Quintuple Steps than her sister and boyfriend. And she's through." As Kris grabbed the Utility Pole Slider, Matt continued, "You know, Akbar, I talked to Kris earlier today, and she told me that although she is excited to be here, the one thing she fully acknowledges is that Jill is the athlete in the family, not her, which may explain her more safe approach to this course."
"Well, the mark of any athlete is understanding your strengths and weaknesses," said Dinah. "And look at her sprint across the Bridge of Blades!"
"Dives for the landing platform and a hard impact!" cried Matt.
Kris stood up and turned to the crowd, saying, "I'm okay." This caused everyone to applaud as she took a few test bounces on the mini-tramp.
"Says she's okay, and is testing the trampoline," said Matt. "And I think that's a testament to your point, Dinah, understanding your strengths and weaknesses."
"Absolutely, and here she goes!" Kris bounced off and grabbed the first rope, reached for the second rope, and held on to both ropes, building momentum to help her reach the cargo net. "And she's on the net, but she may have used up precious upper-body strength, which she's going to need here on the Ring Toss."
"Kris taking her time to rest before tackling the Ring Toss, which has already claimed several strong competitors," said Matt. "And here she goes, off to a good start. She's on the second plank, but her left ring seems to be hung up. She's got it, oh, and she misses the placement!"
Kris was dangling by her right arm. She had a look of panic on her face, but she managed to reach up and place the left ring onto the proper peg. "Oh, wow, that was a scary moment for the Yellow Power Angel!" said Dinah. "A good recovery, but the longer she's on the Ring Toss, the more taxing it becomes on her arms."
"Onto the third plank now," said Matt. "But she misses the left ring placement again! She drops the left ring and is Munroe is hung up!"
"She's hanging on for dear life!" cried Akbar. Her friends and the crowd were crying out in worry as Kris was forced to hold on to the one ring she had left! As she tried to swing, Akbar encouraged her, saying, "Don't panic, Kris! Try and build that momentum! Come on!"
"Trying to swing back and forth, can her grip hold out? Going for the dismount and she made it!" Kris had successfully managed to swing and jump safely onto the landing platform! She laid there for several moments as her friends and the crowd cheered her on. As she finally started to get to her feet, Matt said, "A great save, but her work isn't done yet. But the question is, Akbar, does she have anything left for the Warped Wall?"
Jill, Dan, and Hal had been following Kris alongside the course and were shouting words of encouragement to her. "Don't rush it, take your time!" cried Dan.
From the booth, Dinah shouted "Try not to overtax yourself. Keep it at your own pace!"
Kris had crouched down to catch her breath and stretch her arms. She then ran towards the Warped Wall…and stumbled badly. "First run at the Warped Wall, and, Akbar, that wasn't even close," said Matt
"Yeah, all that time on the Ring Toss definitely took its toll," agreed Akbar.
Jill yelled to her sister, "Come on, you can do this! We've trained for this! Come on!"
Kris took her second run at the wall. This time she actually managed to get one hand on top of the wall! However, it wasn't enough as she fell back to the bottom.
Knowing this was her last chance, the crowd started chanting, "BEAT THAT WALL! BEAT THAT WALL!" Kris' friends had joined in, louder than everyone else.
Hal yelled, "Don't give in, Kris! Give it everything you've got! Everything!"
"Kris' sister, her friends, her boyfriend, the other competitors, and the crowd all behind Kris Munroe, they really want to see her make it to the top of the Warped Wall," said Akbar.
Matt continued, "Final attempt…" When she was finally ready, Kris ran towards the wall, reached for the top,…and succeeded! "Yes! She's got it!" Kris slowly pulled herself up, crawled towards the buzzer, and hit it, causing everyone in attendance to explode into cheers. Kris just laid there exhausted as everyone cheered. When she finally stood up, she just leaned down, her hands upon her thighs as she tried to catch her breath. When she finally stood upright, she smiled and waved to the crowd in appreciation before blowing a kiss towards Dan. She then pointed towards the sky and let out a streak of lightning in celebration, causing everyone to erupt once more.
Once she got down from the wall, Kris went over and hugged Jill as Jenn Brown approached. Both sisters turned to the blonde interviewer as she said, "Kris, congratulations, you made through, but you had me so nervous there on the Ring Toss. What was going through your mind as you hung there?"
"Honestly, I didn't think I was going to make it," admitted the Yellow Power Angel. "Missing those ring placements took a lot more out of me than I thought, and all I could think was, if Brent Steffensen couldn't defeat the Ring Toss, what chance did I have? But, somehow I did."
Jenn smiled and said, "Well, I am happy to say that you and Jill are the first pair of sisters to complete the qualifying course and we will see you both in the Venice City Finals."
"We'll be ready," said Jill with a smile. "Venice Finals, watch out!" They then turned to their boyfriends for a celebratory kiss before celebrating with the rest of their friends.
Back in the booth, Matt, Akbar, and Dinah were actually trying to catch their collective breaths after Kris' dramatic run. Turning to Canary, Matt said, "Well, Black Canary, we now have two Justice Leaguers moving on to the Venice Finals, but did you ever think we would see the drama we just had with Kris Munroe?"
"Absolutely not," admitted Canary. "But that's the beauty of this competition: You never know when or where a hero will arise."
"Well, if the Yellow Power Angel was able to give us that kind of drama, I'm looking forward to seeing what the other Justice Leaguers can do," said Akbar. "And speaking of Justice Leaguers, when can we expect to see you on the course, Dinah?"
"You'll see me compete in St. Louis," answered Dinah. "I'm going to try and have a more controlled run than what we just saw, but you never know what's going to happen, because I know that there are going to be different obstacles there than what we're seeing tonight."
After Kris' run, returning veterans Kyle Cochran, Derek Nakamoto, Evan "Rocket" Dollard, and "The Original Beast" Alan Connealy completed the course, securing their spots in the Venice Finals. Soon, it was time for the next Ranger to begin.
Matt said, "Taking on the course right now is Tanya Sloan, girlfriend of Adam Park, whom we saw compete earlier." The timer sounded and Tanya began. "Taking a cautious approach on the Quintuple Steps. And she's through."
"Come on, Tanya, you can do this," said Adam as he watched from beside the course.
"The Utility Pole Slider shouldn't be a problem, but the Bridge of Blades is a different story," said Akbar. Tanya easily made it through the Utility Pole Slider, but decided to try something different on the Bridge of Blades.
"What's this, is she trying to angle the bridge?" asked a curious Black Canary.
"Looks that way, going across the middle, a bit unsteady, but it worked!" cried Matt. "Now off the trampoline and she's got the first rope." Tanya began swinging out of control and spinning around, but managed to grab the second rope. "She's got the second rope and is trying to steady herself."
"Reaches for the net, but can't quite grab it!" cried Akbar. "This is bad for Tanya Sloan. She's all over the place!"
"Finally manages to reach the net with her foot," said Matt. "Now, tries to grab the net, NO!" Tanya had failed to grab the net with her hands and fell into the water, eliminating her. Adam let out a look of anguish as he crouched down and shook his head. As Tanya pulled herself out of the water, Matt asked, "Akbar, what just happened?"
"Well, Matt, it looked like she let go of the rope prematurely as she reached for the net. As a result, she almost missed the net completely. Once that happened, she had no chance at recovering. Having just her foot on the net couldn't save her." Tanya shook her head in disappointment as Adam consoled her with a hug.
Matt said, "Looking to get things back on track is Kimberly Hart-Oliver, a fashion designer and former gymnast from Angel Grove, California." The timer sounded and Kimberly took off.
Dinah said, "Using both feet to hop through the Quintuple Steps."
"Great balance there from Kimberly Oliver," said Akbar. "That gymnastics training served her well."
Matt continued, "And through the Utility Pole Slider, now taking long strides as she bounds through the Bridge of Blades!"
"Wow! Did you see that, Matt? The bridge barely budged!" cried Akbar.
Dinah continued, "Now, testing the mini-tramp. Bounces and grabs the first rope. But, Akbar, she's not much bigger than Kacy Catanzaro, so this obstacle is going to be a challenge."
"Yeah, it is," agreed Akbar as Kim grabbed the second rope and began swinging side-to-side repeatedly. "That's why she's building as much momentum as she can before reaching out for the cargo net. Look at the leap!"
"Wow! Great grab onto the cargo net!" exclaimed Matt. Kimberly had jumped off of the second rope and grabbed the net in mid-air! Tommy was yelling and pumping his fist as he watched his wife run. "Great transition and she's through! But now, onto the Ring Toss, and Akbar, this is going to be a real test."
"Yes, it is. Let's just hope all that time she spent on the ropes didn't use up a lot of her strength." Quickly, but carefully, Kimberly made her way across the first plank. She appeared to get stuck as she got onto the second plank, but was able to transition.
"So far, so good, but those arms have to be burning right now," observed Black Canary
"Maybe, but she's gutting through it," said Matt. "What determination she's showing and she's onto the third plank."
"You go, girl!" cried Akbar. Kim then decided to go for the dismount and made it easily. "And now for the Warped Wall. Matt, we saw three women make it up the Warped Wall last year. We might see our third make it up the wall tonight alone!"
"First attempt and comes up a few inches short," said Matt. "Taking a moment now to collect herself, she knows she's only got two attempts left." Kim then tried again and succeeded. "She did it!" As Kim hit the buzzer and began jumping around in excitement, Matt exclaimed, "And Kimberly Oliver becomes the third woman tonight to complete the qualifying course!" Once she got down, she ran into Tommy's arms and the two celebrated with a big kiss. However, they couldn't celebrate long as Tommy was up next.
Matt said, "Well, that is a tough act to follow, especially when it's your wife, but Tommy Oliver is going to try and join Kimberly on top of the Warped Wall and reach the Venice Finals." When the timer sounded, Tommy immediately took off! "Bounding through the Quintuple Steps and jumps onto the Utility Pole Slider, wow!"
"Is this guy really a rookie, because right now, he's not showing it?" asked Akbar. Tommy then used his long legs to his advantage as he stepped onto the Bridge of Blades, diving for the platform. "This is amazing!"
Tommy then stepped back, took a deep breath, and bounced off the trampoline. He grabbed the first rope, grabbed the second rope almost immediately, and was able to reach out and grab the net. "Already onto the cargo net, and Dinah, he's making it look easy!" exclaimed Matt.
"Yeah, he is, but the Ring Toss could be the equalizer," said Dinah. "Let's see how he handles it."
"Taking a measured approach," said Matt. "But, Akbar, he doesn't appear to be in a hurry. Will that hurt him here?"
"It could, but at the same time, he knows this obstacle has taken out a lot of competitors."
Dinah agreed. "Slow and steady may not be an ideal approach, but it is a safe approach. All he has to do is finish."
Matt continued, "And he's through, now onto the Warped Wall, and up in one go! Tommy Oliver has punched his ticket to the city finals, and Akbar, the success continues!"
"And he made it look easy!" exclaimed Akbar. "He took his time on the Ring Toss, but he looked completely confident through the whole course. And that confidence carried him to the top of the Warped Wall."
"Let's go down to Jenn Brown."
As Tommy gave Kimberly a kiss, Jenn said, "Tommy, congratulations, you went through our course like you've done this a thousand times before. How did it feel to get to the top of the Warped Wall?"
"Awesome," answered Tommy. "But my work's not done yet. This is just the first step towards Mt. Midoriyama, and it's just awesome to have my beautiful wife doing this along with me." Kimberly blushed as Tommy had his arm around her.
Jenn smiled and said, "Well, speaking of your wife, I am happy to say that the two of you have just made history. You are the first married couple to make it through to the city finals."
"And we plan on being the first married couple to earn our spots in Vegas together," said a clearly excited Kimberly.
"Matt, Akbar, Canary, you heard it here first: Tommy and Kimberly Oliver plan on becoming the first husband and wife duo to move on to Mt Midoriyama. Back up to you guys."
Matt said, "Thanks, Jenn, and Akbar, Dinah, that's a very bold statement."
"Yeah, it is, Matt," said Akbar, "but we've still got a ways to go here in qualifying."
"True, but it's not bragging if you can back it up," added Dinah.
"We just saw Tommy Oliver put on a clinic," said Matt. "Now, his brother is at the starting line, hoping to do the same. It's David Truehart." The timer sounded. "And David with a two-footed approach. He's through the Quintuple Steps."
"Not exactly how his brother did it, but he is through," said Akbar.
"Yes, he got through, and that's all that matters," said Dinah.
As David went down the Utility Pole Slider and through the Bridge of Blades, Matt said, "And there's Tommy, Kimberly, his girlfriend Katherine, and his father Sam Truehart walking alongside the course, giving him encouragement." He then bounced off the trampoline and grabbed the first rope. "Good bounce, he's got the first rope, now the second."
"Now, he's starting to mirror his brother," said Akbar with a chuckle. "And there he goes, onto the cargo net."
"He's through the first four obstacles, now on to the Ring Toss," said Matt.
Unlike Tommy, David swung from side-to-side as he placed the rings along the planks. Black Canary said, "Taking a different approach than his brother, but it seems to be working so far."
"Yeah, he's already onto the second plank, now he's going for the third." Once he got the right ring onto the third plank, he immediately let go of the left ring and began swinging. "Is he trying to go for the dismount already?" asked Akbar in surprise.
"Looks like this is what he wanted to do," said Matt. "And he's through. Now, he's staring down the Warped Wall." David closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and ran towards the wall. "He's got it! And David Truehart joins his brother on top of the Warped Wall!"
After hitting the buzzer, David cried out, "Yeah!" Tommy, Kimberly, Kat, and Sam were applauding, none more so than Kat. Sam, although he wasn't clapping as hard, had a look of pride on his face.
"His brother, his sister-in-law, his girlfriend, and his father all applauding him," said Matt. "David Truehart is moving on."
"And just look at the smile on Sam Truehart's face," said Dinah with a smile of her own. "That is one proud papa, and rightfully so."
"Up next is Carlos Vallerte, a student and soccer player at Angel Grove University." The timer sounded, signaling the start of Carlos' run. Matt said, "Using a good two-footed approach to the Quintuple Steps, and he's through." He then made it through the Utility Pole Slider with no problem.
"Alright, let's see his approach on the Bridge of Blades." Carlos then went onto the bridge. However, he wasn't very light on his feet as the bridge tilted. He ran chest-first into one of the blades, which sent him crashing to the mat and ending his night early. "Ooh!" grimaced Akbar as Carlos smacked into the blade.
"That's gotta hurt!" exclaimed Black Canary with a visible wince. "He's gonna feel that in the morning." Ashley, who had been walking alongside the course, gasped and placed her hands over her mouth in concern as her boyfriend fell hard. Fortunately, Carlos appeared to be okay as he managed to stand up and walk off on his own power. He was holding his chest, but he would be okay.
"And Carlos Vallerte out on the Bridge of Blades," said Matt with a grimace of his own.
"Things went downhill for Carlos almost immediately," said Akbar. "The bridge seemed to tilt right when he stepped onto it. Soccer may have taught him good footwork, but tonight, it failed him."
"Hoping he can do better is our next competitor, T. J. Johnson." The timer sounded and T. J. began. "A cautious approach on the Quintuple Steps. He's through."
"He's got the Utility Pole Slider," said Akbar. "He clears it easily. Now, let's see if he can make it past where his friend Carlos just went down." T. J. then sprinted easily through the Bridge of Blades.
"He does, and goes right into the tramp. He makes it onto the rope!" T. J. was almost moving faster than Matt could talk as he transitioned to the second rope. "Building momentum and leaps onto the net! T. J. Johnson having no problems on this course!"
"But now comes the tricky part," said Dinah. "Can he get through the Ring Toss?"
As he slowly made his way across, Matt said, "Seems to be okay so far…oh, misses a ring placement!" T. J. appeared to be struggling as he lunged upward to correct himself. "He recovers, but, Akbar, he does not look comfortable here on the Ring Toss."
"No, he doesn't, but right now, he's got to put that out of his mind and just press forward."
"Trying to do just that, but misses another placement!" exclaimed Matt. As his friends and the crowd tried to urge T. J. on, Matt said, "Johnson trying desperately to get that left ring up, but can't seem to build enough momentum. Johnson's in trouble!" Finally, T. J. couldn't hold on any longer as he lost his grip and fell into the water.
"Matt, Akbar, T. J. seemed to be in trouble from the start," said Black Canary. "That first miss was a tell-tale sign. He spent so much energy trying to recover that it wore him out. He struggled so much after that second miss, he had no chance." Aisha could only bury her face in her hands as T. J. walked off, shaking his head in disgust.
Trying to get things back on track, Matt said, "Getting ready now is our third Justice Leaguer of the night. It's Sabrina Duncan, the Blue Power Angel."
"Bree is the Power Angels' unofficial leader, and one reason for that is because she's always in control," said Black Canary. "When she sets her mind to something, she always sees it through to the end, and I believe that approach will work well on this course."
The timer sounded, signaling the start of Sabrina's run. Matt began, "Taking a two-footed approach, whoa, stumbles, but manages to grab onto the third step!"
"Wow, that was a close call," said Akbar as everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. "But notice how she's not panicking. She takes a moment to compose herself and now she leaps to the fourth step."
"Onto the fifth step now," said Dinah. "She's through. And THAT'S why she's the leader of the Power Angels: She found herself in a difficult position, but she didn't let it rattle her. And she's moving on."
"Through the Utility Pole Slider with no problem," continued Matt. "And there's Sabrina's mother, her boyfriend, and her kids in the crowd, here to cheer her on." Sabrina then proceeded to angle the Bridge of Blades with her foot so that she could run across the middle.
"Wow, look at this, hopping across the middle of the Bridge of Blades!" exclaimed Akbar. "And look at this!" Without a moment's hesitation, she bounded off the trampoline and grabbed the first rope.
"She's got the second rope, now get to that net," encouraged Canary. Sabrina managed to grab the cargo net with one hand before letting go of the rope with the other.
"And I like what she's doing here," said Matt. "Trying to get to the platform as fast as she can to save her strength."
"Alright, now comes the tricky part," said Akbar. "Can she follow in the footsteps of her fellow Power Angels Jill and Kris?"
"So far, so good," said Canary. "She placing the rings on the pegs and swinging from side-to-side to keep her arms from getting tired."
"And just look at her go," said Matt. "Easily the best performance we've seen through the Ring Toss. But now, she faces the Warped Wall." Sabrina took a moment to stand in front of the wall, her eyes focused on the top.
"And just look at that focus, Matt," said Akbar. "She's looking at the top of the wall as if she knows she's going to get up it." Sabrina then went for it and made it on the first try! "That's how you do it!"
"Yes! And Sabrina Duncan has completed the Venice Qualifying Course!" cried Matt. "And, Dinah, your words prove prophetic, Sabrina Duncan showing why she leads the Power Angels."
Shrugging, Dinah said, "It's like I said before, once Bree sets her mind on something, she goes out and does it." Once she got down from the wall, Sabrina walked over to her family. She gave each of her children a big hug before sharing a kiss with Aaron.
Matt said, "Up next at the starting line is Trini Kwan from Angel Grove." The timer sounded, and she began. "Going with the two-footed approach on the Quintuple Steps, and she's through."
"Alright, that's one obstacle down, and five to go," said Akbar. Trini made her way down the Utility Pole Slider, causing Akbar to say, "Two down, four to go."
"I like how cool, calm, and collected she is," said Black Canary. "Centering herself and sprinting through the Bridge of Blades! Nicely done!"
"Taking her time to collect herself, and bounding off the mini-tramp!" exclaimed Matt. "She's got the first rope and quickly grabs the second rope."
"Now for the crisis transition," said Akbar. "Okay, she's got the cargo net, that's good."
"And she manages to get her feet onto the platform," said Dinah. "A flawless run so far, but now comes the Ring Toss."
Trini grabbed the rings and managed to quickly make her way across. "And look at this!" exclaimed Akbar. "She's moving fast and she doesn't even look tired!"
"Just amazing," said Matt. Once Trini was onto the third plank, she began swinging from side-to-side and made the dismount. "Nice dismount. And now, she stares down the Warped Wall."
"I think she can get up on the first try," said Dinah. After taking a moment to center herself, she took off and made it to the top! "Told you so!" said Canary as Trini hit the buzzer.
"Wow, you called it perfectly, Dinah!" cried Matt. "Trini Kwan is moving on to the Venice City Finals! Let's go down to Jenn Brown."
Jenn approached the Yellow Saber-Toothed Tiger Ranger, saying, "Trini, great job out there. You blew through the course, you made it look easy, and you don't even look tired!"
Trini just shrugged and said, "That's what oneness of mind, body, and spirit can do. I just hope Billy and the rest of my friends can join me."
"Let's hope so. Matt, back up to you guys."
"Speaking of Billy," said Matt, "on the starting line right now is Trini's boyfriend Billy Cranston." The timer sounded. "And Billy taking a cautious approach, but showing good poise and balance."
"I spoke to him earlier today," said Akbar. "I think the balance comes from him doing gymnastics when he was younger. However, after his parents divorced, he lost his passion for it and threw himself into his studies, specifically science and engineering."
"Alright, he's through the first obstacle, now for the Utility Pole Slider," said Black Canary. Billy made it down easily. "Nicely done. But the Bridge of Blades is always tricky."
Billy took several moments before sprinting across, diving onto the platform. "Oh, wow!" cried Matt. "Hard impact, but he's through."
"Now, let's see what kind of upper-body strength he has," said Akbar. After taking a few more moments to compose himself, he hit the trampoline and easily made it to the first rope. "Alright, he's got the first rope, good momentum, and he's got the second rope."
"He doesn't look comfortable, but he's managing," said Dinah. However, Billy was unable to grab onto the cargo net. "Oh, I may have spoke too soon!" Billy started spinning out of control, forcing him to try and grab the first rope again.
Trini was walking alongside the course and gasped in concern after Billy wasn't able to initially grab the net. "Hang on, get that first rope again!" Once he got the first rope again, Trini said, "Good, now get that swing going! You can do it!"
"Oh, man, he is using up precious upper-body strength," said Akbar in concern. Swinging from side-to-side, Billy was finally able to grab onto the net.
Matt said, "Great save, now onto the cargo net, but the question is, guys, will he have enough strength left to tackle the Ring Toss?"
"That's a good question," said Dinah with a nod. "But he's still got to get onto the platform." Billy seemed to be struggling, but made it. "Alright, he made it, but like you said, Akbar, he just used up a lot of strength. Let's just hope those struggles don't come back to haunt him."
As Billy took some time to rest, Akbar said, "Yeah, but I like what he's doing here. He's not panicking, and he's taking his time to rest. He knows he spent a lot of time on the last obstacle and he's going to need all the strength he can muster here on the Ring Toss."
After resting for at least two minutes, Billy took a deep breath and finally began his attack on the Ring Toss. After traversing the first plank, he began switching up his grip. "Hey, what's this?" asked Dinah in curiosity. Billy looked awkward as he made his way across the second plank.
"I see what he's doing!" exclaimed Akbar. "He's taking a page out of Dillon Gates' playbook!"
"That's right, last year in Dallas, Dillon Gates used this same approach in the City Finals and it worked beautifully," said Matt. After getting the rings onto the last two pegs of the second plank, he began swinging from side-to-side, and once he'd built up enough momentum, he let go of the left ring and swung as far as he could by his right hand before letting go and making the dismount!
"Very nice!" said an impressed Black Canary. "After his struggles on the Rope Swing, he did a great job on the Ring Toss, and I don't impress easily."
"Now for the Warped Wall," said Matt. As Billy rested, he made some gestures with his hands as he went over how to attack it. "I like this, taking his time, going over it in his mind…" Billy then took off. "…and right up it! Billy Cranston gets up the Warped Wall and punches his ticket to the Venice City Finals!" Trini threw her fists into the air, and jumped for joy, a big smile on her face (a rarity for her as this was more like something Kimberly would do) as Billy smiled and blew her a kiss. Trini returned the gesture as Billy made his way down.
"It wasn't the prettiest run, but he made it through," said Akbar.
"That's all that matters," said Canary.
"Up next at the starting line is Ashley Hammond, a student and cheerleader at Angel Grove University," said Matt. "Taking her time on the Quintuple Steps, doesn't want to make a simple mistake. And she's through."
Ashley then made her way down the Utility Pole Slider before positioning the Bridge of Blades with her foot so that she could run down the center. She then took a few test bounces on the mini-tramp. "You know, cheerleaders get such a bad rap because people think they aren't 'real athletes,'" said Akbar. "And I think Ashley Hammond wants to blow that misconception out of the water." She then bounced off the trampoline and grabbed the first rope. "Great bounce!"
"Alright, she's got the second rope," said Black Canary. As Ashley swung from side-to-side, Dinah continued, "Good, I like that's she's building her momentum, making sure she can reach the net." Ashley then grabbed the net and began making her way down. "Nicely done."
"Alright, she's through the first four obstacles," said Matt. "Now, we'll see what kind of strength she has on the Ring Toss." After taking a few moments to rest, Ashley grabbed the rings began making her way across, swinging from side-to-side to keep herself from getting fatigued too quickly.
"Good, she's onto the second plank," said Akbar. "Looks like the left ring is stuck, though." She managed to get it free, but began swinging downward! "Oh, man, she's in trouble!" However, Ashley was able to swing back up and get the second ring onto the proper peg.
"And a great recovery!" exclaimed Matt.
Dinah agreed. "Yes, but the question is does she have enough strength to make it across the other two planks?" Ashley was able to get to the third plank with no further trouble. She went almost the full length of the obstacle to make sure she got across.
"And now Ashley Hammond faces the Warped Wall," said Matt. "Can she join the growing list of female competitors to make it up?" Ashley made her first attempt, but couldn't reach the top. "Oh! Her fingers missing by inches!"
"It's important here for Ashley not to panic," said Akbar. "She's got two attempts left. She needs to take her time, get her mindset right, and find just a couple more inches."
"Looks like she's ready for her second attempt," said Canary. Ashley then went for it again…and got her hand on top! However, she couldn't hold on and fell back down! "No! She had it! She was so close!"
Carlos was walking alongside the course. Knowing she was down to her final attempt, he cried out to his girlfriend, "Take your time! Don't rush it! You can do this!"
The crowd also knew this was her last chance as they chanted, "BEAT THAT WALL! BEAT THAT WALL!"
"This is it," said Matt. "Her final attempt." Finally, Ashley went for it and grabbed the top of the wall once again! However, just like before, she couldn't hold on and fell back down, ending her run! "Oh! She had it, just couldn't hold on! And Ashley Hammond out on the Warped Wall."
As a visibly upset Ashley walked over to Carlos, she yelled, "I had it! I was almost there!"
As Carlos gave Ashley a comforting hug, Matt said, "Let's go down to Jenn Brown, who's with a disappointed Ashley Hammond."
"Oh, Ashley, you were so close!" exclaimed Jenn. "What is going through your mind right now?"
"I'm very disappointed in myself," admitted Ashley. "I mean, my hands were on top of the wall! I should have made it up."
"Well, the good news is, there's still a chance for you to make the Top 30," said Jenn. "We'll just have to wait and see if you went far enough fast enough."
"I hope so," said Ashley. "I want another shot at that wall."
As the next Ranger made her way to the starting line, Matt said, "Up next at the starting line, hoping to do one better than Ashley is Aisha Campbell." The timer sounded. "A cautious approach, but she is staying dry."
"She's making it through, and that's all the matters," said Black Canary. As Aisha easily made it down the Utility Pole Slider, Dinah continued, "Alright, let's see her footwork on the Bridge of Blades." She then sprinted across. "Great job! Light on her feet, and the bridge barely moved."
As Aisha tested the mini-tramp, Akbar said, "I like what she's doing here, testing the trampoline before she goes." She then got a good bounce and grabbed the first rope. "Great jump." She easily grabbed the second rope, and then leaped for the cargo net.
Matt said, "Reaches for the net and, NO!" Aisha had missed as she reached out for the cargo net, falling into the water! "Aisha Campbell out on the Rope Swing! Akbar, what just happened?"
"Well, it looked like she just went for the net too soon," explained Akbar. "She had a good swing going, but just didn't swing far enough."
"I agree," said Dinah. "I think she was thinking too much about moving fast and it resulted in a lapse of concentration." Once Aisha had pulled herself out of the water, T. J. went over and consoled her with a hug.
After Aisha's failure, three more returning competitors completed the course. Dan Mast, Dorian Cedars, and James Sclar made it up the Warped Wall, securing their spots in the next round.
Matt continued, "Next up, hoping to punch her ticket to the Venice City Finals is Andrea Thomas, a professor at Angel Grove University. In the crowd supporting her are some of her old friends and former students from Lockspur, including Dr. Joshua Barnes, Cindy Lee, and Rennie Carol." Instead of her glasses, Andrea was wearing a pair of spectacle-like prescription goggles.
"Go, Miss Thomas!" cried Cindy.
"Represent Lockspur!" yelled Rennie.
Dr. Barnes chuckled at his former students' enthusiasm before calling out, "You got this, Andrea!"
The timer sounded and Andrea began her run. "Taking a cautious approach, but moving pretty fast," said Matt.
"Good form," said Akbar with a nod as Andrea completed the Quintuple Steps. She then quickly made her way down the Utility Pole Slider. "That was easy."
"But this won't be," said Black Canary. "There she goes!" Andrea sprinted across the Bridge of Blades, diving to safety. This got cheers from Cindy, Rennie, and Dr. Barnes, as well as the rest of the contingent from Lockspur.
Andrea then jumped off the trampoline, easily reaching the first rope. She grabbed the second rope, maintained her momentum, and grabbed the cargo net with no trouble. "Good transition," said Matt.
"Now's the tricky part," said Akbar. "The less time she spends on that net, the better."
"Looks like she heard you, Akbar," said Dinah. "She's onto the platform. It looks like she's taking her time to rest before tackling the Ring Toss."
Andrea slowly, but methodically, began making her way across. "I like what she's doing here. She's moving at a good pace, making sure her placements are precise," said Akbar. "Let's just hope she's not going too slow." Andrea easily reached the third plank and made the dismount.
"Good dismount," said Matt. "No hesitation and she sprints up the Warped Wall! Amazing!" Cindy and Rennie were going nuts, while Dr. Barnes stood and applauded pretty wildly himself.
"Wow," said Canary. "She ran up that wall as perfectly as anyone could do it."
"And with that, Andrea Thomas is moving on!" finished Matt as Andrea went over to hug her friends.
After Andrea's run, the last returning competitor, "The Godfather" David Campbell, completed the course, making it look effortless, as usual. It was then time for the next Ranger to take her turn.
"Our next runner is Jamie Zedden," said Matt. "She is the girlfriend of Jason Lee Scott, whom we saw compete earlier. And there he is, standing alongside the course, cheering her on."
Jason clapped and said, "You got this, Jamie. This course has nothing on you!"
Jamie blushed and blew Jason a quick kiss as the timer sounded. "And Jamie with a good two-footed approach on the Quintuple Steps," said Matt. "And she's through."
Jamie grabbed the Utility Pole Slider and made it down easily. "Alright, she's through the Utility Pole Slider," said Akbar. "But the Bridge of Blades is going to be a challenge because that is a long space to cross with her smaller stride."
"Remember, Kacy Catanzaro is only five feet tall," said Matt. "Kimberly Oliver is not much taller, and Jamie is right in between." She then sprinted across the Bridge of Blades, striding as far as her short legs would allow her to. She was forced to dive for the platform and just landed on the edge of it! "Oh, wow, look at this! She's dangling on the platform! Can she pull herself up?" Jamie struggled, but managed to pull herself to safety. "Yes, she can! Boy, that was close!"
"Yeah, but don't underestimate Jamie Zedden," said Black Canary as Jamie took a moment to recover and test the mini-tramp. "This girl holds multiple black belts in Shotokan Karate, one of the most difficult styles of martial arts to master, so she's tougher than she looks."
"Alright, here she goes on the trampoline," said Akbar. "She's got the rope. Can she grab the second?"
"Yes, she can!" cried Matt as Jamie grabbed the second rope. She swung from side-to-side before attempting to get onto the cargo net, successfully grabbing it. "Good transition, but she's pretty high on the net. And this is going to tax her strength."
"Perhaps, but she's got no choice but to keep going," said Dinah. As Jamie made her way to the platform, Canary continued, "Alright, she's on the platform, now the big test."
As Jamie took some time to rest, Matt said, "And there are Jamie's parents, Larry and Leslie Zedden, cheering their little girl on."
"Take your time, Jamie, don't rush it!" cried out Larry.
"Just go at your own pace, don't do anything fancy!" added Leslie.
When she was ready, Jamie grabbed the rings and began moving along the first plank. Jason said, "Good pace, good pace, Jamie. Ignore the pain and keep pushing forward!"
Due to her short stature, Jamie couldn't traverse the Ring Toss very fast. The hardest part was transferring from plank-to-plank as the left ring had a tendency to get stuck. "These transitions are tough, due to her size," said Akbar. "And I think Jason has the right idea, she's just got to ignore the pain and push through."
"Easier said than done," said Matt. "Those arms have to be burning."
"But like I said," said Canary, "she's tougher than she looks. If anyone can fight through this, it's Jamie Zedden."
"She's on the third plank," said Akbar. "But she can't go for the dismount just yet."
"I agree," said Dinah. "She needs to get as close to the end as she can."
Doing just that, Jamie got close to the end before going for the dismount and making it. "Alright, she's through. But does she have anything left for the Warped Wall?" asked Matt.
"Take your time, Jamie, you can do this!" cried Jason. Jamie ran towards the Warped Wall…and stumbled badly.
"Ow, wow, it looks like her legs just gave out on her," said Matt.
"Yeah, that's what we call jelly-legs," said Akbar.
"She's got two attempts left," said Dinah. "But like you said, Matt, it's a question of whether or not she has enough strength to get up." After taking several moments to rest, she tried again. She barely got her fingertips on top, and fell again.
The crowd began chanting, "BEAT THAT WALL! BEAT THAT WALL!" However, none chanted louder than Larry and Leslie.
"This is it!" cried Matt. "Her final attempt. Can she join the growing list of female competitors who've completed the Qualifying Course? Ashley Hammond couldn't do it. Can Jamie Zedden succeed where her friend Ashley failed?"
"Come on, Jamie, do it for the girls!" exclaimed Canary. Jamie then went for the wall…and succeeded! "Yes! She got it!"
"Yes!" yelled Jason from the ground. "Take that, Warped Wall! Yeah!"
"Yes!" cried Matt. "She's done it!" Jamie hit the buzzer from her knees before breathing a sigh of relief.
"You go, girl!" yelled Akbar as Jamie got to her feet.
As she stood on top of the wall, she blew a kiss towards Jason, who happily returned the gesture. She then looked out to her parents and yelled, "Mom! Dad! I did it!" Larry proudly smiled and pumped a fist towards his daughter while Leslie jumped for joy with her arms around her husband.
When the time came for the next competitor, Matt said, "Our next runner is Katherine Hillard. She watched earlier as her boyfriend David Truehart completed the course. Now, she's looking to do the same and join him in the Venice City Finals." When the timer sounded, Kat began leaping from platform to platform, showing great balance. "Looking comfortable here on the Quintuple Steps."
"And no surprise how good her balance is," said Akbar. "This girl does ballet dancing."
"She's also one of the taller female competitors we'll see," said Dinah. "And that height is serving her well." Once through the steps, Kat went down the Utility Pole Slider and positioned the Bridge of Blades with her foot so that she could run across the middle.
"Right down the middle of the Bridge of Blades and right into the trampoline!" exclaimed Matt. "She's got the first rope. Good momentum, and she's got the second."
"Reaches out for the net with her foot, and she got it!" cried Akbar. "This girl is putting on a clinic!"
"Well, she made the first four obstacles look easy," said Canary. "But the Ring Toss will test her upper-body strength like nothing else today."
"Taking her time and here she goes," said Matt. Kat quickly and (seemingly) effortlessly moved from peg-to-peg. Unlike Jamie, reach wasn't much of a problem and she was able to get to the second plank, then the third. When she was close enough, she swung for the platform and made it.
"Beautifully done," said Akbar. "And what's this? She's going straight for the wall!" Kat immediately tried to get up the Warped Wall, but couldn't reach the top.
"Oh, just missed!" cringed Dinah. "I think she just moved too fast."
David was walking alongside the track. "Don't rush it! Take your time! Just remember what we've done in training."
Kat nodded to her boyfriend as she took a moment to catch her breath and put her hands on her hips, eyeing the top of the wall. "She's got two attempts left," said Matt. "Can she do it?" She then tried again, and made it this time! "Yes, she can! And Katherine Hillard is moving on!" Kat smiled and waved to the crowd as they cheered for her. Once she got down, she received a celebratory kiss from David.
"Our next-to-last runner of the night is Samantha Dean, another competitor hailing from Angel Grove," said Matt. The timer sounded and Samantha took off. "Samantha with a two-footed technique, and she's through. And there's Samantha's boyfriend Skull in the crowd."
Skull applauded and said, "Way to go, Sam! That's how you do it!" She then proceeded down the Utility Pole Slider, before sprinting across the Bridge of Blades without a moment's hesitation!
"WHAT?" cried out Akbar. "Samantha just made the Bridge of Blades look easy!"
"She's got a fire inside of her and I like it!" exclaimed Black Canary.
Samantha then hit the trampoline as hard as she could. "And look at this, Samantha Dean showing no fear as she bounces off the mini-tramp and grabs the rope! Now, she's got the second rope and leaps for the cargo net! Wow!"
"And look how low she got!" pointed out Akbar. "And she's already onto the platform!"
"Okay, looks like she's slowing down now," said Canary. "Good, she's taking her time on the Ring Toss."
"Good pace and she's onto the second plank," said Matt. "Moving quickly, but still a measured approach."
"Alright, she's onto the third plank," said Akbar. "But the dismount is always tricky." When Samantha decided she was ready, she swung from side-to-side and easily made it to the landing platform.
"And now she stares down the Warped Wall," said Matt. Samantha took a few moments to ready herself before going for it…and making it on the first try! "And right up it, Samantha Dean with the fastest time of any female competitor! She's moving on to the Venice City Finals! Let's go down to Jenn Brown."
Samantha shared a victory kiss with Skull before Jenn approached. "Samantha, that was amazing! You blew through the course, you made it look easy, and guess what?"
"What?" asked a curious Samantha.
"Out of the nine women who've completed our Qualifying Course tonight, you finished with the fastest time."
"Seriously?" asked Samantha in disbelief. "That's awesome! I want to do it again!" She then began jumping up and down for joy.
Jenn laughed and said, "Don't worry, you'll get your chance because you are moving on to the Venice City Finals. Now, go celebrate with your friends." Samantha kissed Skull again before being swarmed with congratulations from her friends.
Seeing Ashley among those congratulating Samantha, Matt said, "And there's Ashley Hammond, whom we saw fail at the Warped Wall a short time ago. But she can rest easy, as she is currently ranked in the 29th position with only one runner left. And our final runner of the night is approaching the starting line now. And he will be making history as the first alien to run our course. It's J'onn J'onnz, the Martian Manhunter!"
As the crowd looked at the Martian in awe, J'onn took off his cape as the timer sounded. "And there he goes," said Akbar. "Although, honestly, he doesn't look comfortable on the Quintuple Steps."
"Well, I know J'onn fairly well," said Dinah. "He's strong, he has decent speed for his size, and fatigue shouldn't be a factor, but he's not very agile."
"But as long as he stays dry, he'll be okay," said Matt. "And he's through."
J'onn then proceeded down the Utility Pole Slider before positioning the Bridge of Blades with his foot. "It looks like he wants to go down the middle," said Canary. "Personally, I think that's a good idea, because with his size and weight, going along the side is out of the question." J'onn proceeded to maintain his balance as he got across. "Nicely done."
"Will his weight be a factor on the mini-tramp, though?" asked Akbar. Martian Manhunter bounced off the trampoline and grabbed the rope, albeit lower than he would have liked. "Oh, wow! He just barely managed to grab onto the rope!"
"His strength saved him there, but he's gotta watch his feet," said Matt as J'onn reached for the second rope. "Uh oh, he's in trouble. He's lost his momentum."
"But just look at J'onn's face," said Black Canary. "His expression hasn't changed at all." He managed to grab the first rope again and swung side-to-side. "Good job, J'onn. Now, you need to get to the net." Once he'd built up enough momentum, J'onn reached for the net and got it.
"Okay, he's on, but he's not out of the woods yet," said Akbar. "He's got to get under this cargo net." Martian Manhunter proceeded to do just that as he got to the platform. Without a moment's hesitation, he casually walked towards the Ring Toss and went right in. "Oh, wow, he's not taking any time to rest."
"But, like I said, he doesn't get tired easily, so he can get away with it," said Canary.
"You're right, Dinah," said Matt. "He's making the Ring Toss look easy, and he doesn't look tired at all! He just needs to make sure he doesn't miss any ring placements." J'onn managed to do just that and got to the platform with ease. He then managed to make it up the Warped Wall on the first try, though it didn't look pretty. He hit the buzzer gently, so as not to break it. "And he just brute-forced his way up the Warped Wall! And he's done it! The Martian Manhunter has completed the qualifying course!"
"And I think that's to your point, Dinah," said Akbar. "It wasn't the prettiest run up the Warped Wall, but what he lacked in agility and technique, he made up for with sheer brute force."
"It wasn't pretty, but he got the job done," agreed Black Canary. She then yelled out to her friend and teammate, "Great job, J'onn!"
J'onn smiled and waved towards the broadcast booth. "Thank you very much. I had a lot of fun."
As J'onn got down, Matt said, "And let's go down to Jenn Brown."
Jenn said, "J'onn, congratulations, the last runner of the night, one of four Justice Leaguers competing here tonight in Venice, and all four of you made it through. How are you feeling?"
J'onn smiled and said, "I must confess, that was the most fun I've had in a long time. I do not get to do things like this very often. Hopefully, I'll have more fun next time."
"Glad to hear it," said Jenn with a nod and a smile. "Congratulations, you are moving on the Venice City Finals."
"Thank you very much."
"Matt, Akbar, Dinah, back up to you guys."
"And with that, the Venice Qualifying Round comes to a close," said Matt. "We had twenty-seven finishers in all, lead by Hal Jordan, who turned in the fastest time of the night. Our list of finishers include the Godfather, David Campbell, the Beasts, James McGrath and Alan Connealy, and former rookie sensations Kevin Bull and Derek Nakamoto."
Akbar continued, "In addition, four Justice Leaguers, the Martian Manhunter, Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe and her sister Kris, also completed the course. The other three spots in our Top 30 are filled by those who went the farthest the fastest, and that includes Ashley Hammond, who just barely makes the cut at number 30."
Matt finished, "Next week, we move to Dallas, the second of five Qualifying cities, where we'll see the Black Power Angel, Kelly Garrett. Also in action will be the Royal Couple of American Ninja Warrior, Brent Steffensen and Kacy Catanzaro, as well as the inspirational Sam Sann. For Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, Jenn Brown, and Black Canary, I'm Matt Iseman. And we'll see you next time, on American Ninja Warrior!"
Next Time: Dallas Qualifying