When cameras return to the Wells Fargo Arena, they show the triply split screen…
…with Aelita Schaeffer in one section, pulling up her boots and declining a butler's offer to hand her a glass of wine—she would have accepted, but there was a time for that, and said time would be AFTER her match…
…Lucy van Pelt in another section, having just seen the Skatepark Brawl…and scoffing at the thought of Otto Rocket emerging victorious. "He won't be so chipper once I knock her sister sideways…along with everyone else…" Lucy speaks as she tightens her wrist tape…
…and in the third section…"The Warrior Princess" Xena, who was warming up and throwing kicks at the brick wall behind her nonstop, letting out some of her vengeance already before backing away from it, still keeping the bulk of what was brewing inside…for when she GOT inside…
"We have seen a SMORGASBORD of aggression and hostility tonight, but coming down the pike we STILL HAVE…Cell on Earth to come," Al states. "There's three more of the participants in Aelita Schaeffer, Lucy van Pelt, and Xena—one of THEM could be leaving Philadelphia as the second Females Champion of the World…"
"Indeed," Jonathan nods, as though he were DESIROUS of such an outcome…because he was.
Somewhere ELSE backstage…
…to the crowd's delight, it was Max and Enrique of the Dragon Kids, just a few yards away from the Gorilla Position, Max wearing a special blue Dragon Kids "We Believe" t-shirt, Enrique a green and purple version of the tee. As both of them are doing last-minute preparations with themselves…
"Hey, Kids!"
…they are approached by their soon-to-be teammate, Dan Kuso, to even LOUDER cheers from the live crowd seeing this via DisneyTron. "Ready to get your Titles back?" Dan asks, patting both Dragon Kids on their shoulders.
Max nods, determination painting his face from the top down. "YOU BET we are," he answers.
"Absolutamente," Enrique agrees.
"Cool…" Dan wipes his lips and then motions to Max and Enrique that there is more he had to speak with. "Look, before we go out there, I feel like I should say this to you guys since Shun and I had a conversation about it ourselves."
"Say what?" Enrique raises an eyebrow.
"What's up?" Max asks.
"When we take battle Doc Louis and his gang of clients tonight…it's gonna be OUR battle," Dan tells them. "Not just mine and not just Shun's, but your battle as well. And what happened to you two and what you did after are actually major catalysts behind us being where we are right now, THIS MATCH…so you're as big a part of this as Shun and I. You are half of this team, whether people call it 'my team' or whatever else…and I know you're fighting for a whole lot more than just the Belts."
Max and Enrique look at each other as Dan says this…because even though he wasn't a part of THAT collection of friends the Dragon Kids had, it was as though Kuso knew and was indeed fully aware of their existence and how much they meant to this match for the former World Tag Team Champions.
"…That's why I'm telling you, looking you straight in the eyes, I've got your back," Dan assures them. "I'm going out there for YOU. I'm fighting for MY Belt just as I am for YOURS…which means you're fighting for YOURS as much as you are for MINE, too."
"That's true…" Max says, looking at the Universal Championship around Dan's waist.
"Sí…which is why we're telling you, tenemos la espalda…" Enrique puts a finger in Dan's shoulder, pointing and poking him. "WE'VE got YOUR back, Dan."
"Yeah!" Max confirms, giving off the same sentiment to the Pyrus Brawler.
"…Thanks," Dan flicks his nose. "Heh…by a show of hands, who can't wait to see the look on Doc Louis's face when we clean house and hold ALL of the Belts?"
Enrique raises his hand…Max raises BOTH of his hands…
Dan chuckles as he had a hand raised himself for his own question. "Thought so. …Ready?"
"Listo!" Enrique replies.
"Let's do it!" Max claps as he starts heading for the curtain behind Dan…
…and Enrique is about to follow suit when—
"Hey Enrique!"
…Enrique hears his name called. He looks around for the source…and sees it almost SPRINTING towards him.
"Stephanie!" Enrique gasps upon recognizing the LazyTown pink-haired female. As Stephanie comes to the Colombian Kid, she however is almost out of breath from her run. "Are you okay?" Enrique asks her.
"Yeah, I'm fine…" Stephanie nods, hands on her knees as she pants to catch her breath again. "…I just didn't want to miss you…"
Enrique is a tad puzzled. "Miss me for what?" he inquires.
"For wishing you luck before your match!" Stephanie replies.
"…Oh…um…heheh," Enrique sheepishly understands now…and blushing briefly while rubbing the back of his head he says, "Gracias."
"De nada!" Stephanie nods. "Hey, you think we can celebrate afterwards?"
"We'll see. We kinda have to WIN first…" Enrique mentions, almost letting his tone sweat-drop for him.
"Right, heheh…heh…" Now it is Stephanie's turn to sheepishly chuckle…
…as both she and Enrique gaze at each other for a while…a rather long while…
"Enrique, come on; we've gotta go!" Dan Kuso calls out from off-screen, within earshot of the Dragon Kid.
"Oh!" Enrique's manner jumps from hearing the far-off voice, snapping him out of his ocular trance. He then looks back at Stephanie once again, one more time…and says, "I'll, er…I'll see you…"
"Mm-hmm! See you later! I'll be in the crowd!" Stephanie eagerly tells Enrique as he starts to leave…
…
…but then Stephanie grabs Enrique's hand and yelps, "Oh, wait! One last thing…"
Enrique turns around…looking at Stephanie's hand…on his…
…
…
…
…and Stephanie, meekly speaking, says, "…If you're in there with Sportacus…since you wanted him part of the match…make sure you hold your own, okay?"
…
…
"…Stephanie…" Enrique places his other hand over Stephanie's on his, making a sandwich of sorts…and looking deep at her to say, in as stern a tone as he can put together for her, "…if that happens, I'm not just gonna hold my own against him… I'm gonna BEAT HIM."
Enrique, letting Stephanie know of his own personal intentions on the LazyTown superhero—the man who cost Enrique and Max the World Tag Team Championship—leaves Stephanie, catching up with the Universal Champ and the four-year-old from the Playroom. There was no more time for talk…
Blader DJ announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest…is the Winners Take All Eight-Man Elimination Tag Team Match to decide the CCW Universal Championship, the CCW World Tag Team Championship, and #1 Contention for the CCW Universal Championship!"
As the crowd pops for this, already starting to hold up their "Philadelphia Believes!" ; "Fighting Spirit Forever!"; "Sportacus: The NEW Fallen Hero"; "The Winds of Change are upon us…"; and "DLP is DONE FOR" signs…Blader DJ continues, "Wrestlers are eliminated from this match via pinfall, submission, or disqualification. Once an elimination occurs, the wrestler who is pinned, submitted or disqualified must depart the match and return to the locker room area while the match continues. This contest will end when one team has been COMPLETELY eliminated…at which point the survivor or survivors will have won the match for their team and thus decided the fate of the Universal and World Tag Team Championships, as well as the former Title's #1 Contender!"
"…Boy, that is a MOUTHFUL," Jeremy whistles.
("Time to Shine" by Saliva plays)
The lights turn a teal-green sort of blend…and jets of smoke shoot upward onstage in front of the entrance…
…
…
…where Shun Kazami, through lime green lighting, walks through the smoke and comes out with a long green and black jacket to accompany an attire mostly drawn from the second arc of Bakugan's Mechtanium Surge, his eyes pointed straight ahead at the ring.
[I've been the puppet master and I've been the strings!
I've been the up and coming next big thing!
I've been the photograph and I've been the lens!
I've been the saint and baby, I've been the sin!]
"Introducing first, now residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, weighing 233 pounds, Shun Kazami!" Blader DJ announces.
"A fitting song for what sounds to be the tone of Shun Kazami entering this match—it is 'his time to shine', his time to show why he deserves to be not just in the hunt for, but PRIME CONTENDER for the Universal Championship held by Dan Kuso," Jonathan says. "It's been a desire of his since Pandemonium, since Nevermore—you could even argue since Meltdown, even…but to date he hasn't gotten that crack at it, and he's never been first in line. THIS could be his chance."
"Yeah, or NOT," Cris immediately comes in with his skepticism. "Wanna know why he wants that Belt? One, because Aran Ryan made it the most precious commodity amongst the myth known as 'SECONDARY Titles', and I say 'myth' because that Title is as good as WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD thanks to him…and number two, the two-time and CURRENT Universal Champion is his best buddy, Dan Kuso, who, let's be honest, is the ALPHA to Shun's…Epsilon? I don't wanna go so far as Beta, 'cause I'm aware…"
"Shun has vocalized AND expressed how badly he wants to be the Universal Champion, so much so that he joined this battle and is part of the reason why what started as a war between Doc Louis Productions and Dan Kuso and the Dragon Kids—three-on-three—soon became a four-on-four," Al says.
[Life passes by with so few moments that define!
Myyy tiiiiiiiiiiime is nowwww! (Right now, right now!)
It's my time to shine!
It's my time to take you to the ground!]
The Ventus Brawler's visage doesn't give anything away even as the fans receive him with their cheers, Shun himself still standing in place, calmly, at the top of the stage…
…
…
…as the smoke onstage ACCUMULATES…so much so that Shun fades out of sight…and the entrance ramp itself starts to become shrouded with smoke.
"What the…? Where'd he go?" Jeremy scratches his head.
"There's so much smoke, I can barely see him!" Al rubs his eyes.
"Aaaah, I knew it! He wussed out!" Cris laughs.
[You're going waaaay, waaaaaaay down!
You're going waaaay, waaaaaaay down!
It's my time to shine!]
…
…
…
…
…When the smoke clears…Shun Kazami becomes visible again…
…
…only now, Shun is at the bottom of the entrance ramp, standing in front of the ring!
"Well, in his defense, if you're up against—OH JESUS!" Cris jumps. "WHAT THE F*CK?! IS HE DARK MAGICIAN ALL OF A SUDDEN?!"
"No, but stealth IS the way of the ninja, as Shun knows and has proclaimed—I think…he just wanted to demonstrate that for us," Al chuckles.
"He sure made his point on YOU, Mr. Collinsworth," Jonathan says.
"Ah, shut up," Cris deadpans.
The crowd chants "WHERE'D YOU COME FROM?! (clap clap clap-clap-clap) WHERE'D YOU COME FROM?! (clap clap clap-clap-clap)"…and Shun just flips some of his black hair from his face before sliding underneath the bottom rope, ready to do this, ready to WIN…ready to go ALL THE WAY.
…
…
("Solace" by Triphon plays)
"Now watch out for rogue pyro!" Cris mentions.
"Oh, Lord, not NOW, PLEASE…" Al groans at the thought of THAT happening again. "Here comes the rest of the cavalry!"
The crowd reaction LOUDENS…
…
…as Max and Enrique come out next! Max in particular dishes out "air high-fives" to the fans several feet to yards away from him, even those up in the cheap seats…as he yells, "WE HAVE TO DO HIGH-FIVES FROM HERE! YOU KNOW WHY?"
Max nudges Enrique's arm…
…
…
…and Enrique RUNS towards the ring…
…
…and he LEAPS UP from the ground (onto an unseen bouncing apparatus) and goes over the top rope, rolling himself into the ring and ending on a knee, triggering a blast of green pyro from the ring posts!
"WHOA!" Jeremy's eyes widen. "Well, THAT certainly wasn't rogue!"
"No, it was not—looks like Max's turn!" Jonathan says…
…
…as indeed Max does the same thing, speeding down the ramp to the ring to JUMP into the ring over the ropes and end up right behind the kneeling Enrique, helping him up for the two of them to ascend turnbuckles and let the crowd know, they were Tag Champions once…and it was about to happen again.
"Next for this team, at a combined weight of 370 pounds, Enrique and Max, The Dragon Kids!" Blader DJ announces.
[I want to understand
How you can lock up all those feelings!
If you could understand
My self-destructive tendencies!
(Things aren't always what they seem!)]
"Last month, Pandemonium was the greatest night of these young boys' lives," says Jonathan. "After winning the inaugural Combine Cup, they UPSET the Forces of Nature in Chicago in what some called the moment of the night to become our fourth and NEW CCW Tag Team Champions of the World. It was a SHOCKING, STELLAR moment…and it got washed away in six days."
"Doc Louis wanted the rematch for his clients; Max said, 'Bring it on,'" Jeremy recounts. "What nobody expected was the RESCHEDULING of the match due to, yes, a pyro 'accident' happening to Max that left him unable to compete that night, but the next day we had another first, a CCW XX 22 Pre-Show…which saw Max and Enrique LOSE their Titles back to the Forces of Nature because of the interference…of SPORTACUS."
"And Sportacus would JOIN Doc Louis Productions and state that it was people like the Dragon Kids that caused his own career to remain stagnant—of ALL of the claims…" Al speaks.
"Which is TRUE!" Cris defends. "I wouldn't be surprised if they TAXED that $50,000 Sportacus won in that Ladder Match against Tyson Blake! They sure didn't do him any favors like they did the DRAGON KIDS, who LOST to Team 2D that same show! Where's Sporty's merchandise, huh? Huh? Where?! If you ask me, Max and Enrique, they…they brought that enemy on themselves."
"Course that's what you think…" Jonathan sighs. "Well, regardless of whose fault you want to claim that it is, one thing is certain: Max and Enrique DIDN'T take the loss of their Tag Team Titles sitting down."
[It's time we sit and reevaluate
The time we just let go to waste!
These years I've wasted
I just want them back because I won't see!
What could have been my brightest moments
Will never be!
Now hear my cry!
Just give me solace!]
As Max and Enrique exchange looks with Shun, who gives them an approving nod…
…Jonathan says, "In fact…THIS MAN could tell you all about that…"
…as the fans are immediately starting to holler out…for THAT man…
"KUSO! KUSO! KUSO! KUSO! KUSO! KUSO!"
…
…
…
And as soon as the wind whistles over the speakers, the building EXPLODES…as the lights are a BRIGHT, FIERY RED…
…
…
…
[COME ON!]
("Becoming the Bull" by Atreyu plays)
Dan Kuso appears on the stage, running out and putting a hand by his forehead, searching for how many fans there are cheering and chanting his name…and then he points to his waist, where the Universal Championship AND his WWE Toon Championship are firmly tied around him. He then goes to the other side of the stage and says, "You all ready for this?! …I'm ready for this! Those guys are ready for this! ALL the gold's coming home with us tonight! So buckle up 'cause it's about to go DOWN!" As Dan moves down the ramp, small jets of fire start shooting at the Pyrus Brawler's feet, not enough to burn him but enough to heat the place up for certain!
"And rounding out the team," Blader DJ announces, "residing now in Santa Monica, California, weighing 222 pounds, he is the current, reigning, defending CCW Universal Champion of the World, Dan Kuso!"
["Grab the bull by the horns," the old adage goes!
Nobody tells you where to go from there!
Seems like fates pulling you
Decisions have to be made
The best path is the hardest earned!]
"Between Pride & Glory and Ozone 42, Dan Kuso made the BIGGEST SPLASH, the biggest redemption, the biggest turnaround in that time when he went from osculating Vincent McMahon's posterior and being on the wrong end of a Blarney Stone to CASHING IN Gold in the Fort on Prince Vegeta and REGAINING his Universal Championship from Aran Ryan," Jonathan says, "but in the case of the LATTER, as alluded to, it was the DRAGON KIDS' last-second involvement that ultimately decided the fate of that Championship and made Dan Kuso the Double Champion that he is right now! And that was ALL for revenge!"
"Sportacus's actions set up a WILDFIRE en route to getting here, and I don't mean the GPW kind," Jeremy states. "Dan Kuso was one of the beneficiaries of that wildfire as you can see, but NOW, he's fighting not just to keep HIS Title, but to help the Dragon Kids reclaim theirs!"
"AND to put Shun next in line for that Universal Title himself!" Al adds.
"How admirable and chivalrous of him," Cris dryly says.
[Back and forrrrrth, the struggle consumes us all!
Trying to keep a level heeeaaad!
In the moooost unsettling of times
Today I'll become the bull! (BECOME THE BULL!)]
Dan Kuso climbs up a corner raising both of his Belts, after which he dismounts and rubs elbows with all of his team members, getting them all banded together as they prepare to take on CCW Ozone's most formidable male group…with EVERYTHING on the line…
"It is ALL ON THE LINE here in Philadelphia at Regal Rumble—all four of these men actually will be IN the Regal Rumble Match for Ozone; all of DLP sans Sportacus, interestingly enough, ALSO slated for the Rumble…" Al mentions.
"Dan Kuso's had plenty of reasons to have a smile on his face lately," Cris says. "And they might ALL GO AWAY in just one night…"
"Becoming the Bull" fades out…
…
…
…and suddenly, there is the sound of LOUD honking in the arena…
…
…as a big, red bus with Doc Louis's face on a boxing glove on the side of it drives its way onto the stage!
Jeremy, covering his ears, winces and says, "Okay, revolutionary concept coming – can announcers get their own SPECIAL eight-second warning for when loud noises are about to ensue?! Can we incept that?! Can we do that, please?! I'll suggest it in the next Board meeting if no one else does!"
The bus comes to a stop leisurely, still honking along the way even as it slows down to a halt…
…
…until…
[There will be no stoppin'!
It's when you go harder than somebody, man
This right here
Is domination
(Woo!)]
("Domination" by Evan Jones plays)
The bus's doors come open…and to VOCIFEROUS boos, Doc Louis steps out of the bus first, getting out of the driver's seat and down the steps to stand tall on the stage…
…Bald Bull…and Soda Popinski doing likewise, both wearing XXL-sized officially endorsed Doc Louis Productions golden vests on their bodies…
…and Aran Ryan wearing one of his own, while getting off the bus through an open window to join his Punch-Out! brethren onstage. Aran paces around crazily, Doc getting a handle on him to calm the Irishman down…
"…Where's the fourth?" Al murmurs questioningly.
[This here what you call domination!
It's a combination of skill and concentration!
So rise to the occasion; do something amazin'!
'Cause anythang that I do, I dominate it! (Ah!)
This here what you call domination!
It's a combination of skill and concentration!
So rise to the occasion; do something amazin'!
'Cause anythang that I do, I dominate it!]
…
…
…
…
…
…as a stainless steel pole and platform suddenly descend directly above the DLP bus! Said pole and platform…are attached to the airship of one Sportacus, who is standing on the platform to get off and stand atop the bus, staying there to watch Max and Enrique shoot glares at him…and he shoots them right back from the distance. Shun Kazami, meanwhile, also has his eyes on Sportacus…knowing that he is what stands between the Ventus Brawler and Universal Title hopes…
"And introducing their opponents," Blader DJ says, "being accompanied to the ring by their manager Doc Louis, at a combined weight of 1,189 pounds…the team of Sportacus, Aran Ryan, and the current, reigning, defending CCW World Tag Team Champions Soda Popinski and Bald Bull; together, they are known…as Doc Louis Productions!"
Sportacus 540 JUMPS off of the bus and lands in front of the Punch-Out! trio, splaying his arms to reveal the back of his OWN custom DLP jacket! Doc Louis nods in approval as he pats his newest client on the back and motions for the rest of his clientele to head down to the ring, ready for WAR.
"Doc Louis…is a man, is a manager motivated, obsessed and almost DEFINED by success," Jonathan says. "He has, yes, a track record of elevating every single on of his clients, from the Forces of Nature for the Tag Division to Aran Ryan as a singles force. With the exception of the newest member Sportacus, EVERY MEMBER of DLP has at one time earned gold, in all cases rather shortly after becoming a client of his. Aran became Universal Champion almost three months after his connection with Doc Louis; Bald Bull and Popinski even FASTER than that. And when Doc's clients WIN…Doc wins. But more than anything else, Doc Louis, the results-driven man he is…wants to see ALL of his clients succeed in a sitting, not some and not just one. So he has been on a mission to assert FULL DOMINANCE of the Ozone brand with every piece of gold he can get his hands on. At Nevermore, they had done it—Tag Team AND Universal Titles for all then THREE of his clients, but then at Pandemonium…things changed, and that set the tone for this matchup right here due to him, due to Sportacus, due to the Dragon Kids, et cetera."
[I'm stronger, go harder, I'm a monster
I conquer, dominate anything I want to
My passion, my skill, my focus, my hunger
Just to put it simple, I'm the—(woo-wee!)
!
Yes I, just want it mo' than the next guy
And no you, can't do the things that I'm gon' do
Real aggressive, lil' rough around the edges
A man on a mission smashin' the competition
Who my next victim? Get 'em, I got 'em (woo!)
Let me know if anybody else got a problem
Yeah, 'cause they don't even stand a chance
Got the, eye of the tiger, and the, heart of a champ]
"When's the last time Doc has had NO clients wearing a Belt at a time?" Cris asks.
"You would have to predate CCW Havoc," Al answers.
"BEFORE HAVOC? …And you believe that Doc Louis could end up going back to that? After tonight? Because of THEM?" Cris sneers. "Fat chance! When you're THIS attracted to success, it's something you JUST DON'T LOSE. Notice how Doc doesn't appear worried about this AT ALL despite that being a 'possibility', and yes, children, that IS in quotes, because if you think it's gonna happen, guess again! Seriously, the bell hasn't rung yet—it's not too late to change your vote! Do the right thing! Do it! Doooooo it!"
[I just want it more yeah man I need to win it
Pedal to the floor, we gon' push it to the limit
Yeah man, they wishin' but they can't (uh-uh) with me though
Even when it gets all quiet, I'm still on beast mode (woo!)]
Doc Louis Productions enters the ring…and all four members have a stare-down with all four members of the opposing team…Max with Soda Pop…Enrique with Bald Bull…Sportacus with Kazami…Ryan with Kuso…
"Face to face, everybody with their respective rivals…!" Al calls. "Though these IS a great deal of overlap in this story, so don't take that to rigidly. This is almost how it BEGAN. But like Dan Kuso's emphasized to his team, now EVERYONE'S fighting for the same end…the same end only in opposite directions depending on whom you're representing."
"One way or another, it's gonna be Titles for one side…and broken hearts for the other…" Cris states.
Both teams had a momentary huddle in their respective corners to decide who would kick things off in this monumental match with not one but TWO types of Titles at stake, along with #1 Contention for one of those Belts…and after a rigorous process on both ends, Doc Louis elected that Sportacus be the one to start the match…but Aran Ryan stepped in front of him, muscling his way into the center of the squared circle to make it clear that HE wanted to start. Sportacus would shrug and vault back over to the apron of his corner…while on the opposite end, both Max and Enrique were game to allow Dan Kuso to start the match…but the fourth member, Shun Kazami, wanted in as well. After a serious conference between Bakugan buddies, it was the Ventus Brawler who got the nod, starting against the former Universal Champion, the Celtic Clubber himself.
What followed was all eight participants finding a way in and out of the match for a few moments apiece, each entry and exit denoting a noticeable shift in momentum for the time being…
Shun countered an Aran Ryan Knee Facebreaker off of the ropes into a Shin Breaker and Back Suplex…and then Aran, coming up LAUGHING, tagged out to Soda Popinski, telling him, "It's like being in a bouncy castle!" …as though it was FUN. Soda entered the ring, and he FORCEFULLY shoved Shun's face into the ground to block a surprise Ventus Sweep attempt that Kazami tried. Then after a Soda Popinski Stalling Drop Suplex to Shun, Max tagged himself in; Max bravely tangoed with Soda with punches to the chest, but much like almost every meeting between the Forces of Nature and the Dragon Kids, close combat went HEAVILY in the former's favor, as supported by a Soda Pop Military Press…
…that Max countered into an Arm Drag…from which Soda STOOD UP and lifted Max up partway by his shirt to hoist him in a Military Press again, dropping him behind himself! Max holds his gut in pain after the hard seven-foot drop onto his chest…and although he kept going, a try at the Dragon Screw on one of Soda's tree trunk legs went absolutely NOWHERE…
…but the four-year-old continued fighting, taking Glasnost over Popinski's knee…but turning a Swinging Cobra Clutch Slam into a Tilt-a-Whirl Headscissors that didn't take the massive Russian down but had enough force to cause Soda to stumble ahead, going into the ropes…where Enrique added some offense with a Rope-Aided Gamengiri! As that sent Soda away from the ropes, a Max Jumping Enzuigiri nailed Soda in the back of the head, staggering him back forward TOWARDS said ropes! The Dragon Kids pinballed Soda back and forth with their kicks until Soda, still aware, caught one of Enrique's Rope-Aided High Kicks, clutching the leg…clutching BOTH of the Colombian child's legs…
…
…only for Max to slide out of the ring, grab Enrique's hands and use combined leverage to pull frontwards and assist Enrique in a Headscissors Takedown to Popinski all the way over the ropes (confirmed and completed by an extra Enzuigiri from the apron by Dan Kuso)! The team effort swung affairs in the Dragon Kids' and their team's favor…
…until Bald Bull tagged in and scored with a HUGE Biel Throw to Max that sent him bouncing off of the turnbuckles in a neutral corner! One Avalanche Splash in the corner and it was Doc Louis Productions in control again…
…but later, Max would float over and out of a Tilt-a-Whirl Powerslam into his own corner where Enrique tagged in. Max raised his feet up to meet a running Bull, who caught those legs, tossed Max into laying supine over the top turnbuckle and ropes, and KICKED him square in the spine, shooting him high upwards for a subsequent CATCH over his shoulder again…
…but his Powerslam is this time prevented by Enrique diving off of the top rope and GRABBING Max's legs, swinging with them across his body to provide the momentum required for Max to drop Bald Bull with a DDT! Max and Enrique double-teamed the Turkish Nightmare from here, looking later for a Double S.O.S.…but that was when Sportacus Springboarded into the ring and hit both Dragon Kids with a Double Single Foot Facebreaker! That set up Sportacus's tag in, and from there Sportacus hitting the ropes to deliver a Corkscrew Forearm Suicida to Max and a Step-Up Hurricanrana Driver off of the steps onto the arena floor to Enrique! The newest member of DLP had the most fun when it was his turn to be in control, as evidenced by the Handstand Hammerlock on Enrique in the middle of things…
…
…
…but he didn't enjoy very much when Enrique, after he backflipped from the LazyTowner's Hammerlock and hit a Shining Wizard to the back of Sportacus's skill, tagged out to Dan Kuso, who countered Sportacus's Slingshot Somersault Senton try into an Inverted Atomic Drop, Irish Whip and Calf Kick in the middle of the ring, supplemented further by an Arm-Trap Swinging Neckbreaker! The crowd would rally behind the Pyrus Brawler as soon as he entered the match, and when Dan hit Sportacus with a Sideburn, the crowd could sense that an elimination was nigh…
…as could the rest of the participants in the match, who would all find their way into the ring, tussling with each other (in the midst of which Doc Louis could be noticed murmuring something in Aran Ryan's ear)…
…and as chaos spilled gradually to the outside, referee Leif Heralding's attentions were split…
Dan Kuso goes for the Pyrus-Plant to Sportacus…
"All hell is breaking loose here, but in the ring, what's happening is clear—Dan Kuso's got Sportacus ready, set…!" Al calls.
…
…
…but Doc Louis climbs to the ring apron, shouting about the massive waves of intruders going in and out of the ring in the melee and his gripes with such events…
"Doc Louis is thinking, 'NO go, NO go!'" Jeremy quips. "He shouldn't actually be UP THERE…!"
…
…while Aran Ryan slides into the ring…and Sportacus Back Body Drops Dan to avoid the Pyrus-Plant—only for Kuso to land onto his feet…
"He's up there anyway—now ARAN'S IN; what does HE got?!" Cris asks. "What's he…?"
…
…
…
…and…
…Aran hits SPORTACUS in the stomach with a crowbar from underneath the ring!
"Sporty esca—WAITWAITWAIT—OHHHHHH! NOOOOO! NOOOOOO!" Cris cries.
"ARAN JUST—HE JUST HIT SPORTACUS WITH THAT CROWBAR HE PICKED UP!" Al exclaims.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Cris shouts.
"HOLY SNICKERDOODLES, DUDE—THAT'S HIS PARTNER!" Jeremy exclaims. "THAT'S HIS OWN PARTNER! …ONE OF THREE, ANYWAY!"
Dan turns around…
…
…
…
…and Aran pitches the crowbar into Dan's hands! He then drops down and rolls out of the ring and out of sight!
"The Celtic Clubber's gon—wait a sec… What the…? Okay, NOW I'm…?" Al's voice trails off.
"I don't understand—he hit Sportacus… Why donate the thing to Dan and then up and LEAVE?" Jeremy asks.
Dan is confused, as the look on his face portrays…
…
…
…
…but then the referee turns around himself…
"Ryan hit the deck and FLED, leaving—…!" Jonathan starts to realize what Aran just did. "The referee! Ref's seeing Dan with the smoking gun!"
"The smoking gun? Jon, what are yo—AH CRAP!" Jeremy ALSO realizes.
Leif Heralding sees Dan holding the crowbar…and Sportacus writhing on the mat…
…
…
…
…and…Dan, seeing that the referee was seeing this, puts two and two together…
"THAT'S WHY HE HIT SPORTACUS!" Cris yells. "ARAN RYAN HIT HIM SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY PRETENDING!"
…
…and unfortunately, so does Heralding! Sportacus is kicking the canvas is pain—albeit LEGITIMATE pain…and Dan is frantic in his exculpatory pleas…
"Aran and Sportacus were never 'best friends', quite the CONTRARY in truth, but this went DEEPER than that! It WASN'T ABOUT the tension! It WASN'T EVEN ABOUT the tension!" Jonathan exclaims.
"ARAN RYAN'S CRAZY LIKE A FOX!" Cris exclaims.
"OR DOC LOUIS IS ONE CUNNING, WHISPERING, OPPORTUNE SON OF A BITCH!" Jonathan says.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…but the official, not having it, motions that he is DISQUALIFYING DAN KUSO FROM THE MATCH!
"REF NONONO, PLEASE LISTEN TO DAN—NO, MY GOD!" Jeremy hollers.
"UNORTHODOX AS IT IS, ARAN RYAN JUST GOT DAN KUSO ELIMINATED!" Al shouts.
"THAT IS MACHIAVELLIAN LEVELS OF BRILLIANT!" Cris applauds.
"AND THE FACT THAT SPORTACUS ACTUALLY GOT HIT WITH THE WEAPON ACTUALLY MAKES THIS MORE BELIEVABLE!" Jonathan adds. "HE'S TRIED TO TELL THE OFFICIAL THAT ARAN HIT HIS OWN PARTNER HIMSELF, BUT THAT'S JUST FIGHTING AN UPHILL BATTLE!"
Dan continues to exclaim that he did NOT use the crowbar…
…but the referee has long since moved on, letting Blader DJ know of his decree…
…
…
…
…and to the crowd's consternation, Blader DJ announces, "Ladies and gentlemen, as a result of a disqualification…Dan Kuso has been eliminated!"
"AND THE REIGNING UNIVERSAL CHAMPION IS THE FIRST MAN GONE!" Al yells.
"YOU'RE KIDDING ME, MAN!" Jeremy exclaims.
Aran Ryan is laughing at his gambit paying off—although Sportacus might not have completely seen the genius behind it for obvious reasons—while Dan is DESPERATELY pleading his case to the referee, who is hearing none of it! And as the rest of the match competitors realize this, Max's mouth goes agape in SHOCK…Enrique's hands go to his head in reactive grief…and Shun…his face is unreadable throughout all of this…
…while Bald Bull and Soda Pop sneer, Aran performs an Irish jig, Sportacus writhes some more (he was in pain; he'd just been hit in the body with a crowbar for crying out loud)…and Doc Louis gestures, "One down, one to go," mockingly yelling out to Dan, "That's why my boy's getting his Belt back today! Real Champs don't break rules!"
Hearing THAT almost makes Dan want to hit someone, namely Doc, with the crowbar FOR REAL…but he doesn't get the chance as he is ordered to head to the backstage area. Dan, with one last almost miserable look at his team, DISMAYED by his own elimination, sighed…and then motioned for those who were left to kick DLP's ass, pointing at Shun as though endorsing him in particular to right the ship…before he finally exits per demand.
"No offense to ANYONE in this match, but if you told me that DAN KUSO was gonna be the first man eliminated, no matter the circumstance, I…I-I'm sorry, I would've said you were three ribs short of a rack!" Jeremy admits. "I wouldn't have gone along with it!"
"Judging from the looks on the faces of his team, neither would they!" Jonathan says. "Max and Enrique in particular look STUNNED! I haven't seen their faces change expression since the DQ was logged in!"
"This is like an airplane staff learning their pilot's been ejected from the aircraft! Who in the HELL is gonna take the controls now? Shun? The DRAGON KIDS?" Cris mockingly laughs at that suggestion. "Hahahaha! Let's just call it like it is – THE BEST MAN ON THE TEAM, THE ONLY ONE WITH A SHOT IN HELL AT CARRYING THEM TO VICTORY, IS HISTORY! YOU CAN KISS THE REST OF THEIR CHANCES GOODBYE FOREVER!"
Shun and the Dragon Kids needed a new plan. With Dan gone, the de facto team captain in the eyes of the fans, the three of them had to now deal with a still full-strength Doc Louis Productions. In addition, Sportacus had managed to TAG OUT after all of this, Soda Popinski coming in to take his place as the legal man. Thus, the Dragon Kids and Shun didn't even have the luxury of going after the ailing Sportacus to try evening the score with haste…
…but it was through Kazami that the team's new plan began to take shape: get rid of one of the Forces of Nature. If they could bring down and take out one of the larger individuals in the match, it would swing things at least closer to their favor as they go at this for the rest of the bout 3-on-DLP…
…
…
…
…which set up a sequence where Soda Popinski was about to Double Cokeslam BOTH Dragon Kids…
…
…but Shun's Double Chop Block from behind caused Max and Enrique to go back down to the mat and hit the Double S.O.S. they were looking for earlier! Enrique picked up Max in a Wheelbarrow and dropped him into a Senton; then both PBS Kids gave Soda a pair of Standing Moonsaults! Shun hits the ropes and delivers a HARD Sliding Knife Edge Chop! But the crucial combination happened…
…
…when a Springboard Max Drive by Max stunned Popinski…
…
…
…
…for Shun Kazami to LIFT SODA UP…
…
…HOLD HIM UP…
…
…
…
…
…
…and give the Soviet skyscraper and World Tag Champ the Rolling Vestroia! Shun kipped up out of the move into his team's corner, smacking the top turnbuckle with his open palm…
…
…
…handstanding on the top rope—Enrique tagged in…
…
…
…
…and Shun gave Soda the Ingram Press…
…after which Max sped in with a Running Somersault Senton…
…
…
…and Enrique dove with a Colombian Splash! And Enrique covered the Russian…
…
…
…
…
…for a NARROW 3-COUNT as Soda would only budge after a count of 3.1! Soda was eliminated! One half of the Forces of Nature was now gone…
…
…
…but the other half was MAD, and Bald Bull, rushing in, let everybody know it by SMASHING Enrique with a Running Cross Body out of nowhere, almost tearing the boy apart! Max would Dropkick Bald Bull repeatedly to force him through the ropes to the outside standing…
Max hits the ropes…
…
…
…
…
…
…and Suicide Dives at Bull—who ABSORBS THE DIVE, grabs Max…
"SOARING AAAAAA—NOT SCORING! NOT SCORING AT ALL!"
…
…
…
…
…and GUTWRENCH POWERBOMBS him onto the ring apron!
"NOT SCORING AT ALL—GOOD LORRRRD!" Al shrieks.
"THE ONLY THING MAX MAY'VE SCORED JUST THEN IS A TRIP TO HIS LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY!" Jonathan grimaces.
"AND THAT HAS GOTTA BE THE MOST IRONIC TURKISH DELIGHT WE'VE EVER SEEN!" Jeremy exclaims. "WHERE DO YOU SEE ANY DELIGHT IN THAT?!"
"DOC'S SURE DELIGHTED!" Cris states.
The Turkish Delight looked like it had DESTROYED Emmy's brother's spinal column…
…
…
…but Bull wasn't done…
…
…as the remaining Force of Nature dragged Max to the security barricade, leaving him sitting there…
Bull works himself up into a steam, far across…
"OHHHH NO! NONONONONO! NONONONONONONONONO SOMEONE STOP HIM! SOMEONE STOP THAT MAN! THAT MAN'S LIKE A RUNAWAY TRAIN OFF THE TRACKS—YOU GOTTA PREVENT THIS! REF! SOMEONE! ANYONE!" Jeremy pleads.
"BULL'S BUILDING UP STEAM! YOU KNOW WHAT THE MAN WANTS!" Al shouts.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and Bald Bull BULL CHARGES through Max THROUGH the security barricade, DEMOLISHING the wall and Max's cranium along with it!
"BULL CHARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGE!" Cris exclaims.
"NOOOO! NOOOOO! OH MY GOD, NOOOOOO!" Jeremy cries.
"THE SECURITY BARRICADE JUST DETONATED APART WITH BALD BULL PLOWING RIGHT INTO IT! AND IF YOU THINK THAT WALL'S IN BAD SHAPE, WHAT DO YOU THINK MAX'S HEAD MUST BE FEELING?! THAT BRAIN OF HIS HAS TO BE BOUNCING OFF OF EVERY SINGLE WALL IMAGINABLE IN HIS CORTEX—GAAAAAAH!" Jonathan hollers.
"AND IF THAT'S NOT AVENGING YOUR ELIMINATED TAG TEAM PARTNER, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS!" Al screams.
"AVENGING?! THAT'S STRAIGHT-UP OVERKILL! MURDER, EVEN!" Jeremy shouts. "HE MAY HAVE A FRACTURED SKULL! A CONCUSSION ONLY FROM THAT WOULD BE LUCKY!"
*Fast-Forward*
The entire crowd BURST with shock upon seeing the wall practically EXPLODE upon impact…
…
…but that awe becomes concern…
…as the Bull Charge has left Max UNMOVING, the top of his scalp split open…
…
…
…and Enrique dashes to Max's side, checking on his state, calling his name, BEGGING for a response…
…
…but none is forthcoming…
"Max—is he…is he ALIVE right now?" Jeremy asks what sounded like a hyperbolic question…but considering the young boy's condition, was actually closer to serious.
"Enrique hoping to find out in the positive—he's…he's not looking good, Max, that is…" Al says with worry.
"You don't take a Bull Charge like THAT one and feel fine after it," Cris states.
…
…
…
…and Aran Ryan doesn't care whether a response comes or not! He BOOTS Enrique in the head with a Kick of Fear and shoved him back into the ring to leave Max to lie there in the wall rubble!
"HEY!" Jeremy snaps. "ARAN!"
"What? What's the matter? There's still something called a MATCH going on!" Cris defends.
"Enrique's trying to make sure his partner's not DEAD, and you tell me, 'Oh, well we're in the middle of a match'?!" Jonathan snarls. "INSENSITIVITY AT ITS BEST, from both you AND Aran!"
"Well, to be fair, Aran Ryan sure doesn't have much if any real reason to be sensitive to Enrique OR Max's plight…" Al says.
*Fast-Forward*
EMTs run down to the ring to check on Max…
…
…and it is decided that they need to take Max to the back, leaving Enrique and Shun to wrestle for the Dragon Kid/Bakugan Brawler allegiance…against now THREE of Doc Louis Productions.
"We've got the medical staff here…and they are picking Max up and taking him out of here," Jeremy says. "I can only assume they're basically deeming him unable to compete after that, and…considering the move, are you REALLY that shocked? …I just hope Max is…alright after that… Man…"
"…So much for even strength again," Cris sneers.
Things looked bleaker by the second for the two of them…
…
…
…
…but a SURPRISE came as the then-legal Shun countered a Turkish Delight from Bald Bull into a Sunset Flip and Standing Prawn pinning combination, which Shun HELD DOWN for the three-count! Bald Bull's damage may have been done, but the Forces of Nature were now BOTH eliminated, making it two-on-two, Shun and Enrique against Aran Ryan and Sportacus. And despite whatever hard feelings there were existing between the Irishman and the acrobatic one, Aran and Sportacus were able to get the better of Shun and keep him away from his corner with double-teams of their own—a Double Gutbuster, a Vertical Suplex lift from Sportacus into a Rack Bomb from Aran Ryan…and even a Doomsday Spinning Heel Kick with Sportacus doing the diving, all of these things for NEAR-FALLS, Shun Kazami hanging tough! A miscommunication between Ryan and Sportacus that saw Aran Celtic Hammer Sportacus in the head opened the door for Shun to give Aran a Skyress Suplex…
…
…
…and give Enrique the tag! The Colombian Kid took to the skies with his Valderrama Springboard Busaiku Knee Kick to Aran's face; then he hit the ropes and issued a Bulldog Lariat to the rising Sportacus, followed by a Brainbuster! Later still, Enrique's Irish Whip is reversed…and as Aran wants the Back Body Drop, Enrique Sunset Flips Aran…
…
…and Aran Backward Rolls to his feet, deadlifting Enrique off of the canvas and hitting a Reverse Powerbomb Stun Gun onto the top rope, throwing Enrique behind himself to cause his throat to hit the ropes! And that allowed Aran to go for the End of the Rainbow…
…
…
…
…but Enrique floats out of it from behind to give Aran the Colombian Necktie! Both men were down…and Shun, kneeling on the apron, reached out for the tag back in…
…
…
…but Sportacus from ringside jumped and gave Shun Look Ma, No Hands off of the apron onto the floor! Doc Louis ran over to where Sportacus landed, checking to see that the maneuver didn't take as much out of him as it did out of Kazami…
…
…
…
…but as this was going on…
Enrique spots Aran's shillelagh unattended in the DLP corner…sees referee Leif Heralding checking on Aran Ryan at the moment…
…
…
…
…
… grabs the shillelagh…momentarily concealing it in his back pocket…
…
…
…and discreetly starts to loosen one of the turnbuckle pads in the corner.
"Hey, what's…what's Enrique DOING?" Jeremy wonders. "I saw him pocket that shillelagh—I don't think that DOC saw it because HE'S checking on SPORTACUS…"
"…and now Enrique's untying that turnbuckle pad," Al states. "For WHAT? He's not gonna risk disqualification, is he? Because at THIS stage, you absolutely do NOT want to do that…"
The cover doesn't completely come off, but it rests on the turnbuckle itself ready to become fully detached with just one hard enough impact.
*Fast-Forward*
Aran approaches Enrique…
…
…and Enrique delivers a Drop Toe Hold that causes Ryan to hit the middle turnbuckle! And as Aran moves his face…the cover to the turnbuckle finally comes off.
"THAT caused the pad to come off—it was covered still BEFORE that, but the force behind the impact sent that pad off the buckle itself!" Jonathan notes.
As Aran rolls away from the corner, referee Leif Heralding notices the exposed metal turnbuckle…and gets right to work on remedying it…
…
…
…
…
…and as this is going on…Enrique pulls out the shillelagh…
"Oh whoawhoawhoawhoaWHOAWHOAWHOAWHOAWHOA…!" Jeremy's eyes widen. "SHILLELAGH ALERT! SHILLELAGH ALERT!"
"REF, LOOK ALIVE!" Cris shouts. "PLEASE!"
…
…
…
…
…
…slams it into the ring mat with a THUNK…
…
…and tosses it into Aran's hands…before flopping to the mat!
"…What the…?! The hell was that?!" Cris squeaks.
"Enrique tenderizing the ground, then giving Aran back his signature weap—OH SHOOT, IS HE TRYING THAT?!" Jeremy exclaims.
"Remember – before the Dragon Kids, Enrique was a member of the CAWF tandem Los Dos Latinos, and stuff like THIS was part of their calling card!" Al mentions.
Now ARAN is confused…for a moment…
…before he realizes this is EXACTLY what he had employed (with Sportacus's unwitting assistance) to get Dan Kuso eliminated first! Aran THROWS the shillelagh out of the ring…
…
…sending it WHIZZING by Leif Heralding's face! And Leif, seeing the shillelagh zoom out of the ring, now FOR SURE has questions raised!
"Aran gets rid of the evidence—but he may have put it in the wrong direction!" Al shouts.
"OH NO!" Cris yells in grief. "ARAN, YOU SHOULD HAVE THROWN IT BEHIND YOU! OR THE OTHER WAY! JUST NOT RIGHT THERE!"
"I don't think Aran knew; he just wanted it OUTTA THERE!" Jonathan hypothesizes.
Doc Louis is QUICK to come to the alibi assistance of his client…
"Aran's last-minute exoneration…"
…
…
…
…
…but Leif Heralding, having seen and heard enough, DISQUALIFIES ARAN TOO!
"…actually sunk him into ELIMINATION!" Jonathan quips. "Incriminating himself and now heading to the showers!"
"Aran Ryan, via disqualification, has been eliminated!" Blader DJ declares.
"And after how he got DAN eliminated before, I say good riddance!" Al exclaims.
"YOU say 'good riddance'?! Well, I say, 'WHAT A BUNCH OF BS!'" Cris exclaims. "AT LEAST SPORTACUS ACTUALLY GOT HIT WITH THE WEAPON! Enrique's just PRETENDING he got hit!"
Doc Louis is LIVID…STUNNED…
…
…
…
…
…and Aran PICKS ENRIQUE UP and drills him into the canvas with the Blarney Stone!
"Poetic justice winning out, and for the first time—OH COME ON!" Jonathan exclaims. "I WAS ABOUT TO SAY THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME, DLP WERE AT A DEFICIT, TWO-ON-ONE, BUT EVIDENTLY ARAN RYAN ISN'T DONE YET!"
"DESERVED! DESERVED!" Cris asserts. "ARAN DID NOTHING WRONG! HE WAS FRAMED, DAMN IT!"
"YOU MEAN LIKE KUSO THANKS TO HIM?!" Al shouts.
"SPORTACUS ACTUALLY WAS HIT!" Cris argues.
"By ARAN!" Jonathan, Jeremy, and Al ALL exclaim.
"AND WHO HIT ENRIQUE?! THE AIR?!" Cris screams.
The Celtic Clubber SEETHES at the idea of that being the end of him in the match, undone by a Dragon Kid just like how he lost the Universal Title on Ozone 42…
…
…and after a mounted punching spree, Aran SCREAMS for Doc to give him his shillelagh FOR REAL this time. Doc obliges, seeing Aran's rage…
…
…and with a cry of "I'LL GIVE YE SOMETHIN' TA DISQUALIFY!" he BLASTS Enrique in the skull with the Irish weapon!
"AND NOW WITH THE SHILLELAGH! THIS IS HEINOUS! ARAN RYAN'S ALREADY BEEN DISQUALIFIED FROM THIS MATCH!" Al shouts.
"UNFAIRLY SO!" Cris yells. "IT'LL BE FAIR NOW, BUT IT SURE WASN'T BEFORE! AT LEAST NOW EVERYTHING GETS TO ADD UP!"
"YEAH, WE HEARD THE IRISH BASTARD YELL OUT, 'I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO DISQUALIFY,' AND HE'S GIVING US A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT, ISN'T HE?!" Jeremy hollers.
Aran BLUDGEONS the Colombian Kid with SHOT after SHOT after SHOT after SHOT after SHOT after SHOT after SHOT after SHOT after SHOT!
*Fast-Forward*
Aran leaves Enrique in a heap, head incredibly swollen red from top to bottom, blood coming out from his forehead as Aran FINALLY leaves the ring.
"Enrique a battered MESS…thanks to the assault by Ryan," Al says.
…
…
And then Sportacus slinks from the ringside ground, peering over the ring apron ever so slowly…
"And look who just picked up on all of it…" Jonathan dryly says.
"Heheheheheheheh…" Cris nefariously chuckles. "Yep. It ALL adds up."
Sportacus sees Enrique absolutely motionless…and just smirks. The LazyTown hero ascends to the apron…
"Backstage you may recall Enrique telling Stephanie, 'I'm gonna BEAT Sportacus if I'm in there with him,'" Al brings up. "But thanks to the Celtic Clubber and former Universal Champ, THAT might just be an impossibility now…"
…
…goes to the top rope…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and delivers the Supernova FLUSH onto Enrique's chest!
"And with Shun still down, UNCONTESTED is the Supernova," Jonathan calls.
"Academic!" Cris grins.
Sportacus hooks the leg, not exactly doing so tightly…because heck if it even matters: 1…
"Check—ah, you know the rest."
2…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…3!
"ADIOS!" Cris smirks.
"And the last remaining Dragon Kid…is gone," Jonathan says.
"…Didn't even NEED 'and mate' for that, huh?" Al sighs.
"Nope," Cris proudly answers.
"Enrique has been eliminated!" Blader DJ announces to loud boos.
Enrique was now out…
…meaning only Sportacus and Shun Kazami remained. The two vying for #1 Contention for the Universal Championship would decide the fate of that Title itself as well as the Tag Team Titles…
…and it came down to the wire between the two of them…
After a Sit-Out Facebuster, Sportacus heads for the apron…
…
…
…Springboards at Shun…
…
…
…
…and—gets SWORD EDGE CHOPPED across his chest by the recovering Kazami!
"Sportacus going aerial, what he claims he does best—OHHHH! SHUN DOING WHAT HE PROBABLY DOES BEST!" Jeremy exclaims.
"THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED SWORD EDGE CHOPS WHEN SHUN KAZAMI IS THE ONE THROWING 'EM!" Jonathan hollers.
Sportacus lurches around, HEAVILY favoring his chest…
…
…
…before Shun grabs him from behind…
…
…
…and…Sportacus stiffly Back Elbows Shun in the face! Then he hits a Back Kick to the gut…SAVATE to the top of Shun's dome…
…
…
…and then Handsprings ahead…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…coming back and—getting caught by Kazami, stopped and then dropped with the Ventus Sweep!
"Sportacutter try—countered, caught, grabbed, clutched, VENTUS SWEEEEP!" Al exclaims. "SHUN GOT IT!"
"HE SURE DID!" Jeremy shouts. "COVER HIM! COVER! COVER!"
Shun turns Sportacus over onto his back…Sportacus involuntarily rolling an extra time as he is pushed supine…
…
…
…and the Ventus Brawler gets on Sportacus for the pin! Referee Jom Kawaguchi is there to count: 1…
"ROLLED HIM OVER—ONE!"
2…
"TWO!"
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…2.975 Sportacus gets a foot on the ropes!
"THR—FOOT ON THE ROPES!" Al spots.
"HA-HA!" Cris chuckles.
"Sportacus with a foot on the bottom rope, saving the match and saving the Forces of Natures' Tag Titles in the process!" Al calls.
"Did you notice how when Shun was turning him over, Sportacus rolled ONE EXTRA TIME than intended?" Cris notes. "That wasn't by accident! That was PLANNED to get Sporty to those ropes so he can do EXACTLY what he just did! Ring positioning! You know how he picked THAT up? Have a look at the proud man in the red hoodie over there! That's ALL HIM! That's ALL his tutelage, ALL his brand of advisement, coming out in the clutch! That's what makes Doc Louis the Manager of Champions!"
*Fast-Forward*
Shun has Sportacus perched on the top turnbuckle…
…thinking Superplex, having battled for it for almost 50 seconds…
…
…
…
…
…but Sportacus lifts Shun up instead, holding HIM in Suplex position…
"Shun wanting the Superplex—Sportacus might have something else in mind though…!" Al calls.
"And Sportacus LIFTING SHUN high up overhead, but maintaining that Suplex grip!" Jonathan says. "What power!"
"Sporty's strong!" Cris speaks.
…
…
…
…
…
…JUMPS out of the corner…and lands onto his feet, STILL holding Shun above him!
"Sporty's REALLY strong!" Cris gasps.
"JUMPING DOWN, landing on his feet, and STILL keeping Shun up there?!" Jeremy is shocked. "WHAT?!"
"NOW…!" Al watches.
…
…
Sportacus then releases Shun to the ground…
…
…and quickly spins around as he does so to SPORTAKICK Shun's face off!
"OHHHH, FEIGNED WHATEVER THAT WAS!" Jeremy shouts.
"SHUN MAY'VE BEEN EXPECTING A BRAINBUSTER OR A FRONT SUPLEX, BUT THE LAST THING HE EXPECTED, THAT JUMPING SPINNING ROUNDHOUSE, WAS EXACTLY WHAT HE RECEIVED!" Jonathan calls.
Shun is left out on his feet by the foot upside his skull…
"Shun still standing, but unawares…!" Al says.
…
…
…
…
…and seeing Shun still standing, Sportacus fires away with ANOTHER Sportakick—that Shun prevents by catching Sportacus on his shoulders with a Fireman's Carry out of the air!
"Maybe NOT SO UNAWARES!" Al shouts.
"BULL! BULL!" Cris hollers.
"BALD BULL'S BEEN ELIMINATED, BUDDY!" Jeremy snickers.
"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!" Cris snaps.
"SHUN, DESPITE GETTING A SPORTAKICK, RETAINING ENOUGH SENTIENCE TO TAKE SPORTACUS OUT OF THE AIR!" Jonathan shouts.
Shun, SOMEHOW still with presence of mind, goes for the Rolling Vestroia…
…
…
…
…
…
…but Sportacus pushes himself off, Shun forward rolling to Rolling Fireman's Carry nothing but air…
…
…and when Shun gets up, Sportacus CLOCKS him in the back of the head with another Sportakick!
"Rolling Vestroia, nothing doing—SPORTAKICKED AGAIN! This one to the BACK of the head!" Al calls.
"NOOOOW you can call it!" Cris affirms.
"DOWN GOES KAZAMI!" Al shouts.
Sportacus now turns Shun over onto his back, and Sportacus does the covering, Doc Louis raising a fist: 1…
"DOWN FOR THE COVER GOES SPORTACUS!" Al says.
2…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…2.99 Shun puts his foot on the bottom rope, earning HIS own role break!
"AND WE HAVE OUR #1—NO WE DON'T! NO WE DON'T!" Al corrects himself. "SHUN KAZAMI WITH A ROPE BREAK OF HIS OWN!"
"HOW DO YOU SURVIVE THAT SPORTAKICK?! HOW DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH IN YOU TO GET YOUR FOOT ON THE ROPE?! IT WAS RIGHT ON THE BUTTON!" Cris debates. "HE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN BETTER PLACEMENT ON IT IF HE TRIED!"
"THE SAME QUERY RINGING IN SPORTACUS AND DOC LOUIS'S HEADS FOR CERTAIN, BUT WHATEVER YOUR ANSWER, IT STILL STANDS THAT THIS MATCH CONTINUES!" Jonathan says.
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus measures Shun…
…
…
…and goes for a Shuffle Side Kick…
…
…
…
…but Shun GRABS Sportacus's foot…
…
…
…and spins Sportacus around—for Sportacus to deliver a Dragon Screw!
…Or TRY to, but Shun ducks!
"Sportacus looking for the step ahead—SHUN'S the one a step ahead!" Jeremy sees.
And Shun grabs Sportacus from behind and flings him with a Skyress Suplex—that sends Sportacus CRASHING into referee Jim Kawaguchi!
"OH COCONUTS!" Jeremy exclaims.
"SKYRESS SUPLEX BY KAZAMI, THE THREE-QUARTER NELSON APPLICATION INTO THAT THROW, BUT HE SENT THE ACROBATIC ONE RIGHT INTO REFEREE JIM KAWAGUCHI!" Jonathan shouts.
"That just about renders going for a pin here FRUITLESS!" Al states.
"And a match like THIS, with SO MUCH on the bubble, SO MUCH at stake…is NOT the kind of match you want your head official cataleptic on the canvas for—every second is of the essence!" Jonathan says.
*Fast-Forward*
After a SECOND Ventus Sweep connecting from Shun to Sportacus, Shun gets to his feet…
…
…
…and is the recipient of two hands clasped around his throat—namely, Soda Popinski's and Bald Bull's!
"Shun making sure that Sportacus stays down—HEY WAIT A MINUTE!" Al's eyes widen. "NO!"
"OH NOOOOOO…!" Jeremy shakes his head.
The Forces of Nature LIFT Shun up and LEVEL him with the Natural Disaster!
"DOUBLE CHOKESLAM, THE NATURAL DISASTER!" Al calls. "THE FORCES OF NATURE ARE BACK IN HERE! AFTER ALREADY HAVING BEEN ELIMINATED!"
"THIS IS WHY I said you don't want your referee to be out of it for EVEN ONE SECOND!" Jonathan speaks. "When the cat's away, VERMIN will sure as hell play!"
Bald Bull and Soda stoically admire their handiwork…
…
…
…
…but then the Istanbul native is BLASTED with a Diving Steel Chair Shot to the head by a bloodied, aching Enrique!
"BUT THAT GOES FOR BIG AND SMALL MICE—HERE'S ENRIQUE!" Jeremy shouts.
"AND THERE'S A STEEL CHAIR COMPANION!" Jonathan shouts.
Soda sees Bull staggered, and SWATS at Enrique for the Tomagavk…
…
…
…but Enrique dodges and swings the steel chair he holds at the long legs of the boxing Muscovite! Then he whacks Soda in the massive chest, then reaches up to hit him in the jaw…
"8 TRIGRAMS, 64 CHAIR SHOTS!" Jeremy quips.
…
…but then Bald Bull ROARS…
"AND ONE DEAD COLOMBIAN COMING UP!" Cris shouts.
…
…
…and makes a MAD DASH at Enrique…
…who notices and gets out of dodge, letting Bald Bull run over Soda instead, inadvertently Cactus Clotheslining his own partner out of the ring!
"UNLESS ENRIQUE HAS THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO DODGE, WHICH HE DOES!" Jonathan shouts. "AND THE FORCES OF NATURE, CANCELLING EACH OTHER OUT!"
Enrique hits the ropes…
"CLEAR SKIIIIIES…!" Jeremy declares.
…
…
…
…
…and goes for a No-Hands High-Angle Senton Plancha over the top onto both Forces, but Bull and Pop CATCH Enrique in all four arms!
"AAAAAND STILL NOT SOARING AND SCORING!" Al shouts. "SOARING FOR SURE, BUT NO SCORE! NO SCORE!"
…
…
…
However, before the World Tag Champs can do anything with it, they are BOWLED OVER by a Dan Kuso Triangle Plancha from out of nowhere!
"THERE'S A SCORE FOR YA! DAN KUSO TAKING CARE OF IT!" Jonathan exclaims.
"TRIANGLE PLANCHA TIPPING THEM ALL OVER!" Jeremy shouts.
*Fast-Forward*
Dan puts Soda in a Double Underhook…while Enrique stands atop the barricade per a spoken-of concord…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and Dan gives Soda the Pyrus-Plant, which is AUGMENTED by an Enrique Colombian Splash onto Soda's back to add EXTRA force sending Popinski into the ground!
"LOOK AT THIS! DOUBLE-TEAM! IT'S NOT MAX AND ENRIQUE, BUT MAN, IS IT GONNA DO DAMAGE—PYRUS-PLANT WITH A SIDE ORDER OF COLOMBIAN SPLASH TO LEAVE SODA POPINSKI OUT ON THE FLOOR! AND THAT IS A FEAT, AIN'T IT?!" Jeremy calls.
"YOU BET!" Jonathan agrees. "CACOPHONY REIGNING SUPREME THOUGH, AS THE MEN TO DECIDE THIS MATCH ARE STILL SHUN AND SPORTACUS—KEEP THAT IN MIND!"
*Fast-Forward*
Meanwhile, amidst all of this chaos, Shun, back to his feet with a struggle, and not letting himself be fazed by the downed official, continues wrestling and hits Sportacus with a Rolling Vestroia! Shun kips into the corner…handstands…
…
…
…
…
…
…and—Sportacus SPITS a mouthful of chewed broccoli into Shun's face!
"INGRAM PRESS COMING—OHHHHHH!" Jeremy exclaims. "SPITTING IN THE FACE OF DEATH NEVER LOOKED SO LITERAL—WAS THAT BROCCOLI?!"
"WHATEVER IT WAS, IT PREVENTED THE INGRAM PRESS, AND IT—oh no…" Al pauses…
…as Sportacus, upon requesting Doc Louis to hand it to him, is now wielding a TENNIS RACKET!
"Haha! Sportacus ALWAYS comes prepared with a bag of sports-themed goodies in a pinch to help him save the day! Well now, it's time to put those goodies to use!" Cris chuckles.
"It sure won't be for anything HEROIC!" Jonathan snaps.
Shun is about to stand…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…but Dan Kuso runs in and SWIPES the tennis racket out of Sportacus's hands!
"JIM CORNETTE'S SMILING—OH NO!" Cris shouts.
"DAN! DAN IN THE RING!" Al exclaims. "KEEPING SPORTACUS FROM BREAKING THAT TENNIS RACKET OVER HIS FRIEND!"
"NOT GONNA LET SPORTACUS AND DLP WIN THAT WAY!" Jonathan shouts.
Kuso, remembering how HE was eliminated from this match…and seeing the referee down FOR SURE this time…
…
…
…
…
…
…SWINGS the racket at Sportacus to serve up upon his cranium—but Sportacus dodges and Dan connects with SHUN instead, breaking the racket over Kazami's skull!
"Sportacus didn't account for—OHHHHH SNAP!" Jeremy gasps. "I DON'T THINK HE MEANT TO DO THAT!"
"HE SURE DIDN'T! HE SURE DIDN'T!" Jonathan exclaims. "HE PROBABLY WANTED SOME RETRIBUTION FOR HIS EARLIER ELIMINATION WITH THE REFEREE AWAKE! HE WANTED THE ACE, BUT HE JUST GOT ONE HELL OF A DOUBLE FAULT BY HITTING SHUN IN ERROR!"
"SEE?! CHEATERS NEVER PROSPER, DANIEL!" Cris exclaims in "vindication".
Dan realizes what he just did, and quickly removes the racket from Shun's neck—but before he can tend to Shun, he gets nailed by an Aran Ryan Kick of Fear! And Sportacus sees Shun groggy, dazed, about to find some form of a vertical base…
"Dan dispatched of by ARAN RYAN! The Celtic Clubber reappears!" Al exclaims.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and Sportacus Handsprings and connects with the Sportacutter!
"SPOOOORTACUTTERRRRRRRRR!" Cris exclaims.
"OFF OF DAN'S UNFORTUNATE FOLLY!" Jonathan hollers. "AND RIGHT AS JIM KAWAGUCHI IS COMING TO!"
"THE BIGGEST WIN IN SPORTACUS'S CAREER IS COMING UP!" Cris proclaims.
"IT CAN'T BE THIS WAY! NO! NOT LIKE THIS!" Jeremy hollers.
Sportacus turns Shun over…while Aran pulls the referee into position to count…
…
…
…and Jim Kawaguchi comes to…
…
…
…and Jim Kawaguchi counts 1…
"I'VE BEEN WAITING ALL NIGHT TO USE THIS: CHECK…"
…
…
…
…
…
…
2…
"…AND…"
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…3!
"…MAAAAAAATE!" Cris exclaims as the bell sounds and the crowd THUNDERS with boos, while Sportacus gets off of the cover and raises his arms with the most JUBILANT smile on his face, with Doc Louis on his knees yelling in glee at ringside as well! "DLP! DLP! DOC LOUIS PRODUCTIONS HAVE ALL THE GOLD AGAIN! THE SUPERHERO SAVES IT!"
"THIS IS NOT RIGHT…" Jeremy grits his teeth…as Sportacus rolls out of the ring and rushes to scoop up all of the Championships inside…
…while Blader DJ has to announce, "The winners of the match, STILL your CCW World Tag Team Champions Bald Bull and Soda Popinski, your NEW CCW Universal Champion Aran Ryan, and the #1 Contender for the CCW Universal Championship, the SOLE SURVIVOR, Sportacus…Doc Louis Productions!"
"DOC LOUIS PRODUCTIONS HAVE THEIR GOLDEN MONOPOLY RENEWED, BUT NOT WITHOUT CHICANERY ALONG THE DAMN WAY!" Jonathan says.
"DON'T BLAME THEM; BLAME KUSO! HE'S THE ONE WHO HIT SHUN! HE HAS NOBODY TO BLAME BUT HIMSELF FOR THAT!" Cris asserts. "BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER! IT DOESN'T MATTER BECAUSE THE TITLES ARE BACK WHERE THEY BELONG!"
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus puts both of the World Tag Team Titles over his shoulders and runs around the ring with them, grinning the whole lap through as Bald Bull and Soda Popinski return to the ring, Bull being the one to help Soda up…as "Domination" echoes in the Wells Fargo Center that DESPISES this…
"Sportacus LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF THIS, just REVELING in it all, not just because the Forces of Nature are STILL your Tag Team Champions…but because more importantly, the Dragon Kids are NOT the Tag Team Champions," Jonathan remarks.
"Tag Team BELT-WEARERS, you mean," Cris sniggers. "Think about this, though! One month ago, Sportacus was just a loser to all of the stars. Tonight? He IS the star! He's the star that RESTORED the DLP dominion! He's the SOLE SURVIVOR! His stock? Up! WAY up! Buy HIGH on this man!"
Sportacus hands Bull and Soda their Tag Team Belts…while reaching for the Universal Title—that Aran Ryan is QUICK to swipe away from his reach. Aran GLARES in Sportacus's eyes, DARING him to try reaching for it again…but Sportacus simply chuckles, telling Aran, "Let's have a good match next month." Sportacus winks, and then gets HUGGED by Doc Louis, the OTHER happiest man in the building.
*Fast-Forward*
As Dan and Shun are exchanging glances out of the ring—not words, just…facial expressions…
…
…Soda Popinski, upon Doc's request, hoists Sportacus up in an Electric Chair on his shoulders, keeping him there up high to CELEBRATE, the LazyTowner shouting, "ANYTHING SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE ABOUT THIS?! HUH?! …DIDN'T THINK SO!" Doc Louis, on Bald Bull's shoulders, pumps his fists…while Aran Ryan swings his Title Belt over his head like a lasso…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…but then MAX Springboards off of the top rope and NAILS Sportacus with a Springboard Somersault Shoulder Block that knocks Sportacus to the mat off of Soda's shoulders Doomsday-style!
"WAIT A MINUTE—OH SHOOT!" Jeremy exclaims, blinking thrice. "WHAT THE…?! WAIT A SECOND! WAIT! WAS THAT…IS THAT MAX?!"
"…THAT IS MAX!" Al identifies.
"WHAT THE HELL'S THE HALF-PINT DOING HERE?! SHOULDN'T HE BE HAVING A FLASHLIGHT SHINED IN HIS EYES?!" Cris queries.
*Fast-Forward*
Max, having trouble getting up immediately after knocking Sportacus off of Soda's shoulders, only manages to scoot his way to a corner—ALSO to avoid getting STOMPED ON by Bald Bull and a Universal Title-toting Aran Ryan…while Doc Louis is checking on Sportacus, and also cursing Max's sudden reappearance…and his existence in general…
…
…
…but then Dan Kuso runs back in with the steel chair Enrique brought with him and uses it to fend Bull and Aran off of Max! Dan crouches to check on the Dragon Kid by the ropes…
…
…while EMTs come down to the ring as well.
"Max CLEARLY still out of it from that Bull Charge that damn near confined him to a wheelchair for life, but he's still here…!" Jeremy says.
"To do what? Kiss the World Tag Titles goodbye PERSONALLY?" Cris mockingly asks…before he sees the EMTs. "Eh…?"
"Those are the same medical staffers who took Max to the back during the match after he was BULL CHARGED through that freaking WALL…" mentions Jonathan.
Dan sees the EMTs as well, walking over to them to share some words…ask some questions…
…
…
…
…
…and what Dan hears right back…nearly makes him do a double-take.
"What the…? Okay, Dan just… Something that Dan heard sure made HIS head spin—what's going on?" Jeremy wonders.
*Fast-Forward*
"Почему мы до сих пор здесь?" Soda Pop asks his fellow Force of Nature, who snarls at the query, having the same one himself…as Doc Louis is about ready to pick up all of the Titles and get out of there…
…
…
…but referee Jim Kawaguchi taps him on the shoulder, as if to say, "Hold that thought"…because the EMTs just spoke with HIM as well…
…
…and now Kawaguchi is speaking with Blader DJ…who does a double-take almost CONGRUENT to the one Dan made before…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and after having to double, triple, and SEXTUPLE-check what is being relayed to him…
…Blader DJ says over the live mic, "Ladies and gentlemen, medical staff's better wishes notwithstanding…it is my duty to inform you all…
"…that Max was never officially eliminated from this match!"
"WHAT?!" ALL FOUR commentators exclaim, along with a collection of the crowd!
"WH-WH-WH-WH-WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! HE WAS CARRIED OFF BYEMTs! HE WAS PUT THROUGH THE DAMN WALL! BY HIS HEAD!" Cris screams. "…HE WAS CARRIED OFF BY THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS—WE ALL SAW IT!"
"'AGAINST THEIR BETTER WISHES', AS WE'VE JUST HEARD! THAT EXPLAINS MAX!" Al shouts.
ALL of DLP is INCENSED, as they are picking up on what is about to happen…
"Therefore…this match IS NOT YET OVER!" Blader DJ declares to LOUD CHEERS!
"YEAH!" Jeremy cheers as well. "HOLY MONGEESE! OH MAN, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MAX GOT HERE ON HIS OWN!"
"The Winners Take All Match MUST CONTINUE…with Max and Sportacus as the remaining competitors for either side!" Blader DJ proclaims.
Doc Louis gets in the referee's face in ADAMANT PROTESTING over this, while Jim Kawaguchi reiterates that Max was never pinned, submitted, OR DQ'ed…so he is STILL PARTICIPATING…
…and Sportacus can only utter the words, "This is a joke, right?"
"I'M WONDERING THAT TOO, SPORT!" Cris exclaims.
*Fast-Forward*
Referee Jim Kawaguchi DEMANDS that the match be resumed…
…but ALSO decrees that all other nonparticipating members of the match be BANNED FROM RINGSIDE!
"So not only are we RESTARTING, but we're leaving it down to JUST Max and Sportacus—no more eliminated members getting their noses in this affray, as it OWES TO BE!" Al states.
A STILL shocked Dan, an even MORE stunned Enrique (who can only get the words, "Be careful" out to Max as he leaves)…and an expressionless Shun…all exit upon mandate…
…while Bald Bull, Soda, and Aran Ryan, belligerent to the end, are only forced to leave when the threat of AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION is raised upon their heads. Doc Louis insists that they all go, because the Titles must be saved one way or another, farce notwithstanding…
…
…
…
…but then Jim Kawaguchi points to Doc Louis and EJECTS HIM AS WELL!
"WHAAAAT?!" Cris can't believe this!
"PERFECT! PERFECT!" Jeremy claps. "THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE SURE THIS GETS DECIDED THE RIGHT WAY!"
"WHAT DID DOC DO?! WHY?! WHAT PURPOSE DOES THAT SERVE?!" Cris argues.
"KEEPING THIS FAIR AND SQUARE! IF IT'S MAX AND SPORTACUS, IT'S MAX AND SPORTACUS!" Jonathan exclaims.
"…MAX ISN'T EVEN ABLE TO STAND!" Cris complains. "EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS! THIS NEEDS TO GO TO AN APPEALS COURT, DAMN IT!"
Doc Louis doesn't want to leave…almost HYPERVENTILATING at the thought of having NO SAY, no immediate contact with this match…but Sportacus calms him down, telling him, "Relax… I GOT THIS. I can walk on one hand. He can't walk on ALL FOURS…"
*Fast-Forward*
With the entire ringside area cleared, THE BELL RINGS…
…
…and Sportacus watches Max trying to get up, raising his fists to fight the new DLP acquisition man to man, toe to toe. Sportacus can see, however, like everybody else, that there is ACHINESS GALORE in every motion Max is making. Max even drops to a knee as he tries to walk to Sportacus…prompting Sportacus to pat his head like he is a cute little puppy rather than the thing between Sportacus and a Title shot.
"…Well, I guess this match needed an extra thirty seconds. Okay then. LET'S END THIS FOR REAL!" Cris encourages.
"You have to admire the HEART of Max in this situation, but that same heart might be about to be eaten alive," Jeremy says. "And I know that sounds pessimistic coming from me, but you're seeing what I'm seeing too, right? Right?"
"I AM seeing it…" Jonathan nods.
Sportacus just lightly taps Max back to the mat as he stands up…and when Max tries to stand again, Sportacus BLOWS ON HIM just to see if Max will fall. Max is DAZED BEYOND BELIEF…
…and even with the chants of "LET'S GO MAX! LET'S GO MAX! LET'S GO MAX!" and "YOU CAN DO IT! (clap clap clap-clap-clap) YOU CAN DO IT! (clap clap clap-clap-clap)", those don't change Max's physical disposition any better…
…
…
…
…
…and Sportacus, giving a shrug and saying, "Eh, I'm bored now," Handsprings off the ropes…
"Max having outlived his COMEDY to Sportacus…!" Cris calls.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…but Max falls back down, prematurely almost by his own aches rather than actual desire to do so…
…
…so Sportacus has no head to grab for the Sportacutter, forcing him to BACKFLIP to his feet instead…
…
…
…
…but then the downed Max backward rolls himself into Sportacus and rolls forward for a Victory Roll Pin attempt!
"Max's OWN PAIN actually saving him from any further—OH WAIT! THERE'S STILL FIGHT! THERE'S STILL FIGHT!" Jonathan exclaims.
"NO WAY…!" Cris's jaw goes agape.
The referee counts 1…
2…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…Sportacus kicks out! Max gets to his hands and knees, the surprised Sportacus stands up…
…
…
…and NAILS Max with a Shuffle Side Kick that nearly decapitates him!
"AND THAT WAS FOR BEING CAUGHT OFF-GUARD!" Jonathan grimaces. "THE VICTORY ROLL CAUGHT SPORTACUS BY SURPRISE, AND NOW LOOK AT THE STOMPS THAT SPORTACUS IS GIVING! ANGER lacing each and every single one of these!"
"I'D be angry too if the cockroach I just stepped on STILL GOT INTO MY FOOD AND LIVED," Cris asserts. "He may be a DRAGON Kid, but COCKROACH is more fitting!
Sportacus continues stomping…and stomping…and stomping…
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus goes for the Sportsmanship, his Inverted Facelock turned into the Inverted Split Leg Drop Bulldog…
…
…
…
…
…but as Sportacus lifts his leg up for it, Max SOMEHOW pops out of Sportacus's clutches…
…bear crawls backwards between Sportacus's legs…
"WHOOP! Slipping out! Sometimes being diminutive has its advantages!" Jeremy says.
…
…
…
…
…grabs Sportacus from behind and FLIPS him with a Max-Plex!
"MAX-PLEX!" Jonathan exclaims. "BY GOD, MODIFIED DRAGON SUPLEX—I don't know WHERE you pulled that out of, Maxito, but at least THREE people backstage are hoping you can find some more of that!"
"And at least FIVE in this building are hoping you WON'T!" Cris adds.
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus is in a neutral corner…
…
…
…
…and he gets CLOCKED with a Step-Up Shining Wizard in the corner…
…in which Max ALMOST sends himself falling out of the corner all the way out of the ring!
"WHOOOOOOOA, NELLY FURTADO!" Jeremy exclaims. "EASY THERE, MAXIE!"
"Max getting a little RECKLESS—how much of that is adrenaline and how much is just throwing stuff at the wall hoping for it to stick?!" Jonathan inquires.
Max does regain his balance…
…
…
…
…
…and then comes back down…with Sportacus in a Side Headlock…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and he runs for the Bulldog—but Sportacus lifts him up and spins him for a Blue Thunder Bomb instead!
"Wanting to complete his kind of KombiNATION—NOPE! NOPENOPENOPE, BLUE THUNDER BOMB!" Jeremy exclaims.
"COUNTERED!" Al shouts.
"RATTLING HIM! IT'S OVER! IT'S GOTTA BE OVER!" Cris asserts.
Sportacus stays on Max for the Sit-Out Pin: 1…
"CHECK…"
2…
"…AND…"
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…Max kicks out just in time, but BARELY so!
"…MAT—ARE YOU…?! GRRRRRRR…!" Cris growls. "LOSE! JUST! LOSE! LET YOUR CRUMMY LITTLE DREAM DIE AND LET'S ALL MOVE ON WITH OURSELVES!"
"DON'T COUNT ON THAT!" Al tells his colleague. "If we've learned nothing about Max tonight, it's that he's got his OWN brand of Fighting Spirit, and the Believers here in Philadelphia are all for it!"
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus lifts Max up…
"Brainbuster time! And with his head being the part that got SQUISHED through the barricade before, BAD NEWS! REALLY BAD NEWS!" exclaims Al.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…but Max kicks his feet, plants them back onto the mat…
…
…
…and lifts Sportacus up into a Samoan Driver!
"NOOOO—SAMOAN DRIVER INSTEAD!" Jonathan exclaims. "Max avoiding something that could have been catastrophic for him if it landed!"
*Fast-Forward*
Max, after a struggle, stands up…
…
…
…
…and goes for the S.O.S.…
"Max needs something BIG—OHHH, S.O.S. MIGHT BE THAT SOMETHING!" Jeremy exclaims.
…
…
…
…
…but Sportacus twists Max's arm and—gets kicked in the gut by Max again! Max hooks the head once more…
"Wrist Lock reversal—no; Max STILL WANTS IT…!" Al sees.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and…the S.O.S. is shoved off into the ropes…
…
…and Max rebounds into a WICKED Spinning Heel Kick from Sportacus that nearly turns him inside out!
"BUT HE WON'T GET IT—OHHHHH! AND NOW HE REALLY GETS IT!" Jonathan hollers.
"HELL YEAH! NOTHING'S taking this from Sportacus—NOTHING! These fans can believe ALL THE LIKE; the result is gonna be just as it should've been ten minutes ago!" Cris states.
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus is on the top rope…splaying his arms…ready to FINISH…
"Sportacus looking for the perfect finale, ending this the same way he ended it for Max's partner Enrique…" Al brings up.
"Like Colombian, like whatever the f**k Max is!" Cris quips.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and the Supernova—is intercepted out of mid-air by a SURPRISE kip-up into a Double Knee Facebreaker by Max!
"WHAT THE F*****CK?!" Cris screeches.
"HOLY RIM JIM, MAX DRIIIIIIIIIVE! THAT'S THE BEST ONE YET!" Jeremy exclaims.
"INCREDIBLE!" Al shouts.
"YOU GET IT?! YOU GET WHAT MAX DID?! IT'S BECAUSE SOUICHI SUGANO—"
"PLEASE DO NOT COMPLETE THAT SENTENCE!" Cris cuts Jeremy off.
"…Did he just say 'please'?" Al realizes in his head.
"THE LAST THING SPORTACUS COULD HAVE EXPECTED FROM THERE, ARROGANT OR NOT!" Jonathan yells.
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus is left GROGGY by the "Max Drive", the DLP rep stumbling about around the ring as he stands, involuntarily hitting the ropes…walking forward…hitting another set of ropes…
…
…
…turning around…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and eating a SECOND Max Drive consecutively!
"SO NICE, HE HAD TO DO IT TWICE—MAX DRIIIIIIVE!" Jeremy shouts.
"ANOTHER DOUBLE KNEE FACEBREAKER! SPORTACUS DAZED…!" Jonathan calls.
Sportacus backs into the ropes again…lurching forward…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and Max gives Sportacus a sudden S.O.S. out of nowhere!
"S.O.S. BY MAXITO! MAX WITH THE S.O.S.! LORD ONLY KNOWS WHERE HE GOT IT FROM, BUT EVERYBODY KNOWS IT WAS GOTTEN!" Jonathan exclaims.
"NO! NONONONONO ABORT ABORT!" Cris screams.
"CAN MAX COVER?! CAN MAX COVER QUICK?!" Al shouts. "IT COULD BE HIS BEST CHANCE! MAYBE THE ONLY CHANCE…!"
*Fast-Forward*
It takes a full fifteen seconds…
…
…
…
…
…
…but Max turns Sportacus over and stays on top of him for the pin! Referee Jim Kawaguchi counts 1…
"SET IT…"
2…
"…AND…"
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…2.995 Sportacus gets his shoulder up!
"…FORGET—NOOOOOOO, THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN IT, AL; YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT! WHAT IF THAT WAS HIS ONLY CHANCE?!" Jeremy exclaims.
"THEN OH WELL; NICE KNOWING YOUR TITLE REIGN!" Cris sneers.
"IT WAS CERTAINLY A HELL OF A SHOT, HIT OR MISS!" Jonathan shouts. "AND MAYBE IF MAX GOT THE COVER SOONER, IT MIGHT HAVE TURNED OUT MORE FAVORABLE FOR HIM! IT MIGHT'VE BEEN THE DIFFERENCE! BUT IT'S SPILLED WATER NOW!"
*Fast-Forward*
With Sportacus supine…
…
…
…Max is on the apron, ready to Springboard despite all of his pains…
"Max taking to the air—perhaps THERE he will find his miracle!" Al shouts.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…but Max's Springboard Headbutt CRASHES AND BURNS as Sportacus rolls out of the way!
"OR MAYBE HE'LL FIND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING INSTEAD!" Jonathan exclaims. "SPORTACUS WITH THE TIMELY EVASION! AND IF THERE WAS A MOVE YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO MISS AS THIS STAGE, THAT WOULD BE THE ONE, FOR THE SPRINGBOARD AND FOR THE HEAD HITTING CANVAS!"
"MAX DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR WHAT'D HAPPEN IF HE MISSED! AND YOU THOUGHT SPORTACUS WAS ARROGANT, HAHA!" Cris laughs.
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus waits for Max to get up…
…
…
…
…
…and when he does, he grabs Max by the head…
"Oooh, Max may've left himself for easy pickings…!" Jeremy speaks.
"Dan's Universal Title and the World Tag Titles may be in more jeopardy than EVER right about now!" Al states.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and Sportacus gives Max…a Standing Tornado DDT to DEAFENING BOOS!
"OHHHHHH, THAT…IS DEFINITELY GOING TO LEAVE A BAD TASTE IN MAX'S MOUTH!" shouts Jeremy.
"THAT IS JUST TASTELESS AND CLASSLESS!" Jonathan scolds. "SPORTACUS JUST USED MAX'S SISTER'S VERY DDT AGAINST THE LITTLE BROTHER!"
"NOT ONLY THAT—HE'S ABOUT TO BEAT HIM WITH IT!" Cris beams out of sheer amusement.
Sportacus LAUGHS all the way into his pinfall, covering Max and hooking the leg with his tongue out of his mouth: 1…
"CHECK…"
2…
"…AND…"
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…2.999 Max kicks out, against EVERYTHING from odds to pure logic at this point!
"…MAAA—OHHHHH, COOOOME OOOOOOOON!" Cris whines as the fans give a round of ROARING cheers!
"MAX KICKING OUT AGAIN! MAX KICKING OUT ONCE AGAIN, AND SPORTACUS IS ABSOLUTELY BESIDE HIMSELF!" Al shouts.
"PULLING FROM EMMY'S PLAYBOOK PUT MAX DOWN, BUT IT DID NOT KEEP HER LITTLE BROTHER DOWN!" Jonathan yells. "ALMOST, HOWEVER!"
"THIS IS SIMPLY WICKED!" Jeremy hollers.
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus, having just about enough of this, stands on the top rope with Max starting to stand again, doubled over…
"Sportacus not looking for a Supernova this time; whatever he goes for though CERTAINLY to have KILLING INTENT behind it!" Jonathan states.
"As it SHOULD HAVE, as it NEEDS…!" Cris defends.
…
…
…
…
…
…
…
…and Sportacus—DOESN'T connect with his 450 CURB STOMP try as Max forward rolls out of the way and into the corner…
"WHOA! GREAT GOOGLE AND YAHOO, WAS THAT GONNA BE A CURB STOMP OUT OF THAT FLIP?!" Jeremy exclaims.
…
…
…
…
…and Sportacus turns around and—hits nothing but turnbuckles on his Jumping Corner Splash as Max floats himself over the ropes to the apron! As Sportacus bounces away, Max grabs him and locks in the Bite of the Dragon!
"FRONT FLIP CURB STOMP missing, SPLASH missing—BITE OF THE DRAGON!" Al calls. "THAT ROPE-AIDED DRAGON SLEEPER BY MAX!"
"HE'S IN THE ROPES, THOUGH! HE CAN'T HOLD ONTO THAT THING!" Jeremy notes.
"INDEED HE CAN'T!" Cris nods. "REFEREE'S LETTING HIM KNOW THAT!"
Max DOES let go of the Bite of the Dragon after a four-count, EXHAUSTED but hoping he did some level of wearing down damage…
…
…
…
…
…and he did—but Sportacus is still fresher and is able to land a Jumping Gamengiri to knock Max off of the apron!
"AND A BOOT RIGHT TO MAX'S FACE!" Jonathan shouts. "THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD HAVING HIS GAS DEPLETED WITH EACH AND EVERY ATTACK!"
*Fast-Forward*
Sportacus hits the ropes…
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…and Suicide Dives into the BARRICADE, his head and neck SCORPIONING as he hits the part of the wall still standing, Max being able to duck (or perhaps just FALL) out of the way!
"OHHHHHHH COUS COUS!" Jeremy yelps. "DID YA SEE THAT NECK BEND?! DID YA SEE SPORTACUS'S FEET NEARLY TOUCH THE BACK OF HIS HEAD?!"
"I DID, THESE FANS DID, AND MAYBE SOMEWHERE IN THAT BLEARY CONDITION MAX DID TOO!" Jonathan shouts. "THAT MAY BE THE TACTICAL ERROR THAT COSTS SPORTACUS WHAT WAS OTHERWISE A NOTEWORTHY ADVANTAGE!"
*Fast-Forward*
Having carefully and gingerly slid his way back into the ring, Max gets up…
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…hits the ropes as Sportacus rises OUTSIDE of the ring…
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…and Max hits Sportacus with HIS Suicide Dive, sending Sportacus's back bouncing into the wall before the Dragon Kid runs back into the ring!
"And THIS TIME, SOARING…AAAAAAAAAND SCOOOOORIIIIIIING!" Al exclaims.
"IT GOT CAUGHT AND COUNTERED LAST TIME, BUT IT CONNECTS THIS TIME!" Jonathan exclaims. "SUICIDE DIVE FROM MAX, AND HE'S BACK IN THE RING!"
Indeed, Max is back inside, back up…
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…and he gives Sportacus a SECOND Suicide Dive into the barricade!
"MAKE IT TWO! MAKE IT TWO!" Jeremy shouts.
"MAX COMING IN WITH EVERYTHING LEFT IN THE TANK, NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT IS, NO MATTER HOW BIG THE COST!" Al shouts.
"THIS SHOULDN'T BE LEGAL!" Cris protests.
Max gets back into the ring a THIRD time…
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…and hits Sportacus with a THIRD STRAIGHT Suicide Dive into the barricade back-first!
"MAX WITH A THIRD ONE! TRIFECTA CONFIRMED!" Al exclaims.
"DOC LOUIS HAS TO BE IRATE RIGHT NOW! THANKS TO KAWAGUCHI, HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS!" Cris exclaims.
"EXACTLY THE POINT!" Jonathan states.
*Fast-Forward*
"Doc may be having a CORONARY backstage—AND WHAT A SPEAR!" Al calls. "MAX SENDING HIS ENTIRE FRAME AT FULL SPEED INTO SPORTACUS WITH AN OVERTAKING SPEAR!"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?! IS THIS CHILD ACTUALLY ALIVE?! IS THIS CHILD—NO," Cris denies. "NO, NO, AND NO! I REFUSE TO TAKE THIS LEGITIMATELY!"
"YOU might, but THESE FANS sure won't refuse!" Jeremy says…
…as Max's eyes direct themselves…to the TOP ROPE…
*Fast-Forward*
After a 30-SECOND LONG CLIMB…Max is on top…
"It took Max almost an ETERNITY to get up there, but it'll take a few seconds for him to come DOWN, be it the easy way OR THE HARD WAY…!" Jeremy calls.
…Max holds onto the top rope with his hands as well, keeping himself balanced…
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…before posturing up…
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…and coming down for a 450 Splash—that Sportacus DODGES, Max being able to land onto his feet and forward roll to land in the best way possible…
"NOBODY HOME, but Max lands about as well as he could have!" Jeremy says.
"WANTING 450—GOT ZERO…!" Al shouts.
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…but Sportacus, being faster to recover, Back Handsprings…
"AND MAY BE ABOUT TO GET ABSOLUTE ZERO!" Jonathan states.
"HIT IT!" Cris encourages.
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…but JUST as Sportacus is about to nail the Sportacutter, Max JUMPS UP and hits a STANDING POISON DRAGONRANA spiking Sportacus on his head!
"AAAAAGGHHH?!" Cris just unintelligibly SCREAMS.
"OH MY GOD IN HEAVEN! OH MY DEMONS IN HELL! WHERE IN ANY PLANE OF EXISTENCE DID MAX PULL THAT OUT OF?!" Jonathan exclaims as the crowd MAJORLY pops!
"THE VERTICAL LEAP THAT TOOK! THE TIMING IT REQUIRED! MAX GOT IT ALL RIGHT, EVEN WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE HE COULDN'T POSSIBLY DO SO!" Al yells.
Sportacus is spaghetti-legged after that maneuver, and the entirety of Philly knows it…
…as does Max…
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…who quickly capitalizes by grabbing Sportacus by the head and LANDING the S.O.S.!
"S.O.S. BY MAX! MAX SAVES HIS SOUL AND PERHAPS THE SOULS OF KUSO, KAZAMI AND HIS PARTNER ENRIQUE WITH IT!" Jonathan shouts.
"NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAYYYYYY!" Cris cries.
"YES WAY! AND MAX—HE'S BACK UP!" Al points.
"COVER HIM, KID!" Jeremy insists.
"HE'S NOT THINKING COVER; HE'S THINKING CORNER AGAIN! HE'S THINKING TOP ROPE ONCE AGAIN!" Al shouts…
…as Max, indeed, is making a MAD DASH for the corner, the top turnbuckle…
"This ain't real; THIS IS NOT REAL…" Cris shakes his head incessantly.
"ON THE CONTRARY—IT'S REAL AS CAN BE! MAX AT THE TOP, MAX STANDING, CROWD STANDING…!" Al calls.
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…and—Sportacus kips up—BUT MAX SCORES with the 450 Splash just as Sportacus is on his feet still halfway bent backward in the kip up!
"NIP UP—OH NOOOOOO!" Cris screams.
"NOT QUICK ENOUGH! NOT QUICK ENOUGH!" Jonathan exclaims. "THE 450 DESCENDED UPON SPORTACUS FASTER THAN EVEN HE COULD REVERSE!"
"IS THIS THE WAY?! IS THIS THE LAZARUS-LIKE COMEBACK THAT'LL DECIDE IT?!" Al questions. "THIS CROWD IS BATTY!"
"THIS CROWD IS STUPID!" Cris rebukes. "EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS…!" His voice trails off.
"19,500 BEG TO DIFFER, AND SO DO I! SO DOES THE WORLD!" Jeremy exclaims.
"MAX IS FINALLY COVERING! WILL IT BE?! COULD IT BE?! IS IT?!" Jonathan asks.
Max, using everything his limbs have remaining, hooks Sportacus's legs…
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…and referee Jim Kawaguchi counts 1…
"SET IT…"
2…
"…AND…"
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…3!
"YEEEEEEAAAAAHHH, FORGET IT! NOW IT'S OVER! MAX SURVIIIIVES!" Jeremy shouts.
"WHAT THE F**K JUST HAPPENED?!" Cris curses.
"MAX TOUGHED IT OUT AGAINST EVERY ODD IN THE LIBRARY!" Jonathan exclaims.
"AND THE TITLES HAVE BEEN DECIDED!" Al declares. "DAN KUSO, STILL UNIVERSAL CHAMPION! SHUN KAZAMI, #1 CONTENDER…AND LET REIGN NUMBER TWO OF THE DRAGON KIDS ON THE TAG TEAM MOUNTAIN BEGIN!"
Max rolls off of Sportacus, laying prone on the mat, body motionless…ALL of the aches setting in at once…but also, all of the realization too…with the Wells Fargo Center going INSANE over what they've witnessed, the TRUE ending, the TRUE decision…further confirmed by "Solace" echoing through the speakers! The four-year-old Max eventually rolls his way to the ropes…and has a look at the EXPLODING crowd…
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…as Blader DJ takes the mic and says, emphasizing enough to make sure everyone knew that THIS was official, "Aaaaaaand NOW here are your winners…STILL the CCW Universal Champion, Dan Kuso; your #1 Contender to the CCW Universal Championship Shun Kazami…and the NEEEEEEEEWWWWW CCW Tag Team Champions of the World, Enrique and SOLE SURVIVOR Max, The Dragon Kids!"
"29 DAYS AGO, THEIR FIRST REIGN WAS CUT SHORT BY THAT MAN, SPORTACUS!" Al brings up. "AND HOW FITTING, HOW APPROPRIATE, AND HOW KARMIC YOU CAN SAY IS THIS?! MAX PERSEVERES TO COME BACK INTO THE MATCH AND DEFEAT THE VERY MAN WHO TOOK THE TITLES AWAY FROM THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE! AND NOW THEY HAVE THEM BACK! NOW THEY HAVE THE TITLES BACK! THE DRAGON KIDS ARE TWO-TIME CCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!"
"WHY?!" Cris exclaims. "HOW?!"
"AND DOC LOUIS PRODUCTIONS, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE PRE-HAVOC, ARE NOW DEVOID OF CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPLETELY! ALL THANKS TO ONE MAN! ALL THANKS TO ONE FOUR-YEAR-OLD BOY WONDER!" Jonathan shouts.
"THE MATCH WAS OVER! MAX WAS…HE WAS CARRIED—AAAAAAUUUUUGH I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M WATCHING!" Cris groans LOUDLY, though not loud enough to drown out the ELATED Philadelphia crowd.
Max, having used the ropes to pull himself to his knees, turns around and sees referee Jim Kawaguchi handing him one of the World Tag Team Title Belts…and for a moment, Max, still somewhat in a delirium, is hesitant to take it from him, STILL waiting for it all to completely set in…
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…and that is when Dan Kuso gets into the ring and knee-slides over to Max, wrapping his arms around him in a jovial celebratory hug! Max, not expecting the impact of his onrushing teammate, gasps upon being grabbed but ultimately discovers it isn't out of harm—the furthest thing from it, actually. Dan, pulling away, looks at Max and tells him with a GIANT smile, "DO YOU KNOW HOW FREAKING COOL THAT WAS?!" Max manages a small, proud grin as Dan gets up, lifting Max off of the canvas with him, holding the PBS Kid plank-style in his arms as Max, from there, does grab his World Tag Team Title, getting re-acclimated with it already.
"And there's Dan Kuso, back in to congratulate AND celebrate, because as happy as he must be for Max tonight, he's gotta be even HAPPIER knowing that his Universal Title reign has ALSO SURVIVED!" Jonathan says. "He had to have thought it was done! After hitting Shun earlier by mistake with that tennis racket, he was kicking himself from here to Timbuktu for certain! But MAX…his reentry into the match, having been practically DESTROYED but NOT ELIMINATED…THAT is what changed everything!"
"I…! HOW still?! How did we go from Doc Louis Productions celebrating, Sportacus on Soda's shoulders and Doc on Bull's…to THIS?!" Cris is still trying to piece it all together.
Enrique meets Max in the ring, taking his own half of the Tag Team Titles as the Dragon Kids high-five one another, the Colombian Kid's smile widening by the moment as "Solace" continues playing. And Shun returns…watching Dan get his Universal Title back (and his Toon Championship as well)…and the Ventus Brawler seems noticeably LESS thrilled. His team may have won…but he wasn't the bag of joy that the Dragon Kids and Dan were. Setting Max down onto his own feet again, Dan sees Shun…shoulders the Universal Title…and lets out a breath, telling his friend, "I know what you wanted…sorry…but you think can we enjoy this next best thing?" Shun just looks at Dan almost blankly…
…and Shun…just points to Dan's Universal Title, not saying a word to the Pyrus Brawler. Dan looks at the Belt himself…and shoulders it with a small confident chuckle, trying to clear things, as he pats Shun on the arm, saying, "Soon, buddy… I can't wait." Dan leaves Shun with those words, climbing up a corner and raising his Belt up high (while also pointing to Max and yelling, "WASN'T HE JUST INSANE TONIGHT?")…Shun watching all of this…watching Dan…watching Max…
…before going out of the ring and getting an early start to the back…
…saying to himself, "Yeah…neither can I, Dan…"
…
Dan is the next to exit, leaving the ring to the Dragon Kids…so THEY can have a moment to savor it by themselves. "See you guys in the Rumble!" Dan tells Max and Enrique as he leaves…
…while Max and Enrique, raising their Belts, are the instigators of a RAUCOUS "PBS! PBS! PBS!" chant.
"And YOU BET," Jeremy grins. "YOU BET that the PBS contingent watching this here and around the world have to be proudest of all of what they've just seen! The DRAGON KIDS! MAX! ENRIQUE AS WELL! Like Al said before, let the second reign begin! Let the eternal dream be renewed!"
Max rolls out of the ring, Enrique there by his side to help him to the back, because EVERY STEP is making the brother of Emmy wince…but at the same time, with every step comes an audible remind from the fans that, "YOU WERE AWESOME! (clap clap clap-clap-clap) YOU WERE AWESOME! (clap clap clap-clap-clap)"
"Philadelphia letting Max know, letting the Dragon Kids know that THIS REIGN is 100% APPROVED," Jonathan says. "WHAT A SPECTACLE we have been a part of, ladies and gentlemen! And what a way for Winners Take All to conclude! To the VICTORS, INDEED, go the spoils!"
Enrique keeps Max from falling over at the top of entrance ramp, making sure he is able to stay vertical…
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…and as Enrique does this for his amigo, Max ONE MORE TIME raises his CCW World Tag Team Championship strap…
…Sportacus slowly look up from inside the ring and seeing this very event. The LazyTown native breathes a little bit heavier…a LOT heavier…though not out of exhaustion or shortness of breath—an EMOTION…a very VILE emotion…
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…but one he isn't allowed to act upon, as the Dragon Kids take their World Tag Team Titles, hold them together…and then look at each other…Enrique saying, "Let's KEEP these this time…durante mucho, mucho tiempo…"
And Max nods, replying between pants, "…Wouldn't have it any other way…"
