Team Work chapter 256
October 23rd, 2020
Stephanie hums, twirling a bright orange leaf between her fingers, teeth flashing as she grins, breathing in the crisp, autumn air. Halloween is a week away, and she's happy. Shane's out of her hair, the holidays are around the corner, and she's completed booking early. It's a good day, she decides as she makes her way back inside to gorilla to position the list where she needs it, nodding at the few people she meets along the way who catch her eye.
The first match of the night is a four team tag match, Oney Lorcan partnering with Rich Swann, El Gran Gordo aligned with Montez Ford, Raul Mendoza and TJP eyeing each other from the other corner, and Danny Burch standing side by side with Tracy Williams. The match starts with Mendoza vs Burch, but it doesn't last long, tags frequent and almost hard to keep track of as each team jockeys for ring time, more opportunity to get those all-important cycle points. The action is fast and hard hitting, Montez landing a fast splash down upon Oney and only just geting to his feet when Burch tags back in, the partners immediately shaking hands before settling into a brawl that puts most of the other six to shame.
TJP and Mendoza compliment each other quite well, however, and it's only after Mendoza takes Montez down with a brutal looking suplex that TJ tags in and slides into position, locking in one of his various submissions that are always at the ready. He twists and tangles Montez, never giving him a moment's breath, and the others are all arguing and exchanging blows on the outside, the referee keeping his eye on the submission even as he lectures those on the outside to return to their corners, but it doesn't matter- he sees the tap, Montez finally having no choice but to give up or risk his bodily health if he struggles through much longer. El Gran Gordo, who'd been squaring up with Tracy Williams, looks frustrated as he slides into the ring a minute too late, but there's nothing to be done, TJ's already half the way up the ramp, laughing at his victory, his gaining yet another point for the cycle.
Rosemary defeats Shayna Baszler, and Britt Baker beats Su Yung. Sami Callihan wins in a triple threat match against Ken Shamrock and Braun Strowman, and Ember Moon succeeds over Bianca Belair. Cedric Alexander somehow escapes the worst of Lars Sullivan's offense and even defeats the man, escaping as quickly as he could with help from his Hurt Business associates. Matt Jackson wins over Ethan Page.
Joaquin Wilde faces off against Bronson Reed and, despite Bronson's own speed and strength, Joaquin remains just a step or two ahead, his daredevil actions and risky splashes unsettling the man, leaving his timing off, his thoughts scattered. Joaquin just eaks out a win after moving aside, Bronson hitting the mat hard enough to rattle the ring. Joaquin then takes to the turnbuckle himself, and lands a 630 senton that winds Bronson the rest of the way, Wilde immediately scrambling to grab hold of anything to fold Bronson up into a pin. When it works, when the bell rings, Joaquin sits there, a shocked look on his face, before realization dawns and he laughs, rolling away to have his arm lifted by the referee. "Hell yeah!" he exclaims before making his way backstage to celebrate with Mendoza and Escobar.
In six man action, Hernandez, Nick Jackson and Kushida defeat Shelton Benjamin, Josh Alexander and The Miz. Lashley wins against Tony Nese, and Kenny Omega finally gets his hands on Adam Page, winning decisively with the One Winged Angel. Fenix defeats Trey Miguel and Willie Mack is the ultimate winner in a six way match over Daniel Bryan, R-Truth, Randy Orton, Mansoor, and Seth Rollins.
Kevin Owens vs Timothy Thatcher starts off like anyone would expect. A slugfest almost from the moment the bell rings. They exchange punches, sling each other into the ropes, land brutal elbows that wind each other for a few moments, Timothy manages to get his shoulders down and slings Owens back over his shoulder, listening with some satisfaction as he hits the mat hard, then gets up and they begin again, commentary beginning to wonder if the two men truly inspire to kill each other.
It's over as quickly, as brutally, as it began, Owens snagging Thatcher almost out of midair and hoisting him up high before slamming him down brutally to the mat, immediately collapsing down upon him and pinning him bodily to the mat, pressing all of his weight down upon him, leaving him no way to wiggle free, no chance to kick out. He laughs and pats the other man derisively on the cheek before taking his leave of the ring, Thatcher's eyes dark with rage as he watches Owens go.
Josh Woods defeats Kofi Kingston. In a triple tag match, the team of Roman Reigns and MVP beat Angelo Dawkins and Rhino, and Santos Escobar and Nia Jax. Rohit Raju is successful over Tucker, and Wardlow wins against AJ Styles.
Sasha and Asuka know each other very well by now. So when the main event begins and it's the two of them on opposite sides of the ring, they know this is going to take some time. Some searching for that one weak point, one minor mistake or misstep that would leave them open to attack. And it does, they respond to each other's moves as if aware of them as intimately as their own. Blocks, reversals, it all happens in such a fluid motion that the two women look as if they're dancing at times. As more time draws on, their cardio is testing, and both know it will be luck as to whoever cracks first. Asuka breathes in deeply, surges forward for another attack- and then it happens.
Sasha steps to the left instead of the right, and Asuka's knee lands against her shoulder, across her midsection. She gasps, her breath forced from her lungs, and it's all the opportunity Asuka needs as she gets behind Sasha, suplexes her back, and bridges into a pin. Sasha kicks out, but again, it leaves her in a vulnerable position and Asuka easily shifts, gets ahold, and traps Sasha in the Asuka Lock, kicking at her until she has no choice but to release her hands and allows Asuka to cinch it in. Sasha fights for any kind of leverage, attempts to get to the ropes, but it doesn't matter. Any time she gets close enough, Asuka plants her feet and rolls, adding more distance, and by the second or third time, Sasha can barely move, her entire body trembling with the effort.
Pain stabs continuously up her shoulder into her neck, and she knows she can't keep doing this. Closes her eyes as she taps desperately, the referee immediately calling it. As soon as the bell rings, it's like a switch flips in Asuka and she's almost tender as she releases the hold, makes it to her feet, and reaches out a hand to help Sasha up. Sasha grits her teeth- both in pain and humilation- but allows it, nodding in respect to Asuka as she leaves, lets Asuka have this moment. This success.
Asuka laughs and chatters loudly in Japaneses as she dances around the ring, the referee waiting patiently to lift her arm in success. What he doesn't expect, however, is her dragging him into her little dance routine as soon as he'd reached out for her. He clearly has no idea what he's doing, but tries to play along as the woman maneuvers him around the ring, still riding the high of her victory.