DISCLAIMER: I only own Jesse Alvarez, Joshua Garza, Carter Young, Stan Terra, Hannibal Ambrose, Erik Rollins, Damian Reigns, Luke Smith, Kurt Hudson, Kenji Matsuo, Zack Carver, Mike "The Mic" Martin, Clarissa Rivera, Alyssa Parker, and Maria Lopez. Anything else here (music and lyrics, fiction and non-fiction characters, other OCs, etc.), I own NONE of them.
Enjoy.
ACW Friday Night Ignition: August 16th, Week 3
[TV-14]
(As "Ignition" by TobyMac starts, a spotlight shines into the camera as it scans around the spots of a Millennium symbol, a baseball bat with some blood stains on it, a legendary Geatish warrior's crown, a Poké Ball, two Duel Monster cards featuring the Dark Magician and the Blue Eyes White Dragon, a Wumpa Fruit, the Rookie Revolution logo, a symbol of a spider, and a Leaf Village headband being zoomed in…before a swirling effect happens for the chorus to hit.)
Turn on, turn on the ignition, everybody!
(Atem hits the Pharaoh's Endgame to Marik Ishtar; then Yugi Mutou letting out a Hardy Boyz esque shout before landing the Millennial on Carter Young; then both Yugi and Atem standing together as Altered Egos, Yugi pointing at the camera with Jeff Hardy's signature hand gestures and Atem is motioning with his hand in a "bring it" gesture with a dark grin.)
Come on, come on and turn on the ignition!
(Takashi Komuro locking in the Crippler Crossface to Yami Bakura; Kohta Hirano nailing a Carbine Driver to Mason Stone; Takashi and Kohta stand upfront, a baseball bat in the former's hand and a sniper rifle in the latter's.)
Turn on, turn on the ignition, everybody!
(Téa Gardner hits the Apricot Dominance to Kendra Daniels twice at Southern Hell and Reign in Blood respectively in sync with "Turn on, turn on"; The Gods of Darkness smashes Takashi Komuro's head with a Con-chair-to; Scorpion glares with literal fire in his eyes.)
Come on, come on and turn on the ignition!
(Beowulf breathes out smoke like a dragon from his entrance as he lifts his head up with a glare; one side shows Seto Kaiba grinning with arms over his chest as the camera circles around him and the other shows him nailing the White Dragon Plunge to Ash Ketchum; Kurt Hudson is accompanied by Alyssa Parker and Hattori Hanzo before showing him display arrogance by rubbing his fingers together in symbolism of money.)
Turn on, turn on the ignition, everybody!
(The Four Horsewomen stand together in the ring as they hold the four finger gesture; Evil Beauty stand together as a trio; the trio champions of the female's division (and O-Aelita), Evil Beauty and Four Horsewomen ensue in a massive brawl.)
Come on, come on and turn on the ignition!
(Dante and Vergil stand in the ring as they stare face to face with foreheads touching; Crash Bandicoot performs a twister, then has him pulling off a Crash Landing on all his Playground of Blood opponents; The Wolves raise their title belts together with their fists connected.)
Turn on, turn on the ignition, everybody!
(James Griffin plants a Chokebomb on Hernan Ortiz, who is seen next performing the Chaos Breaker on him; Spider-Man nails a Spider's Bite to Sasuke Uchiha; The Symbiotes annihilate Yugi Mutou with Venomous Carnage.)
Come on, come on and turn on the IGNITION!
(The Pyramid of Doom performs in the Playground of Blood with a shocked crowd; Rogen Townsend Genocides Naruto Uzumaki through the announce table from within the ring; Naruto performs the Ninja's Way to Sasuke, then has him instantly raising his ACW Undisputed Championship belt overhead before the logo of Ignition bursts in with impact.)
Uh-oh, uh-oh…
Uh-oh, uh-oh…
Off the swirl wipe transition, "Ignition" by TobyMac starts over at the intro solo mark in full blast and five simultaneous rounds of fireworks shoot up from both sides of the stage all the way up to the top of the IgnitionTron, starting a trail of white hissing pyro go their separate ways from top to bottom as they clash for silver pyrotechnics to shoot from left to right all over like a machine gun for over five seconds before one final and explosive blast out of silver and white pyrotechnics from the stage! The lights turn on thereafter inside the Tingley Coliseum and about over 11,000 attendees immediately roared ferociously in fervor, absolutely thrilled as the camera panned all over them to get every excited face. The fans throughout the arena were seen holding signs such as: "Real Aelita? More like FALSE QUEEN!"; "Friendship is Lunacy"; "The Naughty Dogs are in The Wolves' Yard"; "ACW's Tag Team Division = Ratings"; "Hart of Hyuga: More Heart in Wrestling than iGeneration"; "Naruto Uzumaki…You're Next!"
"As we continue the dawning on Summer Wars that is nine days away, you devotees are watching the LIVE broadcast on the USA Network coming from the sold-out Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico!" Markiplier exclaims. "Hello, everybody, my name is Markiplier and welcome to Friday Night Ignition! As always here with me to call the action are 'The Brutally Honest Man from the Land of Japan' Kenji Matsuo, 'That Guy' Zack Carver and the self-proclaimed 'Legendary Commentator of ACW' Barney Stinson!"
"And boy, do we have a heck of a show planned for you all tonight!" Zack smirks. "Don't we, guys?"
"Indeed, we do, my half-brother," Kenji nods. "For tonight's seventh installment of Ignition, we got—"
"Manny, we haven't even reached five minutes into this and you're already putting the fans watching at home to sleep," Barney interrupts, proceeding to adjust his tie. "Allow The Barnacle to show you how it's done."
"Oh, I humbly await how you will handle presenting what this episode has in store, Stinson," Kenji "enthusiastically" says.
"Hmph, be grateful I'm saving you from embarrassment. Anyways, folks, to sum up Issue #7 of Ignition: 'The Greatest Internet Star Who Ever Lived' Carly Shay takes on some gothic chick no one cares about, an out-of-style devil named Dante going one-on-one with 'The True King of Games' Seto Kaiba, James Griffin faces some guinea pig that won a Rumble in UWE alongside with a demigod that apparently is so loveable by most people all because he's a pitiful bitch to one Roman Emperor who deserves better (and I'm not just talking about Jason Grace), The Wolves facing a rushed pairing with a lazy tag team name consisted of some jobber and a freak of nature, a pair of beautiful Queendom members known as Mai Valentine and Aelita Schaeffer—the REAL one, mind you; not the pitiful excuse of a clone down in AIW—facing a boring women's champion and some homeless lunatic…oh, and two Pick Your Poison Matches featuring Beowulf and Naruto respectively. Alvarez, I wait a big fat check in the mail," Barney smirks, leaning back in his seat with his hands behind his head.
"…You are, by far, the most absolute terrible ringside commentator I've worked with in my life," Kenji deadpans.
"And yet, I'm still around, Marty; don't see anybody complaining," Barney retorts smugly.
"Uh…that out of the way…Ignite the Night, I guess," Zack shrugs, trying to help move on—
—when dark disturbing images rapidly flash onscreen with screaming people coated in blood, slimy worms crawling through skulls, an eclipse blocking the sun, a severed arm being burned, a closeup of a creepy doll, whose head turns to the camera instantly, and a final quick snapshot of a screaming pale man with empty eye sockets with a loud brief scream being heard!
"OH, JESUS CHRIST!" Markiplier cries, caught off guard by that jump scare. "Every f*cking time…!"
After a collective horrified shouts from the crowd…darkness and silence were all that was left…
…
…until a small match was lit and it lights a candle…which reveals Yami Bakura and Marik Ishtar, smirking oh so vilely.
"Albuquerque, New Mexico…" grins Bakura as the crowd lets out a small pop in cheers, "…we're here…"
He blows out the candle soon after, blackness consuming everything from the screen to the arena…
…
…and to the haunting tune of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Emily Browning, small candles appear lit at the edge of the stage and ramp that leads straight to the ring as Bakura and Marik walk out at a slow, menacing pace. On the way, Bakura takes the time to scan the crowd with the likes of scared and/or sobbing kids hiding their faces into their parents, a bearded male gulping, a blond female clenching her hands over her mouth…and he just smirks in amusement.
[Sweet dreams are made of this…
Who am I to disagree?
Travel the world and the seven seas…
Everybody's looking for something…
Some of them want to use you…
Some of them want to get used by you…
Some of them want to abuse you…
Some of them want to be abused…]
"Oh, man… The most disturbing and frightening duo of all in ACW…have arrived…" Markiplier gulps.
"Can't get any creepier than this…" Zack says.
"Nothing like disturbing those surrounding with just your presence; no need to state the obvious of who and what they have in mind after last week's main event," Barney sneers.
In-ring Segment – The Gods of Darkness lay down the challenge for Komuro and Hirano
– The atmosphere and lighting inside the Tingley Coliseum remains dim and terrifying at the manifestation of The Gods of Darkness while Yami Bakura enjoys the facial expression of fear from the live spectators. The vile, twisted spirit of Thief King Bakura slowly twirls the microphone in his hand…and his menacing chuckle echoes around the Coliseum due to the object being so close to his lips.
– "I can feel it… This…wondrous ether against my pale skin…" Bakura says, looking down at his arm…then eyes the fans in front of him. "Can any of you feel it? Hm? …In case you poor souls don't know…take a good look at your faces… The way you fools try to put up a brave emotion when you know you're petrified…the way you parents try to block your children's vision at the true incarnation of your worst nightmares… What Marik and I are witnessing are all so delicious to behold before our very eyes…" Bakura leisurely licks his lips, enough to creep most audience associates out. "Your emotions of fear at the sight of The Gods of Darkness…are set perfectly with the environment we're all currently in right now. We truly thank you mere mortals for acknowledging us as the ones to remind you not to cross us…unlike…certain sinners…" And those "sinners" mentioned incite small cheers from a brave part of the crowd, knowing who Yami Bakura is referencing to. "Oh, now you decide to be valiant? You decide to show your support for these pitiful bastard individuals that dare endure to rebel us? …Heh-heh-heh-hahahaha—OH, HOW YOU IDIOTS ARE BETTING ON THE WRONG GODDAMNED HORSE."
– Marik speaks, more calmly than Bakura, yet just as menacingly, "If you fools actually think, if you actually believe…that Komuro and Hirano have a much better chance of surviving our prefiguring wrath after they made the decision to cross us and decline our rightful shots at the next challengers for the ACW World Tag Team Championships…then it seems to me…you worms going to witness a different ending to their combat against us. Especially considering who they are dealing with…" he looks straight at the hard camera. "Komuro…Hirano…what we've done to you two before…will be nothing compared to what we have in store for you. We've told you many…many times to never anger a god…but it's obvious you never listen…and you never will… I mean, it's very unfortunate…because if you could've just left us alone to do our bidding and stay out of our way…we wouldn't be in this disposition…and you two wouldn't be finding yourselves lying in your pool once we complete your atonement for your sins."
– Yami Bakura steps in to make a proposal, "Now I think it's high time that by Summer Wars, your penalty will conclude there where we, The Gods of Darkness, rise from the ashes of our final battle that will be coated in blood…carnage…and animosity. For in this case of our climatic clash of sinful mortals and wrathful deities…it shall all happen inside a steel confinement that surrounds the squared circle… where one team must either defeat the other by pinfall…painful submission…or escape." By the crowd's response of cheers, it seems they know exactly what kind of match G.O.D. are suggesting. "Glad to hear the deplorable mortals have a clue what we are saying and what our proposal is…because you won't be doing so for long by the time we confine those sinners in our grasp and deliver unto them the castigation they so rightfully deserve. Young Komuro, young Hirano…I know you can hear me from wherever you lurk and cower bearing in mind your actions on us last week…this is an offer you cannot refuse. Do you wish to finally end this story between us? Then come forward…present yourselves to us in this ring Marik and I stand in…and give your answer. In the meantime, as we wait…we'll take the time to recite…The Prayer of the Shadows." Bakura turns to his fellow follower of the shadows and asks, "Marik…would you kindly kneel for the recital?" And the vilely grinning Ishtar willingly does so, closing his eyes and putting his hands together in a form of prayer with the microphone inside so the audience, who appear to feel uncomfortable and confused, can hear them loud and clear. "Good… Now if all of you insufferable ingrates will SHUT UP OUT OF RESPECT…we may begin." He then places his hand on Marik's head…and prays the following in disturbing unison: "Our deities who art in the darkness…hallowed be thy name… Thy kingdom come…thy will be done on Earth as it is in the shadows… Give us this day our daily existence, and forgive us our wretchedness…as we punish those who dare trespass against our Gods of Darkness…and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil… For thine is the reign of darkness, and the power, and the glory…forever… Am—
– "Welcome to the Family" by Avenged Sevenfold interrupts the "prayer" right there, Takashi Komuro and Kohta Hirano coming down to the ring to a highly positive reaction…and heavy glare from Bakura and Marik. Once they enter, Takashi starts off, "Oh, why the long faces? Did we interrupt your little 'prayer'? …Well, after the way you've been putting me and Kohta through, I don't think I'll apologize. And let me see if I got this quote right, 'If we could've just left you alone to do your bidding and stay out of your way, you wouldn't be in this mood…' That correct? Now let me remind you of something: you two have yourselves to blame for interfering our matches and ruining our chance to at least progress into the tournament. You two chose to distract Kohta and attack me so our chances of advancing were dead…so it's obvious you were never finished with us yet. Neither were we after what you did; there's a saying to this kind of thing known as, ya know…'payback's a bitch.' And you two rightfully deserve that payback."
– "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…no," Bakura interjects, a growl added to the last word. "We are not 'even' if that is what you actually think, Komuro. We didn't deserve anything from you…other than hearing your pleasurable screams of torment by our hands. When we hindered your match, it was a small plot of vengeance for how you ungrateful bastards humiliated Marik and me that night at Rebellion. How the gluttonous meek chained up Marik and whipped him with the kendo stick…and how you, the epitome of sin, could've showed me mercy after you had the match won…but you instead chose to climb high on the ladder…descend from it straight down where I was on my back and your skull caved in my chest… I have been coughing up blood for nearly three days thanks to YOU. I barely survived that massacre. We had the last laugh after we attacked you…and we gave you two one chance…one chance…to leave us be…and you screwed that right up for yourselves…! So in this case…you have yourselves to blame. NOT US because you REFUSE to learn your lesson LIKE ALWAYS."
As Takashi and Bakura stare each other down, Kohta raises the mic to his lips for himself, "In fairness, dude…we can't say you had it coming." This brings the crowd agree with him.
"Shut your mouth if you know what's good for you, maggot," Marik growls as boos come in quickly, then he stands down upon Bakura's signal.
– "Now," Bakura utters, appearing to have calmed down, "back to the subject at hand…do you, Takashi Komuro and Kohta Hirano…of the fallen Tokonosu City overcome with the massive, rotting undead…including those former loved ones," Komuro's left eyebrow twitches slightly as does Kohta's right eye, "…accept our challenge where we wage the end of our war inside the steel cage? You know…this is something you cannot refuse…if you wish to put an end to this dispute between you mortals…and us divinities."
– The former AWF Trio Champion takes Yami Bakura's proposal into consideration, tapping his thumb against his chin…and then he replies, "Hm…well…when you put it like that…why the hell not? This is a hell of an opportunity we can't miss if it means kicking your asses straight back down to Hell."
– Chuckling with a wicked grin, Bakura declares, "Then it is settled. Summer Wars is the epic finale to our quarrel inside a steel cage where we will paint the fencing together with hatred…agony…and the crimson blood that ties us all together. And before we depart from each other…allow me to recite this particular saying you mortals love to exclaim before brashly rushing into your doom…'Let's go out with a bang.' Be honest…does it ever really end with a bang? Hm? Because… the way T.S. Elliot said it is more…down to earth… Allow me to quote it for you as a literature lesson…'This is the way the world ends…not with a bang…but a whimper.'" Then the lights suddenly went out…
…and after three seconds of obscurity, the lights turn return with Bakura and Marik standing right behind Takashi and Kohta! "And your whimpers will be the last thing to be heard when we are through with you!" Both startled zombie killers turn around, Bakura landing a throat thrust uppercut to Komuro and Marik hitting an elbow smash to Hirano's face!
– Despite being caught off guard, Takashi and Hirano retaliate as both teams engage a brawl that takes over the ring and eventually spills out of it as Takashi hits a Cactus Clothesline on Bakura, leaving Marik and Kohta alone. The Gun Otaku is raining forearms a furious pace to Ishtar's face in a corner, then begins a series of surprisingly fast straight left-handed jabs concluded with his fists rolling together Bubba Ray Dudley style, a theatrical "gunshot" to the skull and a Bionic Elbow aka the Pointblank Elbow. Kohta feeds off the cheers with a wide grin as he stands at the opposite corner, lines up Marik in anticipation…
…and his Helluva Kick attempt gets sidestepped, resulting his hamstring getting stretched out over the turnbuckle in a bad way! After Kohta pulled his leg out carefully to his pain, Marik attacks him with a European Uppercut in the corner and follows it up with a bounce off the ropes into a brutal Discus Clothesline. Meanwhile, Bakura just dropped Takashi with a Release Gourdbuster on the security barricade ensued by a knee strike to the temple. The spirit of the Millennium Ring exults to the crowd over the estimated downfall of "these sinners" before their very eyes at Summer Wars and drags Komuro off the barricade, blatantly dropping him onto the padded floor. He brings him up to his feet to throw him into the steel stairs in front of them…
…
…and Takashi turns it around midway, flinging Bakura straight into the steps that explode from the impact! Komuro slides in the ring to aid Hirano as he was getting foot choked in the corner by Marik, who shot a Clothesline and missed, and drills him with a German Suplex…rolls to his feet, Marik flailing his arms…hits a second…rolls his hips up on his feet…and—Marik lands on his feet off the third German! He grabs him for a Half Nelson Suplex—Komuro with a STIFF back elbow to the jaw! Marik is STUNNED as he turns around and Takashi drills him with a Release German Suplex, completing Infecta Trifecta!
– Takashi and Kohta signal for Drop Dead, antedating Marik's rise to his vertical base…and he drops DOWN to roll out of the ring, being genre savvy to know he was about to become a victim yet again for the Dudley Death Drop finisher. This rightfully brings ensuing boos and both Fujimi Academy students appearing crossed as Marik, while holding his head, smirks. He tells them to turn around…
…and Kohta is the first to get introduced to a steel chair to the gut by Yami Bakura! Takashi is quick for a Clothesline, but Bakura is quicker to duck it and smash it over his back, repeating so in relentless fashion! After disposing Takashi by to the outside, Marik and Bakura keep their distance from Kohta who lies at the center of the canvas, as they come equipped their respective folding chairs. They eagerly wait for him to reach one foot and one knee…and once he did, they come charging with chairs swinging for his head…
…and Kohta, being genre savvy as well, avoids the deadly Con-chair-to as the chairs clash, sending the harsh vibration back into their arms and forcing them to drop the weapons! Kohta takes one of the chairs, targets Marik for a wild swing…and a miss! Ishtar barely avoids the chair and escapes the ring like Bakura, the Gods of Darkness regrouping to the ramps. Komuro reforms with Hirano, who tests them into returning to the ring and fight like men, and Bakura replies, "We'll fight you…on our terms, you worms…not YOURS. You'll be lying before us as bloody corpses with only your whimpers being heard inside that steel cage! And then maybe…just maybe…you'll see to FINALLY…FOLLOW…THE SHADOWS!" And Bakura went on to cackle insanely with his arms splayed out—
"DEH!"
A brief still of Bakura and Marik staring straight at the viewer with maniacal grins appears onscreen and the broadcast fades out to black, commencing the commercial break.
[Commercial Break]
Pick Your Poison Match – "The Beast of Geats" Beowulf vs. Naruto Uzumaki's handpicked opponent
– The first match kicking off this show featured Beowulf, much to the live Albuquerque crowd's pleasure as he makes his aura felt with "Who's Next?" by Jim Johnston booming in the arena and his Goldberg-esque entrance towards the squared circle. Whoever his opponent is was unknown to everyone but Naruto Uzumaki…until "Unstoppable" by Motionless in White hits the loudspeakers…then the words "Never Surrender" are displayed on the IgnitionTron…and arriving onstage was "The Lone Devil Hunter" Nero to an explosive reaction from (at least 84% of) the crowd! Beowulf felt intrigued by this debuting rookie, knowing he'll have a proper contest, and for Nero…well, he is rather eager for a fight against the fellow demon slayer of mythology.
– Beowulf and Nero begin with a Test of Strength offered by the former. Nero is rightfully cautious as he grasps his opponent's hands and the two proceed to try and strengthen each other out, Beowulf slowly overpowering the half-demon…but said half-demon is somehow able to outmuscle Beowulf, both men staring each other down with bared teeth until Nero slips under and around with a rear waistlock. However, Beowulf keeps his feet planted on the canvas as he snatches onto Nero's left wrist, slowly twisting it and bending it just to humble the Devil May Cry 4 protagonist. Nero does roll forward, but Beowulf keeps him flat on his back with a wrench in his wrist, then covers him, but Nero quickly kicks out and distances himself to recover as the crouching Beowulf respectfully watches on. Barney asserts that it's obvious both demon slayers are trying to feel for one another, waiting for the other one to make a mistake as they engage in the collar-and-elbow lockup, and this time around, Nero holds Beowulf in a wristlock preceded by an arm wrench. He then kicks at the back of his knee (the injured one, 'member?) enough to push his foot down on the area to put him on his knees and with Beowulf in that position, Nero performs the La Magistral on his opponent for the kick-out at one. Nero and Beowulf come at a stalemate with the crowd cheering behind their performance. The devil hunter and epic hero clash in another lockup, striving to push each other back, which Beowulf is doing successfully to Nero against the turnbuckles. Andrew Styles, the assigned referee for this bout, warns Beowulf to break it off and he complies, slowly raising his arms to give his opponent space…but then the alleged son of Vergil jabs a right and yanks him into the corner, firing at the King of Blood with a series of forearms and stands on the middle row ropes to remain doing so before ruthlessly grinding the Devil Bringer in his face until Beowulf managed to shove him away. After a quick reprimand from Styles, Nero shrugs that off and walks back to Beowulf, who strikes him down with a brutal Lariat right out of the corner! Nero, taken aback by the sheer strength, reels away to nurse his neck as Beowulf charges for the Spear—no, Nero quickly dashes right out of the ring just as Beowulf abruptly stopped, as if he knew Nero would avoid the Spear. Nero isn't one to cower, but he needed to think of something in order to take down this heroic monster killer of legend.
– What started with Beowulf taken control over with a Biel Throw, a Mountain Bomb, a Military Press Slam, a Snap Swinging Neckbreaker and an innovative Pumphandle Emerald Flowsion, Nero soon turned the tides on his opponent as he slipped out of a Powerbomb attempt with a roll-up…hoisted into a Torture Rack! Nero literally stretches out the Beast of Geats, who gives out ephemeral screams of agony and refuses to submit before Nero tosses him with a Powerbomb that only earns him a count up to 2.54. Nero stands up with Beowulf in tow, holding him against the ring ropes for a knife edge chop, nailing three of them in fact…and Beowulf reacts with a stiffer chop of his own, knocking his opponent off his feet and the air out of his lungs! Beowulf European Uppercuts him away, then catches an attempted Pelé Kick from Nero to trap him in the ring with a Kneebar; however, this would only be for a few seconds since Beowulf couldn't get the submission held right because of Nero scurrying to the ropes quickly. The Beast of Geats does yank him away from the ropes and forces him on his feet with his bare hands…and Nero slips out of the military press lift to hit a stiff forearm to the back of Beowulf's head, then hits the ropes, gets popped up and hits a Dropkick as a counter. Beowulf rolls outside to recover as Nero hits the ropes, running across the ring for—Beowulf to move out of the way in time…just as Nero actually fakes out his attack with a Slingshot Arabian Press back inside the ring on his feet, smirking at his own performance as Beowulf remains impassive.
– Once they're in the ring together, Nero snatches Beowulf in an arm wrench, really twisting the limb to his own desire…but Beowulf wouldn't stay for long as he rolls forward, performs a freaking kip-up, twists Nero arm to pull him into a Shoulder Block…which Nero actually kip-ups from, appearing just fine. Beowulf turns his head with a glower and sidesteps a loping Nero, who goes for a springboard—caught in a German Suplex…and Nero escapes by landing behind him and chop blocking the left leg. With Beowulf hanging onto the ropes as a standing aider, Nero attacks the leg again with a Shoot Kick and follows it up by nailing a Dropkick that sends him out of the ring. The Lone Devil Hunter scouts his adversary, then after a bounce off the ropes, he launches himself over the top rope with Hell Bound (Suicide Somersault Plancha)… and Beowulf catches him with a Thunder Fire Powerbomb onto the floor! He wastes no time getting him back in the ring…but Nero sweeps off the apron to get behind Beowulf and drills an insanely brutal Snap German Suplex—Devil Snatch—on the 2014 Powerhouse of the Year! Now Nero takes an allegedly unconscious Beowulf, albeit doing so with struggle of his dead weight, back in the ring for the inside leg-hook cover…into a kick-out at 2.84, much to his frustration and to the crowd's shock!
– Later, Beowulf back body drops a running Nero over the ropes, resulting the latter landing his feet on the apron. Then Beowulf goes for a punch, which gets blocked to have his head driven into the top turnbuckle followed by a Rope-aided Enzuigiri behind the object for the impact to vibrate into his opponent's head and it ends with Nero nailing a picture-perfect Springboard Forearm Smash—Blue Rose. Both men lie on the canvas, clearly and nearly worn out from the match thus far…but this doesn't stop Nero from performing a surprise kip-up. He has his back turned on a rising Beowulf as he eyes the ropes, prepping a charge, but Beowulf was holding onto his pants' waistline in preventing him from ending things here. Nero reacts with a forearm and Beowulf avoids it, hits the ropes, hooks the Clotheslining arm with his right, and demolishes his face in with a Discus Elbow Smash! Beowulf then sets the completely stunned devil hunter up…and drills him with a Dragon Suplex! He bridges the maneuver nice and neatly…but after a kick-out at nearly three, it isn't enough to put Nero away! He finds himself almost baffled how Nero still has the stamina to keep fighting…and as well sitting at a neutral corner, realizing this by pulling himself up as he then squats and sees Nero beginning to rise…easy to put two and two together here. The second Nero rose and turned around, Beowulf came bursting out of the corner…
…and the Spear connects into the turnbuckle ring post shoulder-first! Nero barely sidestepped the Spear to use Beowulf's momentum against him, given the results of his opponent's current painful position. The Red Queen wielder pulls him out by his wrestling briefs to plant him with a Backdrop Suplex, then ascends the middle row ropes to come back down with a Diving Knee Drop and hits a Standing Corkscrew Moonsault afterwards…which only gives him a two-and-a-half count!
– Quite agitated, Nero glares down at the kneeling, wounded Beowulf, talking a bit of trash in his face before viciously nailing a Roundhouse Kick to his skull. Nero handsprings over to the ropes…backflipping—onto the Geats' shoulders as he hits a Gutbuster Drop! Unfortunately, that may have further the damage in his shoulder just a little bit, but Beowulf powers through as he brings Nero to his feet and hoists him over with a crucifix hold. He proceeds a Spinning Crucifix Toss, whirling him out of his grasp…
…when Nero corkscrews his body into a three-point stance, saving himself from landing on his back! Beowulf sprints, receives a kick to the gut and Nero takes him for a ride with the High Roller (Rolling Release Suplex)! Nero with the leg hooked: 1…2…SHOULDER POPS OUT AT 2.97, SO CLOSE TO THE THREE-COUNT! Nero cannot believe that this match is still going like Beowulf himself with his hands grasping onto his hair! Wanting to end this badly, the Devil May Cry 4 protagonist stalks his opponent and hits the ropes to fling himself towards him, but only to find himself thrown over to top rope with his impetus used against him. He luckily lands on the apron just fine as the exhausted Beowulf takes this chance to catch his breath. During so, Nero lines up the shot…
…
…and hops off the top rope with a Blue Rose—INTO A SPEAR! SPEAR BY BEOWULF, CUTTING HIM DOWN IN HALF! He springs to his feet with a kip-up followed by an intense roar, then stands Nero on his perpendicular base, sets him in a Vertical Suplex stance…and hits the Wulfhammer dead-center of the mat, which was enough to give Beowulf the three-count!
After the match…
– Eleven…and zero. That is Beowulf's score as of August 16, 2013. The exhausted Beast of Geats has fought a rather surprisingly hard battle against the likes of a fellow resistant opponent in Nero, whom he showed great respect by patting the boy's chest and nodding to him before he stands up to get his hand raised. Despite Nero's lost, certain other devil hunters and a romantic companion of his back home would've been proud of him for his effort against the undefeated Beowulf.
– And with one Pick Your Poison Match out of the way, another will main event this episode with ACW Undisputed Champion Naruto Uzumaki taking on Beowulf's handpicked opponent, hyped by Ignition's announce team with Mark declaring that "we'll be finding out who will it be by then." Then "Ignition" plays as a match card shows that Samantha Hart vs. Carly Shay is up next, and onward to three minutes of commercial we go.
[Commercial Break]
– Back from commercial, the announcers hype up their developmental territory's next episode, AIW XIV, which will feature the AIW Women's Championship #1 Contender's Tournament with Hotaru Futaba and Sasha Slasher clashing in order to advance to the Triple Threat Tournament Finals and the AIW Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament with the Digital Angels promoted to make their debut as they face mysterious opponents; as well, the main event is especially plugged as a tag team match between the Mighty Zeo Rangers (Rocky DeSantos and Adam Park) and the Lagoon Company (Rock and Dutch), stating if the former win, they earn a shot at their AIW Tag Team Championships by AIW Uprising on September 19 and much more to come by next Thursday.
Backstage Segment – Jennifer "Moze" Mosely interviews "The Amazing" Spider-Man
– After two weeks of suspension, Jennifer Mosely is the first to mark her return to her backstage interview job by having "The Amazing" Spider-Man as her guest at this time, Albuquerque sounding pleased at the sight of the Friendly Neighborhood Webhead. She starts the interview off by discussing his current feud with Kurt Hudson that has started since Ignition V regarding the Billion Dollar King attacking post-match and his proclaims that his victory over him was only a fluke.
– "Oh? A fluke, he says. A fluke…the sore loser known as 'The Billion Dollar King' Kurt Hudson says," Spidey shakes his head, almost chuckling. "Funny coming from a guy—and I don't wanna sound harsh to the poor dude—a guy who, uh…has lately become a fluke himself. Now I know he wanted to prove a point after losing to Beowulf back at Rebellion by using me as an example for his 'road to redemption'…and we all know that backfired on him, huh? And we also know he took his anger out on me because things didn't go his way. I mean…as painful as the beating was, Hudson's just a sore loser. Did you really expected me to let myself lose to some wannabe king? Nope. If anything, this man is filled with ego and he's not gonna stop until his ego is filled by beating me…and he's gonna have a hard time doing that. My first victory over him wasn't a fluke…and the next fight we'll get will prove it to him by the time I beat him in the middle of the ring clean as a whistle."
– "That what you think, Mr. Spider-Man?" asks Alyssa Parker who walks into the camera's view with arms folded, a glower and a scowl towards the Marvel superhero. "Then it seems you're more likely to eat your words once my Hudson deals with you after that mortifying fluke of a loss to you of all people. And since we're talking on this topic, what about your debut victory against the likes of Uchiha, hm? Or perhaps your recent triumph from last week against Venom? What do they have in common? Why, they happen to be flukes because during those bouts, you came close to losing if not for Naruto and Atem respectively interfering, resulting your fluke victories. You've caught lucky break after lucky break…and eventually, that luck of yours is gonna run out when my Hudson demolishes you and finally puts you in your place under the soles of his boots as nothing more than a worthless peasant in front of many fellow peasants all around the globe. And if you still don't believe me…hmph, alors vous devriez recevoir une démonstration de votre disparition par l'expérience de première main."
– Though confused by the French language, Spidey realizes the situation quickly as he turns around and eats a brutal Lariat by Hattori Hanzo! The Grim Reaper engages a full-on assault to the defenseless Webhead, mounting him with a furious hail of fists into his skull while the Billion Dollar Queen is rooting him on. He drags him across the floor to hoist him in a Bear Hug and basically thrusts him back-first into a cart, inciting a painful howl from the Wall-crawler. Hattori picks him up again and Spidey begins fighting back with a few punches to the kidneys, but what he got in return was a forearm smash and hellacious throw into a pile of crates!
– Spider-Man crumbles onto the floor, barely having any strength to stand up…but then a hand grabs his head, not belonging to Hattori…
…but belonging to a nonchalant Kurt Hudson crouching in front of him. He tells the groaning superhero that the clock is ticking for his stroke of luck…and that he'll make sure to rectify his loss by humbling everybody's favorite Webhead in the middle of the ring…"clean as a whistle." Then he forces him up…
…and hurls him a leaning stack of ladders which all fall onto him! The Billion Dollar King sneers down at the fallen Marvel superhero, takes an arm around the smug Alyssa and walks away from the scene with their mercenary. Moze comes to his aid while calling for help from the medic trainers…but someone said that there is no need for that just yet in a menacing manner…and the voice sent a chill down Moze's spine as she turns her head to the voice…and backs away out of fear…
…as Venom walks in to pick up the groaning Spider by his throat. He says that "they" still have a bit of unfinished business with this "little bug"…which Spidey corrected him, albeit being choked, that spiders are technically arachnids and not insects, a little dash of snarky, smartass attitude remaining left in the wall-crawler as only a few spectators chuckle during this serious situation…
…but Venom growls in his face as he effortlessly Biel Throws Spider-Man THROUGH THE GODDAMN WALL RIGHT BESIDE MOSELY!
– Moze remains standing and currently shaking after what she just saw with the massive hole being next her as Venom walks up to the petrified college student…hands her the microphone and says, "Since you're the interviewer, allow us…to get this quick consultation over with. What you saw happened to the little BUG…that…was payback for last week… And it is a preview…of what we have in store for the little pharaoh by next week in our Street Fight…and believe us when we say this…where he'll be going after we are through with him, he's not gonna need a gurney…no…he's gonna need a special kind of coffin, one made especially for 'His Highness.'" The Sin Eater walks away with a dark chuckle, leaving behind Moze as she stares on with a light gulp.
Samantha Hart (with Hinata Hyuga) vs. Carly Shay (with Sam Puckett and Freddie Benson)
– Last week had Hinata Hyuga and Sam Puckett going one-on-one, the former leaving victorious after a surprise pinfall over the latter. This week has the roles reverse with Carly Shay and Samantha Hart pitted against each other as their partners stand at ringside opposite of each other. Freddie Benson, who sits at the announce table as usual for whenever iGeneration have a match, states that Carly must gain a win tonight if iGeneration are to even things up with Hart of Hyuga on their excursion to Summer Wars.
– Carly commences the contest with a series of manipulative chain wrestling, always outsmarting Samantha with her technical prowess and being smug about it, but that smugness costs her as she paid too much attention taunting the crowd and this gives Samantha, who was in a seated abdominal stretch, a chance to pop out of the submission and plant her opponent with an Air Raid Crash that would do Tommaso Ciampa or even Cheerleader Melissa proud. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to put away Carly who kicked out…at 2.84 surprisingly. Not only did that set off Carly for being so close to losing as she nails Hart with a Superkick while she was being brought to her feet, but there's the fact that she inadvertently drilled her with her own finisher, the 8-C Driver. The main protagonist of iCarly went on a tirade of how Hart thinks it's funny to use her own move on her, letting out a fake laugh before abruptly knocking her down with another Superkick. Quote from Zack Carver as he asks his half-brother, "Ken, is it time of the month for Carly?" And Kenji being quick to response, "I'd rather not answer that, Zack."
– Now the pace of the match has really slowed down in Carly's favor, absolutely loving it as she can cut off the ACW Women's Tag Team Champion's breath, leisurely torture any body part she chooses from an armbar to an Achilles Lock, and merely stomp on her head while she's down and weak. With control still in her hands, Carly takes Samantha to a corner where she nails a few chops to the chest, feigns an Irish whip and yanks her back into a drop toe hold with the Goth landing face-first into the middle turnbuckle. As she recovers, Carly goes out to the apron and measures her opponent for a springboard attack. She grabs the ropes…to slingshot herself through the top and middle rope, falsifying a springboard maneuver as she straight up strikes Hart down with an elbow smash and the crowd boo heavily to the high-flying tease by Shay who arrogantly poses while Puckett and Benson applaud her smarts.
– After hitting a Downloader, Carly goes for the 8-C Driver early on, but Samantha manages to roll through into an Arm Drag and a devastating Side Kick afterwards. With Carly dazed, Samantha snatches her from behind and up and over she goes with a Tiger Suplex! However, Carly still had the presence of mind to roll to the outside where Puckett confers with her and regroup; referee Michael Verra orders Sam to stay away, but she cusses at the official as she's busy trying to check if her best friend may have a concussion. Meanwhile, the raven-haired female decides to matters into her own hands…but Verra, being genre savvy about this kind of thing, holds an arm up in front of her to prevent her from going after iGeneration, much to their approval and her displeasure. Nonetheless, Samantha is forced to concur…and with Verra's back turned to start the ten-second count-out limit, Samantha hastily leaves the ring, stalks Carly and Sam like a lioness…and pounces at her prey off the steel steps with a Somersault Senton! She immediately shoves Shay back in and heads up the top turnbuckle for a Diving Crossbody! Only a near-fall is achieved on the ensuing pin though…and a deadpan glare from Verra as he asked Samantha if it was worth it and she replies, "…Kinda." with a shrug.
– With Samantha in current jurisdiction, she goes on with a succession of knife edge chops at the corner, a short-arm drop toe hold into the middle rope, a Fisherman Suplex bridged into a near-fall at two, frequent knee lifts to Carly's head as she stands bent over in-between the top and middle ropes, and a Scissors Stomp to end that knee lift sequence. She measures her arising opponent from the apron, thinking a springboard when Puckett attempts at a distraction and that immediately backfires on her due to Hart nailing a critical Superkick. The Goth-themed takes herself to the skies with a Springboard Forearm Smash…and she eats a surprise Single Knee Facebreaker by Carly Shay, but only for a count of 2.63!
– Carly performs a Double Knee Backbreaker later and attempts to shift into an Emerald City Stretch (Alex Shelley's Border City Stretch) as Samantha is fighting out of it. She successfully does so, but Carly is quick enough to hit a sharp elbow the back of her head and snaps on the Figure-four Headscissors with her firm legs wrapped around her neck. While Samantha struggles to break free, Carly has a little fun with a few Push-up Facebusters executed on the Women's Tag Team Champion before resuming to squeeze the breath out of Hart's neck. Fortunately, it didn't take long for Samantha to drag herself over to the bottom rope, stretch her legs out and catch a rope break, but not before Carly sends a few cheap elbow strikes to the top of her skull until releasing her by Michael Verra's count reaching nearly five. After brushing off the referee, Carly holds Samantha back to her feet and against the ropes for an Irish whip; Hart bounces off and nails Carly with a kick to the chest to counter the back body drop attempt followed by evading a Clothesline and hitting a Falling Neckbreaker, which only got a two-count.
– Once through stomping a mud hole into a defenseless Shay followed by yanking her up into a Short-arm Clothesline, Samantha signals the Diving Headbutt to end it all…but a venomous Sam Puckett, a bit of blood trickling on her lips from the Superkick earlier, seeks revenge as she hops on the apron and is held back by the official until Hinata runs in and yanks her off, resulting Sam hitting face-first into the apron. Then, while Hinata mounts Sam with punches, Hart turns around and spikes a risen Carly's head into the canvas with a Pitch Black DDT (Snap Single Underhook DDT)! Meanwhile, the commentators were in a tumult…as Freddie Benson left the announce table to take Samantha's Women's Tag Title and enters the ring to attack her with it, but Samantha avoids the belt shot and threatens to punch when Freddie tosses it to her and scurries out. Verra, after seeing what transpired, comes in to warn him to stay out as Samantha was about to toss her belt aside…
…when Carly jumps her with an Enzuigiri, nailing the title into her skull! Fans become outraged as Carly throws away the evidence, capitalizes with an 8-C Driver at the center of the ring and covers her for the pinfall victory.
After the match…
– The champs and challengers are evened up, but not in the cleanest way as iGeneration celebrate to the stage with smug grins plastered on their faces and a seething, hurt Hart glaring at them from the ring with Hinata, who had suffered her head hitting the apron from being pushed by Puckett after the bell rung, doing the same. Carly and Sam display the "Four Horsewoman" hand sign, proclaiming they are just one step closer to become the next ACW Women's Tag Team Champions and begin "The Change" for the entire women's division.
– Still to come, Naruto Uzumaki will go on to face an opponent's of Beowulf's choice in the main event; also, the World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Tournament semifinals to come later tonight; and up next, Dante vs. Seto Kaiba is announced as Dante is seen slipping on his red coat with a smirk and heading off to the Gorilla Position before cutting off to commercial.
[Commercial Break]
– Back from commercial, the announcers plug ACW's upcoming live event house show, Tag Team Mayhem. It will feature the ACW World Tag Team Tournament Finals between the respective tag team representatives of Ignition and RAMPAGE and the open challenges featuring ACW Women's Tag Team Champions Hart of Hyuga and ACW World Tag Team Champions Alpha & Omega, with the latter in main event, respectively facing against special challengers from various companies like UCA, UWE, PCUW, WWE Unreal, CEW, etc.; basically, ACW is giving an open challenge to any tag team from any promotion in all of the Fiction Wrestling Multiverse. ACW is critically acclaimed for their vast tag team division and their exciting tag team matches, giving the rookie promotion the reason to make this event happen. Tag Team Mayhem will air live online on the FWM Network from Tucson, Arizona in the Tucson Convention Center on August 21, 2013 at 9/8 CST.
"The Crimson Showstopper" Dante vs. Seto Kaiba
– For a simple television pro wrestling match, people anticipated Dante and Kaiba to exceed their expectations as match of the night. The match is preceded by Dante's signature entrance comprised with extreme confidence and laidback arrogance on his way to the ring; however, Dante decides to take to the microphone to speak his mind…and everyone knew what he meant.
– Dante says, "I won't lie to you guys…but I'm confused. I really am. Vergil, my twin brother, my own flesh and blood…siding with the same dude who intended on using Sparda's power to take over the world after using me, Vergil and Lady as pawns against each other just to spilling our own blood in order to unlock said power…using Vergil especially that whole time. What I just don't get is why Vergil is aligned with this creep again just to get stabbed in the back eventually. Vergil…" Dante looks straight at the hard camera, leaning forward into the ropes, "I may not know why you chose to do what you did, and I know you can be a desperate man when you need to…but I do know you aren't this desperate. One way or another, I'll make sure to get my answer before I knock some sense into your skull at Summer Wars when I kick your ass again. You're my brother…and I'll be damned if you decide to turn your back on those you truly care about. You know exactly who I'm talking about, Vergil. So next week…I'm calling you out to explain yourself…whether you like it…or not."
– Soon after dropping the mic, "Lights Out" by Breaking Benjamin hits the speakers to explosive boos for Seto Kaiba's appearance. The match starts off with a collar-and-elbow tie-up…at least Dante thought that's how things would start when Kaiba abruptly slapped him across the face. His reason for this? He didn't like to be kept waiting. Dante retaliated to this pettiness by landing a stiff forearm and a knife edge chop afterwards, showing he is not in the mood for this kind of egotist crap. After bringing Kaiba to the ropes from the series of chops, Dante hurls him across the ring with an Irish whip, Kaiba bounces off avoiding a Clothesline to attempt a Belly-to-back Suplex, but Dante backflips out of it and shoves Kaiba to the ropes. He bends over for a back body drop and eats a Facebreaker Knee Smash, then Kaiba follows it up with a White Dragon Plunge to end this bout early…but Dante spins out of his grasp and plants him with a Bridging Northern Lights Suplex…which Kaiba pops the shoulder before referee Corey Jackson can count…and shows off his strength as he carries himself and Dante up on their feet. They struggle to pull one over for a backslide pin, but Kaiba slips his arm out and elbows his nape in brutal fashion, bringing Dante down to a knee to nurse that area. Sneering at his pain, Seto hits the ropes and—gets decked with a beautifully picture-perfect Standing Dropkick by the Crimson Showstopper!
– Dante goes for a Diving Axe Handle aka Ebony & Ivory from the apron only to catch a fist in the breadbasket and Kaiba follows it up with a Release Front Suplex, landing his opponent on the barricade in targeting the abdomen again. As Dante is draped over the security barricade, Kaiba nails a hell of a running knee to the side of his skull that brings the demon investigator down forward onto the padded floor. Soon as Kaiba brought him in the ring and covered, Dante kicked out at 2.3, which leads to Kaiba stomping his face in. He takes him to a corner for a few punches, and then Irish whips harshly him into the opposite corner where Dante turnbuckle flips in such HBK manner due to the velocity; he crumbles down for Kaiba to hoist him on his shoulders at the center and lands a Fireman's Carry Neckbreaker that'd probably make Hirooki Goto proud, but another kick-out by Dante occurs at a near three-count.
– The unruffled, charismatic protagonist of the Devil May Cry series does regain the momentum of this bout back when he actually caught Kaiba's attempted High Knee midway and drills him with a High-angle Belly-to-back Suplex into a bridge…that Seto kicks out at 2.69 and into the Side Headlock. Dante does rise to his feet real soon and conveys himself and Kaiba into the ropes to shove him off; Kaiba rebounds with a Shoulder Block that knocks Dante down…but the devil hunter refuses to stay down after performing a fast kip-up. He blocks a punch to hit one of his own and continued on until Irish whipping him off the ropes, catching him with a Hip Toss and hooks his legs around his chest to smoothly roll him over on his back and shoulders: 1…2…another kick-out by Kaiba, who earns a rigid right forearm for his troubles.
– The two are later on the top turnbuckle with Dante endeavoring a Back Superplex on Seto. After some clubbing to his upper back, Dante had the move ready to execute…but midway, Kaiba turns it into a Crossbody Splash on the way down! He hooks the leg, but a kick-out occurs. Both men reach their vertical bases with Kaiba throwing a Clothesline and Dante catching him with an STO Backbreaker followed by a Falling Neckbreaker—countered with a vicious elbow to the back of the head. Dante holds his head as he staggers to the ropes and Kaiba grabs him for a quick finish with the Inverted Go 2 Sleep…but Dante slips off, strikes him with a Spinning Back Kick to the gut and pays tribute to The Phenomenal One with the Stylin' DDT, which only brings him a two-count!
– Reasonably frustrated at the slightest, Dante takes Kaiba to the ropes to have his Irish whip attempt reversed, but is one step ahead of his opponent with a kick to the chest, a harsh knife edged chop to the chest and a Snap Swinging Neckbreaker. Another two-count transpires and Dante makes the quick run to the ring ropes for the Jumping Elbow Drop, but misses it when Kaiba wisely rolled out of the way. This gives Kaiba a chance to swiftly recuperate with a Facebreaker Knee Smash, an Irish whip into the turnbuckles and then a Corner Clothesline, bringing a stumbling Dante into a high-impact Spinning Spinebuster. Believing the end is near, Kaiba motions for Dante to stand and hooks his arms tight once he got on his knees…but the paranormal mercenary breaks out of it and tosses him right over! Kaiba stands back up, nursing his back as Dante then ducks a right hook and then stops himself at the ropes to avoid a High Knee; what followed was another dodge into an O'Connor Roll that Kaiba kicks out as the young son of Sparda stumbles into the ropes…
…Tiger Feint Kicking back into the ring and takes down his opponent with the Flying Forearm Smash…
…soon followed by a kip-up! After posing for the loudly cheering audience with a wide grin, he turns around to dodge another strike and lands an Inverted Atomic Drop on Kaiba, and then a Scoop Slam straight down into the center of the canvas! Reaching the top turnbuckle, Dante dives and slaps his elbow pit on the way down for the Devil Trigger!
– Feeling the match on his side, Dante goes over to a nearby corner for some stomping theatrics, HBK style, and the crowd is encouraged to join along. Four stomps in, Kaiba stirs and begins to rise up, slowly reaching his vertical base as Dante continues his wake-up taunt. Finishing with ten stomps, Dante aims for the Stylin' Chin Music (Sweet Chin Music)…
…and Kaiba catches the kicking leg in his hands! He shakes his head with a smug grin before swinging his leg away to kick him in the gut and sets up for the White Dragon Plunge…
…
…but Dante uses that jumping momentum against him to hoist him over his shoulders and hits The Rebellion for the 1…2…3!
After the match…
– Dante basks in the conclusion, posing for the crowd with arms spread wide out to "Shout at the Devil" by Mötley Crüe with a determined expression as he feels he may have a chance against Vergil at Summer Wars…but then Kaiba comes back into the ring with a steel chair. Kaiba stalks the unsuspecting half-demon / half-human for the shot, measuring him and raising the chair over…
…to have it swiped away from him by Jester! He hastily escapes as Kaiba Corp president chases him out, downright irritated and angry over his interference…and that's when Vergil turns Kaiba around with the Yamato at the center of the ring! Fans let out a collective "whoa!" to their surprise when Vergil did this, and Dante, after hearing all the commotion, jumps a little upon seeing his single-kneeling twin glaring down at the prone Kaiba.
– Vergil looks up to see his brother's confusion and explains as a reminder that if anyone is going leave [Dante] defeated and broken at Summer Wars…it rightfully should very well be the self-proclaimed True Son of Sparda himself. The honorable elder twin takes his exit with Arkham to "Flash of the Blade" playing him out, leaving Dante alone to stare on.
During the commercial break…
– Returning from the break, the ring announcers talk about what went on during the commercial break…
– The cameras were able to catch Kaiba soon on his feet, obviously livid and mortified over Vergil's attack as he attempts to recover from it…and if that wasn't bad enough, "Me Against the World" by Simple Plan hits to a loud pop and that catches Kaiba's attention to glare on at the IgnitionTron. He proclaims to just cripple the Pokémon Trainer right now if he dares come to enter the ring with a "wounded tiger"…yet he has no idea that Ash Ketchum is already standing in the ring behind his enemy. Soon after, Kaiba becomes Genre Savvy enough to understand what's really happening as he turns around…and falls victim to an Attitude Adjustment—no! Kaiba sharply elbows the temple and, in his point of view, wisely darts out of the ring to fight another day with the crowd booing heavily and Ash glowering a hole through him, soon standing on the ropes as he states that Kaiba won't be running away forever. Interestingly enough, it is announced that at Tag Team Mayhem, the team of Dante and Ash Ketchum will take on the team of Vergil and Seto Kaiba, filling up their already vast live house show event.
Backstage Segment – Mike "The Mic" Martin interviews Rogen Townsend (…or least tries to)
– Now at backstage, Rogen Townsend is seen pacing back and forth in the interview area, rubbing his hands over his face as he appears a bit paranoid and disturbed. No shock considering what he went through last week from those cryptic, eerie messages in that horror-themed room. He is then approached by Mike "The Mic" Martin, who is plausibly hesitant to interview Rogen, knowing how paranoid he is appearing lately. He was requested by backstage to receive an update from Rogen's current situation and see if he has a response to it all.
– Townsend…slowly turned his head ominously, making Mike take a step back in anxiety as seven-foot tall man towers over him. He then replies, "Were you taught to ask ill-advised questions, mate? Hm? At my expense, backstage has the nerve to send you here and give me such an inane question when I can barely sleep at night, knowing the bastard who is after me…?!"
"…I-I'm just doing my job, sir," Mike gulps.
"Well…I apologize then, little Mike…but you still suck at it," Rogen scowls. "I'll tell you what, though…now that I'm calm…I can probably give you what backstage wants from me. For a month…I have been searching for the wanker, who I thought was unnecessarily targeting me…but after last week, I see it is an 'old friend' from the past. It all now makes sense—the font in the messages, the bloody, dark environment…and the music…it connects to one man…" Rogen then glares at the camera, "And if he is listening to me right now…show yourself by next week, mate. Because SCREW SUMMER WARS. I want you to PERSONALLY PAY for making a paranoid fool out of me! And if I took you out before…I can bloody well do it again, but this time around, I will make sure you never return."
James Griffin vs. "The Deathmatch Icon" Spin the Hedgehog
– It is worth noting that early tonight when James Griffin arrived in the arena, "Violet" Clarissa Rivera tried to get a word out of him over why he continues despise and berate Hernan Ortiz in spite of his peace offering…and all she received in return was a threatening glare that begot her to back away in fear…but then he grabs her mic to say, "My reasons for doing what I want to make Ortiz deserve his suffering…is none of your damn business." He then walks away.
– Prior to referee Kenneth Lugar signaling for the bell to ring, "My Town" by Hollywood Undead plays to a welcoming pop, much to James' annoyance, as Hernan Ortiz walks out and towards the announce table to take part as guest commentator.
– Now as the match officially begins, Spin walks to the center to instigate things with arms ready for a lockup when James charges right out of the gate and carries Spin into the corner for a series of turnbuckle thrusts! He then flings him at the center of the ring and blasts him with a brutal Bicycle Kick! Afterwards, Griffin shoves the Deathmatch Icon into another corner, leans back against his corner to measure him before running at high speeds with a devastating Cannonball Senton! Mark states this is Griffin manhandling Spin, to which Barney corrects and quips that this simply animal abuse and this is one he'll support. He takes him at the center of the ring in a standing headscissors, staring a deep hole straight through Hernan, who glares back, and proclaiming that what is happening to his opponent will likely happen to him the next time they meet. He brings him into an Elevated Prawn Hold…and Spin saves himself with a Hurricanrana, sending the bully throat-first into the ropes! James stands up to nurse his gullet, but then Spin takes him out with a Cactus Clothesline as both men tumble down to the floor, the Mobian hedgehog landing on his feet like a cat! Spin admits that James may have surprised him, but he's not going down without a fight before we head into commercial with Spin in control.
– We return to the following seventh episode of Friday Night Ignition with Spin landing a running elbow drop straight down into James' face as he hangs from a tree-of-woe. James goes down as Spin picks him up for the Fate Changer, but James breaks out of it and nails a harsh elbow to the side of his jaw followed by an Overhead Belly-to-belly Suplex into the turnbuckles! This earns him a count of 2.4 when Spin kicked out and puts him in a grounded reverse headlock. For a while, the former ACW Intercontinental Champion ensured that the four-time UWE X-Treme Champion remained on the mat, but Spin soon rose to his feet with Griffin held high and slamming him down with a Back Suplex.
– Nailing a Swinging Neckbreaker and a Leg Drop, which earned him a two-count thereafter, Spin takes control of this bout as he later drags James seated into a corner and measures him from the opposite junction. He goes for a knee strike, but James is quicker to evade it and causes Spin to barely stop himself to avoid collision with his knee meeting the middle turnbuckle. As Spin staggers back to the center, James goes for a Clothesline and misses it, then he ducks a Back Elbow by Spin, who is forced to eat a Lariat followed by a Running Senton.
– The momentum has been truly trading back and forth between both men such as Spin countering a Spinebuster into a DDT and James countering a Suicide Dive into a Spinning Side Slam. With the action taking place outside, James decides to bide his time with the count-out in Thrust Spinebustering the Mobian hedgehog into a turnbuckle post not once, but twice, then a Military Press Drop onto the barricade gut-first and a Big Boot to the barricade-hung 2014 FWM Hall of Famer. At the count of nine, James quickly rolls back in…and back out to break it up just so he can beat Spin down again while disrespecting him to the booing audience before knocking him flat with a Lariat. Hernan notes this is how James likes to treat his opponents, no matter who they are…but that arrogance will come back to bite him in the ass. James decides he's had his fun and brings Spin inside to perform the Tyrant Shellshock…
…and Spin remains on his feet; Griffin, sneering, clubs his back repeatedly and tries lifting him over…and succeeds—with Spin sliding down, rolling him up and turning him over for the vintage Boston Crab! Both men scream at the top of their lungs, Spin shouting at James to tap out right now and the latter refusing to, clutching onto his head with a hand out towards the bottom rope that is only inches away. Just when he reached the rope break, Spin quickly drags him back at the center of the ring to pressure the Boston Crab further on. Eventually…James slowly, but surely powers out of the submission when he turned on his back and blatantly raked Spin's eyes. Once Spin distanced himself, James comes running, but he falls victim for his opponent yanking down the middle rope and crashing down to the floor. The inaugural NJPW Japanimation Deathmatch Champion hits the ropes twice and comes Suicide Diving…
…
…INTO HERNAN ORTIZ DUE TO JAMES GRIFFIN QUICKLY CHANGING HIS COURSE MIDAIR!
– With Spin the Hedgehog dazed after crashing into the New Enigma, Griffin quickly drags him back into the squared circle to—RUN INTO THE DISCUS BIG BOOT, DEATH KILLS! Griffin drops to a knee and Spin goes for K.O. Elbow off the ropes…and pays for it dearly with a Pop-up Tyrant Shellshock at the center of the ring! James, much to the disapproval of the crowd, gets the three-count.
After the match…
– "I Walk Alone" by Saliva specially signals the victory of James Griffin, who splays his arms wide with a shit-eating grin to the negative sounding audience. Meanwhile, after recovering from Spin hurtling into him, Hernan lets the commentators know that he's not that surprised by what James did…but he's gonna go ahead and kick his hide all over that ring right now since "his fat ass deserves it." And so he does; the New Enigma rushes inside and tackles his longtime childhood bully down to the canvas with raining fists! James shoves him off and the two trade fists to the point where they simultaneously strike each other's skulls à la Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, and the audience is going crazy over it!
– Surprisingly, Hernan wins out the slugfest as James is forced to roll out of the ring and recuperate, but not before the New Enigma comes flying at him with a Topé con Hilo! As he continues laying him out with a fury of punches, it's obvious he's not going to stop until he gets his answers. Bringing out a steel chair into this equation, Hernan mercilessly smashes the weapon over James' spine, releasing all his frustrations and anger all over him to show he's had enough of it all as a few officials try to put a stop to this, but he warns them to stay away; he then turns James on his back and threatens him that he'll break his face in if he didn't get his answers…and James holds up his hands to surrender, willing to explain his actions. Wanting to keep him at bay, he orders a ringside crew member to bring a microphone for James to clarify his deeds in front of the entire Multiverse.
– Griffin, held at "gunpoint" so to speak with the chair at his throat, stands up against the ring apron and as soon as Hernan receives the mic, he extends it out to James, who says, "…This what you wanted, Ortiz? This how you wanted to get me to talk? How does it make you better than me?"
Hernan replies, "I'm not looking to be a better person than you 'cause Lord knows I could just continue beating the hell out of you…I just wanted to know why… WHY? Why do you continue to attack me? Why do you continue to bully me? Mock me, everything chance you get to harass me when we were younger, especially since we're not even in goddamn middle school anymore? I wanted to bury the hatchet…but you refuse to. So again, I ask…and you better frigging answer…why do you continue all of THIS? …Why do you hate me so badly to this point, man? You and I both know…we probably could've been good friends; I didn't consider it then, but I did a lot of growing up…and I wanted to put all of this to an end…so why is it you won't let it go?"
– Griffin remains silent…but he eventually responds—by shoving the chair into Hernan, jabbing the leg into his chest and then snatches the chair to smash it over his body in brutal, frequent fashion! After swinging the chair at officials as a threat to keep them away, James grabs Hernan and straight-up annihilates him with a vicious Powerbomb onto the ring apron! It seemed that James may never give his answer as he leaves Hernan for the officials and some EMTs to inspect him…but as it turns out, he grabbed the dropped microphone on his way up to the stage. He turns his head, watching his nemesis being treated and soon raises the mic up to his lips, after a few light pants of breath…to finally speak for his actions.
– "Hernan Ortiz…while you lie there, hopefully as uncomfortable as you possibly can be…I want you to listen…and digest all of what I am about to say… The entire true backstory of why my pure, utter hatred for you will never die. The story to our never-ending feud that began far, far back…with my dad, Damien Griffin…and your dad, Miguel Ortiz," James states, surprising a few of the crowd members. "During the old days of their respective careers, they had a rivalry of their own…but the difference is that the rivalry between my dad and yours is that it was a friendly competition; they held a great amount of respect each other and were known to be great friends…
"But…one night…an unfortunate accident happened during their match. And since you don't remember for the life of you, allow me to explain it so that buried memory of the past can be dug back up for your stupid brain…" James scowls heavily, soon rubbing his face afterwards…and then continuing. "As your dad went for a Hurricanrana, mine tried to counter for a Powerbomb to end it right there…but he lost his footing, causing his back to bend in ugly fashion and botched the f*cking move… Oh, and it doesn't stop there…my dad suffered a back injury so severe…and unless he likes to live his life in a wheelchair, he was told to NEVER WRESTLE AGAIN…" The crowd nearly went silent, almost feeling sorry for the bully as Hernan, who sits near the apron, look as if he's hearing all this for the first time. James endures the backstory, "My dad…was forced to retire because of that one goddamn mistake. And you know something, Ortiz? My dad says he doesn't blame your old man for it 'cause that botch was 'technically' his fault…but I catch him watching a few of his matches from his glory days…with a single tear dropping down from his eye…always." James lowers his mic, taking the time to rub his eyes…and then slowly looks up with a heavy frown and slightly wet eyes. "That…what started my hatred for your dad…your family…all those stupid high-flyers that think they're so f*cking cool with their flippy bullsh*t…and especially YOU. And since we're on you as a subject, let's get started on that. But before we do, those who feel sorry for me right now," James points at the over 11,000 spectators, "I suggest you cut the crap because I'm not looking for any sympathy from you idiotic hypocrites that buy all those ACW posters, collector cups, any programs, and so on that my face isn't on, but somehow Hernan's stupid face is, SO YOU CAN ALL JUST GO SCREW YOURSELVES!" That brought a rounding chant of "you suck!" from fans, which James clearly ignores to focus on his tirade against his victim.
"Our rivalry doesn't just stop at my dad being forced to retire—oh, no, it goes even DEEPER than that! You, Ortiz…have been the bane of my existence since middle school. The fact that whenever I have decent grades, you have better ones, the fact that you were our school's soccer team star while I was placed beneath you, and the fact that despite me making your life Hell, you still manage to make friends, even with my stupid, pathetic, worthless cousin, who's stuck in developmental hell at AIW after I kicked his ass at Reign in Blood for humiliating me the month before, no thanks to you making him change his ways with this 'see the light' BS! And then there's the undisputed fact…that you managed to make it into the wrestling industry before ME… That…THAT just makes me sick to my stomach, hearing that you are an actual success in the business while I was just in the sidelines WAITING for my time to shine! My career was only mediocre at best with only a UWE X-Treme Championship and an ACW Intercontinental Championship that lasted for FIFTEEN F*CKING DAYS, which should've lasted longer before carrying the ACW Phenomenal Championship—stupid name, by the way, Smith—if it wasn't for you interfering with me making history! And during all of that, YOU, however, managed to succeed above me with as a 2007 Rumble Royale winner and the first man to not only beat Nightmare for the UWE Omega Championship at WrestleNation, but you ended his record-breaking title reign, and you were later declared the final XW Champion on NCW's former sh*tty developmental territory! And this isn't sour grapes, but the fact that you're a success despite how your dad f*cked over my dad's career and I'm not MAKES ME SICK. …Day in and day out, no matter what accomplishments I earn, and no matter how much I develop my abilities, it's you that stands on top when it should be ME instead! I'M THE ONE SHOULD HAVE A SUCCESSFUL CAREER! I'M THE ONE WHO SHOULD'VE SUCCEED WHERE MY DAD LEFT OFF! MEANWHILE, YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN THE ONE SUFFERING FOR YOUR OLD MAN'S CRIMES, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! THE FACT THAT I'M THE ONE LEFT TO SUFFER MEDIOCRITY WHILE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE ATTAINMENT IS INSANITY! I'M THE ONE SHOULD'VE MADE IT BIG! …NOT YOU, MY PATHETIC, LITTLE PUNCHING BAG…!" James stops for a moment to glower at Hernan, who silently glares back…
…and then he says, "Since my father was forced to retire too damn early no thanks to your stupid old man…I've made it my duty to make you suffer…no matter what. Since God is too weak to give you and your family what you deserve, I might as well take matters into my own hands, so listen to my words, Hernan… I want you to feel the pain I went through. I want you to feel the agony my dad had to go through in giving up his career to remain walking for the rest of his life. And I will make sure you feel the absolute WORST kind of pain the next time we meet in the ring… Then again…guess your dad being dead and rotting in Hell isn't enough to make you suffer, is it?"
– Nuclear. Heat. That's all that is felt inside the Tingley Arena from the Albuquerque natives and Hernan giving the worst kind of a death glare, appearing to have incurable intentions in his thoughts while James sneers. "Now…since I finally got that off my chest and you finally got what you wanted, you selfish bastard…I guess this ups the ante for when we clash in the ring next week. Hope you're ready for the deserved punishment of your life, Ortiz…'cause I'm gonna make sure I will leave you beaten, battered and crippled. I don't say this much, but good luck…you're definitely gonna need it," James infers, dropping the microphone with Saliva's "I Walk Alone" playing his exit as Hernan prolongs to stare daggers at his bitter enemy.
[Commercial Break]
Backstage Segment – The ACW World Tag Team Champions declare what's to come next week
– Backstage, in front of a purple background with "Don't Question My Heart" heard in the background, Alpha & Omega stand together with their tag team titles draped over their respective shoulders, proceeding to cut a backstage promo of the story so far…
– Stan Terra starts, "Ya know, we've been on a hell of a roll thus far since our World Tag Team Title reign began at Rebellion. Two weeks ago, we made our very first title defense against Venom and Carnage, both who are absolute legends of his entire industry… Shame they came so short to claim our belts."
Carter Young adds, "And now there's this…tournament to decide new number one contenders for our titles. Next week's live house show special, Tag Team Mayhem, is where it all culminates…and meanwhile, it is where we make our second defense against a tag team not part of this company and where we will prove our supremacy as the ACW Tag Team Champions of the World."
– "As much as we can look forward to all that…we're not one to sit around with our thumbs up our asses while watching the tournament fly by and waiting for Tag Team Mayhem to arrive already," Stan states. "So that's why you lucky fans got us to look forward to tomorrow night on Saturday Night RAMPAGE when we take on…ugh, Ian and Anthony of Smosh." He rolls his eyes.
"Best Mr. Garza can offer us, Omega…unfortunately," Carter says. "Nothing like a bit of practice on two complete 'degenerate' jokes to make an example out of before Tag Team Mayhem and Summer Wars, no?"
Terra rubs his chin and hums to ponder, "Hm…suppose that is true. We got a lot ahead of us tomorrow, next Wednesday and Sunday."
"That we do," Young agrees, then turns to the camera, "so don't miss us tomorrow or you'll likely regret it."
– "All hail Alpha & Omega, baby," Terra grins widely in such arrogance before A&O clink their tag titles together and hold them up close for the camera to zoom in.
World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Semifinals – The Naughty Dogs (Nathan Drake and Crash Bandicoot) vs. The Wolves (Erik Rollins and Damian Reigns) (with Hannibal Ambrose)
– Tonight, both teams have the one common goal of this entire tournament in becoming the next challengers for the ACW World Tag Team Championship at Summer Wars in less than two weeks; however, The Wolves appear certainly dead serious and irate after particular events at FUSION in losing their FWM Trio Championship to The Legion and failing to regaining them thereafter, so they are looking decimate their opponents…but in this case, their prey. And the Naughty Dogs know this, so they better be well careful of whatever they have in store.
– As the match begins, Nathan Drake and Erik Rollins were the first to have a go at each other, engaging in a Test of Strength before the latter swiftly switched it into an arm wrench. Nate is quick enough to roll forward and twist Erik's arm, transitioning into the hammerlock, but then Erik turns the tables on the veteran as he grounds him flat down to the mat with his own hammerlock. Erik manages to keep the hold in as he leisurely rises to where his foot is on Nate's hand…and stomps his hammerlocked arm! The treasure hunter distances himself, nursing his arm and clapping lightly in showing of respect to the young prospect as both men stare each other down. They later continue their series of trading holds, Rollins showing off his technical prowess while Drake shows he's no slouch in this kind of thing; Erik tightly wrenches Nathan's wrist and arm, though not for long when Nate rolls forward, bridges himself to spin up onto his feet, slaps his hand away from Erik's grasp and dropkicks him down…and Erik performs a kip-up instantly afterwards, earning a respectful round of applause from the crowd!
– The amateur and mat-based technical wrestling prolongs for five more minutes until Nate gets the first hit on Erik with a Folding Powerbomb, escaping an attempted Cross Armbar thanks to his hands locked together. Of course, Rollins kicks out and Nate shifts things quickly by locking in the Boston Crab, which Erik eludes in a short time thanks to a rope break. Soon as Erik stood, Nate strikes him with a European Uppercut…followed by a retaliating forearm smash from Erik, then a knife edge chop by Nathan, who takes him for an Irish whip. Rollins bounces off and stands straight up onto his opponent's shoulders off the pop-up attempt! Then a backflip off of Nate…followed by an Arm Drag…then a second…and a picture-perfect Standing Dropkick to conclude that series! Erik eventually tags out to Damian Reigns…and so does Nate tagging in the insane Crash Bandicoot, who is eager for some action after seeing the display between both Rollins and Drake. The Wolves' powerhouse and the mutant bandicoot stare each other down before tying up…and then Reigns suddenly lifts Crash off his feet with a Two-handed Chokelift into a Biel Throw, tossing Crash to the outside like a rag doll! Reigns taunts to the hard camera, "Hey, 'Crash' is his namesake, isn't it? Thought he'd enjoy that 'extreme' ride." He watches Crash stir and recover after that sudden toss before hitting the ropes and running across the ring at a fast pace…to slow down, slide out and knock down Crash with a heavy Lariat, thus inciting the crowd to boo at his tease. After that, he simply Military Press Lifts Crash up and tosses him into the ring over the ropes.
– Reigns Irish whips Crash into his partner's boot on the top turnbuckle, causing him to fall back into a roll-up and hoisted onto his single shoulder as Erik, after tagging himself in, ascends the top rope…and they hit the Diving Clothesline and Awesome Bomb combination! Unfortunately, that gets a near-fall for Erik; one Big Boot to the kneeling Crash Bandicoot later, Rollins takes over the match in slowing the pace and occasionally tagging in and out with Damian to keep the momentum on their side…
…until Crash tears it all down with a Crash and Burn off the ring ropes from their Double Irish Whip! He takes out Erik with Front Dropkick, which Mark quips as a John Woo Kick, sending him outside through the ropes. Then, he goes for a Double Knife Edge Chop à la Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka to Damian…who completely no-sells it, barely affected by the attack as he growls and Crash utters, "Uh-oh," backs away à la Sami Zayn and yanks down the top rope, tricking The Big Wolf into falling out of the ring. He takes this chance to tag in Nathan Drake, and as Hannibal Ambrose tries to help his fellow Wolves recuperate, Nate and Crash look to each other…
…the former raises a left brow with a sly grin and the latter gets the idea by grinning eagerly…
…
…and after simultaneously nodding, the Naughty Dogs hit the ropes and attack all three Wolves with a Stereo Suicide Dive!
– After throwing Erik back inside, Nate wastes no time reaching the high-rent district and hopping right off the top turnbuckle with a Diving Crossbody! Cover is made…and Rollins pops the right arm at 2.73! Then Nate grabs that arm to force Erik on his feet for an Irish whip and Erik prevents a back body drop with a kick to the chest, following it up with a Running Single Leg Dropkick. The levelheaded leader drags the Uncharted Thief over to his corner, where Damian recently returned to for a tag-in from him; Erik falls backwards to slingshot catapults Nate into Damian…
…but Nate turns the tables on them with a Forearm Smash, knocking the powerhouse down to the floor! Of course, Nate is on the apron due to the catapult's momentum and an infuriated Erik tries grabbing him, only to eat a shoulder thrust in the midsection followed by a hangman over the top rope. Seeing Erik lying flat on his back, Nate attempts a Slingshot Somersault Senton, but Damian interferes as he yanks him off the apron and Nate gets his face planted onto the ring apron! Damian glares down at the hurt treasure-hunting thief and strives picking him up…
…but then an Insane Bandicoot keeps true to his namesake by crashing into the Big Wolf with a Topé con Hilo!
…
…Or at least he would've if Damian didn't catch him in time…and displays his pure strength with the Thunder Fire Powerbomb, another version of his Reign of Power, right onto Nathan Drake! This brings Hannibal to proclaim at the announcer's table after swiping the headset from Carver, "See that, boys?! That's pure muscle right there! That's why we were the inaugural Trio Champions of the f*cking Multiverse! That's why we'll be advancing to the finals, winning the finals and beating A&O at Summer Wars to claim new tag gold and add 'em to our résumé. And that's especially why we'll be winning back our belts back from The Legion of Injustice Dipsh*ts aka the poor man's Wolves at the 2016 FWAs! BE SURE YOUR ASSES ARE READY TO F*CKED OVER AND PAY FOR YOUR UNJUSTIFIED CRIMES BY THEN!"
– Damian Reigns is encouraged by Hannibal and Erik to put an end to this bout already, doing so by stalking Nathan to his vertical base from his corner. Soon as he stood up, Damian went for the kill…but he went ahead to hit a Superman Punch on Crash to prevent him from interfering…though that would be a big mistake as he realizes and quickly turns around into Drake's Fortune! Leg is hooked: 1, 2—pinfall breakup by Erik Rollins! He stomps away at Nate, hurls him to the ropes with an Irish whip and hops for a Double Foot Stomp…but Drake catches his legs in time! He sets him up just right to perform a Slingshot Catapult, flinging him into the top turnbuckle, and then plants him with the Conqueror! With Rollins out of the way, Nate picks Reigns up for The Adventurer's Welcome…but due to his sheer stature, he makes it impossible and Damian suddenly hoists him up on his shoulders! He seeks the Oklahoma Stampede, but Drake slips out in time as Damian nearly stops himself. He turns around to charge at Nate, who manages to take him down with a Sleeper Slam. Then a Flying Forearm Smash connects, and then a European Uppercut, then another and another, leading Damian to the ropes. Nate performs an Irish whip, which Damian counters and seeks the back body drop, but what he doesn't know is Nate stops himself as Crash tags himself in; the sooner Damian realized, it was too late as Crash comes flying with a Springboard Senton!
– The action is back and forth between man and mutated bandicoot; Crash hits a Dropkick on Damian followed by a N. Sane Leg Drop (Extreme Leg Drop) nearly onto the breadbasket. Later, Damian clobbers Crash with a wicked Discus Lariat, but the latter makes a comeback with a Sunset Flip counter to his attempted Powerbomb transitioned into a Jumping DDT to a kneeling Big Wolf. Off being Irish whipped, Crash uses the momentum for a Crash and Burn…but Damian wisely catches him on the turnbuckle midway and destroys him with a Falling One-shoulder Superbomb! Crash with the Wumpa Twist…shoved off by Reigns, who strikes him with the Superman Punch! Crash does stumble to the ropes as Reigns goes for another Superman Punch for good measure…but he didn't expect a STIFF headbutt from the Orange Twister, both wrestlers falling flat on their backs!
– "This is awesome!" chants and rhythm claps rang through the arena as Nathan seeks for a Hot Tag with his hand extended, which a returning Erik Rollins does the same; the anticipation is nigh, Damian and Crash dragging themselves over to their corners inch by inch and striving to make the tag with their hands held out as far as they can reach…
…and to the fans' glee, both Damian and Crash make the tag! Nate enters as Erik flies in with a Diving High Knee, which Barney calls Begrimed Skies as coined by Erik…who rolls through the attack after Nate sidesteps him! Dropkick by Erik, but Nathan pushes his feet away to avoid it and ducks a Clothesline to hook the arm into trapping Rollins with a Front Facelock and hits a Vertical Suplex…following it up with a roll up to his feet, inciting a positive reception and an "Eddie!" chant. A second "Amigo" connects…
…but the series is cut off by Rollins hooking his right leg around Nate's, kneeing his gut and going into a Snap German Suplex proceeded with a bridged pinfall that only gets him a two-count, all of it earning him boos. Erik gestures Damian to join him and despite still feeling the effects of Crash's headbutt, along with referee Daniel Parker failing to keep him at bay, he aids his leader as Erik performs an Inverted Atomic Drop and Damian runs in for a Big Boot…
…
…but Nate elbows Erik's head and uses him as a scapegoat, making Reigns accidentally boot his the back of his friend's head! Logically enraged, Damian knocks out Nathan with a Superman Punch! He puts him in a standing headscissors for the Reign of Power…but the Daredevil Bandicoot lives up to his forename again by crashing the party with a Diving Crossbody! Both Crash and Damian reach their vertical base, Crash catching the arm with a twist and yanking it twice before running up the top turnbuckle; seeing Erik stagger up to his feet, Crash looks at the hard camera with an ensuing shrug and Double Tornado DDTs both their heads into the canvas!
– As Damian rolls out of the ring, Crash decides to put more damage into Erik by climbing the top rope for a possible Crash Landing…but Hannibal Ambrose drags his ally out of the ring to help him convalesce and prevent certain doom. The crowd boos at this as Parker scolds the interference from Hannibal, who simply curses back at him…but goes "Oh, sh*t!" while hearing a "Whoa!" from Crash Bandicoot performing a Crash Landing on the Psychotic Wolf! Crash takes Erik back into the ring, slides after him and—Enzuigiri from the retaliating Erik Rollins! Crash falls to his knees and Rollins goes for the Second Coming…
…
…Nathan Drake with the save, planting his face in with a One-handed Bulldog! The Naughty Dogs shortly flatten Erik with a Double Flapjack, then Nate holds Erik in Inverted Headlock position as Crash goes up the high-rent district for one more time. Soon as Nate lifts Erik, Crash goes "Whoa!" into a diving splash and the two hit the simultaneous combo of Adventurer's Welcome and Super Belly Flop (Superfly Splash)! Nate makes the cover with the leg hooked as Crash and the fans count with Parker: 1…2…
…
…3! THE NAUGHTY DOGS ARE GOING TO THE TOURNAMENT FINALS!
After the match…
– Crash immediately hugs Nate tightly, elated they're going to the finals at Tag Team Mayhem like the loudly cheering fans while Reigns sits against the barricade and Rollins remains on his back to digest in their loss. The Naughty Dogs leave the ring to continue their celebration with the fans up on the ramps…but they only got as closer to the ramps when Hannibal Ambrose blindsided them with a tossed table! Crash later stands up as Nate got the worst of it and receives a High-impact Front Dropkick into the barricade from Ambrose, who shouts close up to the camera, "And THAT'S how ya do a John Woo Kick, motherf*cker!"
– The Wolves would unite in the ring as they mercilessly assault Nate and Crash, symbolically devouring them like their faction moniker; Erik Rollins exclaims that if The Wolves won't be making it to the finals, then these "flukes sure as hell won't." Not only that, despite their loss, they are likely using The Naughty Dogs as examples, a preview for the 2016 FWAs and the fate of The Legion. Damian Reigns stretches Crash out in the Torture Rack before planting him with a Powerbomb, which he calls the Reign of Terror; meanwhile, Hannibal Ambrose performs the Trick Knee on Nate and Erik follows it up with a Double Foot Stomp to his chest. Soon after, Ambrose sets up Crash in a Side Headlock as Rollins hits the ropes…and they hit the Lone Wolf Drive / Second Coming combination, spiking his head into the canvas! …But they weren't through as Ambrose sets up the table he threw at the Dogs earlier, Rollins holds Crash on his vertical base and Reigns howls to the sound of a wolf at the top of his lungs…before sprinting at scary speed to spear Crash Bandicoot through the table with the Final Reign!
– As the end of the immense and violent beat down comes nigh, The Wolves still have one special trick up their sleeve…while they wait for Drake to rise on his feet and the second he did…all three Wolves hit the ropes to hit the Uncharted protagonist with a Discus Lariat (Ambrose), a Running Single Leg Dropkick (Rollins) and a Spear (Reigns) combination, a very familiar triple team finishing move used by the current FWM Trio Champions…just slightly adjusted with Rollins' Sick Kick. After ripping apart the announce table of its table top (leaving the TV monitors), Hannibal and Erik sit Nathan Drake on Damian's shoulders…and The Wolves send him straight through the Ignition announce table with an elevated Justice Served Powerbomb!
– Rollins and Reigns stand over the arched PlayStation exclusive character as Ambrose laid beside him on all fours, literally snarling and barking in his face like an actual wolf with feral teeth before having to be held back by the former since they've did enough damage to their former opponents. However the audience was reacting after all the destruction, The Wolves didn't care. Their message was made clear and sent to The Legion. Now is only a matter of time for their rematch come the 2016 Fiction Wrestling Awards; they just made sure it was easier for The Rebirth to not get involved and keep it between themselves and the Trio Champions.
[Commercial Break]
Backstage Segment – Robin Scherbatsky interviews Satsuki Kiryuin
– Former teen pop star Robin Scherbatsky stands by Ms. Diamond in the Mine to discuss over her debut match with Kendra Daniels as the opponent chosen by The Four Horsewomen, specifically two of which interfered being Mai Valentine and Aelita Schaeffer to make sure Kendra would have no shot at joining the women's title bouts at Summer Wars. "Obviously, not everyone was satisfied with the results, so we all like to know what your current thoughts about this situation are?" Robin asks, holding the microphone up to the former Student Council President of Honnōji Academy, who shakes her head.
– "If anything from what we all saw by the Horsewomen's involvement, it shows they are nothing but cowards and they do not trust anyone to handle the job for them unless they're as self-absorbed and arrogant as them," Satsuki states firmly. "When I was chosen to be Daniels' opponent in order to keep her restrained from Summer Wars, I wanted to make sure I do it my own way…but the Horsewomen took matters into their own hands without me knowing at all. The fact that they used me just to screw Kendra over…shows they have no respect for anyone but themselves. Actually, it seems to me that they didn't care whether or not I had Kendra beaten. Their involvement in my debut match…reveals utter disrespect. I shouldn't be surprised, knowing them. Nonetheless, I will not let this go for as long as I live. I never forget and I never forgive." The current GAIA International Champion turns to the camera. "Valentine…Schaeffer…iGeneration, all of you that are watching right now? Listen to my words CAREFULLY. I need to remind you and your massive egos…that even if Valentine wins at Summer Wars, my vengeance will be set," she holds up her Diamond in the Mine briefcase, "by cashing in this very item that I have been holding for a long time. …Ever since the Four Horsewomen were born. If you do become the new Women's Champion, I will make sure to take it all away in one fell swoop, shattering your ego trip in the blink of an eye.
"…However…that goes out to Téa Gardner as well should she retain the title. Now, Ms. Gardner, believe me…I hold a deep amount of respect to you and all you've done in the business…but that doesn't mean you're excused from me targeting you and your belt. So it won't matter to me who comes out champion in the match…I'll just cash in when ready. …Although, who knows? There's still other titles to cash my briefcase like on the WWE Toon Women's Champion…or the UWE Queen's Champion…or the UCA Women's Champion…or the even CCW Females Champion… There's plenty of gold to go around for me. So this is a message to not only the ACW Women's Champion…but to every female titleholder as a reminder…to watch. Their. Backs."
Téa Gardner and "The Green-haired Lunatic" Christa Moxley vs. Mai Valentine and "The Lyoko Queen" Aelita Schaeffer
– If there's one thing ACW fans love more than anything when it comes to this promotion, it's their tag team division and the action it always brings as it continues, though featuring female talent with the likes of ACW Women's Champion Téa Gardner and Christa Moxley teaming up against Mai Valentine and Aelita Schaeffer of The Four Horsewomen. Christa and Aelita are the first competitors to start this tag bout; after the bell rang and circling the ring, the two raise their arms for a lock-up. However, Aelita ducks her and struts back to her corner in a very "Swagsuke" manner with a side smirk on her face, Mai Valentine clapping for her fake-out. Obviously, Christa and Téa weren't amused as the latter shook her head. Aelita assured they'll lock-up for real and they go for it again…but Aelita tricks her with a duck, smirking widely and turns around INTO A SWIFT RIGHT HAND FROM MOXLEY! The crowd cheers at the shot while Aelita scurries out of the ring to nurse her jaw and reacting in bratty fashion, heavily scowling at Christa, who forms a side smirk of her own and motions that she's a step ahead of her. The Fallen Angel returns to the ring after some consoling from Mai, preventing referee John Benoit from starting the ten-count. Once more, the girls go for the lockup and they actually do so, Aelita switching quickly in a waistlock with a wristlock…and then transitioning into a SLAP across the face! Christa staggers back holding her cheek as Aelita berates her that she doesn't deserve to be in the same squared circle; not her, not Téa, Hart of Hyuga, Evil Beauty or ANYBODY (besides the Four Horsewomen, of course) and—SPEAR! The Female Mox is unleashing a wild fury of fists onto Aelita, who desperately blocks her to no avail! Rolling off, she hits the ropes and strikes a pointed elbow down into Aelita's face. Christa soon drags her to her corner and tags out to Téa, holding Aelita up for a strike from her partner, but Téa actually holds her hands up to give the pinkette a clean break, telling Christa to let go; confused and somewhat disappointed, but she reluctantly does so albeit shoving her away.
– Now that things have calmed down, Téa explains she wants to have a fair start; of course, Aelita scoffs this off until Téa raised an arm to gesture a Test of Strength. She stares her down before eventually slowly grabbing her opponent's hand and soon the other one as well; the test begins and Téa is quick to put in a waistlock from behind, but Aelita breaks out to slap in an arm wrench, twisting the arm to put damage on the champ. Though, said champ doesn't stay in it for long with a forward roll, a kip-up and twists Aelita's arm back, forcing her down on the mat and putting her in a Figure-four Keylock. The Lyoko Queen shows off her flexibility with a few kicks over her forehead, forcing Téa to let go, but brings her back down on the canvas via single leg takedown and wrenches her left leg to the matching direction, giving the 2015 Technician of the Year a taste of her own medicine, which obviously frustrates her; nonetheless, she keeps her cool as she rotates to the left on her stomach, in which Téa grabs the free leg to pull her in for a wheelbarrow position, but Aelita snatches her head into a Headlock Takeover. Téa pops out of the headlock and the quick exchange of evading attacks, and snapping in holds and escaping them continues on and on until they end it with a simultaneous Dropkick and a stare down from their respective corners as the live Albuquerque crowd exploit their respect and awe for these two female athletes! Barney states that if there's ever a chance for the Lyoko Queen and Women's Champion to go at it in a singles match, he hopes it's is as good as the preview they've just witnessed.
– After some quick recovery, Aelita tags out and it is now champion versus challenger. They enter the classic collar-and-elbow lockup, not showing any sign of holding back until Mai tripped her up with a legsweep. She goes for the Knee Drop, but Téa rolls away. A Dropkick is attempted, but Mai shoves that aside and speedily grabs and turns her over with a Double Chickenwing Pin…and a kick-out at exactly one. Mai still has one arm hooked and then hooks the other for an early Harpie's Feather Duster, only for Téa to land on her feet behind Mai and catches her with a Falling Neckbreaker—elbow shot the back of the head! Mai takes her opponent off the ropes via Irish whip, seeks a back body drop, but Téa outsmarts her with a Leg-trap Sunset Flip Powerbomb! In spite the momentum used against her, Valentine manages a kick-out at two-and-a-half, much to her surprise, and Téa brings her down by both legs and hits the Extreme Leg Drop right onto the lower midsection followed by a Dropkick to the face! So far, the team of Téa and Christa have been in the lead of momentum over their opponents and the crowd is loving it.
– Moments later, Téa, while holding Mai in a Front Facelock, tags in Christa, flips Mai on her backside with a Snapmare and the two strike her chest and back respectively via Shoot Kicks. Christa with the cover and a kick-out by Mai at two; the Female Mox goes for an Irish whip, but Mai reverses it and when Christa hit the ropes, so did her lower back making contact with Aelita's kicking foot, provoking her to go after the pinkette, but Mai catches her from behind with a nasty Chop Block! "Keep your eye on your opponent at all times, rookie!" leers Mai, who proceeds to hold the attacked leg up and kick it over and over again. All that impetus Téa and Christa had was just instantly gone the moment Aelita decided to play dirty and now the two Horsewomen have found a target to make this match theirs.
– For the remainder of this contest, it has been all Aelita and Mai, doing their absolute best to cut the ring in half in preventing an injured Christa from ever getting any near her corner and tagging out to Téa, who is understandably desperate and worried for her partner as all she can do is watch and give out her oral support nonstop. Examples show the two constantly zeroing in on the bad limb like Aelita kneeling on the leg while twisting her ankle to the left, Mai locking the Figure-four Leglock in various usages and various places from the standard classic to a standing version to a Flying Figure-four around the ring post, Aelita performing a DDT to the leg, Mai nailing a Running Jumping Knee Drop across the leg, and Aelita with a simple Slingshot Double Foot Stomp to the limb hanging on the bottom rope. And in display of mockery, while Christa was crawling to Téa for an anxious tag, Mai laid beside her to mimic her pain before striking her head with a Knee Drop.
– In spite of all that damage to her leg, Christa shows heart and fire as she refuses to give up no matter how bad she's hurt. A spark of hope for Christa showed when Mai and Aelita were too busy insulting Téa for having a pathetic excuse of a partner…and due to this distraction (along with the affront that angered her), Christa quickly fighting for her life and out of the corner, punch after punch to both opponents respectively! She takes out Mai with a solid Clothesline, but receives a not-so scientific thumb to the eye by Aelita and then strikes her knee located on the bad leg with a Shotgun Kick for good measure.
– The fan-proclaimed Pale Rider now sets in the Kneebar, feeling that the end is near for Christa Moxley, who is screaming her lungs out and trying so hard not to submit to the likes of the egomaniacs in Mai Valentine and Aelita Schaeffer. Refusing to surrender, Christa has her eyes set on the ropes as she starts dragging her body at a slow pace due to Aelita's weight making it difficult, but she is powering through nevertheless the added kicks to her lower back; fingertips away…and she grabs the bottom rope just after a forward leap! Aelita refuses to release her Kneebar while she keeps kicking her lower back, adding insult to injury, and John Benoit strictly yelling at her break up the hold as he counts up…to 4.89, the fourth Horsewomen eventually letting go, but then suddenly forearm striking Téa as a cheap shot. Téa came close to forcing herself in the match, but Benoit had stopped her. Going back to Christa, Aelita picks her up—and the Green-haired Lunatic kicks her stomach and instantly drills her skull into the mat with a Spit It Out (Snap Double Underhook DDT)!
– Both females are down and barely out. Christa had used all of her energy to get one over Aelita with the DDT. Their respective tag partners are clinging tight onto their tag rope with their hands extended towards them to become the legal competitors as the crowd is exposing their love for this bout so far with excited cheers. The Hot Tag was inevitable and everyone knew it; Aelita was the closest to Mai as she tags out…but Christa just manages to leap forward, tagging in Téa Gardner, and the fresh ACW Women's Champion enters the match by leaping on the top turnbuckle and performing a beautiful Moonsault right on top of Mai Valentine to a massive pop! Both legs are hooked and Mai kicks out at 2.81; they reach their vertical bases, Téa ducks a Clothesline and executes a perfect Handspring Enzuigiri! Aelita tries to ruin her momentum, but she pays the price when Téa countered her Flying Forearm Smash with a shocking Spinning Spinebuster followed by a consecutive Extreme Leg Drop and then a Sliding Forearm Smash to the kneeling pinkette! With her out of the way, she returns to Mai and takes her for a ride via Irish Whip, which gets reversed. Mai seeks back body drop, but Téa baseball slides through her legs and GERMAN SUPLEX! With a bridge and—KICK-OUT AT 2.88! Both are on their feet and Twist of Fate—evaded by Valentine with a simple shove! Téa bounces off and runs right into an Elegant Egotist from Mai, who pins her…up to a near-fall at 2.88!
– Glad that she stopped Téa's momentum, she knows she still has to put her away as soon as possible and if that Elegant Egoist wasn't gonna do it, then the Harpie's Feather Duster should do it…but the champion proved too stubborn as she weighted herself down, remaining on her knees. Valentine does club her back to get the finisher ready…
…but around mid-spin, Téa reverses it into an Arm Drag! Mai bounces off the ropes and Téa—misses the Roundhouse Kick! Mai nails a trio of knife edge chops to Téa's chest before Irish whipping her, but she twists her arm in reversal, knees her midsection…and nails the Fairy's Gift (Fisherman Driver) center of the ring! She has the legs hooked: 1…2…
…Aelita breaks up the pinfall and is stomping the champion down! Téa manages to stand and fight the pinkette off, but with a thumb to the eye, Aelita sets her up for the Aelita DDT…and Christa interferes with a Diving Elbow Drop! The Lyoko Queen and the Green-haired Lunatic are trading fists while rolling on top of each other, keeping Benoit busy to separate them and get them out of the ring. Meanwhile, Téa is back on track and sees Mai standing on her feet bent-over; she quickly grabs her in that position and—gets a knee to the face! The Women's Champion goes down to a knee as Mai capitalizes by planting her center of the ring with Harpie's Feather Duster, lateral press and inside leg hooked to give Mai and Aelita the pinfall and victory.
After the match…
– Tonight has been a clean sweep for the Horsewomen, and Mai and Aelita celebrate that fact on their way to the ramps with the usual arrogant grins plastered on their faces. Aelita gestures around Mai's waist that the ACW Women's Championship will be right around hers as Mai, with four fingers up, states they are just one more step closer to bring "The Change" to the entire division; Téa stares on with a frown, saying off-mic that won't be happening while she's still champion as Christa glares heavily at the departing Horsewomen.
– And coming up next is the main event of Ignition VII; Naruto Uzumaki is set to taken on the personal handpicked opponent by the King of Blood.
[Commercial Break]
Tomorrow night…
Ichigo Kurosaki immediately hooks the inside leg as he lies back on Jason Krueger and Marshall Eriksen drops for the pinfall count…and even Jason got the foot on the rope, Marshall still makes the count to three and Ichigo retains his Hardcore Title.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hang on a minute, ref, Jason's foot was on the rope!" Logan shouts.
After a controversial finish…
Krueger tries confronting and explaining that his foot was on the bottom rope, but Marshall defends himself in stating his unawareness and despite so, Ichigo is the champion. Jason does exit the ring soon after in seething disappointment as The Rated-R Reaper stands on the mid-row turnbuckle and hoists his belt up high for another pop from the crowd…but when he stepped down, he eats a sledgehammer shot to the skull!
"OH, LORD! JASON KRUEGER WITH THE SLEDGEHAMMER TO THE FACE OF ICHIGO'S FACE!" Ted yells to the exact transpiring event.
The Gore Machine takes his rage out on everyone standing his way…
Krueger is giving the punishment of Kurosaki's life with mounted fists, roaring in his face that the belt does NOT belong to him, Marshall preventing him from further cracking Ichigo's skull with the sledgehammer, then Krueger ramming the weapon into his gut! After going on a feral and furious mental breakdown in tearing up and destroying the ring, Tommy Oliver comes out to put a stop to his rampage as the two duke it out in the middle of the ring.
"And a Ranger comes to the rescue!" Ned calls.
And chaos reigns amidst misunderstanding…
Highlights include Jason charging for The Gore, which Tommy counters with a Red Lightning Turbo Lariat, then inadvertently nailing Ichigo's skull with a Dragon Whip after Jason ducked it and Tommy evading another Gore and drilling Jason with a White Tiger Driver. Tommy is then confronted by Ichigo over the unintentional strike and tries explaining it was only an accident…
…but their dispute would have to come to an abrupt end when a revived Jason Krueger blindsides both men with a Gore!
"GORE! GORE OUT OF NOWHERE! TAKING OUT ICHIGO AND TOMMY!" Ned shouts.
Krueger seeks redemption…
Jason Krueger hoists up the Hardcore Championship, voiceover proclaiming, "I'm the rightful owner of this Goddamn belt! Not Kurosaki! Not anybody! DO ALL OF YOU HEAR ME?!"
…but someone else seeks for a way back to the top in slithering fashion…
"WHOA, WHOA, WHAT THE HELL?!" Logan calls out.
From another camera's perspective, a mysterious hooded man slithers inside the ring and turns Krueger around into a Jumping Cutter!
"OUT OF NOWHERE! THAT FINISHER—T-THAT BELONGS TO…!" Ned comes to realization…
…
…as the hooded man reveals himself as SASUKE UCHIHA!
"SASUKE! SASUKE UCHIHA IS HERE!" Ned exclaims.
The Lone Uchiha has returned…
The crowd is taken aback at Sasuke's assault on Jason, completely divided as the stoic Uchiha cricks his neck around…and seeing as there are bodies lying around and no one to do anything at all…
…
…he simply takes the ACW Hardcore Championship and raises it up high for the crowd to understand what he's targeting at the moment.
…and he has declared his target, but what does this mean for the rest of the fallen?
Sasuke Uchiha is the last man standing with the title in his hand and three bodies in pain as the cameras fade out to black…
Plus, who will come out as the semifinal winners between The Saints and The Blake Bros. in the World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Tournament?
The Blake Bros. 2.0 plant Isaac Clarke with a Double Blake Drop, then them together with Tony splaying his arms with a smug grin and Adrian standing behind him menacingly with folded arms; meanwhile, the Saints perform their 5 Star Meltzer Splash on Adrian Blake, then them together with Phil Hardy clasping his hands together and twisting his wrists around à la CM Punk and Colt Anderson gesturing a crotch chop at the camera.
Saturday Night RAMPAGE! LIVE tomorrow at 8/7c, only on Spike…
Backstage Segment – Yami Yugi vows to seek vengeance upon the Sin Eater
– Somewhere backstage in a rather dim and dark environment, the camera slowly pans around, as if it was searching for someone…and it eventually found them. That someone…being Pharaoh Atem sitting against the wall—hands clenched together, forearms resting on his raised knees and eyes shadowed as no one can tell his current expression for the moment. The way it was set up for Yami Yugi…almost in reminiscent of the original ECW days. It was then that he inhaled through his nose and lets a deep exhale escape his lips as he begins to speak.
– "Eddie Brock…better known to the world as Venom," Atem begins, "…when you and Carnage arrived last month…you reminded all those watching your ACW debut who you really are and raided through Yugi and me in mere devastation. You monsters, you beasts…annihilated us, made us your prey and made sure we'd never forget the havoc you brought upon us in that very ring. …Then Rebellion comes by, Altered Egos, the Symbiotes and Alpha & Omega fought for World Tag Team Title gold…and you were defeated along with Yugi and me. The aftermath…came with Venom and Carnage massacring Yugi Mutou as punishment for us eliminating them first and ruining their chances at becoming champions… I was left alone with Yugi beneath my knees at the center of the ring completely broken and immobile that night. …That night," Atem's clenched hands shake slightly, but emphasize the rage building up within, "…that night…is what absolutely set me off. That night…is what created the cracks deep within the darkest parts of my soul…a vile fragment from the inside I've kept locked…for so long…a side I had abandoned since August 1997…all for Yugi's sake after the terror I had caused Hercule by hanging his daughter after defeating him.
Atem takes another deep breath to exhale, continuing his monologue, "The cracks in my spirit are still forming, Eddie Brock… That side of me is yet to be free," Atem now looks up, violet eyes glaring straight at the camera. "The night of RAMPAGE V…I invaded the cordial brand to prevent you both from achieving the World Tag Team Championships…and in doing so, I gave you two just deserts by taking out Cletus Kasady…and justice never tasted so sweet. As a matter of fact…I haven't had that kind of taste in years since that controversial night…and like wine when you let it take years to age…the taste was so delicious…" he closes his eyes as he licks his lips symbolically before lowering his head. "Your anger…your humiliation…all building up to what you're looking forward to and that is to rip me open and tear me apart," he holds a hand up, "but heed my warning, Venom…if you actually do so, you will only unleash a side of me…that is only encouraged be without compassion…without remorse…without mercy…towards all those who'd dare harm Yugi…and his friends. I made it my life's mission…to protect those I hold dear in my heart and soul…and you monsters made me fail part of that goal.
"Venom…Carnage," Atem calls as he begins to stand up, still facing the floor, "…you both crossed the line when you wounded Yugi…and I will never forgive anyone…that brings absolute harm to my friends," Atem tightens his grip on his clenched fist, knuckles slowly turning white. "And in just seven days from now…we're gonna see who comes out on top between Venom and I as the last man standing in the Street Fight. I hear Kasady has already checked himself out…but it won't matter…because I am on vendetta and I won't stop until I complete it…or die trying. So by Ignition VIII next week…I will finally awake a side of myself that has been long hidden away and had taken a very long slumber…a side of me that I had abandoned long ago…" Atem leisurely raises his head up…
…and his red eyes meet the camera for the first time with a malevolent and maniacal appearance, "…a side…that cannot wait to bring upon the most unthinkable punishment no man can ever think of except for me. And so…Venom, I hope you're very well prepared for what I have planned for you…and I hope…you're prepared for the penalty as for the likes of you and hopefully Carnage…the Door of Darkness…shall be open."
Main Event: Pick Your Poison Match – Naruto Uzumaki vs. Beowulf's handpicked opponent
– In the last match of the evening, Naruto Uzumaki prepares to face Beowulf's opponent, his own choice for Beowulf's adversary having been defeated earlier in the evening. He knew how tough Nero could be for Beowulf, so now he figured his own opponent would have to be just as tough as Beowulf himself…but he never expected, that out of all people, the Beast of Geats would choose Scorpion as the handpicked opponent for tonight's main event. The moment "Fight" by CFO$ played, the Tingly Coliseum blew through the roof with their insane pop for the Mortal Kombat iconic fighter and the Undisputed Champion understandably looked nervous as he gulped…but he knows he's never one to back down from a fight and he's not planning on doing it tonight, especially against the likes of Hanzo Hasashi. A match that is worthy of headlining a major pay-per-view event…and everyone in the arena and at home are watching it for free on live television as Scorpion was chosen by Beowulf as a test for Naruto to endure and survive the likes of him before facing the challenger.
– Senior Referee Marshall Eriksen calls for the bell, staring the match for Naruto and Scorpion to circle the ring and very carefully reach out for a Test of Strength when The Icon went for a low swinging kick to Naruto's left leg and Naruto barely avoids the swift strike. They circle the mat once more, taking each other's hands until Naruto switches behind for a waistlock, but Scorpion prevents it from going all the way as he breaks the hands up and holds him in an arm wrench. Scorpion twists the arm twice, forcing Naruto down to a knee. Then Naruto fights out as he rolls over, puts him in a hammerlock, quickly switches into a Side Headlock and vaults him with a headlock takeover. It seems the champion had it set, but Scorpion refused to stay in longer as he rose to his feet quickly, pulled his head from out of the hold and legsweeps him forward while shoving his back, driving him down face-first like an STO from behind. He goes for a stomp, Naruto moves to the ropes, Scorpion catches him with an Irish whip, and Naruto hits the ropes to get the wind knocked out of him with a vicious Shoot Kick across the chest! The young ninja quickly rolls to his knees nursing his torso as Scorpion stares stoically with his dead, blank eyes. Zack asks his half-brother how should the Undisputed Champion counter Scorpion's blindingly fast and stiff strikes and Kenji's answer would mention about Naruto's unpredictability and unorthodox style that could throw Scorpion off should he receive that chance…that is if Scorpion allows him to receive that chance.
– Now they attempt the collar-and-elbow tie-up, Naruto putting Scorpion in a Side Headlock…only resulting to get overpowered with him slipping his head out and easily shoving him away. Naruto rolls back and bounces off the ropes into a knee strike to the gut, then Scorpion Snapmares him onto his back, stomp and a roundhouse miss, Naruto fighting back with a Spinning Back Kick to the gut and a Front Dropkick—countered into a Bloodbath (Spinning Side Slam)! First pinfall attempt with a count of 1…kick-out at 1.98. Scorpion stands his opponent up by his arm, holding him in a wrist-lock followed by multiple shoulder blocks and knee strikes to the abdomen, then Hammer Throws him into the farthest corner and Naruto gets slammed into it back-first. He rises to his feet as Scorpion bursts out of his corner…and Naruto quickly leaps over the top rope onto the apron; a sequence commences between with Naruto blocking a Lariat, Scorpion blocking a rope-aided Enzuigiri, Naruto ducking a Jumping High Kick, nailing an elbow to his head from behind and springboards—Big Boot to the skull and Naruto crumbles down to the floor in nasty fashion! Hanzo slides out of the ring Nakamura-style to drag Naruto over the ring apron, cricking his neck as he distances himself…and nails a brutal Knee Lift to the face! Not through just yet, Scorpion climbs the apron…and drives his leaping knee into the back of his head, bringing Naruto back down to the floor!
– No doubt Naruto is having trouble against the highly experienced Kombatant with a Doom Blade (Wrist-lock transitioned into a Short-arm Elbow Smash), Emerald Flowsion reversed into a Shoulder Breaker, a Kick of Grievance (Superkick) to a kneeling blond ninja, a Full Nelson Backbreaker, and a Pumphandle Neckbreaker. Scorpion sends Naruto outside again with a Clothesline…and as he is trying to recollect himself, Scorpion anticipates his rise and seeks to keep him down again. He goes for a Suicide Dive…
…and Naruto catches him with a Ninja Kick, leaving Scorpion to hang in the ring ropes! From there, Naruto rolls back in the ring to hit the opposite ropes…and lands a Leapfrog Body Guillotine! He drapes Scorpion back over the middle rope, makes a run for the opposite side…runs up Scorpion's back and leaps over the top rope to hit a Leg Drop Bulldog! That is the maneuver Naruto needs to turn the entire match around.
– Naruto hurls Scorpion across the ring with an Irish Whip off the ropes, he reverses…Naruto baseball slides through his legs while grabbing his wrist, sets him up in a Pumphandle and takes him down with a Pumphandle Side Slam! Turns him over for the cover…and a kick-out at 2.38, but Naruto quickly shifts his opponent on his knees into a Bow and Arrow hold. He grinds his knees deep into the lower spine of the painfully groaning Hasashi, who later manages to counteract into a lateral press: 1…2…Naruto powers out at two. Both men roll to their feet and Naruto trips Scorpion with a Drop Toe Hold into the middle turnbuckle; Naruto stands him up against the corner with a trio of Knife Edge Chops, then Irish whips him to the opposite corner and connects a Running Corner Clothesline. He performs the same tactic again successfully and tries for a third one when Scorpion ducks it, letting Naruto hit the turnbuckles and he bounces off the ropes to hit a Spear! Hook of the leg…and Naruto successfully kicks out at 2.45, so close for the yellow-clad demonic ninja to pick up an early win!
– In spite of the kick-out, Scorpion decides to slow the pace down by putting Naruto in a grounded Reverse Chinlock, trying to constrict and cut off the oxygen from Naruto's lungs. However, Naruto refuses to stay down as he is desperately struggling to pull off his opponent's strong arms and kicking his legs around in attempts to earn a rope break. It doesn't seem like it as Scorpion's grip hasn't budged once. As so, Naruto begins to fade fast as his extended arm drops and Marshall checks him; he picks up the arm once and drops it, counting one…picks it up and drops again, counting two…
…picks it up and—the arm stays midair! Naruto's arm shakes as the hand balls up into a fist and pounds the mat, quickly escalating to his feet, much to Scorpion's surprise. Hanzo, using his height advantage, hoists Naruto off his feet in an elevated Reverse Chinlock, but Naruto weighs himself down and elbow strikes his gut repeatedly. Now free, Naruto nails multiple punches to Scorpion to where they reach the ropes, Irish whips him, though is reversed, blocks a Hip Toss attempt and blasts him with a hell of a Short-range Lariat!
– The Orange Spark has momentum over the Hellfire Spectre—planting him with a Running One-handed Bulldog, an Emerald Flowsion, a Springboard Stunner, a Helluva Kick, a Snap German Suplex bridged to a near-fall, a Konoha Bulldog (Kenny Omega's Kotaro Krusher), and a turnbuckle climb into a rebound Moonsault to the standing masked ninja…who rolls through, hoists Naruto on his shoulder and drops him into a Backbreaker! Naruto leans into the ropes and back body drops Scorpion over, but he lands his feet on the apron. Seeing this, Naruto goes for the Ninja Kick…but Scorpion catches the high-speed leg…and quickly drops down, snapping the leg over the top rope with a Dragon Screw and Naruto thrashes around holding his leg tightly in pain! Scorpion has now taken control with an easy target in his hands.
– And now Scorpion, as deadly as his moniker, slowly dissects the wounded leg with a vicious series of kicks to the back of the knee, plenty of Dragon Screws, knee drops targeting bad leg, lifting the leg high up along with Naruto's body and spiking it back down to the canvas, and locking an Indian Deathlock. Naruto eventually does escape it with a rope break, but Scorpion keeps zeroing in on the limb, now with a repeated leg slams against the ring post and a Flying Figure-four Leglock lasting only at 4.99 by Eriksen's count.
– Center of the ring, Scorpion has the Undisputed Champion on his stomach and legs hooked around his for a Surfboard attempt, but Naruto refuses to let him have his arms. No matter how many times Scorpion punches his ribs and grinds his knuckles into them, Naruto still negates his wishes while trying to force himself over to the ropes…and Hanzo Hasashi admires his willpower with a nod…but endures his ruthlessness in making his pride pay the price with a double stomp to the backs of the knees! Naruto displays the amount of intense pain he's in with both hands clenching onto both knees and gritting teeth while trying to keep his distance from the dangerous Scorpion, who makes for the pin…and kick out by the orange-clad genin at 2.65.
– This potential match of the night nearly comes to an end when Scorpion drapes Naruto's feet on the top rope…and drops him with a malicious high-speed Rope-hung Snap Swinging Neckbreaker! He drags him away to the center and hooks the leg…but Naruto just barely manages to kick out! Frustration and irritation slowly sets in on Scorpion from his current expression, but remains his composure as he goes back on the attack with an Achilles Lock targeting the injured right leg. Barney states that despite how much heart and will of fire Naruto deep inside, the human body can only take so much punishment before he has no choice but to submit or pass out and it's obvious Naruto would rather go with the latter. Even so, he will not let himself go down with a loss.
– Naruto tries kicking Scorpion's face in order to break free, but it only annoys Scorpion as he grabs the kicking limb, stands up holding both legs and repeatedly stomps his abdomen Randy Orton-style, no remorse whatsoever! He then presses his foot deep into his gut for a few seconds before drilling his knee into the bad leg, drags him back to the center and puts him in a Kneebar. Naruto remains in suffering from the pain shooting into his right leg, clutching onto his head and desperately reaching out to the ropes as Scorpion occasionally kicks his lower back. The Orange Spark comes close to the ropes, but Scorpion drags him back and hooks his damaged leg in a modified Short-arm Scissors! Naruto flails around the ring, feeling his condition getting much, much worse as Scorpion deepens the hold further and he desperately extends an arm out for a break! Somehow, he drags himself along with Scorpion towards the bottom rope…and he grabs it, but Scorpion will not release the hold just yet! Marshall advises the former UWE Omega Champion to let go as he counts to 1…2…3…4…4.98, again, Scorpion comes close to being disqualified, but that amount of time was enough to extend the damage to Naruto's bad leg.
– Seeing how Naruto has been spent from his fragile leg, Scorpion decides to put him out of his misery by measuring him from a corner and BEGGING him to stand up in the worst way. [Naruto] uses the ropes to help himself reach to his vertical base from his right leg being compromised obviously, though possibly unaware of where Scorpion might be. Then, he turns around and Scorpion bursts out of the corner like a demon…
…
…
…
…and eats a Superkick from the retaliating Naruto Uzumaki! Scorpion is stunned, but not completely since that kick came from Naruto's bad leg; so he removes the cobwebs from his head quickly and picks up his opponent, who shoves his arms away and HEADBUTTS HIM IN BRUTAL AND SICKENING ELEGANCE! Now Scorpion is completely stunned and Naruto, blood leaking from his forehead, lifts him up on his shoulders, hopping on one leg only…but he hits the Ninja's Way, all the way, center of the ring! But he can't make the cover as both men lie beside each other in exhaustion! Fans anticipate whoever moves first…and that person is Naruto as he raises a hand up…sluggishly turns himself over…and drops the arm over Scorpion: 1…
2…
…
…
…SCORPION KICKS OUT AT 2.83! AND THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION CANNOT BELIEVE IT LIKE THE AUDIENCE!
– Hasashi was given too much time to recover due to Naruto taking long to benefit on his opponent's previous immobile condition and he paid the price with that kick-out! Feeling desperate, Naruto forces himself up to his feet while dragging Scorpion up…takes him on his shoulders, right leg giving out…but he powers through…and then Scorpion slips out, grabs his wrist, shouts "GET OVER HERE!" to a pop and executes the End of Days—The Fatality!
…At least he would've if Naruto hadn't turned it into a Crucifix pin! Scorpion powers out at 2.93! Both roll to their feet, Naruto nails a forearm smash…and Scorpion hits one of his own, much stiffer than Naruto's! The orange-clad ninja staggers…and FIRES another forearm to the skull…and Scorpion returns the favor, bringing Naruto to a knee…but he quickly stands up with a heavy glare at Hanzo, mocking him to "hit harder than that." Scoffing, Scorpion goes for a Discus Doom Blade…which Naruto ducks and takes him out with a Step-up Enzuigiri! Bad leg be damned and all, the determined Naruto hits a Ninja Kick for good measure! He then hits to the ropes…
…
…AND RUNS INTO THE FATALITY!
...BUT FAILS TO SEIZE THE PINFALL VICTORY AFTER NARUTO WISELY ROLLS OUT OF THE RING!
– Hanzo Hasashi lets the DEVASTATION and FRUSTRATION set in as he clenches onto his head, cursing out loud and slamming the mat while the audience play their rhythm claps and chants, "THIS IS AMAZING!" After cooling down and regaining himself, Scorpion wastes no time to exit the ring and bring Naruto back inside. He stands him up, going for another Fatality…
…
…
…
…but Naruto rolls through, pulls Scorpion into an unyielding small package…
…
…
…
…
…
…and gets the three-count to a shocking upset! Naruto Uzumaki has defeated The Icon of UWE!
After the match…
– The Tingly Coliseum is FILLED with a loud positive noise from the crowd that obviously the bout all the way through as Naruto rests on his stomach with a bad leg…and a victorious smile against what was the TOUGHEST opponent in his entire career. Meanwhile, Scorpion is still in fathomable shock how he got caught in that small package that quickly…but he can't complain after how Naruto seemed to have proven himself against someone like himself.
– After getting his hand raised by the senior official with his title, Naruto sees Scorpion beginning to leave and he limps his way over in stopping him. "I Will Not Bow" dies down as the two look at each other…and Naruto extends his hand for a shake. Of course, Scorpion appeared skeptical as Naruto tilts his head, gesturing that he'd do it and the crowd agrees. The Icon responds…by shaking his head…with a light chuckle and takes the handshake, a sign that both men have earned each other's respect. Off-mic, the camera does hear them speak to each other that whether or not Naruto is still champion, Scorpion wants a second round to see who the better man is…and Naruto eagerly agrees, not wanting to wait for it in their future.
– After they bowed to each other, Scorpion departs the ring to allow Naruto continuing his post-match victory celebration while holding up his Undisputed Title Belt. Markiplier takes care of the valedictions as Ignition is about to off the air…but stops midway when someone slid in the ring and some of the audience members try to warn Naruto about it! The champion turns around…
…
….and drops down on his backside against the corner when BEOWULF…
…
…is just crouching in his corner, purposely scaring Naruto into thinking he was gonna attack him with a Spear. Seeing the look on Naruto's face, Beowulf smirks in satisfaction and keeps still from his spot. Naruto sees this and growls in irritation as he starts to get up with the ring ropes' aid, but stops when Beowulf says, "Go on…stand up…I dare you…" Naruto froze for a moment at the warning…
…but he becomes defiant and stands up. He limps at the center of the ring with the title in hand, perking an eyebrow from his challenger…and he raises his belt up high to declare, "I'M RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU, BEOWULF! I TOLD YOU! I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU! SO COME ON! SPEAR ME! …SPEAR ME!"
– …And Beowulf replies with a grin, "You've asked for it, boy," and SPEARS the hell out of the Undisputed Champion, practically knocking him right out of his boots! He leaps to his feet, bellowing at the top of his lungs with intensity to the roar of the cheering crowd! He turns back to Naruto, picks him up, sets him up for a Wulfhammer…and FLATTENS him center of the ring with the Vertical Suplex Powerslam! Beowulf looks down at the Undisputed Championship…and takes it to hold up over the fallen ninja, receiving a pop from the fans.
– Leaving the belt over Naruto's stomach, Beowulf takes his leave up to the ramps as Naruto is motionless and left flat on his back…
…
…and the crowd stirs up, gaining Beowulf's attention as he turns around…and his eyes widen…
…
…
…because of Naruto already beginning to move. He slowly turns to a prone position, forcing himself up on all fours…taking the strap in hand…reaching to a knee while panting heavily in pain…and soon, albeit weakly, stands up almost to an upright base and holds up his Undisputed Championship for all to see. "I…am NOT…afraid, Beowulf… No matter…what you do to me…no matter…how much you put me in pain…I ALWAYS GET BACK UP! BELIEVE IT!" Naruto exclaims off-mic to an even bigger pop…
…
…and Beowulf simply grins, knowing damn well that he's going to be in for quite a challenge at Summer Wars as the last shot of both main eventer and rising star staring each other down from their positions fades to black.
Results for Ignition VII:
Pick Your Poison Match – Beowulf def. Nero via pinfall
Carly Shay (with Sam Puckett and Freddie Benson) def. Samantha Hart (with Hinata Hyuga) via pinfall
Dante def. Seto Kaiba via pinfall
James Griffin def. Spin the Hedgehog via pinfall
World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Semifinals – The Naughty Dogs def. The Wolves (with Hannibal Ambrose) via pinfall
Mai Valentine and Aelita Schaeffer def. Téa Gardner and Christa Moxley via pinfall
Main Event: Pick Your Poison Match – Naruto Uzumaki def. Scorpion via pinfall
Predetermined Card for RAMPAGE VII:
Zeke Aries vs. Alex Loredo
Jeweled Felines (Lisa Weston and Jessica Wilson) vs. Jessica Montoya and Carla Ramirez (with Sara Verser and Roxanne Stone)
Duke Devlin vs. Nolan Gates
Alpha & Omega (Carter Young and Stan Terra) vs. Smosh (Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla)
Kenshin Himura vs. RC Bane
World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Semifinals – The Second City Saints (Phil Hardy and Colt Anderson) vs. The Blake Bros. 2.0 (Tony and Adrian Blake)
Predetermined Card for Tag Team Mayhem:
4-on-3 Handicapped Match – The Wolves (Hannibal Ambrose, Erik Rollins, Damian Reigns and Luke Smith) vs. PewDiePie and Smosh (Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla)
Mixed Tag Team Match – Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno vs. Jimmy Carmichael and Trish Warrington
Dante and Ash Ketchum vs. Vergil (with Arkham) and Seto Kaiba
ACW World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Finals – The Naughty Dogs (Nathan Drake and Crash Bandicoot) vs. RAMPAGE tag team representatives
Open Challenge – Hart of Hyuga (Hinata Hyuga and Samantha Hart) [c] vs. TBD for the ACW Women's Tag Team Championship
Main Event: Open Challenge – Alpha & Omega (Carter Young and Stan Terra) [c] vs. TBD for the ACW World Tag Team Championship
Predetermined Card for Summer Wars:
Naruto Uzumaki [c] vs. Beowulf for the ACW Undisputed Championship
Dante vs. Vergil (with Arkham)
Hart of Hyuga (Hinata Hyuga and Samantha Hart) [c] vs. iGeneration (Carly Shay and Sam Puckett) for the ACW Women's Tag Team Championship
Téa Gardner [c] vs. Mai Valentine for the ACW Women's Championship
Kenshin Himura vs. Zeke Aries
Alpha & Omega (Carter Young and Stan Terra) [c] vs. TBD for the ACW World Tag Team Championship
Seto Kaiba vs. Ash Ketchum
Tornado Tag Team Steel Cage Match – Takashi Komuro and Kohta Hirano vs. The Gods of Darkness (Yami Bakura and Marik Ishtar)
Four months. …Four months. …FOUR. F*CKING. MONTHS. IN THE MAKING. I'M FINALLY DONE WITH THIS RECAP THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THIS LONG IN THE FIRST F*CKING PLACE. DX Maybe I'm losing my touch… X(
Nah, I'm exaggerating. It's just tough to get good inspiration for wrestling these days. ._. Doesn't make sense when I'm RECAPPING this BS. -.- *sighs* Nonetheless, I got Ignition VII finally done in spite of a few roadblocks from life keeping me busy, lack of wrestling inspiration and losing a friend last month. :/ But I'll keep on going like always. Let's hope the next chapter doesn't take as long as this one…and let's hope I try to write my matches simpler and not that detailed. ._. Curse you, Ninja Cato and your Catoitis infecting my work! DX
Anyways, hope you enjoyed the second episode of ACW in 2017. Here's to me reaching Summer Wars quickly. Be sure to leave a review by the time you're done reading. Whether it's praise, constructive criticism, advice, and so on—as long as they're not meaningless trolls or flames. Reviews are much appreciated and make me a happy, happy, happy author. X)
Until then, my readers…LATER! :D
