Apocalypse Academy (Rei Miyamoto, Saeko Busujima and Saya Takagi) vs. Trish Warrington, Alyssa Parker, and Angel Hayden

Recap: Second match of the night, yet the crowd was already a bit exhausted from the Intercontinental Rumble, so these six young women are gonna have to pick up the pace. Fortunately enough, they do enough to energize the crowd right out of the gate with Saeko Busujima and Trish Warrington starting the match…and the former surprising her opponent with a Running High Knee that turns her inside out! Trish, completely caught off guard, flailed back to her feet like she was hit by a truck as Saeko hits a Shoot Kick to the stomach that took her feet off the mat and flat on the mat. As she got on all fours, Saeko stood ready with her left leg raised high for an incoming Axe Kick, displaying her flexibility…until Alyssa and Angel rush in to double-team her…but Rei and Saya had beaten them to it when they simultaneously springboard off the ropes with their respective Dropkicks! By then, Trish lifted her head up and AVOIDED the Axe Kick by rolling away. She, Parker and Hayden regroup and recover for the moment…but our Highschool of the Dead women refuses to give them that one particular moment to breathe as they hit the ropes together…Saya leaped with a Fosbury Flop onto Angel…Rei Miyamoto with a Springboard Shooting Star on top of Trish…and Saeko Busujima with an Over-the-top-rope Suicide Dive into Alyssa! All three land their high-flying techniques to PERFECTION.

Sadly, the momentum on their side doesn't last long as Saya, tagged in by Saeko right after they returned to the ring, applied the Takagi Special (Surfboard) on Warrington and Parker comes in after to drop a knee into her face. Saya released Trish from the Surfboard and Angel followed by scraping and grinding her boot across her face. Saeko and Rei were then knocked out of the apron after attempting to help their friend. Referee Andrew Styles tried regaining control of the match as it quickly spiraled into chaos and a three-on-one stomping session. Saya does put the effort in to fight back despite the odds, but it didn't matter for her as Alyssa ducked her Clothesline and Dropkicked her from behind. Trish caught her in a Drop Toe Hold and Angel finished this with a Leg Drop to the back of her head. Later, Angel is tagged in and she's showing her teammates and the rest on her main roster what she's got with a vicious Hair-pull Mat Slam, Randy Orton style, and followed into a Scissored Armbar. Saya was no doubt in agonizing pain for the minute she spent in the hold, but she refused to quit to the likes of Angel. Soon after she partially released the Scissored Armbar, she was rude enough to kick the back of her head to an echoing clack.

Angel tagged out to Trish for a brief moment just so the latter can mock her opponents for Saya's current predicament. She sat Saya up and revved her knee for an early finish, bringing panic to Rei and Saeko because Trish would be going for a Beauty and the Knee (Bomaye) to the back of the head…but she fakes them all out with her slowing down and her leg going over Saya's head. The upset look on Rei and Saeko brought insensitive laughter from Trish and Alyssa before Trish suddenly Shoot Kicks Saya's face in. Now Alyssa is tagged in legally and for a valet who didn't wrestle much, she was actually quite talented. After twisting Saya's arm in a hammerlock, Alyssa forced her down on her stomach and performed a handstand to apply unbearable pressure before bridging the hold to make it worse. Alyssa ultimately lets go and lands a Walk in the Park (Cartwheel Moonsault) on Saya's spine after bouncing off the ropes.

A bit later, Alyssa has Saya cornered and she tags in Trish, who takes Saya to the ropes for an Irish Whip. Trish sought a Back Body Drop when Saya rolls off her back and takes Alyssa out of the ring with a Gamengiri! Saya then caught Trish with a Lou Thesz Press and repeatedly palm strikes her face in like she was Kyle O'Riley as she blocks to no avail. Warrington does manage to shove her off, but Saya gets closer to her friends for a tag to Rei Miyamoto! Rei and Trish were quick to rekindle their feud, battering each other with endless forearms. Rei overpowers Trish, bringing her down to her knees before running to the ropes. Trish avoids the running knee for a back elbow to Rei's face. Now Trish hits the ropes herself and Rei catches her with a Spinning Heel Kick. Rei picks Trish up for a Death Valley Driver, but the self-proclaimed Queen of Strong Style escapes with a Sitout Mat Slam. She follows it up with a Beauty and the Knee, but Rei avoids it by an INCH, rolls to her vertical base and snatches her into not one…

…not two…

…but three German Suplexes in a row—Infecta Trifecta!

…And she wasn't even FINISHED. No, sir, because she switches holds on the virtually limp Trish Warrington for a Dragon Suplex followed by a Bridging X-Plex, adding and completing the Dance with the Dead (German Suplex followed by a Dragon Suplex followed by a Bridging X-Plex), which only earns her a two-count!

Saeko was brought back into the match with a tag, placing her boot on the top turnbuckle for Rei to smash Trish's head into. The violet-haired swordswoman reaches to her high-rent district and jumps off for a Diving High Knee, but she rolls through as Trish moved away. With a Toe Kick to the midsection, Trish goes for the Scissors Stomp, but Saeko avoids that as well and pushes her away into the corner where Alyssa tags herself in. Alyssa went for her Queen's Billion Dollar Clothesline (Running Discus Clothesline), but Saeko countered into an Arm-trap Swinging Hangman's Neckbreaker—no, another reversal with an Elbow Smash! Alyssa has the Cobra Clutch applied…then Saeko throws her over the shoulder…and delivers a Running Knee Strike to the back of her head! Saeko with the hook of the leg…

…and Trish and Angel break up the pinfall! They beat up on Saeko until Rei and Saya tackle them off of her. Saya punches away at Angel before she blocks and deliberately knees Saya in the abdomen, proceeding to throw her out, but Saya stays on the apron. Seeing this, Angel rushes into a shoulder block to the gut and Saya sticks her head between her thighs for a Back Body Drop over and out of the ring! Not long after, she beautiful executes a Springboard Moonsault! With Rei and Trish, the former already pushes her back into the corner and knocks her jaw out with a Step-up High Knee, then followed by an Enzuigiri while turned away. Rei steps aside for Trish to stagger ahead, soon seeing her current situation with the Apocalypse Academy trio surrounding her now. To this day, they still hold a grudge against Trish for concussing both Saeko and Saya in her feud with Rei. With three of them united once more, they finally have Trish right where they want her, watching her trying to worm her way out of this by feigning forgiveness…

…and Saya has her eating a Superkick! Then Rei strikes the tailbone area with an Inverted Atomic Drop! Saeko hits the ropes to hit a Running Big Boot…

…after that, a Springboard Moonsault from Takagi…

…and concluded Miyamoto prepping her naked right knee for a successful Bomaye! They then see Alyssa coming to from the knee to the back of her head, already on her feet…until Rei and Saya Double Dropkicked her into the ropes. Given permission to end this match on their terms, Saeko runs and swings around the ropes for a Bushido Code (619), then Alyssa stumbles into a Flapjack (Miyamoto) / Cutter (Takagi) combination—Drop Dead! The match would settle for a Frog Splash finish by Busujima, earning the 1-2-3 pinfall.

Post-match, Saeko takes to the microphone to give thanks to the fans, her friends and all who've supported her to earn her the title opportunity at Night of Champions. She is humbly grateful and deeply promises that not only will she win the APEX World Women's Championship, but ensure that all her hard work, the pain, the sweat, the tears will NOT have gone to waste just for this title shot to slip away from her fingers. She has great respect for Satsuki Kiryūin…but if there's anything for her to know, she is a STARVED competitor. There will be no holding back. There will be no mercy. She REFUSES to let anyone call this opportunity a fluke…as she will let EVERYONE and especially Kiryūin know she EARNED it in the end.

Saeko proclaims her final note, "So, Kiryūin…nothing personal between us…but I'm coming for your head."


"The Beast of Geats" Beowulf vs. "King of the Monsters" Godzilla vs. Ed (with Eddy)

Recap: "HOSS! HOSS! HOSS!" the audience chants with all three powerhouses standing in opposing corners. Edback is the first to taunt at Eddy's behest, beating his chest metrically to the "FEED ED MORE!" chants. Beowulf, who has been STARVING for competition since APEX nearly closed and felt cheated out of being unable to relish in his reign to the world, simply DARES his two opponents to even cross the King of the Danes. But Godzilla beats them all with his iconic roar resonating within the arena. This has Beowulf step up to Godzilla and the two behemoths glare each other down and talk trash, Beowulf bringing up the Fire Drake he's slain is much more threatening than Godzilla himself…and Godzilla retorts that he's faced a three-headed alien dragon and LIVED. Before the two did anything, EDBACK blindsides Beowulf with a Double Axe Handle and fires away with multiple fists at Godzilla! Ed takes Godzilla to the corner and Turnbuckle Thrusts him on repeat until Godzilla raises a knee to Ed's face. Then Ed gets hooked up from behind by the returning Beowulf and he tosses him ACROSS THE RING with a Release Dragon Suplex! But Beowulf turns around to find himself FLYING OFF THE MAT from a Running Shoulder Block from the Alpha Kaiju! Beowulf lands next to Ed and the two unfortunately stand up to face Godzilla as his hands clutch into their throats…AND GETS SENT FOR A RIDE TO OBLIVION WITH A DOUBLE-CHOKESLAM, ALL WITH PURE RAW STRENGTH! The fans were PUMPED to witness such fast-paced attacks from three giants in three minutes while Godzilla lets out a roar in triumph!

These three monsters have done nothing but DESTROY each other's bodies with their bare hands, brute strength and added in a few weapons to up the ante. Edback repeatedly clobbers Beowulf in the corner with endless amounts of Clotheslines, proceeding to Hammer Throw him into the turnbuckles, then picks him up for a Running Powerslam. Godzilla has his turn to engage a fist-trading brawl with Ed, quickly winning out by way of Big Boot. Ed exits the ring for Eddy to try and help him recuperate, but Eddy cowers away since Godzilla has followed Ed out. He kicks him in the gut and lifts him in a Military Press, looking to flatten Ed on one of the nearest announce tables…until Ed slips out and clings onto Godzilla for a Sleeper Hold, bodyscissors included! The King of the Monsters has trouble removing Ed from his back…but he wouldn't have a problem with getting rid of him…

…because of Beowulf sprinting and sending them crashing through the exploding barricade via Spear! Eddy stands alone in HORROR as "HOLY SHIT!" chants are sung within the AT&T Center after witnessing such destruction in a short amount of time!

Beowulf waits for one of them to stand and it would be the Alpha Kaiju himself, glowering deeply at the fearsome warrior. Soon as Godzilla stomped after Beowulf, the latter already hops off the steel steps and hits the former with an impressive High Knee. Godzilla stumbles and would have his head SMASHED into the steps. Beowulf grabs the steel steps and blatantly RIPS off the top half, suddenly knocking out Edback again with it! Returning his attention to Gojira, he bellows as he HURLS the steps at him…

…and Godzilla catches those steps in his hands! Beowulf is BAFFLED…and realizes too late as he gets SLAMMED over the head by Godzilla in a downward motion as if the steps were a simple steel chair! The Big G throws the stairs in the ring, executing a Running Senton on the Beast of Geats thereafter. Beowulf, busted wide open from the steps, coughed pugnaciously from a near 400-pound monster crushing his chest, then Godzilla forced him back in the ring and slid in an empty corner. The crowd is anticipating what might be an upset and the Beast of Geats having a taste of his own medicine with Godzilla stalking him from the corner. Through his bared teeth, a visible blue fiery breath is exhaled as Godzilla hisses and awaits Beowulf to stand…and when he did, Godzilla CHARGES like a demon…

as Beowulf DISCUS ELBOW SMASHES the Kaiju right in the face! Godzilla goes down, but Beowulf carries his dead weight back up in a Front Facelock. On his knees, Godzilla springs to life with a powerful push to the ropes and Beowulf returns with a VICIOUS knife-edge chop to the chest! Godzilla winces…but he shoots a quick glare at the Beast of Geats as he slowly rises back to his feet…and then OVERHAND CHOPS the chest of Beowulf! The King of the Danes falls to a knee, arms crossed over his torso…but with utter defiance, he stands back up and SCREAMS in Godzilla's face. Then Godzilla returns the scream with his own bellow…and Beowulf chops the chest with a backhand! Godzilla, another Overhand Chop! Back and forth, to no end, these two goliaths are WHIPPING each other's upper bodies! The end results are grossly lashed and bleeding chests before Godzilla grabs Beowulf by the head and sends a brutal Knee Lift to the gut. But Beowulf fires back with not one, not two, not even three…but FIVE European Uppercuts! Godzilla is down to one knee and that gives the Monster Slayer time and leverage to put him in a Front Facelock…drape the arm over his head, inciting the AT&T Center to stand…

…and lifts the King of the Monsters in a Vertical Suplex hold! Beowulf had sought the Wulfhammer (Jackhammer)…if Godzilla had not a chance to strike down a knee to his head! By then, he already stands back on his feet and lifts Beowulf in a Military Press…

"PREPARE TO MEET YOUR MAKER!"

but Edback returns with a Running Crossbody Block into the Alpha Kaiju, causing Beowulf to fall on top of him as well! First pinfall of the match here with Ed and Beowulf covering…

…and GODZILLA POWERS OUT, SENDING BOTH ED AND BEOWULF FLYING OFF! Ed and Beowulf get back up, the latter runs, misses a Lariat, turns back around and Ed MOUNTAIN BOMBS Beowulf onto the steel stairs! Ed watches Godzilla return to a vertical base and knocks him flat on his back with a Leaping Headbutt! Then Ed wastes NO time to ascend the turnbuckles with Eddy at ringside cheering him on. Ed has reached the very top…

"I AM EDBACK! CHEESE AND MACARONI!"

…and Ed FLIES through the sky to land a Burhead Bump (Headbutt, sometimes while diving) onto the King of the Monsters!

…Or at least he would have, if Gojira had not rolled away, causing Ed to crash and burn! Edback holds his face while standing up…and Godzilla BLASTS him out of his boots and into the corner with the infamous Flying Kaiju Dropkick (Running Front Dropkick)! Edback is shaking the cobwebs as he uses the ropes to pull himself to his feet, Godzilla already grabbing him and signaling for the finish. He puts him in a Standing Headscissors…flips him over into the Elevated Prawn Hold…over 15,000 strong chanting Godzilla's name…

…and…Eddy SLAMS a steel chair into Godzilla's back! Godzilla drops Ed down the moment he was hit…yet he was unfazed…and he shoots a heavy death glare towards Eddy, who immediately loses color and drops the chair to try and talk his way out of this. Godzilla merely holds the scowl, wanting NONE of his bull. Realizing this, Eddy tries to escape, only to be caught by his three hair strings and have his throat in Godzilla's dominant right hand. An Atomic Breath Chokeslam—that Eddy escapes…because of Ed's save by way of Lariat, but Godzilla does not go down! Ed hits the ropes and again lands another Lariat, yet there is hardly budging from the Big G himself. Third time is the charm…but not this time with Godzilla grabbing hold of his throat! The King of the Monsters lifts the Big Ed for an Atomic Breath Chokeslam (Vader's Sky High Chokeslam)…

…and Edback breaks out of the hold with a Double Axe Handle mid-air! Then, Ed kicks Godzilla's abdomen, grabs his arm, twists it and proceeds to carry him on his shoulders in a Cradle Suplex! San Antonio is going INSANE at the sight of Godzilla himself is being HELD on another person's shoulders, Eddy grabbing his head in agape and our ringside commentators in absolute disbelief. Edback marches around the ring…

…draws near the ropes…

…and runs…

but not before his eyes widen in horror…

…WHEN BEOWULF HITS THE SPEAR, INADVERTENTLY HELPING ED SEND GODZILLA INTO THE BELLY OF HADES (Ryback's Shell Shock)! Beowulf LEAPS off the mat and to his feet, bellowing at the top of his lungs to a pumped-up crowd!

But with Godzilla out of the ring and Edback flat on his back, Beowulf has now decided to go for the finishing blow. He drags the dead weight of Edback to the point of a Front Facelock. Cricking his neck, Beowulf vertically holds Ed high…

…and decisively FLATTENS Ed, center of the ring, with the Wulfhammer, hooking the legs Goldberg-style for the triumphant pinfall!

Beowulf raises his APEX World Championship to celebrate his victory with referee Corey Parker holding his hand up. Markiplier soon joins him with a microphone in hand, first congratulating him for not only winning, but also thanking him for staying with APEX as their world champion. To a round of applause, Beowulf is more grateful for APEX taking him in, giving him a home and molding him into the man he is right now (or in this case, a beast). All of his efforts, his hard work, his undefeated streak—paid off completely for the belt he is carrying right now. Mark goes straight to the questions, asking for the King of the Danes' thoughts about the #1 Contender's Tournament for the APEX World Championship and its contestants. Beowulf wishes he can face them all, being the hungry competitor he is. Speaking of hunger…ever since APEX nearly shut down and the roster was becoming scarce, Beowulf felt left in the dark and disgruntled with no one to challenge him. This match with the likes of Godzilla and Ed, both of whom Beowulf credits for their worthy, no doubt fed his hunger…but he was still STARVING for more. Whether it'd be whom he considers his best rival, the Orange Spark…or the "devil from space"…the infamous icon of Mortal Kombat…or the man people consider the legendary Ranger, the Beast of Geats lets them all know this is not the same man that won the belt at Summer Wars…this is a man, a warrior, a BEAST that is RAVENOUS for a long-awaited competition…and he outright REFUSES to be disappointed by their lack of effort by Night of Champions. He tells them—no, he DEMANDS those in the tournament to bring all they got…and give their all, especially by the time one of them wins the finals…so says the king. Because by then…King Beowulf will be waiting.


The Wolves (Erik Rollins, Hannibal Ambrose, and Damian Reigns) vs. The Hardcore Trinity (Mason Stone, Marcus King, and Nolan Gates)

Recap: Right before referee Shawn Yeager could ring the bell, Ricardo Alvarez, Jr. appeared on the APEXTron. He reminds everyone in the arena of the earlier announcement involving the Tag Team Turmoil…and has officially declared that this Six-Man Tag Team Match will now determine which of these teams will gain entrance into that very gauntlet contest. Now the stakes have been RAISED. There is now an even bigger reason to give these two trios motivation to put in the effort for a spot in the Tag Team Turmoil.

The Wolves and the Trinity are standing together at the center with the crowd growing loud in their cheers at the sight of this showdown. Each individual share similarities in some form of stature, but when it comes to personality and their point of views, they are complete opposites. The Wolves believe in fairness and justice. The Trinity—and the Foundation as a whole—believe in slaughter and mayhem. But one question is asked by MatPat at ringside, "Which one of these stables are the most dominant forces in the whole company…and which one of them believes they're just that?" As the arguments and insults continue trading between these two factions, the crowd were actually showing full support for the Wolves and against the Trinity after their heinous acts back in RAMPAGE. Suddenly, Marcus King blindsides Hannibal Ambrose with a pie-face push…and Ambrose SPITS in Marcus' face. Marcus gradually removes the saliva off his face with a hand, absolutely disgusted while Hannibal taunts him and gets held back by Erik Rollins. Our polar opposites back away to their corners by order of the official…

…but Hannibal says, "Fuck it," and so does Marcus, the two instantly breaking away from their teammates to go after each other as Hannibal Crossbody Blocks into Marcus and rains wild, rabid punches all over him! This incites the rest of the Wolves and the Trinity to break into an unrelenting brawl that spills all over the ring and out of it! Hannibal on Marcus! Damian on Nolan! Erik on Mason! Referee Shawn Yaeger is having absolutely no control over these people, yet the San Antonio natives are absolutely loving it! Hannibal punches and kicks Marcus to the point of him rolling out of the ring, Damian obliterates Nolan with a Clothesline over the top rope and Mason BARELY escapes Erik as the Trinity regroup outside and the Wolves own the squared circle right in the heart of the AT&T Center! Though the Wolves are on a high, Erik can't help scolding Hannibal for going after Marcus…and Hannibal just shrugs, "I don't know. I like a challenge."

After all six men have calmed down and settled in their corners, it is decided that both faction leaders Erik Rollins and Mason Stone will begin the match, much to Hannibal's displeasure. Rollins and Mason circle the ring and progressively latch hands for the Greco-Roman Knuckle Lock, playing it safe…until Mason blatantly thumbs Rollins in the eye! The Dark Angel forcefully drags Rollins by the hair all the way to his corner, aggressively kicking away while Nolan holds Erik and Marcus beats him down with clubbing fists. Mason tags in Nolan, who leaps into the ring; he gets some distance for a charging run, nailing a Single Leg Dropkick, lands on the apron to sweep Rollins off his feet, and then slingshots back in with a Rope-aided Corner Dropkick! Now Marcus is tagged in, dragging Erik away for an Irish Whip to the ropes. He made the brief taunt that what Rollins is receiving will be given to Hannibal soon before catching Erik with a Spinning Side Slam! Right after that, Marcus rests his foot on top of Erik's face and presses it down to make him kick his feet all around in anguish. Marcus grins, especially at seeing Hannibal throw slurs and being held back by Damian.

Erik does get breathing room when he escapes a Corner Clothesline with a slide through the ropes followed by a Rope-aided Enzuigiri. As Marcus stumbles back, Erik springboards off the ropes to make a knee-to-face contact via Begrimed Skies (Springboard High Knee). The leader of the Wolves watches King attempt to back to his feet and he hits the ropes, seeking for The Second Coming—that Marcus King stops with his head popping up…and making Erik perform a perfect backflip to land on his feet! Erik ducks under the Clothesline and strikes the Trinity's strongman with a Pelé Kick! With enough distance, Rollins tags out to Damian Reigns and he rushes at Marcus with a Leaping Clothesline, blasting him down on his back! It was a showcase of two bulls clashing and locking horns in the squared circle that appeased the Texas natives. Marcus and Damian started off besting each other with Running Shoulder Blocks, always colliding, yet never budging from their vertical stances. They stare each other down, realizing how much they are equal in strength. But they wish to disprove that with more Shoulder Blocks, Marcus gesturing for Damian to go first and even going as far as to call him a "little man" in spite of how close in size they are. He obliges and hits the ropes for another Shoulder Block, ramming into Marcus who stays on his feet with a shit-eating grin. Not so intimidated, Damian goads Marcus to do a Shoulder Block himself. Marcus complies with a bounce off the ropes and roughly smashes into Damian's shoulder as the Enforcer of the Wolves remains standing. They get in each other's faces with a lot of talking smack, then they both go for the ropes at opposite ends…

…and instead of another Shoulder Block collision, Damian opts out for a Superman Punch to Marcus! With his back turned, Reigns rolls him up to a near-fall! Though King was a bit heavier than Reigns, the latter DEFIED the laws of physics itself when he lifts him all the way up to his shoulder…and he executes Marcus King with a One-shoulder Elevated Powerbomb! Damian HOWLS in triumph to the skies with the audience rallying behind him!

Now Hannibal finally gets his turn to duke out with Marcus, keeping him cornered with barren and flailing punches before he got forced back by the referee. But then Hannibal breaks off to land a Leaping Corner Forearm Smash and he tags out to Erik. Hannibal drops down on all fours as Erik rolls over him and makes a U-turn to hop off of the Rabid Wolf to nail a Double Knee Strike to the face of Marcus. Damian tagged himself in during, Erik performs an Irish Whip to Marcus and Damian rocks him with a Lariat! Into the cover and a kick-out from Marcus King at two! After Hannibal gets tagged back in, he takes over for his fellow Wolf comrades. He drags him to the ropes where he would jab him in the face frequently before running to the ropes and back to hit a John Woo Kick (Running High-impact Front Dropkick)! Hannibal essentially dominates the likes of the large Marcus King by his lonesome, being overconfident enough to ignore Erik's calls for a tag…and it does come to bite him in the ass when Mason feigns coming into the ring and this distracts Hannibal long enough before he turns around to eat a massive Side Kick from the Hardcore Foundation's powerhouse! Marcus quickly mounts Hannibal with an unforgiving sequence of raining fists to the face, shouting and swearing at him for spitting him in the face earlier. Marcus King, once a kind, gentle giant, is now brutalizing the daylights out of the youngest member of the Wolves with his bare hands.

The Trinity take their turns with many tag-ins and tag-outs to weaken their opponent, Marcus especially venting his anger out on Ambrose before Mason had to calm him down and prevent themselves from getting disqualified. Meanwhile, the Wolves are frustrated and feeling helpless with how separated they are from Hannibal, but despite that, Erik Rollins seems to be the only one giving vocal support to his best friend. At one point, Hannibal did come close from separating himself from the Hardcore Trinity after biting at the nose of Nolan Gates to escape the Cross Armbar. The result left Nolan with a bloody nose and the Mad Wolf looking like a bloodthirsty cannibal…until King stops Ambrose with a Double Axe Handle to the spine…and he then Hammer Throws him back to the Trinity's corner, Hannibal practically exploding into the turnbuckles! As Marcus gets back to the apron by Shawn's order, Nolan picks up Hannibal against the corner and tags out to Mason. The Dark Angel Irish Whips Gates after Hannibal and he hits a Step-up High Knee, then thrusts Hannibal into an Elbow Smash by Mason, who throws Hannibal back in the corner to a seated position. Marcus is tagged in, then gets a running start, makes a U-turn and…he slows down inches away from Hannibal as he spitefully SPITS down at his face! "Enjoyed that, you little SHIT?!" Marcus shouts, Big Booting his face in afterward. He walks over to the Wolves' corner, mugging over Hannibal's complete vulnerability enough to provoke Damian's rage as the official desperately holds him back.

Still in the corner, Marcus headbutts Hannibal as it brings him down to both knees…but Hannibal shakes his head and uses the ropes to bring himself up. King mockingly asks if he wanted more…and the Mad Wolf answers, "Oh, please, yes, sir…may I have some more?" Marcus gratefully agrees…and grabs him by the vest to deliver yet another headbutt! Hannibal shakes his head around like a madman and yells, "C'MON! I FELT THICKER SKULLS THAN THAT! I WANT YOU DO IT! COME ON, HIT ME! HIT ME!" If there is one thing to know, it's you never put a wild animal in the corner…and in this case, it is a wild Hannibal Ambrose, who received a final headbutt by King…

…Hannibal ROARS in his face and returns an even uglier headbutt of his own! Hannibal, in complete berserker mode, knocks down both Mason and Nolan with wild sways of his arms! He avoids a Clothesline from Marcus and bounces off the ropes to hit a John Woo Kick! Marcus nearly falls off his feet, but when he bounced right back, Hannibal swiftly kicks him in the gut and drives him down in a Snap DDT! Thankfully, it didn't take Hannibal long enough to make the tag and Erik Rollins arrives into the action with the Diving Somersault Neckbreaker. Beating his chest, Rollins signals for his own killing blow: The Second Coming—that Marcus evades yet again…

…and takes him out with a New Sound Breaker (Chokeslam Backbreaker)! Now Marcus covers: 1, 2—Hannibal breaks up the pinfall…

…and Mason Stone obliterates him with a single Dying Light (Double Knee Facebreaker)! Mason stands up—TO A SUPERMAN PUNCH BY DAMIAN REIGNS THAT TURNS THE TRINITY LEADER INSIDE OUT! But Damian turns around as Nolan jumps high off the canvas to compress his torso in with the Timepiece Stomp—or at least, he would have…

…if Damian had not caught his legs! He drags him all the way to an Elevated Prawn Hold…and nails an EXPLODING Reign of Power (Jackknife Powerbomb)! Damian howls once again in triumph…but that would be proven to be a mistake…as Marcus takes him out with a decapitating Lariat! Then he picks him back up, carries him in a Crucifix hold…and hurls Damian's whole body over with a Colossal Drop (Throwing Crucifix Powerbomb)! Having enough, King tags out to Mason and the two decide to end this match while they have the chance. Stone carries Rollins to his feet, setting him up in a Suplex-like manner and lifting him…if it wasn't for Erik's stubbornness with his legs moving around. Marcus does help to club Erik's back…and when Mason lifted him up again, Rollins complied and mule kicks Marcus in the face! Then he counteracts with a Falcon Arrow! Hook of the leg…

…and Marcus stops the pinfall with a boot to the back of Erik's head! Marcus grabs hold of him and lifts him on his shoulders…until Hannibal flies to the rescue with a Super John Woo Kick (Missile Front Dropkick) that takes Marcus out of the ring! "JOHN WOO KICK, MUTHAFUKKA!" Hannibal cries before going for the ropes and making a rebound with a Suicide Dive! Nolan has recovered from the Reign of Power and hits the ropes as well to earn high-speed momentum…

…and flies OVER the ropes with a Suicide Somersault Senton onto Hannibal! Damian has seen bodies flying…and it looks like he wants in. He hits the ropes once…twice…

and, with enough speed, he also takes flight to land an Over-the-top-rope Suicide Dive on everybody!

Almost everybody, as Mason and Erik are still in the ring alone. The Dark Angel is the first up and he slithers to the nearest corner from Erik's blind spot, ascending the second turnbuckle. Standing tall, Marcus gives a quick cutthroat gesture before diving off for the Dying Light…

…and Mason hits the canvas back-first as Erik sidestepped him! Erik now gets in Mason's blind spot from behind…and strikes the back of his head with Silent Hound (Superkick to the back of an opponent's head)! This brings Mason down to a knee as he holds his cranium…

…and gives Erik the right opportunity for The Second Coming (Seth Rollins' Curb Stomp) and a merited victory via pinfall!

The Wolves take home the "W" as Erik Rollins rolls to his knees to raise his fists, ecstatic to have his team in the Tag Team Turmoil. Hannibal and Damian have already regrouped with their leader to celebrate while the Trinity are left with only to seethe over their loss and disappear to the back. Later backstage, Robin Scherbatsky catches up with the Wolves to host an interview over who will be in the gauntlet match at Night of Champions. As the leader, Erik Rollins declares that both Hannibal and Damian should be qualified. He states they are more than capable of leaving the Tag Team Turmoil the next World Tag Team Champions; the Wolves have been around the longest in APEX and it was about time they have their due.


Unsanctioned Match (with guest referee Ricardo Alvarez, Jr.) – "The Latino Kid" Jesse Alvarez vs. "The Gore Machine" Jason Krueger

Recap: Seven years in the making. Over initial biasness and immaturity, this feud has lasted for so long and runs so deep between them. Jesse accepted it was his own fault for his favoritism that caused Jason's bitter hatred against him for the first few months of ACW. On the other hand, Krueger's own hatred should have been let go and should have moved on at this point. However, this acrimony will not be put to rest until they have this match, one that will be unforgiving, unmerciful…unsanctioned. As such, once that bell rings, this contest will be considered unmarked in the history of Apex Caliber Wrestling, as if this never existed and prevent a blemish in the company.

Alvarez and Krueger stand in the middle of the ring, giving each other such heavy scowls. They say nothing to each other as enough has been stated in the past. This is where it all started; this is where it will all end. Ricardo Alvarez, appropriately garbed in a referee's attire, separates the two and explains that in spite of the lack of rules, he will be the one to call it down the middle and if neither man can continue, he will have no choice but to end the fight. But they were more focused on each other than Ricardo's word. Sighing, the second-generation luchador calls for the bell…and Krueger first flips off Jesse in his face, displaying his clear loathing for him. The Latino Kid calls him out for being juvenile…before unapologetically slapping him across the face! As Jason takes the time to register that slap, Jesse proclaims, "First hit, asshole!"

…and the furious Krueger slaps him right back! Jesse nurses his face and turns back to Jason tackling him down to the canvas, both enemies battering each other with inexorable fists! They roll out of the ring together, standing on their feet, and then Jesse hits a Forearm Smash to have Jason stumble close to the corner barricade. With that, Jesse attacks him with a Clothesline that sends them both over and into the crowd area! The fight is spilling out into the audience and the audience themselves are loving the idea of being closer to the action in spite of security doing their job to keep them away from Jesse and Jason! As Ricardo follows to ensure the safety of both competitors, this chaotic fight continues to move around the fans. At one point, Jesse grabbed a cup of soda from a female fan to have a big sip…and spits a massive spray in Jason's face! In quick reaction, Jason strikes a Throat Thrust Uppercut to Jesse. Then he swipes the same cup away to have a drink before spraying his soda-spit all over Jesse's face! But after a minute of nothing but fisticuffs in the crowded seats, our two wrestlers have returned to the ring when Jason sends Jesse over the barricade with a Big Boot.

Subsequently throwing Jesse head-first into the ring post, Jason now resolves to look under the ring apron for any available weapon. The first few he takes are a trashcan full of weapon goodies (e.g. kendo sticks, a metal pipe, a crutch, a trashcan lid, etc.)…and a big black bag, which Jason particularly grins at and puts that one away on the steps for later usage. Jason has taken the full trashcan and throws it over inside, causing all the weapons to spill out…but there was one missing…and that was the crutch that strikes Jason's abdomen by Jesse Alvarez's hands! He goes to town on the former asylum inmate's body with multiple crutch shots, throwing it aside when he was finished with it. He backpedals a few feet, measuring Jason on his hands and knees…goes for a Running Knee Strike, but Jason has sidestepped him…

…and that's what Jesse counted on; he runs up the apron, jumps from the bottom rope to the middle rope to the top rope—no-hands, in fact—and Springboard Corkscrew Moonsaults on top of Krueger to an enormous roar of gasps followed by cheers! Jesse plays to his fellow Texans, boasting over the agile maneuver. Pride comes before the fall as Jason has recovered long enough for him to see Jesse peeking under the apron for another weapon of choice and blindsides him with a Running Knee Lift! Then, Krueger grabs Alvarez's head and the camera mic catches Jason calling Jesse "a piece of arrogant shit" under his breath before hurling Jesse vehemently into the barricade corner, Jesse falling on top of his head! But he was not finished yet. The Gore Machine has dragged the entire staircase over and into the apron, where he pulls out a fresh steel chair the next. He opens up the chair and wraps it around Jesse's neck as its legs are facing in the front…and Jason hurls him into the stairs, the impact sending its way into Jesse's torso and forcing the air out of his lungs! Jesse removes the chair and has his arms crossed over his chest to cough up a storm while Ricardo checks on him. Of course, Krueger would sneer at Jesse for his father's pampering…and this has Jesse severely glower towards Krueger before he pushed his father off to rush Jason, who hooks him with a right hand that knocks him down.

Krueger has Alvarez in a Standing Headscissors on the ring apron…cricks his neck…wraps his arms around the waist while Ricardo becomes wary of his son's predicament…

…until Jesse keeps his feet planted on the apron, escapes…and scratches out Jason's eyes! With Jason vulnerable, Jesse kicks him in the gut, puts him in the Standing Headscissors…

…and he drives Jason's own skull into the hardest part of the squared circle with a Spike Piledriver! The Gore Machine falls absolutely limp to the floor while the Latino Kid sits back…and grins, content with the counter and the sight of his opponent's current position. A while later, Jesse holds Jason's head down on the third step up and drags out the trashcan the latter threw in. Jason was about to lift his head up when Jesse SMASHED it into the steps with a trashcan toss! Jason writhes in mere pain as Jesse drags him up by the hair and throws him into the ring. Bringing the trashcan with him, he slips it over Jason's body and waits in the corner…to begin a rhythmic stomping session. With a few fans clapping and counting along, Jesse measures Krueger rising to his feet…stops at seven…and rocks Krueger's head in the garbage can with The Gift of Alvarez (Sweet Chin Music)! He faces the crowd and proclaims with his arms splayed, "My 'gift' to Jason, ese! Drink it in, maaaaaaaaan~!"

Not all good things last, however. After failing to get a three-count, Jesse sought a Super Hurricanrana once he had Krueger sitting on the top turnbuckle…but when he was about to execute it, Jason holds him upside-down…lifts him back up on his one shoulder…

…and he dives off with an Awesome Bomb (Mike Awesome's move of the same name), planting Jesse into the canvas! Jason has the shoulders down and Ricardo does his job to count: 1, 2—kick-out by Jesse! Jason is almost shocked, but he stays in the game, grabbing the nearest trashcan lid and stalking Alvarez to his feet. He begs him, URGES him to stand…and the second he does, Jason darts after Jesse and smashes the lid into his face with a Running Elbow Strike! The impact sends Jesse through the ropes and on the apron, which gives Jason a twisted idea as he slowly stalks him to the outside. All Ricardo can do is watch the personal conflict in front of him and stand by while Jason picks Jesse up to his shoulders near the steel steps…

…until Jesse retaliates with an elbow strike to the jaw! And a second! A third! One after another, Jesse is hammering those elbows into Jason's cranium, each strike hitting harder and faster than the last! Jesse is released and Jason is pushed back…and then he eats a Superkick from the Latino Kid! Jason Krueger is seeing lights…but he reacts with a Throat Thrust Uppercut! Jesse holds his esophagus…yet he tells Jason, "Suck it!" as he nails a Bicycle High Knee that sends saliva (and possibly a tooth) flying out of Jason's mouth! The second-born Krueger's head is leaned back as of the impact…until he makes a comeback with an Elbow Strike! Jesse nurses his jawline…but then, he spits down at the floor and his Rope-aided Enzuigiri—gets blocked by Krueger's arms! Jason quickly lifts Jesse off the apron and on his shoulders once again…

…and he drives Jesse's head down with Absolute Destruction (Death Valley Driver) onto the steps! Jason rolls his opponent inside the ring for the cover while Ricardo holds his head in utter horror. Snapping back into reality, Ricardo, albeit reluctantly, drops down to count…

and Jesse kicks out at 2.333! Not even a NEAR-FALL and Jesse has the strength to have the shoulder up!

Krueger sits and stares at Jesse in disbelief and Ricardo, also in shock, explains it clear to him that Jesse definitely kicked out as his son slowly rolls out of the ring and falls on the floor. The former asylum inmate now scoots out of the ring…and brings out a new foreign object in the form of a wooden table. Pushing it inside, he proceeds to set the table to its complete stature beside the northeast corner. As a precaution, Jason picks up the dented trashcan and wedges it in the opposite corner Once then, he goes after Jesse in attempts to drag him back in the ring as he pokes his head through the ropes and grab him by the hair…

…up until Jesse swings up a steel chair right into Jason's cranium! And that was the same chair Jason used on Jesse earlier to wrap around his neck like a necklace! As Krueger holds his head, Alvarez tosses the chair away and Skins the Cat back in the ring with ease. Jesse observes Jason turning around and he blasts him down with a heck of a Clothesline! Bouncing off the ropes, he connects a Sleeper Slam to the oncoming Jason afterward! As quickly as possible, Jesse ascends to the high-rent district. By the time he does, Jason has already stood to a vertical base…and Jesse performs a Diving Crossbody—THAT JASON ROLLS THROUGH! He has Jesse in his arms and pops him up in a Fireman's Carry…

…and makes a run for the wedged trashcan—THAT JESSE AVOIDS BY SLIDING OFF AND SHOVING JASON HEAD-FIRST INTO THE FOREIGN OBJECT! Krueger staggers back into a Fireman's Carry of Jesse's own…and he drops him with the Órale! Kick (Fireman's Carry dropped into an Overhead Kick)! Rolling him over on his shoulders and hooking the leg, Ricardo counts: 1…

2…

…Jason pops a shoulder up at 2.559! Both men lie beside each other for the moment, taking this time to breathe before gradually rising. They make eye contact with each other the second they reached to their knees…grabbing each other's hair with visible scowls…and then beginning to beat the other with their bare fists. From the subjective cheers for Jesse to the prejudiced boos for Jason, they trade their stiff punches and sharp forearms to the point of their erect positions…until Jason prevents Jesse's Clothesline with a Big Boot to the face! Then, a Roaring Elbow—Enzuigiri counter from the Latino Kid! Both are on their knees again…then they grab their weapons simultaneously (Jesse with a metal pipe and Jason with a kendo stick)…

…and Jesse strikes Jason's face while Krueger critically breaks the kendo stick over his sides! The one who got the worst end was Krueger, who may have a concussion at this point as he holds his head. Jesse grabs him by that head, slams it over the table and places him on it in a horizontal position. Going up the top turnbuckle with a hop, albeit nursing his ribs, Jesse takes in the environment around him and glares down at Jason. "You should have never bit the hand that fed you in the first place, Jason," Jesse proclaims before diving for a Latino Splash (Frog Splash)…

and Jason is nowhere to be found as Jesse falls HARD on the table, making a dent! The Gore Machine quickly climbs the table, brings Alvarez up in a Standing Headscissors, lifts him upside-down…

…and performs a Krueger Driver (Spike Piledriver) through the table! But with Jason's head still ringing, he couldn't make the cover until after a brief ten seconds of recovery! He hooks Jesse's legs as quickly as he could…but he did not succeed in winning as Jesse kicks out at 2.75!

Enough was enough. Playtime was over for Jason Krueger. Fuming over the kick-out, he slides out to grab his big black bag, opens it up, reaches inside…and pulls out a staple gun, much to the dismay of the AT&T Center. He leaves his bag in the corner and stalks the prone Jesse with his gun, testing it with a few staples popping in the air with a sadistic grin. Ricardo tries stepping in, but Jason warns him to stay out of the way—Jesse agreed to be in this match that holds no prohibitions and no limits whatsoever…and he reminds the famous luchador that he's a referee tonight and nothing more. Grudgingly, Ricardo moves…and Jason gets closer to the kneeling Jesse, whose eyes are glazed over. He points the gun to his forehead…claims that Alvarez deserves this…

and he sticks a staple into his skull, Jesse reacting with absolute agony! This is the first time ever that Jesse has experienced this kind of violent discomfort…and it is surely not the last, as Jason mounts his back…and puts not one, not two, but THREE staples in the back of his head! Jesse is letting out such blood-curdling screams that are apparently the sound of music to the sadistic Krueger. At this point, Jesse has already been leaking blood from both the front and back of his cranium before Jason whacks him with the stapler gun itself. Jason sardonically offers Jesse to get those staples out of his head as he searches through his big bag again…and he pulls out a flat screwdriver. Jesse is desperately picking himself up on all fours, confused in misery over the staples stuck to his head…before Jason mounts on him again to "try" and "find" the staples in order to pry them off. All this does is cause even worse torture to the defenseless Alvarez until Jason actually does find and removes the three staples in his head, albeit with blood and hair on the screwdriver that Jason wipes clean. "YOU SICK FUCK!" chants run venomously wild in the arena and Jason taunts them all for "realizing this just now". He turns Jesse over for a clear sight of the staple, "carefully" digs under it…and yanks it out in snap-motion…

before Jason starts repeatedly stabbing at his forehead with the screwdriver to the fans' squeamish screams! Jesse is suffering in pure agony and kicking his feet around before Ricardo finally intervened and throws Jason off of his son, having enough of this insane violence! Almost offended, Jason threatens Richard with the screwdriver until the latter SLAPS it out of his hand! They get in each other's faces, arguing at the top of their lungs before Jason pushed Ricardo…and he pushes right back! Jason falls to his back and sits up to receive the loudest and heated scorning from the second-generation luchador of the Alvarez family; Ricardo looked like he was going to pop a vein with his red face, stating he's had enough of this violence, the hatred—EVERYTHING from the career-ending Piledrivers to the staple guns to the screwdrivers. Jason stands and was actually backed into the corner as Ricardo raided on. As much as his love and care for his son is appreciated, Ricardo must not let his emotions get to him in this match…but from the looks of it, it seems he's letting personal matters get in the way as he turns to Jesse sitting against the ropes and tells him that this match is not worth it anymore. He has no choice but to end the match considering Jesse appears he will not continue…

…and when he was about to call for the bell, Jesse grabbed his wrist. Wounded and crimson masked, Jesse REFUSED to let his father end this match without a winner. The argument was brief…but after Ricardo asked Jesse if he is willing to go on, he nods…and the elder Alvarez diffidently backs away—and Jason capitalizes with a Running Elbow Strike to Jesse!

The deathmatch-like contest only continued with Jason torturing Jesse with a lemon he takes a bite out of and squeezes its liquid into his wounds to make Jesse cry out in pain. This was truly becoming hard to watch for most folk, especially as this is not for the faint of heart. Jason brings back the bag and dumps out thumbtacks all over the ring canvas. He outright tells the new owner of APEX that he's doing him a favor by ending this now. He brings Jesse on his shoulders…spins him into an over-the-shoulder hold—which Jesse escapes out of…

…then takes Jason on his shoulders instead…

and plants him with a lightning-quick Alvarez Driver (Death Valley Bomb) right on top of the thumbtack pile! Jason immediately sits up in screeching pain with the thousands of thumbtacks stuck in his back! "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU KIDS?!" yells Ricardo, perplexed at the sight of this carnage. The trembling second-born Krueger rolls off the thumbtacks, stands on his knees and sees a nearly limp Jesse leaning back on the ropes as he also has a few thumbtacks stuck on his shoulder. Jason, snarling, goes after Jesse into the corner and receives a kick to the gut, but he strikes him down with an elbow. He carries him up on the top turnbuckle and begins preparations for a Superplex, hoping to have Jesse land on the thumbtacks this time. But it's clear there's some resistance happening between them, so Jason is constantly jabbing punches into his ribs and then gives him a thick headbutt. Jason stands ready…

…and Jesse throws Jason down in a Front Suplex counter, dropping him chest-first back on the thumbtacks! Jason kicks his legs around to feel the pain shoot through his body as Jesse slowly recovers to place his feet on the top turnbuckle and Ricardo is attempting to convince him to climb down…

…until Jason pushes the legendary luchador into the ropes that forces Jesse to slip and land on his lower regions! Ignoring Richard's rebukes, Jason grabs hold of Jesse's head and SPIKES it down with a vicious DDT…but that was not enough to warrant a three-count with another kick-out.

Now Jason has a new and fresh steel chair unfolded and set at the center of the ring. He drags a nearly dead Alvarez over to the foreign object and lifts him in a Fireman's Carry. With one drop, Jason immediately drives Jesse's head into the chair with Absolute Destruction! "It's all over, Alvarez," proclaims Jason as he leans on top of his opponent rather arrogantly for the cover. A disgusted Ricardo wipes away the tacks before counting: 1…

2…

…3—JESSE POWERS OUT WITH A SHOULDER UP! Jason this time hooks the leg tightly: 1…

2…

…and ANOTHER kick-out, quicker than the last one! Increasingly becoming furious, Jason hooks the leg even tighter…and AGAIN, Jesse kicks out of the cover! "ARE YOU FUCKING SHITTING ME RIGHT NOW?!" Krueger shouts at the top of his lungs before taking the banged-up chair and folds it back to place it back at the center. He gets him in a Standing Headscissors again, lifts him off his feet…and DRILLS his skull again with a Krueger Driver, skull meeting steel! Jesse's body convulses from the effect of the Piledriver as Krueger proclaims it's definitely over with the hook of the leg…

…Markiplier at commentary begging Ricardo to fast count this one and get it over with…

but Jesse immediately kicks out at two. Hooking the leg again and forearm-pressing Jesse's head into the mat, Jason tells him to stay down…and he REFUSES to with another kick out! A third pinfall attempt, Jason is BELLOWING in Jesse's face to "stay the fuck down"…and Jesse spits at him right in the eye! Krueger reacts in a bit of pain, but then he turns to outright furious anger as he mounts and brutally attacks Jesse with fists to the temple. As admirable as Jesse's will to survive is, people are wondering what else is keeping him going, keeping him fighting; what is there to prove for the young Alvarez. Krueger is SCOLDING and SCREAMING in Jesse's face to stay down, to let this end, to DIE already. He wants Alvarez to DIE; he wants the voices to GO AWAY and he can't do that if Jesse is still BREATHING.

"YOUR DAYS ARE DONE, ALVAREZ! YOUR DAYS ARE DONE! YOU HEAR ME, YOU STUPID TWAT?! YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO PROVE FOR YOUR PATHETIC EGO! NOW JUST DIE, ALVAREZ! JUST. FUCKING. DIE!" Krueger CRIES, clutching onto Jesse's head…

and Jesse swipes the arms away to Superkick his jaw out! Krueger talked too much—he talked too long! And he paid for it with his lights going out! The Superkick was the shot heard 'round the world and the crowd are going nuts for their hometown native reviving!

Ricardo stands alone in the corner, completely in disbelief at what these men have become. He can only imagine the scars that will be left on them once this fight is over…and in the meantime, both Alvarez and Krueger are beginning to stir and rise on their two legs. Jesse is absolutely covered in his own blood and Jason is coated with thumbtacks on his body; they are showing nothing but absolute hatred in their eyes, drawing closer and reaching out to each other. The second they do, Jesse makes the first punch…and Jason hits back…as does Jesse…Jason…and this turns into a sluggish, yet hard-hitting trade of bare fists. It's not until that Jason pushes him away with a Big Boot…and Jesse rebounds with a Fire Whip (Spinning Heel Kick), paying tribute to his girlfriend Korra! Jason gets back on his feet instantly and Jesse takes him for an Irish Whip, which Jason reverses with his own…

…and Jesse bounces off with a Flying Forearm Smash! Both are down on their backs again…but Jesse does not stay down for along as he performs a beautiful kip-up, hopping around in an adrenaline-fueled manner to pump up the crowd! Jesse takes up the chair that his head has been drilled into twice and SMASHES it over Jason's head this time! And now, he's busted wide open! Jason stands up to have Jesse nail him with an Inverted Atomic Drop followed by a Scoop Slam, those tacks further piercing into his skin! Jesse then wastes no time to ascend the top turnbuckle…

…and descends from it to deliver a Diving Elbow Drop straight into the heart of Jason Krueger! Jesse hooks the leg: 1…2…

…kick-out from the Gore Machine! Jesse doesn't seem that bothered, however…because he has picked up the stapler gun that was used on him…and evil intentions are beginning to run through his head with a progressively growing grin. Seeing this, Ricardo tries to convince him otherwise, but Jesse deliberately ignores him to stalk Jason…and when he sat up…

Jesse puts the first staple on top of his skull! Even though this was happening to Jason, the crowd were still revolted by this action as most were not used to this sort of violence. As Jason holds the area where he was stapled, he rolls out of the ring for sanctuary. Nonetheless, Jesse hypes up the audience with rhythmic clapping as he hits the ropes to go for a Suicide Dive…but Jesse immediately stops when Jason ducked under to avoid the attack. He stands and Jesse greets him with another staple printed into his chest! Jason reacts in utter, sheer pain and moves around the ring to distance himself…but Jesse has followed him out with a proper Suicide Dive, this one having him flying into his sternum head-first à la Gran Metalik as both men crash into the barricade! This reckless stunt renders Krueger coughing up a storm and holding his back while Jesse seeing his whole life flash before his eyes on the floor.

Even so, he gets back up and, after putting another staple into Jason's nape, Jesse whacks him with the gun…and takes out a 15-foot-tall ladder. The first thing he does with it is ram the ladder over his shoulder into the face of Jason the moment he stood up; then, he turns the ladder upside-down and jabs the top rung into Krueger's gut, doing so three times in a row. He pushes the ladder in the ring and then Krueger inside thereafter, proceeding to set the ladder up and climb towards the top. No matter how much Richard begged his son to not do this, the Latino Kid only ascends farther. Once he stood on the very top rung of the ladder, Jesse repeats his earlier statement that Krueger "shouldn't have bit the hand that fed him"…

…plunges towards the supine Krueger off the ladder as it tips over…

and he successfully lands the Latino Splash, Alvarez's whole body bouncing right off of Krueger's with thunderous results! It took a while, but Jesse recovered with enough time to make the lateral press: 1…

2…

2.75, the Gore Machine kicks out! Jesse, mouth agape for a short moment, gets back to the cover, hook of the leg: 1…

2…

…2.55, Krueger kicks out again! Desperately a third time, Jesse rolls up Jason with both legs hooked as tight as possible: 1…

2…

…and at 2.15, Jason powers out once more!

The Latino Kid LOSES IT; he is pounding his fists on the mat, not giving a damn about the remaining tacks being stuck to his skin. Ricardo tries calming him down, but when Jesse snapped his head towards him with a death glare (and if one noticed closely, his left eye converting into blackness), he froze in fear as the few in their seats were stunned in silence. The look on Jesse's face was almost feral and animalistic, even bearing sharp fangs. But Jesse turns his attention back on Krueger, who he watches rise back to his knees. The two look at each other in the eye, Jesse raking his boot across his adversary's face repetitively before SLAPPING him outright. "Just couldn't let go of your loathing for me, could you?" asks Jesse, beginning on a tirade. "You just can't let go at all! For the past seven years, I have TRIED to prove to you how I have moved on, but you refuse to let me! You always consider me the bad guy! But then again, I can't blame you! So guess what? I DON'T CARE…but I'm just SICK of this BULLSHIT! I'm SICK of the fact that YOU CAN'T GET OVER YOURSELF! See this hand?!" he asks a new question, gesturing his right hand…which he uses to KNIFE-EDGE CHOPS Krueger's chest. "THIS…is the hand that FED YOU your Hardcore Championship reign in the FIRST PLACE. You wanna point FINGERS? Go ahead…because you're also blaming THE ONE PERSON who GAVE you a CHANCE since ACW's beginning! I'm THE ONE who helped ELEVATE your career! I'm THE ONE that helped made you a STAR! AND IF YOU AREN'T GOING TO APPRECIATE WHAT I DID FOR YOU DESPITE MY BULLSHIT, THEN HERE'S A NEW GESTURE," Jesse then flips the bird on Jason, "FUCK! YOOOUUU!"

Markiplier, in utter disbelief, boldly states that Jesse has officially lost his mind…

right before Jason SNAPS his sharp, feral teeth shut on Jesse's middle finger! The Latino Kid is SHRIEKING in agony with Jason's teeth trapping Jesse's finger in his mouth! Jesse tries punching him away as hard as possible, but it only makes the pain worse as his teeth break the skin further! Eventually, Jason lets go and Jesse holds his hand…before missing a punch to the running Krueger when he ducked under…

…and Krueger bounces off the ropes for The Gore (Rhyno's move of the same name)! The Gore Machine…DOESN'T go for the pin; instead, he leaves the ring for one more weapon…and it is revealed to be his trusty sledgehammer. He enters back in the ring with the weapon, letting Jesse sluggishly stand back up…and then Jesse has his first sledgehammer shot straight to the gut, courtesy of Jason Krueger! Jesse falls to his knees, holding his abdomen to endure the pain…but Jason gives him no time to recover completely as he picks up his head and asserts that this will be the last image Jesse will see before he is submitted to a hospital. With one final Elbow Strike to the face, Jason goes behind Jesse…stands at the corner…

…readies his sledgehammer in hand…

and he runs forward to STRIKE THE BACK OF HIS HEAD WITH IT! THIS renders Jesse to near lifelessness as his legs twitch…and Jason simply turns him over on his back with his boot, which he places on his chest. He orders the official to count the pin attempt…

…and, while silently fuming at Jason, Richard drops down to make a fast-count, having enough of this violent madness—JESSE ALVAREZ KICKS OUT BY 2.999999999! A COLLECTIVE GASP AND SHOUT OF "WHAT?!" IS HEARD THROUGHOUT THE AT&T CENTER FROM THE FANS, THE COMMENTARY TABLE, RICARDO, AND EVEN JASON.

The Gore Machine removes his foot Jesse's chest to back away in the corner, sitting down to grasp his head in sheer astonishment. Meanwhile, Ricardo kneels beside his son and PLEADS to allow him to STOP this match; it is not worth it anymore, he says. It is not worth the blood-spilling, the carnage, the damage being put into their bodies—Ricardo is at his limits to handle this absurdity…but while he was standing, Jesse was clinging onto his shirt to help himself back up…and it was as if he was in autopilot—not listening to a word his father said…and it's clear how glazed over his eyes truly are in spite of the blood completely masking his face and worn over his chest. The sight of a worn and torn Jesse Alvarez brought tears to Ricardo's eyes…before Jesse slowly turns his attention back to Jason, who is shaking his head.

He had no comments about this. He had no idea what to say…except for these few that escaped his lips, "You…you stupid idiot… WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO YOURSELF?! WHY?! WHY ARE YOU STILL TRYING TO FIGHT ME! YOU'VE ALREADY MADE YOUR POINT! SO WHY?!" Jesse didn't respond for a moment, having lost a lot of blood and multiple targeted shots to the head…

…until his eyes regain their pupils…

…and Jesse RELEASES A WAR CRY AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS AT ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE ARENA WHILE BEATING HIS CHEST! He SNARLS at Jason for even questioning him and MOCKS him for not doing enough to finish him off! "IS THAT ALL YOU REALLY GOT, YOU SON OF A BITCH! I'M STILL KICKING; I'M STILL BREATHING; I'M STILL STANDING; I'M STILL ALIVE! GIMME ALL THAT YOU REALLY GOT, HIJO! COME ON, ESE, I'M WAITING! I WANT YOU TO DO IT! FINISH ME OFF RIGHT HERE AND NOW! DO IT, IF YOU GOT THE BALLS, YOU BASTARD!"

The Gore Machine is FLABBERGASTED at the explosion of swears and defiance…before he turns to PURE RAGE and fires one last sledgehammer shot to the face! "You asked for this, Alvarez!" Jason testifies, bouncing off the ropes immediately afterward as Jesse is bent-over…

AND STOMPS HIS SKULL INTO THE CANVAS WITH SANITY UNBROKEN (Seth Rollins' Curb Stomp)! Jesse is NOW no longer moving, Jason goes for the hook of the leg, Ricardo drops for another fast-count…

…and he SUCCEEDS, giving Jason Krueger the win over Jesse! A sigh of relief is exhaled from the elder Alvarez as this match is FINALLY OVER.

Jason rolls off to the nearest corner and registers in his head what just happened while Ricardo is calling for medical attention for his son, the likes of Yukio Okumura, Shizuka Marikawa, along with a few EMTs and even Joshua Garza arriving on the scene. Jesse is unmoving no matter how much Ricardo tried to wake him up, then Yukio orders the two EMTs to help Jesse on the scoop stretcher before placing him on the gurney. Obviously, no one was more upset and livid than Ricardo himself as Joshua, much as he can understand his emotions, holds him back; he does stay where he is as he glares deathly at Jason in the corner and reprimands for what he's done. "Are you HAPPY with this, Jason? ARE YOU? …I hope you are…because God have mercy on your soul… You got what you wanted…now GET OUT."

RC Bane arrives last to escort his best friend out of the ring and leave the scene. All this time, however, Jason has been staring at Jesse since the bell rang for his victory. His expressive stare was…merely blank. He didn't know what to think before complying with Bane and leaves the ring. Jason is looking back every chance he gets Jesse being prepped on the wheeled stretcher. He did win, yes…but he is not so sure to feel like a winner right now; he had a lot of thinking to do. As he and Bane leave, Jesse is already being strolled out towards backstage and the San Antonio crowd were giving a supportive applause despite his condition.

This may have been one of the most abhorrent…destructive…violent…and personal contests ever witnessed…and it won't even go down in APEX's history books.


Altered Egos (Yugi Mutou and Atem) vs. The Gods of Darkness (Yami Bakura and Marik Ishtar)

Recap: The ring was cleared of any weapons and remainder of the carnage from the previous match; the show must go on, after all. Right now, APEX is witnessing the third round between Altered Egos and Gods of Darkness to hype up the Tag Team Turmoil for Night of Champions. Since their match at Spring Breakdown, Yugi and Atem have known how dangerous Bakura and Marik have become…and that's why they took the fight to them when they flew into their opponents with Stereo Suicide Dives, prematurely ending their entrance! Referee Faith Hathaway tries getting these teams under control to no avail as Altered Egos are intent with their knuckles hammered into the Gods of Darkness' faces. Yugi grabs Bakura and throws straight inside the ring as Miss Hathaway follows to call for the bell this instant. With the match underway, Yugi performs an Irish Whip on Bakura, ducks to a prone position, Atem sidesteps Bakura's Clothesline and then Drop Toe Holds him as Yugi hits the ropes and strikes a Baseball Slide to the side of the head! Then, they swiftly followed it up with a Double Spell (Fist Drop (Atem) / Standing Somersault Senton (Yugi) combination).

Soon as the metaphorical dust settled, both teams have now resided in their corners and Altered Egos were the ones on top of this contest. Yugi runs circles all over Bakura, ducking a right hook and a back elbow from him before he performs a high-speed Tilt-a-whirl Headscissors Takedown. Bakura goes to the nearest empty corner, where Yugi meets up with him with a Running Forearm Smash. Then after a Back Elbow that sits him down, Yugi gets a running start to the opposite corner and back to perform a Spiral Spear Strike (Rope-aided Corner Dropkick) into the black heart of Yami Bakura! Yugi later tags out to Atem, who flips Bakura down with a Snapmare and holds him by the head as Yugi hits the ropes and runs back with a Dropkick to the face. Atem then would land a Leaping Leg Drop, then he hooks the leg and Bakura powers out at two.

Right when Atem had Bakura on his shoulder, Bakura quickly countered with a back elbow to the face, slithered out with his head in arm and twisted around to plant him with the Rapture (Cutter)! After a two-count, Bakura drags Atem by the hair to his corner and tags out to Marik, who performs a Slingshot Double Foot Stomp to the chest. The Gods have quickly turned the match around to their side; as Marik stands and pushes down on Atem's shoulders over the second rope to choke him with such sadistic glee, Bakura is preaching to his fellow millennium spirit to repent and embrace the potential darkness that still lies within him…and referee Hathaway is counting away just to prevent an immediate DQ. Marik does get off, but only to scold the young female for interrupting Bakura's preaching until Bakura himself tries calming him down from ringside…until Atem capitalized with a Slingshot Dropkick through the ropes! Marik realizes his mistake and goes after Atem, only to run right into an uppercut straight to the throat. Atem sets Marik up for a Powerbomb, grabbing his waist…and that's when Bakura had returned to Chop Block the leg! Atem falls, releasing Marik from the Elevated Prawn Hold as he strikes a European Uppercut followed by Yami Bakura's Jumping Neckbreaker and ending with a No-handed Springboard Moonsault. They bring Atem back to the ropes, but this time, they both slingshot over to the outside to perform a Neck Snap to the rope-hung Atem…and Bakura adds the finishing touch with a slap right across the face!

With another tag, Marik flips Atem over with an Alley Oop into a Double Knee Facebreaker by Bakura, which gave them a close three-count. Atem is reaching out for Yugi, but Bakura swiftly pushes him back down and hits a Leaping Knee Drop to the face. Bakura holds his knee down on Atem's head and spreads his arms out wide to declare, "Follow…THE SHADOWS!" to enormous boos and a singular hand-clapping by Marik Ishtar. Bakura says to Atem's face that is what he should be doing instead of his futile attempts to blindly follow justice and his own self-righteousness for the sake of those weak and unable to protect themselves (especially gesturing to Yugi, who was becoming crossed). He even goes as far that if it wasn't for all of that, Yami Yugi could've been friends with G.O.D.

…and that awakens Atem enough to sit up, snap his glare to Bakura and clutch onto his throat! "As if…I would ever…EVER stoop so low and join the likes of YOU, Thief King Bakura!" Atem growls, tightening his grip on Bakura's neck as he rises to bring him into an empty corner. But it seems the more constricted his grasp was, Bakura was reacting with an unhinged grin and insane laughter, albeit through coughing. The young Faith Hathaway attempts to start counting up to five, but when she reached four, she stopped and tried to pull Atem off…

…which actually enraged the former pharaoh as his head snapped towards her, causing Faith to stagger backwards and fall on her backside in fear. The Eye of Anubis aka the Millennium Symbol was glowing brightly on his forehead to go with his crimson eyes…until Marik blindsided him with a Discus Elbow Smash…and that hardly registered with Atem, who roughly knees Marik in the midsection. An Irish Whip, he takes Marik to the ropes with and follows immediately after; by the time Marik has bounced off the ropes, he turns around and Atem clobbers him with a Rebound Clothesline! Bakura comes after Atem, but Atem catches him on his shoulders and drops him head-first onto the top turnbuckle with Snake Eyes, followed by a Running Single Leg Dropkick! With the match picking up speed again, it returns to the Altered Egos' favor as Atem tags in Yugi and the King of Games comes flying with a Springboard 450° Splash right on the Gods of Darkness!

We've come full circle to Bakura and Yugi, the latter running circles yet again with a duck under a Clothesline, a baseball slide through the legs and concluding with a Leapfrog transitioned into a Stunner! Fueled with adrenaline, Yugi grabs the stunned (pun not intended) Bakura, drapes the arm over his head, lifts him upright…

…and drops him on his head with a Brainbuster! Immediately, he goes for the cover…and Bakura kicks out at a near-fall! Nevertheless, Yugi didn't appear bothered with a clear mental state as he starts hyping up the fans with rhythmic clapping. Yugi spreads his hands out, gesturing Matt Hardy style for his own Twist of Fate dubbed Duelist's Endgame. The King of Duelists awaits Bakura's rise to his vertical base…and when he reached it, Yugi turns him around for a kick to the gut, takes his head in a Front Facelock…

…and Bakura spins out of the Duelist's Endgame for a Rapture—THAT YUGI PUSHES AWAY FROM! Yami Bakura turns back again and catches Yugi's kicking leg…which he feigns a Leg-feed Enzuigiri from to hit a Spin Mule Kick! Yugi grabs him for an Irish Whip to the corner and Bakura reverses it, Yugi planning one step ahead as he runs up the turnbuckles and hits the Whisper in the Heart of the Cards (Whisper in the Wind)—onto Faith Hathaway used as a shield by Bakura to LOATHING hisses and boos!

Yugi was HORRIFIED by this honest accident before converting to anger as Bakura snatches him for the Death Penalty—that Yugi breaks away with an Overhead Kick to the back of the head…and then both he and Atem take him down with a Double Dropkick! Marik slides in, but he gets quickly taken out from a Double High Knee by Altered Egos…and they weren't even close to being done with him. As Ishtar rolled to the apron to recover, Yugi knocks him out with a Front Dropkick through the ropes, holds on, skins the cat and holds the top rope down for Atem to perform an Elbow Suicida through his legs, completing the Alter Bridge to PERFECTION! Soon as Yami Bakura returned to his feet, Yugi drives a kick to the gut once more, this time putting him in a Standing Headscissors…

…and swiftly flipping him over via Game Changer (Snap Fallaway Powerbomb) into a returning Atem's Double Knee Facebreaker—executing the Cursebreaker! The audience becomes more hyped up than ever as Yugi stomps the mat and Atem, on his knees, slaps along, starting up yet another rhythmic clapping session for the incoming coup de grâce. Atem stands to give a cutthroat gesture before hoisting Bakura on his right shoulder while Yugi is hopping to the apron. With Bakura held in the Tombstone position, Yugi—is interrupted by disturbing, flashing visuals of bloodcurdling screaming people coated in blood in Hell reaching out, maggots crawling around, an eclipse blocking the sun, a closeup of a creepy doll that instantly turns its head to the camera, and a woman with black tendrils rapidly crawling out of her eye sockets and gaping mouth!

"DEH!"

After a collection of horrified screams from the crowd, darkness and confusion were all that was left…

…until the lights come back on…

…and all eyes were locked on the mysterious tall and masked brute standing right behind Atem! Yugi, spooked at the sight, yells for Atem to look behind…but it was too late as the masked brute grabs hold of Atem's neck and FLATTENS him with a Reverse Chokeslam Facebuster! Yugi makes the effort to avenge his surrogate brother only to be clobbered immediately by a Clothesline! Stopping for a moment to stare down at the motionless Yugi Mutou, the masked man is shown to wear a long dark blue jacket with silver outlines and around the collar over a shirt that resembled an armor-plated chest, black pants, large boots, a head cap with the Japanese kanji symbol for "darkness", and a blank black mask completely covering his face with only the Eye of Wdjat at the center. The masked man's hands ball up into fists, shaking with anger before he grabbed and lifted Yugi by his throat and crushes him with a Chokeslam, all with one arm!

He then helps Yami Bakura and gestures to the immobile bodies of Altered Egos. Bakura grins at the masked man's assistance and calls for Marik, who was already sliding back in the ring to rid of Atem. They surround Yugi completely as the masked brute forces Yugi up, then Bakura underhooks his arms and twists around to hold Yugi. While he was set up in a very hazardous predicament, Marik was already springing on the top turnbuckle…

…and he jumps with high elevation to hit a Diving Double Foot Stomp for the excessive force driven into Yugi's skull via Bakura's Vertebreaker—the Malevolent Nightmare accomplished to earn a slow, yet successful pinfall count from the referee!

Relishing in their conquest over the former World Tag Team Champions, the lights soon dim for the Gods of Darkness as they decide to make the latest statement over the masked man that helped them win. He wastes no time dropping to his knees and bowing to Bakura and Marik, worshipping them to the massive amount of bold jeers from the crowd. Nonetheless, Bakura announces and introduces the newest and first member of their growing group to help the Gods of Darkness spread the word of the darkness' beauty…and the man rises still on his knees, Bakura walking around to grab the mask…

…and remove it, revealing the masked man as PaniK, the Player Killer of Darkness. A mere one-off character and a former Duelist Eliminator hired by Maximillion Pegasus from the early days of Yu-Gi-Oh!, PaniK has returned from the Shadow Realm to wreak havoc and help his newfound "divinities" embrace the darkness. Marik and PaniK stand beside Bakura at the center of the ring, all with abhorrent and evil grins displayed…and soon, Bakura spreads his arms out to propose all in the crowd and the millions watching from their homes to "WATCH FOR THE CULT; FOLLOW…THE SHADOWS!"

…and that's when all the lights immediately go out for the Millennium Symbol to appear glitching on the APEXTron…

…before the lights come back on with no sign of the appropriately titled Cult of Shadows anywhere.

It was the dawn of a new beginning for this new foundation…and the dawn of a new nightmare for all in APEX.


APEX World Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Semifinals – Tommy Oliver vs. Scorpion

Recap: This match…this dream match is one that many fans have waited to see for YEARS. They've waited and waited for X-Treme Crossover Federation and Ultimate Wrestling Entertainment to at least host one Supershow, just for one chance to see the Shirai Ryu Assassin and the Original Power Ranger have a match in the same ring together. But who would've thought that Apex Caliber Wrestling was the one hosting such the long-awaited dream match ahead of them in time, especially in a tournament with the stakes raised high for a title shot at the world championship?

Tommy Oliver and Hanzo Hasashi have a stare-down in the middle of an excited ovation from the AT&T Center spectators. They take the time to soak in their wild cheers and come to an agreement that this match has been a long time coming. Deafening chants of "TOM-MY OLIVER! / LET'S GO, SCORPION!" ran RAMPANT all over in the arena, clearly showing how split the fans are. Both men could not help but gradually look around their surroundings and the highly energized crowd that get to be the lucky personal viewers that witness this dream match becoming reality in the middle of San Antonio, Texas. This was the FWM equivalent of "Icon versus Icon". Legend versus legend. Ranger versus ninja. This is what they've waited DECADES for. And they were gonna get it right here and now as referee Nikolas Alba proudly calls for the opening bell. Tommy is the first to offer a handshake…and Scorpion looks down at it. It's clear Tommy wants this match to be fair and with honor and he knows well enough how much Scorpion believes in just. Nodding, Scorpion accepts the handshake to a round of cheers…

…but when Tommy tried to release, Scorpion did not. He held a firm, tight grip on the hand…and Tommy confidently smirks, knowing what's really coming. Both men have the same idea of going for an Irish Whip, playing tug-o-war with their own arms…and Scorpion wins it out, hurling Tommy to the ropes. Scorpion goes down on his stomach with Tommy hopping past, stands back up to leapfrog over and runs to the ropes. Tommy gestures Scorpion to come after him and Scorpion evades his Back Body Drop attempt with a simple roll over Tommy's back. Tommy runs and blocks the Clothesline, twisting the arm into a Tiger Spin as Scorpion stops and pulls him for a wheelbarrow bodyscissor, which Oliver pushes his hands off the mat for a Bulldog attempt, but Hasashi carries him to the ropes, where Tommy kicks off the ropes into a Sunset Flip that Scorpion rolls out of, misses a Shoot Kick and backflips to a Three-point Stance after Tommy avoided the Standing Moonsault! The smirking Tommy Oliver gives another "bring it" gesture and Scorpion runs right after him, getting tripped up into a lateral press, which Scorpion immediately kicks out of before Nikolas could count; Scorpion fails the Chop Block, but not a Snapmare—that Tommy somersaults perfectly to his feet! Scorpion misses a Clothesline again as Tommy takes him down with a Japanese Arm Drag and Scorpion does the exact same! Double kip-up by both legends and their boots make contact via simultaneous Dropkicks into their own Three-point Landings! The crowd is going BANANAS over this fast-paced cruiserweight action between the two, vocalizing and clapping metrically: "HOLY SHIT, FLIPPY SHIT! HOLY SHIT, FLIPPY SHIT! HOLY SHIT, FLIPPY SHIT!" The dragon and the scorpion are at a COMPLETE deadlock, staring each other down from their poses before standing up to circle the ring.

By the time everyone settled down, Scorpion and Tommy eventually tie up in a collar-and-elbow lock. They were rather matched in strength until Scorpion broke out and finally fires the first shot with a Throat Thrust Uppercut. Tommy reels back, but he returns fire with a Backhand Chop to the chest. Back and forth at a bit of a moderate pace, the two legends are battering each other's chests with their chops. Scorpion's last Overhead Chop was hard enough to have Tommy stumble back to the ropes. There, Hanzo takes his hand for an Irish Whip and Tommy reverses. Scorpion ducks the Clothesline and slides right out of the ring, prompting Tommy to slide after him. He slid far and above past Scorpion, who pops his opponent over to the apron that he lands both feet on. Without realizing this mistake, Tommy exploits this opening with a Slingshot Dropkick through the ropes…and when Tommy tried for a Slingshot Plancha, Scorpion catches him! The yellow-garbed ninja quickly drives the lower back of Tommy Oliver into the nearest ring post, then pops him up on his shoulders in a Fireman's Carry and launches him head-first into that same post!

Later after getting Tommy back in the ring, Scorpion gestures him to get up just so he can strike a Shoot Kick into his chest. He takes him to the corner with an Irish Whip and Tommy boosts his feet off the mat and onto Scorpion's shoulders. However, Scorpion pushes those legs away to have Tommy stand on the apron and he pays the price with a Rope-aided Enzuigiri to the face! As Scorpion is dazed, Tommy slingshots himself over to the adjacent ropes and springs away to nail a Thrust Kick to the chest. The Original Ranger points at the rising Scorpion in the corner and runs in his direction, only to be popped up and landing his lower regions on the top rope to the phantom pain of the male audience. Scorpion has chopped at the chest yet again with authority before springboarding out and springboarding in to deliver a BIG Hurricanrana to Tommy right off the ropes! Scorpion goes for the cover with the legs hooked…and Tommy kicks out by the count of two! Both spectre and ranger take the moment to reach their vertical bases, Scorpion being the faster one. Hanzo takes Tommy in a Front Chancery and proceeds to lift him up…but Tommy slides down on his back and smashes his elbow right against the jaw. He rushes for the ropes and Scorpion tails, only to have Tommy sidestep him at the center and then ducking a Back Elbow, Scorpion becoming quite disoriented until Tommy catches him with a high-impact Tilt-a-whirl DDT that spikes Hanzo's skull into the canvas! Scorpion held a headstand for a quick second before falling flat and Tommy lateral presses on top with the legs hooked…and earns the two-count instead.

The action is switching back and forth between these legends of the squared circle and the audience was loving every second of this dream match becoming reality. After deflecting Scorpion with a Big Boot to the face, Tommy boosts himself to squat on the top turnbuckle and goes for a Diving Hurricanrana…

…which Scorpion sidesteps and catches Oliver mid-air! He takes him to the center and drops him with a Brimstone Neckbreaker (Back Suplex lifted and dropped into a Neckbreaker)! Though, instead of going for another cover right there, the Hellfire Incarnate rolls his opponent backwards to his feet and finishes his combo with the Double Knee Facebreaker…and yet that was not even enough to put Tommy away with another kick-out! Scorpion later goes up the high-rent district until Tommy interferes with a Dropkick that brings Scorpion to land on his groin, suffering Tommy's pain as karma. The Ranger Legend goes up to meet his opponent, some thinking he's going for a simple Superplex…

…but in actuality…

…Tommy has taken a leap of faith by DRIVING Scorpion's head and body down with a Wheelbarrow Driver off the top turnbuckle! Tommy sits on top with both legs hooked…AND SCORPION KICKS OUT RIGHT AFTER TWO! As dissatisfied as Tommy was with the kick-out, he had to admit…this was fun so far.

Sadly, the same can't be said for Scorpion, having enough of the fun and games as he breaks from the Power Ranger's grasp and gives him the Kick of Grievance (Superkick), instantly followed by a Pumphandle Neckbreaker! Not going for the pin, he watches Tommy roll away to the temporary safeties of the nearest corner. It is there that Hanzo begins making Tommy suffer with his vicious series of Shoot Kicks to the chest, each shot becoming stiffer and more painful than the last. He drags him by both feet away from the corner and escorts him to a standing position, pins both arms behind his back, pushes his head all the way down to his right knee with Scorpion dropping down, and stretches Tommy's nearest leg over his head, all for a unique and torturous submission hold. He keeps Oliver in this excruciating stretch about fifteen seconds as Tommy refused to quit…

…and he pops him out of the hold to drop him flat on his back. Scorpion stalks the Original Ranger to all fours and swiftly rocks his temple with a Switchblade Kick. It's almost as if he was enjoying this slow pace in his favor. But right now, Tommy sees that playtime is now over, blocking a Suplex attempt with a leg hooked around his. The more Scorpion struggled, the less likely he would pull off his maneuver. Eventually, Tommy gets to stagger Scorpion with a Kneeling Jawbreaker and strikes at his jaw with sequence of Forearm Smashes. Then, he hits a couple of body blows, leading to another forearm and ending—with Scorpion possibly sending a tooth flying out of his mouth via Doom Blade (Discus Elbow Smash)! Grabbing him by the head, Scorpion hurls Tommy to the ropes…and Tommy returns with a handspring corkscrew transitioned into his iconic Ranger Spin Kick (Jumping Spinning Back Kick), famous "kiai" included!

Another standoff, both White Ranger and yellow-clad ninja have with the audience getting even more into this match. Clearly, they were beginning to have a read on each other from both corners and begin a slow walk towards the center. Almost like out of a martial arts flick, Tommy and Scorpion decide to form their battle stances as their forearms make contact. They circle the ring…

…and Tommy evades the first forward punch, pulling Scorpion into a swift left backfist! Scorpion is given a chance to recover from that shot as he nurses his cheek. He returns to Tommy, both forearms making contact again…

…and Tommy pushes that arm away for a Spin Kick that Scorpion ducks and hits a Bicycle Kick to the chest! The Original Ranger bounces back to block a roundhouse, but then is struck by a right hand. The momentum gives him speed for a Spinning Backfist, which the Original Kombatant ducks, yet Tommy also ducks a Spin Kick by him. Hanzo grabs his opponent's kicking foot and flips him over, Tommy countering with a flash kick to the jaw. Landing on his feet, Tommy tries another kick and Scorpion catches it, but this time, he grabs and pulls him by the head for a double dosage of straight knees to the chest and then to the face. Then, Oliver catches and twists the swinging right arm, mule kicking the chest and abdomen with his left foot, then concluding with a right knee straight into the solar plexus! Scorpion stumbles back holding his chest and he ROARS with raging fury, catching the inaugural Green Ranger in an Arm Drag. Tommy fails to sweep the leg and spin flares to his feet while ducking a roundhouse and catching a Spinning Back Kick from Scorpion. Tommy yanks him around by the leg and Scorpion, from the floor, kicks one leg at a time to throw Tommy off his balance before kicking him away by the chest. One simultaneous kip-up by both martial artists…

…and Scorpion blasts Tommy Oliver with the X-Ray (Kenny Omega's V-Trigger) to end this chain! The audience are giving a STANDING OVATION for having witnessed a hell of a martial arts action sequence!

After another failed pinfall attempt, the Shirai Ryu Grandmaster stands waiting for his fellow icon to stand…but he practically taunts Tommy by kneeing him in the face every time he reached all fours. Then he forces him on his feet just so he can headbutt him back down. This methodical pace comes to a halt when Tommy breaks away from Scorpion's hand and smashes his forearm into his face thrice, following it up with the Zeo Crystal (Two slaps to the opponent's face, followed by a knee lift the midsection, then a Spinning Backfist, and concluded by a Ranger Spin Kick)! Scorpion goes down as the DragonZord Ranger hits the ropes and comes back with a Sliding Forearm Smash! Now, Hasashi distances himself in the corner whereas Tommy follows to receive a Back Elbow and gets pulled into the corner. Scorpion climbs to the second rope so he can drive down his fists on top of his temple with the fans counting along, rounding up to eight punches…because he stepped down to nail Tommy with the Damnation Kombination (Step-up High Knee to a cornered opponent followed by Bulldog)! Seeing the Ranger Legend lying dead center of the ring, he gradually backpedals to the nearest corner away from Tommy's blind spot…

…then Tommy begins picking himself up to his feet…

…Scorpion dashes right out of the corner…

and Tommy somersaults right over Scorpion's Spear! Tommy sticks the landing, sends a straight Back Kick to the gut, and takes down Scorpion with a Running Corkscrew Neckbreaker…followed up with a Sitout Gourdbuster—Dino Overload! Once more, into the cover…AND SCORPION POWERS OUT AT 2.556! Tommy takes a risky gamble climbing on the top rope, having his back turned and channeling his inner Red Zeo Ranger by attempting the Phoenix Splash…

and there nobody home to absorb the impact, but Tommy rolled through nonetheless! Tommy quickly turns around and runs into a lightning-quick Overhead Belly-to-belly Suplex that lands his spine over the turnbuckles! Scorpion, with intensity and focus in his pupilless white eyes, targets and strikes Oliver's skull with a devastating Axe Kick! He drags him back to the center with the Inverted Headlock applied…

…and Scorpion personally greets Tommy Oliver with the Underworld's Welcome (Lifting Rolling Cutter)! Scorpion covers quickly, both legs hooked tightly…

…and Tommy Oliver kicks out at 2.777!

Through Scorpion's hood and mask, his frustrations and anger were exposed clear as day. How Tommy keeps kicking out at this point is beyond the grandmaster of the Shirai Ryu. Now he's forced to be desperate as well, grabbing Tommy's hair and dragging him to the nearest corner. He slams his head over the turnbuckle in order to weaken him and proceeds to elevate him on the top turnbuckle. With two forearm smashes and a European Uppercut, Scorpion grabs Tommy's jaw and tells him that what he is about to do is nothing personal, but he's forced him to do this. That's when the fans stand from their seats to see Scorpion prepping for a Muscle Buster. The anticipation grows, Scorpion facing the center of the ring with Tommy in place…

…and he runs…

with Tommy popping out and knocking the Hellfire Spectre's skull with a Backflip Kick! Scorpion becomes dazed as Tommy pulls him in a Front Facelock—Scorpion Kick counter to the face! Hanzo Hasashi trips up the White Tiger Ranger, legs trapped in his arms tightly…

…quickly steps between the opponent's legs with his own left leg…

…wraps his legs around that leg…

…and successfully turns Tommy over for the Sasori-gatame—Scorpion Death Lock! Scorpion is just SITTING on Tommy's lower back, much to his excruciating pain! Half the fans are chanting for Tommy to tap, the other half begging for him to escape! Tommy lasts in this legendary submission hold for about three-fourths of a minute…because even though he was in terrible agony, he made sure to reverse the Sharpshooter all the way through…

…and yanks the ninja into a Small Package! Nikolas drops for the count…and Scorpion pops out of the roll-up at 2.678! Both men roll to their feet, Tommy catches him and Black Thunder—REVERSED INTO AN ARM WRENCH…

AND SCORPION SHOUTS, "COME HERE!" AS HE PULLS TOMMY INTO A SHORT-ARM SPEAR! ANOTHER COVER, LEGS ROLLED UP: 1…

2…

…AND TOMMY STILL KICKS OUT AT 2.789! Literal fire BURNS in Scorpion's eyes as he starts slapping the mat, inciting a rhythmic clap from the fans. He wastes no time to get Tommy on his feet and in a Belly-to-back position, popping him in the air—Tommy sticks the landing from behind! He runs under a reverse elbow, bounces off the ropes to float over Scorpion…ties his left leg around his…

…and rolls forward into the Calf Slicer dubbed the Dragon Tamer! Scorpion's leg is torqued and tugged by Tommy's unexpected Dragon Tamer, the Ranger Legend pulling even at the tip of the boot for MAXIMUM pain to make Scorpion's screams grow LOUDER and LOUDER! Scorpion is desperately reaching out for the ropes to no avail because of he and Oliver lying dead-center of the ring! Yet again, the crowd is split—one half chanting for Scorpion to tap out and the other half begging him to escape! The flailing right hand of Hanzo Hasashi is high above the canvas, the fans believing he's just about to tap out…but his hand stops flailing…starts shaking…and balling into a fist. He POUNDS the mat, REFUSING to give up with a DEFIANT BELLOW…

…which motivates Oliver to WRENCH the Dragon Tamer even further! The screaming Scorpion feels trapped in this hold, unable to bear this submission much longer after a full minute…

…until he reached back to grab Tommy's hair…and slams his head once…twice…thrice…

…four times…five times, six times, seven, eight, nine, ten—HE JUST DOESN'T STOP! SCORPION HAS ALREADY BROKEN FREE FROM THE DRAGON TAMER AFTER FOUR HEAD SLAMS, BUT HE IS BOUNCING TOMMY'S SKULL OFF THE CANVAS LIKE A BASKETBALL! Fifteen slams in, Scorpion now uses BOTH hands to BRUTALLY batter Tommy's head into the mat up to THIRTY! There is NO MERCY from the Shirai Ryu Assassin tonight as he mounts Tommy with palm strikes and bare knuckles! Tommy is blocking to no avail until referee Nikolas Alba FINALLY stepped in to physically pull Scorpion off of him when the five-count couldn't faze him! Alba is SCOLDING the wrathful hellfire ninja in the corner for the unnecessary battery he's displayed…but Scorpion pushes him out of the way once he saw Tommy beginning to stand up. He rushes him with the Grave Digger—that Tommy moves out of the way, kicks his gut, and SPIKES his head with the Dragon Dagger (Bloody Sunday)! But Tommy does not cover, for instead he brings himself to the top rope once again, channeling his inner Zeo Red Ranger…

…and the Phoenix Splash succeeds in landing right on the Immortal Icon! The DragonZord Ranger NOW hooks the leg: 1…

2…

…2.8642 SCORPION KICKS OUT! NOW TOMMY WAS THE ONE GETTING FRUSTRATED, EYES COVERED AS HE GRITS HIS TEETH!

After conveying Scorpion to a kneeling position, Tommy understands he must end this match now…and he starts by having his opponent in a Standing Headscissors. He cries, "WHITE TIGER POWER!" to a big nostalgic pop, hooking the arms…and the White Tiger Driver—GETS OVERTURNED INTO A HURRICANRANA! Tommy rolls to his feet, swings for a Roundhouse Kick, but misses and Scorpion grabs and PLANTS TOMMY OLIVER WITH THE BLACK THUNDER (Rock Bottom)! HE TAKES DOWN TOMMY WITH HIS OWN FINISHER AND COVERS HIM…

…ULTIMATELY ENDING WITH A KICK-OUT AT 2.9999999! JUST A FRACTURE OF A SECOND FROM SCORPION EMBARRASSING TOMMY COMPLETELY! Tommy looked like his whole life flashed before his eyes as he panted heavily, very well unexpecting the Black Thunder being used against him. Meanwhile, Scorpion is lying beside him with his hands grasping both sides of his head, wondering how the hell is he going to put down his opponent for good. Eventually, he is back on his feet with Tommy in pursuit, watching him gradually stand on both knees. Scorpion nails Tommy in the temple with a measured punch…and Tommy fires back with a rigid elbow right at the cheek. No doubt that Hanzo felt that strike…so he rightfully returns with an Elbow Smash of his own…

…as does Tommy…

…and Scorpion…

…and Tommy…

…Scorpion…Tommy…

…Scorpion, Tommy, Scorpion, Tommy, Scorpion, Tommy—THERE IS NO STOPPING. They are BEATING each other with nothing but elbows and the audience are loving how this has turned into a dogfight! Tommy blocks the next elbow and quickly turns this into another martial arts sequence, which was nothing but fast-paced strikes that either missed or were blocked. Scorpion misses a legsweep, Tommy misses the Spin Kick, but they do nail each other at the same time with their own Roundhouse Kicks! They are both out of it for the moment…and it's Tommy who recovers first with a low kick that brings Scorpion down to a knee. He makes a run for the ropes…

…and he returns to GET TURNED INSIDE-OUT AFTER EATING A MASSIVE LARIAT! The NetherRealm Warrior lies over the middle rope, the fatigue now beginning to set in. Even so, he has the will to fight and the will to win as he takes Oliver up on his feet…grabs him by the waist and wrist…

…spinning the White Falcon Ninja out into a Spear—that Tommy BLOCKS with a High Knee! Scorpion holds his face as Tommy pulls him down in an Inverted Headlock, signaling for the incoming Brachio Death Drop (Inverted DDT) with a "woo"! Tommy reels the leg back…

…and Scorpion spins out of the hold, switching from Hammerlock into an Inverted Headlock of his own! Gesturing with a cutthroat, Scorpion reels his leg back for a Scorpion Death Drop (Sting's move of the same name)…

…but Tommy grabs Scorpion's hood for an Overhead Knee Strike right on the top of his cranium! Hanzo backpedals to the ropes nursing that struck area, then Tommy takes him for an Irish Whip and Hanzo reverses it into a Short-arm Knee Lift to the midsection. Now he puts him through a Vertical Suplex setup…and Tommy escapes, pushing Scorpion away. Scorpion bounces off…and sees Tommy has already chased after him, turning back around INTO A REBOUND SPEAR! Tommy instantly hooks the legs: 1…

2…

…2.999999999 SCORPION KICKS OUT WITH A FRACTION OF A MILLISECOND LEFT!

A tremendous match, an equally tremendous atmosphere at Homecoming in San Antonio with its denizens repeatedly chanting, "YES! YES! YES!" before later changing their tune to "THIS IS AWESOME! (Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!) THIS IS AWESOME! (Clap, clap, clap-clap-clap!)"! Oliver and Hasashi are BEYOND disbelief and pushing past their limits with each other. Once the crowd settled down, Scorpion was able to move first and crawl to the corner near him. Tommy follows at a sluggish pace, but he catches up and reaches his vertical base before Scorpion could. He sits him on the top turnbuckle so he can set up a Superplex. He was already halfway there, ensuring Scorpion is still defenseless with the Knife-edge Chops he's given. Tommy has the arm draped over…then he hoists Scorpion to an elevated vertical position…

…and…SCORPION SLIDES DOWN WHILE PULLING TOMMY INTO A DEVASTATING SCORPION'S STING (Double Knee Backbreaker)! Tommy's whole body SPRUNG off of the knees of Scorpion to land on his stomach! High on adrenaline, Scorpion rushes back to the corner…and OBLITERATES Tommy's face in with an X-Ray! But Scorpion believes that one Bicycle High Knee wasn't gonna cut it…and so, he brings himself to the opposite corner behind Tommy, waiting for him to even pick his head up. Scorpion URGES for Tommy to rise…and the moment he did with his head lifting…

X-RAY—DENIED INTO A BLACK THUNDER! THE CROWD EXPLODED FROM THE SUDDEN COMEBACK, BUT TOMMY IS UNABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THE FALLEN NINJA! The two remain lying beside each other for a while…until Tommy finally lifts his arm up and over the chest of Scorpion, Nikolas counting: 1…

2…

…2.999999999 SCORPION ROLLS THE SHOULDER UP!

These legends are at a DEADLOCK—neither one of them wants to stay down nor do they wish to lose. Their pride and the stakes of this tournament is too high for them to back down now. After a minute of recovery, Tommy begins to drag himself to a vertical base…and he is dragging Scorpion alongside with him, keeping the arm around for possibly another Black Thunder. However, Scorpion, albeit groggy, is retaliating with elbows to the back of his head…as is Tommy with his knee strikes to the midsection, ending with a straight up lifting knee smash to the face. Tommy takes him again for a second Black Thunder…

…and Scorpion backflips on his feet mid-lift…

…AND—MISSES THE DOOM BLADE! Tommy reintroduces a Backflip Kick TO NO ONE, SCORPION SIDESTEPPING…AND X-RAYING THE BACK OF HIS SKULL! Tommy is down…but not out, rising up again—AND ANOTHER X-RAY TO THE FACE, SALIVA AND BLOOD FLYING OUT OF HIS MOUTH! Tommy…AGAIN, rises to his knees…and he is ACTUALLY telling Scorpion to keep bringing it…which prompts the crowd supporting the ninja to "FINISH HIM!" Gladly compiling, Scorpion gives a long cutthroat…pulls Tommy up…

…pushes him back…

…pulls him in via wrist-lock…

…and PLANTS THE FATALITY (Baron Corbin's End of Days)! Scorpion has the leg hooked…

…and…

THIS TIME, HE GETS THE THREE-COUNT! SCORPION WINS! HE ADVANCES TO THE FINALS!

"Fight" by CFO$ blasts from the loudspeakers, the audience are STILL mixed between Scorpion and Tommy…and speaking of the legends, they remain lying beside each other for at least a minute and a half to regain their strength. Scorpion eventually is the first to sit up with the match taking its toll on his body that has him moving sluggishly. He does make it to his feet, standing bent over with hands on knees before raising both fists in the air to establish himself as the victor. Tommy has already sat up, the pain setting in on his body and watching Scorpion soak in the cheers and achievement. After Hanzo stepped down from the turnbuckles, he notices Tommy taking his time to stand up while Nikolas Alba helps him…and so does Hanzo himself, taking everyone by surprise. The music stops…Alba stays close just in case…and Scorpion offers up a handshake. Despite the dogfight they broke into earlier, Scorpion acknowledges how he was forced to pull out all the stops and vice versa. Tommy was almost hesitant…but he does take the handshake and bow to each other, which earned a LOUD pop from the crowd. This was a moment to remember forever; this was a match to remember for the ages. Such a rare occasion to occur in the south of Texas. Some will say this lived up to the hype while some will say this FAR surpassed it.

Scorpion was through with his celebration and decides to leave the ring for Tommy to earn a round of applause from the crowd who believe he has nothing to be ashamed of. Tommy was humble enough to accept the applause and this loss…

until someone slid in the ring, the crowd QUICKLY screaming in both FEAR and EXCITEMENT…

…takes Tommy up in the air from behind…

…AND DRIVES HIM DOWN ON HIS HEAD WITH A ONE-HANDED ELECTRIC CHAIR DRIVER! The attacker pivots to a knee…and the audience DEFINITELY recognizes him as the Lightspeed Titanium Ranger. The ranger stands above the unconscious Oliver…powers down…

…and Ryan Mitchell is REVEALED in front of the millions worldwide, Bullet Club T-shirt and all! The smarks in the crowd quickly chant "TOO SWEET! WHOOP-WHOOP!" to Ryan's arrival in APEX. But why? Why is he here of all places? Well, Ryan explains so after calling for a microphone, greeting himself to the San Antonio crowd, who most were quick to boo him and smarks cheering. He is here to rescue the entire roster at the last moment as part of his own Ranger duties; he is here to clean up the unneeded filth that is clustering up said roster, going as far as to gesture Tommy Oliver himself; and finally…he's here to help establish Bullet Club's dominance over ALL of pro-wrestling, even if it's just by himself. Ryan Mitchell proclaims that he is the CLEANER, the HERO, the ONE-MAN ARMY representing the Bullet Club…and he believes that his run in APEX overall will prove to be JUST…TOO…SWEET~

[BULLET CLUB

F-F-F-F-FOR LIFE…]

"Shot'Em" by [Q]Brick plays for the first time in APEX as Ryan Mitchell places his foot on Tommy's chest and holds up his "Too Sweet" hand sign to a very mixed reaction. He may be alone…but there is obviously nothing to stop the Titanium Ranger from establishing the Bullet Club as a force to be reckon with, no matter where they might be.


The Four Horsewomen vs. Téa Gardner, Hinata Hyuga, and Jeweled Felines

Recap: To explain the change of contestants, here's what happened; in an earlier segment (specifically between the Unsanctioned Match and the tag match), Samantha Hart was found lying cataleptic by her teammates…and it was an easy guess to know that the Four Horsewomen attacked her and Hinata while their guards were down. Hinata is still able to compete…but there was no way that Samantha can make it, giving how she took a Piledriver from Puckett onto the concrete floor. They had to find a new partner FAST. They searched and searched…and everyone they turn to was already found in the same condition as Samantha earlier; Sakura Haruno, Ashley Williams, Sarah Ortiz, Misty, Coco Bandicoot, even Christa Moxley—ALL OF THEM were taken out by the desperate Horsewomen. It seemed hope was lost, unable to find a fourth partner in time…

…and it was the newly established Lisa "The Lioness" Weston (Appearance: she now has very short dark brown hair swept to the left with an undercut on the right side (think Gwen Stacy's hairstyle from Into the Spider-Verse) and black and gold ring attire familiar to Bea Priestley's) that saved the day by bringing in her tag partner "The Jewel" Jessica Wilson at the last moment, reuniting the Jeweled Felines at Homecoming.

The first two to start off are Lisa Weston and Aelita Schaeffer, both having VERY personal history with each other. Even with her new look, Aelita didn't seem bothered or intimidated…until Lisa gave her one hell of an Elbow Smash! Aelita stumbles to the ropes, trying to nurse her likely fractured jaw, and Lisa grabs her for an Irish Whip. Aelita hits the ropes and Lisa already catches up to her with a Running European Uppercut. She takes her by the wrist for another Irish Whip, but Aelita this time reverses it. The Lioness bounces off and runs into a Return to the Past—no, she catches Aelita midway…and uses that momentum to reverse it into a Spinning Side Slam! Immediate cover…and an immediate kick-out at two! Lisa grabs onto Aelita's hand and has it bent back, taking her time to make the pinkette suffer for her crimes. Lisa tells Aelita personally that she's done a lot of growing up since she left APEX…and learned a few new tricks with a devilish grin…as she then SNAPS the fingers apart Marty Scrull style to a disgusting CRACK! Aelita holds her hand in agonizing pain as she cowers to her corner for a tag out to Puckett.

Lisa proved to be a tough customer for Sam, but she proved to be stronger and more of a threatening brute than the Lioness can handle, especially after nearly getting bent completely like a scorpion when Sam demolished her with a Jobber Clobber (Northern Lariat). Lisa escapes the wrath of the carnivorous Puckett after avoiding the Pop-up Powerbomb, quickly lifting her on her shoulders and ensures her with a trip to Europe via…Go 2 Europe (Fireman's Carry into a Pop-up European Uppercut). She makes the tag to Jessica and the two double-team Puckett with Lisa Superkicking her gut and Jessica performing a Fame-Ass-er (Billy Gunn's move of the same name)! Jessica certainly worked around the multiple areas to weaken her, having a technical and submission style after all, but when she learned a hard lesson of cornering a wild Sam Puckett, who viciously headbutts her. After smashing her head over one turnbuckle at a time up and down, Sam roughly drags Jessica by her hair to make a tag to Carly Shay, who slingshots in with a knee drop into Jessica's face.

As Carly wears down Jessica, she takes the time to scorn her for believing that she'll be the difference maker and proclaims that the Four Horsewomen aren't going ANYWHERE anytime soon. The boos get louder and louder from how much Carly is spewing and how she remains focused on making Jessica suffer. But she crossed the line when she mentioned how much of an "awful friend" she and the rest of the Infamous Six really are to Tommy Vercetti who has become the worst of himself…and this motivates Jessica to break away from Carly and catch her with a Bicycle Kick to the face! Jessica has the moves and she is flaunting them better than Carly could expect; Inverted Atomic Drop followed with a Scoop Slam…then a Pointed Elbow Drop off the ropes…and taking down Carly once more with a Project Runaway (Headlock Driver). Sticking close to her corner, Jessica stomps her feet HBK-style and waits for the iCarly internet star to stand…

…and when she did, Jessica MISSES the Facial Reconstruction (Sweet Chin Music)…

…and Carly hooks her in for the 8-C Driver—that she escapes from…then completes her hat trick of German Suplexes via Triple Centerfold (Triple Rolling German Suplex combination)…and effectively nails the Facial Construction to a kneeling Carly Shay! Jessica confidently rolls up Carly with the hook of the leg…but referee Aiko Tanahashi refused because someone else had already tagged herself in. And that would be the returning Lyoko Queen, Knee Striking the side of the Wilson Family Jewel's face!

Aelita put this match on lockdown in her favor, wearing Jessica down again and taunting her partner Lisa at the same time. For all of Jessica's suffering, Aelita does this just to teach Lisa lesson for the start of the match. Lisa came close to coming after Aelita in fury, but her Téa and Hinata had to help her calm down. They'll have to trust Jessica to find a way out of her predicament…

…and the good news is, she does so by escaping a Vertical Suplex setup and pulls of a Poison Frankensteiner! Aelita's head gets spiked into the canvas…and Jessica takes this window of opportunity with a tag to Hinata! Hinata slingshots over inside and wastes no time with a resonating Water Needle (Penalty Kick) to the chest! She drops down for a pin attempt…and Aelita pops the shoulder up at a near-fall! Hinata and Aelita by themselves pull off the best piece of mat-based technical wrestling at such a quick-pace. No matter how many times they try to enable a lock on them, they always find a way to escape with such ease; heck, no one could away—it was like magic in front of their eyes…until the illusion finally disappeared when Aelita had enough of being someone's equal as she went low and dirty by poking her eyes out to counter her Back Body Drop. Among all the hissing and jeering, Aelita was just as toxic towards them as she proclaims that NOBODY deserves the Lyoko Queen at her absolute best—not Hinata, not Lisa, not Jessica, not Téa, not the "godforsaken women's division of APEX" and not even the attendees in this "cesspool" of a city, which angers the crowd even further. Only Aelita Schaeffer decides when to pull out all the stops and the rest of the Horsewomen applaud her for that.

The Lyoko Queen, dragging Hinata to her corner whilst in a Single-leg Boston Crab, eventually makes the tag to Mai Valentine. The Royal Luxury—which is their new sub-group tag team name—push her to the ropes and enact such bullying tactics; Valentine slaps Hinata around whereas Schaeffer rakes her boot across her face. They perform a Double Irish Whip and stand ready for a Double Back Body Drop…

…but Hinata blocks that with a lifting kick to Aelita's face! She ducks a Clothesline from Mai, traps her in a hangman's, then kicks the oncoming Aelita to pull her in a Front Facelock…and drops the Royal Luxury with a Hangman's Neckbreaker to Mai and a DDT to Aelita at the same time! With the Queen of Lyoko gone, Hinata begins to draw herself closer to her team who are begging for a tag…

…but Mai isn't close from being done as she grabs hold of her leg. Mai ducks an Enzuigiri and yanks her up for a Sitout Wheelbarrow Facebuster…until Hinata rolls her up in a Victory Roll…and Mai kicks out by two-and-a-half. Mai quickly stands—to eat a MASSIVE Ninja Kick (Buzzsaw Kick)…and quickly followed by a Cradle DDT—the Pitch Black DDT in tribute to her partner Samantha Hart!

But that was not enough for the pinfall, Mai Valentine kicking out at a close three-count! "LET'S GO, HINATA! / HORSEWOMEN SUCK!" run wild in the AT&T Center with the front row attendees actually slapping on the barricade so they can boost Hinata's motivation. Hinata tries again for the Water Needle, waiting and eying Mai to a seating position…

…and Hinata FAILS to connect the Shoot Kick…but she does not fail the tag-out to Téa Gardner, who springboards in with a twirl on the middle rope lucha libre style…

…and takes down Mai Valentine with a Springboard Front Dropkick, which earned a "Lucha!" chant from San Antonio! Téa with the kip-up and she's already on the attack with multiple forearms to Mai before Irish Whipping her away. Mai returns to the center and catches Téa's Hurricanrana attempt, pulling her up and—Téa with the Sunset Flip…Mai rolls out…

…Big Boot missed…

…Springboard Bulldog denied with a shove…and—MAI SLAPS TÉA ACROSS THE FACE! It was rather unexpected…and the same can be said for Téa slapping Mai right back! The two did NOT pull their punches—or this case, their forearms with Gardner and Valentine battering each other's faces. Téa seemed to be winning it out after a Superkick—caught by Mai, thrown aside and Téa gets her head spiked by a sudden Piledriver! Her body is convulsing as Mai turns her over with the hook of the leg…

and Hinata breaks it up with a shove! Then she—GETS BLASTED WITH A BIG BOOT BY SAM PUCKETT! Carly and Aelita follow to storm the ring as do the anti-Horsewomen team, colliding in a massive brawl spilling all over inside! This fight eventually spills outside with Lisa and Aelita rolling out, the former enabling her vengeance on the latter. She SMASHES the pinkette's skull into the apron and has her set for a Standing Tornado DDT…but she lands on the apron instead…and Aelita YANKS her leg out, bringing Lisa face-first onto the apron! She then hangs her from said apron in a Front Facelock…

…and that's when the daughter of the Jaguar comes to her rescue with a Suicide Dive! Jessica aids her partner up on her feet, requesting they do away with Aelita…and by the time she got to her knees, the Jeweled Felines give her "sweet" lullaby with the help of Sweet Feline Music (Feline Kick [Chick Kick] (Weston) / Facial Reconstruction (Wilson) combination)! So now the Lyoko Queen has been eliminated from the equation…

…and karmically, so are the Jeweled Felines with iGeneration Stereo Suicide Diving into them! They already force Jessica back on her feet, Carly holding her in a Rear Waistlock…and Sam helps to execute the Wilson Family Jewel by way of Going Viral (Running Arched Big Boot (Puckett) / Bridging German Suplex (Shay) combination)! Carly and Sam help Aelita up so they can escort her back in the ring…

…until Hinata Hyuga flies in and lands the Suicide Somersault Senton on all three of them! Almost EVERYONE is out of the equation!

So that leaves Téa Gardner and Mai Valentine alone…and the two are already back to beating each other with their bare fists. Téa shoves Mai off and goes for a roundhouse, but she misses and gets shoved into Aiko! However, she stops herself in time from bumping into her…and Mai NARROWILY avoids hitting Tanahashi with her Big Boot…

…but after two close calls, Téa unintentionally takes out the official with a Superkick! Aiko crumbles to nurse her jaw…and with this, Mai takes advantage with an eye rake! She bends Téa over and hooks the arms tightly, proclaiming the Horsewomen are STAYING, the CHANGE is coming and there's NOTHING anyone can do…

and the crowd's boos turn into hollers…

…AS KENDRA DANIELS SLIDES IN FOR A DRIVE-BY SICK KICK ACROSS THE FACE! Mai drops Téa as Kendra twists the arm…and drives foot into the jaw with RIG Flatliner (Gail Kim's Eat Defeat)! Kendra gets one final defiant message sent to Valentine and the rest of the Horsewomen before she escapes through the crowd as quickly as she arrived! Everyone was BAFFLED at Kendra's assistance, even Téa herself. She watches Mai getting up, trying to find where Kendra came from and where she left, INFURIATED by this assault…

…then she realizes Téa is not down and out yet…

and turns around to get ROCKED by a Petit Angel Kick (Chick Kick)! Mai becomes STUNNED…and then gets PLANTED with the Apricot Dominance (Swinging Leg-hook Fireman's Carry Slam)! Téa pulls up one last move up her sleeve with a trip up to the high-rent district…

…and lands a BEAUTIFUL Moonsault right on Valentine! Aiko recovers in time to make the count: 1…

2…

…3! THE HORSEWOMEN ARE GONE! THEY ARE DISBANDED FROM APEX CALIBER WRESTLING!

Téa stands a while after and raise her arm in victory. The Jeweled Felines and Hinata all roll into the ring and celebrate together, having FINALLY rid of the toxic Four Horsewomen completely. By the time Téa and the rest depart to backstage, the Horsewomen are alone in the ring…Mai on her knees trying to register what just happened and surrounded by her stablemates…all of them DEVASTATED…UPSET…and FURIOUS this has happened. Now they're still able to compete in APEX, but they are BANNED from ever teaming up as the Horsewomen again…

…and what upsets them even further is the crowd antagonizing them with a mantra, "Na, na, na, na! Na, na, na, na! Hey, hey-ey! Goodbye~!" Mai is clenching her fists, Sam is SCREAMING at the crowd to shut up…and Aelita wasn't having any of it, leaving the ring for a moment to steal a microphone from Maria Lopez. She goes on a tirade to admonish the entire arena for even PRAISING this result, RELISHING in the Horsewomen's loss, FAVORING the "washed-up" and "shallow" talent of the whole division over the Horsewomen—this is the "thanks" they get for trying to help bring CHANGE to the APEX Women's Division. If this is how it all ends for the Horsewomen in APEX…then Aelita sees NO reason to stay here any longer…

"Because I've had ENOUGH of being treated this way! I've had ENOUGH of not getting what I want here! THIS…IS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE FUCKING CAMEL'S BACK. BECAUSE…IIIIIIIII…QUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!" Aelita SCREAMS those two words and THROWS down her microphone and the crowd reacts with MASSIVE cheers.

Mai and iGeneration are trying to change Aelita's mind on this decision, but she's made her choice. She's had enough of the treatment displayed by the new owner and these fans, who she restates to that APEX doesn't even deserve her and neither does this "equivalent town of a cesspit", which they seemingly ignore for their live chorus from "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye". The Lyoko Queen has one last look at the APEX crowd…flips them all off…and SPITS on the camera lens in front of her as an act of resentment and leaving her mark behind.

Then there were three. Aelita is gone. The Four Horsewomen are no longer a stable in ACW. All that is left are iGeneration with the Women's Tag Team Championships in their grasp and Mai Valentine still with no championship opportunity. The trio are left shattered, upset…and full of vengeance…


Main Event: APEX World Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Semifinals – "The Orange Spark" Naruto Uzumaki vs. "The Dead Space Devil" Isaac Clarke

Recap: Just like the previous tournament contest, thirty minute time limit with one fall to the finish. But the most important thing as of this moment is seeing Isaac Clarke and Naruto Uzumaki clash for the third time in this promotion on its Homecoming evening. In APEX's early days, these two have fought twice and have since been tied; the first time being on the initial televised episode and the second at its inaugural pay-per-view Southern Hell. Since then, Naruto would go on to become the APEX World Champion and Clarke unfortunately missed out quite a bit until Summer Wars. A lot has changed between the two over the years and that has hardly stopped Naruto from seeing the better side in all this…but with Isaac, recalling Ellie Langford trying to warn Naruto of the Dead Space Devil's return, it might not be the case.

Before referee Marshall Eriksen is allowed to ring the bell, he permits Naruto and Isaac to shake hands. Our orange-clad ninja holds his hand out with a smile…and Isaac is just staring at it with a non-expressive look. He stares up at Naruto for a while, then backs away into his corner, not even accepting the handshake. Perplexed, but Naruto attempts to clear his head as he faces his corner…and the bell rings, Naruto turns around—TO SEE ISAAC SPEEDING LIKE A DEMON WITH A MALICIOUS ELBOW SMASH! Naruto is STUNNED from the elbow shot to his jaw and Isaac wastes no time to stomp on his chest constantly with every intent to HURT. It wasn't until Marshall stepped in with a five-count…and when that didn't work, he had to physically pull Isaac away…and it STILL didn't work as Isaac SHOVES Eriksen down in reaction. He returns to Naruto, who sends a frantic kick to the gut. Naruto is throwing all fists and elbows to Isaac, trying to stay on top before going to the ropes. He bounces off and Isaac OBLITERATES him with an Eviscerator (Running High-impact Lariat)! Isaac instantly drags him to a Standing Headscissors, flips him over on his shoulders…and Powerbombs him once…twice…thrice…four times, five, six…until Naruto becomes a lifeless corpse…and Isaac simply drops him. The Dead Space Devil is truly living up to his name so far…and it's only been four minutes since the opening bell.

Isaac simply waits for Naruto to make even a single twitch…and when he stirred to all fours, Isaac was ready to kick his head in. He was not giving Naruto a chance to breathe. No matter what Naruto does, Isaac always keeps him down on the canvas. At one point, he even Garvin Stomps around his opponent—TWICE, and it ended with a Knee Drop. The Dead Space protagonist relished in this painfully slow, methodical pace if it meant to weaken Naruto and earn himself a spot in the finals. What was most important to Isaac…is making sure his victim suffers throughout until the end. Having enough of holding Naruto in the Reverse Chinlock, he spins him out into a Brute Hammer (Wrist-lock transitioned into a High-impact Elbow Smash) that brings Naruto in a precarious legs over head position. He later takes him to the corner and chops at his chest…and again at the ropes…and when Naruto tries for a retaliating punch, Isaac easily avoids it and SLAPS Naruto with a big right hand. He doesn't even stop there with his rigid stomps to the ribs and the back of his head. Isaac stops for a moment to recognize his surroundings…and those are the fans BOOING him for the unnecessary punishment being given to the former world champion thus far. In response to that, he waits for Naruto stand…then he "assists" to his feet…before pummeling him with another stiff Brute Hammer. Blood is trickling from Naruto's mouth at this point and Eriksen keeping Isaac away so he can ask Naruto if he's willing to continue. Even after all that, Naruto nods…and Isaac takes him down again with yet another Brute Hammer.

Later, Isaac preps a Swinging Neckbreaker…but Naruto spins out into a Backslide Pin…and the official counts up to two! Naruto quickly backpedals in the corner as Isaac, while taken off guard, follows in hot pursuit…and Naruto stops him with a raised Big Boot. Finally, Naruto was beginning to have some offense against the Dead Space Devil, landing a couple of body blows, forearm shots, and sharp chops to the chest. He grabs him with an Irish Whip, but Isaac reverses it. Just as Naruto hits the ropes, Isaac rushes him with a Brute Hammer attempt, but gets back body dropped over and Naruto takes him down completely with a Rope-aided Gamengiri! While Isaac picks himself on Mark and Barney's announce table, Naruto runs up the turnbuckles and leaps all the way with a Diving Crossbody, crashing into him on top of the table! Naruto remains on Isaac as he bashes his head with multiple fists to the temple. Naruto now sees that if this is the way Isaac is, then he's gonna have to be as rough and physical as him…and it starts by Hammer Throwing his opponent into the steel steps that EXPLODED in half on impact! With the bottom half of the steps exposed, Naruto takes advantage with a Powerbomb attempt all while Eriksen is telling him not to…until Isaac stands up to hold Naruto and ALABAMA SLAMS his back onto the apron…then he performs a Release Powerbomb onto the bottom steps! Isaac throws Naruto back inside the ring and hooks the leg…and somehow, those maneuvers weren't enough to keep Naruto down as he kicked out at two! Isaac angrily pushes Naruto down with a high amount of mounted punches followed by rope-assisted stomps until Marshall pulled him away to berate him for the unneeded brutality. Isaac merely gives an impassive stare…then quickly turns to an intent to kill again as he pushes Marshall out of the way and nails a Running Knee Strike to the side of Naruto's head!

Isaac has Naruto's arms tied up in a Double Underhook and lifts him in a Powerbomb attempt…which Naruto reverses into a Rana Pin! But Isaac kicks out at two! Isaac stands up and finds himself getting pummeled by a series of rapid elbows to the head and Knife-edge Chops to the chest. Naruto gets the next hit with a one knee strike…two knee strikes…and now a Double Knee Strike to the face! Naruto again goes for the Irish Whip, yet Isaac reverses it again. This time, Naruto bounces off the ropes, baseball slides through Isaac's legs and plants him with a Konoha Bulldog (Kenny Omega's Kotaro Krusher)! He has the leg hooked…

…and Isaac kicks out again right after two! Naruto forces Isaac on his feet and blasts him with a European Uppercut that has him stumbling into a nearby corner. Naruto runs at Isaac, who avoids him completely…

…but not really…

…as Naruto dives with grace via Moonsault! He lands perfectly on top of Isaac…'s shoulder! Having Naruto trapped in a pre-Front Powerslam hold, Isaac drops him into a knee lift—a modified GTS, if you will—runs to the ropes…and comes back with an Eviscerator, turning Naruto inside out! After another failed pin attempt, Isaac drags Naruto to the nearest corner by his short hair. He traps Naruto with nothing but moderate and venomous Elbow Smashes…arching Big Boots…European Uppercuts…and ends with a sickening headbutt. However, Isaac forces him on his feet again so he can attack him with the Pulse Rifle Rapid Fire (Rapid Knife Edge Chops to a cornered opponent), lighting up Naruto's chest. One Snapmare later and Isaac uses the ropes to his momentum for a Running Knee Strike to the face. Isaac covers once again…and Naruto STILL kicks out, albeit at a near-fall.

The Dead Space Devil has had enough of the kick-outs…so he picks a new option by giving Naruto two choices: tap out or pass out, as he applies the Rear Naked Chokehold dubbed the Life Constrictor. Isaac has the grip held tightly, Naruto's face already changing colors and Marshall is BEGGING him to end this match if Naruto is unwilling to continue. But that pride of his, better known as his will of fire, REFUSES to be diminished this way…so he stays in…

and snatches Isaac into a Victory Roll! Another kick-out occurs…Naruto strikes up a lightning-quick Ninja Kick, Side Kick combo…

…and ends with an Orange Spark (Kenny Omega's V-Trigger) to the face! However, Naruto doesn't go straight for the pin. After what he's been through, he wants to make sure that Isaac stays down for good. The Number One Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja wraps his arms around the prone Isaac Clarke…DEADLIFTS his near lifeless corpse off the mat…

…and PLANTS him down with a Spiraling Strife Bomb (Deadlift Gutwrench Sitout Powerbomb)! NOW he has the legs up and shoulders down: 1…

2…

2.5793, Clarke kicks out! Seeing he's still down, Naruto doesn't quit here; he waits and stalks the Necro Slayer to his feet…and soon as he did, he runs past him and springboards off with the Fly By—THAT ISAAC CATCHES AND POWERBOMBS NARUTO INTO THE MAT! But Isaac hangs onto him…as he turns it into the Convergence Event (Walls of Jericho)! Naruto is screaming in pure agony with Isaac sitting on top of his lower back dead-center of the ring! Our former world champion is digging his claws into the mat, desperately reaching out for a rope break to no avail! And if this wasn't bad enough, Isaac stands up…and firmly presses his knee on top of Naruto's head, changing positions into the Necro Slayer (Lion Tamer)! Uzumaki is in worse pain than he's ever been, and it was only a matter of time before he had to tap or faint from the agony…

…but after TWO MINUTES of enduring the grotesque Necro Slayer, Naruto has REFUSED to give up…and this likely ANGERS Clarke. He stops the high-angle Boston Crab so he can drag the now limp Naruto to an elevated upside-down hold…

and Isaac DRILLS Naruto's skull with the Dementia (Kneeling Piledriver)! Isaac turns him on his back, hooking the leg to finally put an end to this…

and Naruto manages to power out at the last second! The Dead Space Devil is BEYOND himself!

Yet again, the fuming Isaac Clarke watches Naruto use the ropes to help himself to his feet. At this point, Naruto is battered, bruised and may have a concussion. Eriksen is trying to help Naruto reconsider of letting this match end in a TKO…but again, Naruto refuses to…and that gives Isaac an opening with a Running Elbow Smash! Naruto, leaning on the ropes, falls sitting on them…and he is still using the ropes to get himself back up. So Isaac runs to the ropes…comes right back…and SMASHES his knee into his face! The sounds of the crowd's jeers felt venomous and detestable, yet Clarke doesn't even eye them one bit with his intents on destroying Naruto. Now, the prone Orange Spark…is still moving…and he tries again to use the ropes to help himself up…

…and Isaac believes that a third time is a charm, going for the ropes…

…and immediately stopping when Marshall Eriksen steps right in front of him! The passionate Eriksen rebukes the Dead Space Devil right to his face, to his cold, merciless eyes, over what he's been doing to Naruto, who Clarke at once considered him a close friend back in the starting days of APEX. He was downright SICK of IT—the brutality, the unneeded punishment and torture—ALL OF IT. Marshall's face was RED and he looked like he was gonna pop a vein if he didn't calm down…but he had to ask what was going on in Isaac Clarke's head. What drove him to treat Naruto like he's another Necromorph to kill? Has he no SHAME, no REGRETS? And Markiplier can very well agree to this. Marshall looks at Naruto and has had enough, deciding to end this match with a TKO…

but Isaac grabbed his raised arm…threatening to break it if Marshall actually does so. Despite the pain, Marshall defiantly calls his bluff and tells him that if he does so, he will DISQUALIFY Isaac. Even so, Isaac twists the arm more…

"ISAAC!"

Hearing his name, Clarke's eyes widen and turns to AN ORANGE SPARK BY NARUTO UZUMAKI! Strike ONE—right in the chin! Isaac still stands nursing that area…Naruto runs past him to the ropes…

…and the former turns around to get turned INSIDE-OUT from a Discus Palm Thrust to the face—better known as the Rasengan! Strike TWO! Naruto ROARS leaning against the ropes…and it is revealed the Kyūbi inside has been AWAKENED by his red eyes and sharp fangs. Clarke has trouble getting up, but he succeeds to have a vertical base…and notices blood leaking from his nose. He looks back to find Naruto in the corner, gesturing him to come after him…

…and Isaac does so with fury…only for Naruto to duck under…

…grab him in a Full Nelson…

…and SNAP DRAGON SUPLEXES him much closer to the center! Isaac stands on his knees with glazed eyes for the first time, Naruto bursts out of the corner…

…ORANGE SPARK! NARUTO HITS A THIRD ORANGE SPARK! That is strike THREE, Naruto pins…

…and Isaac is NOT OUT with a roll of the shoulder at 2.9998!

Naruto sits beside Isaac as he tries to figure out what to do to put him away for good and catches his breath. The first thing Naruto sees…is the top turnbuckle…and the gears begin to turn in his head. Gaining enough strength to stand, Naruto grabs Isaac and places him on his shoulders in a Fireman's Carry. He carries him to the corner he had his eyes on, turning around to take his time climbing the ropes. Fans begin to anticipate what's to come as Marshall demands that he gets down right now. But Naruto had no time to listen. He needed to do away with Isaac right here and now…and this was the best he can come up with. He stands from the middle rope…takes an even riskier position by standing on the top rope…

"This is for your own good, Isaac…" Naruto utters off-mic.

…and he DIVES for a Super Ninja's Way—INTO A PLASMA CUTTER (Diamond Cutter), BOTH MEN PLUMMETING INTO THE CANVAS! BOTH MEN DOWN! FANS ARE SCREAMING, "HOLY SHIT!" MARSHALL IS BEYOND HIMSELF AT THE SIGHT OF THIS HUMAN CAR CRASH! He can't even bring himself to start up the ten-count!

Eventually, after a minute, Isaac is the first to move and gradually stand, though almost losing his balance after the effects of the Plasma Cutter took its toll on his body. Nonetheless, he grabs Naruto and puts him in the same corner. Through this slow setup, Isaac has Naruto sitting on the top rope and he is already at the same elevation as him. He bends him over to have his head between his thighs…lifts him upside-down…

and he plunges all the way down to with a Super Piledriver! Naruto becomes an immobile object and Isaac turns him over with the leg hooked: 1…

2…

…3—NARUTO BARELY ROLLS THE SHOULDER UP. THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN COUNT. BUT MARSHALL SEES IT CLEAR AS DAY AND NO ONE COULD BELIEVE IT.

Isaac remains sitting up with eyes as wide as saucers…Naruto seeing nothing but lights…a few fans covering their mouths in shock and horror…and it's here that two medical staffs are already in the ring to check Naruto's condition. Naruto being able to kick out after all of that…admirable as it is, his Will of Fire was clearly beginning to diminish. It was either that or instinct at this point. The sight of Naruto now moving with assistance…it COMPLETELY sends Isaac in a BLIND FURY, snatching him away from the EMTs…SCREAMING in his face before taking him for a painful ride of ONE POWERBOMB…

…TWO POWERBOMBS…

THREE POWERBOMBS

FOUR POWERBOMBS

FIVE POWERBOMBS

…NOW TURNED INTO A NECRO SLAYER! Isaac is BENDING Naruto's lifeless body back in all the wrong ways…and Marshall breaks up the submission and holds Isaac back against the corner, calling for the bell to ring! Marshall keeps Isaac in the corner to tell him he's WON—there is no need to keep punishing Naruto any longer…and Isaac FINALLY complies as he merely falls to sit on the bottom turnbuckle. No music played yet with the official and the EMTs checking on Naruto and the crowd fallen deathly silent. Then, Marshall talks to Maria about the overall result and she gives the announcement, trying to be formal, but visibly disturbed…

"Ladies and gentlemen…as a result of a technical knockout…Naruto Uzumaki cannot continue, and so…Isaac Clarke advances to the tournament finals."

That one sentence sends fans in an OUTRAGE of venomous hisses and boos, being loud enough to swallow up "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" by The Smashing Pumpkins playing from the loudspeakers. Isaac stands up from the corner…and has the GALL to verify himself as the winner with a raised fist. Yukio and Shizuka come back to help their medical staff assist Naruto's condition. Ellie Langford arrives and tries to convince Isaac to leave right now. Before they do, Isaac walks up to the unresponsive Naruto and stares down at him with equally lifeless eyes. He shakes his head at him, as if being disappointed in him for his defiant efforts in the match. Being blatantly told to get out, Isaac sneers…but he obeys Ellie as the two begin their departure from the ring.

Hinata Hyuga runs past them and comes to Naruto's aid, being so horrified at the sight of her lover in a comatose. She can't help but look to Isaac with teary eyes and shouts at him from a distance, "How could you, Isaac?! How could you do this to your FRIEND?!" Isaac stops to glare at Hinata from the stage and Ellie is tugging his arm, telling him they need to leave NOW while they can. A moment passes and he finally leaves to the back with Ellie in hand.

The infamous Dead Space Devil…has definitely returned and he has done his job. All that was left now is the medical staff trying to help Naruto on a stretcher…nothing but a sign that the spark has been diminished…and that is where the show ends.


Results for APEX Homecoming:

Intercontinental Rumble for an Intercontinental Championship match at Night of Champions – Nero won by last eliminating Kohta Hirano [42:57]

Rei Miyamoto, Saeko Busujima and Saya Takagi def. Trish Warrington, Alyssa Parker, and Angel Hayden via pinfall [8:38]

Beowulf def. Ed (with Eddy) and Godzilla via pinfall [9:03]

The Wolves (Erik Rollins, Hannibal Ambrose, and Damian Reigns) def. The Hardcore Trinity (Mason Stone, Marcus King, and Nolan Gates) via pinfall [13:29]

Unsanctioned Match (with guest referee Ricardo Alvarez, Jr.) – Jason Krueger def. Jesse Alvarez via pinfall [26:50]

The Gods of Darkness (Yami Bakura and Marik Ishtar) def. Altered Egos (Yugi Mutou and Atem) via pinfall [7:53]

APEX World Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Semifinals – Scorpion def. Tommy Oliver via pinfall [24:00]

Eight-Woman Tag Team Match – Téa Gardner, Hinata Hyuga, and Jeweled Felines def. The Four Horsewomen via pinfall [16:30]

Main Event: APEX World Championship #1 Contender's Tournament Semifinals – Isaac Clarke def. Naruto Uzumaki via technical knockout [20:14]


Yay, you made it to the end card; a winner is you~

Seriously, though, thanks for reading, guys. Just glad to be finally back with APEX as a whole. The Intercontinental Rumble was an a-hole to write for, though. I mean it, it took me MONTHS to finish it. The rest could've been fully written out like a story, but I had to settle with a recap because of the FWAs coming close around the corner. I was CRUNCHING for time and on the very final day, it took me three hours to write up the entire main event. Crazy, right?

I will continue to post my updates here, on the forum (in case of recaps) and returning to the AO3 website. Look forward to those.

Remember to leave a review when you're done reading. If not, at least let me know you enjoyed my work. I appreciate all readers.

Until then…thank you, goodbye and good night.

BANG.