Post by Admin on Jun 21, 2020 1:06:25 GMT -5
Episode #43 - June 19, 2020
Scott Parker: Welcome everyone to the final show before Next Level: Victorem. Tonight we’ll find out who the final two entrants are in the Victorem Ladder match and those six competitors will be signing the contract later on. We also have a big main event level match as Daniel Daemon will be taking on Austin Scott.
Gemma Foster: And after what he did last week, Lacy Nelson, our World Champion, has accepted the challenge and will defend the championship next week. You have to believe that Daemon will do ANYTHING to take back the World Championship.
Scott Parker: He’s said as much. He said on Twitter that he will be “taking back” the championship.
Gemma Foster: Lacy Nelson is scheduled to be here tonight but I hadn’t seen her arrive before the start of the show. Maybe she’s going to take the night and get ready for next week.
Scott Parker: And speaking on the main event, the Primetime Champion Ben Macbeth will be in action against Jason Evans of DISHONOR. It’s been a bumpy few weeks for EMBLEM but Ben Macbeth is still in the middle of his record breaking Primetime Championship reign. It’ll be a big test for Jason Evans.
The Welcoming Party
Our cameras took us backstage to show Sara Logan pacing back and forth by the doors, constantly checking her phone. It buzzed and she got excited as she slipped it into her pants pocket. The door opened and in walked a tall and jacked woman in a cut off shirt. Logan reached her hand out and smiled.
Sara Logan: Hello, Miss Von Rossbach. My name is Sara Logan and I’m the liaison for the Management of Empire Wrestling. They’re very excited that you agreed to accept their invite to look around the Warehouse.
The two shook hands and Von Rossbach towered over the 5’2” Logan.
Sara Logan: Johnny over here will take your bags and we’ll start by heading this way.
Von Rossbach and Logan walked towards the attached gym as we went to ringside.
Victorem Qualifier
Fenryr Wulfsson Vs. Caitlin Shay
Scott Parker: Believe it or not but this is Fenryr’s first singles match of 2020 and only his third in the last two years!
Fenryr Wulfsson was out first with Karli Frost at his flank. He stretched his arms back before posing at the top of the ramp. He made his way down to the ring and climbed up and over the top ropes. He paced around the ring as Caitlin Shay was out next with Bailey Mayhew right behind her.
Gemma Foster: Some bad blood brewing between Ragnarok and these two members of the Grrrls. Do you think Caitlin can become the second member of the Grrrls to be added to the Victorem Ladder match?
Scott Parker: I don’t think we’ll have to wait long to find out!
Shay rushed the ring and slid under the ropes on her stomach and popped up to her feet. She quickly attacked Fenryr to try and keep him off balance right from the start of the match. She landed hard kicks to the legs of Fenryr and then took him down with a dropkick to the knees. He went face first into the mat as Shay kipped back up. She lifted the leg of Fenryr and drove his right knee hard into the mat. Shay tried to lock in a figure four but was kicked away as she went hard into the second turnbuckle, face first. Fenryr climbed up to his feet and as Shay turned around, stumbling, he hit her with an overhead belly to belly. Fenryr popped up to his feet and Shay was up right after. He slipped behind her and delivered a German suplex. Fenryr rolled and pulled Shay up and looked for a second German suplex but Shay flipped backwards and landed on her feet. She went down with a chop block to the knee of Fenryr.
Gemma Foster: Caitlin Shay being really smart here trying to keep Fenryr off his feet.
Shay pulled Fenryr in and delivered a DDT. She rolled him into a cover and got a two count before he kicked out. Fenryr powered to his feet and Shay took him right back down with a swinging neckbreaker. Shay pulled Fenryr up slowly and then hit the ropes. She looked for a headscissors but Fenryr countered into a powerbomb! He held on and lifted her back up and made his way to the ropes. He was going to powerbomb her over the top but Shay sent him over the ropes with a headscissors!
Scott Parker: Shay with a big counter there!
Shay started to climb the turnbuckle as Frost checked on Fenryr. Shay stood up tall and came flying off the top to the outside with a crossbody, taking out both Frost and Fenryr! Mayhew cheered Shay on as Shay pulled Fenryr up and pushed him into the ring. She climbed in and covered, getting a two count before Frost pulled Shay out of the ring. Mayhew came running around the ring and she and Frost started to brawl. Shay moved out of the way and jumped onto the apron. She turned to the ring, only to get hit in the jaw with a back elbow. Fenryr grabbed her by the hair and flipped her into the ring over the top rope. Shay stumbled to her feet, right into Fenryr lifting her with the 9-9-9 (Gorilla Press Slam). Fenryr rolled Shay over for a cover and got a two count as she kicked out just in time. Fenryr shot the referee a look and held up three fingers.
Gemma Foster: Fenryr not happy with the count there.
Fenryr reached down to pull Shay up but she rolled him up with a small package for a two count. Frost and Mayhew’s brawl rolled into the ring and the referee tried to get the two ladies out. Fenryr and Shay were both up to their feet and Fenryr threw a thumb into the eye of Shay! He pulled her in as Frost speared Mayhew out of the ring. Fenryr lifted Shay up and delivered the Hel Road (Double Underhook Powerbomb). He covered Shay and picked up the victory.
Scott Parker: Fenryr is heading to Next Level: Victorem.
Fenryr rolled out of the ring, shaking off the damage to his knee, as Mayhew slid into the ring to check on Shay. Frost thumbed her nose at Mayhew as she and Fenryr made their way up the ramp.
State of the Art
We could see Logan and Von Rossback in the gym as Von Rossback nodded as she looked around.
Ursula Von Rossbach: Very nice. Seems like it’s up to date, clean.
Sara Logan: We spare no expense in the gym. Empire Wrestling started off as a wrestling school and we pride ourselves on making sure we have a state of the arm gym for our talent to train at along with the rings to practice in.
The two continue to walk around and exit the gym into another room with two rings as we cut away.
Daniel Daemon Vs. Austin Scott
“Year Zero” by Ghost played in the Warehouse and the lights begun to flash red as the Emperor of Empire, Daniel Daemon, stepped out onto the stage. He stood center of the stage and slowly put his arms out, as if to soak in the moment. He made slow, calculated steps to the ring and climbed up the steel steps to the apron, and then up and over the top ropes. The lights went out to reveal a spotlight shining down on Daemon.
Gemma Foster: I don’t know if anyone has noticed but Daemon is not dressed to compete. Unless he’s going at it in a suit and tie?
Daemon looked into the camera and snapped his fingers. The jumbotron showed the Kingsmen attacking Austin Scott backstage.
Scott Parker: Junji Buranku and Mr Fixit are attacking Austin Scott backstage near his locker room!
Scott was trying to fend them off but the numbers quickly overtook him as Mr Fixit rocked him with a headbutt and Junji then hit him with a shining wizard. Scott stumbled up and was rocked with Mr Fixit’s Fixed (Haymaker). Daemon watched on in the ring and nodded as if he were pleased.
Gemma Foster: Daemon sending his goons to do his dirty work again. He won’t be able to do that next week as HE has to beat Lacy.
Scott Parker: This is clearly a case of Daemon thinking this match was beneath him and is saving himself for Next Level.
Daemon climbed out of the ring and the spotlight followed him up the ramp and into the back.
UNDONE
Alicia Monroe is in the ring, waiting on her match with AJ Adams to start when “Coming Undone” by Korn starts to play.
Scott Parker: That is not AJ Adams’s entrance music.
Casey Grey steps out of the back and heads to the ring.
Gemma Foster: This is definitely…different.
Casey walks to the announcer’s table and grabs a microphone. She looks at Scott Parker and Gemma Foster as if daring them to try to stop her before she climbs the steps to the apron and climbs in. She looks at Alicia and, if looks could kill, Alicia would be dead twice over. Alicia shakes her head and throws her hands up, exasperated. The song plays for a moment longer before fading. Alicia is also handed a microphone.
Alicia Monroe: What are you doing, Casey? This is my match.
Casey Grey: You done?
Alicia Monroe: No. What do you want? An apology? I’m sorry, okay? For what good it’ll do. I couldn’t tell you.
Casey Grey: An apology? You think I care about what you have to say when you and everyone else have lied to me this long? Please. Your words are worthless.
Alicia Monroe: Everyone thought it was better to just…you know what? Who cares. Listen to me, okay? I don’t want to fight with you! I want you back in my corner, and I want to be in your corner. Everyone is worried. If you would open your eyes and see, maybe answer your phone once in a--
Casey Grey: I don’t care, Alicia. Those people aren’t my family anymore. I don’t want anything to do with you or any of them, least of all that bitch calling herself our mother!
Alicia throws her mic down and slaps the shit out of Casey. When Casey turns back to face her, Alicia grabs her by the hair for a mat slam then pulls her up and throws her out of the ring. Casey gets to her feet and backs away after kicking a guard rail. Alicia picks up the microphone.
Alicia Monroe: Hey, sis. Don’t talk about my mom.
Alicia throws the microphone down again and paces around the ring as the referee for her match talks to her.
As we came back from commercial, the referee was still talking to Alicia, who was leaning on the turnbuckles in her corner. It can’t be made out what she’s saying, but she pointed to the back, nodded, and the referee nodded in return. The camera moved away from her and caught Sara Logan and Ursula Von Rossback moving into the arena area of the Warehouse. The two took a seat a few rows from ringside as “Lights Out” by POD kicked up and out walked AJ Adams.
Alicia Monroe Vs. AJ Adams
Adams had made his way down to the ring and circled Monroe who kept looking over her shoulder. She shook it off as the bell rang and the two locked up. Monroe tried to pull Adams into a headlock but he pushed her off and into the ropes. She came back with a hard shoulder tackle and dropped Adams. He rolled as she ran the ropes and he popped up to his feet. Adams met Monroe with a hip toss and she rolled to his knees. Adams was there to hit her with a sliding clothesline. He rolled to his feet and pulled Monroe up. Adams sent her into the corner and charged with a big corner splash. He pulled her out of the corner and hit a suplex in the middle of the ring and rolled into a cover for just one. Monroe kicked out just before the two and tried to roll away.
Scott Parker: AJ Adams is trying to take the fight to Alicia and not let her get steadied.
Monroe got to her feet and quickly hit Adams with a dropkick that sent him into the ropes. He was leaning on the ropes and Monroe charged with a crossbody that sent them both over the top rope and to the floor. They were both slow to stand and Monroe grabbed Adams and smashed him head first into the apron. Monroe jumped onto the barricade and looked backwards. Adams walked towards her and she took him down with a standing moonsault. Monroe rolled in and then right back out of the ring to break up the count. She pulled Adams up to his feet and rolled him in under the ropes. She jumped into the ring after him and went for a cover, getting just two. Adams was able to get to his feet and had to duck Monroe charging with a clothesline. She kept running the ropes and ran into a powerslam. Adams popped back up and Monroe started to stand and he hit her with the Eat It (Fameasser). Adams rolled her into a cover and got a two count as Monroe was able to kick out. Adams pulled Monroe up and sent her into the corner one again. He charged and ran into a big boot to the face. Monroe grabbed Adams and looked for the Freebird (Running Bulldog) but he pushed her off and she fell butt first onto the mat. She stood and was grabbed from behind and was hit with a belly to back suplex.
Scott Parker: These two with back and forth action.
Logan and Von Rossbach chatted as they watched the match. Adams and Monroe met on their feet and Adams lifted her up for a GTS but she countered into a sunset flip pin, getting two before Adams kicked out. They were both quick to their feet and Adams met her with the Last Call (Codebreaker)!
Gemma Foster: Last Call!
Adams dove into a cover on Monroe and got two as she just kicked out in time. Casey Grey and a few trainers appeared on stage as she pushed past them and rushed to the ring. She jumped onto the apron and went to climb in but was hit with a running elbow from Adams.
Scott Parker: Looks like AJ Adams isn’t having any of Grey getting involved.
Grey jumped down and Monroe started to roll Adams up from behind but he rolled through. Monroe turned as she got on her feet and walked into the Legacy Maker (Sister Abigail). Adams covered as Grey watched on and he picked up the three count.
Scott Parker: A hard fought match and AJ Adams is on a roll since his return from injury. Here comes Grey!
Grey jumped into the ring as she went for Monroe and the two were pulled apart by referees and Adams.
Gemma Foster: These two are ready to tear into each other!
Logan and Von Rossbach left ringside and made their way to the backstage area through the crowd as we saw Grey and Monroe yelling at each other.
Victorem Qualifier
Kaito Hirano Vs. Outlaw
Scott Parker: It’s time to find out who will be the last entrant in the Victorem Ladder match.
Hirano was standing in the ring as Outlaw appeared on the screen. He was somewhere backstage and was ready to talk.
Outlaw: Kaito. This is a huge match that could change one of our careers. Imagine. Having a contract for a World Championship match whenever you want! As exciting as it sounds, I think I’m going to have to pass.
Gemma Foster: Wait, what?
After a pause, Outlaw continues.
Outlaw: I’m giving this match away because I have my own goals. I came here to beat AJ Adams. I came here to become the Primetime Champion that Macbeth currently has. I’m coming for the belt.
Outlaw walked off screen as Hirano stood in the ring, confused.
Scott Parker: So, Kaito is going to-
Before Parker could say anything else, the loud voice of Gio DeLuca could be heard.
Gio DeLuca: Well, well, well. Looks like Lady Luck is shining down on me today.
DeLuca walked out onto the stage with a smile.
Gio DeLuca: Here I am, walkin’ around backstage, and my guy Outlaw comes up to me and says, “Hey, Gio. Take my spot”. I did him a solid and he’s giving me a second chance at getting that Victorem contract.
DeLuca had made his way down to the ring as Hirano looked bored.
Victorem Qualifier
Kaito Hirano Vs. Gio DeLuca
DeLuca climbed into the ring and looked over to the timekeeper.
Gio DeLuca: Ring the damn bell and let’s do the damn thing.
DeLuca turned around and was rocked with a running knee strike to the face! Hirano kipped up to his feet and was fired up.
Gemma Foster: Kaito Hirano is oozing energy right now.
DeLuca got to his knees and Hirano hit him with the Yoi Yume O [Sweet Dreams] (Running Knee to knelt opponent). DeLuca laid on the mat just blinking, looking up at the ceiling. Hirano pulled DeLuca up and lifted him onto his shoulders as he roared. Hirano hit the Dishonored (Burning Hammer GTS) and then sat on the chest of DeLuca as the referee counted the three count pinfall.
Hirano had his hand lifted as he sat on the chest of DeLuca before standing up and rolled DeLuca out of the ring.
Scott Parker: And just like that Kaito Hirano is our last entrant in the Victorem Ladder match.
The Victorem Contract Signing
After we came back from commercial, Hirano could be seen sitting on the top turnbuckle and the ring had been transformed with a dark red mat and a table with a briefcase in the middle. Harper Blake and Brighton Fischer had made their way down to the ring during the commercial and we could see Fenryr Wulfsson coming out next.
Scott Parker: There’s some interesting angles in this match, Gemma. You have Fenryr and Kaito who have bad blood between them from many years ago back in BWF. You have Fenryr and Ragnarok seeing to be getting on the bad side of the Grrrls and Brighton Fischer is there. Harper Blake has shown some raw talent as a newcomer and her little spat with both Marilyn Cross and FM Young, who have yet to even come out and have a friendship.
Cross was making her way down and took a moment to drop to her knees on the ramp. She smacked the ramp with her hand a few times before jumping up to her feet with a big smile. She climbed into the ring and Harper Blake quickly got in her face but a trainer was there to keep the two from coming to blows.
Gemma Foster: Things like this are always combustible, Scott.
"Helix" by Amaranthe kicked up and FM Young was out on stage. She wasted little time making her way down the ramp in her street clothes, a determined look on her face.
Scott Parker: FM knows what a big opportunity this upcoming match is going to be.
She jumped onto the apron and looked around the ring with a big smile. A moment later we got Sara Logan walking down the ring behind Young. She met the group in the ring and was handed a microphone.
Sara Logan: This is going to be simple. Management wanted everyone to sign their Victorem contract in the ring so that the full gravity of what is going to happen next week really sits with all of you. FM, Fenryr, you were both in this match last year and saw first hand at how your competitors will stop at nothing to win because winning can change your career. Just look at our current World Champion.
Logan reached down and opened the briefcase to reveal six contracts. She handed Hirano a contract and a pen as he quickly signed. Then Blake, Fenryr, Young, Cross, and Fischer.
Scott Parker: There we go, folks.
Fischer handed her contract to Logan as Logan locked them inside the briefcase. A hook descended from the ceiling and Logan attached the briefcase to it and it started to rise up with everyone looking up at it. With everyone looking up, Hirano slipped out of the ring and had pulled a ladder into the ring. Fenryr kept his foot on the ladder to stop Hirano from picking it up and Fischer pulled him off. Fenryr dropped Fischer with a right hand and all hell broke loose and the table was flipped out of the ring. Cross was tackled into the corner by Blake and the two started to fight. Young grabbed Blake from behind and hit her with the Heart of a Phoenix (Lumbar Check). Hirano looked for a tornado kick on Cross but she ducked it and hit the ropes, taking him down with Catch Your Breath (Striking Spear) on her return. Fischer was back up and hit Cross with a cutter!
Gemma Foster: Action all over the ring!
Fenryr had the ladder in his hands and rammed it into the skull of Fischer and she hit the mat and rolled out of the ring. Young turned into Fenryr hitting her with the ladder. Blake charged at Fenryr and was met with the ladder.
Scott Parker: Fenryr is a wrecking ball with that ladder!
Fenryr set up the ladder in the middle of the ring and then pulled Cross up to her feet. She caught him with the Hand of God (Spinning Backfist) and then the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot). Hirano started to charge at Cross but Young dropped him with her Man-Machine Interface (Discus Clothesline). Fischer had Blake up on her shoulder and dropped her with the Hook, Line, & Sinker (The Bitter End). Fischer started to climb the ladder and Cross climbed up the other side as the two started to mouth off back and forth. Young had rolled out of the ring and got her own ladder and slid it in the ring before quickly setting it up and climbing. She sat on the top rung, looking at the two.
Gemma Foster: Six amazing competitors will be fighting next week for that briefcase and this was just a taste!
Take the pledge
End of Tour
Sara Logan and Ursula Von Rossbach stepped out of one of the locker rooms that had been empty at the time and Logan offered her hand once again.
Sara Logan: We really thank you for joining us tonight, Miss Von Rossbach. We’ve heard amazing things about you, have watched some of your tape, and we’d love to offer you a contract. There’s no pressure to sign right now so feel free to take a few days to think it over. We have arranged a limo for you to the suites nearby. You’re also more than welcomed to continue to explore for a bit before everything shuts down after the show.
The two shook hands and Von Rossbach smiled.
Ursula Von Rossbach: I will say, Sara, it’s good to feel welcomed.
Von Rossbach walked off to explore a bit more as we cut away.
Jason Evans Vs. Ben Macbeth
It was time for the main event as Jason Evans made his way to the ring as “Time Bomb” by Hollywood Undead played.
Scott Parker: This could be a big night for DISHONOR as Kaito Hirano won a big match just a little bit ago and now, Jason Evans has the opportunity to knock off the Primetime Champion.
Evans was in the ring and stretched as Ben Macbeth stepped out onto the stage with the Primetime Championship around his waist. He unsnapped it and made sure to hold it high as he put his head back. He tossed the belt onto his shoulder and made his way down to the ring. Macbeth placed the belt onto the apron and jumped up onto it with his knee. He rolled through the second rope and climbed to his feet.
Gemma Foster: Ben Macbeth has spent 317 days as a champion in Empire Wrestling. His 148 days as what was then the Heavyweight Champion and now his 169 days as Primetime Champion. When he came back and said he wanted EMBLEM to be the standard of what a champion is, that’s what he was talking about.
Macbeth and Evans stood in the middle of the ring and Evans was chomping at the bit to get things going. Macbeth slowly walked away, into a corner, and the bell sounded. Evans charged and Macbeth sidestepped him. Evans hit the corner and turned around quickly and was taken to the mat with an arm drag. Evans quickly slipped right back up to his feet but was rocked with a hard palm strike to the face. Macbeth stunned Evans with his speed as he hit the Toil & Trouble (Combo; Knee Kicks, Spinning Back Kick, Leaping Knee, Spinning Backfist) combo of strikes. The spinning backfist forced Evans to a knee which allowed Macbeth to trap his arm and start unloading vicious elbows into the neck.
Scott Parker: Ben Macbeth just hammering at the young Evans.
Macbeth sent Evans into the corner and charged at him but ran into a back elbow to the face. Evans tried to shake off the blows to his neck and hit Macbeth with a jumping calf kick as he stepped out of the corner. Evans rolled to his feet and jumped on the second turnbuckle and dove at Macbeth, hitting a tornado DDT. Evans rubbed at his neck and climbed to his feet and was met with Macbeth getting to his. The two exchanged hard blows before Evans was sent over the top rope and landed on the apron. Macbeth approached and was hit with a shoulder to the gut that Evans followed up with Seeing Stars (Slingshot DDT). Evans rolled Macbeth into a cover and got a little more than a one as Macbeth kicked out.
Gemma Foster: A nice DDT there from Evans but Macbeth is able to kick out.
Evans pulled Macbeth up to his feet and hit him with a hard chop. Macbeth came back with a chop of his own that Evans smirked at. Evans ducked behind Macbeth and looked for a blue thunder bomb but Macbeth countered with a back elbow. Macbeth turned and was kicked in the gut. Evans started to lift Macbeth up to his feet for the Fate's Dagger (Falcon Arrow) but Macbeth hit Evans with a knee to the face as he lifted him up. Macbeth landed on his feet and pulled Evans in, hitting the Serious Moonlight (Lifting Single Underhook DDT). Macbeth rolled Evans over and covered to pick up the victory.
Scott Parker: Ben Macbeth just too much for Jason Evans here tonight.
Macbeth climbed to his feet and was handed the Primetime Championship. He had his back to the stage as he held the championship up and “Lights Out” by POD started to play. What little smile Macbeth had went away as he slowly turned around and out walked AJ Adams. Adams pointed to the jumbotron behind him and we could see Midnight Special locked in their dressing room with the Tag Team Champions, Dave Blazenwing and Luke Mathews, standing guard so no one could unlock it as the two pounded on the door.
Gemma Foster: Adams is one step ahead of Macbeth!
Adams charged the ring as Macbeth readied himself and the two went blow for blow in the middle of the ring. Adams clotheslined Macbeth and was fired up but Macbeth popped right back up and hit him with a hard palm strike. Adams staggered backwards but then tackled Macbeth to the mat. After a few hard right hands, Adams was hit in the back with a chair from Outlaw!
Scott Parker: Where did Outlaw come from!?
Outlaw pulled Adams off Macbeth and sent him into the corner as Macbeth started to stand. Outlaw hit Macbeth with an Asai DDT and then popped right back up to his feet and then speared Adams in the corner. Outlaw shouted at Adams in the corner and turned into a spinning backfist from Macbeth. Macbeth grabbed the Primetime Championship and rolled out of the ring and clutched it before throwing his hand high in the air with the belt in hand. Outlaw shook off the blow as Adams came at him and Outlaw drove him to the mat with the Lock-up (Black hole slam). Outlaw started to set Adams up for the Breaking the Law (Canadian Destroyer) but Adams was able to slip away and get out of the ring. Adams stood on the announce table and pointed at Outlaw and then to Macbeth who was now at the top of the ramp.
Scott Parker: And when Macbeth said he wanted the Primetime Championship to mean something, I don’t know if this is what he had in mind. These three men are ready to tear into each other.
We ended with Macbeth standing with the belt over his shoulder as Outlaw shouted up at him.
Gemma Foster: And after what he did last week, Lacy Nelson, our World Champion, has accepted the challenge and will defend the championship next week. You have to believe that Daemon will do ANYTHING to take back the World Championship.
Scott Parker: He’s said as much. He said on Twitter that he will be “taking back” the championship.
Gemma Foster: Lacy Nelson is scheduled to be here tonight but I hadn’t seen her arrive before the start of the show. Maybe she’s going to take the night and get ready for next week.
Scott Parker: And speaking on the main event, the Primetime Champion Ben Macbeth will be in action against Jason Evans of DISHONOR. It’s been a bumpy few weeks for EMBLEM but Ben Macbeth is still in the middle of his record breaking Primetime Championship reign. It’ll be a big test for Jason Evans.
The Welcoming Party
Our cameras took us backstage to show Sara Logan pacing back and forth by the doors, constantly checking her phone. It buzzed and she got excited as she slipped it into her pants pocket. The door opened and in walked a tall and jacked woman in a cut off shirt. Logan reached her hand out and smiled.
Sara Logan: Hello, Miss Von Rossbach. My name is Sara Logan and I’m the liaison for the Management of Empire Wrestling. They’re very excited that you agreed to accept their invite to look around the Warehouse.
The two shook hands and Von Rossbach towered over the 5’2” Logan.
Sara Logan: Johnny over here will take your bags and we’ll start by heading this way.
Von Rossbach and Logan walked towards the attached gym as we went to ringside.
Victorem Qualifier
Fenryr Wulfsson Vs. Caitlin Shay
Scott Parker: Believe it or not but this is Fenryr’s first singles match of 2020 and only his third in the last two years!
Fenryr Wulfsson was out first with Karli Frost at his flank. He stretched his arms back before posing at the top of the ramp. He made his way down to the ring and climbed up and over the top ropes. He paced around the ring as Caitlin Shay was out next with Bailey Mayhew right behind her.
Gemma Foster: Some bad blood brewing between Ragnarok and these two members of the Grrrls. Do you think Caitlin can become the second member of the Grrrls to be added to the Victorem Ladder match?
Scott Parker: I don’t think we’ll have to wait long to find out!
Shay rushed the ring and slid under the ropes on her stomach and popped up to her feet. She quickly attacked Fenryr to try and keep him off balance right from the start of the match. She landed hard kicks to the legs of Fenryr and then took him down with a dropkick to the knees. He went face first into the mat as Shay kipped back up. She lifted the leg of Fenryr and drove his right knee hard into the mat. Shay tried to lock in a figure four but was kicked away as she went hard into the second turnbuckle, face first. Fenryr climbed up to his feet and as Shay turned around, stumbling, he hit her with an overhead belly to belly. Fenryr popped up to his feet and Shay was up right after. He slipped behind her and delivered a German suplex. Fenryr rolled and pulled Shay up and looked for a second German suplex but Shay flipped backwards and landed on her feet. She went down with a chop block to the knee of Fenryr.
Gemma Foster: Caitlin Shay being really smart here trying to keep Fenryr off his feet.
Shay pulled Fenryr in and delivered a DDT. She rolled him into a cover and got a two count before he kicked out. Fenryr powered to his feet and Shay took him right back down with a swinging neckbreaker. Shay pulled Fenryr up slowly and then hit the ropes. She looked for a headscissors but Fenryr countered into a powerbomb! He held on and lifted her back up and made his way to the ropes. He was going to powerbomb her over the top but Shay sent him over the ropes with a headscissors!
Scott Parker: Shay with a big counter there!
Shay started to climb the turnbuckle as Frost checked on Fenryr. Shay stood up tall and came flying off the top to the outside with a crossbody, taking out both Frost and Fenryr! Mayhew cheered Shay on as Shay pulled Fenryr up and pushed him into the ring. She climbed in and covered, getting a two count before Frost pulled Shay out of the ring. Mayhew came running around the ring and she and Frost started to brawl. Shay moved out of the way and jumped onto the apron. She turned to the ring, only to get hit in the jaw with a back elbow. Fenryr grabbed her by the hair and flipped her into the ring over the top rope. Shay stumbled to her feet, right into Fenryr lifting her with the 9-9-9 (Gorilla Press Slam). Fenryr rolled Shay over for a cover and got a two count as she kicked out just in time. Fenryr shot the referee a look and held up three fingers.
Gemma Foster: Fenryr not happy with the count there.
Fenryr reached down to pull Shay up but she rolled him up with a small package for a two count. Frost and Mayhew’s brawl rolled into the ring and the referee tried to get the two ladies out. Fenryr and Shay were both up to their feet and Fenryr threw a thumb into the eye of Shay! He pulled her in as Frost speared Mayhew out of the ring. Fenryr lifted Shay up and delivered the Hel Road (Double Underhook Powerbomb). He covered Shay and picked up the victory.
Scott Parker: Fenryr is heading to Next Level: Victorem.
Fenryr rolled out of the ring, shaking off the damage to his knee, as Mayhew slid into the ring to check on Shay. Frost thumbed her nose at Mayhew as she and Fenryr made their way up the ramp.
State of the Art
We could see Logan and Von Rossback in the gym as Von Rossback nodded as she looked around.
Ursula Von Rossbach: Very nice. Seems like it’s up to date, clean.
Sara Logan: We spare no expense in the gym. Empire Wrestling started off as a wrestling school and we pride ourselves on making sure we have a state of the arm gym for our talent to train at along with the rings to practice in.
The two continue to walk around and exit the gym into another room with two rings as we cut away.
Daniel Daemon Vs. Austin Scott
“Year Zero” by Ghost played in the Warehouse and the lights begun to flash red as the Emperor of Empire, Daniel Daemon, stepped out onto the stage. He stood center of the stage and slowly put his arms out, as if to soak in the moment. He made slow, calculated steps to the ring and climbed up the steel steps to the apron, and then up and over the top ropes. The lights went out to reveal a spotlight shining down on Daemon.
Gemma Foster: I don’t know if anyone has noticed but Daemon is not dressed to compete. Unless he’s going at it in a suit and tie?
Daemon looked into the camera and snapped his fingers. The jumbotron showed the Kingsmen attacking Austin Scott backstage.
Scott Parker: Junji Buranku and Mr Fixit are attacking Austin Scott backstage near his locker room!
Scott was trying to fend them off but the numbers quickly overtook him as Mr Fixit rocked him with a headbutt and Junji then hit him with a shining wizard. Scott stumbled up and was rocked with Mr Fixit’s Fixed (Haymaker). Daemon watched on in the ring and nodded as if he were pleased.
Gemma Foster: Daemon sending his goons to do his dirty work again. He won’t be able to do that next week as HE has to beat Lacy.
Scott Parker: This is clearly a case of Daemon thinking this match was beneath him and is saving himself for Next Level.
Daemon climbed out of the ring and the spotlight followed him up the ramp and into the back.
UNDONE
Alicia Monroe is in the ring, waiting on her match with AJ Adams to start when “Coming Undone” by Korn starts to play.
Scott Parker: That is not AJ Adams’s entrance music.
Casey Grey steps out of the back and heads to the ring.
Gemma Foster: This is definitely…different.
Casey walks to the announcer’s table and grabs a microphone. She looks at Scott Parker and Gemma Foster as if daring them to try to stop her before she climbs the steps to the apron and climbs in. She looks at Alicia and, if looks could kill, Alicia would be dead twice over. Alicia shakes her head and throws her hands up, exasperated. The song plays for a moment longer before fading. Alicia is also handed a microphone.
Alicia Monroe: What are you doing, Casey? This is my match.
Casey Grey: You done?
Alicia Monroe: No. What do you want? An apology? I’m sorry, okay? For what good it’ll do. I couldn’t tell you.
Casey Grey: An apology? You think I care about what you have to say when you and everyone else have lied to me this long? Please. Your words are worthless.
Alicia Monroe: Everyone thought it was better to just…you know what? Who cares. Listen to me, okay? I don’t want to fight with you! I want you back in my corner, and I want to be in your corner. Everyone is worried. If you would open your eyes and see, maybe answer your phone once in a--
Casey Grey: I don’t care, Alicia. Those people aren’t my family anymore. I don’t want anything to do with you or any of them, least of all that bitch calling herself our mother!
Alicia throws her mic down and slaps the shit out of Casey. When Casey turns back to face her, Alicia grabs her by the hair for a mat slam then pulls her up and throws her out of the ring. Casey gets to her feet and backs away after kicking a guard rail. Alicia picks up the microphone.
Alicia Monroe: Hey, sis. Don’t talk about my mom.
Alicia throws the microphone down again and paces around the ring as the referee for her match talks to her.
As we came back from commercial, the referee was still talking to Alicia, who was leaning on the turnbuckles in her corner. It can’t be made out what she’s saying, but she pointed to the back, nodded, and the referee nodded in return. The camera moved away from her and caught Sara Logan and Ursula Von Rossback moving into the arena area of the Warehouse. The two took a seat a few rows from ringside as “Lights Out” by POD kicked up and out walked AJ Adams.
Alicia Monroe Vs. AJ Adams
Adams had made his way down to the ring and circled Monroe who kept looking over her shoulder. She shook it off as the bell rang and the two locked up. Monroe tried to pull Adams into a headlock but he pushed her off and into the ropes. She came back with a hard shoulder tackle and dropped Adams. He rolled as she ran the ropes and he popped up to his feet. Adams met Monroe with a hip toss and she rolled to his knees. Adams was there to hit her with a sliding clothesline. He rolled to his feet and pulled Monroe up. Adams sent her into the corner and charged with a big corner splash. He pulled her out of the corner and hit a suplex in the middle of the ring and rolled into a cover for just one. Monroe kicked out just before the two and tried to roll away.
Scott Parker: AJ Adams is trying to take the fight to Alicia and not let her get steadied.
Monroe got to her feet and quickly hit Adams with a dropkick that sent him into the ropes. He was leaning on the ropes and Monroe charged with a crossbody that sent them both over the top rope and to the floor. They were both slow to stand and Monroe grabbed Adams and smashed him head first into the apron. Monroe jumped onto the barricade and looked backwards. Adams walked towards her and she took him down with a standing moonsault. Monroe rolled in and then right back out of the ring to break up the count. She pulled Adams up to his feet and rolled him in under the ropes. She jumped into the ring after him and went for a cover, getting just two. Adams was able to get to his feet and had to duck Monroe charging with a clothesline. She kept running the ropes and ran into a powerslam. Adams popped back up and Monroe started to stand and he hit her with the Eat It (Fameasser). Adams rolled her into a cover and got a two count as Monroe was able to kick out. Adams pulled Monroe up and sent her into the corner one again. He charged and ran into a big boot to the face. Monroe grabbed Adams and looked for the Freebird (Running Bulldog) but he pushed her off and she fell butt first onto the mat. She stood and was grabbed from behind and was hit with a belly to back suplex.
Scott Parker: These two with back and forth action.
Logan and Von Rossbach chatted as they watched the match. Adams and Monroe met on their feet and Adams lifted her up for a GTS but she countered into a sunset flip pin, getting two before Adams kicked out. They were both quick to their feet and Adams met her with the Last Call (Codebreaker)!
Gemma Foster: Last Call!
Adams dove into a cover on Monroe and got two as she just kicked out in time. Casey Grey and a few trainers appeared on stage as she pushed past them and rushed to the ring. She jumped onto the apron and went to climb in but was hit with a running elbow from Adams.
Scott Parker: Looks like AJ Adams isn’t having any of Grey getting involved.
Grey jumped down and Monroe started to roll Adams up from behind but he rolled through. Monroe turned as she got on her feet and walked into the Legacy Maker (Sister Abigail). Adams covered as Grey watched on and he picked up the three count.
Scott Parker: A hard fought match and AJ Adams is on a roll since his return from injury. Here comes Grey!
Grey jumped into the ring as she went for Monroe and the two were pulled apart by referees and Adams.
Gemma Foster: These two are ready to tear into each other!
Logan and Von Rossbach left ringside and made their way to the backstage area through the crowd as we saw Grey and Monroe yelling at each other.
Victorem Qualifier
Kaito Hirano Vs. Outlaw
Scott Parker: It’s time to find out who will be the last entrant in the Victorem Ladder match.
Hirano was standing in the ring as Outlaw appeared on the screen. He was somewhere backstage and was ready to talk.
Outlaw: Kaito. This is a huge match that could change one of our careers. Imagine. Having a contract for a World Championship match whenever you want! As exciting as it sounds, I think I’m going to have to pass.
Gemma Foster: Wait, what?
After a pause, Outlaw continues.
Outlaw: I’m giving this match away because I have my own goals. I came here to beat AJ Adams. I came here to become the Primetime Champion that Macbeth currently has. I’m coming for the belt.
Outlaw walked off screen as Hirano stood in the ring, confused.
Scott Parker: So, Kaito is going to-
Before Parker could say anything else, the loud voice of Gio DeLuca could be heard.
Gio DeLuca: Well, well, well. Looks like Lady Luck is shining down on me today.
DeLuca walked out onto the stage with a smile.
Gio DeLuca: Here I am, walkin’ around backstage, and my guy Outlaw comes up to me and says, “Hey, Gio. Take my spot”. I did him a solid and he’s giving me a second chance at getting that Victorem contract.
DeLuca had made his way down to the ring as Hirano looked bored.
Victorem Qualifier
Kaito Hirano Vs. Gio DeLuca
DeLuca climbed into the ring and looked over to the timekeeper.
Gio DeLuca: Ring the damn bell and let’s do the damn thing.
DeLuca turned around and was rocked with a running knee strike to the face! Hirano kipped up to his feet and was fired up.
Gemma Foster: Kaito Hirano is oozing energy right now.
DeLuca got to his knees and Hirano hit him with the Yoi Yume O [Sweet Dreams] (Running Knee to knelt opponent). DeLuca laid on the mat just blinking, looking up at the ceiling. Hirano pulled DeLuca up and lifted him onto his shoulders as he roared. Hirano hit the Dishonored (Burning Hammer GTS) and then sat on the chest of DeLuca as the referee counted the three count pinfall.
Hirano had his hand lifted as he sat on the chest of DeLuca before standing up and rolled DeLuca out of the ring.
Scott Parker: And just like that Kaito Hirano is our last entrant in the Victorem Ladder match.
The Victorem Contract Signing
After we came back from commercial, Hirano could be seen sitting on the top turnbuckle and the ring had been transformed with a dark red mat and a table with a briefcase in the middle. Harper Blake and Brighton Fischer had made their way down to the ring during the commercial and we could see Fenryr Wulfsson coming out next.
Scott Parker: There’s some interesting angles in this match, Gemma. You have Fenryr and Kaito who have bad blood between them from many years ago back in BWF. You have Fenryr and Ragnarok seeing to be getting on the bad side of the Grrrls and Brighton Fischer is there. Harper Blake has shown some raw talent as a newcomer and her little spat with both Marilyn Cross and FM Young, who have yet to even come out and have a friendship.
Cross was making her way down and took a moment to drop to her knees on the ramp. She smacked the ramp with her hand a few times before jumping up to her feet with a big smile. She climbed into the ring and Harper Blake quickly got in her face but a trainer was there to keep the two from coming to blows.
Gemma Foster: Things like this are always combustible, Scott.
"Helix" by Amaranthe kicked up and FM Young was out on stage. She wasted little time making her way down the ramp in her street clothes, a determined look on her face.
Scott Parker: FM knows what a big opportunity this upcoming match is going to be.
She jumped onto the apron and looked around the ring with a big smile. A moment later we got Sara Logan walking down the ring behind Young. She met the group in the ring and was handed a microphone.
Sara Logan: This is going to be simple. Management wanted everyone to sign their Victorem contract in the ring so that the full gravity of what is going to happen next week really sits with all of you. FM, Fenryr, you were both in this match last year and saw first hand at how your competitors will stop at nothing to win because winning can change your career. Just look at our current World Champion.
Logan reached down and opened the briefcase to reveal six contracts. She handed Hirano a contract and a pen as he quickly signed. Then Blake, Fenryr, Young, Cross, and Fischer.
Scott Parker: There we go, folks.
Fischer handed her contract to Logan as Logan locked them inside the briefcase. A hook descended from the ceiling and Logan attached the briefcase to it and it started to rise up with everyone looking up at it. With everyone looking up, Hirano slipped out of the ring and had pulled a ladder into the ring. Fenryr kept his foot on the ladder to stop Hirano from picking it up and Fischer pulled him off. Fenryr dropped Fischer with a right hand and all hell broke loose and the table was flipped out of the ring. Cross was tackled into the corner by Blake and the two started to fight. Young grabbed Blake from behind and hit her with the Heart of a Phoenix (Lumbar Check). Hirano looked for a tornado kick on Cross but she ducked it and hit the ropes, taking him down with Catch Your Breath (Striking Spear) on her return. Fischer was back up and hit Cross with a cutter!
Gemma Foster: Action all over the ring!
Fenryr had the ladder in his hands and rammed it into the skull of Fischer and she hit the mat and rolled out of the ring. Young turned into Fenryr hitting her with the ladder. Blake charged at Fenryr and was met with the ladder.
Scott Parker: Fenryr is a wrecking ball with that ladder!
Fenryr set up the ladder in the middle of the ring and then pulled Cross up to her feet. She caught him with the Hand of God (Spinning Backfist) and then the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot). Hirano started to charge at Cross but Young dropped him with her Man-Machine Interface (Discus Clothesline). Fischer had Blake up on her shoulder and dropped her with the Hook, Line, & Sinker (The Bitter End). Fischer started to climb the ladder and Cross climbed up the other side as the two started to mouth off back and forth. Young had rolled out of the ring and got her own ladder and slid it in the ring before quickly setting it up and climbing. She sat on the top rung, looking at the two.
Gemma Foster: Six amazing competitors will be fighting next week for that briefcase and this was just a taste!
Take the pledge
End of Tour
Sara Logan and Ursula Von Rossbach stepped out of one of the locker rooms that had been empty at the time and Logan offered her hand once again.
Sara Logan: We really thank you for joining us tonight, Miss Von Rossbach. We’ve heard amazing things about you, have watched some of your tape, and we’d love to offer you a contract. There’s no pressure to sign right now so feel free to take a few days to think it over. We have arranged a limo for you to the suites nearby. You’re also more than welcomed to continue to explore for a bit before everything shuts down after the show.
The two shook hands and Von Rossbach smiled.
Ursula Von Rossbach: I will say, Sara, it’s good to feel welcomed.
Von Rossbach walked off to explore a bit more as we cut away.
Jason Evans Vs. Ben Macbeth
It was time for the main event as Jason Evans made his way to the ring as “Time Bomb” by Hollywood Undead played.
Scott Parker: This could be a big night for DISHONOR as Kaito Hirano won a big match just a little bit ago and now, Jason Evans has the opportunity to knock off the Primetime Champion.
Evans was in the ring and stretched as Ben Macbeth stepped out onto the stage with the Primetime Championship around his waist. He unsnapped it and made sure to hold it high as he put his head back. He tossed the belt onto his shoulder and made his way down to the ring. Macbeth placed the belt onto the apron and jumped up onto it with his knee. He rolled through the second rope and climbed to his feet.
Gemma Foster: Ben Macbeth has spent 317 days as a champion in Empire Wrestling. His 148 days as what was then the Heavyweight Champion and now his 169 days as Primetime Champion. When he came back and said he wanted EMBLEM to be the standard of what a champion is, that’s what he was talking about.
Macbeth and Evans stood in the middle of the ring and Evans was chomping at the bit to get things going. Macbeth slowly walked away, into a corner, and the bell sounded. Evans charged and Macbeth sidestepped him. Evans hit the corner and turned around quickly and was taken to the mat with an arm drag. Evans quickly slipped right back up to his feet but was rocked with a hard palm strike to the face. Macbeth stunned Evans with his speed as he hit the Toil & Trouble (Combo; Knee Kicks, Spinning Back Kick, Leaping Knee, Spinning Backfist) combo of strikes. The spinning backfist forced Evans to a knee which allowed Macbeth to trap his arm and start unloading vicious elbows into the neck.
Scott Parker: Ben Macbeth just hammering at the young Evans.
Macbeth sent Evans into the corner and charged at him but ran into a back elbow to the face. Evans tried to shake off the blows to his neck and hit Macbeth with a jumping calf kick as he stepped out of the corner. Evans rolled to his feet and jumped on the second turnbuckle and dove at Macbeth, hitting a tornado DDT. Evans rubbed at his neck and climbed to his feet and was met with Macbeth getting to his. The two exchanged hard blows before Evans was sent over the top rope and landed on the apron. Macbeth approached and was hit with a shoulder to the gut that Evans followed up with Seeing Stars (Slingshot DDT). Evans rolled Macbeth into a cover and got a little more than a one as Macbeth kicked out.
Gemma Foster: A nice DDT there from Evans but Macbeth is able to kick out.
Evans pulled Macbeth up to his feet and hit him with a hard chop. Macbeth came back with a chop of his own that Evans smirked at. Evans ducked behind Macbeth and looked for a blue thunder bomb but Macbeth countered with a back elbow. Macbeth turned and was kicked in the gut. Evans started to lift Macbeth up to his feet for the Fate's Dagger (Falcon Arrow) but Macbeth hit Evans with a knee to the face as he lifted him up. Macbeth landed on his feet and pulled Evans in, hitting the Serious Moonlight (Lifting Single Underhook DDT). Macbeth rolled Evans over and covered to pick up the victory.
Scott Parker: Ben Macbeth just too much for Jason Evans here tonight.
Macbeth climbed to his feet and was handed the Primetime Championship. He had his back to the stage as he held the championship up and “Lights Out” by POD started to play. What little smile Macbeth had went away as he slowly turned around and out walked AJ Adams. Adams pointed to the jumbotron behind him and we could see Midnight Special locked in their dressing room with the Tag Team Champions, Dave Blazenwing and Luke Mathews, standing guard so no one could unlock it as the two pounded on the door.
Gemma Foster: Adams is one step ahead of Macbeth!
Adams charged the ring as Macbeth readied himself and the two went blow for blow in the middle of the ring. Adams clotheslined Macbeth and was fired up but Macbeth popped right back up and hit him with a hard palm strike. Adams staggered backwards but then tackled Macbeth to the mat. After a few hard right hands, Adams was hit in the back with a chair from Outlaw!
Scott Parker: Where did Outlaw come from!?
Outlaw pulled Adams off Macbeth and sent him into the corner as Macbeth started to stand. Outlaw hit Macbeth with an Asai DDT and then popped right back up to his feet and then speared Adams in the corner. Outlaw shouted at Adams in the corner and turned into a spinning backfist from Macbeth. Macbeth grabbed the Primetime Championship and rolled out of the ring and clutched it before throwing his hand high in the air with the belt in hand. Outlaw shook off the blow as Adams came at him and Outlaw drove him to the mat with the Lock-up (Black hole slam). Outlaw started to set Adams up for the Breaking the Law (Canadian Destroyer) but Adams was able to slip away and get out of the ring. Adams stood on the announce table and pointed at Outlaw and then to Macbeth who was now at the top of the ramp.
Scott Parker: And when Macbeth said he wanted the Primetime Championship to mean something, I don’t know if this is what he had in mind. These three men are ready to tear into each other.
We ended with Macbeth standing with the belt over his shoulder as Outlaw shouted up at him.