Post by Admin on Jul 4, 2020 2:23:38 GMT -5
Episode #44 - July 3, 2020
Scott Parker: Happy early Independence Day! Tonight Empire Wrestling should have it's own fireworks. Hello everyone and welcome to a special Hype as we kick off, WARFARE! The next 7 weeks will feature matches in the Warfare Series to determine the best team in Empire Wrestling. There are currently 9 teams involved in Warfare and we’ll see them starting to compete and represent their teams here tonight. All of this leads up the a special night of Warfare as the top 6 teams will compete in an Elimination Chamber match.
Gemma Foster: The first ever in Empire Wrestling! This should be such a fun event, Scott. Old Guard, EMBLEM, The Grrrls, the Kingsmen, the Hater, Ragnarok, Dishonor, The Crew, Kayla Taylor and Harper Blake. And look at that trophy!
We pan to the ring as we see the Liaison, Sara Logan. She’s smiling in the ring as she stands beside a high table where the Warfare Trophy sits beside her.
Sara Logan: Hello to everyone watching from home tonight. I wanted to take a moment and quickly introduce everyone to the Warfare Series. This beautiful trophy will be presented to the team with the most points after the Warfare special that’ll air on August 14th. Teams will earn points in tag team matches and in singles matches as they represent their teams. It’s 10 points for submission victory, 7 points for a pinfall victory, 5 points for a countout victory, 3 points for a DQ victory, 2 points for a draw, and minus 10 points for a DQ loss.
She takes a moment with a pause to let the info sink in as she looks at the trophy.
Sara Logan: However, that’s not all the team will receive. Being announced for the first time, the members on the winning team will also receive a championship opportunity of their choosing.
Scott Parker: Wow!
Sara Logan: Good luck to all the competitors!
Warfare Series
Midnight Special Vs. Kayla Taylor & Harper Blake
Gemma Foster: Let’s kick off the Warfare Series! Here come Blake and Taylor!
Taylor and Blake come out to the stage first and put their arm over each other’s shoulders as they stand side by side. The two start to march down to the ring as they break apart and roll into the ring.
Scott Parker: This is the first time that we’ve seen Harper and Taylor in tag team action.
Gemma Foster: I can’t believe that Harper Blake is moving after Next Level: Victorem. That fall she took from the ring through the table on the outside? Brutal.
Blake had Kinesiology tape on her shoulders up to her neck as she stretched in the ring. Josh Cherry and Harvey Carbine were out next and they both had a sour look on their face.
Scott Parker: Midnight Special lost to Old Guard last week at Next Level: Victorem and it’s clearly affecting their mood here tonight.
Carbine grabbed Cherry by the shoulder and said something to him before the two marched down to the ring. They charged the ring about halfway down the ramp and jumped into the ring. Cherry quickly went at Taylor and dropped her with a running forearm. Blake went at Cherry but hit her with a back elbow to the face. Cherry was fired up as he started to stomp on Taylor. She rolled to the apron and to her feet and quickly jumped down as Cherry looked for a right hand. He spun around and was hit with a hard chop to the chest from Blake. She pulled him in for a forearm and then an uppercut. She looked for another chop to the chest but Cherry grabbed her hand and bit her hand.
Gemma Foster: Cherry not holding back tonight.
The referee gave Cherry a quick count to break the bite and gave him a warning. Cherry grabbed Blake by the hair and pulled her to the corner before making a tag to Carbine. Carbine lifted Blake up and Cherry hit the ropes before the two connected with the Hart Attack. Cherry climbed out of the ring as Carbone covered but got two as Blake kicked out. Blake got to her feet but was quickly driven to the mat with a lariat. She popped back up and Carbine lifted her up and connected with a backbreaker. Taylor tried to swing at Carbine from the corner and he moved out of the way and had a few things to say to her. Blake used the opening to roll Carbine up with a school boy pin but he kicked out just after one. This let Blake make a tag and Taylor jumped into the ring. Taylor pulled Carbine into position and took him down with a swinging neckbreaker. As they both started to stand she quickly spiked him into the mat with a DDT. She climbed to her feet and hit the ropes, looking for Plan A (Shining Wizard), but he ducked her and rolled to his feet. She charged at him once again and he hit her with a spinebuster. Carbine made a tag to Cherry and he jumped to the top turnbuckle. Carbine set Taylor up and they delivered the Last Picture Show (Piledriver [Carbine] / Double Stomp To The Soles Of The Feet [Cherry]).
Gemma Foster: Oh my! Just spiking Kayla Taylor into the mat!
Carbine ran to the other corner and knocked Blake off the apron and jumped out after her. Cherry rolled Taylor into a cover and got two as she just kicked out before three. Cherry seemed frustrated as he stomped on Taylor.
Scott Parker: I wonder if doubt could be creeping into the mind of Midnight Special. It’s been a rough few weeks for them across the wrestling world.
Cherry started to pull Taylor up but she stomped on his foot and slipped behind him before hitting a blue thunder bomb. She covered and Carbine broke it up just before two. The referee tried to get Carbine out of the ring which allowed Blake to jump in. Cherry was to his knees and Blake charged, hitting him with Future Sight (V-Trigger). Blake rolled out of the ring as Carbine was climbing out of the ring and Taylor went into a cover. She got a two count before Cherry kicked out just in time.
Gemma Foster: Kickout! Cherry digging down deep and able to kick out. What a match to kick off tonight’s Hype!
Taylor couldn’t believe it and tried to quickly pull Cherry up and into position and wanted to deliver her Broadway Lights (Cross Rhodes) but Cherry spun away and hit her with Cherry’s Jubilee (Jump Stalling Sidekick). This caused Taylor to fall backwards into the ropes and start to stagger back to Cherry and he hit the Baba Yaga Bullet (Running Flying Reverse Elbow to the Face). Cherry rolled to his feet and made a tag to Carbine. Taylor started to stand and Midnight Special hit Minutes to Midnight (Slingblade [Cherry] / Backside Spear [Carbine]). Carbine covered and Cherry hit Blake with a slingblade as she started to get into the ring and the duo picked up the victory.
Scott Parker: Midnight Special pick up the first points for EMBLEM in the Warfare Series.
Gemma Foster: They showed why they are one of the best tag teams to compete in Empire Wrestling.
Cherry was back in the ring as he and Carbine knocked forearms before having their hands raised in victory. They rolled out of the ring as we went away and made their way to the back. Before we went to commercial, the lights went out.
Strange Magic Part II
The lights suddenly go out in the warehouse.
The screen flickers to life, and after a moment of static and white noise, a black and white scene opens on a dark table in the woods. Candles are spread over it, and candles also form a circle around the clearing. Large live oak trees dominate, and the hanging Spanish moss gives the scene an eerie feel.
The scene cuts to the table, which looks like some sort of an altar. Other than the candles, there is a hammer, three nails, and a piece of meat that looks like a cow’s tongue resting on a board. A hand, delicate and adorned with jewelry, passes over the candles. The flames flicker. The hand settles over the hammer. The cow’s tongue is twisted, three nails are driven through it and into the board underneath, and the entire thing is dropped into a hole. The same jeweled hands are seen dragging dirt onto it.
Female Voice: So be it.
The lights in the Warehouse flicker and come back on as we go to commercial.
Luke Mathews Vs. Gio DeLuca
Scott Parker: It’s time for the next match-up in the Warfare Series, folks.
Parker is quickly drowned out as we could hear Gio DeLuca starting to speak as he walked out to the stage.
Gio DeLuca: Warfare? This is right up my alley because I know a thing or two about a little warfare. Lemme remind you who I am. My name is Gio DeLuca and I’m from the Bronx. They might say that I reside in Morris Park and that’s me movin’ up in tha world. I grew up in a place called Hunts Point. Little tidbit of info there, bucky, it has tha highest violent crime rate in the Bronx. I grew up fightin’ on those streets and so I know a thing or two about a little warfare.
Gio has made his way down to the ring by this point and walks around it.
Gio DeLuca: Last week I took on some snot nosed bitch named AJ Jabroni. Heya, Jabroni. I ain’t in hell cause I ain’t havin’ to listen to you ramble on about you bein’ a sinner and all that jazz. Talkin’ about being known from different places and then forgotten. Bitch, ain’t nobody know you from Jack.
Gio turns to the stage and finishes his promo.
Gio DeLuca: It’s been a long time since my brother big Dominic Salvatore stepped into this ring. Almost 20 months and he’s been working out and is ready to come back and enter this series with me. The Haters are going to win Warfare so let’s start this damn thing.
He tosses his microphone and is fired up as he jumps around the ring.
Gemma Foster: Gio is more fired up than we’ve seen him in a long time, Scott.
Luke Mathews was out to the stage with his Tag Team Championship. He held it up briefly and looked down to DeLuca before tossing the title back to his shoulder. Mathews started to make his way down to the ring as DeLuca was getting himself ready.
Scott Parker: Luke Mathews looked pretty relaxed tonight.
Gemma Foster: Mr. NFG!
Mathews climbed into the ring and put his title down in the corner and started to take off his Old Guard/NFG shirt and was attacked by DeLuca. DeLuna threw wild punches as if it were a hockey fight, the shirt over the head of Mathews. The shirt finally came off and DeLuca raked the eyes of Mathews. DeLuca pulled Mathews in and quickly hit him with a bulldog.
Gemma Foster: DeLuca using some cheap tactics to gain the upperhand early in this one.
DeLuca jumped to the second rope and measured up Mathews as he wanted to hit the Bite Your Tongue (Jumps off 2nd rope to DDT). DeLuca jumped but was grabbed by the throat and landed on his feet. Mathews lifted and hit the Chokebuster (Chokeslam lift to kneeling spinebuster). Mathews stood and adjusted his elbow pad as DeLuca started to stand. Mathews hit the ropes and turned DeLuca inside out with the Tower of Power (Clothesline From Hell). Mathews pulled DeLuca up and started to lift him for the Dead End (Burning Hammer) but DeLuca was able to counter into a DDT. DeLuca tried to quickly cover Mathews and got one before Mathews kicked out. DeLuca rolled under the ropes and grabbed a steel chair and started to slam it onto the apron. He slid in the ring as the referee warned him of disqualification. Mathews stomped on the chair and DeLuca jumped up and threw a thumb in his eye as the referee kicked the chair out of the ring.
Scott Parker: And more shady tactics from Gio.
DeLuca pulled Mathews in and connected with a sunset flip and looked for a pin, getting two before a kickout. Both men rolled to their feet and DeLuca looked for a discus lariat but Mathews ducked and hit the ropes. Mathews came back with the NFG [No Fucks Given] (Yakuza Kick to the BACK of the head). DeLuca dropped to the mat and Mathews covered for the victory.
Mathews massaged his neck as he stood and had his hand raised in victory and DeLuca rolled out of the ring.
Scott Parker: And that’s points on the board for the Old Guard.
Gemma Foster: Does it surprise you that the first two teams to get points are Old Guard and EMBLEM after the war they’ve been going through this year.
Mathews was in the ring when he was blindsided from behind by Dominic Salvatore! Salvatore started to lift Mathews up for the Highline (Electric Chair Drop) but Mathews slipped down the back of Salvatore and rolled away.
Scott Parker: Looks like Salvatore was closer than we thought! He’s out here and he’s ready for a fight.
DeLuca was in the ring and was fired up as he was slapping the chest of Salvatore. Mathews just smirked on the outside of the ring and grabbed the Tag Team Title as Blazenwing came jogging out onto the stage and met Mathews on the ramp before the two went to the back and we moved on.
Off Her Rocker
“Coming Undone” by Korn hits the speakers and a moment later Casey Grey steps out onto the stage. She strolls down the ramp and climbs the steps before climbing between the ropes and into the ring. Once inside she turns her wrath on Todd Evans, the ring announcer, with a quick kick to the gut before she throws him out of the ring and to the floor. She picks up the microphone.
Scott Parker: Come on! Someone come check on Todd!
Casey Grey: So I’ve had a week to think about this whole Next Level event we just had. And the more I sat back and thought about everything the more I realized that I wasn’t getting any kind of respect from anyone. I don’t know who is in charge of booking matches, but I’m sick of being overlooked like I’m a nobody around here. I haven’t had a chance to reclaim the Primetime Championship! There’s this Victorem ladder match for the briefcase, and I wasn’t even included! I mean the management doesn’t even care to at least put on a mask of fairness here. I could have beaten everyone—
“Fire Woman” by The Cure begins to play. Alicia makes her way to the ring, shaking her head. Casey crosses her arms and waits. Alicia circles around to the announcers and takes her own microphone before joining Casey in the ring.
Alicia Monroe: Casey, my god will you snap out of it?! You’re being ridiculous. Now whining? Where’s “Buttercup”, huh? Your attitude? Where’s the “Belle of Bitchville” that gets out here and fights for everything instead of crying about things not going her way?
Casey Grey: That’s rich, coming from you. You’ve gotten everything you’ve ever wanted—
Alicia Monroe: Oh, shut up! I’m done hearing this “woe is me, my sister had a better life than I did growing up” crap! Just…shut up already! I mean damn, Casey. F.M. Young just won the ladder match for the briefcase and you can’t even be happy for her. She’s your friend, Casey!
Casey Grey: Oh, please. F.M. Young? My friend? She abandoned me and was nowhere to be found during the darkest point of my life! Why would I be happy for her? And I’ll tell you something else, Alicia. She’s dodged me since I started this business. I would have accepted any kind of match with her, but she never challenged me at all.
Alicia looks thunderstruck.
Alicia Monroe: Oh my god. You’ve really cracked, haven’t you? I’ve watched your whole career, Casey. F.M. Young hasn’t dodged anything.
Casey rolls her eyes.
Casey Grey: Oh, like I’m going to pay attention to what you think about this business. You’ve almost lost more matches than you’ve been in.
Alicia smirks.
Alicia Monroe: Not at Victorem, though. I didn’t lose there, right? And if I’m being honest, that win makes all my losses tolerable. Listening to you squeal like a--
Casey Grey kicks Alicia in the gut, which sets her up for a snapmare face breaker. When Alicia gets back to her feet Casey floors her with a Breath Mint (forearm smash). Alicia lies unmoving on the mat as Casey exits the ring and heads to the back.
Gemma Foster: I hate to say it, Scott, but I almost agree with what Casey had to say tonight. I know she’s been focused on Ragnarok and Alicia and stuff, but she’s a three time Primetime Champion. Maybe she should be treated like one.
Scott Parker: The only thing she deserved right now is to be throw out and reprimanded for her actions here tonight against an EW official.
Junji Buranku w/ Mr. Fixit Vs. Josh Williams w/ Jack Williams
Scott Parker: Let’s move on, folks, to the last Warfare Series match of the night.
Jack and Josh Williams trotted out to the stage first before posing for a moment. The two high fived before making their way down to the ring.
Gemma Foster: The young talent of the Crew going to be on display here tonight but they have a tough task. They really haven’t had an easy time so far here in EW.
“Face Fisted” started to play as the lights flashed red and out walked the Kingsmen. Mr Fixit a few steps ahead of Junji beside stepping to the side and allowing Junji to be front and center at the top of the ramp. He removed his skull mask and handed it off. Mr. Fixit stayed at the top of the ramp as Junji made his way down to the ring, Fixit finally joining him at ringside a few moments later.
Scott Parker: Junji Buranku representing the Kingsmen here tonight.
The match started and the two circled each other before locking up. Josh wanted to try and take Junji down but took a knee to the gut instead. Junji jumped up and hit a stalling snapkick to the side of the head. Williams staggered into the corner and Junji charged and hit a running back elbow to the face. Williams fell into a seated position in the corner and Junji started to strike him in the chest with his knee. He ran to the opposite side of the ring and came back with the Royal Dropkick (Low Corner Dropkick). Williams was pulled out of the ring by his brother and he tried to help him regroup.
Scott Parker: Smart move by Jack trying to get his brother a moment to breathe.
Mr. Fixit came over and Junji distracted the referee. Fixit hit Jack with the Welcome to Doncaster (Military Press Samoan Drop) onto the floor. Josh charged at Fixit and ran into Fixed (Powerful Haymaker Punch).
Gemma Foster: I think Josh Williams might be out cold.
The referee started a ten count as Fixit started to lift Josh up to roll him into the ring. Jack jumped on his back and started to throw wild punches and was flipped around. He ducked a clothesline and hit Fixit with a jumping knee strike to the face. Junji ran and flipped over the top rope and hit a Tope con Hilo onto Jack and Josh! Junji pulled Josh up and rolled him into the ring and jumped onto the apron. Jack was up and pulled him off and hit him with a jumping knee strike and the referee called for the bell.
Gemma Foster: Jack just cost his brother the match because of that knee but he couldn’t take it anymore I suppose.
Junji and Jack fought into the ring. Jack and Josh hit Junji with the All In on Black (Jack hits a spinning back elbow/Josh hits a German suplex). Fixit was in the ring and caught a charging Josh with a big boot. Jack craged and ran into the Royal Guard Bomb (Sitout Chokebomb). Fixit rolled Jack out of the ring as Josh looked for a jumping DDT but was pushed away as he jumped. He charged at Fixit and was taken down with a scoop slam. Fixit quickly pulled Josh up and lifted him in the air as Junji came off the top rope and they hit the Clearing His Throne (Electric Chair(Fixit)/Shining Wizard from top rope [Junji]).
Scott Parker: The Kingsmen sending a message after the match here.
Kingsmen looked around the ring and left their destruction behind.
Come and Get It
“Come and Get It” by I Prevail started to play throughout the Warehouse and out stepped the World Champion, Lacy Nelson. She stopped and looked over the top of her sunglasses with a smile and the title over her shoulder. She took off her sunglasses and hung them on her shirt as she started to make her way down to the ring.
Scott Parker: Lacy barely showing that shiner from her successful championship defense last week against Daniel Daemon.
Gemma Foster: Great make-up, Scott. It looked gnarly the other day.
Nelson rolled into the ring and threw the championship up in the air as she leaned into the ropes. She looked in the camera and winked with a big smile. She stepped away from the ropes and was handed a microphone. She licked and readied her lips and took a deep breath.
Lacy Nelson: And. Still.
She held up the championship once again, this time with a serious look on her face. She put the title back on her shoulder and kept going.
Lacy Nelson: Plain and simple. My merits? You’re looking at it on my shoulder. If I didn’t deserve this championship I wouldn’t have it anymore. So to any hater out there that might agree with a certain demon, all I have to say is I am standing here tonight as the Empire Wrestling World Champion. I am the headline in this company. So it’s to the back of the line for you, Danny boy. I’ve defended this championship twice now and I’m looking to keep going.
With a brief pause and deep breath she looks to the back.
Lacy Nelson: FM. It all started for us on December 26th, 2018. There you were, champion. There I was, looking to write a headline. A year and a half later I’m standing here the champion. I know you say that you want this dance to be at a big stage and I couldn’t agree more but I’m not going to sit back and just wait to defend my championship. So, this is for a special decree.
She chuckled to herself as she mocked the Emperor.
Lacy Nelson: To anyone that isn’t FM, anyone I’ve already defended the title against… So that means you Danny and your goons don’t count either and Brighton Fischer, and to anyone that has at least one win in EW… because it wouldn’t be fair to let some outside try to sneak in here and challenge for the championship when we have amazing talent already here who deserve a shot first. Come and get it.
She holds the championship up for a moment.
Gemma Foster: What?
Lacy Nelson: Next week I’m issuing an open challenge to the locker room. One on one against the champion with the championship on the line.
Nelson dropped the microphone and turned back to the camera and pointed to the title as we went to commercial.
Take the pledge
Marilyn Lee Cross Vs. Outlaw Vs. Austin Scott
It was main event time and after the introductions we were set for the match.
Scott Parker: Marilyn Lee Cross was so close to capturing the Victorem Contract last week at Next Level. I know she impressed a lot of people watching the match.
Gemma Foster: She’s clearly talented, Scott.
Cross moved around the ring and tried to lock up with Outlaw but Scott quickly moved in on her and grabbed her from behind. She hit him with a hard back elbow and Outlaw used the opening to hit her with an uppercut. He pulled her in for a suplex and connected in the middle of the ring. He rolled to his feet and looked to run the ropes but was hit with a big discus punch to the jaw from Scott. Outlaw staggered and was taken down with a drop toe hold from Cross. Cross grabbed Outlaw by the right leg and drove his knee into the mat.
Scott Parker: Smart move by Cross as she targets that knee of Outlaw that we saw him buckle a few weeks ago.
Cross stomped on the inside of the knee of Outlaw. She turned to Scott and caught him with a hard palm strike as he ran at her. He turned away but she took him down to the mat with a poisionrana. Cross quickly moved and jumped to the second turnbuckle as Outlaw stood. She dove and took him down with a meteora and rolled to her feet. Outlaw was up and she looked to hit him with the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot) but he was able to duck it. Outlaw grabbed her arms and hit her with a straight jacket lungblower. He started to move to the corner and climb but had his knee kicked out from under him by Scott. Scott pulled Outlaw off the top and ran him into the corner back first before hitting him with the Booze Cruisin' (Oklahoma Slam). Scott went into a cover but was pulled off just after one by Cross. Cross pulled him up and caught Scott with a palm strike before sending him into the corner. Outlaw started to sit up but was hit with a shining wizard kick by Cross.
Gemma Foster: Cross is all over the place!
She ran at the corner where Scott was and hit him with a handspring back elbow. Outlaw was up and she came out of the corner and rocked him with the Catch Your Breath (Striking Spear)! Cross covered and got two before Scott pulled her off. She started to stand and he rocked her with Straight Whiskey (Running lariat). Scott turned to Outlaw and stomped on his right knee again. Scott locked in a figure four on Outlaw as he was in pain.
Scott Parker: That knee is giving out on Outlaw! This might be it!
Outlaw tried to get to the ropes but couldn’t quite make it. Just before he tapped the hold was broken up by Cross. She got Scott to his feet and sent him up and over the top ropes to the apron. She hit him with the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot) and sent him flying off the apron. Outlaw staggered to his feet and hit a German suplex on Cross. She started to stand and he pulled her into position for the Breaking the Law (Canadian Destroyer) but as he started to hit the move his knee gave out and he couldn’t flip over her.
Gemma Foster: Outlaw’s knee causing him a problem!
He reassessed and looked for an asai DDT but Cross broke free and hit him with the downgrade (Superkick to knee) and dropped him to his good knee. She hit the ropes and caught Outlaw with the John Wilkes Boot (Running Yakuza Kick to the back of the head) and covered for the victory as Scott was trying to get back into the ring.
Scott Parker: A big victory here for Marilyn Lee Cross!
Cross celebrated for a moment and saw Scott coming for her and she jumped out of the ring and held up her fists. Scott looked around the ring and wasn’t happy as he pointed up to her.
Gemma Foster: I think Austin is telling her that she got lucky tonight.
Trainers came out and checked on Outlaw as Scott and Cross finished the show in a staredown.
Gemma Foster: The first ever in Empire Wrestling! This should be such a fun event, Scott. Old Guard, EMBLEM, The Grrrls, the Kingsmen, the Hater, Ragnarok, Dishonor, The Crew, Kayla Taylor and Harper Blake. And look at that trophy!
We pan to the ring as we see the Liaison, Sara Logan. She’s smiling in the ring as she stands beside a high table where the Warfare Trophy sits beside her.
Sara Logan: Hello to everyone watching from home tonight. I wanted to take a moment and quickly introduce everyone to the Warfare Series. This beautiful trophy will be presented to the team with the most points after the Warfare special that’ll air on August 14th. Teams will earn points in tag team matches and in singles matches as they represent their teams. It’s 10 points for submission victory, 7 points for a pinfall victory, 5 points for a countout victory, 3 points for a DQ victory, 2 points for a draw, and minus 10 points for a DQ loss.
She takes a moment with a pause to let the info sink in as she looks at the trophy.
Sara Logan: However, that’s not all the team will receive. Being announced for the first time, the members on the winning team will also receive a championship opportunity of their choosing.
Scott Parker: Wow!
Sara Logan: Good luck to all the competitors!
Warfare Series
Midnight Special Vs. Kayla Taylor & Harper Blake
Gemma Foster: Let’s kick off the Warfare Series! Here come Blake and Taylor!
Taylor and Blake come out to the stage first and put their arm over each other’s shoulders as they stand side by side. The two start to march down to the ring as they break apart and roll into the ring.
Scott Parker: This is the first time that we’ve seen Harper and Taylor in tag team action.
Gemma Foster: I can’t believe that Harper Blake is moving after Next Level: Victorem. That fall she took from the ring through the table on the outside? Brutal.
Blake had Kinesiology tape on her shoulders up to her neck as she stretched in the ring. Josh Cherry and Harvey Carbine were out next and they both had a sour look on their face.
Scott Parker: Midnight Special lost to Old Guard last week at Next Level: Victorem and it’s clearly affecting their mood here tonight.
Carbine grabbed Cherry by the shoulder and said something to him before the two marched down to the ring. They charged the ring about halfway down the ramp and jumped into the ring. Cherry quickly went at Taylor and dropped her with a running forearm. Blake went at Cherry but hit her with a back elbow to the face. Cherry was fired up as he started to stomp on Taylor. She rolled to the apron and to her feet and quickly jumped down as Cherry looked for a right hand. He spun around and was hit with a hard chop to the chest from Blake. She pulled him in for a forearm and then an uppercut. She looked for another chop to the chest but Cherry grabbed her hand and bit her hand.
Gemma Foster: Cherry not holding back tonight.
The referee gave Cherry a quick count to break the bite and gave him a warning. Cherry grabbed Blake by the hair and pulled her to the corner before making a tag to Carbine. Carbine lifted Blake up and Cherry hit the ropes before the two connected with the Hart Attack. Cherry climbed out of the ring as Carbone covered but got two as Blake kicked out. Blake got to her feet but was quickly driven to the mat with a lariat. She popped back up and Carbine lifted her up and connected with a backbreaker. Taylor tried to swing at Carbine from the corner and he moved out of the way and had a few things to say to her. Blake used the opening to roll Carbine up with a school boy pin but he kicked out just after one. This let Blake make a tag and Taylor jumped into the ring. Taylor pulled Carbine into position and took him down with a swinging neckbreaker. As they both started to stand she quickly spiked him into the mat with a DDT. She climbed to her feet and hit the ropes, looking for Plan A (Shining Wizard), but he ducked her and rolled to his feet. She charged at him once again and he hit her with a spinebuster. Carbine made a tag to Cherry and he jumped to the top turnbuckle. Carbine set Taylor up and they delivered the Last Picture Show (Piledriver [Carbine] / Double Stomp To The Soles Of The Feet [Cherry]).
Gemma Foster: Oh my! Just spiking Kayla Taylor into the mat!
Carbine ran to the other corner and knocked Blake off the apron and jumped out after her. Cherry rolled Taylor into a cover and got two as she just kicked out before three. Cherry seemed frustrated as he stomped on Taylor.
Scott Parker: I wonder if doubt could be creeping into the mind of Midnight Special. It’s been a rough few weeks for them across the wrestling world.
Cherry started to pull Taylor up but she stomped on his foot and slipped behind him before hitting a blue thunder bomb. She covered and Carbine broke it up just before two. The referee tried to get Carbine out of the ring which allowed Blake to jump in. Cherry was to his knees and Blake charged, hitting him with Future Sight (V-Trigger). Blake rolled out of the ring as Carbine was climbing out of the ring and Taylor went into a cover. She got a two count before Cherry kicked out just in time.
Gemma Foster: Kickout! Cherry digging down deep and able to kick out. What a match to kick off tonight’s Hype!
Taylor couldn’t believe it and tried to quickly pull Cherry up and into position and wanted to deliver her Broadway Lights (Cross Rhodes) but Cherry spun away and hit her with Cherry’s Jubilee (Jump Stalling Sidekick). This caused Taylor to fall backwards into the ropes and start to stagger back to Cherry and he hit the Baba Yaga Bullet (Running Flying Reverse Elbow to the Face). Cherry rolled to his feet and made a tag to Carbine. Taylor started to stand and Midnight Special hit Minutes to Midnight (Slingblade [Cherry] / Backside Spear [Carbine]). Carbine covered and Cherry hit Blake with a slingblade as she started to get into the ring and the duo picked up the victory.
Scott Parker: Midnight Special pick up the first points for EMBLEM in the Warfare Series.
Gemma Foster: They showed why they are one of the best tag teams to compete in Empire Wrestling.
Cherry was back in the ring as he and Carbine knocked forearms before having their hands raised in victory. They rolled out of the ring as we went away and made their way to the back. Before we went to commercial, the lights went out.
Strange Magic Part II
The lights suddenly go out in the warehouse.
The screen flickers to life, and after a moment of static and white noise, a black and white scene opens on a dark table in the woods. Candles are spread over it, and candles also form a circle around the clearing. Large live oak trees dominate, and the hanging Spanish moss gives the scene an eerie feel.
The scene cuts to the table, which looks like some sort of an altar. Other than the candles, there is a hammer, three nails, and a piece of meat that looks like a cow’s tongue resting on a board. A hand, delicate and adorned with jewelry, passes over the candles. The flames flicker. The hand settles over the hammer. The cow’s tongue is twisted, three nails are driven through it and into the board underneath, and the entire thing is dropped into a hole. The same jeweled hands are seen dragging dirt onto it.
Female Voice: So be it.
The lights in the Warehouse flicker and come back on as we go to commercial.
Luke Mathews Vs. Gio DeLuca
Scott Parker: It’s time for the next match-up in the Warfare Series, folks.
Parker is quickly drowned out as we could hear Gio DeLuca starting to speak as he walked out to the stage.
Gio DeLuca: Warfare? This is right up my alley because I know a thing or two about a little warfare. Lemme remind you who I am. My name is Gio DeLuca and I’m from the Bronx. They might say that I reside in Morris Park and that’s me movin’ up in tha world. I grew up in a place called Hunts Point. Little tidbit of info there, bucky, it has tha highest violent crime rate in the Bronx. I grew up fightin’ on those streets and so I know a thing or two about a little warfare.
Gio has made his way down to the ring by this point and walks around it.
Gio DeLuca: Last week I took on some snot nosed bitch named AJ Jabroni. Heya, Jabroni. I ain’t in hell cause I ain’t havin’ to listen to you ramble on about you bein’ a sinner and all that jazz. Talkin’ about being known from different places and then forgotten. Bitch, ain’t nobody know you from Jack.
Gio turns to the stage and finishes his promo.
Gio DeLuca: It’s been a long time since my brother big Dominic Salvatore stepped into this ring. Almost 20 months and he’s been working out and is ready to come back and enter this series with me. The Haters are going to win Warfare so let’s start this damn thing.
He tosses his microphone and is fired up as he jumps around the ring.
Gemma Foster: Gio is more fired up than we’ve seen him in a long time, Scott.
Luke Mathews was out to the stage with his Tag Team Championship. He held it up briefly and looked down to DeLuca before tossing the title back to his shoulder. Mathews started to make his way down to the ring as DeLuca was getting himself ready.
Scott Parker: Luke Mathews looked pretty relaxed tonight.
Gemma Foster: Mr. NFG!
Mathews climbed into the ring and put his title down in the corner and started to take off his Old Guard/NFG shirt and was attacked by DeLuca. DeLuna threw wild punches as if it were a hockey fight, the shirt over the head of Mathews. The shirt finally came off and DeLuca raked the eyes of Mathews. DeLuca pulled Mathews in and quickly hit him with a bulldog.
Gemma Foster: DeLuca using some cheap tactics to gain the upperhand early in this one.
DeLuca jumped to the second rope and measured up Mathews as he wanted to hit the Bite Your Tongue (Jumps off 2nd rope to DDT). DeLuca jumped but was grabbed by the throat and landed on his feet. Mathews lifted and hit the Chokebuster (Chokeslam lift to kneeling spinebuster). Mathews stood and adjusted his elbow pad as DeLuca started to stand. Mathews hit the ropes and turned DeLuca inside out with the Tower of Power (Clothesline From Hell). Mathews pulled DeLuca up and started to lift him for the Dead End (Burning Hammer) but DeLuca was able to counter into a DDT. DeLuca tried to quickly cover Mathews and got one before Mathews kicked out. DeLuca rolled under the ropes and grabbed a steel chair and started to slam it onto the apron. He slid in the ring as the referee warned him of disqualification. Mathews stomped on the chair and DeLuca jumped up and threw a thumb in his eye as the referee kicked the chair out of the ring.
Scott Parker: And more shady tactics from Gio.
DeLuca pulled Mathews in and connected with a sunset flip and looked for a pin, getting two before a kickout. Both men rolled to their feet and DeLuca looked for a discus lariat but Mathews ducked and hit the ropes. Mathews came back with the NFG [No Fucks Given] (Yakuza Kick to the BACK of the head). DeLuca dropped to the mat and Mathews covered for the victory.
Mathews massaged his neck as he stood and had his hand raised in victory and DeLuca rolled out of the ring.
Scott Parker: And that’s points on the board for the Old Guard.
Gemma Foster: Does it surprise you that the first two teams to get points are Old Guard and EMBLEM after the war they’ve been going through this year.
Mathews was in the ring when he was blindsided from behind by Dominic Salvatore! Salvatore started to lift Mathews up for the Highline (Electric Chair Drop) but Mathews slipped down the back of Salvatore and rolled away.
Scott Parker: Looks like Salvatore was closer than we thought! He’s out here and he’s ready for a fight.
DeLuca was in the ring and was fired up as he was slapping the chest of Salvatore. Mathews just smirked on the outside of the ring and grabbed the Tag Team Title as Blazenwing came jogging out onto the stage and met Mathews on the ramp before the two went to the back and we moved on.
Off Her Rocker
“Coming Undone” by Korn hits the speakers and a moment later Casey Grey steps out onto the stage. She strolls down the ramp and climbs the steps before climbing between the ropes and into the ring. Once inside she turns her wrath on Todd Evans, the ring announcer, with a quick kick to the gut before she throws him out of the ring and to the floor. She picks up the microphone.
Scott Parker: Come on! Someone come check on Todd!
Casey Grey: So I’ve had a week to think about this whole Next Level event we just had. And the more I sat back and thought about everything the more I realized that I wasn’t getting any kind of respect from anyone. I don’t know who is in charge of booking matches, but I’m sick of being overlooked like I’m a nobody around here. I haven’t had a chance to reclaim the Primetime Championship! There’s this Victorem ladder match for the briefcase, and I wasn’t even included! I mean the management doesn’t even care to at least put on a mask of fairness here. I could have beaten everyone—
“Fire Woman” by The Cure begins to play. Alicia makes her way to the ring, shaking her head. Casey crosses her arms and waits. Alicia circles around to the announcers and takes her own microphone before joining Casey in the ring.
Alicia Monroe: Casey, my god will you snap out of it?! You’re being ridiculous. Now whining? Where’s “Buttercup”, huh? Your attitude? Where’s the “Belle of Bitchville” that gets out here and fights for everything instead of crying about things not going her way?
Casey Grey: That’s rich, coming from you. You’ve gotten everything you’ve ever wanted—
Alicia Monroe: Oh, shut up! I’m done hearing this “woe is me, my sister had a better life than I did growing up” crap! Just…shut up already! I mean damn, Casey. F.M. Young just won the ladder match for the briefcase and you can’t even be happy for her. She’s your friend, Casey!
Casey Grey: Oh, please. F.M. Young? My friend? She abandoned me and was nowhere to be found during the darkest point of my life! Why would I be happy for her? And I’ll tell you something else, Alicia. She’s dodged me since I started this business. I would have accepted any kind of match with her, but she never challenged me at all.
Alicia looks thunderstruck.
Alicia Monroe: Oh my god. You’ve really cracked, haven’t you? I’ve watched your whole career, Casey. F.M. Young hasn’t dodged anything.
Casey rolls her eyes.
Casey Grey: Oh, like I’m going to pay attention to what you think about this business. You’ve almost lost more matches than you’ve been in.
Alicia smirks.
Alicia Monroe: Not at Victorem, though. I didn’t lose there, right? And if I’m being honest, that win makes all my losses tolerable. Listening to you squeal like a--
Casey Grey kicks Alicia in the gut, which sets her up for a snapmare face breaker. When Alicia gets back to her feet Casey floors her with a Breath Mint (forearm smash). Alicia lies unmoving on the mat as Casey exits the ring and heads to the back.
Gemma Foster: I hate to say it, Scott, but I almost agree with what Casey had to say tonight. I know she’s been focused on Ragnarok and Alicia and stuff, but she’s a three time Primetime Champion. Maybe she should be treated like one.
Scott Parker: The only thing she deserved right now is to be throw out and reprimanded for her actions here tonight against an EW official.
Junji Buranku w/ Mr. Fixit Vs. Josh Williams w/ Jack Williams
Scott Parker: Let’s move on, folks, to the last Warfare Series match of the night.
Jack and Josh Williams trotted out to the stage first before posing for a moment. The two high fived before making their way down to the ring.
Gemma Foster: The young talent of the Crew going to be on display here tonight but they have a tough task. They really haven’t had an easy time so far here in EW.
“Face Fisted” started to play as the lights flashed red and out walked the Kingsmen. Mr Fixit a few steps ahead of Junji beside stepping to the side and allowing Junji to be front and center at the top of the ramp. He removed his skull mask and handed it off. Mr. Fixit stayed at the top of the ramp as Junji made his way down to the ring, Fixit finally joining him at ringside a few moments later.
Scott Parker: Junji Buranku representing the Kingsmen here tonight.
The match started and the two circled each other before locking up. Josh wanted to try and take Junji down but took a knee to the gut instead. Junji jumped up and hit a stalling snapkick to the side of the head. Williams staggered into the corner and Junji charged and hit a running back elbow to the face. Williams fell into a seated position in the corner and Junji started to strike him in the chest with his knee. He ran to the opposite side of the ring and came back with the Royal Dropkick (Low Corner Dropkick). Williams was pulled out of the ring by his brother and he tried to help him regroup.
Scott Parker: Smart move by Jack trying to get his brother a moment to breathe.
Mr. Fixit came over and Junji distracted the referee. Fixit hit Jack with the Welcome to Doncaster (Military Press Samoan Drop) onto the floor. Josh charged at Fixit and ran into Fixed (Powerful Haymaker Punch).
Gemma Foster: I think Josh Williams might be out cold.
The referee started a ten count as Fixit started to lift Josh up to roll him into the ring. Jack jumped on his back and started to throw wild punches and was flipped around. He ducked a clothesline and hit Fixit with a jumping knee strike to the face. Junji ran and flipped over the top rope and hit a Tope con Hilo onto Jack and Josh! Junji pulled Josh up and rolled him into the ring and jumped onto the apron. Jack was up and pulled him off and hit him with a jumping knee strike and the referee called for the bell.
Gemma Foster: Jack just cost his brother the match because of that knee but he couldn’t take it anymore I suppose.
Junji and Jack fought into the ring. Jack and Josh hit Junji with the All In on Black (Jack hits a spinning back elbow/Josh hits a German suplex). Fixit was in the ring and caught a charging Josh with a big boot. Jack craged and ran into the Royal Guard Bomb (Sitout Chokebomb). Fixit rolled Jack out of the ring as Josh looked for a jumping DDT but was pushed away as he jumped. He charged at Fixit and was taken down with a scoop slam. Fixit quickly pulled Josh up and lifted him in the air as Junji came off the top rope and they hit the Clearing His Throne (Electric Chair(Fixit)/Shining Wizard from top rope [Junji]).
Scott Parker: The Kingsmen sending a message after the match here.
Kingsmen looked around the ring and left their destruction behind.
Come and Get It
“Come and Get It” by I Prevail started to play throughout the Warehouse and out stepped the World Champion, Lacy Nelson. She stopped and looked over the top of her sunglasses with a smile and the title over her shoulder. She took off her sunglasses and hung them on her shirt as she started to make her way down to the ring.
Scott Parker: Lacy barely showing that shiner from her successful championship defense last week against Daniel Daemon.
Gemma Foster: Great make-up, Scott. It looked gnarly the other day.
Nelson rolled into the ring and threw the championship up in the air as she leaned into the ropes. She looked in the camera and winked with a big smile. She stepped away from the ropes and was handed a microphone. She licked and readied her lips and took a deep breath.
Lacy Nelson: And. Still.
She held up the championship once again, this time with a serious look on her face. She put the title back on her shoulder and kept going.
Lacy Nelson: Plain and simple. My merits? You’re looking at it on my shoulder. If I didn’t deserve this championship I wouldn’t have it anymore. So to any hater out there that might agree with a certain demon, all I have to say is I am standing here tonight as the Empire Wrestling World Champion. I am the headline in this company. So it’s to the back of the line for you, Danny boy. I’ve defended this championship twice now and I’m looking to keep going.
With a brief pause and deep breath she looks to the back.
Lacy Nelson: FM. It all started for us on December 26th, 2018. There you were, champion. There I was, looking to write a headline. A year and a half later I’m standing here the champion. I know you say that you want this dance to be at a big stage and I couldn’t agree more but I’m not going to sit back and just wait to defend my championship. So, this is for a special decree.
She chuckled to herself as she mocked the Emperor.
Lacy Nelson: To anyone that isn’t FM, anyone I’ve already defended the title against… So that means you Danny and your goons don’t count either and Brighton Fischer, and to anyone that has at least one win in EW… because it wouldn’t be fair to let some outside try to sneak in here and challenge for the championship when we have amazing talent already here who deserve a shot first. Come and get it.
She holds the championship up for a moment.
Gemma Foster: What?
Lacy Nelson: Next week I’m issuing an open challenge to the locker room. One on one against the champion with the championship on the line.
Nelson dropped the microphone and turned back to the camera and pointed to the title as we went to commercial.
Take the pledge
Marilyn Lee Cross Vs. Outlaw Vs. Austin Scott
It was main event time and after the introductions we were set for the match.
Scott Parker: Marilyn Lee Cross was so close to capturing the Victorem Contract last week at Next Level. I know she impressed a lot of people watching the match.
Gemma Foster: She’s clearly talented, Scott.
Cross moved around the ring and tried to lock up with Outlaw but Scott quickly moved in on her and grabbed her from behind. She hit him with a hard back elbow and Outlaw used the opening to hit her with an uppercut. He pulled her in for a suplex and connected in the middle of the ring. He rolled to his feet and looked to run the ropes but was hit with a big discus punch to the jaw from Scott. Outlaw staggered and was taken down with a drop toe hold from Cross. Cross grabbed Outlaw by the right leg and drove his knee into the mat.
Scott Parker: Smart move by Cross as she targets that knee of Outlaw that we saw him buckle a few weeks ago.
Cross stomped on the inside of the knee of Outlaw. She turned to Scott and caught him with a hard palm strike as he ran at her. He turned away but she took him down to the mat with a poisionrana. Cross quickly moved and jumped to the second turnbuckle as Outlaw stood. She dove and took him down with a meteora and rolled to her feet. Outlaw was up and she looked to hit him with the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot) but he was able to duck it. Outlaw grabbed her arms and hit her with a straight jacket lungblower. He started to move to the corner and climb but had his knee kicked out from under him by Scott. Scott pulled Outlaw off the top and ran him into the corner back first before hitting him with the Booze Cruisin' (Oklahoma Slam). Scott went into a cover but was pulled off just after one by Cross. Cross pulled him up and caught Scott with a palm strike before sending him into the corner. Outlaw started to sit up but was hit with a shining wizard kick by Cross.
Gemma Foster: Cross is all over the place!
She ran at the corner where Scott was and hit him with a handspring back elbow. Outlaw was up and she came out of the corner and rocked him with the Catch Your Breath (Striking Spear)! Cross covered and got two before Scott pulled her off. She started to stand and he rocked her with Straight Whiskey (Running lariat). Scott turned to Outlaw and stomped on his right knee again. Scott locked in a figure four on Outlaw as he was in pain.
Scott Parker: That knee is giving out on Outlaw! This might be it!
Outlaw tried to get to the ropes but couldn’t quite make it. Just before he tapped the hold was broken up by Cross. She got Scott to his feet and sent him up and over the top ropes to the apron. She hit him with the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot) and sent him flying off the apron. Outlaw staggered to his feet and hit a German suplex on Cross. She started to stand and he pulled her into position for the Breaking the Law (Canadian Destroyer) but as he started to hit the move his knee gave out and he couldn’t flip over her.
Gemma Foster: Outlaw’s knee causing him a problem!
He reassessed and looked for an asai DDT but Cross broke free and hit him with the downgrade (Superkick to knee) and dropped him to his good knee. She hit the ropes and caught Outlaw with the John Wilkes Boot (Running Yakuza Kick to the back of the head) and covered for the victory as Scott was trying to get back into the ring.
Scott Parker: A big victory here for Marilyn Lee Cross!
Cross celebrated for a moment and saw Scott coming for her and she jumped out of the ring and held up her fists. Scott looked around the ring and wasn’t happy as he pointed up to her.
Gemma Foster: I think Austin is telling her that she got lucky tonight.
Trainers came out and checked on Outlaw as Scott and Cross finished the show in a staredown.