Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2020 3:03:38 GMT -5
Episode #55 - October 5, 2020
Scott Parker: It’s time for Hype! Welcome everyone to another edition of Empire Wrestling’s Hype and tonight we feature TWO championship matches along with the World Champion FM Young in action and so much more.
Gemma Foster: Like the much anticipated match between Hayley Halsey and Noavraa!
Scott Parker: Plus, we’re rumored to hear from the 323. We saw them two weeks ago at Next Level: Ascension when they got involved in the Tag Team Title match. Their showing here in EW could shake up the Tag Team Division.
Junji Buranku Vs. Josh Cherry
As the lights went red and the music hit for the Tag Team Champions, the fans started to boo when Junji walked out onto the stage. Mr. Fixit was a few feet behind him before coming side by side at the top of the ramp. They each wore their Tag Team Title around their waist before Fixit nodded to Junji and Junji made his way down the ramp. The duo stood in the ring as the lights came back to normal as the fans in attendance booed as they held up the titles.
Gemma Foster: There’s no love here tonight for the Kingsmen. They’ve been champions for 45 days now and Midnight Special has been itching for their rematch.
There was more of a mixed reaction for Cherry and Carbine hit the stage. The two knocked forearms before making their way to the ring. Cherry jumped up to the apron and climbed inside before he and Junji quickly came to blows.
Scott Parker: Wasting no time here tonight, Gemma. These two shared a few hard hits or two back at Next Level.
Cherry rocked Junji with a headbutt and then a discus punch. Junji stepped up to Cherry and caught him with an enziguri. Both men rolled up to their feet and started to fight back and forth. Junji caught Cherry with a hard kick to the leg before looking for a Russian leg sweep. Cherry was able to fight out and counter into a DDT. Cherry started to climb to the top rope and was setting up for the Citizen Kane (Kane’s Top Rope Lariat) but Mr Fixit jumped onto the apron. Cherry kicked at him and knocked him off.
Gemma Foster: Fixit trying to get involved in this match but here comes Harvey Carbine!
Carbine was up on the apron and the two men clotheslined each other off and fell to the floor. Cherry jumped off the top to the outside and took out Mr Fixit! Junji readied himself and ran the ropes before taking all three men out with a tope con hilo! Junji climbed to his feet and rolled Cherry in before jumping to the apron. He climbed into the ring and Cherry caught him with a stiff lariat. Cherry started to set up for a German suplex but Junji ran forward and bumped into the referee.
Scott Parker: The referee is down!
Fixit rolled into the ring with a chair and rammed it into the gut of Cherry. Carbine spun Fixit around and slammed him with a chop to the chest. Cherry looked for Baba Yaga Bullet (Running Flying Reverse Elbow to the Face) on Fixit but he moved and Cherry hit Carbine! Cherry checked on his partner and Junji rolled him up from behind as the referee came to and counted the pin.
WINNER: Junji Buranku
The Kingsmen slid out of the ring and snatched the Tag Titles and stood near the bottom of the ramp as Cherry and Carbine talked in the middle of the ring, Cherry explaining what happened.
Gemma Foster: And Junji steals one here tonight.
...
“Hell’s Bells” by Sara Matera begins to play over the sound system. After a few moments, Casey Grey, Alicia Monroe, Karli Frost, and Annabelle Daboia step out onto the ramp and head to the ring. The four of them enter the ring and surround Kim Roberts. She looks nervous. Alicia chuckles.
Alicia Monroe: Hey, it’s okay. You’re fine. We’re actually doing you a favor. You…
Alicia points at Kim.
Alicia Monroe: …get to interview me. Or us. Whatever you want to do. No, seriously. I could have talked to Kevin in the back, but that gets a little boring after a while. So go ahead, Kim. Ask away.
Gemma Foster: Oh, come on. They’re just teasing poor Kim now.
Kim looks at the other women and lets out a nervous laugh.
Kim Roberts: Um—
Alicia Monroe: Right. I knew you’d ask that. No, of course I’m not taking this match or any match lightly. AJ is a tough wrestler, I’d be a moron to not come down here with some respect for my title defense tonight. I mean, I’ve done some dumb things in the past, but I like to think I’ve outgrown all of that. I do respect AJ, okay, but I am enjoying my time with this belt. More than I thought I would anyway, so he better be ready for a fight tonight.
Kim Roberts: Okay, so—
Alicia Monroe: I know what you mean. How can I steal something from Hayley if literally this belt belonged to nobody when I won it? She has a sick and twisted world perspective. She’ll get her chance for this belt though, and whether I have it or AJ has it, she’s going to have to work to get it.
Kim Roberts: None of that is what I want to ask! My question is what are your plans relating to FM Young? This whole drama of late has affected her and I’m sure she wants answers that you can give.
Annabelle Daboia: That’s not on the approved question list. You know what that means…
Annabelle walks up to Kim. Casey stops her. Kim backs away from Annabelle.
Alicia Monroe: No, it’s okay. It’s okay. Look, FM Young was involved, and we intend on hashing the whole thing out with her in the near future. I'm sure that we can clear the air on where we stand with her and everyone else, for that matter. Anything else?
Kim Roberts: I just think—
Alicia pats Kim on the shoulder as the Hell’s Belles exit the ring.
Alicia Monroe: You’ll make a great interviewer someday. I just know it.
Alicia joins the other Belles and they walk to the back as their music plays.
Gallery pt. 1
The scene cuts from the sparse but energetic crowd in Empire Wrestling’s Warehouse to a dark, commercial section of the city. The camera moves in to see through a large bay window that has the lettering “MARTIN GALLERY” emblazoned in the glass. Moving into the space, we see “The Noble” Benjamin Macbeth standing against a stark white wall, he is wearing a tailored black suit, and a white button down shirt. He has a glass of Malbec in his hand. He is standing beside him is a slender woman in her late fifties, she is wearing red rimmed glasses, and her white hair is styled short and spiked.
Benjamin Macbeth: Adelaide I really must thank you for featuring my work. Of course, I did not take these photos but I feel that my post production work on them has really made them pop, it tells a wonderfully chilling story. Wouldn’t you say?
The woman looks uncomfortable, she crosses her arms and sighs.
Adelaide Auger: I was told that this would be a one night thing. Mr. Martin said that he “owed you a favour” so that is why this is being allowed. All of this will be out of here by the end of the evening?
Benjamin Macbeth: If you make it so, of course. I simply had these photographs sized, framed, and brought here. What happens to them after the exhibition matters not to me. I have other things to deal with.
Adelaide Auger: You are insufferable, you know that?
Macbeth notices the camera and he hands his glass of wine to Adelaide. Macbeth shoots his cuffs and adjusts his collar, ready to be on camera.
Benjamin Macbeth: You are no longer needed. Thank you Adelaide.
Macbeth lightly directs her out of frame and then turns to the camera.
Benjamin Macbeth: Empire Wrestling faithful. Hello. It is I, “The Noble” Benjamin Macbeth. Earlier this week on social media I said that I would have some shocking footage to reveal on Hype. I am a man of my word and here I am. This is that shocking footage. We are live here at the Martin Gallery. The proprietors of this fine establishment heard about a project that I was working on and they DEMANDED that they get to be the first venue to present it. Typically I am not someone who gives in to demands, but they offered me quite the monetary incentive so I could not refuse.
Macbeth turns, looking down the length of the wall that is out of frame. He slowly starts walking left.
Benjamin Macbeth: I have taken some screen captures from my contest with Rat at Next Level: Ascension. I have adjusted the colors, making them all essentially black and white, and I have blown them up so that they can tell the story of the match -- along with my own personal commentary.
The Noble reached the first photo, which was a featured FM Young’s shocked expression as Macbeth brought her over with the final movement of his String Theory rolling German suplex.
Benjamin Macbeth: I call this one “Discovery”. In this photo we see the Rat, about to be slammed to the mat like she has never been slammed before and in her head she is thinking “What have I gotten myself into? I am going to be embarrassed!”. Anyone with any degree of insight into facial expression will agree with me, she has discovered that she is no match for The Noble in this moment.
Moving further to the left, the next black and white photo shows Macbeth hitting his impressively athletic From Parts Unknown 360 buzzsaw kick perfectly, the flesh of Young’s face rippling from the impact.
Benjamin Macbeth: I call this piece “Humbling”. Although Rat was hitting me with some tough offense only moments before this photo was taken, I swiftly let her know that no matter what she brought to our battle -- I always had something better. This was crippling for her both emotionally and physically.
The Noble adjusts the photo on the wall, making sure that it is perfectly straight. He then carries on to the next enlarged photo and it is in two parts -- it shows Young hitting the second rope assault driver and the next photo shows Macbeth kicking out from her pin attempt.
Benjamin Macbeth: I call this one “Helplessness in Two Parts”. Rat hit me with the biggest move that she could muster, one that when done simply on the canvas has put away many of her opponents. However, when she had to step to The Noble she decided that an avalanche version was the only way to keep me down. And she was wrong, as she often is. I took the best shot that she could conjure and I still shot my shoulder off the mat.
Macbeth does a chef’s kiss with his fingers and then moves on to the final photo. This was a photo of Macbeth washing Young’s face against the ringside mats.
Benjamin Macbeth: This last one I call “Acceptance”. This is where Rat truly came to believe that she could not defeat me. She had to try and keep me down on the outside in an effort to win by count out. She tried to run from me, like the vermin that she is. But I would not let that happen. I would not let her get any kind of victory over me because she did not deserve it. Just like she does not deserve to be Empire Wrestling champion.
The shot widens now to show the collection of photos with Macbeth holding out his hand to present them to the Empire Wrestling audience as a complete work.
Benjamin Macbeth: Come Next Level: Tainted Twilight on October 30th, the Rat will be right at home in her cage. She thinks that this is an advantage for her, that she will be able to be the first person in Empire Wrestling to hand me a loss. But she is wrong. She is so very very wrong. To paraphrase a psychopath -- I won’t be trapped in there with you, you’ll be trapped in there with me.
Macbeth smirks and then motions for someone out of frame. Adelaide Auger returns and hands Macbeth his glass of Malbec. Macbeth holds it up to the camera.
Benjamin Macbeth: Rat, for the things yet to come, The Noble offers his deepest condolences.
The Noble raises the glass higher and then puts it to his lips, taking a long, slow, sip while maintaining eye contact with the camera before the scene fades to black.
Marilyn Lee Cross Vs. Paul Morgan
The fans gave both competitors a solid cheer on their way to the ring and for the start of this match. They locked up but Cross quickly landed a hard palm strike and took control of the match. She ran the ropes and hit Morgan with a shoulder block that didn’t drop him. She looked for a second but Morgan countered into a spinning side walk slam. Morgan went for a cover but just got one. Cross got to her feet and battled back with a series of moves that left Morgan reeling in the corner. He stepped out and she caught him with the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot). She covered and got two. Morgan started to get up to his knees and Cross charged before he jumped up and took her down with the Front Wheelie (standing hurricanrana). Morgan covered but Cross was able to kick out.
Gemma Foster: Lots of back and forth here, Scott.
Scott Parker: Morgan and Cross are both giving it their all here for the fans.
The fans were up on their feet as Morgan started to lift Cross up for the Accelerated Pain (kinniku buster) but she countered into a small package for two. Morgan popped up to his feet but Cross caught him with Catch Your Breath (Striking Spear). Cross thought she had the match won but Morgan kicked out at two and it left her shocked. She tried to lock in Hungry Jaws (Dragon Sleeper w/ body scissors) but Morgan was able to slip free and sent her into the corner. He landed a big Kickstarter (Running Jumping Knee) in the corner and then lifted her to the top. He carried her around the ring and hit Accelerated Pain and covered for the win.
WINNER: Paul Morgan
Gemma Foster: A big win for Paul Morgan here in his second match on Hype.
Scott Parker: The fans are giving both of these competitors a nice ovation for their battle.
Desire
Cameras fade in on a hazy blue veil, which is slowly parted to reveal a chaise lounge that has the voluptuous Noavrra reclining. Next to her is a strong looking pair of men, clad only in small loincloths and armed only with palm leaf fans. They gently fan the haze around the room, and Noavrra casually pops a grape into her mouth. She then looks into the camera, and smirks before reaching to the plate beside her and grabbing another shiny grape from the plate.
She chews slowly and as seductively as she can before making a show of swallowing and winking.
Noavrra: I know that my opponent for tonight, the “venerable” Hayley Halsey, has pontificated at length about my weight, her destiny, and “her” National championship.
Noavrra tries to suppress a giddy grin.
Noavrra: “Her” title..the one that she’s been denied all this time. The one that has only been in existence for less than a month, but the minute she saw her name near it, she knew she had to have it.
She lets out a wistful sigh.
Noavrra: I know what that’s like. I remember seeing great wrestlers like Riley Owens, Sophia Pike, Fujiko Mine, Joylene Dysart, and Artemis Kaiser and remembering how much I wanted what they were getting. I remember realizing that I could have what they were getting. So I sought out the help of the Mother of Monsters. I knew that if I wanted what they had, I needed to put myself through the pain necessary to improve my ability. I needed to replicate some of the agony that transformed them from good to great.
She runs her tongue in a ring around her juicy lips.
Noavrra: That isn’t to say that I’m there yet, but I’m well on my way. I’ve earned that delicious agony...I’ve earned every bit of horsepower that this body carries me with. And I want more.
She switches her gaze over to the plate of grapes again for a moment, and then back to the camera.
Noavrra: If I’m supposed to be scared of you tonight, Hayley...you failed that mission. We’ve heard you go on and on about how you’re only ‘two matches away’, but you keep forgetting that you haven’t yet stepped into the ring with the YEET machine one-on-one. You are making a mistake looking past me, and at either Alicia Monroe or AJ. If you think you’re entitled to beating me just off your sense of entitlement...baby baby baby are you ever setting yourself up for failure.
She gives the two fan boys a look, to which they stop fanning her and saunter out of the frame. The Elephant of Saraswati stretches her left leg straight up into the air for a moment, and taps her right inner thigh with her left hand.
Noavrra: I’ve been keeping these pillows nice and warm just for you, Hayley. I’ma put your head here and watch you go to sleep. I’ma watch your aspirations of challenging for the National Championship next week go to sleep right with them. Right here, between ego..
She pushes the index finger of her left hand into the thigh of her right leg…
Noavrra: and reality.
...she repeats the previous move with her left thigh.
Noavrra: And I am eager to listen to what your excuses are going to be when you lose, sweets. Because if you haven’t noticed...ya girl ain’t afraid of pain, I am inviting of it. It revs the engine, gets me motivated, gets me excited to put on that gear and step in the ring. If you think that I’m worried about you trying to make me look…
She puts on a poor imitation of Hayley’s voice.
Noavrra: Haha, like, so ridiculous!
She smirks.
Noavrra: By talking about how big I am or hypothesizing about how much I eat or even why I think I belong in the same ring as you? Don’t waste any more brain cells on the thoughts. Because win, lose, or draw tonight, Hayley, I promise that you’re going to be the one feeling and looking just that. Meanwhile, getting to shut you up tonight may not get you there, but it will get me one step closer…
She sits up, swinging her legs around so that her feet are firmly on the floor. She then folds her hands together in front of her chest and closes her eyes.
Noavrra: ...to Shanti.
A serene smile crosses her face, and then her eyes snap open. She reaches over, snaps off a grape and pops it in her mouth as the cameras back away, being covered in haze as Noavrra smiles.
Griffin Hawkins Vs. Dokueki
Dokueki got the upperhand early in this match as just before the bell rang “Diamonds” by Rihanna started to play but the Social Elite didn’t come out but it distracted Hawkins. Dokueki landed hard strikes to the chest and neck of Hawkins to keep him from attacking. A hard throat chop left him gasping for air in the early going. She then started to unload with hard lariats that finally dropped Hawkins to his knees. A running elbow strike to the face allowed Dokueki to cover for the first time but only got one. Hawkins started to get to his feet and battle back and use his speed. He landed hard punches, shoulder tackles, and then a big dropkick that sent Dokueki into the corner. Hawkins hit her with a big corner spear and then hard strikes in the corner.
Gemma Foster: Griffin is on a roll.
He turned her around and lifted her to the top rope and jumped up, pulling her down, and hit a corner backstabber. Dokueki rolled out of the corner and Hawkins climbed to the top and came crashing down with a Stage Dive (Legdrop off the Ropes). He covered but got two. Hawkins started to pull Dokeuki up and she landed a hard strike to the jaw and then a kick to the gut. Dokueki followed it up with a fisherman suplex and then rolled to her feet. Hawkins was up and Dokueki wanted to hit the clawslam but Hawkins battled out. Dokueki hit Hawkins with a back elbow to the face and he fell out of the ring. He started to stand up and out ran Summer Page and Angel Kash. He turned and started to chase them away and got to the top of the ramp as they disappeared behind the curtain.
Scott Parker: Griffin is itching to get his hands on the Social Elite.
He hurried back down the ring and slid into the ring at 9 but Dokueki pulled him down with a backslide pin and arched to just barely get three!
WINNER: Dokueki
Gemma Foster: Dokueki with the big upset! The Social Elite with the distraction led to Griffin losing here tonight, no question.
Griffin Hawkins popped up and looked around wildly as his hair was a mess. He looked at the referee who held up the three fingers. Hawkins looked up the ramp and stormed up quickly to the back.
So Triggered
The show cuts backstage to an amused Hayley Halsey as she sits in the studio, clearly revelling in some of the most recent words that some people on the roster have been saying about her. She’s not angry for a change, which for those that have gotten to know her lately, it’s a complete surprise. Hayley is sitting in front of a chalkboard that has pictures of Kayla Taylor, Noavrra and Alicia Monroe. Notably, the picture of Kayla has a giant, blue X drawn on it. Hayley has a bit of a laugh to herself as she begins to express her thoughts.
Hayley Halsey: It’s funny how some people can be so triggered! It’s funny how I, one of the hardest working members of the roster, decides to stir the drink and call people out by name and those that normally wouldn’t say much, if anything at all, suddenly are speaking my name.
This causes her to smirk just a bit as she looks at the camera.
Take Noavrra for instance. Would she have spoken out at all if I hadn’t given her the privilege of her name coming out of my mouth? Probably not! You’ve got someone speaking out against me because they know I’m better than they are. The thing of it is, I didn’t factor into the decision because I was thrown in an uphill battle. I’m not designed to compete in gimmick matches! I’m as pure of a wrestler as they come! It’s like I’ve been saying… had it been a regular wrestling match with no ladder crap, I’d already be the National Champion and she doesn’t want to get that because she’s too busy making these nonsensical claims about how she’s going to toss me over the ring and all… But how motivated is she anyway? It took her until I called her out by name to even say anything.
She scoffs and rolls her eyes.
How can she be as motivated as I am when she’s not focused on the National title… and I’m going off of her own words here… and is more focused on shutting me up? Advantage? Me! I’m focused on the National Championship. She said a bunch of ridiculous nonsense about me, but you don’t see me trying to validate myself, countering every single thing that she said because one, it’s all a waste of time and two? I don’t NEED to validate myself because as the chosen one of this business… as the chosen one to uphold and maintain whatever dignity and integrity this business has left… I’m already validated! The focus is the National Championship, Noavrra… not personal grudges that you’re already developing about me because of how butthurt you are about a bunch of fat jokes. But you’re not offended by them… yet you felt the need to respond to them. Okay bitch.
Hayley just pauses for a bit to have a scoff and a laugh to herself.
Hayley Halsey: I’ve beaten wrestlers your size, male and female, before. You don’t intimidate me. You’re just the appetizer for the main course here and that’s Alicia Monroe… hopefully…
The mention of Alicia’s name has Hayley going from amused to annoyed.
Hayley Halsey: I HOPE you win tonight, Alicia. It’s not because I like you, because I honestly don’t. I can’t like you when you stole something from me. I hope you win because when I do the same, I want YOU to be the one that I beat when I take what I am entitled to… what you stole from me. This little Cinderella act of yours isn’t going to go on much longer. If SOMEHOW you are able to get by AJ, you’re NOT getting by me. You don’t get to ignore me much longer, Alicia! Please, for the love that is right and for the love that is holy, win tonight! Because honestly? Taking what I deserve isn’t going to feel one hundred percent right if I don’t take it from the thief that stole it from me in the first place! When I defeat Noavrra and should I defeat you… then out of all of this, the one that is going to look SO RIDICULOUS most of all… it’s going to be you…
Hayley flips her hair and points at the camera.
Hayley Halsey: And that… Alicia… is sweet justice for what’s right for this business! So, watch me draw that “X” over Noavrra’s picture once I’m done with her tonight… because after her… it’s… HOPEFULLY… you. Don’t disappoint me, Cinderella. It’s too soon for the clock to strike midnight!
Hayley leaves the scene in an annoyed huff, clearly showing her increasingly strong dislike for Alicia. The camera focuses on the chalkboard with the pictures of Kayla, Noavrra, and Alicia for a few more seconds before the scene fades out.
Honor the past… Embrace the future.
18%
The camera opened on Riley Rouse floating over the top of the head of their wife, Mighty Jo Young. The float over broke the wristlock that Jo was trying to apply, a wristlock that her dear spouse had wiggled out of and managed to reverse with the floatover. Jo growled in her throat, and darted forward in an effort to destabilize Riley, who simply rocked forward and then pulled back hard, yanking Jo back into the hold.
Jo Young: You haven’t lost much Mi Amada, that or I’ve gotten much worse.
Riley Rouse: I’ll go with neither of us having lost much. Neither is good, let’s work with that.
Jo sighed and finally managed to struggle out of Riley’s hold. She whipped around as if to deliver a discus clothesline like the kind her sister used regularly. Riley just smirked and ducked under it, slipping by Jo and wrapping their arms around her waist. Riley takes Jo up and over for a belly to back suplex that’s more play than anything, keeping the hold he brings her up again and whips her into a dancers twirl. The pair fall into an easy rhythm, dancing in a sort of tango that’s more push and pull than back and forth.
Jo Young: You’ve gotta fight this match, it was your idea to go back to work. I don’t want you to get fired.
Riley Rouse: And blacklisted.
Jo Young: *Sigh* And blacklisted.
Riley grinned widely, pulling Jo close again to kiss the tip of her nose. Jo rolled her eyes with a repressed grin, then she pivoted the dance on her feet and threw an elbow strike that Riley seemed to handily dodge. Riley caught their wife’s elbow and threw her around again, catching her into a rolling slam. When they pop up Riley is still cat got the canary smirking.
Jo Young: This is great and all, but you can’t win a hardcore match like this!
Riley Rouse: I’m an excellent counter wrestler, and you know I hate weapons. I do need to use them necessarily to win. I can get a pin.
Jo feinted to the left and delivered a right body shot that Riley didn’t see coming, they woofed and nearly doubled over. Jo went to follow up and Riley danced back, still looking smug. They locked up again with Riley getting the better on a hold, keeping Jo in a standing hammerlock.
Riley Rouse: I’m also fantastic with submission holds. Don’t worry, I’ve got this. Either I win or i get my ass kicked, it’s simple. Hell I’ve got like...A solid 18% of a plan.
Jo Young: Solid 18% huh?
Riley Rouse: It’s a thing, I’m gonna do a thing, respect the thing in progress.
Jo Young: I don’t want you to take a beating, I know you can survive one but I might have plans of my own for you later. One’s that severe beatings are going to interrupt.
Riley rolled their shoulders back and popped their neck. They let up on the hammerlock, and Jo spins around again, going for a jump kick. Riley dropped down and hit a leg sweep, rolled so they were nose to nose with their wife.
Riley Rouse: I’m all for getting distracted, hell let’s do that now.
Riley wiggled their eyebrows up and down, with that cheshire look. Jo rolled her eyes and shook her head with a soft playful smile.
Jo Young: Get a ladder.
Riley Rouse: Huh?
Jo Young: Get a ladder and keep hitting her with it. Just keep hitting.
Riley Rouse: Ok, fundamental concept down...But why a ladder?
Jo Young: Because it keeps something long, steel and hurty in between you and her.
Riley Rouse: Ok, fair plan….Look, I can win this, even if I don’t, I can avoid getting hurt. I’m just gonna keep her away from the sharp objects and grounded. That I can do. I’ll be fine, Mi Amada, just stop worrying so much.
Jo rolled her eyes and then rolled up to her feet, yanking Riley up by their wrist. She smiled gently again and shook her head, rubbing her forehead with her thumb and forefinger.
Jo Young: I’m just a worrier and you know this, the kids need a father, and I need you. I should have been the one to go back to work-
Riley Rouse: The kids need you more than me right now, maybe one day that’ll change. Besides you come back when you’re ready. Let me do it for now, ok?
Riley spun Jo around and they started to dance a little more, with Jo giving off a very girly giggle.
Jo Young: Fine, I can live with that, we’ll be watching ok? Just try to stay safe.
Riley Rouse: I got this, it’ll be a fun match.
The camera fades on the two of them dancing around their garage, laughing with each other.
NATIONAL TITLE #1 CONTENDER MATCH
Hayley Halsey Vs. Noavrra
The fans were excited for the next bout as two rising EW stars were set to compete. Noavrra got a big pop from the fans as she entered the ring. Halsey got the opposite as she just rolled her eyes and was clearly ready for the match.
Gemma Foster: Hayley has been itching for an opportunity just like this since signing her name on her contract.
The two circled each other to start the match and locked up. Noavrra was able to power Halsey into the corner and rammed her hip into the gut of Halsey multiple times. Noavrra lifted her opponent up and drove her to the mat with a sidewalk slam. Noavrra covered for one before Halsey rolled out of the ring to collect herself. Halsey walked around the ring and Noavrra went flying through the ropes with an elbow suicida! The fans roared with a cheer as Noavrra was fired up and rolled her opponent into the ring. Noavrra climbed back inside and bent down to pull Halsey up but took a kick to the face. Halsey followed it up with hard kicks to the knee of her opponent and rolled her down to the mat with a single leg crab. Halsey turned and tried to turn it into a STF but Noavrra battled and made it to the ropes to use a rope break.
Scott Parker: Remember folks, this is a National Division match. Noavrra is down to two more rope breaks in this match.
Noavrra used the ropes to pull herself up and backdropped a charging Halsey to the apron. Halsey landed on her feet and grabbed Noavrra by her hand and climbed back into the ring. Halsey drove her knee into the gut of Noavrra and then hit her with the Ridiculous Backbreaker (Float-Over Backbreaker)! Halsey covered and just got two as Noavrra kicked out. Halsey rolled right to the feet of Noavrra and was trying for a figure four but was kicked away. Noavrra got to her feet and slammed Halsey down with a spinebuster as she ran her Noavrra. Halsey crawled into the corner and got to her feet but this let Noavrra deliver the Stampede (3 repeated running Meteora knee strikes to a cornered opponent). Noavrra pushed Halsey down to the mat and ran at the corner again and hit a Vader Bomb! Noavrra covered and got two before Halsey kicked out.
Gemma Foster: These two ladies are going to pull out all the stops in their desire for the National Title.
Noavrra pulled her opponent up to her feet and slammed her down with a belly to belly slam. Noavrra pulled Halsey back up and lifted her into a bear hug but was quickly spiked to the mat with a DDT. Both competitors were down and the referee started the count and got to seven before they both got up. They exchanged hard, slow blows. Back and forth before Halsey was sent into the corner. Noavrra charged but ran into a big boot from Halsey. Noavrra staggered and Halsey hit the ropes and came back with the Desti-Knee Kick (Busaiku Knee Kick)! Halsey covered and Noavrra barely kicked out before three.
Scott Parker: So close! Hayley was just a moment away from a National Title match next week!
Halsey looked down at Noavrra and climbed to the apron and readied herself. She jumped up to the top rope and came down with the Desti-Knee Smash (Springboard Somersault Double Knee) but Noavrra moved out of the way. Halsey rolled forward and up to her feet but Noavrra took her right down with Bridge to Terabithia (Backslide with bridge [Ala Jordynne Grace]) and got a two! Halsey stumbled to her feet and took a hard kick to the gut before Noavrra hit the Mastodon Special (Pinning powerbomb) and Halsey kicked out at two and Noavrra immediately went into a Boston crab!
Gemma Foster: This might be it!
Halsey tried to crawl to the ropes but Noavrra had her locked in tight. Halsey was eventually able to get leverage and tuck herself under Noavrra and reached up with a small package that almost had Noavrra shocked but she kicked out at two. Halsey and Noavrra got to their feet and Halsey looked for her Facebuster of Fate (Double underhook facebuster) but Noavrra flipped her backwards. Noavrra jumped up and dropped down with Down With The Thiccness (Seated senton)! Noavrra sat on the chest and shoulders of Halsey and got the three count!
WINNER: Noavrra
Scott Parker: Noavrra picks up the pinfall but look how close to the ropes Hayley was. It’s an instant replay down to the wire moment where she’s reaching out for the bottom rope but just doesn’t get it in time.
Noavrra celebrated in the ring to the cheers of the fans as Halsey rolled out of the ring and yelled at the timekeeper and referee.
Gemma Foster: Noavrra gets her title shot next week!
Gallery pt. 2
Person: Hey asshole!
It was a loud shout that disturbed the relative peace of the quiet art gallery, it startled Mcbeth for a moment as FM Young walked into frame. The Empire Wrestling World Champion is wearing casual clothes as usual, beat up hightop kicks with low slung stone washed hip huggers tucked into them. Topped off with a navy blue v-neck henley, with the sleeves pushed up, her long mane of hair was pulled back and up out of the way, clearly the woman came to cause a problem.
Benjamin Macbeth: Rat! Welcome to the Martin Gallery. Is this not a beautiful venue?
FM Young: See, that’s nice Benny. Real nice, hell of an art show you’ve got here. Thing is, being a public figure you have to seek permission to use my image in a commercial manner. So basically, I’m here to rain on your parade, and being who I am, I figure I’ll give you an insider’s view on your little art projects.
FM picks up the first framed photo with a sly grin on her face, she actually pulls it off the wall easily. No biggie since it appeared to have been stuck on with a temporary command hook. She shifts it and gives a faux sage nod.
FM Young: See, this one here, I was getting really tired of your pussy shit. That little slam was fun but German’s are German’s man, you’ve had one, you’ve had em all...Not in the biblical sense mind you. Anyway, I think this here picture would look better somewhere else.
With that Young CRACKS the picture across Benjamin’s head, so hard that it ripped and wrapped him up in the framework. With a grin FM leaves him flailing in the frame of the large photo. She trails over to the next photo with that same self satisfied smirk, she rips it off the wall.
FM Young: I’ll take my ten percent for this little charade you know, anyway, this one? That kick, yeah I was thinking why the hell did I let this faffing cunt hit me with a move that has a mile long wind up? You tapped me in the face cause you had to spend all the momentum on getting the height to hit me and flip. See, Benny was out of breath and he had to dig to pull off this move and boy do I mean dig.
Again the photo gets cracked over Ben’s head, he had almost flailed his way out of the first one too. She holds him back with the combined photo and frame sets, laughing as she tugs on the entire makeshift contraption causing him to stumble. Off the wall comes another picture and this time she takes The Noble out at the knees before cracking it over his bent back.
FM Young: Tell me, Benny-Kins? You figure out our match was gonna be a cage match first and then work backwards to the smashing pumpkin reference? Figured you’d haveta find a way to call me a rat first so it would make sense? Like everything you do, it’s over complicated, deluded, and like a bad Bond villain in it’s execution. Scratch that, it’s Austin Powers, like you desperately want it to be funny and clever and make sense...It’s never any of those things.
Benjamin Macbeth: ...want ...some ...cheese?
This time FM Young lifts her Challenger by the contraption he’s well stuck in now, getting Benjamin Mcbeth back to his feet, before she spins him around with a truly girly giggle, as if she’s enjoying every minute of the moments of throwing his ass around the expensive art gallery. She rams him head first into the wall containing the fourth and final photo, he knocks it off the wall and takes it with him around his neck as he falls down in a heap. Young shackles her head and toes his foot slightly looking a bit disappointed.
FM Young: This was well therapeutic, and to think I used to think art was useless. Glad you managed to change my mind on that, if you wanna know I felt on that one? Rage. Well, rage and outrage, I couldn’t believe that this asshole had been soft balling me like a teenager on his first closet romp all match, and now he’s just gonna hang onto my ankles and keep me down? Practically gonna sit on me like you haven’t the foggiest what to do with a woman? Anthem, man, and now here you are, all called out and crawling around in tatters. Welp, Benny, I hope you enjoyed your shenanigans. Cause me? I know I enjoyed it.
This was when the party was busted up by a shrieking WHOOP outside of the large window in the gallery. FM sighed as red and blue lights shone across her features, and in a resigned moment she just held her hands up. Adelaide Auger leads two uniforms back into the gallery pointing accusingly at the pair, and that’s where the camera cuts off.
Take the pledge
Scott Parker: I think we’re all still stunned from what we saw before the break, Gemma. It appears as if the EW World Champion has been arrested.
Gemma Foster: What does it mean for her match later on tonight?
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Alicia Monroe (c) Vs. AJ Jenkynx
The fans booed AJ as he came to the ring and gave Alicia some cheers. She was once again solo with no one from Hell’s Belles in sight. The match started and AJ was quickly hit with a hard forearm to the face and then sent into the ropes. He came back and ducked a clothesline and hit the ropes again before coming back with a crossbody. He rolled to his feet and dropped an elbow but Monroe moved. AJ swung a kick at the leg of Monroe but she dodged it and pulled him in for the Freebird (Running Bulldog). She looked for the move but AJ sent her flying into the corner and she got hung up on the second turnbuckle. He pulled her out slowly and hit a reverse DDT. AJ looked for a cover but Monroe was near the ropes and used a rope break to break it up.
Gemma Foster: That might come back to bite Alicia later on in this match. You’re used to grabbing the ropes when you’re that close, saving yourself the energy of kicking out, but in this style of match now she only has two more rope breaks.
AJ pulled Monroe up and lifted her for an electric chair drop but Monroe was able to counter into a roll up for one. Both competitors were up and AJ caught Monroe with a spinning heel kick. He quickly went to the top rope and looked for a diving headbutt but Monroe rolled out of the way. He slowly got to his feet and Monroe hit him with the Freebird. She jumped up to the top rope quickly and came crashing down with the Phoenix Dive (Swanton Bomb). She covered and AJ kicked out at two.
Scott Parker: AJ kicks out and Monroe is starting to think about her next step to keep him down.
AJ started to get up and Monroe caught him with a swinging neckbreaker and he rolled right back to his feet and hit her with a desperation cutter. They were both down and Monroe was up first. She started to climb to the top rope and he clubbed her in the back and she slipped. He climbed up after her and they were on the top. AJ grabbed her and delivered an avalanche German suplex! Both competitors were down as the referee made his count to eight before AJ covered. Monroe was able to kick out at two to the shock of everyone, including AJ.
Gemma Foster: Alicia Monroe hanging in there.
AJ slowly pulled Monroe up and looked for the I’m Deadlier (Killswitch) but she pushed him away. He turned and clotheslined her over the top rope but took a spill with her. He was up quicker and jumped to the apron. He looked for a standing moonsault but she ran at the apron and he missed but landed on his feet. Monroe speared him into the barricade and then whipped him into the steel steps. He climbed inside and Monroe jumped to the apron. She took a few moments to collect herself and climbed to the top. She looked for White Lightning (Moonsault) and connected! She covered and got two before AJ kicked out! There was more shock and Monroe quickly locked AJ into a sharpshooter. He battled his way to the ropes and caused a break. Monroe quickly pulled him back to the center of the ring and wanted to lock it in again but he was able to kick her away and get to his feet. She went to charge and he pulled her down with a drop toe hold and he floated right into 7 Deadly Sins (Rings Of Saturn). Monroe screamed out but wouldn’t tap as AJ screamed at her to quit. Monroe inched her feet closer to the ropes and used them to kick off and roll herself onto AJ and got a pinfall!
WINNER AND STILL NATIONAL CHAMPION: Alicia Monroe
The two break free from each other and AJ was stunned as he looked around and for a second thought he had won until he heard the announcement. He turned to the referee as he handed the title to Monroe. AJ pulled the referee down and locked in the 7 Deadly Sins as trainers ran out to break it up.
Gemma Foster: AJ is NOT happy!
Scott Parker: But Alicia is. She’s walking out with the title and a date with Noavrra next week!
Ursula Von Rossbach Vs. Kayla Taylor
Before the match started we got a few stills of Kayla Taylor appearing at BWF’s Retribution event last week and winning the Tag Team Titles with her (ex) partner Krista May Williams.
Gemma Foster: Kayla showed up in BWF looking for some answers from Krista and they left the show with gold!
Kayla had her title with her and came down for her match with Von Rossbach. This was UVR’s first match since Next Level: Ascension and she came ready for a fight. This match was fairly one sided with Kayla landing a few stiff blows early on and even shocked UVR with the Plan A (Shining Wizard). Kayla looked for a cover but it was an easy kick out at one. UVR slammed Kayla hard into the mat with her sambo chokeslam. Kayla kept kicking at UVR as she went to pull her up and connected with a stiff kick to the jaw. Von Rossbach grabbed at it and the referee took a moment to check on her. Kayla grabbed her from behind and looked for Broadway Lights (Cross Rhodes) but Von Rossbach countered and spun away. Kayla hit a quick dropkick to the knees and wanted another Plan A but was swatted away.
Scott Parker: Ursula just overpowering Kayla here.
Von Rossbach hit a big German suplex and then rolled right into the Great Lock (Steep angled wrenching Full Nelson Camel Clutch) and got the submission.
WINNER: Ursula Von Rossbach
Ursula celebrated in the ring for a few moments before Harper Blake came sliding into the ring and jumped onto Kayla with hard right hands.
Gemma Foster: More bad blood between Harper and Kayla.
Scott Parker: Yeah! Kayla is the one wearing championship gold somewhere after not winning it with Harper!
Von Rossbach watched on for a few moments and pulled Blake off and tossed her across the ring into the corner. UVR stood between the two as Harper spit at Kayla and left the ring.
Gemma Foster: Ursula not letting Harper Blake beat on Kayla anymore tonight.
Any Means Necessary
We go to the back where one half of the Social Elite is backstage, Angel Kash..looking rather annoyed after looking at the match lineup. Kevin Olsen comes over to her.
Kevin Olsen: Angel Kash, last week we witnessed what many view as a cowardly attack on none other than Griffin Hawkins. You and your tag partner Summer Pa-
Angel puts her hand up, cutting him off.
Angel Kash: Cowardly? Listen Ken..
Kevin Olsen: ..it's Kevin..
Angel Kash: Whatever, it doesn't matter what you or these morons think. He thought he was gonna interrupt my time and insult me? I am Angel Freakin' Kash, I deserve to be respected! The Social Elite deserves respect and we are gonna get it by any means necessary. If Griffin was smart, which he's not..he would apologize to me.
Kevin Olsen: There's a...lot of history between you and Griffin, you've met many times before. Some insiders listened to your rant last week on him and...some detected a little bit of...well..jealousy.
Angel Kash: Jealousy? Look at me! Do I look like I have any reason at all to be jealous of anyone? Let alone a wannabe Axl Rose?
Kevin Olsen: Well..actually.. I....
Angel cuts him off before saying.
Angel Kash: Listen, no one cares what you think. You're just like all of these jealous fans who cheer for him, so do what you're here to do and that is hold the microphone, ask your little questions, and let the star carry this. I am not jealous, I am just sick of this man following me around. Wherever I am, there is Griffin trying to steal my spotlight.
Kevin Olsen: Okay..moving on. The word around the locker room is that you and Summer Page are fuming that you've been left off this week's Hype card. We know how bad you two want to become Tag Team Champions..but what are your feelings on this development?....
Little do they know, Griffin is in the background slowly creeping into Angel's locker room. Angel has no idea this is happening as she answers his question.
Angel Kash: Pathetic really, like have you seen us? Since we came into this company together we have been running this thing. Like the fact they would leave the Social Elite off the card in favor of freaks like Hawkins shows management's lack of understanding.
Angel smirks, as she keeps talking.
Angel Kash: And those tag team titles? They are just the tip of the iceberg for us.
Kevin Olsen: What are your plans going forward for Social Elite?
Angel Kash: We are gonna take over this company and restore the proper social order. An order where we are at the top and all of you are in your proper places beneath us. Kayla Taylor found out the hard way.
Kevin Olsen: Any closing statements before we end this interview?
Angel Kash: The Social Elite is taking over and there's nothing any of you lowlife peasants can do about it. Because what we want, we get.
With that, she turns away and heads back into her dressing room as we head back to the ring.
FM Young Vs. Jason Evans
It was time for the next match but FM Young was nowhere to be seen after her incident earlier in the night. Evans stood in the ring with his arms crossed and told the referee to make the count out.
Gemma Foster: Jason Evans is going to take a count out win against the World Champion.
The referee was at 7 and FM’s music hit as the crowd erupted in cheers. She walked onto the stage and threw off a jean jacket she had on, still in street clothes, and the World Title around her waist.
Scott Parker: She didn’t even get a chance to change and she looks PISSED, Gemma.
Young charged to the ring and dropped the title as she slid in and popped up with a vicious clothesline to Evans. Both competitors got to their feet and Evans ducked a forearm and looked for a belly to back suplex but Young flipped back and landed on her feet. He turned right into her Man-Machine Interface (Discus Clothesline) as the fans popped. Evans stumbled to his feet and she lifted him up and dropped him with the Heart of a Phoenix (Lumbar Check) and covered for a quick win.
WINNER: FM Young
Gemma Foster: Holy crap!
FM Young rolled out of the ring and grabbed her title before raising it in the air as she roared. She looked to the crowd with a smile and made her way to the back.
EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP
Tia Santos (c) Vs. Riley Rouse
It was main event time and the crowd was excited. Rouse came down to the ring first to a nice cheer from fans before climbing into the ring. The champion, Santos got a mixed reaction as she held up the title on the ramp.
Gemma Foster: Tia Santos has been one of the best competitors in Empire Wrestling since joining the company earlier this year. She’s thrived in the Extreme Division so far. She’s beaten every challenger but tonight, Riley will have extra motivation.
Scott Parker: If at any time it seems like Riley is hesitating or refuses to use a weapon given the opportunity, they’ll be blacklisted and fined!
The two were in the ring as the match was announced and we got underway. The two started to circle each other and locked up and tried to get the upper hand. Santos looked for a neckbreaker but the two just kept spinning and Rouse looked for a DDT. Santos spun away and flipped Rouse over with a snapmare. Rouse took a kick to the back and climbed up to their feet. The two circled again and Rouse landed a hard shin kick and then a kick to the gut. They looked for an enziguri but Santos ducked it and Rouse went face first into the mat. Santos grabbed Rouse’s leg and lifted it up and drove their knee into the mat.
Gemma Foster: Santos with a hard blow to the knee to keep Rouse from using their speed.
Santos pulled Rouse to the corner and rolled out of the ring and wrapped the leg around the post on the outside hard. Santos grabbed a steel chair and swung but Rouse moved their leg inside as Santos connected with the post. Santos tossed the chair inside and then grabbed another before tossing it in. She jumped up to the apron and looked for a slingshot senton but Rouse rolled out of the way. Both competitors got to their feet and Santos charged and took Rouse down with a headscissors takedown. Rouse rolled to their feet and caught a charging Santos with an uppercut. Rouse quickly delivered the Sonic Screwdriver (Spinning Neck Breaker) and covered but just barely got two as Santos kicked out.
Scott Parker: I’d say these two are evenly matched here so far.
Rouse started to pull Santos up and sent her into the corner and Santos countered with Vela en la Noche ([Candle in the Night] Tia either climbs or runs up the turnbuckle (depending on the pace of the match) and performs a Whisper In The Wind leap off the top. She comes down onto her opponent’s shoulders and nails a hurricanrana.)! Santos rolled to her feet and was fired up as she set up a chair. Rouse climbed back to their feet and Santos used the chair to run off it and hit Rouse with a dropkick that sent them into the corner. Santos looked for a cartwheel body splash but Rouse moved out of the way. Rouse grabbed Santos by the head and drove her face first into the open chair with a one-handed bulldog.
Gemma Foster: Riley used a chair!
Scott Parker: Well, kinda. It was just there I think.
Rouse climbed back up and hit a springboard moonsault off the second rope and connected! They covered and got two before Santos kicked out. Santos had her bell rung on the chair and tried to shake it off. Rouse repeated “ladder” to themselves as they rolled out of the ring and pulled out a ladder. Rouse slid it into the ring and climbed up to the apron. Santos grabbed them and suplexed Rouse back into the ring.
Scott Parker: Riley went for the ladder like she planned with Mighty Jo and it might have backfired.
The two competitors were back to their feet and Santos landed a hard striking combo of chops and punches before hitting a spinning backfist. She hit the ropes and came back with a springboard moonsault into reverse DDT onto the open chair and it collapsed under the back of Rouse. Rouse grabbed at her back as Santos started to set up the ladder. Rouse was slowly getting up as she climbed about halfway and came down with the Muerta Caída ([Dead Drop] Basically just a Torpedo Plancha])! Santos covered and got a two count before Rouse kicked out. Rouse kept their arm in the air and then started to slam the mat as the crowd clapped along, Santos in disbelief. Santos started to pull Rouse back up and Rouse jumped up and hit her with the Gotcha! (Lou Thesz Press). Rouse hit the corner and landed a starship pain splash! Rouse covered again and Santos kicked out at two. Rouse started to feel the end coming and moved to the ladder. They started to climb and looked back.
Scott Parker: Riley Rouse going for it all!
Rouse readied and looked for a massive elbow drop and crashed and burned as Santos moved out of the way! Santos crawled to her feet as Rouse was slow to move. Santos grabbed the second steel chair and cracked it over the back of Rouse multiple times. Santos pulled Rouse up and delivered the Beso de Muerte ([Kiss of Death] Tia wraps an arm around the opponent’s neck and bends them back (think Bray Wyatt’s Sister Abigail). She places a kiss on the forehead of her opponent before transitioning her arm around the back of their neck and performs a Dream DDT.). Santos covered and picked up the victory to retain.
WINNER AND STILL EXTREME CHAMPION: Tia Santos
Santos slowly sat up and looked over at Rouse and nodded.
Gemma Foster: That might have been the closest anyone has come to beating Tia Santos in singles action, Scott. What a match.
Santos was handed the title as she slowly stood and held it above her head. The fans gave the two a standing ovation as Rouse was checked on and seemed to be okay. The show ended on Santos leaning on the ropes with the title in hand.
Gemma Foster: Like the much anticipated match between Hayley Halsey and Noavraa!
Scott Parker: Plus, we’re rumored to hear from the 323. We saw them two weeks ago at Next Level: Ascension when they got involved in the Tag Team Title match. Their showing here in EW could shake up the Tag Team Division.
Junji Buranku Vs. Josh Cherry
As the lights went red and the music hit for the Tag Team Champions, the fans started to boo when Junji walked out onto the stage. Mr. Fixit was a few feet behind him before coming side by side at the top of the ramp. They each wore their Tag Team Title around their waist before Fixit nodded to Junji and Junji made his way down the ramp. The duo stood in the ring as the lights came back to normal as the fans in attendance booed as they held up the titles.
Gemma Foster: There’s no love here tonight for the Kingsmen. They’ve been champions for 45 days now and Midnight Special has been itching for their rematch.
There was more of a mixed reaction for Cherry and Carbine hit the stage. The two knocked forearms before making their way to the ring. Cherry jumped up to the apron and climbed inside before he and Junji quickly came to blows.
Scott Parker: Wasting no time here tonight, Gemma. These two shared a few hard hits or two back at Next Level.
Cherry rocked Junji with a headbutt and then a discus punch. Junji stepped up to Cherry and caught him with an enziguri. Both men rolled up to their feet and started to fight back and forth. Junji caught Cherry with a hard kick to the leg before looking for a Russian leg sweep. Cherry was able to fight out and counter into a DDT. Cherry started to climb to the top rope and was setting up for the Citizen Kane (Kane’s Top Rope Lariat) but Mr Fixit jumped onto the apron. Cherry kicked at him and knocked him off.
Gemma Foster: Fixit trying to get involved in this match but here comes Harvey Carbine!
Carbine was up on the apron and the two men clotheslined each other off and fell to the floor. Cherry jumped off the top to the outside and took out Mr Fixit! Junji readied himself and ran the ropes before taking all three men out with a tope con hilo! Junji climbed to his feet and rolled Cherry in before jumping to the apron. He climbed into the ring and Cherry caught him with a stiff lariat. Cherry started to set up for a German suplex but Junji ran forward and bumped into the referee.
Scott Parker: The referee is down!
Fixit rolled into the ring with a chair and rammed it into the gut of Cherry. Carbine spun Fixit around and slammed him with a chop to the chest. Cherry looked for Baba Yaga Bullet (Running Flying Reverse Elbow to the Face) on Fixit but he moved and Cherry hit Carbine! Cherry checked on his partner and Junji rolled him up from behind as the referee came to and counted the pin.
WINNER: Junji Buranku
The Kingsmen slid out of the ring and snatched the Tag Titles and stood near the bottom of the ramp as Cherry and Carbine talked in the middle of the ring, Cherry explaining what happened.
Gemma Foster: And Junji steals one here tonight.
...
“Hell’s Bells” by Sara Matera begins to play over the sound system. After a few moments, Casey Grey, Alicia Monroe, Karli Frost, and Annabelle Daboia step out onto the ramp and head to the ring. The four of them enter the ring and surround Kim Roberts. She looks nervous. Alicia chuckles.
Alicia Monroe: Hey, it’s okay. You’re fine. We’re actually doing you a favor. You…
Alicia points at Kim.
Alicia Monroe: …get to interview me. Or us. Whatever you want to do. No, seriously. I could have talked to Kevin in the back, but that gets a little boring after a while. So go ahead, Kim. Ask away.
Gemma Foster: Oh, come on. They’re just teasing poor Kim now.
Kim looks at the other women and lets out a nervous laugh.
Kim Roberts: Um—
Alicia Monroe: Right. I knew you’d ask that. No, of course I’m not taking this match or any match lightly. AJ is a tough wrestler, I’d be a moron to not come down here with some respect for my title defense tonight. I mean, I’ve done some dumb things in the past, but I like to think I’ve outgrown all of that. I do respect AJ, okay, but I am enjoying my time with this belt. More than I thought I would anyway, so he better be ready for a fight tonight.
Kim Roberts: Okay, so—
Alicia Monroe: I know what you mean. How can I steal something from Hayley if literally this belt belonged to nobody when I won it? She has a sick and twisted world perspective. She’ll get her chance for this belt though, and whether I have it or AJ has it, she’s going to have to work to get it.
Kim Roberts: None of that is what I want to ask! My question is what are your plans relating to FM Young? This whole drama of late has affected her and I’m sure she wants answers that you can give.
Annabelle Daboia: That’s not on the approved question list. You know what that means…
Annabelle walks up to Kim. Casey stops her. Kim backs away from Annabelle.
Alicia Monroe: No, it’s okay. It’s okay. Look, FM Young was involved, and we intend on hashing the whole thing out with her in the near future. I'm sure that we can clear the air on where we stand with her and everyone else, for that matter. Anything else?
Kim Roberts: I just think—
Alicia pats Kim on the shoulder as the Hell’s Belles exit the ring.
Alicia Monroe: You’ll make a great interviewer someday. I just know it.
Alicia joins the other Belles and they walk to the back as their music plays.
Gallery pt. 1
The scene cuts from the sparse but energetic crowd in Empire Wrestling’s Warehouse to a dark, commercial section of the city. The camera moves in to see through a large bay window that has the lettering “MARTIN GALLERY” emblazoned in the glass. Moving into the space, we see “The Noble” Benjamin Macbeth standing against a stark white wall, he is wearing a tailored black suit, and a white button down shirt. He has a glass of Malbec in his hand. He is standing beside him is a slender woman in her late fifties, she is wearing red rimmed glasses, and her white hair is styled short and spiked.
Benjamin Macbeth: Adelaide I really must thank you for featuring my work. Of course, I did not take these photos but I feel that my post production work on them has really made them pop, it tells a wonderfully chilling story. Wouldn’t you say?
The woman looks uncomfortable, she crosses her arms and sighs.
Adelaide Auger: I was told that this would be a one night thing. Mr. Martin said that he “owed you a favour” so that is why this is being allowed. All of this will be out of here by the end of the evening?
Benjamin Macbeth: If you make it so, of course. I simply had these photographs sized, framed, and brought here. What happens to them after the exhibition matters not to me. I have other things to deal with.
Adelaide Auger: You are insufferable, you know that?
Macbeth notices the camera and he hands his glass of wine to Adelaide. Macbeth shoots his cuffs and adjusts his collar, ready to be on camera.
Benjamin Macbeth: You are no longer needed. Thank you Adelaide.
Macbeth lightly directs her out of frame and then turns to the camera.
Benjamin Macbeth: Empire Wrestling faithful. Hello. It is I, “The Noble” Benjamin Macbeth. Earlier this week on social media I said that I would have some shocking footage to reveal on Hype. I am a man of my word and here I am. This is that shocking footage. We are live here at the Martin Gallery. The proprietors of this fine establishment heard about a project that I was working on and they DEMANDED that they get to be the first venue to present it. Typically I am not someone who gives in to demands, but they offered me quite the monetary incentive so I could not refuse.
Macbeth turns, looking down the length of the wall that is out of frame. He slowly starts walking left.
Benjamin Macbeth: I have taken some screen captures from my contest with Rat at Next Level: Ascension. I have adjusted the colors, making them all essentially black and white, and I have blown them up so that they can tell the story of the match -- along with my own personal commentary.
The Noble reached the first photo, which was a featured FM Young’s shocked expression as Macbeth brought her over with the final movement of his String Theory rolling German suplex.
Benjamin Macbeth: I call this one “Discovery”. In this photo we see the Rat, about to be slammed to the mat like she has never been slammed before and in her head she is thinking “What have I gotten myself into? I am going to be embarrassed!”. Anyone with any degree of insight into facial expression will agree with me, she has discovered that she is no match for The Noble in this moment.
Moving further to the left, the next black and white photo shows Macbeth hitting his impressively athletic From Parts Unknown 360 buzzsaw kick perfectly, the flesh of Young’s face rippling from the impact.
Benjamin Macbeth: I call this piece “Humbling”. Although Rat was hitting me with some tough offense only moments before this photo was taken, I swiftly let her know that no matter what she brought to our battle -- I always had something better. This was crippling for her both emotionally and physically.
The Noble adjusts the photo on the wall, making sure that it is perfectly straight. He then carries on to the next enlarged photo and it is in two parts -- it shows Young hitting the second rope assault driver and the next photo shows Macbeth kicking out from her pin attempt.
Benjamin Macbeth: I call this one “Helplessness in Two Parts”. Rat hit me with the biggest move that she could muster, one that when done simply on the canvas has put away many of her opponents. However, when she had to step to The Noble she decided that an avalanche version was the only way to keep me down. And she was wrong, as she often is. I took the best shot that she could conjure and I still shot my shoulder off the mat.
Macbeth does a chef’s kiss with his fingers and then moves on to the final photo. This was a photo of Macbeth washing Young’s face against the ringside mats.
Benjamin Macbeth: This last one I call “Acceptance”. This is where Rat truly came to believe that she could not defeat me. She had to try and keep me down on the outside in an effort to win by count out. She tried to run from me, like the vermin that she is. But I would not let that happen. I would not let her get any kind of victory over me because she did not deserve it. Just like she does not deserve to be Empire Wrestling champion.
The shot widens now to show the collection of photos with Macbeth holding out his hand to present them to the Empire Wrestling audience as a complete work.
Benjamin Macbeth: Come Next Level: Tainted Twilight on October 30th, the Rat will be right at home in her cage. She thinks that this is an advantage for her, that she will be able to be the first person in Empire Wrestling to hand me a loss. But she is wrong. She is so very very wrong. To paraphrase a psychopath -- I won’t be trapped in there with you, you’ll be trapped in there with me.
Macbeth smirks and then motions for someone out of frame. Adelaide Auger returns and hands Macbeth his glass of Malbec. Macbeth holds it up to the camera.
Benjamin Macbeth: Rat, for the things yet to come, The Noble offers his deepest condolences.
The Noble raises the glass higher and then puts it to his lips, taking a long, slow, sip while maintaining eye contact with the camera before the scene fades to black.
Marilyn Lee Cross Vs. Paul Morgan
The fans gave both competitors a solid cheer on their way to the ring and for the start of this match. They locked up but Cross quickly landed a hard palm strike and took control of the match. She ran the ropes and hit Morgan with a shoulder block that didn’t drop him. She looked for a second but Morgan countered into a spinning side walk slam. Morgan went for a cover but just got one. Cross got to her feet and battled back with a series of moves that left Morgan reeling in the corner. He stepped out and she caught him with the Mary Go Round (Discus Big Boot). She covered and got two. Morgan started to get up to his knees and Cross charged before he jumped up and took her down with the Front Wheelie (standing hurricanrana). Morgan covered but Cross was able to kick out.
Gemma Foster: Lots of back and forth here, Scott.
Scott Parker: Morgan and Cross are both giving it their all here for the fans.
The fans were up on their feet as Morgan started to lift Cross up for the Accelerated Pain (kinniku buster) but she countered into a small package for two. Morgan popped up to his feet but Cross caught him with Catch Your Breath (Striking Spear). Cross thought she had the match won but Morgan kicked out at two and it left her shocked. She tried to lock in Hungry Jaws (Dragon Sleeper w/ body scissors) but Morgan was able to slip free and sent her into the corner. He landed a big Kickstarter (Running Jumping Knee) in the corner and then lifted her to the top. He carried her around the ring and hit Accelerated Pain and covered for the win.
WINNER: Paul Morgan
Gemma Foster: A big win for Paul Morgan here in his second match on Hype.
Scott Parker: The fans are giving both of these competitors a nice ovation for their battle.
Desire
Cameras fade in on a hazy blue veil, which is slowly parted to reveal a chaise lounge that has the voluptuous Noavrra reclining. Next to her is a strong looking pair of men, clad only in small loincloths and armed only with palm leaf fans. They gently fan the haze around the room, and Noavrra casually pops a grape into her mouth. She then looks into the camera, and smirks before reaching to the plate beside her and grabbing another shiny grape from the plate.
She chews slowly and as seductively as she can before making a show of swallowing and winking.
Noavrra: I know that my opponent for tonight, the “venerable” Hayley Halsey, has pontificated at length about my weight, her destiny, and “her” National championship.
Noavrra tries to suppress a giddy grin.
Noavrra: “Her” title..the one that she’s been denied all this time. The one that has only been in existence for less than a month, but the minute she saw her name near it, she knew she had to have it.
She lets out a wistful sigh.
Noavrra: I know what that’s like. I remember seeing great wrestlers like Riley Owens, Sophia Pike, Fujiko Mine, Joylene Dysart, and Artemis Kaiser and remembering how much I wanted what they were getting. I remember realizing that I could have what they were getting. So I sought out the help of the Mother of Monsters. I knew that if I wanted what they had, I needed to put myself through the pain necessary to improve my ability. I needed to replicate some of the agony that transformed them from good to great.
She runs her tongue in a ring around her juicy lips.
Noavrra: That isn’t to say that I’m there yet, but I’m well on my way. I’ve earned that delicious agony...I’ve earned every bit of horsepower that this body carries me with. And I want more.
She switches her gaze over to the plate of grapes again for a moment, and then back to the camera.
Noavrra: If I’m supposed to be scared of you tonight, Hayley...you failed that mission. We’ve heard you go on and on about how you’re only ‘two matches away’, but you keep forgetting that you haven’t yet stepped into the ring with the YEET machine one-on-one. You are making a mistake looking past me, and at either Alicia Monroe or AJ. If you think you’re entitled to beating me just off your sense of entitlement...baby baby baby are you ever setting yourself up for failure.
She gives the two fan boys a look, to which they stop fanning her and saunter out of the frame. The Elephant of Saraswati stretches her left leg straight up into the air for a moment, and taps her right inner thigh with her left hand.
Noavrra: I’ve been keeping these pillows nice and warm just for you, Hayley. I’ma put your head here and watch you go to sleep. I’ma watch your aspirations of challenging for the National Championship next week go to sleep right with them. Right here, between ego..
She pushes the index finger of her left hand into the thigh of her right leg…
Noavrra: and reality.
...she repeats the previous move with her left thigh.
Noavrra: And I am eager to listen to what your excuses are going to be when you lose, sweets. Because if you haven’t noticed...ya girl ain’t afraid of pain, I am inviting of it. It revs the engine, gets me motivated, gets me excited to put on that gear and step in the ring. If you think that I’m worried about you trying to make me look…
She puts on a poor imitation of Hayley’s voice.
Noavrra: Haha, like, so ridiculous!
She smirks.
Noavrra: By talking about how big I am or hypothesizing about how much I eat or even why I think I belong in the same ring as you? Don’t waste any more brain cells on the thoughts. Because win, lose, or draw tonight, Hayley, I promise that you’re going to be the one feeling and looking just that. Meanwhile, getting to shut you up tonight may not get you there, but it will get me one step closer…
She sits up, swinging her legs around so that her feet are firmly on the floor. She then folds her hands together in front of her chest and closes her eyes.
Noavrra: ...to Shanti.
A serene smile crosses her face, and then her eyes snap open. She reaches over, snaps off a grape and pops it in her mouth as the cameras back away, being covered in haze as Noavrra smiles.
Griffin Hawkins Vs. Dokueki
Dokueki got the upperhand early in this match as just before the bell rang “Diamonds” by Rihanna started to play but the Social Elite didn’t come out but it distracted Hawkins. Dokueki landed hard strikes to the chest and neck of Hawkins to keep him from attacking. A hard throat chop left him gasping for air in the early going. She then started to unload with hard lariats that finally dropped Hawkins to his knees. A running elbow strike to the face allowed Dokueki to cover for the first time but only got one. Hawkins started to get to his feet and battle back and use his speed. He landed hard punches, shoulder tackles, and then a big dropkick that sent Dokueki into the corner. Hawkins hit her with a big corner spear and then hard strikes in the corner.
Gemma Foster: Griffin is on a roll.
He turned her around and lifted her to the top rope and jumped up, pulling her down, and hit a corner backstabber. Dokueki rolled out of the corner and Hawkins climbed to the top and came crashing down with a Stage Dive (Legdrop off the Ropes). He covered but got two. Hawkins started to pull Dokeuki up and she landed a hard strike to the jaw and then a kick to the gut. Dokueki followed it up with a fisherman suplex and then rolled to her feet. Hawkins was up and Dokueki wanted to hit the clawslam but Hawkins battled out. Dokueki hit Hawkins with a back elbow to the face and he fell out of the ring. He started to stand up and out ran Summer Page and Angel Kash. He turned and started to chase them away and got to the top of the ramp as they disappeared behind the curtain.
Scott Parker: Griffin is itching to get his hands on the Social Elite.
He hurried back down the ring and slid into the ring at 9 but Dokueki pulled him down with a backslide pin and arched to just barely get three!
WINNER: Dokueki
Gemma Foster: Dokueki with the big upset! The Social Elite with the distraction led to Griffin losing here tonight, no question.
Griffin Hawkins popped up and looked around wildly as his hair was a mess. He looked at the referee who held up the three fingers. Hawkins looked up the ramp and stormed up quickly to the back.
So Triggered
The show cuts backstage to an amused Hayley Halsey as she sits in the studio, clearly revelling in some of the most recent words that some people on the roster have been saying about her. She’s not angry for a change, which for those that have gotten to know her lately, it’s a complete surprise. Hayley is sitting in front of a chalkboard that has pictures of Kayla Taylor, Noavrra and Alicia Monroe. Notably, the picture of Kayla has a giant, blue X drawn on it. Hayley has a bit of a laugh to herself as she begins to express her thoughts.
Hayley Halsey: It’s funny how some people can be so triggered! It’s funny how I, one of the hardest working members of the roster, decides to stir the drink and call people out by name and those that normally wouldn’t say much, if anything at all, suddenly are speaking my name.
This causes her to smirk just a bit as she looks at the camera.
Take Noavrra for instance. Would she have spoken out at all if I hadn’t given her the privilege of her name coming out of my mouth? Probably not! You’ve got someone speaking out against me because they know I’m better than they are. The thing of it is, I didn’t factor into the decision because I was thrown in an uphill battle. I’m not designed to compete in gimmick matches! I’m as pure of a wrestler as they come! It’s like I’ve been saying… had it been a regular wrestling match with no ladder crap, I’d already be the National Champion and she doesn’t want to get that because she’s too busy making these nonsensical claims about how she’s going to toss me over the ring and all… But how motivated is she anyway? It took her until I called her out by name to even say anything.
She scoffs and rolls her eyes.
How can she be as motivated as I am when she’s not focused on the National title… and I’m going off of her own words here… and is more focused on shutting me up? Advantage? Me! I’m focused on the National Championship. She said a bunch of ridiculous nonsense about me, but you don’t see me trying to validate myself, countering every single thing that she said because one, it’s all a waste of time and two? I don’t NEED to validate myself because as the chosen one of this business… as the chosen one to uphold and maintain whatever dignity and integrity this business has left… I’m already validated! The focus is the National Championship, Noavrra… not personal grudges that you’re already developing about me because of how butthurt you are about a bunch of fat jokes. But you’re not offended by them… yet you felt the need to respond to them. Okay bitch.
Hayley just pauses for a bit to have a scoff and a laugh to herself.
Hayley Halsey: I’ve beaten wrestlers your size, male and female, before. You don’t intimidate me. You’re just the appetizer for the main course here and that’s Alicia Monroe… hopefully…
The mention of Alicia’s name has Hayley going from amused to annoyed.
Hayley Halsey: I HOPE you win tonight, Alicia. It’s not because I like you, because I honestly don’t. I can’t like you when you stole something from me. I hope you win because when I do the same, I want YOU to be the one that I beat when I take what I am entitled to… what you stole from me. This little Cinderella act of yours isn’t going to go on much longer. If SOMEHOW you are able to get by AJ, you’re NOT getting by me. You don’t get to ignore me much longer, Alicia! Please, for the love that is right and for the love that is holy, win tonight! Because honestly? Taking what I deserve isn’t going to feel one hundred percent right if I don’t take it from the thief that stole it from me in the first place! When I defeat Noavrra and should I defeat you… then out of all of this, the one that is going to look SO RIDICULOUS most of all… it’s going to be you…
Hayley flips her hair and points at the camera.
Hayley Halsey: And that… Alicia… is sweet justice for what’s right for this business! So, watch me draw that “X” over Noavrra’s picture once I’m done with her tonight… because after her… it’s… HOPEFULLY… you. Don’t disappoint me, Cinderella. It’s too soon for the clock to strike midnight!
Hayley leaves the scene in an annoyed huff, clearly showing her increasingly strong dislike for Alicia. The camera focuses on the chalkboard with the pictures of Kayla, Noavrra, and Alicia for a few more seconds before the scene fades out.
Honor the past… Embrace the future.
18%
The camera opened on Riley Rouse floating over the top of the head of their wife, Mighty Jo Young. The float over broke the wristlock that Jo was trying to apply, a wristlock that her dear spouse had wiggled out of and managed to reverse with the floatover. Jo growled in her throat, and darted forward in an effort to destabilize Riley, who simply rocked forward and then pulled back hard, yanking Jo back into the hold.
Jo Young: You haven’t lost much Mi Amada, that or I’ve gotten much worse.
Riley Rouse: I’ll go with neither of us having lost much. Neither is good, let’s work with that.
Jo sighed and finally managed to struggle out of Riley’s hold. She whipped around as if to deliver a discus clothesline like the kind her sister used regularly. Riley just smirked and ducked under it, slipping by Jo and wrapping their arms around her waist. Riley takes Jo up and over for a belly to back suplex that’s more play than anything, keeping the hold he brings her up again and whips her into a dancers twirl. The pair fall into an easy rhythm, dancing in a sort of tango that’s more push and pull than back and forth.
Jo Young: You’ve gotta fight this match, it was your idea to go back to work. I don’t want you to get fired.
Riley Rouse: And blacklisted.
Jo Young: *Sigh* And blacklisted.
Riley grinned widely, pulling Jo close again to kiss the tip of her nose. Jo rolled her eyes with a repressed grin, then she pivoted the dance on her feet and threw an elbow strike that Riley seemed to handily dodge. Riley caught their wife’s elbow and threw her around again, catching her into a rolling slam. When they pop up Riley is still cat got the canary smirking.
Jo Young: This is great and all, but you can’t win a hardcore match like this!
Riley Rouse: I’m an excellent counter wrestler, and you know I hate weapons. I do need to use them necessarily to win. I can get a pin.
Jo feinted to the left and delivered a right body shot that Riley didn’t see coming, they woofed and nearly doubled over. Jo went to follow up and Riley danced back, still looking smug. They locked up again with Riley getting the better on a hold, keeping Jo in a standing hammerlock.
Riley Rouse: I’m also fantastic with submission holds. Don’t worry, I’ve got this. Either I win or i get my ass kicked, it’s simple. Hell I’ve got like...A solid 18% of a plan.
Jo Young: Solid 18% huh?
Riley Rouse: It’s a thing, I’m gonna do a thing, respect the thing in progress.
Jo Young: I don’t want you to take a beating, I know you can survive one but I might have plans of my own for you later. One’s that severe beatings are going to interrupt.
Riley rolled their shoulders back and popped their neck. They let up on the hammerlock, and Jo spins around again, going for a jump kick. Riley dropped down and hit a leg sweep, rolled so they were nose to nose with their wife.
Riley Rouse: I’m all for getting distracted, hell let’s do that now.
Riley wiggled their eyebrows up and down, with that cheshire look. Jo rolled her eyes and shook her head with a soft playful smile.
Jo Young: Get a ladder.
Riley Rouse: Huh?
Jo Young: Get a ladder and keep hitting her with it. Just keep hitting.
Riley Rouse: Ok, fundamental concept down...But why a ladder?
Jo Young: Because it keeps something long, steel and hurty in between you and her.
Riley Rouse: Ok, fair plan….Look, I can win this, even if I don’t, I can avoid getting hurt. I’m just gonna keep her away from the sharp objects and grounded. That I can do. I’ll be fine, Mi Amada, just stop worrying so much.
Jo rolled her eyes and then rolled up to her feet, yanking Riley up by their wrist. She smiled gently again and shook her head, rubbing her forehead with her thumb and forefinger.
Jo Young: I’m just a worrier and you know this, the kids need a father, and I need you. I should have been the one to go back to work-
Riley Rouse: The kids need you more than me right now, maybe one day that’ll change. Besides you come back when you’re ready. Let me do it for now, ok?
Riley spun Jo around and they started to dance a little more, with Jo giving off a very girly giggle.
Jo Young: Fine, I can live with that, we’ll be watching ok? Just try to stay safe.
Riley Rouse: I got this, it’ll be a fun match.
The camera fades on the two of them dancing around their garage, laughing with each other.
NATIONAL TITLE #1 CONTENDER MATCH
Hayley Halsey Vs. Noavrra
The fans were excited for the next bout as two rising EW stars were set to compete. Noavrra got a big pop from the fans as she entered the ring. Halsey got the opposite as she just rolled her eyes and was clearly ready for the match.
Gemma Foster: Hayley has been itching for an opportunity just like this since signing her name on her contract.
The two circled each other to start the match and locked up. Noavrra was able to power Halsey into the corner and rammed her hip into the gut of Halsey multiple times. Noavrra lifted her opponent up and drove her to the mat with a sidewalk slam. Noavrra covered for one before Halsey rolled out of the ring to collect herself. Halsey walked around the ring and Noavrra went flying through the ropes with an elbow suicida! The fans roared with a cheer as Noavrra was fired up and rolled her opponent into the ring. Noavrra climbed back inside and bent down to pull Halsey up but took a kick to the face. Halsey followed it up with hard kicks to the knee of her opponent and rolled her down to the mat with a single leg crab. Halsey turned and tried to turn it into a STF but Noavrra battled and made it to the ropes to use a rope break.
Scott Parker: Remember folks, this is a National Division match. Noavrra is down to two more rope breaks in this match.
Noavrra used the ropes to pull herself up and backdropped a charging Halsey to the apron. Halsey landed on her feet and grabbed Noavrra by her hand and climbed back into the ring. Halsey drove her knee into the gut of Noavrra and then hit her with the Ridiculous Backbreaker (Float-Over Backbreaker)! Halsey covered and just got two as Noavrra kicked out. Halsey rolled right to the feet of Noavrra and was trying for a figure four but was kicked away. Noavrra got to her feet and slammed Halsey down with a spinebuster as she ran her Noavrra. Halsey crawled into the corner and got to her feet but this let Noavrra deliver the Stampede (3 repeated running Meteora knee strikes to a cornered opponent). Noavrra pushed Halsey down to the mat and ran at the corner again and hit a Vader Bomb! Noavrra covered and got two before Halsey kicked out.
Gemma Foster: These two ladies are going to pull out all the stops in their desire for the National Title.
Noavrra pulled her opponent up to her feet and slammed her down with a belly to belly slam. Noavrra pulled Halsey back up and lifted her into a bear hug but was quickly spiked to the mat with a DDT. Both competitors were down and the referee started the count and got to seven before they both got up. They exchanged hard, slow blows. Back and forth before Halsey was sent into the corner. Noavrra charged but ran into a big boot from Halsey. Noavrra staggered and Halsey hit the ropes and came back with the Desti-Knee Kick (Busaiku Knee Kick)! Halsey covered and Noavrra barely kicked out before three.
Scott Parker: So close! Hayley was just a moment away from a National Title match next week!
Halsey looked down at Noavrra and climbed to the apron and readied herself. She jumped up to the top rope and came down with the Desti-Knee Smash (Springboard Somersault Double Knee) but Noavrra moved out of the way. Halsey rolled forward and up to her feet but Noavrra took her right down with Bridge to Terabithia (Backslide with bridge [Ala Jordynne Grace]) and got a two! Halsey stumbled to her feet and took a hard kick to the gut before Noavrra hit the Mastodon Special (Pinning powerbomb) and Halsey kicked out at two and Noavrra immediately went into a Boston crab!
Gemma Foster: This might be it!
Halsey tried to crawl to the ropes but Noavrra had her locked in tight. Halsey was eventually able to get leverage and tuck herself under Noavrra and reached up with a small package that almost had Noavrra shocked but she kicked out at two. Halsey and Noavrra got to their feet and Halsey looked for her Facebuster of Fate (Double underhook facebuster) but Noavrra flipped her backwards. Noavrra jumped up and dropped down with Down With The Thiccness (Seated senton)! Noavrra sat on the chest and shoulders of Halsey and got the three count!
WINNER: Noavrra
Scott Parker: Noavrra picks up the pinfall but look how close to the ropes Hayley was. It’s an instant replay down to the wire moment where she’s reaching out for the bottom rope but just doesn’t get it in time.
Noavrra celebrated in the ring to the cheers of the fans as Halsey rolled out of the ring and yelled at the timekeeper and referee.
Gemma Foster: Noavrra gets her title shot next week!
Gallery pt. 2
Person: Hey asshole!
It was a loud shout that disturbed the relative peace of the quiet art gallery, it startled Mcbeth for a moment as FM Young walked into frame. The Empire Wrestling World Champion is wearing casual clothes as usual, beat up hightop kicks with low slung stone washed hip huggers tucked into them. Topped off with a navy blue v-neck henley, with the sleeves pushed up, her long mane of hair was pulled back and up out of the way, clearly the woman came to cause a problem.
Benjamin Macbeth: Rat! Welcome to the Martin Gallery. Is this not a beautiful venue?
FM Young: See, that’s nice Benny. Real nice, hell of an art show you’ve got here. Thing is, being a public figure you have to seek permission to use my image in a commercial manner. So basically, I’m here to rain on your parade, and being who I am, I figure I’ll give you an insider’s view on your little art projects.
FM picks up the first framed photo with a sly grin on her face, she actually pulls it off the wall easily. No biggie since it appeared to have been stuck on with a temporary command hook. She shifts it and gives a faux sage nod.
FM Young: See, this one here, I was getting really tired of your pussy shit. That little slam was fun but German’s are German’s man, you’ve had one, you’ve had em all...Not in the biblical sense mind you. Anyway, I think this here picture would look better somewhere else.
With that Young CRACKS the picture across Benjamin’s head, so hard that it ripped and wrapped him up in the framework. With a grin FM leaves him flailing in the frame of the large photo. She trails over to the next photo with that same self satisfied smirk, she rips it off the wall.
FM Young: I’ll take my ten percent for this little charade you know, anyway, this one? That kick, yeah I was thinking why the hell did I let this faffing cunt hit me with a move that has a mile long wind up? You tapped me in the face cause you had to spend all the momentum on getting the height to hit me and flip. See, Benny was out of breath and he had to dig to pull off this move and boy do I mean dig.
Again the photo gets cracked over Ben’s head, he had almost flailed his way out of the first one too. She holds him back with the combined photo and frame sets, laughing as she tugs on the entire makeshift contraption causing him to stumble. Off the wall comes another picture and this time she takes The Noble out at the knees before cracking it over his bent back.
FM Young: Tell me, Benny-Kins? You figure out our match was gonna be a cage match first and then work backwards to the smashing pumpkin reference? Figured you’d haveta find a way to call me a rat first so it would make sense? Like everything you do, it’s over complicated, deluded, and like a bad Bond villain in it’s execution. Scratch that, it’s Austin Powers, like you desperately want it to be funny and clever and make sense...It’s never any of those things.
Benjamin Macbeth: ...want ...some ...cheese?
This time FM Young lifts her Challenger by the contraption he’s well stuck in now, getting Benjamin Mcbeth back to his feet, before she spins him around with a truly girly giggle, as if she’s enjoying every minute of the moments of throwing his ass around the expensive art gallery. She rams him head first into the wall containing the fourth and final photo, he knocks it off the wall and takes it with him around his neck as he falls down in a heap. Young shackles her head and toes his foot slightly looking a bit disappointed.
FM Young: This was well therapeutic, and to think I used to think art was useless. Glad you managed to change my mind on that, if you wanna know I felt on that one? Rage. Well, rage and outrage, I couldn’t believe that this asshole had been soft balling me like a teenager on his first closet romp all match, and now he’s just gonna hang onto my ankles and keep me down? Practically gonna sit on me like you haven’t the foggiest what to do with a woman? Anthem, man, and now here you are, all called out and crawling around in tatters. Welp, Benny, I hope you enjoyed your shenanigans. Cause me? I know I enjoyed it.
This was when the party was busted up by a shrieking WHOOP outside of the large window in the gallery. FM sighed as red and blue lights shone across her features, and in a resigned moment she just held her hands up. Adelaide Auger leads two uniforms back into the gallery pointing accusingly at the pair, and that’s where the camera cuts off.
Take the pledge
Scott Parker: I think we’re all still stunned from what we saw before the break, Gemma. It appears as if the EW World Champion has been arrested.
Gemma Foster: What does it mean for her match later on tonight?
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Alicia Monroe (c) Vs. AJ Jenkynx
The fans booed AJ as he came to the ring and gave Alicia some cheers. She was once again solo with no one from Hell’s Belles in sight. The match started and AJ was quickly hit with a hard forearm to the face and then sent into the ropes. He came back and ducked a clothesline and hit the ropes again before coming back with a crossbody. He rolled to his feet and dropped an elbow but Monroe moved. AJ swung a kick at the leg of Monroe but she dodged it and pulled him in for the Freebird (Running Bulldog). She looked for the move but AJ sent her flying into the corner and she got hung up on the second turnbuckle. He pulled her out slowly and hit a reverse DDT. AJ looked for a cover but Monroe was near the ropes and used a rope break to break it up.
Gemma Foster: That might come back to bite Alicia later on in this match. You’re used to grabbing the ropes when you’re that close, saving yourself the energy of kicking out, but in this style of match now she only has two more rope breaks.
AJ pulled Monroe up and lifted her for an electric chair drop but Monroe was able to counter into a roll up for one. Both competitors were up and AJ caught Monroe with a spinning heel kick. He quickly went to the top rope and looked for a diving headbutt but Monroe rolled out of the way. He slowly got to his feet and Monroe hit him with the Freebird. She jumped up to the top rope quickly and came crashing down with the Phoenix Dive (Swanton Bomb). She covered and AJ kicked out at two.
Scott Parker: AJ kicks out and Monroe is starting to think about her next step to keep him down.
AJ started to get up and Monroe caught him with a swinging neckbreaker and he rolled right back to his feet and hit her with a desperation cutter. They were both down and Monroe was up first. She started to climb to the top rope and he clubbed her in the back and she slipped. He climbed up after her and they were on the top. AJ grabbed her and delivered an avalanche German suplex! Both competitors were down as the referee made his count to eight before AJ covered. Monroe was able to kick out at two to the shock of everyone, including AJ.
Gemma Foster: Alicia Monroe hanging in there.
AJ slowly pulled Monroe up and looked for the I’m Deadlier (Killswitch) but she pushed him away. He turned and clotheslined her over the top rope but took a spill with her. He was up quicker and jumped to the apron. He looked for a standing moonsault but she ran at the apron and he missed but landed on his feet. Monroe speared him into the barricade and then whipped him into the steel steps. He climbed inside and Monroe jumped to the apron. She took a few moments to collect herself and climbed to the top. She looked for White Lightning (Moonsault) and connected! She covered and got two before AJ kicked out! There was more shock and Monroe quickly locked AJ into a sharpshooter. He battled his way to the ropes and caused a break. Monroe quickly pulled him back to the center of the ring and wanted to lock it in again but he was able to kick her away and get to his feet. She went to charge and he pulled her down with a drop toe hold and he floated right into 7 Deadly Sins (Rings Of Saturn). Monroe screamed out but wouldn’t tap as AJ screamed at her to quit. Monroe inched her feet closer to the ropes and used them to kick off and roll herself onto AJ and got a pinfall!
WINNER AND STILL NATIONAL CHAMPION: Alicia Monroe
The two break free from each other and AJ was stunned as he looked around and for a second thought he had won until he heard the announcement. He turned to the referee as he handed the title to Monroe. AJ pulled the referee down and locked in the 7 Deadly Sins as trainers ran out to break it up.
Gemma Foster: AJ is NOT happy!
Scott Parker: But Alicia is. She’s walking out with the title and a date with Noavrra next week!
Ursula Von Rossbach Vs. Kayla Taylor
Before the match started we got a few stills of Kayla Taylor appearing at BWF’s Retribution event last week and winning the Tag Team Titles with her (ex) partner Krista May Williams.
Gemma Foster: Kayla showed up in BWF looking for some answers from Krista and they left the show with gold!
Kayla had her title with her and came down for her match with Von Rossbach. This was UVR’s first match since Next Level: Ascension and she came ready for a fight. This match was fairly one sided with Kayla landing a few stiff blows early on and even shocked UVR with the Plan A (Shining Wizard). Kayla looked for a cover but it was an easy kick out at one. UVR slammed Kayla hard into the mat with her sambo chokeslam. Kayla kept kicking at UVR as she went to pull her up and connected with a stiff kick to the jaw. Von Rossbach grabbed at it and the referee took a moment to check on her. Kayla grabbed her from behind and looked for Broadway Lights (Cross Rhodes) but Von Rossbach countered and spun away. Kayla hit a quick dropkick to the knees and wanted another Plan A but was swatted away.
Scott Parker: Ursula just overpowering Kayla here.
Von Rossbach hit a big German suplex and then rolled right into the Great Lock (Steep angled wrenching Full Nelson Camel Clutch) and got the submission.
WINNER: Ursula Von Rossbach
Ursula celebrated in the ring for a few moments before Harper Blake came sliding into the ring and jumped onto Kayla with hard right hands.
Gemma Foster: More bad blood between Harper and Kayla.
Scott Parker: Yeah! Kayla is the one wearing championship gold somewhere after not winning it with Harper!
Von Rossbach watched on for a few moments and pulled Blake off and tossed her across the ring into the corner. UVR stood between the two as Harper spit at Kayla and left the ring.
Gemma Foster: Ursula not letting Harper Blake beat on Kayla anymore tonight.
Any Means Necessary
We go to the back where one half of the Social Elite is backstage, Angel Kash..looking rather annoyed after looking at the match lineup. Kevin Olsen comes over to her.
Kevin Olsen: Angel Kash, last week we witnessed what many view as a cowardly attack on none other than Griffin Hawkins. You and your tag partner Summer Pa-
Angel puts her hand up, cutting him off.
Angel Kash: Cowardly? Listen Ken..
Kevin Olsen: ..it's Kevin..
Angel Kash: Whatever, it doesn't matter what you or these morons think. He thought he was gonna interrupt my time and insult me? I am Angel Freakin' Kash, I deserve to be respected! The Social Elite deserves respect and we are gonna get it by any means necessary. If Griffin was smart, which he's not..he would apologize to me.
Kevin Olsen: There's a...lot of history between you and Griffin, you've met many times before. Some insiders listened to your rant last week on him and...some detected a little bit of...well..jealousy.
Angel Kash: Jealousy? Look at me! Do I look like I have any reason at all to be jealous of anyone? Let alone a wannabe Axl Rose?
Kevin Olsen: Well..actually.. I....
Angel cuts him off before saying.
Angel Kash: Listen, no one cares what you think. You're just like all of these jealous fans who cheer for him, so do what you're here to do and that is hold the microphone, ask your little questions, and let the star carry this. I am not jealous, I am just sick of this man following me around. Wherever I am, there is Griffin trying to steal my spotlight.
Kevin Olsen: Okay..moving on. The word around the locker room is that you and Summer Page are fuming that you've been left off this week's Hype card. We know how bad you two want to become Tag Team Champions..but what are your feelings on this development?....
Little do they know, Griffin is in the background slowly creeping into Angel's locker room. Angel has no idea this is happening as she answers his question.
Angel Kash: Pathetic really, like have you seen us? Since we came into this company together we have been running this thing. Like the fact they would leave the Social Elite off the card in favor of freaks like Hawkins shows management's lack of understanding.
Angel smirks, as she keeps talking.
Angel Kash: And those tag team titles? They are just the tip of the iceberg for us.
Kevin Olsen: What are your plans going forward for Social Elite?
Angel Kash: We are gonna take over this company and restore the proper social order. An order where we are at the top and all of you are in your proper places beneath us. Kayla Taylor found out the hard way.
Kevin Olsen: Any closing statements before we end this interview?
Angel Kash: The Social Elite is taking over and there's nothing any of you lowlife peasants can do about it. Because what we want, we get.
With that, she turns away and heads back into her dressing room as we head back to the ring.
FM Young Vs. Jason Evans
It was time for the next match but FM Young was nowhere to be seen after her incident earlier in the night. Evans stood in the ring with his arms crossed and told the referee to make the count out.
Gemma Foster: Jason Evans is going to take a count out win against the World Champion.
The referee was at 7 and FM’s music hit as the crowd erupted in cheers. She walked onto the stage and threw off a jean jacket she had on, still in street clothes, and the World Title around her waist.
Scott Parker: She didn’t even get a chance to change and she looks PISSED, Gemma.
Young charged to the ring and dropped the title as she slid in and popped up with a vicious clothesline to Evans. Both competitors got to their feet and Evans ducked a forearm and looked for a belly to back suplex but Young flipped back and landed on her feet. He turned right into her Man-Machine Interface (Discus Clothesline) as the fans popped. Evans stumbled to his feet and she lifted him up and dropped him with the Heart of a Phoenix (Lumbar Check) and covered for a quick win.
WINNER: FM Young
Gemma Foster: Holy crap!
FM Young rolled out of the ring and grabbed her title before raising it in the air as she roared. She looked to the crowd with a smile and made her way to the back.
EXTREME CHAMPIONSHIP
Tia Santos (c) Vs. Riley Rouse
It was main event time and the crowd was excited. Rouse came down to the ring first to a nice cheer from fans before climbing into the ring. The champion, Santos got a mixed reaction as she held up the title on the ramp.
Gemma Foster: Tia Santos has been one of the best competitors in Empire Wrestling since joining the company earlier this year. She’s thrived in the Extreme Division so far. She’s beaten every challenger but tonight, Riley will have extra motivation.
Scott Parker: If at any time it seems like Riley is hesitating or refuses to use a weapon given the opportunity, they’ll be blacklisted and fined!
The two were in the ring as the match was announced and we got underway. The two started to circle each other and locked up and tried to get the upper hand. Santos looked for a neckbreaker but the two just kept spinning and Rouse looked for a DDT. Santos spun away and flipped Rouse over with a snapmare. Rouse took a kick to the back and climbed up to their feet. The two circled again and Rouse landed a hard shin kick and then a kick to the gut. They looked for an enziguri but Santos ducked it and Rouse went face first into the mat. Santos grabbed Rouse’s leg and lifted it up and drove their knee into the mat.
Gemma Foster: Santos with a hard blow to the knee to keep Rouse from using their speed.
Santos pulled Rouse to the corner and rolled out of the ring and wrapped the leg around the post on the outside hard. Santos grabbed a steel chair and swung but Rouse moved their leg inside as Santos connected with the post. Santos tossed the chair inside and then grabbed another before tossing it in. She jumped up to the apron and looked for a slingshot senton but Rouse rolled out of the way. Both competitors got to their feet and Santos charged and took Rouse down with a headscissors takedown. Rouse rolled to their feet and caught a charging Santos with an uppercut. Rouse quickly delivered the Sonic Screwdriver (Spinning Neck Breaker) and covered but just barely got two as Santos kicked out.
Scott Parker: I’d say these two are evenly matched here so far.
Rouse started to pull Santos up and sent her into the corner and Santos countered with Vela en la Noche ([Candle in the Night] Tia either climbs or runs up the turnbuckle (depending on the pace of the match) and performs a Whisper In The Wind leap off the top. She comes down onto her opponent’s shoulders and nails a hurricanrana.)! Santos rolled to her feet and was fired up as she set up a chair. Rouse climbed back to their feet and Santos used the chair to run off it and hit Rouse with a dropkick that sent them into the corner. Santos looked for a cartwheel body splash but Rouse moved out of the way. Rouse grabbed Santos by the head and drove her face first into the open chair with a one-handed bulldog.
Gemma Foster: Riley used a chair!
Scott Parker: Well, kinda. It was just there I think.
Rouse climbed back up and hit a springboard moonsault off the second rope and connected! They covered and got two before Santos kicked out. Santos had her bell rung on the chair and tried to shake it off. Rouse repeated “ladder” to themselves as they rolled out of the ring and pulled out a ladder. Rouse slid it into the ring and climbed up to the apron. Santos grabbed them and suplexed Rouse back into the ring.
Scott Parker: Riley went for the ladder like she planned with Mighty Jo and it might have backfired.
The two competitors were back to their feet and Santos landed a hard striking combo of chops and punches before hitting a spinning backfist. She hit the ropes and came back with a springboard moonsault into reverse DDT onto the open chair and it collapsed under the back of Rouse. Rouse grabbed at her back as Santos started to set up the ladder. Rouse was slowly getting up as she climbed about halfway and came down with the Muerta Caída ([Dead Drop] Basically just a Torpedo Plancha])! Santos covered and got a two count before Rouse kicked out. Rouse kept their arm in the air and then started to slam the mat as the crowd clapped along, Santos in disbelief. Santos started to pull Rouse back up and Rouse jumped up and hit her with the Gotcha! (Lou Thesz Press). Rouse hit the corner and landed a starship pain splash! Rouse covered again and Santos kicked out at two. Rouse started to feel the end coming and moved to the ladder. They started to climb and looked back.
Scott Parker: Riley Rouse going for it all!
Rouse readied and looked for a massive elbow drop and crashed and burned as Santos moved out of the way! Santos crawled to her feet as Rouse was slow to move. Santos grabbed the second steel chair and cracked it over the back of Rouse multiple times. Santos pulled Rouse up and delivered the Beso de Muerte ([Kiss of Death] Tia wraps an arm around the opponent’s neck and bends them back (think Bray Wyatt’s Sister Abigail). She places a kiss on the forehead of her opponent before transitioning her arm around the back of their neck and performs a Dream DDT.). Santos covered and picked up the victory to retain.
WINNER AND STILL EXTREME CHAMPION: Tia Santos
Santos slowly sat up and looked over at Rouse and nodded.
Gemma Foster: That might have been the closest anyone has come to beating Tia Santos in singles action, Scott. What a match.
Santos was handed the title as she slowly stood and held it above her head. The fans gave the two a standing ovation as Rouse was checked on and seemed to be okay. The show ended on Santos leaning on the ropes with the title in hand.