#4: August 22, 2018

Scott Parker: Hello one and all! We are four weeks away from Next Level: Ascension! Tonight we are one step closer and the start things off we have a little breaking news.

Gemma Foster: That’s right, Scott. We will find out who will be facing Casey Grey in the Primetime Championship next week!

Scott Parker: I’m sure Casey will be itching to find out.

Gemma Foster: As far as the Heavyweight Championship goes, it seems like management has something in mind but hasn’t spilled the beans yet.

Scott Parker: I have it on good authority that the tweeting between Empire Wrestling and Chelsea Pryce is more than just tweets and that EW has officially reached out about her possibly joining the roster.

Gemma Foster: Whatever they have planned we’ll find out in two weeks!

Kumquat Kid Vs. Brent Bradley

Bradley seemed distracted right from the start of the bell and the veteran Lewis took full advantage and rocked him with a spinning heel kick. Lewis jumped off the top ropes and took his opponent down with a flying headscissors. Bradley started to fight back with right hands and was able to connect with a DDT. Lewis climbed to his feet and ducked an incoming clothesline. The Kumquat Kid then hit the Misfit with a running elbow smash. This staggered Bradley and he looked out into the crowd as if he was lost. Lewis grabbed Bradley and connected with the Pez Dispenser (Cross Rhodes) and covered for a victory.

WINNER: Ryan Lewis, via pinfall @ 7:01

Believe in Kurt

Kurt Hullum is backstage.

Kurt Hullum: If you weren’t a believer, two weeks ago you were made one. I defeated a former EW Primetime Champion and I barely broke a sweat. Add in the fact that I didn’t lose in the two matches before that, and you have a recipe for success. And you know what, why not, just for fun I’ll remind you that I was the longest reigning BWF World Champion and I never even lost the title. However, I’m not gonna run around and whine and complain that the BWF Title was stolen from me. No, I’ll prove my worth to the powers that be and I’ll become the EW World Heavyweight Champion. If you ask me, I feel I’ve done so, so I truly am expecting to be involved with the EW Championship at Ascension. If for some reason I’m not, then I’ll live with it, because after all, we’re all living in the World of Kurt, and I’ll be knocking on the champion’s door to give them their eviction notice.

Kayla Taylor Vs. “Jew Blazer” Josh Goldstein

The fans were excited to see two former EW Tag Team Champions go at it as Goldstein made his return to the ring. There were dueling chants for the two as they match was about to start. Taylor tripped Goldstein up and quickly applied a leg lock, trying to work the knee. She applied a single crab but Goldstein was able to roll through and get some separation. Taylor grabbed him by the foot but Goldstein rocked her with a kick to the face. He then got to his feet and jumped up and took her down with a headscissors takedown. Both competitors rolled to their feet and Goldstein struck first with a hard forearm to the face. Taylor countered with a right hand of her own, then another, and another. Goldstein took the blows but seemed to get more fired up with each blow. On the fourth he pointed at her and dropped her with the Jewish Mallet (“Hulking out” followed by a Polish hammer). Goldstein pulled Taylor to her feet and sent her into the ropes. He charged and connected with a crossbody and hooked a leg for a cover but only got two. Taylor used the ropes to get to her feet and Goldstein charged and was sent over the top ropes, landing on his feet on the apron. Taylor grabbed Goldstein and connected with a rope assisted stunner that sent Goldstein to the floor. Taylor rolled out of the ring and pulled Goldstein up and rolled him into the ring. She slid in and went right into a cover for a two count. Taylor started to stomp on the mat as she wanted to hit her superkick. Goldstein got to a knee and Taylor looked for Stamp it Out (Superkick to opponent on knees) but Goldstein ducked and rolled Taylor up but only got two as she kicked out.

Gemma Foster: What a match!

They both got to their feet and Taylor charged and ran into a big boot. Goldstein saw his opening as he hit his Chutzpah Boot (Running bicycle kick) and followed it with the Dreidel Drop (Somersault Leg Drop). He hooked both legs and the fans counted along for the three count victory.

WINNER: “Jew Blazer” Josh Goldstein

The fans cheered as Goldstein celebrated his return in the ring.

Scott Parker: What a return for Goldstein here tonight.

Daniel Daemon Vs. Kaito Hirano

Daemon stood in the ring with a microphone. Just before he could speak Jace Markum jumped into the ring and hit Daemon in the back with a hard chairshot. Markum landed a second chairshot as the crowd booed. Kaito Hirano charged down the ramp and slid into the ring. He ducked a chairshot and lifted Markum on his shoulders and hit the Oyasumi [Goodnight] (Fireman's Carry Overhead Kick). Markum rolled out of the ring and Hirano turned to Daemon to check on him and he was hit with the Spinal Remains (Chokebreaker). Hirano rolled to the ropes and pulled himself up.

Gemma Foster: Daniel Daemon is not happy!

Daemon backed away from Hirano and pointed at the timekeeper. The referee checked on Daemon and sounded the bell.

Scott Parker: Looks like Daemon wants this match to happen.

Markum jumped onto the apron and had a microphone in hand.

Jace Markum: Daemon. Me, you, next week.

Daemon went for Markum and he jumped down and went towards the back. Daemon turned and went after him. Markum ran up the ramp as he turned back to Hirano. Hirano bowed to Daemon as Daemon turned and went to the back.

Gemma Foster: Maybe another day.

The Haters Vs. Talia Areano & Azruine Vebbins

Areano and Vebbins stood in the ring and talked strategy before the match started. They turned their attention to the top of the ramp as the Haters made their way to the ring. However, Gio DeLuca was without his partner.

Gio DeLuca: You know my name. You know what I do. I step into that ring and outperform anyone that thinks they can stand across from me. My name is Gio DeLuca and tonight I don’t need a partner to take on these two. My buddy Dom Salvatore and I agreed that his talents would be wasted.

DeLuca stepped into the ring and chuckled as he looked at Vebbins and Areano.

Gio DeLuca: I got made in Mexico plastic and Miss Not Quite Right here. You know what they’re doin’? They hatin’. You know they saying “they hate me cause they ain’t me”? Well they hatin’ me cause they can’t have me. They fugazi. And Gio? I’m a superstar, baby.

Gio turned to the ladies and Vebbins hit him with a double knee to the sternum. Gio staggered as she readied herself and dropped him with a superkick!

Gemma Foster: Looks like Azurine has heard enough.

Areano came flying off the top ropes and hit her Solar Shower (Double Stomp). DeLuca slowly climbed to his feet as Areano and Vebbins dropped him with a double DDT to finish Vebbins’ Sweetheart Sockhop. Vebbins rolled DeLuca over and picked up a victory.

WINNERS: Azurine Vebbins and Talia Areano

Hey Diddle, Diddle

Alicia walks through the back of the warehouse, carrying a drink and looks as if she’s ready for a match that she isn’t scheduled to have. She rounds a corner and bumps into Rune.

Rune Sigidottir: Alicia! What in the world are you doing in your wrestling gear? You don’t have a match tonight!

Alicia wipes her mouth with the back of her arm.

Alicia Monroe: Are you kiddin'? With the way my career has been nothin' but one surprise announcement after another? I wouldn’t be shocked at all to find out I’m in a royal rumble tonight.

Rune Sigidottir: Good point. None of that has anything to do with me, by the way.

Alicia shrugs, taking another sip of her drink.

Rune Sigidottir: Where’s your cousin?

Alicia shrugs.

Alicia Monroe: Don’t know. Somewhere? I mean, I know she’s here. We came here together.

Rune Sigidottir: I don’t need a repeat of last week. I don’t mind a little chaos now and then, but she needs to practice a little self-control in these…crazy days.

Alicia Monroe: You have no idea. I mean, she isn’t “lightin' candles and speakin' in strange tongues” crazy with this whole Primetime thing, but she’s getting there.

Rune Sigidottir: I guess I’ll go look for…there you are.

The camera pulls back and reveals Casey walking up next to Alicia.

Alicia Monroe: Oh, great. I may have just hit the start button on a “Won’t shut the hell up” machine.

Casey Grey: What am I supposed to do, Alicia? Just let this company walk all over me?

Alicia Monroe: Shut the hell up has a nice ring to it. Have you tried that?

Casey looks offended.

Casey Grey: Hey! What the hell, Alicia?! You’re supposed to be on my side! You’re supposed to have my back.

Alicia Monroe: I do. But now you’re just whinin’, Casey. That’s not you. You have a guaranteed title shot at Ascension, and as far as I can tell, you’re the only person on the roster that can say that out loud. Instead you’re squallin’ like a-

Casey gets in Alicia’s face. The two are maybe an inch apart.

Casey Grey: Squallin’?

Alicia Monroe: Squallin’. Like a kitten in a tree she can’t get out of.

Casey Grey: Mind that tone, cuz.

Alicia Monroe: Whatever, pussycat. Don’t you have a fiddle you should be playin’ while forks run around with spoons and cows jump moons?

Casey smirks at Alicia. Alicia mirrors the gesture before taking a sip of her drink.

Rune Sigidottir: All right, all right! Stop. You’re not going to fight each other. Casey, you have a match like, now, and Alicia, you should get ready for your buried alive match.

Alicia coughs and wipes her face again as Casey walks away.

Alicia Monroe: My what?!

Rune Sigidottir: Yeah. You haven’t heard? Sorry about that.

Rune follows Casey. The scene fades on Alicia as she tosses her drink into the trash.

Casey Grey Vs. Katie Shelley

The fans were crazy for the next match as both women came to the ring. The veteran Shelley stretched and jumped around getting fired up as Grey made her way to the ring.

Gemma Foster: This is a big match for both women tonight. Grey has already secured a chance at the Primetime Championship and going against a former World Champion in Shelley is huge. On the flipside you have Katie who is looking to prove she still belongs after stepping away from the ring to start a family.

The two met it the middle of the ring and quickly locked up. Grey quickly pulled Shelley close and drove a knee into his gut before tossing her against the ropes. Shelley came back quickly and hit a jumping clothesline that took Grey down. Shelley jumped up and quickly drove an elbow into the chest of the downed Grey. Both got to their feet and Grey pulled Shelley in again and this time drove an elbow into the arm of Shelley. Grey followed it up by flipping around and tried to locked Shelley into a cross armbreaker. Shelley struggled and managed to not allow her to lock it in and made it to the ropes. Both competitors got to their feet Grey cracked a smile and Shelley readied. Grey charged and was driven to the mat with a spinning sidewalk slam. Shelley rolled into a cover for a quick two count. Shelley pulled Grey to her feet and landed a boot to the gut. Shelley pulled her into position for the Junk Yard Jam (Pedigree) but Grey flipped her over her back and Shelley went over the top ropes and hit hard on the apron before falling to the mat.

Scott Parker: Katie just landed hard on the apron.

Gemma Foster: Looks like she landed on her arm and shoulder.

Shelley appeared to be in a bit of pain as she pulled herself to her feet. Grey looked for a baseball slide but Shelley dodge it and pulled Grey out of the ring. Shelley grabbed Grey and sent her hard, back first, into the barricade. Shelley grabbed Grey and used the apron to assist her in hitting the Giga Impact (Sliced Bread #2). Shelley pulled Grey up and rolled her into the ring and climbed in after her. Shelley seemed to be favoring her arm and rolled Grey up but couldn’t hook a leg and only got a two count. Shelley looked around and took a second to breathe. Grey and Shelley both got to their feet and Shelley looked for her Dazzling Gleam (Tornado DDT) but Grey pushed her away. Shelley landed on her feet and charged at Grey but was hit with the Breath Mint (Forearm Smash). Shelley was staggered as Grey lifted her up for a sidewalk slam. Shelley countered into the Aurora Veil (Black Widow Submission) but with the injury to her arm she couldn’t keep the move locked in long. Shelley slipped off Grey but some damage had been done. Shelley started to climb to the top ropes but her foot was pushed off as Grey desperately dove at her. Grey climbed up and hit an arm drag off the top ropes and locked in the Torque Wrench (Kneeling Fujiwara Armbar), forcing Shelley to tap.

WINNER: Casey Grey, via submission @ 14:18

Scott Parker: Katie taps!

Gemma Foster: A classic put on by these two here tonight.

Grey motions for the gold around her waist and looks around the Warehouse. Shelley sat in the corner and just nodded her way before Grey left the ring. The referee went to check on Shelley but she refused to be looked at as she rolled out of the ring and said hi to a few fans before heading to the back.

AJ Adams Vs. Bailey Mayhew

The fans were buzzing for the in-ring debut of AJ Adams as he hit the stage and made his way to the ring. Mayhew seemed fired up for the match as she came out next. The match got underway with Mayhew trying to catch Adams off guard with a few right hands and a vicious uppercut. Adams was stunned and Mayhew quickly connected with the Into the Sunset (Asai DDT). Mayhew seemed shocked and quickly scurried to the top ropes but Adams rolled out of the ring and walked a few steps up the ramp. He looked around dazed and shocked as he took the time to regroup. Mayhew jumped down from the top and was excited in the ring.

Gemma Foster: Go after him!

Adams climbed into the ring and gave Mayhew a small applause. She charged back at him but this time ran into a hard back elbow to the face. He flowed behind her and hit her with a German suplex. The two stood and this time Adams lifted her into a suplex. He held on and rolled up, hitting a second suplex. He lifted Mayhew up and lifted Mayhew for a third suplex but Mayhew was able to counter into a small package and shocked Adams once again when she got a two count. Adams got to his feet and leveled Mayhew with a clothesline. He seemed irritated and off balance as he walked around the ring.

Scott Parker: It’s been a while since AJ has stepped into a wrestling ring and he’s a bit flustered here tonight with the more than capable Bailey.

Adams pulled Mayhew to her feet sent her into the corner. Adams charged and hit a big corner splash and followed it up with a running bulldog. He once again pulled Mayhew up and hit a lifting knee as she was bent over. Adams sent Mayhew into the ropes and lifted her with a back body drop on her return. She started to get to her feet and he looked for the Eat It (Fame-Asser) but Mayhew moved out of the way and hit the Hurricane Bailey (Cyclone Kick). He was staggered and it allowed Mayhew to roll him up from behind with a school boy that got her a two count. Both competitors rolled to their feet and Mayhew stepped up to Adams and walked right into the Last Call (Codebreaker) out of nowhere! Adams got to his feet and fell into the corner as he looked over at Mayhew.

Gemma Foster: I think he’s about to make Bailey part of the legacy.

“Confident” by Demi Lovato kicked up as Adams started looking around for Emily Corlen. Corlen was standing on the announcers table with her arms outstretched. Adams went to charge towards Corlen but was hit with Mayhew’s Lockjaw (Stunner). She covered and picked up a big pinfall victory.

WINNER: Bailey Mayhew, via pinfall @ 11:34

Mayhew celebrated and quickly rolled out of the ring as Corlen jumped in with a chair. Adams got to his feet but was quickly dropped with a chairshot to the head.

Scott Parker: Emily Corlen sending another statement to AJ Adams here tonight.

Corlen dropped the chair and slowly pulled Adams to his feet. She put him into position by the chair and drove him face first with her Foregone Conclusion (Skull Crushing Finale). The fans booed as Corlen stood over Adams.

Directions to the Next Level

Somewhere backstage, we see the bottom of a ladder. The camera tilts up rung by rung until the entirety of Zoey Mathews-Mitchell is in frame. She’s stood a few rungs down from the top, and is leaning forward, her arms folded on the top of the ladder.

Zoey Mathews-Mitchell: Here’s a quick recap: two noteworthy matches against Alex Silver, neither with a definitive winner, followed by participating in the Main Event two weeks ago, which all leads to tonight, where I had to scour for a ladder just to be featured on the show. I get it, not everyone can wrestle on every single show, but with Next Level: Ascension quickly approaching, not having a match tonight is a bit worrisome. It gets more worrisome after thinking that I’m going to be having a respectful rivalry with Alex Silver, I’m suddenly put into this six person tag, where the people that I actually get along with were on the other team. So here I was thinking I had some sort of direction, to seemingly having no direction. I am atop this ladder because at Ascension, I’m doing just that. It seems that I have to give myself direction, so here’s some ideas that I have: A match with Alex Silver with a definitive winner, an opportunity for a championship, a match that allows me and my kendo stick friend to let out our frustrations, or best yet… all of the above. I’m a reasonable person, I have a bit of patience, but if I have to take matters into my own hands, I’ll be more than happy to. At Next Level, I will be Ascending.


Johnny Maverick Vs. F.M. Young

Scott Parker: It’s been a surprisingly quiet week from both Johnny and F.M. I hear they’ve both been focused on getting ready for this match that could potentially have implications for the Heavyweight Championship.

Young and Maverick stood across from each other and both competitors were getting cheers from the fans. Young checked the tap on her hands and then stepped into the middle of the ring as if it were a big time fight. Maverick stepped right up and the two started to exchange blows. Maverick pushed Young away and she came right back at him with the Man-Machine Interface (Discus Clothesline). Maverick rolled to his feet and caught a charging Young and hit her with a belly to belly suplex. Maverick pulled Young up to her feet and connected with a northern lights suplex.

Gemma Foster: Johnny Maverick showing off his suplex abilities.

Young got to her feet and Maverick wanted a German suplex but Young flipped behind him and landed on her feet. Maverick turned around and she pulled him in and hit the Superchick (The Shiranui). Young was fired up and pulled Maverick to his feet and hit an elbow smash to the face. She went to follow it up with a DDT but Maverick drove her into the turnbuckle. He speared his shoulder into her midsection once again and then set her up into position for a powerbomb. He hit her with a corner powerbomb and she staggered into the middle of the ring. Maverick lifted Young up and delivered the Brain Damage (Jumping Brainbuser). Maverick rolled Young into a cover and picked up a two count as she just kicked out before three. The fans cheered on as Maverick pulled Young up to her feet slowly.

Scott Parker: I don’t know how F.M. is still standing after that.

Maverick sent Young into the ropes and looked for a Lou Thesz Press but Young countered into a gutbuster. Both competitors were down and slow to get to their feet. Young was up first and tried to get to the top ropes but Maverick hit her with a hard palm strike. He climbed up after her and started to look for a double underhook suplex but Young started to fight out.

Gemma Foster: I think Johnny wants to hit his Perfect Armbar from the top rope!

Scott Parker: They’re in the high risk category for sure right now!

Young hit a few hard headbutts and tried lifting Maverick onto her shoulders while on the top rope but he struggled away. Maverick started to look for a belly to belly off the top ropes but Young caught him with a hard elbow to the side of the head. And then a second. And a third. Maverick fell off the top ropes and hit the mat. Young positioned herself and dove, hitting the Battery Powered Bombshell (Shooting Star Senton). She rolled Maverick into a cover and got a two count as Maverick somehow kicked out just in time.

Gemma Foster: I don’t believe it!

Scott Parker: I don’t think the fans can either.

Young looked at the referee in shock as she started to stand. Maverick got to his feet and hit Young with the OFMF (Running Palm Strike) as she turned back to him. Maverick pulled Young in and delivered his The Johnny Special (German Suplex rolled into a Dragon Suplex rolled into a Half-and-half Suplex) and arched into a pin attempt and got two. Now Maverick couldn’t believe that Young kicked out. Maverick readied himself as he patted his knee. Young slowly got to her feet and Maverick came charging with his bicycle knee strike but she dodge it. Young dug down deep and lifted him up onto her shoulders and hit him with Boom Pow (GTS)! Young fell onto Maverick and the referee counted the three fall.

WINNER: F.M. Young, via pinfall @ 22:09

Gemma Foster: F.M. just pulled out a desperation move from her past and picked up a huge win!

The fans quickly busted out a “that was awesome” chant in reference to the match. It morphed into a “fight forever” chant as Young pulled herself up. Maverick was helped up by the referee and the two shook hands in the middle of the ring.

Scott Parker: And a show of sportsmanship here tonight.

Maverick can be heard saying “rematch soon” and giving Young a quick pat on the back before leaving the ring. Young looked around and climbed to the top ropes as she celebrated before we went off-air.