4CW Presents... Revival XVI (April 30th, 2023)

4CW PRESENTS… REVIVAL XVI PRE-SHOW
April 30, 2023
Live from Principality Stadium - Cardiff, Wales

The screen is black. The first notes of REVIVAL THEME begin to play, a slow, atmospheric build. The Revival XVI logo fades into the center of the screen. As the guitars kick in, the screen bursts to life with a rapid-fire montage of 4CW history: classic clips of Drake, Wolfbaine, and [chux] mix with modern moments—Paige winning the World Title, White’s Ironman victory, Lotus winning at WAR V.

The video package climaxes with quick cuts of every competitor on tonight's card, their faces a mask of intense focus. The theme song swells as the final shot lingers on the 4CW Undisputed World Championship.

The camera fades in on a wide shot of the magnificent Principality Stadium. The doors have just opened, and the first wave of fans can be seen finding their seats, a buzz of palpable excitement in the air. We cut to the Pre-Show panel, a sleek desk set up on a platform overlooking the entrance ramp.

Gabriel Crowe: Welcome everyone to the Revival XVI Pre-Show! I’m Gabriel Crowe, and for the next hour, we will be breaking down the biggest card in 4CW history. The doors are open, the fans are pouring in, and the atmosphere here in Cardiff, Wales is absolutely electric.

Olivia Ito: It truly is, Gabe. We are just an hour away from a night that will define the future of this company. From a historic Triple Threat main event to a war inside Hell in a Cell, every single match tonight has career-altering implications.

Crowe: And of course, Revival is also a night to honor the past. Let’s take a look at the legendary names being immortalized this year, the 4CW Hall of Fame, Class of 2023.

The full Hall of Fame video package for Scott Phoenix, Ray Jeffrey, James Roberts, Umbra Maxima, and Dark Lotus plays.

Ito: An incredible and well-deserved class. You can just feel the history in that package.

Crowe: Absolutely. Speaking of history, we have a very special interview. Earlier today, I sat down with the team competing in arguably the most emotional match of the night: “The Dragons,” Rhys Cain and Seren Mali.

The camera cuts to a pre-taped interview segment. Rhys Cain and Seren Mali are sitting side-by-side. Cain is dressed in a simple black t-shirt, his demeanor serious and focused. Seren is vibrant, a confident smile on her face.

Crowe: Rhys, Seren, thank you for joining me. Tonight, you team up for the first time on the grandest stage of them all. Rhys, a month ago, you seemed like a man at the end of his rope. What’s changed?

Cain: Everything. For years, I told myself that this business was all that mattered. I sacrificed… everything… for it. And I ended up with nothing. Sure, I can list my 4CW achievements and yeah, I am proud of them. But I have four children, and I only ever saw three of them. When I saw the Crows standing over my daughter… something finally clicked. Tonight isn’t about winning a match for my legacy. It’s about winning a fight for my family.

Crowe: Seren, the Murder of Crows have been mocking your family for weeks. What is your mindset heading into this match?

Seren: My mindset is the same as it was the day I walked into this company. I’m here to prove I belong. The Crows think I’m just a kid. They think they can get in my head by talking about my dad. They’re wrong. Tonight, they’re not just facing a seventeen-year-old girl. They’re facing a Dragon. And they’re going to get burned.

Cain puts a hand on his daughter’s shoulder, a small, proud smile on his face. They share a look of unity. The camera cuts back to the live panel.

Ito: You can see it right there. That is a team. That is a family, finally united. The Murder of Crows may have bitten off more than they can chew.

Crowe: From one emotional story to another. My colleague, Leon Teller, caught up with the two of the three competitors in our colossal main event.

The camera cuts to Leon Teller backstage.

Teller: Thanks, Gabe. I’m here with the #1 contender, “Top Gun” Tommy Young. Tommy, this is not the World Title match you envisioned. How has Madeline Phoenix’s involvement changed your preparation?

Young: It changes everything. I was ready for a wrestling match with my best friend. A battle of respect. But Madeline… she’s turned this into something ugly. She wants chaos. But she’s forgotten who she’s in the ring with. I’ve been in WAR matches, I’ve won the Gauntlet twice and beaten her both times to do it. Chaos is my home away from home. Tonight, I tune out the noise. I have respect for Brian, I have nothing but contempt for Madeline, but in that ring, they are both just obstacles in the way of my destiny.

The camera cuts to a different backstage location. Brian White is standing by, the World Title over his shoulder.

Teller: And I am now with the champion, Brian White. Brian, your friendship with Tommy is well-documented, but your frustration with this situation has been clear. What is your final message to both of your opponents?

White: My message is simple. Madeline Phoenix wanted my attention. She has it. Tommy Young wants this championship. He’s earned the right to try and take it. But this is my title. This is my era, boyo. Tonight, friendship and grudges get left on the ramp. I’m walking into that Triple Threat as the champion, and I’m walking out the exact same way. It’s really just that simple.

The camera cuts back to the panel.

Crowe: Three competitors, three different mindsets, all focused on one prize. The main event tonight is going to be something special. What is the mindset of the third competitor, Madeline Phoenix? Well, that’s hard to say. We were unable to track her down for an interview, but her actions of late have made it clear she’s done being respectful. Regardless, the triple threat tonight is going to be special.

Ito: And speaking of special, we have a video package for what might be the most bizarre match on the card: the Lumberjack Match between Quentin Cosmo and Richard Estevez.

Crowe: From a match built on career-threatening stakes to one built on pure, chaotic absurdity. Richard Estevez has been chasing Quentin Cosmo for months, only to be met with time-traveling shenanigans at every turn.

Ito: Well tonight, there are no shenanigans. There are no replacements. It's one-on-one, with one major twist: the ring will be surrounded by lumberjacks hand-picked by Quentin Cosmo himself.

The camera cuts to a pre-taped video package. A shaky, handheld camera follows Richard Estevez backstage as he searches locker rooms.

Estevez: Cosmo! I know you're in here! Stop hiding behind your little toys and face me like a man!

The screen glitches. We are now with Quentin Cosmo in his spaceship. He's polishing his time-travel belt and looking directly into the camera.

Cosmo: A Lumberjack match? Fine. But if you think I'm going to surround the ring with a bunch of 4CW meatheads, you're mistaken. I've travelled all of space and time. I know the best. I'm bringing in the most elite, the most unpredictable, the most legendary lumberjacks from across the entire multiverse!

The official match video package for Cosmo vs. Estevez plays, scored to "Sabotage" by Beastie Boys. It recaps Estevez's frustration and Cosmo's multiverse tricks, ending with Cosmo's promise of absurd lumberjacks.

Crowe: You know, I have no idea what to expect from that one, but I know it will be memorable!

The camera cuts to the backstage area. The Virgin Rose is shadowboxing, preparing for her TLC match later tonight. Her Hardcore Championship is sitting on a nearby crate. Suddenly, The Supergroup enters. Zak E. Justice is flanked by Nik Waverly and Rane.

Waverly: Rosie, baby! Looking good. Just wanted to stop by and offer you an exclusive spot in The Supergroup. We feel your… brand… would be a perfect fit for our portfolio.

Rose: Piss off, you Ken dolls. I’m busy.

While Rose is distracted by Waverly, Zak E. Justice quietly sneaks behind her. A referee in a Supergroup t-shirt just so happens to be walking by. Justice rolls up a shocked Virgin Rose from behind! The ref slides in and makes a lightning-fast count! ONE… TWO… THREE!

Carson: Here is your winner, and the NEEEW 4CW Hardcore Champion… ZAK E. JUSTICE!!

The Supergroup grabs the title and celebrates wildly, running off down the hall before a furious Virgin Rose can recover.

Ito: Are you kidding me?! He just stole the Hardcore Championship!
Crowe: That’s the 24/7 rule for you! We have a new champion in Zak E. Justice, and The Virgin Rose's reign ends just moments before Revival truly gets underway! What a chaotic start to the night!
Ito: Speaking of chaos, Gabe, there is one man debuting on the main card tonight who seems to be the complete antithesis of it. For months, we have only seen cryptic messages from a man calling himself "The Wanderer."

Crowe: That's right, Olivia. His name is Jaku Kal, and his mission, in his own words, is to "light the torch" and bring salvation. Tonight, he faces the leader of a faction that has defined chaos for years, Eli Waters of The Black Flame. Let's take a look at the man who will make his in-ring debut tonight.

The camera cuts to a cavernous area in an unknown location. The flickering of ancient torches light the cave and a man sits on the ground, his long, dark dreads hanging over his face, adorned with a bushy beard. He dons flowing robes that cover his crossed legs completely.

Jaku Kal: Today, I want to tell you a story. A story of a great, ancient tree. Its roots spread out for miles and its branches supplied enough fruit to feed a kingdom in perpetuity.This great ancient tree was wise and good and it had seen centuries of men, both good and bad, come from and go back to the Earth.

That ancient tree is now gone. It was taken, robbed of its gifts to others and itself, and forsaken for greed and destruction. A seed from that ancient tree lives in each one of us. And the choices we make, determine whether that seed will grow and blossom or wither and die.

I say all this because it is important to know where I come from. I come from an ancient heritage, not unlike the great, ancient tree. And I know that my fate is to bloom, much like it did, and protect the good in the world from the evil.

My name is Jaku Kal. I am The Wanderer. And I will walk any path that leads us all to salvation. Light the Torch.

We switch again where the new Hardcore Champion, Zak E. Justice, is celebrating obnoxiously with his faction mates.

Justice: See? That’s how a real champion does it! I am the greatest Hardcore Champion in history! I am a legend! I am… supreme!

He turns a corner and bumps right into the massive chest of Supreme, who is walking by. Justice shoves him.

Justice: Hey! Watch where you’re going, old timer! You’re looking at a real champion now!

Supreme doesn’t even flinch. He looks down at Justice, then at the title, then back at Justice. He snatches the title from Justice’s hands. Justice protests, but Supreme silences him with a single, devastating right hand that knocks him out cold. Supreme tosses the title in the air, catches it, and places a boot on Justice’s chest. The same referee from before, looking terrified, hesitantly slides in and counts the pin. ONE… TWO… THREE.

Carson:: Here is your winner, and the NEEEW 4CW Hardcore Champion… SUPREME!!

Supreme picks up the title, looks at it with mild amusement, drapes it over his shoulder, and walks off without a word, stepping over the unconscious Justice.

Crowe: …Well. It appears we have ANOTHER new Hardcore Champion.

Ito: And his name is Supreme! What a chaotic start to the night! That’s all the time we have! The main show for Revival XVI starts, right now

===

4CW PRESENTS… REVIVAL XVI
April 30, 2023
Live from Principality Stadium - Cardiff, Wales

The screen is black. A single, haunting piano note hangs in the air. The opening synth line of "Throne" by Bring Me The Horizon begins to pulse as the Revival XVI logo materializes in the center of the screen.

As the vocals start, "So you can throw me to the wolves...", the screen explodes into a rapid-fire montage. We see DARK LOTUS and JON VIPER, their faces inches apart, screaming at each other. We see DIRK MEYER, a desperate look in his eyes, clutching the ropes. We see a bloodied RHYS CAIN, pulling himself up, his daughter SEREN MALI watching from the corner. We see TOMMY YOUNG flying through the air. We see MADELINE PHOENIX, a cruel smirk on her face. We see BRIAN WHITE, roaring, the World Title held high.

The song's chorus explodes as the montage kicks into high gear, showcasing the key moments from every major feud: the chair shots, the low blows, the contract signings, the challenges, and the staredowns. The screen flashes with the key match graphics: TITLE VS CAREER. HELL IN A CELL. TLC. TRIPLE THREAT.

The song reaches its climax as we see a final, slow-motion shot of Brian White hoisting the Undisputed World Championship into the air. The screen cuts to black, and the song cuts out.

The camera fades into a live shot of the sold-out Principality Stadium, a sea of over 70,000 fans roaring as a massive pyro display erupts from the stage and the roof of the stadium. The energy is absolutely nuclear.

Phoenix: Welcome, everyone, to the biggest night in our sport. This is the grandest stage of them all. This... is 4CW REVIVAL! I’m Scott Phoenix, and alongside me for this historic night are Ray Jeffrey and James Roberts!
Jeffrey: Historic is right, Scott! I've got goosebumps! Or that might be a nervous rash, I'm not sure, but either way, I AM PUMPED!
Roberts: You can feel the energy in this stadium. Every single match on this card tonight has the potential to be a show-stealer, and we are kicking things off with one of the highest-stakes matches in this company's history.
Phoenix: In our main event, Brian White defends the Undisputed World Championship versus protege Tommy Young and adversary Madeline Phoenix! Which one of these goliaths will take 4CW’s biggest crown?
Roberts: Dark Lotus and Jon Viper, brothers at arms, will go to war one last time with each other, Hell in a Cell for the 4CW Universal Championship!
Jeffrey: It’s a TLC fatal 4 way for the Tag Team Championships! Neon Moon defend against Hazel & Rose, Umbra Maxima and the Synth City Thrillers! But will they extend their record-breaking tag title reign, or will it end here tonight?
Phoenix: We also have the debut of “The Wanderer” Jaku Kal, who will take on Black Flame leader Eli Waters!
Roberts: Rhys Cain will team with his daughter Seren Mali for the first time ever in a highly personal STREET FIGHT with the Murder of Crows!
Jeffrey: Not only that, but Antivists will defend their Franchise Championship in trios action against The Snake Pit!
Phoenix: All this to come and more! Ladies and gentlemen, people of all ages, welcome to REVIVAL XVI!!

Carson: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! And it is an ANTE UP match! The winner will receive the 4CW Custom Cup Championship... the loser's career will be OVER!

The screen is black. A single, haunting piano note hangs in the air. The opening synth line of "Throne" by Bring Me The Horizon begins to pulse as the Revival XVI logo materializes in the center of the screen.

As the vocals start, "So you can throw me to the wolves...", the screen explodes into a rapid-fire montage. We see DARK LOTUS and JON VIPER, their faces inches apart, screaming at each other. We see DIRK MEYER, a desperate look in his eyes, clutching the ropes. We see a bloodied RHYS CAIN, pulling himself up, his daughter SEREN MALI watching from the corner. We see TOMMY YOUNG flying through the air. We see MADELINE PHOENIX, a cruel smirk on her face. We see BRIAN WHITE, roaring, the World Title held high.

The song's chorus explodes as the montage kicks into high gear, showcasing the key moments from every major feud: the chair shots, the low blows, the contract signings, the challenges, and the staredowns. The screen flashes with the key match graphics: TITLE VS CAREER. HELL IN A CELL. TLC. TRIPLE THREAT.

The song reaches its climax as we see a final, slow-motion shot of Brian White hoisting the Undisputed World Championship into the air. The screen cuts to black, and the song cuts out.

The camera fades into a live shot of the sold-out Principality Stadium, a sea of over 70,000 fans roaring as a massive pyro display erupts from the stage and the roof of the stadium. The energy is absolutely nuclear.

Phoenix: Welcome, everyone, to the biggest night in our sport. This is the grandest stage of them all. This... is 4CW REVIVAL! I’m Scott Phoenix, and alongside me for this historic night are Ray Jeffrey and James Roberts!
Jeffrey: Historic is right, Scott! I've got goosebumps! Or that might be a nervous rash, I'm not sure, but either way, I AM PUMPED!
Roberts: You can feel the energy in this stadium. Every single match on this card tonight has the potential to be a show-stealer, and we are kicking things off with one of the highest-stakes matches in this company's history.
Phoenix: In our main event, Brian White defends the Undisputed World Championship versus protégé Tommy Young and adversary Madeline Phoenix! Which one of these goliaths will take 4CW’s biggest crown?
Roberts: Dark Lotus and Jon Viper, brothers at arms, will go to war one last time with each other, Hell in a Cell for the 4CW Universal Championship!
Jeffrey: It’s a TLC fatal 4 way for the Tag Team Championships! Neon Moon defend against Hazel & Rose, Umbra Maxima and the Synth City Thrillers! But will they extend their tag title reign, or will it end here tonight?
Phoenix: We also have the debut of “The Wanderer” Jaku Kal, who will take on Black Flame leader Eli Waters!
Roberts: Rhys Cain will team with his daughter Seren Mali for the first time ever in a highly personal match with the Murder of Crows!
Jeffrey: Not only that, but Antivists will defend their Franchise Championship in trios action against The Snake Pit!
Phoenix: All this to come and more! Ladies and gentlemen, people of all ages, welcome to REVIVAL XVI!!

Carson: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! And it is an ANTE UP match! The winner will receive the 4CW Custom Cup Championship... the loser's career will be OVER!

The 4CWtron fades to black. The quiet, tense opening riff of "The Pretender" by Foo Fighters begins to play. We see a shot of Xavier Avana, the Custom Cup held proudly on his shoulder.

Avana:: I pride myself on being a fighting champion... a future built on honor and respect!

The screen cuts to Dirk Meyer and Senecca, a smug look on Meyer's face.

Meyer: Honor? Respect? Kid, those are words losers use to make themselves feel better. That Custom Cup is coming home with a real champion!

The music builds. We see the clip from the March Storm Front: Dirk Meyer vs. Amelia Warhawk. Meyer tries to use the ropes for a pin, but the referee catches him. He argues, and Warhawk rolls him up for the shock victory.

Phoenix: Meyer's cheating backfired! Warhawk got the upset! That's one loss for Dirk Meyer! His career is now on the line with every match!

The song's chorus explodes: "What if I say I'm not like the others?!". We cut to the post-match confrontation. A furious Meyer is in the ring. Xavier Avana's music hits and he appears on the stage.

Avana: I've lost all respect for you, Dirk! You're a disgrace! There's only one way you can earn back a shred of respect and get the title shot you so desperately want... At Revival... I'll put up my Custom Cup... you put up your career. TITLE versus CAREER!

The screen shows a dramatic close-up of Meyer's face, a mix of rage and desperation as he realizes he's been cornered. The music drives forward with a fast-paced montage: Avana hitting the Bent Outta Shape. Meyer locking in a submission. Senecca interfering at ringside. Avana hitting the Burn Out. Meyer hitting The Eclipse. The screen flashes with text: WINNER TAKE ALL. The final shot is the official match graphic as the song hits its final, crashing chord.

Phoenix: A story of a proud young champion and a legendary veteran with his back against the wall. The stakes could not possibly be higher.

”Step” by Ministry hits the PA system. Dirk Meyer and Senecca emerge from the back, dressed in matching black and silver gear. Meyer looks supremely confident, almost arrogant, while Senecca is the stoic enforcer. They walk slowly, soaking in the boos.

Carson: Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by Senecca... from Valhalla, New York, weighing in at 240lbs... DIRK MEYER!!

Phoenix: This is it for Dirk Meyer. For all his schemes and all his shortcuts, it all comes down to this. Win, and he walks out a champion. Lose, and his twenty-year career in 4CW is over.

”You Ain’t Ready” by Skillet erupts, and the crowd comes unglued. Xavier Avana appears on the stage, the 4CW Custom Cup Championship around his waist. He looks incredibly focused, the weight of the moment clear on his face.

Carson: And his opponent, from Atlanta, Georgia, weighing in at 230lbs... he is the 4CW CUSTOM CUP CHAMPION… XAVIEEEEEER … AVANA!!

Jeffrey: Look at the kid, all serious. He has no idea the buzzsaw he's about to walk into. Meyer is a Hall of Famer, a legend. He's not losing his career tonight.
Phoenix: Oh, make no mistake: Avana knows exactly what he’s walking into…

Avana marches to the ring, handing his title to the referee, Anna Molly. She shows it to Meyer, who just smiles and then holds it high for the capacity crowd. The bell rings, and we are underway.

4CW Custom Cup Championship - Ante Up Match (Title vs. Career)
Xavier Avana (c) vs. Dirk Meyer (w/ Senecca)

The two men circle each other. Meyer immediately tries to play mind games, offering a clean break and then attempting a cheap shot, but Avana is ready for it. Avana uses his superior athleticism to out-wrestle Meyer in the early going, hitting a series of deep arm drags and a beautiful dropkick that sends Meyer scrambling to the outside to consult with Senecca.

Meyer re-enters and slows the pace, turning it into a gritty, technical brawl. He targets Avana's leg, trying to ground the bigger man and neutralize his high-impact offense. At ringside, Senecca is a constant presence, shouting instructions and trying to distract the referee at every opportunity. Meyer locks in a chin lock, grinding Avana down.

Roberts: A classic veteran strategy from Dirk Meyer. He knows he can't match Avana's speed, so he's trying to take the base out from under him.

Avana fights back, creating separation with an enziguri. He starts to build momentum, hitting a Northern Lights Suplex for a two-count. He signals for the end, setting up for the Bent Outta Shape. As he charges, Senecca gets up on the apron, directly in his path. Avana stops short, arguing with Senecca. This is the opening Meyer needed. He attacks Avana from behind, hitting a vicious chop block on the previously injured knee.

Meyer is now in complete control. He viciously targets the knee, wrapping it around the ring post and stomping on it. He locks in a Figure-Four Leglock. Avana screams in agony but refuses to tap, finally managing to reverse the pressure, forcing Meyer to break the hold.

Phoenix: The heart of a champion on display from Xavier Avana, but that knee is in serious trouble.

Meyer is now in complete control. He viciously targets the knee, wrapping it around the ring post and stomping on it. He locks in a Figure-Four Leglock. Avana screams in agony but refuses to tap, finally managing to reverse the pressure, forcing Meyer to break the hold.

Phoenix: The heart of a champion on display from Xavier Avana, but that knee is in in serious trouble.

Meyer doesn't give him an inch of breathing room. As Avana uses the ropes to pull himself up, Meyer charges and delivers a brutal chop block to the injured knee, sending the champion sprawling back to the canvas. Meyer drags Avana to the center of the ring and begins to methodically stomp on the knee, a cruel smirk on his face as he hears Avana's cries of pain.

Jeffrey: This is vintage Dirk Meyer! Smart, methodical, and vicious! He's taking the champion apart, piece by piece!

Meyer ascends to the second rope, looking to add insult to injury. He leaps off, attempting a diving stomp to the knee, but Avana manages to roll out of the way at the last second!

Meyer lands hard on his feet, jarring his own leg. Avana, seeing his first real opening in minutes, uses his good leg to launch himself forward with a desperate dropkick that connects with Meyer's head.

Both men are down. The crowd tries to rally the champion. Avana, feeding off the energy, is the first to his feet, but he is clearly favoring his injured leg, unable to put his full weight on it. He hobbles towards Meyer, who is just getting to his knees, and starts to unload with a series of hard right hands.

Meyer, frustrated, goes for his finisher, The Eclipse. Avana, running on pure instinct, shoves him off. Meyer stumbles, and Avana hobbles forward, hitting the Bent Outta Shape out of nowhere! He collapses onto Meyer for the cover! ONE... TWO... THR--Senecca pulls the referee out of the ring!

The crowd rains down boos as Senecca argues with the referee on the floor. Avana, furious, gets to his feet and yells at Senecca through the ropes. The referee wants to disqualify, but Avana tells him to let the match continue. While the ref’s back is turned, Meyer, who was playing possum, crawls over to the timekeeper's area. He grabs the Custom Cup championship belt.

The referee turns his attention to Senecca. Avana turns around just as Meyer swings the belt, cracking him square in the head! Avana is out cold! Meyer quickly tosses the belt out of the ring, hiding the evidence. He drags Avana's limp body to the center of the ring and hits The Eclipse. He makes the cover as Senecca throws the dazed referee back into the ring. ONE... TWO... THREE!

Carson: Here is your winner, and the NEEEW 4CW Custom Cup Champion... DIRK MEYER!!

”Step” by Ministry blares through the speakers as S&M celebrate their ill-gotten victory. Meyer is handed the Custom Cup and he snatches it from the referee's hands, holding it high in the air as Senecca raises his arm. They mock the booing Cardiff crowd, laughing at their anger and pointing at the fallen Avana.

Jeffrey: HE DID IT! I TOLD YOU! VETERAN INSTINCT! A Hall of Famer is once again a champion in 4CW, and his career is saved! That's what you call a win-win!
Phoenix: He's a cheat, Ray! He and Senecca stole that championship! This is a disgrace to the title and to the legacy of every man who has held it before him!
Roberts: Xavier Avana put up an incredible fight, but the numbers game was just too much to overcome tonight. A heartbreaking loss for the now-former champion.

Meyer drapes the title over his shoulder and he and Senecca exit the ring, walking backwards up the ramp, never taking their eyes off the carnage they've caused. In the center of the ring, a devastated Xavier Avana slowly begins to pull himself up using the ropes, the realization of his loss washing over him. The camera lingers on his face, a mask of disappointment and disbelief, as the new champion's music fades and we go to a break.

4CW Tag Team Championships - TLC match
Neon Moon © vs Synth City Thrillers vs Umbra Maxima vs Hazel & Rose

The camera fades from the image of a dejected Xavier Avana. The arena goes dark for a moment before the frantic, driving opening riff of "The Violence" by Rise Against kicks in. The 4CWtron explodes to life with the official match graphic: 4-WAY TAG TEAM TLC MATCH.

The video cuts to a shot of the 4CW Tag Team titles hanging high above the ring. The music swells.

"ARE WE NOT GOOD ENOUGH?!"

Quick, hard cuts showcase the challengers. We see UMBRA MAXIMA hitting the Lunata Nusquam Arcus, a display of pure, dominant power. The screen flashes with their Hall of Fame graphic.

"ARE WE NOT BRAVE ENOUGH?!"

Cut to THE VIRGIN ROSE & WITCH HAZEL. Rose is smashing someone with a chair. Hazel is laughing maniacally, covered in thumbtacks. It's pure, unadulterated chaos.

"IS THE VIOLENCE IN OUR NATURE, JUST THE IMAGE OF OUR MAKER?!"

Cut to SYNTH CITY THRILLERS. Reuben Kojo hits the Kojo Kick. Devon Drummond locks in The Padlock. They are focused, technical, and hungry.

The song's chorus hits a crescendo as we cut to the champions, NEON MOON. We see Pilgrim Paige and Kinzy Kane hitting the Asteroid Shower in perfect sync, their faces a mask of babyface fire and determination. The screen flashes with Paige's Grand Slam Champion credentials.

The montage becomes a chaotic blur of ladders, tables, and chairs being used as weapons by all eight competitors from past matches. Bodies crash through tables. Wrestlers are hit with chairs. Someone is thrown off a ladder. The screen flashes text between the violent clips: NO RULES. ONE TEAM FINDS GLORY.

The video package ends with a final, dramatic shot of the tag team titles hanging in the spotlight as the song hits its final chord. We cut back to the live arena.
Phoenix: An incredible look at the four top teams in our division. Any one of them could walk out of here as champions tonight.

Roberts: In a match this chaotic, it's not about who is the best team, but who is the most resilient—and maybe the most ruthless.

The arena lights cut out, plunging the Principality Stadium into darkness. A low, pulsating synth beat begins to thrum through the PA system. On the massive 4CWtron, a digital landscape materializes—a neon grid stretching into an infinite, dark horizon, reminiscent of a classic 80s sci-fi movie.

Beams of electric blue and hot pink laser light begin to slice through the darkness of the arena, crisscrossing over the crowd and forming a tunnel of light down the entrance ramp. Thick, low-lying fog begins to pour from the stage, hugging the floor.

”Cyber Attack” by Infraction explodes through the speakers. Through the smoke and lasers, two figures emerge. It’s Reuben Kojo and Devon Drummond. They are decked out in spectacular, one-night-only gear inspired by the film Tron. Their black gear is lined with glowing, blue electroluminescent wire, making them appear as digital warriors brought to life.

Carson: The following contest is a Four-Way Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the 4CW Tag Team Championships! Introducing the first team of challengers… from London, England, weighing in at a combined weight of 454lbs… REUBEN KOJO… DEVON DRUMMOND… SYNTH CITYYYYY… THRILLERS!!

Jeffrey: Look at these guys! They look like they just stepped out of a video game! That is one hell of a look for Revival!

Phoenix: The Synth City Thrillers have been chasing the gold since the day they arrived in 4CW. Tonight, they have their biggest opportunity yet, and they have certainly dressed for the occasion.

Kojo and Drummond walk down the laser-lit ramp with an intense focus, their glowing outlines cutting through the fog. They slide into the ring, which is now bathed in a neon blue light, and pose in the center as their music fades.

The neon lights fade as the last notes of Synth City's theme die out, leaving the stadium in a brief moment of quiet anticipation.

Suddenly, a single, blood-red spotlight hits the stage. The eerie, industrial opening of ”Forward!” by Anaal Nathrakh begins to creep through the PA system. The Virgin Rose stomps out onto the stage, and she is dressed for war. She's wearing rugged, black tactical pants and a ripped tank top, but her gear is adorned with haphazardly attached pieces of scrap metal, like makeshift armor. Her signature mohawk is spiked higher than ever, and her face is painted with a jagged, black war-paint design.

She marches halfway down the ramp and stops, turning to face the stage. The music cuts abruptly.

A whimsical, almost unsettling carnival melody begins to play as the stage lighting shifts to a chaotic swirl of purple and green. From the same entrance tunnel, Witch Hazel emerges, not walking, but skipping. She’s dressed in a bizarre, beautiful, and terrifying "Witch Queen" attire. Her usual gear is augmented by a flowing, tattered black and purple gown, and on her head is a crown woven from thorny branches and glittering, dark crystals. In her hand, she carries a gnarled wooden staff, at the top of which is a glowing purple orb.

Carson: And their opponents… the team of THE VIRGIN ROSE… and from Everywhere and Nowhere… WITCH HAAAAAAZEL!!

Jeffrey: What in the world am I looking at? One of them looks like she’s about to survive the apocalypse, and the other one looks like she’s about to cause it! I'm just glad Rose isn't the Hardcore Champion anymore, maybe she'll be less cranky.
Roberts: A perfect visual representation of their team: pure, unadulterated chaos. But don't let the bizarre presentation fool you; these are two of the most dangerous and unpredictable competitors in 4CW.

Hazel skips down the ramp, her creepy carnival music now blending with the distant, thumping beat of Rose's theme. She meets Rose, who just rolls her eyes at her partner's antics. Together, the mismatched pair make their way to the ring. Rose slides in, ready for a fight, while Hazel places her staff carefully against the ring post before eerily crawling under the bottom rope, a wide, unnerving grin on her face.

The massive 4CWtron flickers to life, not with a music video, but with stark, white text on a black background. A low, ominous hum echoes through the stadium.

LONGEST COMBINED REIGN IN 4CW HISTORY

Cut to a grainy, black-and-white clip of Umbra Maxima hitting a devastating double-team move from years ago.

THE BENCHMARK OF TAG TEAM WRESTLING

Cut to another clip: a young Elfan Simtul and Maximillian Yesgill, standing stoically over a fallen opponent, their faces emotionless.

4-TIME 4CW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS

The clips now speed up, a montage of their most dominant moments—powerbombs, suplexes, their victory at the final TLC qualifier. The hum builds into a deafening roar.

HALL OF FAME - CLASS OF 2023

The screen cuts to black. The first, heavy guitar riff of ”Taking You Down” by Egypt Central explodes through the PA system. Simultaneously, two powerful, white spotlights pierce the darkness, hitting the top of the stage.

Standing side-by-side in the spotlights are Elfan Simtul and Maximillian Yesgill. They are their usual selves—no special gear, no theatrics. Just two stone-cold killers. They stare down at the ring, completely unfazed by the spectacle around them.

Carson: And the third team of challengers… hailing from New York, New York, weighing in at a combined weight of 485lbs… newly inducted into the 4CW Hall of Fame… they are UMBRAAAAA… MAXIMAAAAA!!

Phoenix: Goosebumps. That is the entrance of a team that has defined tag team wrestling in this company for years. They are here tonight not just to win, but to reclaim the throne they believe is rightfully theirs.

Roberts: And Scott, you have to mention the statistic. As of tonight, Neon Moon’s current reign has officially surpassed Umbra Maxima's longest single reign. You know that fact is eating away at these two men.

Without breaking their intense stare, Simtul and Yesgill begin their slow, deliberate march to the ring. They don't interact with the fans.They are a force of nature, an eclipse ready to blot out the light of the other teams. They enter the ring and stand in their corner.

The imposing theme of Umbra Maxima fades, leaving a palpable tension in the stadium. The lights dim once more, bathing the arena in a soft, purple glow. A gentle, twinkling synth melody begins to play, reminiscent of a lullaby from a distant star.

On the 4CWtron, a beautifully animated sequence begins. We see a star map, with constellations slowly forming. Two stars, one a brilliant cyan and the other a vibrant magenta, begin to glow brighter than all the others. They streak across the digital cosmos, leaving trails of light in their wake before colliding in a spectacular supernova.

The quiet melody is suddenly shattered as the explosive, high-energy beat of ”GodMode Domination” by Turboslash kicks in. Simultaneously, the entire stage erupts in a massive display of cyan and magenta pyro, timed perfectly to the music's drop.

Through the dissipating, colorful smoke, Pilgrim Paige and Kinzy Kane are revealed. They are dressed in stunning, celestial-themed gear. Their outfits are a shimmering, iridescent silver, covered in glowing star patterns and accented with flowing, translucent ribbons of cyan and magenta. Paige's hair is a cascade of cosmic purple, while Kinzy's is a sharp, electric blue. They look like goddesses from another galaxy.

Carson: And their opponents… hailing from The Dark Side of Neontario, weighing in at a combined weight of 264lbs… they are the reigning, defending, 4CW Tag Team Champions… the team of KINZY KANE and the sixth 4CW Grand Slam Champion, PILGRIM PAIGE… they are NEON MOOOOOON!!

Phoenix: The champions have arrived! Neon Moon have made a career out of spectacle, and tonight is no exception. They are not just champions; they are superstars in every sense of the word.

Jeffrey: They can have all the fancy lights and pretty costumes they want, but all that matters is what happens when the bell rings. And tonight, they are in a warzone with three teams that want to rip those titles away from them.

Paige and Kinzy descend the ramp, not just walking, but almost floating, their movements perfectly in sync. They high-five the fans, their energy infectious. As they reach the ring, they link hands, slide in together under the bottom rope, and hit a synchronized kip-up in the center of the ring. They ascend opposite turnbuckles, holding their championship belts high as one final, massive burst of cyan and magenta pyro explodes from the ring posts, illuminating the entire stadium.

Phoenix: We’ve had all the pageantry suitable for Revival, but now it’s time for the fighting to begin!
The referee hangs the titles high above the ring, calls for the bell, and it's immediate, absolute chaos.

4CW Tag Team Championships
TLC Fatal 4 Way Match
Neon Moon © vs Umbra Maxima vs Synth City Thrillers vs Hazel & Rose
All eight competitors immediately begin brawling. Neon Moon and Synth City Thrillers, the two clear fan favorites, instinctively work together to clear the ring of the heel teams, sending Umbra Maxima and Rose & Hazel to the floor with a series of dropkicks and clotheslines. The two babyface teams have a brief, intense staredown in the center of the ring, the crowd buzzing, before they lock up in a brilliant, fast-paced technical exchange.

Roberts: A glimpse of what could be a classic rivalry for years to come between Neon Moon and the Synth City Thrillers!

The action is cut short as Elfan Simtul slides the first ladder into the ring, but Reuben Kojo intercepts him with a baseball slide dropkick that sends the ladder into Simtul's face. On the other side of the ring, The Virgin Rose grabs a steel chair and cracks Maximillian Yesgill across the back with it, then turns and does the same to Simtul. Rose and Hazel are now in control of the ringside area, arming themselves.

Witch Hazel is the first to set up a ladder in the ring. But instead of climbing for the titles, she ascends to the top rope, looks down at both members of Synth City Thrillers who are recovering on the floor, and leaps off with a bizarre, spinning senton that takes both men down in a heap! Not to be outdone, The Virgin Rose follows up, grabbing Kinzy Kane and brutally powerbombing her onto the unforgiving steel entrance ramp.

Phoenix: Pure carnage from the get-go! The champions are in trouble early, and Hazel and Rose are in their element!

Rose slides into the ring and begins to make the first climb for the championships. She gets halfway up before Pilgrim Paige hits the ring, pulls her down, and takes her out with a vicious chop block.

With the other teams momentarily neutralized, the fresh and imposing figures of Umbra Maxima enter the ring and assert their dominance. Elfan Simtul grabs the ladder Hazel set up and effortlessly throws it out of the ring. Maximillian Yesgill pulls the dazed Pilgrim Paige to her feet and sends her to the ropes, where Simtul catches her and drives her into the mat with a thunderous spinebuster.

Jeffrey: And this is where the fun and games stop. The Hall of Famers are here to clean house.

They turn their attention to Reuben Kojo, who slides back into the ring to even the odds. He manages to fight them off with a series of Muay Thai strikes, but the numbers game is too much. Yesgill clips his knee from behind, and Simtul follows up with a massive German suplex. They see Devon Drummond recovering on the outside, grab a ladder, and bridge it between the ring apron and the announce table. In a display of pure, brutal power, they lift Kojo together and suplex him backwards, smashing his spine onto the bridged ladder with a sickening thud.

Phoenix: My God! Reuben Kojo might be broken in half! That was a devastating maneuver from Umbra Maxima!

With the ring now clear, Simtul sets up a large ladder. Yesgill goes to climb, but Paige, showing incredible heart, is back in the ring and grabs his leg. Yesgill kicks her away, but the delay is enough. Simtul grabs Paige, hoists her onto his shoulders, and delivers a devastating Shadow Hammer! It looks like Neon Moon is completely out of it.

Umbra Maxima now has a clear path. Simtul guards the ladder as Yesgill begins the slow, deliberate climb. He gets his hands on the titles, his fingers brushing against the leather. The crowd is on its feet, believing new champions are about to be crowned.

Suddenly, The Virgin Rose slides into the ring with a kendo stick and begins relentlessly smacking Elfan Simtul across the back and legs, forcing him to his knees! She then looks up at the climbing Yesgill. As he tries to unhook the belts, Witch Hazel appears on the other side of the ladder, having scaled it with incredible speed! She spits her purple Brain Fog mist directly into Yesgill's face!

Blinded, Yesgill loses his grip and crashes hard to the mat! Rose follows up on the dazed Simtul, lifting him up and driving her knee into his head with the Cherry Popper!

Roberts: The Odd Couple has just taken out the most dominant team in the match! They have a wide-open opportunity!

Witch Hazel is now alone at the top of the ladder. She steadies herself and reaches up for the championships.

Witch Hazel has her hands on the championship belts, trying to unhook them. The crowd is roaring. From out of nowhere, a recovering Devon Drummond springboards from the top rope onto the ladder! He meets Hazel at the top and they begin trading frantic punches, the ladder swaying dangerously beneath them.

The Virgin Rose tries to steady the ladder for her partner, but Maximillian Yesgill, having recovered from the mist, tackles Rose through the ropes, sending them both crashing to the floor outside. On the ladder, Drummond gets the upper hand, grabbing Hazel's head and smashing it repeatedly into the top of the ladder. Hazel slumps, and Drummond shoves her off. She falls from the ladder into the waiting arms of her partner, The Virgin Rose, who catches her, only for Elfan Simtul to appear and spear them both through the ringside barricade!

Phoenix: SIMTUL JUST WIPED OUT HALF THE COMPETITION! A human wrecking ball!

In the ring, Drummond is alone at the top of the ladder. He reaches for the belts, but Pilgrim Paige is back! She climbs the ladder with incredible speed and meets him at the summit. They brawl, trading forearms. Kinzy Kane, having recovered from the earlier powerbomb, slides two tables into the ring and sets them up side-by-side. She yells instructions to her partner.

Paige hears her. She grabs Drummond and hits a stunning Russian legsweep off the top of the ladder, sending them both crashing hard to the canvas below.

Jeffrey: Good God almighty! They're putting their bodies on the line tonight!

The only two people moving are Kinzy Kane and Maximillian Yesgill, who has returned to the ring. Kinzy points to the tables. Yesgill nods. In a moment of sheer chaos, they both grab one of the massive ladders. As the other six competitors are slowly beginning to stir, Kinzy and Yesgill manage to lift and bridge the massive ladder from the ring apron to the top of the announce table, creating a huge, perilous platform.

Now, all four members of Neon Moon and Umbra Maxima are stirring. Paige and Kinzy see their moment. They both climb to the top of the corner turnbuckles inside the ring. On the outside, Simtul and Yesgill are pulling themselves up, using the bridged ladder for support. In a massive, show-stopping moment, Paige and Kinzy look at each other, nod, and launch themselves from the top rope, over the ring ropes, and hit synchronized Sailor Moon suicide crossbodies, smashing both members of Umbra Maxima through the bridged ladder and down to the floor in a tangled mess of bodies and steel!

Phoenix: MY GOD! MY GOD! NEON MOON WITH THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE! THEY HAVE TAKEN OUT UMBRA MAXIMA!

The crowd is in an absolute frenzy. With Umbra Maxima and Rose & Hazel taken out on the floor, it seems to be down to Neon Moon and Synth City Thrillers. Paige hits her Spellbreaker on a returning Devon Drummond. Kinzy hits the Blade Runner on Reuben Kojo. The ring is clear! It seems like a certain victory for the champions.

The ring is a wasteland of splintered wood and twisted steel. The only two competitors standing are the champions, Pilgrim Paige and Kinzy Kane. They see the path to victory. Kinzy steadies a tall ladder in the center of the ring as Paige begins the arduous climb, the exhaustion and pain of the match evident in her movements.

Roberts: This has to be it! After that incredible dive, Neon Moon has cleared the field! They're going to retain!

Paige gets her hands on the belts. The crowd roars, anticipating the victory. But from the wreckage on the outside, a hand appears. Reuben Kojo, running on pure adrenaline, pulls himself up. He slides into the ring just as Paige is about to unhook the titles. He shoves the ladder with all his might. Paige tries to hang on to the cable, but her grip fails, and she takes a horrifying fall, crashing backwards through one of the tables Kinzy had set up earlier!

Phoenix: PAIGE THROUGH A TABLE! Kojo with a last-gasp effort to save the match for his team!

A horrified Kinzy Kane charges at Kojo, but he catches her with a devastating Kojo Kick! Kinzy is out cold. Kojo, barely able to stand, looks up at the titles. He knows his partner is still down on the outside. He begins the slow, painful climb up the ladder.

On the other side of the ring, Devon Drummond finally stirs. He pulls himself into the ring, sees his partner climbing, and begins to climb the other side of the ladder to support him. They meet at the top, two battered warriors who have survived the carnage.

But they are not alone. From the other side, Maximillian Yesgill of Umbra Maxima appears, having somehow recovered from the massive fall. He gets on the ladder and starts trading punches with both members of SCT. He shoves Drummond, who nearly falls, but Kojo manages to grab his partner and steady him. As Yesgill focuses on Kojo, Drummond recovers and smacks Yesgill's head against the steel. He then locks his arms around Yesgill's head and, in an unbelievable display of strength, hits a DDT from the top of the ladder! Both men plummet to the mat below!

Jeffrey: HOLY COW! Drummond just sacrificed himself to take out Yesgill!

Reuben Kojo is the only one left on the ladder. He's battered, exhausted, but the path is finally clear. He reaches up, his hands shaking, and with one final effort, he unhooks the championship belts. The bell rings.

Carson: Here are your winners… and the NEEEW 4CW Tag Team Champions… REUBEN KOJO and DEVON DRUMMOND… THE SYNTH CITYYYYY… THRILLERS!!

Phoenix: They’ve done it! They have finally done it! After years of chasing the gold, the Synth City Thrillers have survived an absolute war and have reached the top of the mountain!

Roberts: What an unbelievable match! Every single team put their bodies on the line, but tonight, it was the resilience and the heart of Synth City Thrillers that won the day.

The arena is electric as ”Cyber Attack” blares through the speakers. A battered Devon Drummond pulls himself up and joins his partner on the ladder. They sit at the top, holding the championship belts high in the air, the image of two men who have finally achieved their dream in a career-defining moment.

Phoenix: The 4CW World Tag Team Champions, everyone! The Synth City Thrillers!

The camera cuts backstage to a brightly lit hallway. The newly crowned Hardcore Champion, Supreme, is walking with a confident swagger, admiring the slightly battered but still prestigious title belt he won on the Pre-Show. He turns a corner, heading towards the catering area.

Supreme: You know, this thing's growing on me. Has a certain... rustic charm.

As he takes his next step, his feet fly out from under him. In a moment of beautiful, unathletic slapstick, the Hall of Famer goes airborne, his arms pinwheeling wildly before he lands flat on his back with a loud thud. The Hardcore title clatters across the floor.

The camera pans down to reveal a freshly mopped, soaking wet floor. There is no "Wet Floor" sign to be seen.

From behind a stack of equipment cases, Swiffer, the diminutive "Mini-Me" of Janitur, pops out. He's wearing a tiny, ill-fitting luchador mask that's slightly askew. He's followed by a referee who looks incredibly nervous and is holding a half-eaten hot dog.

Swiffer: I got him! I got him!

Swiffer sprints over and dives onto the stunned Supreme, trying to make the cover. It's more like a small dog trying to pin a bear.

Referee: (Mouth full of hot dog) Uh... one...!

Supreme, looking more annoyed than hurt, kicks out with the force of a space shuttle launch. Swiffer is propelled backwards, sliding several feet down the wet hallway before coming to a stop.

Supreme gets to his feet, dusting himself off with an irritated sigh. He picks up Swiffer's mop from the nearby bucket, looks at it, looks at the terrified Swiffer, and with a grunt of contempt, snaps the wooden handle cleanly over his knee. He tosses the two pieces aside.

Swiffer, seeing his primary weapon destroyed, lets out a terrified squeak, scrambles to his feet, and bolts down the hallway, slipping and sliding the whole way.

Supreme just shakes his head, picks up his Hardcore Championship, and continues his walk towards catering as if nothing happened. The referee, meanwhile, cautiously looks both ways before taking another large bite of his hot dog.

The cameraa fades from the shot of the terrified referee. The screen cuts to black. A loud, distorted record scratch is heard, followed by the iconic, driving bassline of "Sabotage" by Beastie Boys.

The screen explodes with a clip from Hardcore Hellfire: Richard Estevez is in the ring, yelling "Cosmo, I'll see you out there!"

Cut to Cosmo, dressed in full camo in the Amazonian wilds of 1542.

Cosmo: Right now, I can’t wrestle you because… well I’m stuck!

The music kicks into high gear. We see a rapid-fire montage of Estevez's frustration: him looking exasperated as Rog Roddick comes out, him looking furious as Cocozo from Earth 219 appears. The clips are intercut with shots of Cosmo looking smug in various historical settings.

"I CAN'T STAND IT, I KNOW YOU PLANNED IT!"

We see the clip from the last Storm Front. Estevez is in the ring, microphone in hand, his patience gone.

Estevez: No more of this multiverse crap! I’m coming straight for Doctor Who!

The music swells. Cut to a new, pre-taped shot of Quentin Cosmo in his spaceship. He's polishing his time-travel belt and looking directly into the camera.

Cosmo: A Lumberjack match? Fine. But if you think I'm going to surround the ring with a bunch of 4CW meatheads, you're mistaken. I've travelled all of space and time. I know the best. I'm bringing in the most elite, the most unpredictable, the most legendary lumberjacks from across the entire multiverse!

The song's chaotic, screaming climax hits as the video package ends with the official match graphic: QUENTIN COSMO vs. RICHARD ESTEVEZ - LUMBERJACK MATCH. The graphic glitches and distorts, as if it's being affected by a time paradox.

The chaotic video package ends, and the arena buzzes with a mix of anticipation and confusion.

Phoenix: I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this. "Lumberjacks from across the multiverse"?
Jeffrey: My nose is already starting to bleed, Scott! I hate this guy!

”Between II Worlds” by NERO hits the PA system. Quentin Cosmo appears on the stage, looking supremely confident. He's wearing his time-travel helmet and belt, both polished to a high shine.

Carson: The following contest is a LUMBERJACK MATCH! Introducing first, from The Wider Universe, weighing in at 217lbs… QUENTIN … COSMO!!

Cosmo saunters down the ramp, pointing to the empty space around the ring and laughing. He slides into the ring and waits.

”Bad News” by Aries hits next. Richard Estevez walks out, looking focused and angry. He is not intimidated; he's here for a fight.

Carson: And his opponent, from Orange County, California, weighing in at 220lbs… RICHARD … ESTEVEEEEZ!!

Estevez gets into the ring and goes nose-to-nose with Cosmo, who just smirks at him. As the referee tries to separate them, the arena lights begin to flicker wildly. A strange, electrical hum fills the stadium.

Roberts: Uh oh... I think the lumberjacks are arriving.

On the 4CWtron, a swirling, rainbow-colored vortex appears. One by one, figures begin to step through it onto the stage, each looking slightly disoriented.

The first figure is instantly recognizable, but younger, his hair different. It's Eddie Wolfbaine, circa 2008, looking every bit the "Big Bad Wolf" he was in his prime.

Next comes Willy Twist, looking exactly as he did in 2009, his signature Mad Hatter look on full display.

Then comes a younger, more arrogant Cocozo from 2006, followed by the legendary inaugural World Champion, [chux], from 2005.

A furious-looking Rasheed Evans from 2009 appears, looking ready to fight anyone, especially if their name is Rhys Cain. He's joined by other alumni pulled from across time and space: the imposing MONSTAR, the legendary "Main Event" Mike Nichols, and the high-flying Cielo de Oro.

They all look around, confused, before spotting Cosmo in the ring. Cosmo points a finger, and as if under a trance, the displaced legends begin to surround the ring, taking their positions as lumberjacks.

Phoenix: I don't believe what I'm seeing. He actually did it. He's brought back legends from 4CW's past to be his personal enforcers!
Jeffrey: This is a complete and utter fix! How is Estevez supposed to deal with this?! And someone bring me some damn tissues, for fuck sake! I’m going to bleed out!

Estevez looks around at the collection of killers and legends surrounding the ring, a look of grim determination on his face. The referee, looking terrified, hesitantly calls for the bell.

Lumberjack match
Quentin Cosmo vs Richard Estevez

The bell rings, and Estevez immediately charges Cosmo, tackling him into the corner and unloading with a flurry of rights and lefts. He's not waiting for the multiverse to get involved. He whips Cosmo across the ring, but Cosmo reverses it, sending Estevez tumbling over the top rope and into the waiting arms of the lumberjacks.

The collection of legends immediately swarms Estevez, stomping and kicking him before callously rolling his battered body back into the ring. Cosmo is waiting, and he hits a quick snap suplex for a two-count.

Phoenix: This is exactly what we feared. It's a 9-on-1 handicap match, and Richard Estevez doesn't stand a chance.

Cosmo stays in control, smugly beating down Estevez. Every time Estevez tries to mount a comeback, Cosmo simply shoves him out of the ring, where the alumni are more than happy to do his dirty work. At one point, Estevez is thrown out near [chux] and Mike Nichols. The two legends look at each other, nod, and hit a classic double-team suplex on Estevez before sending him back in.

The turning point comes when Estevez finally manages to counter Cosmo, sending him flying out of the ring for the first time. The lumberjacks all stop and look at Cosmo on the floor. A confused Willy Twist helps him up, patting him on the back. Suddenly, Rasheed Evans, seeing a chance for glory, decks Willy Twist from behind!

Jeffrey: What the hell?! The lumberjacks are fighting each other!

Absolute chaos erupts at ringside. Eddie Wolfbaine starts brawling with Rasheed Evans. Cocozo and Mike Nichols get into a shoving match. [chux] just stands back, looking amused by the pandemonium. It's a full-on battle royale of legends on the outside.

Roberts: Cosmo's plan has completely backfired! His hand-picked enforcers are too proud and too volatile to work together!

In the ring, Estevez sees his opportunity. He hits the ropes and launches himself over the top with a massive dive, crashing into the entire brawling mass of lumberjacks! The only one left standing is Cosmo, who is watching the chaos from the ring apron, horrified that his perfect plan has fallen apart.

Estevez is the first one back in the ring, full of adrenaline. Cosmo tries to beg off, but Estevez is having none of it. He catches Cosmo, hoists him up into a fireman's carry, and drives him into the mat with the Eat Curb! He hooks the leg for the decisive pin! ONE… TWO… THREE!

Carson: Here is your winner… RICHARD ESTEVEEEEZ!!

”Bad News” by Aries blares through the stadium as Estevez gets to his feet, celebrating a hard-earned victory. On the outside, the lumberjacks have stopped brawling and, one by one, they begin to fade away, blinking out of existence as they are pulled back to their proper timelines.

Estevez isn't done. He rolls out of the ring, grabs Cosmo's discarded time-travel belt, and holds it up for the crowd to see. With a final, cathartic roar, he smashes it over his knee, breaking it in two. He throws the sparking, ruined pieces to the ground. Every lumberjack zaps back to their own universes and Ray Jeffrey’s nose stops bleeding.

Jeffrey: Estevez is now my favourite wrestler!
Phoenix: Richard Estevez has done it! He survived the chaos, he beat Quentin Cosmo, and it looks like he has finally put an end to his multiverse shenanigans

Here is the entire, unabridged segment for the 4CW Franchise Championship match.

The camera fades from the image of Richard Estevez standing tall. The screen cuts to black. The iconic, thumping drum beat and distorted bassline of "Club Foot" by Kasabian kicks in, full of swagger and menace.

The screen explodes with footage of THE SNAKE PIT. Anthony Robinson hits a massive Yakuza Kick. Mark Mayhem connects with an Icon Splash. Reggie Atebit hits the Hook and Ladder. The clips are fast, violent, and perfectly in sync with the driving beat.

Jon Viper: I have assembled what I know are the most intense and elite athletes in the game today!

The song's chorus hits. We see a montage of ANTIVISTS. Lindon Jett hits the Jett Lag. Grant Zaiden connects with The Disparity. Erica Moxie hits the Moxie Massacre. Their footage is energetic, resilient, and defiant.

Erica Moxie: We have a huge opportunity to earn gold as a trio!

The music drives forward as we see split-screen shots of the two factions staring each other down from opposite ends of an arena. The screen flashes with the text: POWER. NUMBERS. VENOM. On the other side: HEART. RESILIENCE. REBELLION. The video package ends with the official match graphic as the song's final, distorted note rings out.

Phoenix: A war between two of the top factions in 4CW is next, and it is for the Franchise Championship!

”POSSEZZ” by Owl Vision hits the PA system. The five members of The Snake Pit emerge onto the stage. Jon Viper and Wanda Frost peel off, allowing the championship challengers to proceed. Anthony "Big Tower" Robinson, Mark Mayhem, and Reggie Atebit march to the ring, looking like a cohesive and dangerous unit.

Carson: The following contest is a six-person tag team match for the 4CW Franchise Championship! Introducing the challengers… accompanied by Jon Viper and Wanda Frost… from Vice City, Denver, Colorado, and The Cloud… weighing in at a combined 661lbs… they are THE SNAKE PIT!!

Jeffrey: Look at the size and intensity on these guys! Antivists are in for a long, painful night.

”Antivist” by Bring Me The Horizon erupts, and the champions, Antivists, burst onto the stage to a massive pop from the Cardiff crowd. Erica Moxie, Lindon Jett, and Grant Zaiden are ready for a fight.

Carson: And their opponents… at a combined weight of 638lbs… they are the reigning, defending, 4CW Franchise Champions… ERICA MOXIE, LINDON JETT, and GRANT ZAIDEN… ANTIVIIIIISTS!!

Roberts: Antivists won these titles in a brutal street fight at Gallows End. They have proven they have the heart and the toughness to be champions, but The Snake Pit is a different kind of animal altogether.

4CW Franchise Championship
Antivists (c) vs. The Snake Pit

The bell rings and it's Lindon Jett and Reggie Atebit starting things off. They engage in a lightning-fast sequence of counters, with Jett using his speed to get the early advantage. He hits a springboard dropkick that sends Reggie into his corner. Mark Mayhem tags himself in, but Jett is ready, taking him down with a Japanese arm drag. Jett tags in Grant Zaiden.

Zaiden and Mayhem trade stiff European uppercuts in the center of the ring. Zaiden overpowers Mayhem, lifts him high, and connects with a devastating gutwrench suplex. He tags in Erica Moxie. Moxie enters and works over Mayhem's arm, but Mayhem creates separation with a rake to the eyes and makes a desperate tag to the massive Anthony Robinson.

Phoenix: And here comes the powerhouse of The Snake Pit. This is where the entire dynamic of the match changes.

Moxie tries to use her speed, but Robinson catches her in mid-air and flattens her with a fallaway slam. From this point on, it's a systematic and brutal dissection. The Snake Pit isolate Erica Moxie, trapping her in their corner and using their fresh tags and power advantage to completely dominate her. Robinson uses massive clubbing blows, Mayhem uses his chaotic brawling, and Reggie uses quick, impactful strikes.

Jeffrey: This is a masterclass in tag team wrestling! Antivists can't get anything going! They are being completely shut down!

Moxie finally creates an opening, slipping under a charging Robinson and making the hot tag to Lindon Jett! Jett explodes into the ring, taking down Reggie and Mayhem with a series of clotheslines and spinning heel kicks. He hits a standing moonsault on Reggie, but Robinson breaks up the pin attempt. Grant Zaiden enters the ring and tackles Robinson, and the two powerhouses brawl to the outside.

Inside the ring, Jett hits a brainbuster on Reggie. He goes for the Jett Lag, but Mayhem runs in and cuts him off with a vicious clothesline. Moxie re-enters and hits Mayhem with an Omaha Slicer! She turns her attention to Reggie, but Wanda Frost gets on the apron to distract the referee. This allows Jon Viper to slide a steel chair into the ring to Reggie.

Reggie takes the chair, but before he can use it, Grant Zaiden slides back in and takes the chair from him! The referee turns around just as Zaiden is holding the chair. While the ref argues with Zaiden, Reggie hits a low blow on him from behind! Reggie then hits his finisher, the Quick Time Event, on the steel chair! He shoves the evidence out of the ring and makes the tag to Robinson.

Robinson enters, stalks the dazed Lindon Jett, lifts him high onto his shoulders, and drives him into the mat with the devastating Jenga Bomb. He makes the cover. ONE… TWO… THREE!

Carson: Here are your winners… and the NEEEW 4CW Franchise Champions… THE SNAKE PIT!!

Roberts: A dominant, and decisive, victory for The Snake Pit. They used the numbers game to perfection and now they have the gold to show for it.
Phoenix: Jon Viper's master plan continues to pay dividends. While he may have lost his title at WAR, his faction is now draped in championship gold.

The entire Snake Pit faction enters the ring, standing tall over the fallen Antivists. They raise their newly won Franchise Championship belt high in the air, a picture of absolute dominance.

The camera cuts to the bustling backstage catering area. A spread of food is laid out, but most of the wrestlers are gathered around a large monitor, watching the previous match.

At one of the tables, the new Hardcore Champion, Supreme, is calmly enjoying a bottle of water. He looks up as the camera approaches and gives a confident nod.

Supreme: Impressive performance. Ruthless. See, that's what it takes to be a...

Supreme is cut off mid-sentence as a high-pitched battle cry is heard from off-screen. Suddenly, Jani-Her bursts into the catering area from a side door. She's not in her robotic costume anymore; instead, she's dressed in a bright pink janitorial jumpsuit and is brandishing two pink feather dusters like a pair of sabers. She is followed by a referee who is nervously trying to put on a bib.

Jani-Her: Prepare to be... tidied up!

She charges at Supreme, wildly swinging the feather dusters. The attack is more baffling than it is painful. Supreme, completely bewildered, stands up and easily blocks the fluffy assault, a look of pure confusion on his face.

Jeffrey: Oh, here we go again! Get him, Jani-Her! Tickle him into submission!

While Supreme is distracted by the bizarre feather duster attack, Jani-Her suddenly drops to the mat and rolls him up with a schoolgirl pin! The referee, bib now askew, slides in to make the count.

One...! Two...!

Jeffrey: Well, she got a two count at least…

Supreme kicks out with authority, sending Jani-Her tumbling backwards into a tray of sandwiches. He gets to his feet, a piece of lettuce now stuck to his shoulder.

Jani-Her gets up, furious, and lets out a frustrated shriek. Supreme, now genuinely annoyed, plucks one of the pink feather dusters from her hand. He calmly dusts the lettuce off his own shoulder, looks at the duster, then back at Jani-Her. He hands it back to her with a patronizing pat on the head.

He turns and walks away without another word. Jani-Her is left fuming, holding her feather dusters and covered in bits of catering, having failed in her championship bid.

Phoenix: Another failed attempt at Supreme’s Hardcore title!

The camera fades from the shot of a fuming Jani-Her. The arena goes dark. The iconic, hypnotic bassline of "The Pot" by Tool begins to play. On the 4CWtron, we see the face of Jaku Kal, shrouded in shadow from his vignettes.

Jaku Kal: I will walk any path that leads us all to salvation. Light the Torch.

The music swells. We see clips of The Black Flame in their prime—dominant, united, holding the Franchise titles. The image is confident and powerful.

The music shifts. The screen cuts to footage from the last year. We see them losing the Franchise Titles at Gallows End. We see The Liberation losing to the Murder of Crows. We see them failing to qualify for the Revival TLC match. The clips are disjointed, showing their frustration and internal bickering.

"Who are you to wave your finger? You must have been out your head..."

Cut to Eli Waters backstage, screaming at Rigg and Fischer after their latest loss.

Eli Waters (archive audio): You have forgotten what The Black Flame is about!

The screen cuts back to Jaku Kal, watching these scenes of chaos on a monitor.

Jaku Kal:: They build idols of fire and chaos... but a true flame does not burn. It illuminates.

The video ends with a final, stark graphic: JAKU KAL vs. ELI WATERS. The final, wailing vocals of the song ring out as we cut back to the live arena.

Phoenix: A collision of two very different paths. The debut of the mysterious Jaku Kal, and a moment of desperation for the leader of The Black Flame, Eli Waters.

”Ravenous” by Killswitch Engage hits the PA system. Eli Waters storms out onto the stage, flanked by a tense-looking Liberation.

Carson: The following contest is a debut showcase, scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, being accompanied by The Liberation, from Newport, Wales, weighing in at 231lbs… ELI WATERS!!

The music for Eli Waters fades. The arena lights dim. A single, powerful drum beat echoes through the stadium, followed by the deep, resonant opening vocals of "Goliath" by Woodkid.

On the stage, cloaked in shadow, a figure emerges. As the music builds, the lights slowly rise to reveal Jaku Kal. He is dressed in simple, flowing black robes, his long dreads partially obscuring his face. He carries a single, unlit, old-fashioned torch in his hand.

Carson: And his opponent… making his 4CW debut… THE WANDERER… JAKU… KAAAAAAL!!

Phoenix: We have heard the cryptic messages for months. Tonight, for the first time, we see The Wanderer in the flesh. This music... this presence... It's chilling.

Jaku Kal walks down the ramp with a slow, deliberate pace that matches the song's marching rhythm, his eyes never leaving a furious Eli Waters. He enters the ring, places his unlit torch carefully in the corner, and removes his outer robes to reveal his wrestling gear beneath. The song fades as the referee calls for the bell.

Debut Showcase
Jaku Kal vs Eli Waters w/The Liberation

The bell rings and a furious Eli Waters explodes out of his corner, charging directly at Jaku Kal. Kal, however, remains perfectly calm. He sidesteps the charge, catches Waters in a side headlock takedown, and immediately grounds the aggressive leader of The Black Flame.

Roberts: A perfect example of the story here. Waters is all aggression, all fire, but Jaku Kal is calm, composed, and methodical.

Waters scrambles back to his feet and charges again, this time connecting with a series of stiff clubbing blows, backing Kal into the corner. He unloads with shoulder tackles and knife-edge chops, screaming at Kal, trying to get a rise out of the silent newcomer. At ringside, The Liberation are on edge, shouting encouragement. Kal absorbs the punishment without a word, his expression never changing.

Waters whips Kal across the ring and charges, but Kal slides under a clothesline attempt, comes off the ropes, and floors Waters with a massive, perfectly executed Big Boot. It's the first major offensive move from Kal, and it's delivered with brutal efficiency.

From here, Jaku Kal takes control. His offense is not flashy; it is a deliberate and painful dissection. He works over Waters with a series of nerve holds and joint manipulations, targeting the shoulder and neck. He speaks to Waters in a low voice, too quiet for the microphones to pick up, while wrenching a submission hold.

Jeffrey: I don't like this new guy. He's creepy. He's not just trying to win; he's trying to get inside Waters' head.

Waters finally fights his way out, creating separation with a desperate jawbreaker. He starts to build momentum, hitting a Belly-to-Belly suplex and following up with a big lariat. He drags Kal to the corner and looks to The Liberation, signaling for them to get involved. Bruce Rigg gets on the apron to distract the referee. Garret Fischer slides a steel chair into the ring.

Waters picks up the chair, ready to use it. The referee is still tied up with Rigg. Waters turns to Kal, but he sees Garret Fischer at ringside, watching him with a conflicted, hesitant expression. This momentary pause, this flicker of doubt from his own stablemate, is all the opening Jaku Kal needs.

Phoenix: The miscommunication! Fischer hesitated, and it cost his leader dearly!

Kal rises to his feet, ducks the telegraphed chair shot, and kicks Waters hard in the gut. The chair drops. Kal grabs Waters, lifts him with surprising power, and drives him into the mat with a devastating Brainbuster. He doesn't go for a pin. He calmly waits for Waters to stir. As Waters stumbles to his feet, Kal connects with a vicious running knee strike—the Light The Torch Kamigoye. It's over. ONE… TWO… THREE.

Carson: Here is your winner… JAKU… KAAAAAAL!!

”Goliath” by Woodkid begins to play as Jaku Kal gets to his feet. He shows no emotion, no celebration. At ringside, a furious Eli Waters gets in the faces of The Liberation, screaming at Fischer for his hesitation and Rigg for his failed distraction. The cracks in The Black Flame are now massive, gaping wounds.

Jaku Kal simply watches the discord he has created. He picks up his unlit torch from the corner, holds it up for a moment, and then calmly exits the ring, leaving the fractured faction to implode in his wake.

Roberts: He didn't just beat Eli Waters. He beat The Black Flame. An absolutely stunning and dominant debut for Jaku Kal.

The camera fades from the shot of the imploding Black Flame. The arena goes silent. A single, distorted, industrial synth note from the opening of "The Wretched" by Nine Inch Nails hangs in the air. The screen is black.

A shaky, home-video style clip flickers onto the screen. It shows two young boys, their faces obscured by the poor quality, playing-fighting in a backyard. The image is silent, almost nostalgic.

Jon Viper: Lotus... dear brother...

The music's heavy, grinding beat kicks in. The screen cuts to Gallows End 2022. We see JON VIPER, flanked by his new Snake Pit, standing over a fallen DARK LOTUS, the Universal Title held high. The image is one of triumph through betrayal.

"The me that you know is now made up of wires... And the we that you know is a lie..."

Cut to Storm Front. Lotus is in the ring, confronting his brother.

Lotus: You are darker and more infectious than the dirtiest cesspits of mud anywhere in the Bayou.

The music intensifies. We see a montage of the feud's key moments of violence: Viper's chair assault on Lotus after his match with Mayhem; the chaotic brawl at the end of the Riding The Storm tag match; Viper hitting the Fate Sealer.

"I'm the one that's been thrown away..."

Cut to WAR V. The brutal final moments inside the cage. Dark Lotus hits the Count The Lights on Viper to win back his championship. The image is one of pure, hard-fought vengeance.

The screen cuts to a new, pre-taped shot. Jon Viper is alone in a dark room.

Viper: Family? Honor? Those are words for children. All that's ever mattered between us is who was stronger. At Revival, I end this. I will end you. There will be no escape.

Cut to a shot of Dark Lotus, also in a darkened room, holding the Universal Title.

Lotus: You chose this path, brother. This cell is not your prison. It is your grave.

The song's explosive, distorted climax hits as the video package ends with a final, dramatic shot of the Hell in a Cell structure descending over the ring.

Phoenix: A story that started with a shocking betrayal at Gallows End will now, finally, end inside the most demonic structure in all of professional wrestling.
Roberts: There are no allies and no escape inside Hell in a Cell. Tonight, this is purely about which brother is willing to go to the darkest places to destroy the other.

The arena is bathed in a sickly, venomous green light. The distorted, menacing version of ”POSSEZZ” by Owl Vision begins to creep through the PA system.

The Snake Pit emerges onto the stage. Anthony Robinson, Mark Mayhem, and Reggie Atebit are proudly presenting their newly won 4CW Franchise Championship belt. Wanda Frost stands beside them, a look of cold indifference on her face. In the center of them all is their leader, Jon Viper. He is carrying a steel chair with the word "LOTUS" crudely painted in white across the seat.

Carson: The following contest is a HELL IN A CELL match, and it is for the 4CW Universal Championship! Introducing first, the challenger… from Madison, Wisconsin, weighing in at 220lbs… 4CW HALL OF FAMER… JOOOOOOOOON… VIPER!!

The faction stands at the top of the ramp for a long moment, a picture of championship dominance. They raise their titles high, a clear message of the power they wield. Viper then hands his chair to Reggie Atebit and nods. The four members of The Snake Pit turn and head to the back, leaving their leader alone.

Jeffrey: That's right! Show off the gold! The Snake Pit runs this company now, and tonight, their leader is taking back his property!

Viper's expression hardens. He begins the slow, deliberate, solitary march down the ramp and towards the cell. He looks up at the demonic structure, a grim acceptance on his face. He enters the cage, and the door is locked behind him. He paces like a caged animal, waiting for his brother.

The arena lights cut to black. The sound of crickets and distant, ominous swamp noises echo through the stadium. A pair of headlights cut through the darkness from the entrance tunnel. The massive, all-black "Lilian's Revenge" tour bus slowly drives onto the stage and stops.

The side door of the bus hisses open, and thick, white smoke billows out, covering the stage floor. The opening, eerie guitar riff of ”Spiders on the Wall” by Magnolia Bayou begins to play.

From the smoke, the champion, Dark Lotus, emerges. He is in pure, stripped-down fight gear, the Universal Championship slung over his shoulder. He looks not at the crowd, but directly down the ramp at his brother locked inside the cell.

Carson: And his opponent… from Devil’s Backbone, Louisiana, weighing in at 275lbs… he is the reigning, defending, 4CW UNIVERSAL CHAMPION… DAAAARK… LOOOTUS!!

Phoenix: No Swamp People. No Ol' Smokey. Dark Lotus has come here tonight to fight his own war. This is as personal as it gets.

Lotus begins his long, stoic march down the ramp. He hands the Universal Title to the referee at ringside, enters the cell, and the door is chained and padlocked shut. Inside, the two brothers stand face-to-face as the referee holds the championship high.

4CW Universal Championship
Hell in a Cell
Dark Lotus © vs Jon Viper

The cell door is padlocked shut. The bell rings, and there is no feeling-out process. This is not a wrestling match; it's a fight. The two brothers immediately meet in the center of the ring and unload on each other with a furious exchange of stiff, brutal right hands. The crowd roars as knuckles crack against jaws. Neither man gives an inch, screaming at each other with pure, unadulterated hatred.

Viper gets the first advantage, kicking Lotus in the gut and grabbing him by the head. He bull-rushes the champion across the ring and begins to repeatedly smash his face into the unforgiving steel mesh of the cell wall. The steel grinds against Lotus's forehead, and within the first minute, the champion is busted open, a crimson mask already forming.

Phoenix: And we are not wasting any time. The blood is already flowing, and Viper is using this demonic structure to his full advantage.

Viper drags Lotus away from the wall, but Lotus shoves him off, creating separation. Viper charges again, but this time Lotus is ready, catching him with a massive spinebuster on the thin ringside mats. Lotus, his face now covered in blood, grabs Viper's head and gives him a taste of his own medicine, grinding Viper's face across the steel mesh until he too begins to bleed.

Jeffrey: An eye for an eye! Or in this case, a face for a face! This is going to be a bloodbath!

The fight spills back into the ring. Viper is the first to go for a weapon, pulling a kendo stick from under the ring. He unleashes a series of sickening shots across the back and ribs of Lotus. He wedges a steel chair in the corner and whips Lotus towards it, but Lotus reverses at the last second, sending Viper crashing face-first into his own trap.

Lotus takes control, his raw power now on full display. He takes Viper to the outside and hits a devastating Sidewalk Slam on the exposed concrete floor. He then lifts the top half of the steel ring steps, hoisting the massive weapon and driving it hard into Viper's midsection, sending the challenger gasping for air.

Back inside the ring, a recovering Viper, seeing Lotus enter, hits a surprise Go 2 Sleep out of nowhere! He collapses onto Lotus for the cover! ONE... TWO... KICKOUT! Lotus powers out with incredible resilience. Viper is in disbelief.

Frustrated, Viper pulls a table from under the ring. He sets it up, looking to end the match. He drags Lotus onto the table and climbs to the second rope, but Lotus fights back. They trade punches on the ropes until Lotus shoves Viper down. As Viper stumbles back, Lotus pulls a roll of quarters from his own tights, slipping them into his fist. He leaps off the second rope and connects with the illegal Quarter Pounder, smashing the steel into Viper's skull!

Roberts: The Quarter Pounder! A desperate move from the champion!

Lotus isn't done. He pulls Viper back onto the table, climbs the ropes, and dives off with a massive splash, driving his brother through the wood in an explosion of splinters!

Phoenix: Through the table! My God, the carnage!

Lotus crawls through the wreckage for a cover, but Viper somehow manages to get a shoulder up. Both men are now battered, bleeding, and exhausted. The fight spills back to the floor. Lotus, now running on pure adrenaline, repeatedly powerbombs Viper into the cell wall, again and again, the sound of steel echoing through the arena until Viper is a limp heap.

Lotus rolls Viper into the ring, his eyes glazed over with intensity. He signals for the end. He lifts his brother's near-lifeless body onto his shoulders and drives him into the mat with a thunderous Last Ride! He covers! ONE... TWO... THR--NO!! Viper kicks out! Jon Viper kicks out of the Last Ride!

Jeffrey: HOW?! HOW IS HE STILL IN THIS FIGHT?!

Lotus is stunned. He doesn't know what else he has to do. He sees Viper stir and goes for another power move, but Viper, from his knees, hits a desperate low blow! The referee sees it but can do nothing. Viper, using the last of his energy, pulls Lotus into the Fate Sealer on the concrete floor! Both men are down and out.

Viper is the first to move. He crawls, pulling himself up on the ring apron. He knows he needs one more thing to end it. He reaches under the ring and pulls out the very steel chair he brought to the ring, the one with "LOTUS" painted on it. He slides into the ring, screaming at his brother to get up.

Phoenix: This is it. Viper is looking to end his brother's career with the ultimate insult.

Lotus stumbles to his feet. Viper swings the chair with all his might, aiming for his brother's head. Lotus ducks under it! As Viper spins around from the momentum, Lotus grabs him by the throat. He stares into his brother's eyes for a long, final moment. He then lifts Viper high and drives him down with a massive chokeslam directly onto the "LOTUS" chair. The steel seat buckles under the impact.

But he's not done. Lotus picks up his brother's limp body one last time. He hoists him onto his shoulders, and with a final, guttural roar, drives him into the mat with a second, definitive Last Ride. He doesn't go for a standard pin. He slowly, deliberately crosses Viper's arms over his chest.

The referee slides in to count. ONE... TWO... THREE! The war is over.

Carson: Here is your winner… and STILL the 4CW Universal Champion… DAAAARK… LOOOTUS!

”Spiders on the Wall” by Magnolia Bayou begins to play, its somber, eerie tone a fitting soundtrack for the carnage.

The referee unchains the cell door as medical personnel cautiously begin to enter, heading straight for the motionless Jon Viper.

In the center of the ring, a battered and bleeding Dark Lotus slowly pushes himself to his feet. He ignores the officials. He ignores the music. He simply stands over the broken body of his brother. There is no look of triumph or celebration on his face; only a grim, quiet, and weary finality. The war is over, and the cost is written in blood on the canvas and on their bodies.

Phoenix: A definitive, and absolutely brutal, conclusion to a war between brothers. Dark Lotus has retained his championship, but you have to wonder what, if anything, is left of either of these men.

Roberts: This was more than a title match. This was an exorcism. And Dark Lotus has finally purged the venom of his brother from 4CW.

The Hell in a Cell structure begins to rise, lifting the shadow of war from the ring. A referee hands the Universal Championship to Lotus. He takes the belt, his movements slow and deliberate. He holds it up, not with a roar of victory, but with a quiet, exhausted raise of his arm. He has survived. He is still the champion.

He looks down at his brother one last time as Viper is being carefully loaded onto a stretcher. Lotus then turns and begins his slow, painful walk up the ramp, leaving the wreckage of his family's war behind him as the show goes to break.

The camera cuts backstage to a dimly lit hallway, lined with pipes and electrical conduits. The only sounds are a distant hum and the confident footsteps of the Hardcore Champion, Supreme, as he makes his way through the bowels of the stadium.

He rounds a corner and stops dead in his tracks. The hallway is completely blocked by the massive, imposing figure of JANISTAR, who is standing motionless, his masked face unreadable. A very scared-looking referee is peeking out from behind a nearby doorway, holding a half-eaten bag of popcorn.

Jeffrey: It's the big one! MONSTAR's reanimated corpse is here to reclaim the gold for the working man!
Roberts: That's JANISTAR, Ray. And that legend is completely unsubstantiated.

JANISTAR lets out a monstrous, guttural roar that echoes through the hallway and charges at Supreme.

Supreme, the veteran, doesn't even flinch. At the last possible second, he sidesteps.

Unable to stop his momentum, JANISTAR runs directly past Supreme and crashes headfirst with the force of a runaway truck through a section of drywall at the end of the hall. Dust and plaster explode everywhere. When the dust settles, JANISTAR is stuck, his arms and head having gone completely through the wall, his legs kicking uselessly in the hallway.

Supreme looks at the hole in the wall, then at the kicking legs, then back at his Hardcore Championship. He calmly walks over to the stuck monster, pats him condescendingly on the back, and continues on his way.

The referee cautiously emerges from the doorway, looks at the kicking legs, looks at the hole in the wall, takes another bite of popcorn, and shrugs before walking away in the opposite direction.

The camera fades from the shot of a defeated JANISTAR. The screen cuts to black. The haunting, atmospheric opening of "Black Lungs" by Architects begins to play.

We see a clip from years ago: a younger, arrogant RHYS CAIN, leader of The Black Flame, sneering into the camera. The image is confident, powerful, and villainous.

Rhys Cain: I am the hero in all of this! Everyone should appreciate what I did!

The music's heavy, grinding riff kicks in. The screen cuts to the January Storm Front. We see a broken Rhys Cain after his loss to Supreme, slumped on the ramp.

"We're buried alive, but we're still breathing..."

Cut to Cain backstage, wordlessly rejecting his daughter SEREN MALI's attempt to comfort him. The pain on her face is palpable.

Seren Mali: When I was a little girl, my dad was the biggest hero in this industry... Then something changed forever. Carstein broke him.

The song's chorus explodes. We see a montage of the MURDER OF CROWS' actions: them mocking Cain backstage, Robert Crow defeating Seren after Jason's interference, and their vicious 2-on-1 post-match assault on her.

The music softens for a moment. We see the key shot from the last Storm Front: the Crows are standing over Seren, about to inflict more damage. Suddenly, Rhys Cain hits the ring, a look of pure, protective fury on his face. He clears the ring, saving his daughter for the first time.

The screen cuts to a close-up of Cain, his face a mask of emotion as he helps his daughter to her feet.

Rhys Cain: Crows! You want to make this about family? Fine! At Revival... you get us both! You get The Dragons! IN A STREET FIGHT!!

The song swells to its powerful climax as we see a final, slow-motion shot of Cain and Seren standing side-by-side, united against their common enemy.

The arena goes dark.

A lone, haunting male voice begins to sing "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" a cappella. A single spotlight finds an old man in the front row, his flat cap held over his heart, singing the Welsh national anthem with pure, unadulterated passion. The entire stadium begins to hum along, a wave of national pride washing over the arena.

As the singer holds the final, powerful note, the stadium is plunged back into darkness for a split second before the dark, tolling bells and scratching guitar intro of ”Catch Me If You Can” by BABYMETAL kicks in.

The 4CWtron shows a powerful video of Welsh landscapes—the rugged mountains of Snowdonia, the ancient castles, the crashing waves of the coastline—intercut with gritty, black-and-white training footage of Cain and Seren preparing for this fight.

As the song's heavy, driving beat drops, "The Dragon" Rhys Cain emerges first onto the stage. He is not in his usual elaborate gear. He is wearing simple black fight shorts and a black t-shirt emblazoned with the iconic red Welsh dragon. He looks focused, determined, not arrogant. He walks halfway down the ramp and stops, turning to wait for his partner.

Seren Mali emerges next, wearing gear that perfectly mirrors her father's. The Cardiff crowd gives her a deafening ovation, a true hero's welcome. She walks to her father's side. They look at each other, share a determined nod, and then walk the rest of the way to the ring together, side-by-side, a united front.

Carson: And their opponents… making their debut as a tag team… from THE SCORCHED PATH, RIGHT HERE IN WALES… at a combined weight of 360lbs… "THE DRAGON" RHYS CAIN… AND SEREN MALI… THE DRAAAAGONS!!

Phoenix: Listen to this place! And listen to that music! Rhys Cain, in a mark of true change, has let his daughter's theme song be the anthem for their team tonight.

Roberts: It's a small detail, but it speaks volumes. Tonight, he is not just "The Dragon" Rhys Cain. He is Seren Mali's father.

The Dragons enter the ring, ready for their street fight.

Street Fight
Rhys Cain & Seren Mali vs Murder of Crows

The bell rings and all four competitors explode into a chaotic brawl. The more experienced Crows immediately take control, using the chair and kendo stick they brought to the ring. Jason cracks the kendo stick across Cain's back, forcing him to the outside, while Robert uses the chair to floor Seren.

They immediately isolate Seren Mali. Robert holds her arms while Jason delivers a series of brutal, open-handed slaps to her face, mocking her. The Cardiff crowd is absolutely incensed, their boos deafening. They begin to sing a passionate, defiant verse of "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau," trying to will their hometown heroes on.

Phoenix: This is disgusting. The Crows are showing their true colors, a complete lack of honor.
Jeffrey: Yeah, but listen to this place! The patriotism here is deafening!

The beatdown continues. They drag Seren to the corner. Jason holds her in place for a chair shot from Robert. Seren, showing incredible heart and resilience, waits for the last possible second and kicks backwards with a vicious low blow to Jason! He screams and releases her. She ducks, and Robert's chair shot smashes into the steel ring post with a loud clang.

This is the opening Cain needed. He slides back into the ring, a house of fire. He takes out the dazed Robert with a series of lariats, then turns his attention to Jason, hitting him with a massive German Suplex. He is a one-man wrecking crew, feeding off the energy of his home country.

Cain spots the large Welsh flag on a pole in the corner. He rips it free from its holder and snaps the flagpole over his knee. He now has two makeshift kendo sticks. He hands one to Seren. The crowd erupts as father and daughter stand side-by-side, ready for war. They unload on both Crows with a furious barrage of shots, driving them from the ring.

The brawl spills to the outside. Cain is in complete control, ramming Robert's head repeatedly into the announce table. His eyes go dark, the old "Black Flame" persona resurfacing. He clears the table, then looks down at the steel ring steps. He lifts the top half of the heavy steps high above his head, preparing to bring them down on Robert's head—a move that would end a career.

Jeffrey: Oh, here we go! This is the Cain I remember! End him!

From the ring, a voice cuts through the chaos.

Seren: DAD, NO!

Cain freezes, the heavy steps held high. He looks at his daughter, who is pleading with him from the ring apron.

Seren: Don't be him! Don't be that guy! We win our way! The right way!

A visible conflict rages on Cain's face. He looks from the steps to the beaten Robert, then back to his daughter's pleading eyes. The crowd is silent, watching. After a long, tense moment, he lets out a roar of frustration and throws the steps down with a deafening crash. He chose his daughter over his own rage.

Phoenix: I have to say, I didn’t expect Cain to back down there…
Jeffrey: Yeah, well… maybe he has actually softened in his old age.
Phoenix: Well, he’s younger than both of us.

But the moment of moral victory comes at a cost. As Cain gets back onto the apron, Jason Crow yanks him off, sending him crashing back-first into the barricade. The Crows now have the advantage. They hit a double-team suplex on Cain onto the concrete floor. They then turn their full, 2-on-1 attention back to the battered Seren.

The Crows drag Seren into the ring, looking to finish her off. They set her up for a double powerbomb, but Cain, running on pure adrenaline, slides back into the ring and takes out Jason with a massive spear!

Phoenix: Spear from The Dragon!

Robert turns his attention to Cain, but it's a fatal mistake. He leaves himself open. Seren comes up from behind, hooks his arms, and hits the Dim Mwg Heb Dan!

Robert is down! A dazed Jason stumbles to his feet right into the path of his old mentor. Cain lifts Jason onto his shoulders in a powerbomb position. He yells for his daughter.

Cain: SEREN! NOW!

Seren climbs to the top rope. She flies through the air, hitting a massive crossbody on Jason as Cain simultaneously drops him. A father-daughter Doomsday Device! Cain pins Jason while Seren simultaneously drapes an arm over Robert. The referee counts both! ONE... TWO... THREE!

Carson: Here are your winners… THE DRAAAAGONS!!

The crowd's roar is a mix of celebration and pure emotion. ”Catch Me If You Can” plays, but it's drowned out by the sound of the stadium singing.

Phoenix: They did it! They stood together, they fought together, and they won together! What a moment!

Cain and Seren, exhausted and battered, slowly get to their feet. Cain helps his daughter up. He looks at her, not just with pride, but with a profound sense of gratitude. He pulls her into a massive, emotional hug in the center of the ring, holding her for a long moment.

Roberts: Say what you will about Rhys Cain but tonight, he put his daughter first and came out on top with a monumental Revival victory!
Phoenix: Indeed it has been a good night for the Cain family…

Cain raises Seren’s hand high, presenting her to the Welsh crowd as the true hero of the match. The camera focuses on the two of them, a family finally reunited in victory, as the show fades to the next segment.

The camera cuts backstage one last time. We are in the "gorilla position," the final staging area just behind the entrance curtain. Referees, stagehands, and a few wrestlers are gathered, watching the monitors as the main event introductions are about to begin.

The Hardcore Champion, Supreme, is leaning against a road case, stretching and preparing to go out and watch the main event from the stage.

Suddenly, a figure stumbles out from behind a curtain, swaying unsteadily. It's Janitur. He appears to be extremely "drunkin," a half-empty bottle of what looks suspiciously like cleaning fluid in his hand. He is followed by a referee who is trying his best to look professional while also trying not to laugh.

Janitur: Shupreme! You think you're sho tough... beating up my... my little guys... Well, the head of the... the mop... is here to clean... you... up!

He takes a swig from the bottle and stumbles forward, challenging the completely unimpressed Hall of Famer to a fight.

Jeffrey: Oh, for the love of... can this night get any weirder? Go on, Janitur! Get him!

Janitur brandishes a nearby mop like a bo staff. He lets out a bizarre, gurgling war cry and begins to swing wildly at Supreme. Supreme, looking bored, easily dodges every clumsy, telegraphed swing.

Janitur swings a final, massive haymaker with the mop. He puts everything he has into it. Supreme simply sidesteps.

The momentum of the mighty swing carries Janitur into an uncontrolled spin. He twirls around two, three, four times like a malfunctioning ballerina before getting dizzy, losing his footing, and collapsing flat on his back, knocking himself out cold. The mop clatters to the floor beside him.

There is a moment of stunned silence. The referee looks at the unconscious Janitur, then at Supreme. He hesitantly kneels down and counts Janitur's shoulders, even though no one is pinning him.

One... two...?

The referee stops, shrugs, and gives up.

Supreme just rolls his eyes at the sheer absurdity of it all. He calmly steps over the unconscious body of Janitur, gives a "what can you do?" look at the camera, and walks through the curtain to watch the main event, still the 4CW Hardcore Champion.

===

The camera fades from the shot of an unconscious Janitur. The stadium goes dark. For a moment, there is only silence. Then, the quiet, ominous opening notes of "The Lines" by Beartooth begin to play. On the 4CWtron, we see a slow-motion clip of Brian White and Tommy Young, back-to-back, from their time as the tag team Run 'N' Gun. They are smiling.

Brian White: Tommy has been my constant friend and companion during my time here at 4CW...

The music's heavy, distorted riff kicks in. The screen cuts violently to Gallows End 2022. Tommy Young is celebrating his second consecutive 13 Ghost Gauntlet victory. He is the undisputed #1 contender.

"I've been wasting my breath on a person that's hopeless..."

Cut to the January Storm Front. Madeline Phoenix is confronting Tommy Young backstage.

Madeline Phoenix: One on one, I know I can prove I am the superior competitor. It should be me facing Brian White next.
Tommy Young: Then prove it…

The music explodes into its aggressive chorus. We see a rapid-fire montage of Madeline's actions: her vicious chair assault on Young after their match, causing the DQ. Her father, Scott Phoenix, walking off commentary in disgust. Brian White sprinting to the ring to make the save.

"DON'T CROSS THE LINES WE'VE DRAWN FOR THE LAST TIME!"

The music softens again. We see the clip from the February Storm Front: Madeline, after being outwrestled by White, orchestrates the finish, tricking the referee into disqualifying the champion due to Tommy Young's perceived interference.

Roberts: She played him! She played them all!

Cut to the end of the go-home show. Madeline has just attacked Brian White. A furious White is in the ring, microphone in hand, his face a mask of pure rage.

Brian White: You want my attention? Fine! You got it! At Revival... it will be me... versus Tommy Young... versus YOU! A Triple Threat match for the 4CW Undisputed World Championship!

The song's brutal breakdown kicks in as the video package ends with a final, dramatic three-way split-screen: White, roaring, holding the title high. Young, his face etched with grim determination. And Madeline, a cold, confident smirk on her face.

Phoenix: It is time. The story of the year, a story of friendship, obsession, and the ultimate prize in this sport, all comes down to this.

Jeffrey: I've got chills, Scott! The champion, the rightful challenger, and the woman who burned it all down to get her way. This is going to be an absolute powder keg.
The stadium lights dim, leaving only the glow of thousands of cell phones. The opening, haunting notes of ”Nocturnal Strains” by Eternal Tears of Sorrow slither through the massive PA system, a chilling and deliberate choice.

On the stage, a single, black metal podium rises from a lift, sleek and minimalist. Smoke pours from its base. As the music builds, another lift rises behind it, revealing Madeline Phoenix. She is dressed in her elaborate "Fallen Angel" gear—black and red, accented with gold, and on her back is a pair of massive, black feathered wings. Her expression is one of cold, absolute focus.

Carson: The following contest is a Triple Threat match scheduled for one fall, and it is for the 4CW Undisputed World Championship! Introducing the first challenger… hailing from Widow's Hill, weighing in at 125lbs… "THE MAD PHOENIX" MADELINE PHOENIX!!

Madeline slowly, deliberately unstraps the massive wings from her back. She turns and places them carefully onto the metal podium behind her, spreading them out as if for display. She takes a step back, looks at the wings for a long moment, and then a cruel smirk crosses her face.

With a sudden, violent burst, jets of flame shoot up from the base of the podium, engulfing the wings in a spectacular inferno. The black feathers turn to orange and ash, blazing away behind her as she begins her stoic march to the ring.

Jeffrey: Madeline Phoenix is getting a lot of time to reflect on the bridges she has burned to get to this spot.

As Madeline begins her slow, deliberate walk down the ramp, the 4CWtron behind her plays a highlight reel not of her victories, but of her campaign of terror. We see the chair assault on Tommy Young. We see her orchestrating the DQ victory over Brian White. We see the smug look on her face as the champion and challenger argued. She is glorying in the chaos she created.

Phoenix: This was not the path she was supposed to take. She had all the talent in the world to get here the right way. But after losing to Tommy Young at Gallows End, something broke. She became… this. Obsessed, manipulative, and violent.
Roberts: You cannot deny the effectiveness of her strategy, Scott. She saw a one-on-one match between two friends and identified a weakness. She created a crisis, and in doing so, created an opportunity for herself. It was ruthless, but it was brilliant.
Phoenix: The effectiveness of her strategy is not what concerns me, James. That’s my daughter, walking down the ramp, in the main event of Revival. I should be bursting with pride. Instead, all I feel is trepidation.
Jeffrey: Brilliant is an understatement, James! She is the smartest person in this match! She's not just playing chess while they're playing checkers; she designed the whole damn board! She has been living in their heads for months, and that gives her a massive advantage before the bell even rings.

Madeline reaches the ring, ascends the steps, and slowly enters. She unstraps the wings, handing them to a ringside attendant, her movements precise and full of contempt. She walks to the center of the ring and stares through the entrance ramp, waiting for her opponents.

Madeline Phoenix waits in the ring, a lone villainess basking in the boos of the Welsh crowd. A moment of silence hangs in the air, thick with anticipation.

Suddenly, the iconic opening riff of ”Aces High” by Iron Maiden screams through the Principality Stadium, and the crowd absolutely explodes. On the 4CWtron, footage plays of Royal Air Force jets streaking across the sky, leaving trails of red, white, and green smoke—the colors of the Welsh flag.

The stage erupts in a massive display of red, white, and green pyro. Through the smoke, "Top Gun" Tommy Young bursts onto the stage. He is not wearing his usual gear. Tonight, he is adorned in a custom flight suit, also in the colors of the Welsh flag, with "Cymru am byth" (Wales forever) stitched over his heart. He looks not with his usual confident smile, but with a look of intense, almost furious determination.

Carson: And the second challenger… from right here in Barry, South Wales, weighing in at 185lbs… the two-time 13 Ghost Gauntlet winner… "TOP GUN" TOMMYYYYY … YOOOOOUNG!!

Phoenix: Listen to this place! This is a hero's welcome for a man who has scratched and clawed his way to this main event. He won the Gauntlet for a historic second consecutive year to earn this shot, a one-on-one match with his mentor.
Roberts: But that dream scenario was turned into a nightmare by Madeline Phoenix. For months, he has been the target of her obsession. He's been attacked, he's had his friendship tested, but he has endured. Tonight is not just about winning a title; it's about shutting her down and fulfilling his destiny.
Jeffrey: Destiny is a nice word for it. I call it getting your ass kicked and then getting lucky! Let's not forget, Madeline has been playing him like a fiddle!

Fueled by the roar of his home country, Young doesn't walk; he sprints down the ramp, slapping hands with the fans in the front row. He slides into the ring and immediately gets in Madeline Phoenix's face, the two of them screaming at each other as the referee is forced to step between them. Tommy breaks away, sheds the flight suit to reveal his ring gear underneath, and climbs the turnbuckle, soaking in the adulation of 70,000 Welsh fans.

Tommy Young comes down from the turnbuckle, the roar of his home crowd still ringing in his ears. He and Madeline Phoenix are on opposite sides of the ring, staring daggers at each other. The arena lights dim once more.

The familiar, haunting sitar intro of ”Wherever I May Roam” by Metallica begins to play, and the entire stadium hums along in anticipation. On the 4CWtron, a stunning visual plays: a massive, CGI Welsh dragon, its scales the color of slate, unfurls its wings atop the highest peak in Snowdonia, before letting out a earth-shaking roar.

As the iconic, heavy guitar riff kicks in, the stage erupts in colossal columns of red fire, timed perfectly to the music. Through the flames and smoke, the champion, Brian "The Freight Train" White, emerges. The 4CW Undisputed World Championship is strapped firmly around his waist. He is not in his usual gear; tonight, he wears black trunks accented with the red and green of Wales, and emblazoned on the side is the Prince of Wales's feathers. He looks like a true heavyweight king. Accompanying him, as always, is his wife, Miss Teri.

Carson: And their opponent… being accompanied by Miss Teri… from Barry, South Wales, weighing in at 385lbs… he is the reigning, defending, 4CW UNDISPUTED WORLD CHAMPION … BRIAN “THE FREIGHT TRAIN” WHIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE!!

Phoenix: And here he is. The champion. A man who ended the longest title reign in history to win this belt right here at Revival. He has gone through hell and back over the last year, from an Ironman match with Rhys Cain to a War Games match, and he has stood tall through it all.
Roberts: But tonight might be his greatest challenge. He's not just facing one opponent; he's facing two. He's facing his best friend and protégé, a man who knows him better than anyone. And he's facing a master manipulator in Madeline Phoenix who has proven she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
Jeffrey: He's walking into a trap, Scott! A Welsh sandwich, and he's the meat in the middle! There is no way he walks out of here with that title tonight!

White marches down the ramp with a look of pure, grim purpose. He doesn't pose or play to the crowd. This is a business trip. He helps Miss Teri into the ring before entering himself. He walks to the center of the ring and unstraps the championship, holding it high in a display of ultimate, regal dominance. The camera pans from the determined face of Young, to the cold stare of Madeline, to the unshakeable confidence of the champion, Brian White. The referee takes the title and presents it to all three competitors before holding it aloft. This is it. The main event of Revival XVI.

4CW Undisputed World Championship
Brian White © vs Tommy Young vs Madeline Phoenix

The bell rings and the roar from the 70,000 strong in Principality Stadium is absolutely deafening. Madeline Phoenix and Tommy Young, ignoring the champion, immediately lock eyes across the ring, the air thick with pure animosity. They charge at each other, ready to continue their bitter war. But before they can connect, the colossal frame of Brian White barrels into them both with a massive double clothesline, sending both challengers crashing to the mat in a heap!

Phoenix: The champion makes an immediate and powerful statement! He will not be a bystander in his own main event! This is his ring, and this match will be fought on his terms!

White stands over them. He is the mountain, and they are the climbers. He pulls Young up and sends him flying into the corner with a thunderous Irish whip. He turns his attention to Madeline, who tries a kick to his leg, but White catches her foot, spins her around, and flattens her with a huge scoop slam. He is a true force of nature, treating both challengers like ragdolls.

The challengers, battered, realize they cannot survive this onslaught alone. They begin to act independently but with a shared purpose: chop down the giant. Young, from the outside, grabs White's ankle and pulls, causing him to stumble. This creates an opening for Madeline to hit a series of stiff kicks to the champion's back. White swats her away, but as he turns, Young hits a springboard dropkick to White's knee. The separate, persistent attacks begin to find their mark, forcing the big man to roll to the outside to create some space and reassess the two-front war he's facing.

Roberts: A brilliant, if unspoken, strategy. They can't overpower him, so they're using speed and precision to take out the champion's base. They have to ground the Freight Train.

With the champion on the floor, the ring is now left to Young and Madeline. The temporary truce is over. The personal grudge immediately explodes. They meet in the center of the ring, trading vicious, stiff forearms. The sound cracks through the stadium.

Young gets the upper hand, backing Madeline into the ropes. He goes for another whip, but Madeline reverses it and hits a brutal chop block on his knee. As Young stumbles, she comes off the ropes with a running bulldog, driving his face into the mat.

Jeffrey: See? That's what makes her so dangerous! She's not just a fighter; she's a predator. She'll always go for the weakness.

Madeline stalks Young, applying a painful submission hold, trying to wrench his leg. Young agonises over the pain as White slides back into the ring. He doesn't just break the hold; he grabs Madeline by her hair and launches her clear across the ring. He didn't save Young; he saved his championship from being decided without him.

Now, for the first time, the two friends, the mentor and the protégé, are alone. The Cardiff crowd is on its feet. They circle each other, the history between them hanging heavy in the air. They lock up, a pure test of strength and skill. White overpowers Young, but Young uses his speed to escape. As Young returns however, White predicts his movement and grabs him. White hits a massive Pavement Slam that shakes the ring, but Young kicks out at two.

Young fires back upon being thrown to the ropes again by White, hitting a spectacular springboard moonsault from the second rope, and covers White! ONE… TWO… NO! Kickout!. The action is incredible, a showcase of the match that should have been.

As White and Young are locked in their battle, Madeline plays the spoiler. She slides in to break up the next a pinfall attempt by White, after hitting a second Pavement Slam.

All three competitors are now in the ring, exhausted but running on pure adrenaline. Madeline hits the Stonecaster DDT on Young! She hooks the leg! ONE... TWO... White dives across the ring and breaks up the pin at the last possible second!

Phoenix: White saves his title!

White grabs Madeline and lifts her up, then hits the Runaway Train! He covers!

Roberts: White with the Runaway Train out of nowhere!

ONE... TWO... Young comes flying in with a diving elbow drop from the top rope to break the count! All three are down!

Jeffrey: I can't keep up! Any one of these three could win it at any second! This is unbelievable!

Madeline rolls out of the ring instinctively, while White and Young continue to throw back and forths inside the ring. Young manages to counter a charging White, sending him into the corner. He follows up with an enziguri!

Young sees his chance, the chance he has worked his entire career for. He drags White to the center of the ring, climbs to the top rope, points to the sky, and hits a perfect Bombs Away Swanton Bomb!

Jeffrey: BOMBS AWAAAAAY!!

Young scrambles and hooks the leg! The referee slides in! The entire stadium is counting with him!

ONE...

TWO...

THR--NO!! BRIAN WHITE KICKS OUT AT 2.999!

Phoenix: MY GOD, HE KICKED OUT! HE KICKED OUT! TOMMY YOUNG WAS A MILLISECOND AWAY FROM BECOMING THE WORLD CHAMPION!
Jeffrey: I thought he had it! I really thought he had it!

A devastated Tommy Young is on his knees, pounding the mat in pure, unadulterated frustration. He looks at the referee, his eyes pleading, but the call stands. He doesn't know what else he has to do. He tries to lift the champion for another move, but his body is giving out.

Phoenix: This match has been fast-paced and gruelling and all three competitors are exhausted! Does Young even have anything else in him?

As he struggles, Madeline Phoenix slides a steel chair into the ring, right at Young's feet—a callback to the very act that started this chaos. She gives him a sickening, tempting smile. Young sees the chair. The ultimate moral dilemma.

Phoenix: Young’s looking at that chair! What’s he going to do?!

The crowd screams, some for him to use it, some for him to throw it away. He looks at the chair, then at the fallen champion. He reaches for it... then shakes his head and shoves it away with his foot, his honor winning out.

Roberts: Of course Young isn’t going to use the chair! I never doubted him for a second!

That single moment of hesitation is all the champion needs. White, recovering, grabs Young from behind, looking for the Train Crash. But Madeline hits White from behind with another chair she had grabbed!

Jeffrey: Madeline Phoenix on the other hand, has no such qualms! And that’s what makes her the wildcard tonight!

White stumbles forward, right into a superkick from Young! The champion is stunned! Young turns to confront Madeline, screaming at her for her interference, but she just laughs. As Young is distracted, a recovering White grabs him from behind. But Madeline isn't done! She hits a chop block on White's knee! White collapses, releasing Young.

Madeline immediately grabs Young, looking for the Stonecaster, but White, from his knees, lunges forward and SPEARS Madeline! All three competitors are down in a heap!

Jeffrey: This is absolute madness! Who will walk out of here with the championship?! Will they even WALK out of here at all?!
White is the first to stir. He sees Madeline crawling. He grabs her by the hair, his face a mask of pure fury. He has had enough. He hoists her onto his shoulders, and with a final, defiant roar, hits the Train Crash! He collapses on top of her for the cover.

Phoenix: TRAIN CRASH! CAN WHITE GET THE THREE??

ONE... TWO... THREE

Carson: Here is your winner and … STIIIIIIILLL 4CW UNDISPUTED WORLD CHAMPION… BRIAN… THE FREIGHT TRAAAAAAAAINN … WHIIIIITE!!

Phoenix: HE RETAINS! Against all odds, in the most chaotic main event in Revival history, Brian White has survived! The Freight Train is still the Undisputed World Champion!

Roberts: What a war! Every single competitor came within a heartbeat of winning that championship, but in the end, it was the heart and the power of Brian White that made the difference.

Confetti begins to rain down from the roof of Principality Stadium, a shower of red, white, and green. In the center of the ring, a battered and completely exhausted Brian White is handed the 4CW Undisputed World Championship by the referee. He doesn't have the strength to stand. He remains on his knees, clutching the title to his chest, the physical and emotional toll of the war etched on his face. Miss Teri slides into the ring, gently placing a hand on her husband's shoulder.

At ringside, Madeline Phoenix is stirring, a look of pure, seething hatred on her face as she realizes she came so close, only to be denied. She slams her fist on the floor before being helped to the back by officials, her quest for gold having failed.

But the camera's focus is on Tommy Young. He slowly, painfully, pulls himself up on the ring apron, his face a mask of utter devastation. This was his moment. This was his night. He was seconds away from fulfilling his destiny, and it was ripped away from him. He slams his hand on the apron in a moment of pure, unadulterated fury. The crowd, sensing his heartbreak, begins to chant his name.

Jeffrey: You can see the heartbreak. You can see the anger. To come that close on the biggest stage of them all... that's a feeling that will haunt a man for the rest of his life.

Tommy slides into the ring and gets to his feet, hobbling on a sore leg. He walks over to his mentor, who is now being helped up by Miss Teri. The two men, the two best friends, stand face-to-face in the center of the ring.

Young's face is a torrent of conflicting emotions: anger at the loss, frustration, but underneath it all, a deep, unwavering respect. He looks at the title on White's shoulder, then into his friend's eyes. The fury in his expression slowly softens into one of grim acceptance. He fought his heart out. He gave it everything. But tonight, the champion was the better man.

Tommy Young slowly extends his hand.

Brian White, equally exhausted, looks at the hand, then at his protégé. He nods, a look of immense respect in his own eyes, and firmly shakes it. He pulls Young in and they share a brief, weary embrace. Their friendship is strained, it has been tested by fire, but it is not broken.

Young releases the embrace and rolls out of the ring, leaving the champion to his moment. He walks up the ramp, never taking his eyes off the ring, the image of what could have been burning behind his eyes.

The show ends with the final, iconic image: a triumphant Brian White, with Miss Teri at his side, holding the 4CW Undisputed World Championship high in the air on the turnbuckle, the undisputed king of 4CW, as the confetti continues to fall.

Phoenix: Thank you everyone for joining us on what has been a historic night! This is Revival XVI! This is 4CW! Good night!! Brian White is STILL THE UNDISPUTED WORLD CHAMPION!!

===

Quick Results:

PRE SHOW
-Zak E Justice defeated The Virgin Rose © to win the 4CW Hardcore Championship
-Supreme defeated Zak E Justice © to win the 4CW Hardcore Championship

MAIN SHOW
-Dirk Meyer w/Senecca defeated Xavier Avana © to win the 4CW Custom Cup Championship (Career vs Title Ante Up match)
-Synth City Thrillers defeated Neon Moon ©, Umbra Maxima and Hazel & Rose to win the 4CW Tag Team Championships (TLC match)
-Richard Estevez defeated Quentin Cosmo in a Lumberjack match, after a litany of interferences from other universes.
-The Snake Pit defeated Antivists © to win the 4CW Franchise Championship
-Jaku Kal defeated Eli Waters w/The Liberation
-Dark Lotus © defeated Jon Viper to retain the 4CW Universal Championship (Hell in a Cell match)
-Rhys Cain & Seren Mali defeated Murder of Crows
-Brian White © defeated Madeline Phoenix and Tommy Young to retain the 4CW Undisputed World Championship