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Janiturs vs Supergroup in a hardcore match
- Ah yes, the old "moose taking a shit at ringside" spot. Why is this so rare nowadays?
- A dumpster ride that ends with bowling for idiots is always a more fun ride to behold than experience.
- Of course S&M don't know how actual mops work, the only time they ever heard the phrase "mopping the floor", they were either the mop or the floor.
Young vs McGroin in an Ultimate X match for the Custom Cup Championship
- Right off the bat I just wanna note that using this extended entrance for Tommy at this particular event is a real nice touch.
- Also, Tommy Young is clearly the secret identity of the Spider-Man from some obscure reality in the Spider-verse, I'm calling it now. 😋
- There's some solid back-and-forth in the early goings of this one, with numerous stalemates, which makes sense for two athletes who have each other well-scouted.
- "Stanchion." So that's what those are called! I learned a new word today.
- Well, then! Tommy theory I put forward a few notes ago: confirmed.
- And in a bit of an upset, we have a new champion! Though to be honest, it's really only ever a matter of time before an undefeated competitor of such great calibre starts snatching up all the gold! 😉
Paige vs Supreme for the Universal Championship
*First, an observation that I've made internally more than once but never did think to externalize*
I've always rather liked how Supreme is full of himself but backs it up. Kinda like Valentine, but from a different angle:, i.e. Valentine is flagrantly cocky, while Supreme is very self-assured; Supreme waits for his opponent to make a mistake and then capitalizes on it, while Valentine causes his opponent to make a mistake and then capitalizes on it; Valentine's years of experience have taught him how to become an incredible opportunist, while Supreme's years of experience have taught him how to be a great mat technician; etc, you get the idea.
- A little surprised to see so much out-of-ring action in this one, not that it's a bad thing.
- Not a big deal, but for future reference, guys that are over 200 pounds - or maybe 210 - are typically too heavy for Paige to lift.
- The big Sailor Moon out-of-ring dive is actually meant to be a running suicide crossbody - she "sails" over the top rope instead of under it like in a basic suicide dive, basically. Looking back at how I've worded it on Paige's wiki page, the description was kinda lacking, so I just updated it to make it clearer. I like the use of the top rope move here though, still a big move that she actually does use occasionally.
- Good turnaround and I like how Paige made it a point to do everything she could to make sure Supreme stayed down.
- Aaaaand that's now a whole other sexy, shiny belt for the Golden Pilgrim's waist! Triple Crown, to boot.
Carstein vignette
- Leave it to the Lord of the Night to perceive a steel cell as an old, proud idol of chaos.
- Creepy! 😋
Valentine vs White vs Simtul in a triple threat match for the 4CW World Championship
- Been looking forward to this clash of titans! Don't expect any pulled punches in this one, folks.
- Cool Tower of Doom spot.
- Match grinded to a finish pretty quickly, it threw me off there and left me scratching my head. Not much else to be said, really.
5 vs 5 WAR match
- Wrote it. Roughly 16,000 words in total, with a couple paragraphs having been put in and tweaked from contributions by Rhys.
Match of the night
- The Uni title match.
MVP of the night
- Carstein. Solid vignette and fun to write for in the War match. The Order couldn't have done it without him, even though he's not officially affiliated and is unpredictable in general.
Graphic of the night
I made most of them, so I'll go with Battle in the Bayou.
Last edited by Pilgrim Paige (Fri-15-May-2020 18:04:11)
~☆~☆~Pronouns: she/her/hers~☆~☆~
~☆~☆~4CW Grand Slam Champ~☆~☆~
Ok, let's get a quick review done.
-Destruction of the Decade: Yeah, this was fun. Some good spots, and a bit of comedy thrown in by S&M. Gotta love it when a moose shits all over your nice clean matts! And the mop sequence was a good closing for it! No idea where this is gonna go from here...
-End of Year Awards: Thank you for giving me the crazy ass stupid ridiculous moment of the year! It was pretty crazy to write and I loved the reactions to it. And congrats to all the other winners too.
-Young vs McGroin: The end to a great run. Still, a bit bummed it's over. Other than that, yeah I did write it, and actually glad I don't have to write another Ultimate X match for a while, it get's difficult to write a one on one Ultimate X after the 7th!
-Supreme vs Paige: Good match, lot's of back and forth, good chemistry between the two and some decent spots. Congrats on the win and Triple Crown to boot, Paige.
-Carstein vignette: This was a pleasure to read. I used to read Carstein stuff back in 2006 I think it was as I'm friends with Compy, and he put me on to 4CW way back then. Shame I didn't join in to be honest, but those shows were looooong.... Anyway, I loved the imagery there of the cage being a living entity, of needing a blood sacrifice, was a really nice, effective segment to show what Carstein's all about for those who don't remember. Nice one.
-Valentine vs Simtul vs White: Not sure what to say about this really... Yeah, I'm sore about going a true 3 and 0 with Valentine, but I think my main gripe is actually similar to Paige's for her match... Could Valentine really drop White with a full Piledriver? I mean, White's 400lbs. Not saying Valentine didn't deserve the win, I just find that a little hard to swallow is all... Or maybe I'm imagining it differently to Stingmon as it was Simtul's throw towards Valentine that made it possible... I dunno, I'm still seeing that as more of a DDT though... Still decent match I guess, just bummed that White had to take the fall really...
-War match: What an absolute ball of carnage! Really well done to Paige for this one, and well worth the wait. 16,000 words... Sheesh, you weren't kidding! This is a quick review, and to really give it it's dues I'd probably have to read it again! So I'll just say it was a hell of a ride with some amazing spots, some serious emotional content and the right team won in the end.
Match of the Night: WAR!
MVP: I'm going with Carstein. It's really great to have him truly back!
Graphic of the Night: I quite liked the Bricky one, so I'll go with that.
4CW Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Triple Crown Champion 2020. 2 times Universal, 2 times Tag team and 1 Time World Heavyweight Champion.
Wrestler of the Year 2017, Champion of the Year 2017, Most Improved 2017
-Destruction of the Decade: Wrote it.
-End of Year Awards: - Wrote it. Congrats to all winners.
-Young vs McGroin: Good little match. Nice to see McGroin finally win a major title, it's been long overdue. Excited to see what he does with it. And what stipulation he will choose. Young had a hell of a reign, one full year(which is something his mentor also did, with the Universal title. I literally just realised that. Neat.).
-Supreme vs Paige: Another good match. Paige wins the big triple crown. Supreme's reign ends, but he's had a great past year so I'm sure he'll bounce back easily. Fun Fact: Paige's triple crown win is one of the fastest in history at 887 days. Only Mike Nichols and Chris Drake did it faster, and they both went on to become Grand Slam Champions.
-Carstein vignette: Love me some Carstein creepiness.
-Valentine vs Simtul vs White: I feel like this match is getting a little bit of flack. I do have issue with it, but first of all I'm gonna say, most of this match is pretty good stuff. It just felt a bit short, and the ending really confused me. I wasn't really clear on what Simtul's motivations were for doing what he did, aside from possibly just really hating White. So the finish bummed me out a little bit - BUT, Valentine getting the win because of Simtul and not because of his own actions is exactly the type of thing I'd expect from him and I like that aspect of it.
-War match: This. Is. Madness.
What an effort, Paige, in writing this match. 16,000 words. Having written WAR matches (and other types of matches) that are 10,000+ words, I understand how much of a bitch this is to do lol. The match had everything. The great spots, the emotional catharsis, the storyline beats for Madeline to get her ultimate revenge. It was all fantastic. The last two or three eliminations were particularly intense and entertaining. This feud was a hell of a lot of fun to be a part of, and I'm glad we managed to get it done. Roll on, 2020!
MVP: Madeline Phoenix
Match of the Night: WAR
Graphic: Maddie Entrance Graphic
Thanks Taker_2004 for the banner!
Full review to come but I just wanted to explain my match a bit. Honestly I didn't realize how abrupt the ending was until I read it here and I honestly didn't like it either. Simtul's motivation was the hatred for White, though I realize that would have been better recognized if more time had been devoted to establishing a rivalry between the two. And basically in the finish Elfan launched White kinda like you would send someone into a steel post and Jack kinda caught him in the piledriver and used the momentum to spike him. I'm sorry this wasn't one of my better efforts. If I write for Revival I promise to turn in something much better quality.
Full review to come but I just wanted to explain my match a bit. Honestly I didn't realize how abrupt the ending was until I read it here and I honestly didn't like it either. Simtul's motivation was the hatred for White, though I realize that would have been better recognized if more time had been devoted to establishing a rivalry between the two. And basically in the finish Elfan launched White kinda like you would send someone into a steel post and Jack kinda caught him in the piledriver and used the momentum to spike him. I'm sorry this wasn't one of my better efforts. If I write for Revival I promise to turn in something much better quality.
Don't be too hard on yourself man. The world is weird right now, and we're not all on our A-Game. I didn't dislike the match, I was more so just confused by the finish. I appreciate the effort you made to write the match regardless.
Thanks Taker_2004 for the banner!
Don't be too hard on yourself man. The world is weird right now, and we're not all on our A-Game. I didn't dislike the match, I was more so just confused by the finish. I appreciate the effort you made to write the match regardless.
^ This, for sure. And just to reiterate, I loved that spin on the Tower of Doom spot!
And basically in the finish Elfan launched White kinda like you would send someone into a steel post and Jack kinda caught him in the piledriver and used the momentum to spike him.
Ahh, okay. I kinda felt like it might've went that way, but wasn't sure. An opportunistic spike piledriver, rode the momentum. Very Mad Dog.
Last edited by Pilgrim Paige (Fri-29-May-2020 02:22:23)
~☆~☆~Pronouns: she/her/hers~☆~☆~
~☆~☆~4CW Grand Slam Champ~☆~☆~
Must admit, I didn't realise there was so much heat between White and Simtul!
4CW Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Triple Crown Champion 2020. 2 times Universal, 2 times Tag team and 1 Time World Heavyweight Champion.
Wrestler of the Year 2017, Champion of the Year 2017, Most Improved 2017
-Destruction of the Decade:
Lol. What a goofy way to start the show, but nevertheless entertaining and honestly the proper length for sure. A mock War match that actually featured some legit names.
Jeffrey: Look at the midget go!
Phoenix: RAY!
LOL
This was fun. I liked the poop spot. At first when the moose shit, I didn’t think anything of it. But having someone slip on it was smart, I liked it. The dumpster stunt was a bit crazy, but what else would you expect from a match like this. Not a bad way to start the show. Supergroup hasn’t been very super! Where do they go now????
-End of Year Awards:
I love that this is a thing now. Made me look forward to the show, that much more. Congrats to all the winners, as it was deserved. Thank you to anyone who voted for me. I remember being 50/50 about coming back at all in July 2018. So glad that I did, having so much fun and still tons of ideas to go through and I just wanna work with everyone. I remember the “Golden Era” of 4CW. It was great but there was a lot of bullshit and bitching going on too. What we have now is ours and it’s fantastic.
Let’s not forget about Rhys and the booking team (I believe a lot of this is Paige w/ the rest of us pitching in when we can) Writing nearly whole shows for our entertainment, but also to move the shows along and get us caught up. To fill out the rest of the show. A lot falls on these guys and Rhys, I’ve def taken it for granted. So thank you guys for keeping 4CW alive and I look forward to keeping this all going as long as we can!
-Young vs McGroin:
I like that it was acknowledged, that McGroin has come up short against Young before. It’s small and simple but it matters. The intro by Tommy Young, I don’t know, it really made me think he was gonna retain. So I gotta say, his run was great but it is nice to see someone else with the title. Congrats to McGroin. Always hangin in there and now he’s got some more hardware. I liked the finish, especially because it was an upset. Great title match to get things really going.
Can someone clarify something for me? Custom Cup Title matches don’t always have to be Ultimate X matches right? I know they didn’t use to be. I have no issues, but I’ve been seeing so much of it I just wanted to ask.
Really interested in where Young goes from here. Does he attempt to get that title back? Or is it finally time for bigger and better things???
-Supreme vs Paige:
Wrote it.
-Carstein vignette:
Very different. Intriguing. I dunno if I can see this on an actual televised show because it’s written better for a role play. However, it’s still very good. I really like how Carstein spoke of the history with the steel cage and then makes an offering. I love that for Carstein’s character, that’s fantastic character building. We need more segments like this, but you can’t just write one if you don’t have the right character for it. It be too forced. Everything felt natural here. Maybe even supernatural…….I’ll see myself out.
-Valentine vs Simtul vs White:
There’s two main things here I am in agreement with. First and foremost, there is a ton of good stuff here. Tower of Doom spot was really cool. This match had several spots, which was cool. I wish I knew what some of the more complex maneuvers were, such as Total Eclipse or Falling Satellite. However, not going crazy on the description allowed for more face paced action, or at least it seemed.
Stimul eating that Super Kick and hitting the Falling Satellite before collapsing was definitely different. I’m trying to imagine how that would look. With Stimul being a big dude, I think I can see it. Maybe. Hey it’s different, I like different.
Now to the finish. It most definitely felt like it came out of nowhere. Which is not that uncommon, what really came out of nowhere was Stimul! I mean c’mon! Who had that pegged?? I’m totally fine with this if we get some serious explanation!
As far as the Piledriver finish, if I could venture a guess, it would be that Valentine’s finisher, The Flea Shot. Can be a confusing read. It’s basically a Double Arm DDT, in which you leap back liking you’re doing the pedigree. I can see it in my head easily, obviously. But I have read it in the past from different writers, in all sorts of different ways. And that’s fine, I don’t expect certain odd/strange moves to be described perfectly. But one way I have seen before is the piledriver. So maybe Stingmon was having Stimul just toss White into whatever Valentine’s finisher was and that’s just how it was described.
It was a great action packed, face paced Triple Threat, with a screwy finish, that demands answers!!!
Note: After reading the responses it looks like what I suggested is not the case, but I wouldn’t be too hard on anyone for weight based moves unless we got Max Mini lifting the Great Khali above his head and spinning around several times. We had a #1 contender’s match with 5’7 134 pound Pilgrim Paige and 6’8 400 pound Brian White. That was a fantastic match and it’s not like White was punching her directly in the face, but you have to have a clear suspension of disbelief to read a match like that. All I’m saying is, I’m personally going to avoid nitpicking on something like that, unless it’s egregious.
-War match:
Jesus H. Christ.
I had to go back and see how badly you topped my War match. More than triple the amount of words. WTF!
Right off the bat, Team Phoenix’s entrance is just next tier. You can see so much thought and time went into this. Even Rhys “Nice Touch” reaction. Little details like that. I can see it. Gives the main event PPV feel. Carstein coming out and cutting the bonds, showing the unity in the team. You don’t get a lot of that. Awesome stuff.
I don’t even know how to comment on the Snitsky/kids thing. That was hilarious. Just gold lol.
I think the use of parentheses for things like (still on the floor) and (opposite hard-cam) is something I may incorporate into my match writing. I spend too much time trying to perfectly describe what’s happening and lose focus. So kudos. Although I unfortunately don’t know the difference between hard cam and non hard cam. I’m sorry.
“idiot-shaped pancake” I’m going to use this line one day.
To that matter, commentary was on point. The lines they used, when they used them, and the fact Phoenix is Madeline’s father and used that fact in a lot of what he said, really gave this match just a little extra to an already excellent main event. Little things add up and the commentary was great.
It was good to see The Liberation be somewhat of a threat that needed to be dealt with. A lot of times these matches focus on the stars and everyone else is just pawns. They are a legitimate Tag Team and it’s good to see them treated as such.
I did like the Carstein spear against Rhys Cain. It’s just something small you’d see rivals do to each other so I did like that spot.
The ability to select images in the sentences, besides being funny, is actually pretty useful for descriptive purposes. The sharp pointed nails is what comes to mind.
The elimination of Hazel by Cain count is interesting. Pinfalls are hard to make suspenseful. I've been accused of too many close calls on three counts and I’m like, shit, I wasn’t even trying to make it THAT close. I don’t think it’s really possible to make it suspenseful, outside of the odd fake out which really shouldn't be done too often and absolutely no more than once a match. But back to Paige’s descriptive Cain on Hazel pin, this is something we may want to implement more often….maybe. It’s like a dive into the mind of Hazel as she’s being pinned, while also describing what Rhys is doing (works great for heels!) I think it works, at least here. I’m not sold on it yet, but it’s different. I like different.
Jesus, a lot of carnage for a stretch. But I did like the heel frustration in Cain going for the pin on Carstein. Kick out and immediately go for it again. Good stuff.
“That's what he gets for being so cocksure!”
How Valentine has not been described as cocksure for this long is a mystery.
Carstein just wouldn’t go away! Rhys Cain finally finishes him off and then we get the showdown! I love the Bret Hart figure four around the ring post maneuver, brings me back to the mid 90s. Madeline’s endurance is quite impressive.
I actually really liked the maneuver Phoenix used to reverse and defeat Rhys. Looks really brutal and combined with the pinning combo, if done very cleanly and timely would be a hell of a replay and a great way to finish off this monster of a match. Well done Paige, you’re an animal.
Match of the night:
War match is an early candidate for match of the year.
MVP of the night:
Gotta go Madeline Phoenix here. Monumental win and it looks to be sadly the end of the best feud I’ve seen in quite a long time. Awesome finish to the feud AND final match. Sky is the limit from here
Graphic of the night:
Bricks legit made me laugh out loud and what’s even funnier is me trying to explain to my wife why I laughed and what everything in the graphic was and why!
Rhys please keep those “Did you Know?” Stats coming!
Former 4CW Champion
4CW Hall of Fame Class of 2019
4CW 2019: Champion/Wrestler/Moment
Can someone clarify something for me? Custom Cup Title matches don’t always have to be Ultimate X matches right? I know they didn’t use to be. I have no issues, but I’ve been seeing so much of it I just wanted to ask.
The champion chooses the stipulation.
Although I unfortunately don’t know the difference between hard cam and non hard cam. I’m sorry.
Hard cam is the default camera during a match. In WWE right now, it's the camera that goes from the south of the ring showing the ramp in the background. Before the pandemic, they had a side of the ring hard-cam.
Rhys please keep those “Did you Know?” Stats coming!
Actually, Paige gets all the credit for the Did You Know? graphics returning.
Thanks Taker_2004 for the banner!
Beautiful thank you sir!
And Paige! Keep the “Did you know?” Coming!!!!
Former 4CW Champion
4CW Hall of Fame Class of 2019
4CW 2019: Champion/Wrestler/Moment
Can someone clarify something for me? Custom Cup Title matches don’t always have to be Ultimate X matches right? I know they didn’t use to be. I have no issues, but I’ve been seeing so much of it I just wanted to ask.
So the Custom Cup stipulation is determined by a champion upon becoming champion, and typically remains the same for the duration of their run. Examples: Tommy and his Ultimate X stipulation; Paige and her Graveyard by Moonlight match; etc. The only notable exception to this was Hazel, whose reign looked a little different anyway due to her Custom Cup championship being defended during a Soul Survivor tournament, which allowed her to come up with random, bizarre stips whenever she won a round. Kinda fitting, I suppose, that Hazel of all people was the oddball of the Custom Cup championship batch.
Carstein vignette: (...) Everything felt natural here. Maybe even supernatural…….I’ll see myself out.
But you fit in with the rest of us cringey bastards so well!
Valentine vs Simtul vs White: (...) This match had several spots, which was cool. I wish I knew what some of the more complex maneuvers were, such as Total Eclipse or Falling Satellite.
Finisher/signature moves with personalized names that may be new (or forgotten) to me is why I keep the 4CW eWrestling roster page at the ready: I can pick the relevant wrestler's name and view their move list to see what's what. For example, a quick glance at the In Wrestling section of Elfan Simtul's page teaches me that the Falling Satellite is a gorilla press slam.
As far as the Piledriver finish, if I could venture a guess, it would be that Valentine’s finisher, The Flea Shot. Can be a confusing read. It’s basically a Double Arm DDT, in which you leap back liking you’re doing the pedigree. I can see it in my head easily, obviously. But I have read it in the past from different writers, in all sorts of different ways.
Since your return, I visualized it mainly as a Scorpion Deathdrop. In some matches, though, my brain oddly went to Hammerlock DDT. Thoughts of double-arm DDTs and Pedigrees hadn't crossed my mind til now. Is it meant to be kinda like this oldschool Stevie-T animation from the Smackdown games?
It was a great action packed, face paced Triple Threat, with a screwy finish, that demands answers!!!
Note: After reading the responses it looks like what I suggested is not the case, but I wouldn’t be too hard on anyone for weight based moves unless we got Max Mini lifting the Great Khali above his head and spinning around several times. We had a #1 contender’s match with 5’7 134 pound Pilgrim Paige and 6’8 400 pound Brian White. That was a fantastic match and it’s not like White was punching her directly in the face, but you have to have a clear suspension of disbelief to read a match like that. All I’m saying is, I’m personally going to avoid nitpicking on something like that, unless it’s egregious.
I think this sort of thing is generally presented pretty well here in 4CW. Speaking for myself, I make it a point to have weight and size differences be reflected in the way I write my matches, and try to ground them in, or as close to, realism (in the context of booked pro wrestling) as possible. I make exceptions now and then for the sake of the more "big match environment" type of matches, i.e. in the Phoenix vs Cain feud. That said, some very large opponents, like White and Simtul, are wrestlers I'll never write being lifted by any character who's roughly 200 lbs or less.
Thanks for all the feedback on the War match!
Last edited by Pilgrim Paige (Sat-6-Jun-2020 22:10:39)
~☆~☆~Pronouns: she/her/hers~☆~☆~
~☆~☆~4CW Grand Slam Champ~☆~☆~
Paige you’re always a plethora of information, and that Stevie-T animation is dead on! Closest thing I’ve seen ever! That wiki page is huge, I’ve read a lot of it, it’s fantastic. I guess what I meant is switching back and forth between the show and the wiki isn’t ideal, but I’m being super nit picky anyway, even unfair. The match was that good that I had to nitpick because you’re capable of perfection!!!!
Insert Ace Ventura GIF “She’s good.....with my help she could be the best.”
Former 4CW Champion
4CW Hall of Fame Class of 2019
4CW 2019: Champion/Wrestler/Moment
There, I updated it on your wiki page to reflect it as closely as I could think:
The Flea Shot (Implant double-underhook DDT)
Thanks to a little help from Pro Wrestling Wiki's page on DDTs.
Hope that fits well.
~☆~☆~Pronouns: she/her/hers~☆~☆~
~☆~☆~4CW Grand Slam Champ~☆~☆~
Former 4CW Champion
4CW Hall of Fame Class of 2019
4CW 2019: Champion/Wrestler/Moment
Maybe I'm just crazy but I could swear I found your moveset and it listed a piledriver in your finishers. My bad.
Nah your good man, it was more of a knock on myself. Character def uses a piledriver so you probably did read it, but it’s more I never explained my finisher all that well in any of my bios and idk why. Probably laziness
Former 4CW Champion
4CW Hall of Fame Class of 2019
4CW 2019: Champion/Wrestler/Moment
4CW Storm Front: WAR III
December 31, 2019
Live from The Q - Cleveland, Ohio
Att: 19,546
**PYRO**
**PYRO**
**PYRO**
Phoenix: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the farewell of the decade! Welcome to the final show of 2019, welcome to 4CW Storm Front: WAR III!! I'm Scott Phoenix, joined as ever by Ray Jeffrey and James Roberts!
Roberts: And it's gonna be a wild ride tonight! In our main event, The Black Flame and the Order of the Phoenix go to war!
Jeffrey: One one side, all five members of The Black Flame: Rhys Cain, Erica Moxie, The Liberation and Zephyris will take on Order of the Phoenix: Madeline Phoenix, Silent Sorcery and Witch Hazel! And joining Order of the Phoenix to complete the team will be none other than The Lord of the Night, Carstein!
Phoenix: And we also have a monumental triple theat match here tonight! Jack Valentine will put the 4CW World Championship on the line as he defends against both Brian White and Elfan Simtul! Valentine will be at a distinct disadvantage with two bigger men in there but it is triple threat rules, so it's every man for himself, no disqualifications, no countouts!
"Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco hits the PA system. The crowd groan as The Supergroup come out on to the stage, one by one, in all their glory.
Carson: This opening contest is a 6 versus 6 Destruction of the Decade Street Fight scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, being accompanied by Brad Croft, the team of Zak E Justice, Nik Waverly, Rane, Myback, Carlos Starr and Tony Rock, they are ... THE SUUUUUUPERGROUP!!
The Supergroup are all kitted out in matching bright yellow trunks, except for Rane, who has her usual blue outfit, but with a yellow t-shirt on as a compromise. On the back of all these trunks says the word "SUPERSTAR". Justice and Waverly take the lead with their bright yellow wayfarer and yellow-beaded hair.
Brad Croft puffs on a cigarette as he comes down the ramp. Some security convince him to hand over the cigarettes, and begrudgingly he does, but when he gets to the ringside area, pulls out a cigar and puffs on that instead. He sits down on a steel chair and opens his notepad and holds his pen, while the cigar hangs from his mouth.
Phoenix: I guess Brad Croft didn't get the memo about smoking indoors being illegal now.
The Supergroup all enter the ring, with a few noteable extra camera men catching their shots, no doubt for the documentary.
"Ding Dong Song" by Gunther hits the PA system. The crowd pop as their are greeted by the reformation of The Janiturs! First, Janitur comes out with Swifter, JaniHer and JANISTAR, all with varying length mops and sized buckets to match their stature. Then, to a big pop, come the now unmasked S&M, formerly The Canadian Geek and The Moose Guy, and of course, the biggest pop of all goes to MARQUIS THE MOOSE.
Carson: And their opponents being accompanied to the ring by MAAAAAARQUIS THE MOOOOOOSE, the team of Drunkin Janitur, Swifter, JaniHer, JANISTAR, Senecca and Dirk Meyer ... they are THE JANITURS!!
Phoenix: Tonight, we settle the war between these factions once and for all. There are no rules, except the first team to gain a pinfall wins the match!
Roberts: And because of the wild nature of this match, Marquis the Moose will of course not be allowed at ringside. We don't want him to get hurt... or vice versa.
After one final pet from Meyer and Senecca, Marquis is taken off by some trusted handlers, while The Janiturs move down the ramp and swarm their side of the ring. The referee, Jason Trent, begins to consider doing pre-match checks, but then shrugs and calls for the bell!
And a whizz and blur of twelve bodies flailing is all that is visible for the next few moments. After the chaos unfolds, most of The Supergroup end up cleared out of the ring. JANISTAR grabs Myback and throws him over the top rope, landing on the rest of his comrades.
Phoenix: The Janiturs clearing house! This won't look good for their documentary!
Jeffrey: Nonsense! Everyone loves an underdog story!
The Janiturs all split from the ring and each start taking out a member of The Supergroup. Janitur throws Zak E Justice back into the ring under the bottom rope, then pulls a table from under the ring and slides it in, going in right after. Janitur takes out a recovering Justice with a DDT, then sets up the table in the middle of the ring. On the outside, JANISTAR takes out both Myback and Rane with a double clothesline, but Waverly gets into the ring and grabs Janitur, taking him out with a neckbreaker. Waverly grabs Janitur and throws him on top of the table. Waverly then heads for the corner and climbs the turnbuckle.
Phoenix: Waverly has something special in mind!
Waverly suddenly gasps on the top rope and looks to the outside in disgust as Marquis the Moose takes a big, smelly shit right at ringside! The handlers are struggling to get Marquis away from the ring, so they just sigh, shrug and walk away.
Jeffrey: Oh come on, that's a health hazard for God's sake!
Phoenix: It certainly is a hazard, for my nose at the very least.
This distraction is enough for Janitur to get back up to his feet! He jumps up on to the buckle, grabs Waverly, and hits a superplex - right through the set up table!!
Roberts: Oh my god! Destruction in the ring as well as out!
Janitur covers Waverly! ONE ... TWO ... NO! Tony Rock breaks the pinfall! Carlos Starr gets into the ring too and the both of them start laying boots into Janitur. Outside the ring, Myback sees what is going on and wants in on the action. He runs towards the apron, slips and lands face-first in the moose poop! Everything stops as everyone looks on in horror. Myback stands up, wretching, and vomits on the floor, then runs up the ramp!
Jeffrey: Oh my god, I think I'm gonna puke.
Phoenix: Oh jeez - please don't, Ray.
Once Myback disappears, everyone remembers there's a match going on. JANISTAR gets back into the ring and grabs Waverly's chain around his neck, which he stupidly hasn't taken off. JANISTAR pulls on the chain and chokes out Waverly, who gasps for breath.
Phoenix: Waverly is gonna lose consciousness at any moment!
But suddenly, Rane comes to the rescue with a steel chair right to the masked head of JANISTAR! The monster releases the hold, and Waverly gasps for breath, pulling off the chain. Rane pats Waverly on the back, and turns around - but Swifter is up top! Swifter jumps and takes out Rane with a hurricanrana!!
Jeffrey: Look at the midget go!
Phoenix: RAY!
Janitur and Swifter clear the ring of all members of The Supergroup, then all members of The Janiturs regroup and head up the ramp. Jani-Her grabs a recovering Carlos Starr on the ramp and kicks him in the nuts, sending him rolling down the ramp. JANISTAR goes behind the curtain and comes back - with a MASSIVE DUMPSTER! Big enough to carry five people easily, JANISTAR pulls it forward and all members of The Janiturs jump in. The Supergroup are regrouping at the bottom of the ramp. Brad Croft turns and sees what The Janiturs are planning and decides to back off but the rest of the group are too distracted to notice.
Phoenix: It looks like the Janiturs are going for a ride! And it looks like they are on a collision course with The Supergroup!
JANISTAR roars as he pushes the dumpster down the ramp with all five other members of his group standing tall like dogs with their heads out of the window on a breezt day. The Supergroup realises way too late what is happening and the dumpster flattens them with an almighty crash, sending bodies flying everywhere and the dumpster bumping into the apron, so that The Janiturs impact is cushioned somewhat.
Jeffrey: Absolute PANDEMONIUM!
Senecca grabs Justice and hits him The Plunge! He then throws Justice into the ring. Meyer slides in on the other side of the ring and as Justice scrambles to his feet, he hits a superkick, sending him crashing back down! Janitur grabs the fallen Justice and set him up.
Phoenix: Could we actually see it?!
Janitur hits the half-dragon; half nelson overhead release suplex with aplomb! The crowd explode in one of the biggest pops of the night!
Roberts The 2girls1cup!! WHAT A SIGHT!!
Janitur covers Justice as the crowd chants along. ONE ... TWO ... THREE!!
Carson: Here are your winners... THE JANITUUUUURS!!
"Ding Dong Song" hits the PA system as The Janiturs group in the middle of the ring and celebrate their victory. Then, they all take a moment and look around. There's splinterered wood, a juice trail coming down the ramp from the dumpster, moose shit and vomit at ringside and a steel chair. Suddenly, Janitur springs back out of the ring and opens the dumpster! He pulls out six mops and six buckets, two at a time, and throws them all into the ring!
Phoenix: Looks like we're gonna get a clean-up celebration from The Janiturs!
Jeffrey: Thank fuck for that!
Janitur hands Senecca and Dirk Meyer a mop and bucket each, and they both look at him stupid. Then, they turn to each other, and start sword fighting!
Roberts: Why am I not surprised Senecca and Meyer don't know the function of a mop?
Janitur grabs the mop from Meyer suddenly, and mimes cleaning up the floor, then points to the two of them. Meyer shakes his head and grabs a mic.
Meyer: Sorry Janitur, but uh - we can't clean up.
Senecca: Yeah, it's uh - the problem is - it's Marquis the Moose! He shit himself in front of all these people! He's been traumatised! Look at him!
Marquis looks entirely unperplexed. He trots around the ringside area.
Meyer: But have fun, guys! We've gotta go - uh - get Marquis a therapist.
Senecca: Yeah, you know - for the trauma!
Senecca drops the mop and S&M slide out of the ring, half-running up the ramp. Then, they remember they forgot Marquis the Moose, and run back, grabbing his reins and pulling him up the ramp with them.
Jeffrey: What a caring pair! Thinking about the mental health of a poor animal!
Roberts: Yeah, real convenient! Don't go anywhere folks, we'll be right back!
The titantron flickers to life to play a pre-recorded package.
The camera pans around the arena as music blares and the capacity crowd roars, banners flying, posters waved and cameras flashing before the camera focuses on the ring, now surrounded by the steel structure of the Ultimate X with it's cargo, the 4CW Custom Cup Championship, already in place at the centre of the outstretched ropes, fifteen feet above Michael Carson's head. The picture finally settles on the hard cams and Michael lifts his microphone.
Carson: The following contest is for the 4CW Custom Cup Championship, and is an Ultimate X MAAAAATCH!!!!
The crowd cheer in anticipation for the match to come.
Carson: Introducing first, the challenger. From Helston, England, weighing in at 14 stone, the man who once made a cow tap out, PHIILLLL MCGROOOOOIIIINNNNN!!!!
'Numb' by Linkin Park hits the PA as Phil McGroin steps out, preceded by the ever present Camera Man. Phil McGroin carries a steel chair in his hand and lifts it like a championship belt into the air with a shout.
Phoenix: And here is our challenger, Phil Mcgroin, and full of confidence as he comes down the ramp!
Jeffrey: Of course! This isn't his first rodeo here! And way to go repeating what Carson just told us Scott...
Roberts: It may not be his first time in the match, but he hasn't managed to beat the champ at this yet.
Jeffrey: sigh So this time he's gonna do it! He knows what's coming. And on that note, shut up Roberts!
McGroin pauses at the top of the ramp and poses for a second, Camera man getting a really nice close up as he circles around his employer. Raising both his arms, chair included, in the air he roars “STILL UNDEFEATED!!” to the cheers of the crowd. He seems to ignore the large mocking portion of the crowd.
McGroin makes his way to the ring, continuing to be circled by Camera Man looking for that perfect angle. McGroin actually laughs mockingly as he spots a stuffed cow with a hoof in a sling being waved in his direction. He stops and point to it, grinning and shouts, “That's right! I made a cow tap out! HAHAHAA!!” before continuing towards the ring.
McGroin reaches the ring and makes his way to a corner, grabs hold of the stanchion and heaves, only succeeding at moving himself. With a smile he taps the steel structure with his chair as he climbs up and into the ring. He looks up at the hanging belt as he walkes under it towards the hard cam side of the ring, climbing up to the second rope and brandishes his chair again with a shout. His music fades as the official, Jude O'Cater tries to get Phil to relinquish the chair.
The lights fade as flashes and explosions begin to echo around the arena. The sound of an air raid siren wails in the distance as the rumble of large propeller aircraft begins to be heard. The sounds of heavy flack going off thunders across the PA as the rumble of heavy bombers is joined by the high pitched wail of single engined strike fighters. The voice of Winston Churchill echoes across the noise of war, reciting his famous speech;
We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France,
We shall fight on the seas and oceans,
We shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be,
We shall fight on the beaches,
We shall fight on the landing grounds,
We shall fight in the fields and in the streets,
We shall fight in the hills;
We shall never surrender
As the last word finishes, the intro riff of Aces High by Iron Maiden crashes onto the PA and the crowd roar.
Roberts: What a way to introduce yourself!
Jeffrey: If he waits any longer he may have to concede the match at this rate. Yeesh!
Finally the main riff hits and Tommy Young leaps through the curtains onto the stage, hitting a perfect three point landing before standing up and hitting his target lock pose, his gaze transfixed on his championship belt.
Carson: And introducing, residing in New York, New York, he is the 4CW Custom Cup Champion, 'Top Gun' Tommy YOOOOOOUUNNGGG!!!!
Tommy begins jogging down the ramp, slapping as many hands as he can before dodging to the other side to do the same there, even stopping for a quick selfie with a particularly pretty young woman. Smiling, he waves at her as he moves on to do a circuit of the ring, again slapping the outstretched hands of his fans. Finally reaching the stairs to the ring, he spies a child waving a poster with TOP GUN written on it. He jogs over, takes off his aviators and places them on the kids head before sharing an emphatic high five with the kid and her parents. He then turns towards the stairs, thinks for a minute before heading a few steps back up the ramp. With a quick run up, he launches himself over the top rope and rolls up onto his feet in a single movement. The crowd pop uproariously at the stunt. Phil, now chairless, looks unimpressed as he watches on. The music fades as Tommy removes his bomber jacket and shakes out his arms, allowing the ref to check him over.
Jeffrey: Can we please get this match started?
Phoenix: Come on now Ray, you can forgive the champion his theatrics!
Jeffrey: Humph!
Satisfied, the official calls for the bell.
DING! DING! DING!
Tommy puts his hands up and edges towards the centre of the ring, ready to go for a tie up and is left shocked as McGroin immediately turns and runs towards the corner and jumps up to the hanging ropes above.
Jeffrey: Looks like Phil's going for a quick victory. True champion material there!
Young stands stunned for a second, not believing what he's seeing, but finally shakes himself into movement as Phil begins to climb across the ropes, his legs dangling within easy reach of the defending champion. Tommy walks forwards, grabs an ankle in each hand and yanks down hard. McGroin comes down hard onto his feet, shocked that his plan didn't work, or that Young had the temerity to pull him back to the matt. Either way, the older man starts to berate and trash talk the champion, who takes it for a second or two with a slight smirk, before finally, as quick as lightning, he delivers a stinging spinning heel kick that nocks the challenger sideways.
Roberts: Young's not here to play around!
Tommy doesn't let up and begins directing multiple kicks to McGroins head, shoulders and chest, ramping the speed with each hit, but McGroin takes them all and doesn't go down. McGroin manages to finally catch Tommy's leg as it comes in for a hard kick to the chest, and uses the leverage for a takedown. Resisting the urge to take a second to recover, McGroin begins his own assault by stomping down on the champions legs and abdomen, before dropping some heavy knees to Youngs chest, pushing the wind out of him for a second.
Tommy rolls over in pain as McGroin finally takes a knee him self to regain some breath and composiure. Having settled himself, He raises and grabs Tommy's head, pulling the younger man up to a vertical base, only to take him down with a snap suplex. Holding on, he rolls around and drags Tommy up again for a second suplex. McGroin rolls for a third time, dragging them both up and tries to go for a third, only for Tommy to put his foot in and block it. Tommy then pops his own hips and throws McGroin over for a verticle suplex of his own. Tommy crawls away from the squirming McGroin, the heavy assault very obviously having taken a toll on him.
Jeffrey: Hah, Young looks ready to throw in the towel already!
Phoenix: You should know Ray, Tommy Young is as tough as they come, and this is only the beginning moves of this match.
Young reaches the ropes and hauls himself up as McGroin also reaches a vertical base in the middle of the ring. Young grimaces and takes off towards the challenger, going for a clothes line. Surprisingly to some, McGroin ducks out of the way and Young carries on to bounce off the ropes. McGroin jumps over the returning Young then leans down to try for a back body drop. Young scouts it on his return and rolls over McGroins back, landing on his feet before trying for a super kick, which McGroin quickly drops to the matt to avoid.
Phoenix: Looks like experience is the winner here now! These men have faced off a few times and have each other scouted pretty well.
McGroin grins as he gets back to his feet and Young returns one of his own. Young offers the tie up again and this time McGroin goes for it. They lock in tight, each trying to push for the advantage, but McGroin wins out and locks in a headlock on Young. McGroin begins grinding his arm into Youngs ear, who squirms and grabs at McGroins arm, managing to pull his head out of McGroins grip and lock in a wrist lock. McGroin grimaces as his wrist is forced further up his back than it was designed to go before rolling through and locking in his own wrist lock of Tommy.
Phoenix: An unusual display of technical wrestling from these two!
McGroin gets bored of this exchange of holds and goes in for a short arm clothes line that knocks Tommy to the ground. McGroin keeps hold of the younger mans arm, only to drop a heavy elbow across it! The crowd groan at Tommy jerks his arm in in pain and McGroin saunters to the ropes.
Phoenix: Smart move there, it'll be hard traversing those ropes with one arm injured!
Jeffrey: See, I told ya, the undefeated champ is on a roll.
Roberts: How many times has Phil been the hardcore champ...?
Jeffrey ignores this and continues to call the match.
McGroin climbs a turnbuckle, reaches the top and looks over his shoulder at his fallen opponent, holding the stanchion for support. With a roar from the crowd, Phil McGroin leaps through the air and hits a picture perfect moonsault on the champion, who doubles up in pain. McGroin grins in triumph though it transitions to a grimace as he holds his own abdomen in pain. He gets up and tumbles to the ring ropes, using them as support to get to the closest corner to climb up.
Tommy coughs as he sucks air back in and rolls over onto his stomach. He forces himself to his feet as McGroin reaches out to the ropes above and again begins climbing, his eyes focused only on the belt. Young looks up, looks back behind him to the ropes, then sprints back, bounces off the ropes, using the momentum to propel him across the ring towards the opposite ropes. A few paces from the ropes, Young makes a daring leap, lands on the top rope and bounces back into the ring, up towards the shocked McGroin, and hit's a devastating Aces High!
Roberts: What a manoeuvrer from the champion! One misplaced foot could've ended his career there, not to mention the match!
The crowd are screaming at the display of acrobatic prowess as Tommy sits up and looks down at the stunned McGroin. He looks to mouth 'My Turn' and heads towards the turnbuckle. Climbing up to the top, he steadies himself before leaping off and hitting the Bombs Away senton bomb, much to the appreciation of his adoring fans!
Phoenix: This is Youngs chance to end this match. But has he got enough left in the tank to make the climb?
Young picks himself off the matt as McGroin coughs and groans, rolling to the outside. Young hastily climbs the turnbuckles again and reaches out to grab the cross rope. Swinging from arm to arm, he painfully makes his way towards his belt. He smiles with relief as he reaches out before, “THWACK!” a ringing pain erupts across his lower torso. Tommy's grip fails him and he drops down to face McGroin, breathing hard and chair in hand. Tommy backpedals away from McGroin as he wildly swings again, catching Young a glancing blow to the side. The crowd is roaring its indignation at this turn of events but McGroin just sneers and raises his chair to strike again. Tommy defends as best he can, dodging and scuttling away as the deranged McGroin swings again and again, mostly catching nothing but matt, but occasionally catching a glancing blow to the quicker Young.
Roberts: Tommy's really looking in trouble now!
Tommy takes a hard hit to the thigh and collapses against the ropes, gasping in pain. McGroin stalks Young, raising his chair, ready to strike down on the young upstart, and swings. Tommy tries to dodge, but McGroin anticipates this and swings for Tommy's back. Young cries out in pain and the crowd call out in sympathy. Tommy staggers against the ropes as Mcgroin throws the chair onto the matt. He grabs the shuddering Young and pulls him towards the chair. With a sneer at the crowd, he drops Young onto the chair head first. Young bounces onto his back, unconscious!
Phoenix: Eggcution DDT onto a steel chair! This match is over ladies and gentlemen!
Jeffrey: Hah! I told you, New champ, right here!
McGroin, adrenaline pumping through his body quickly climbs the turnbuckle and jumps for the rope. Swinging somewhat wildly, McGroin climbs towards his goal, his face a mask of triumphant lust. Reaching the centre he yanks on the belt, pulling it free and drops to the matt.
DING! DING! DING!
Carson: Here is your winner, and NEEEEWWWW 4CW Custom Cup Champion, PHIL MCGROOOOOIIIINNNNN!!!
Phoenix: And Phil McGroin wins his first 4CW Custom Cup, finally ending 'Top Gun' Tommy Young's near record breaking reign.
Jeffrey: There was no way Young was gonna beat McGroin! He's undefeated after all!
Roberts: Yeah, right...
Jeffrey: Shut up Roberts!
Carson: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! And it is for the 4CW Universal Championship! Introducing first, the challenger, accompanied by Kinsey Kane and hailing from Newfoundland, Canada and residing on... The DAAARK Side of the MOOOON... weighing in at 134 pounds... PILGRIIIM PAAAIIIGE!
After a brief scan of her surroundings, the song's beat picks up in conjunction with a growling vocalization. Together, Paige and Kinsey take off running through the fog and down to the ring, sliding in under the bottom rope at the end of the run. They both rise swiftly from the canvas and stand in the middle of the ring, side-by-side. Kinsey and Paige link their near hands (in relation to one another). Simultaneously, both women swing their arms outward and throw their heads back, sounding out tandem howls of "WOOOOOO!!", which is complemented by bursts of colourful pyro shooting up from the corner posts. The lights return to normal as Kinsey and Paige pick a corner to stand in, conversing playfully with one another.
Carson: And her opponent! Hailing from Supremeville, USA, he wants to be referred to as The Best Damn thing to ever happen to Pro Wrestling, he is a former 2x Custom Cup Champion, Former Tag Team Champion, Former 4CW World Heavyweight Champion, current Hall of Famer, and current 4CW Universal Champion!!! Ladies and Gentlemen welcome … SUPREME!!!!!
The lights in the arena turn to black as the mellow beginnings of "Good Times" by Finger Eleven start to play over the P.A. system. As each ping of the opening instrumentals pierce through the arena, small flashes of lights are triggered one after the other, each one representing a note of the song. As the drums kick in hot and heavy, the flights all flash bright in a rapid motion then die out again. This keeps up with each beat of the drum. The lights come on full blast and Supreme is standing at the top of the entryway, arms stretched out in anticipation of the boos from the crowd. His shiny Universal Championship around his waist. He saunters down to the ring as the song continues to play.
Phoenix: What an intriguing bout this will be fellas! Supreme, one of 4CW’s first Hall of Famers and recently entered into very rare territory, being one of the very few to be crowned Grand Slam Champion. And then there’s Pilgrim Paige. Who very recently was the reigning 4CW Champion of the world! Headlining Revival nearly a year ago and retiring another Hall of Famer, Jacob Scharff in the process! Both competitors, seeming to have temporarily taken a step down the food chain, but emphasis on temporary. We are in for a treat!
Jeffrey: Emphasis on step down. Supreme has been beating on weaker competition and holding fast in the middle ranks! Paige’s descent is becoming rapid! She dropped the title, lost the number one contenders match, and failed at Gallow’s End. Now she’s seemed to have abandoned the top prize and is settling for second! She needs this win, just so save face at this point!
Roberts: You’re too short sighted Ray. Neither of these former champions is currently the number one….or two…..contender for the World title. So what’s the next best thing? The 4CW Universal title! The winner of this match will no doubt be on the map and maybe even next in line for Jack Valentine’s title.
Supreme takes his time walking up the steel steps and then moves through the ropes. He continues waltzing around the ring. He makes eye contact with Paige and stops in his tracks. His cocky demeanor drops to a glare, as he realizes how grave his situation is. Supreme removes his belt and hands it off to the official without ever breaking eye contact with Paige. Paige stares right back and can sense Supreme’s sudden urgency.
*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*
Phoenix: Here we go!
The two competitors stand face to face in the center of the ring, two cold stares. The crowd starts to cheer in anticipation. Supreme is the first to open his mouth and taunt his opponent. He doesn’t get two words out before Paige straight up forearms the unsuspecting Supreme! She continues the assault and backs him up into the corner! She then pulls back and starts unloading with right hands. Finally after taking a few, Supreme ducks under one and gets behind Paige. She turns quickly, only to eat a dropkick to the face! Paige falls through the middle ropes, but hangs on and manages to stay on the apron. Supreme rises and heads over to Paige only to eat a swift shoulder thrust to the gut. Paige follows it up with a forearm to the head of Supreme who stumbles backward. Paige quickly leaps onto the ropes and flings herself towards Supreme for a Crossbody! But Supreme catches her and she wriggles around trying to escape! Supreme falls backwards with force and throws her back hard for a Fallaway Slam! Supreme sits up and chuckles.
Phoenix: Fast paced start here fellas! Looked like Paige was gonna take control, but Supreme gains the upper hand!
Jeffrey: Supreme is a seasoned veteran, spanning over two decades. He knows exactly what the pace will and should be.
Supreme stands and walks over to the downed Paige who is starting to get on all fours. He reaches down and grabs her by her hair and pulls her up. He pulls back and unloads a hard right hand to the kisser of Paige and she stumbles backwards into the corner. Supreme follows that up with a clothesline that lifts Paige off her feet. He then grabs her right arm and pulls her out of the corner and sends her running to the adjacent corner and runs after her. Paige reaches the corner and uses her momentum as she reaches out to the turnbuckle. She propels herself straight up in the air and Supreme runs right under her and hits the turnbuckle chest first! Paige lands on her feet and both competitors turn to face each other. Paige leaps into the air and drills with Supreme in the side of the head with an Enziguri, a loud crack echoes throughout the arena. Supreme falls through the ropes, bumps the apron, and spills to the outside. Supreme shakes out the cobwebs and slowly gets to his feet with the help of the announce table. He stands turns only to see Paige propel herself through the ropes and collide into Supreme, for a Suicide Dive! She plows into Supreme and hits the floor. Supreme flies backwards into the announce table!
Roberts: Heads up!
Jeffrey: Bah God! Get off! Get him off!
Roberts: Holy cow Ray! Nothing like being right in the action! You sissy…..
Paige gets up slowly, feeling the effects from her own high risk maneuver. She stands and heads over to the announce table. Supreme is actually trying to roll off the table and Paige grabs and aids him. She grabs him by the back of the head and with one hand tosses him towards the ring post. Supreme manages to get his hands up to soften the blow, but he still eats some steel and stumbles along the ring apron before dropping to his knees. Paige rolls into the ring and right back out to break the count. She wastes no time in grabbing Supreme by the back of his head and pulling him up. Both competitors have made their way to a set of steel steps. Paige pulls Supreme’s head back and slams it downward! Supreme puts his foot out and blocks it! Instead he grabs Paige and slams his face into the steps! A loud bang is heard throughout the arena and she stumbles off towards the corner guardrail. She attempts to get up quickly, but stumbles around. Supreme takes a second before running off toward Paige. He rams into her with the most basic shoulder block. This sends Paige sprawling back into the guardrail with tremendous force! The arena makes a loud “Oof” noise and you can almost feel the wind get knocked out of her lungs.
Phoenix: My God that looked like it hurt! Look at the face Paige is making, she looks sick!
Jeffrey: This is half a hardcore match. Get back in the ring and wrestle!
Roberts: This is great! So you got a little close, quit whining already.
Jeffrey: This is a Universal Title match. If I wanted to watch tables, ladders, and chairs, I would have tuned into a Phil McGroin match!
Supreme picks Paige right back up and holds her up about shoulder length. He tosses her back towards the guardrail and she comes down right on top of it, throat first! Paige holds her juggle and rolls around in pain. Supreme looks back towards the ring and sees the official count “5”! He slowly walks back towards the ring breathing heavily, but grinning sadistically all the same. He rolls into the ring, stands, and begins taunting the crowd and then Paige. The crowd starts to boo. “7!” Paige is crawling on her hands and knees towards the ring. She’s coughing with every step or two. “8!” She makes it to the ring apron and starts to pull herself up! “9!” Paige is belted in the face by Supreme! Supreme holds himself for exiting the ring after his attack and looks down at Paige.
Phoenix: What a well timed Baseball Slide from Supreme!
Jeffrey: Now that’s the Supreme I remember!
Roberts: I hate to admit it, but it looked like Supreme was never considering a count out. He knew Paige would will herself back into the ring in time. So he set her up for a vicious Baseball Slide. Supreme looking like he did during his 4CW championship run.
Paige holds her face as Supreme exits the ring and grabs her by the hair and pants. He tosses her back in and follows. Paige looks rough as she tries to gather herself. Supreme looks down and holds his hands out, taunting her. The crowd begins to get on Supreme a bit. He reaches down and pulls Paige up by her hair. But the Lunar Pilgrim reaches up and grabs the back of Supreme’s head and swiftly places the top of her head in Supreme’s throat and uses gravity to do the rest. She comes down on the mat and Supreme holds his jaw and throat shocked! The crowd cheers and starts to clap! Supreme, albeit hurt, tries to regain control and heads back towards Paige. Paige quickly stands and Dropkicks Supreme in the chest and he staggers backwards a bit. Paige quickly gets up and forearms Supreme in the skull. She then grabs his arm and Irish Whips him, but he holds onto Paige and sends her for the ring instead. She bounces off the ropes and returns to Supreme leaning forward. She's able to halt her momentum, grab his head, and hit a swift swinging neckbreaker! She quickly stands up, facing away from the downed Supreme. She flips backwards hitting a Standing Moonsault! She hooks the leg for the first pin attempt of the match up!
1….
2….
Kickout!
Phoenix: Paige getting back on track!
Jeffrey: A minor set back. Supreme need remember that Paige is a former World Champion and a recent one at that.
Roberts: Taking Paige lightly is a quick way to lose that Universal Championship.
Paige takes a minute to recuperate before standing. She reaches down and grabs Supreme by the head, lifting him up and wrapping her arm around his head, tossing the other arm over her own. She lifts up Supreme, straight into the air for a Suplex! But Supreme wiggles and kicks. He comes down on his feet behind Paige. He oppotunutiscally bounces off the ropes and dives at Paige, who is still facing away. He delivers a hard unsuspecting shoulder to the back left knee of the Moon Maiden! She falls to the mat and grabs her knee in pain, but Supreme is unrelenting! He grabs her by the legs and drags her into the center of the ring. He holds her bad leg with his left hand by the ankle and drives a hard right hand into the side of her damaged knee! And again! And again! Paige yells out in agony with every strike. Supreme swiftly straddles the leg for a maneuver, but Paige takes her good leg and pushes Supreme away forcefully! Supreme flies towards the very close turnbuckle and flies through the ropes, slamming his shoulder into the steel ring post. Paige tries to stand and put pressure on the knee but stumbles. Supreme slowly pulls himself out of the turnbuckle and nurses his shoulder. He locks eyes on Paige looking pissed.
Phoenix: Paige looks like an injured animal and Supreme is stalking!
Jeffrey: Supreme targeting the knee. Just old school wrestling methodology. This is what is going to separate these two!
Roberts: I hate to agree with Ray…..like ever….but a lot of Paige’s offense, especially in this match, has come from her lower body.
Paige has scrambled towards the adjacent turnbuckle and is using the ropes to pull herself up. He gets close and lunges at Paige. She dodges him but falls down past Supreme. Supreme begins stomping the mat to taunt Paige as he gets closer. She manages to limp to the ropes and starts to stand but Supreme hits her shoulder blades with a Double Axe handle and she drops back down. Supreme attempts to grab the bad leg but Paige wraps it around the rope, using her body to shield it best she can. Supreme gives up trying to grab it and instead surprises Paige with a shot to the jaw. He follows that up with another and he goes for the third, but she ducks and uses Supreme’s momentum against him to flip him up and over the top rope! Supreme hangs onto the rope and manages to stay on the ring apron. Paige brings up her good leg and cracks Supreme in the face and he drops, hits the apron, and then falls to the mat outside the ring! Paige slowly climbs the turnbuckle! A little strength has returned to the injured leg! Supreme trying to get himself up, he has no idea! He stands. He turns! Paige flies off the top turnbuckle! Suicide Crossbody connects!!! The crowd goes wild!
Phoenix: The Sailor Moon! The Sailor Moon! Both competitors are down!
Jeffrey: Can they please keep this in the ring. This is getting out of hand.
Roberts: Paige looks to have hurt her leg further on the maneuver. Meanwhile she’s got Supreme laid out! She’s gonna have to get herself and the champion back in the ring!
After a few moments Paige starts to get up and can be seen grimacing in pain over her leg. She fights through it and gets Supreme up. The count gets all the way to “8” before she tosses Supreme into the ring and then follows as we hear “9”. She looks to stand and instead attempts a pin which Supreme strongly kicks out at a solid 2. Paige looks determined and slowly makes her way to the turnbuckle, crawling. She takes forever to stand and ascend to about the middle ropes. Supreme is getting up and slowly turns, Paige realizes and enacts her next maneuver early. She leaps and spins towards Supreme legs first! Supreme swiftly takes just enough of a step back for Paige to miss and land on her back with her legs up pointing at Supreme. He wastes no time in grabbing them and locking in The Texas CloverLeaf! Paige screams out in agony and reaches for the ropes!
Phoenix: Supreme Demise! Paige is in serious trouble!!
Jeffrey: This is it! Break that leg in half Supreme!!!
Roberts: Paige is only inches away from that bottom rope! Reach! Come on, reach!!!!
Paige screams with her eyes closed as Supreme wrenches back. The rope is only a few feet away, but it might as well be a mile. The official slides in and repeatedly asks Paige to submit. She ignores him. After what feels like 10 minutes, she mouths “No”. Supreme wrenches back further and she lets out a yell. She holds her head up as the official repeatedly asks the same question. She viciously shakes her head back and forth, almost as if to take her mind off the pain just a bit. She suddenly reaches out for the ropes, only a few feet away. The crowd starts screaming for Paige to keep going, keep trying! Supreme showing no signs of even loosening the grip, even just a little. The official keeps hounding Paige. She holds her hand out and it looks as if it’s about to go limp. But then she leaps and just barely gets a hold of the bottom rope! The official tells Supreme that he has to release the hold. He holds on for nearly the entire 5 count before releasing and looking furious. He stomps away from Paige as she holds her bad leg in agony.
Phoenix: And Paige just manages to stay alive!
Jeffrey: Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!
Roberts: Oh my God, I thought that was it. She wasn’t in the center of the ring, but I wasn’t sure she had enough left to get to those ropes! Heart of a champion!
Supreme turns back towards the downed Paige and decides to just do it again. He walks over and grabs her leg, dragging her to the center of the ring. He puts his leg through hers and attempts to lock the maneuver in again. Paige fights it and manages to kick Supreme in the face. He stands up, releases her and stands up, trying to shake it off. Paige miraculously stands, leaps, and forces her knees into Supreme’s face while grabbing the back of his head and pulling him downward for a Codebreaker!!!
Phoenix: Paige with a variation of the Spellbreaker!
Roberts: Supreme let his guard down! This could go either way!
Jeffrey: Paige can’t even stand, Supreme has this in the bag. Just a lapse in judgement out of frustration.
Paige pulls herself away from Supreme and across the ring towards the turnbuckle. Supreme starts to stir when she reaches it. She manages to stand, albeit with a limp. Supreme gets up to a knee and looks over at Paige. Supreme turns and spits why looks like blood out of the ring and then grins. Paige looks concerned. The Supreme One stands and cautiously walks over to Paige’s corner. He holds his arms out and motions for Paige to bring it, taunting her. Paige backs up into the corner as Supreme moves in. He fakes a charge and then fakes again. Paige falls for each move as she flinches each time. Supreme finally goes for it and Paige does split and thrust an Uppercut into Supreme’s midsection. A loud thud can be heard and all the air escapes Supreme’s lungs. Paige then rolls past Supreme and slowly stands. Supreme turns and looks up and is met with a barrage of left and rights, that connect all over. Supreme then swiftly drops and sweeps his leg around, hitting Paige’s bad leg and she drops. Supreme stands breathing heavily and looking angry. He grabs her by her hair and forces her up and onto her bad leg. He chucks her into the corner and kicks her in the gut. He lifts her up for what looks like a Suplex, but uses it to put her in a seated position on the turnbuckle.
Phoenix: What's Supreme doing here!? High risk maneuver?
Jeffrey: I know what he’s doing. He’s finishing this! He’s going for the Supreme Compromise! And he’s going to do it off the top rope!
Roberts: Paige!!!
And that’s exactly what Supreme is going for. He sets her up completely. He hooks the leg up and pulls! But there’s fight! Paige isn’t done yet. Supreme then uses his free hand to drive a few shots into the side of Paige. Paige eats the shots, but knows that Supreme is now off balance and she shoved him back! He falls off the top and slams into the canvas! He scrambles to get back up and does so, only to see Paige leap toward him off the top rope! She catches him around the head and hits a Diving Corkscrew Stunner!
Phoenix: Lunar Eclipse!!! Lunar Eclipse!!!
Roberts: What now Jeffrey!? Cover him Paige! Cover him!
Paige looks at Supreme and then to the turnbuckle. She starts crawling and making her way towards the turnbuckle!
Phoenix: What is she doing!?
Jeffrey: Get up Supreme! Get up!
Roberts: Cover him! What are you doing!?
Paige slowly climbs the turnbuckle to the top. You can see her battling with her bad leg, but she fights through and manages to stand. The crowd is going wild! And even with the bad leg, she leaps through the air! Her body moves forward, while she flips backwards! A forward moving Moonsault! A Shooting Star Press! She comes down perfectly on Supreme! She hooks the leg!
1!!!
2!!!!
3!!!!!
*Ding* *Ding* *Ding*
Carson: The winner of this match and NEEEEWW!!!!!! 4CW Universal Champion!!!! Pilgrim Paige!!!!
Roberts: The Golden Pilgrim!!!!! That’s Golden now baby!
"The Astral Dialogue" by Agalloch hits the PA system. The referee raises Pilgrim Paige's arm in victory, as she is struggling to stand. The official then gets the title and hands her the 4CW Universal Championship. She holds it up and the crowd goes nuts!
Phoenix: Paige is your new 4CW Universal Champion! What a match! Paige with the Pilgrimage from the Stars, in dramatic fashion for the win!
Jeffrey: Supreme got sloppy. I demand a rematch on Supreme’s behalf!
Roberts: I don’t know what the future holds, but Paige endured a lot in this match. She showed her resolve and she is your new Universal Champion!
"Earlier today" flashes on the screen, and we see the inside of the arena, with the 4CW crew setting up the entrance way and 4CWtron. In the middle of the arena is the ring, with the War cage set-up, the engineers ensuring that it's all ok and structurally sound. Satisfied, the engineers leave, going to work on other various parts of the set such as the commentators' table, lights and rigging etc.
Walking through the crew and engineers, down towards the ring is Carstein. The Lord of the Night, with his grey-streaked black hair tied back in a ponytail, is wearing his street clothes: black shirt with the top few buttons undone, dark blue jeans, dark brown leather boots, black leather jacket, black and white paisley bandana and black aviator sunglasses.
Carstein reaches the ring and looks up at the cage. He takes off his sunglasses and puts them in the top pocket on his jacket, then walks up the steel ring steps towards the cage door. He stops on the top step, and reaches out with his right hand to touch the cage.
Carstein: Hello, old friend.
He pauses for a second, then opens the door, climbs into the ring and looks all around at the cage.
Carstein: How many screams have you heard over the years? How much pain have you inflicted?
From the middle of the ring, Carstein walks over to the cage side, and grips the wire-mesh with his finger tips.
Carstein: How much blood have you spilt? How many careers have you shortened?
Carstein looks over to his right, at the cage side behind the ropes. He looks thoughtful, remembering.
Carstein: It was right by there where you attacked me. Back in 2009, that's the spot where you ripped away at my face, tearing my flesh and gushing blood everywhere. You could have killed me, but instead you gave me immortality. By granting me victory that night, you cemented my legacy, and made sure that my name will live forever.
People think that you’re just a cage, that you’re just a large metal structure. An inanimate object. Just wire mesh and steel bars. But I know different. You might not be flesh, blood and bone, but you’re a living organism nonetheless. Possessed of feelings, emotions and a consciousness. But you're not like us. We're mortal, whereas you will live forever. You’re the closest thing we have here to a diety. You’re our god of war. And as a war god, you’re a violent creature, a rabid creature, with an insatiable lust for blood. And tonight, I need I need that lust. Tonight, I need you at your most vicious, your most unforgiving, your hungriest.
Tonight, I need you to inflict the most pain you've ever inflicted. I may get hurt, but that's a price I'm willing to pay to ensure that Rhys Cain and the Black Flame are destroyed tonight. Do what you must to me, just make sure that Cain doesn't walk after tonight.
Carstein takes a step back away from the cage.
Carstein: To help convince you, I will make you an offering right now.
He pulls out a knife from his jacket pocket, and holds out his left hand. He draws the knife across his left palm, and a trail of blood follows the blade. He walks up to the cage and spreads his bloodied palm across the wire mesh. The cold steel turns red where he touches, and some droplets of blood drip down from the mesh.
Carstein: End Rhys Cain, and I promise you more.
We cut back to the arena.
Carson: The following match is a triple threat match for the 4CW World Heavyweight Championship!
“Taking You Down” by Egypt Central begins to play through The Q and Elfan Simtul and Maximillian Yesgill come out onto the stage. Both men take in the arena, that has started loudly booing.
Phoenix: Here comes the wildcard, Elfan Simtul, the wielder of the Shadow Hammer. He and his partner Maximillian held the 4CW tag team titles for an entire calendar year, and I would say they are heavy favorites to take the upcoming tag team Soul Survivor.
Jeffrey: Elfan is the freshest man in this match, mainly because he didn’t take a 30 ft. drop in October, like the other two.
Roberts: This is by far his biggest test in his 4CW career though. You know White and Valentine won’t want to lose to a relative newcomer.
Max claps Elfan on the back. He then heads backstage and Elfan starts striding down the ramp, ignoring the jeers from the raucous crowd. He gets into the ring and starts cracking his neck and doing some final basic stretching. His music fades out and is replaced by “Wherever I May Roam” by Yashin and the boos turn to cheers as Brian White steps out onto the stage by his lonesome.
Phoenix: White is the biggest man in this match up by a wide margin and he showed at Gallows End he’s willing to do whatever it takes to try and get that title.
Jeffrey: Looks like he left that troublemaking MissTeri backstage.
Roberts: Probably worried what Jack would try to do her tonight. Elfan hasn’t shown any propensity for violence towards her, but just because he hasn’t doesn’t mean he won’t if she gets in his way. She’s safer tonight, backstage.
White never takes his eyes from Elfan as he enters the ring. He stands in the opposite corner and warily watches both Elfan and the stage as his music fades out and “Supernova goes Pop” by Powerman 5000 fades in and the crowd starts jeering again for the Jack Valentine.
Phoenix: And here is our champion. Valentine was taken to the limit at Gallows End by White and has never stood across the ring from Elfan Simtul. His title is in serious jeopardy tonight.
Jeffrey: I think he’ll be okay. Elfan has never stood across from him either. Jack knows what it takes to hold on to a title.
Roberts: For his sake I’d certainly hope so.
Carson: Introducing first, he is the man who won this year’s 13 Ghost Gauntlet, hailing from New York City, “The Wielder of the Shadow Hammer”, Elfan Simtul!
Elfan steps forward and roars loudly as he violently points a finger at the title belt around Jack’s waist.
Carson: Next, from Barry, South Wales, he weighs in at 400 lbs. and is known as “The Freight Train…Brian White!
White steps from the corner and cups his hands around his mouth and shouts “Woo woo!” and the audience joins him in the taunt.
Carson: Finally, he is the current 4CW World Heavyweight Champion, hailing from Atlantic City, New Jersey, he is the “Mad Dog”, Jack Valentine!
Jack steps from his corner, undoes his belt and raises it high above his head. Both White and Simtul stare at the title as it goes up and then down, and then into he hands of the referee, who shows it to all three men, before removing it from the ring. Carson gets out of the ring and you can hear a pin drop amidst the silence while all three men wait in the ring for the bell.
Phoenix: Truly a toss up here tonight. Who walks into 2020 as champion?
DING DING!
White immediately charges at Valentine and backs him into the corner with quick repeated strikes. Simtul comes up behind him and clubs him from behind but White absorbs the shot and turns around and attacks Simtul in kind, and quickly grabs him and places him in the same corner Valentine is in and then he drives his shoulder into Simtul’s gut, driving him back into Valetine! He drives his shoulder into Simtul’s gut yet again and Simtul crumples to the floor! He rolls to the outside, Valentine is still upright in the corner, having remained standing simply because Simtul was holding him up, so White biels him out of the corner! White into an early cover!
1!
Valentine kicks out with ease!*
Jeffrey: What is White thinking?
Roberts: That Valentine will expend energy every time he has to get that 400 pounds off of him.
On the outside Simtul has gotten to his feet. He climbs up onto the apron and White charges him but Elfan moves and kicks the larger man in the face as he comes through the ropes, stunning him. Simtul then switches to his other leg and knees White in the skull. He climbs in and gets behind White and pulls him from the ropes and appears to be attempting a German Suplex!
Phoenix: Simtul is strong for sure but trying to lift White is a herculean task!
Indeed White does not come off the ground and throws a back elbow, trying to break Simtul’s grip. Valentine appears from behind them both though and clubs White in the back. He smacks him again and looks at Elfan and the two seem to telepathically exchange words as they both quickly get underneath White’s arms and hit a two-man back suplex!
Jeffrey: Two heads are better than one and they got White off his feet!
Roberts: Wow. Even with the two of them, that’s impressive.
Elfan gets up and immediately goes at Valentine peppering the surprised champion with shots that drive him into the ropes. Elfan whips him to the other side and hits a wicked clothesline as he comes back. He roughly grabs Simtul and hauls him into the air, looking it seems for the Falling Satellite! Valentine, slips out and gets behind Simtul and as Simtul turns Valentine kicks him in the gut and hits a DDT! He gets up and notices White is rising and runs over and dropkicks him back down and then rolls from the ring and drags White out to the floor. He positions White against the steel ring post and then rams his shoulder into White’s gut. He goes for a superkick on the outside but White moves and he ends up kicking the post instead! White then knocks him down with a shoulder tackle! White drags Valentine over to the announce tables and bounces his head off the table. He turns only to be met by a suicide diving Elfan Simtul!
Phoenix: Simtul through the ropes with that dangerous suicide dive! He takes down The Freight Train!
Jeffrey: That’s what I like to see!
Elfan grabs Jack and throws him up on the announce table. The announcers back away as Elfan continually clubs Jack in the back. He goes for a suplex, but Jack punches him in the gut. He does so again and again until he gets free of the front facelock and then kicks Elfan in the gut. He goes for a suplex of his own, but Elfan blocks with his leg. He goes behind Jack and attempts another German Suplex! All of a sudden White is beneath them! He picks up Elfan in powerbomb position, and Elfan still holds onto Jack with the rear waistlock! White turns and powerbombs Elfan to the floor, causing Jack to get German Suplexed all the way down!
Phoenix: Oh my god! A different take on the Tower of Doom there and Jack Valentine may be broken in half!
Jeffrey: White’s gonna kill these guys!
Roberts: I can’t believe the lengths these men go to.
White goes to Valentine and rolls him back in the ring and proceeds to pick him up and put him in the Crossrail!
Phoenix: If Valentine taps here the match is over and The Freight Train becomes champion!
Several agonizing seconds pass, and the crowd screams “TAP” in unison over and over again. Valentine is barely moving in the hold and the ref checks his arm, to see if he’s passed out from the pain. He lifts it once and it goes down. He lifts it a second time, and it goes down! He lifts the arm a third time…and it does not go down!
Jeffrey: Mad Dog is still in this!
Valentine still has fight, but in that moment Simtul rolls in and knocks down White and Valentine crashes to the mat. Simtul is begging White to get up. White makes his way to his feet and marches up to go nose-to-nose with Simtul. The hatred each man has for the other in this moment lights their eyes with a furious fire. The crowd chants have changed to “Freight Train! Woo Woo!” and they only stop when White pops Simtul with a right hand, resulting in a resounding cheer! Simtul fires back a right of his own causing the entirety of The Q to boo him loudly. The two go back and forth until Simtul manages to get three right hands off in a row.
Roberts: White and Simtul with a flurry of strikes back and forth!
Simtul whips White into the corner hard with force and hits a Total Eclipse to the back of White as he charges in behind him! He backs up as White turns himself around in the corner and goes for a second Total Eclipse, but White catches him as he jumps in! He turns around 180 degrees and hits a massive overhead Belly-to-Belly suplex! He then positions himself for the Runaway Train! Simtul is slow to his feet as White stalks him! White cups his hands around his mouth “Woo woo!” and charges in only to get caught with a Superkick from Valentine! He then nails Simtul with one! Simtul stays standing! He grabs Valentine and presses him in the air and drops him with the Falling Satellite but he almost immediately falls down afterwards! The crowd cheers in excitement!
Phoenix: What insane adrenaline in Simtul. He took that Superkick flush and managed to still hit one of his best moves on Valentine before collapsing.
Jeffrey: Simtul is my pick for that reason…provided he can get back up.
Roberts: Whoever gets up first is gonna have a big advantage.
Jack Valentine is the first man to his feet and he dashes to Simtul and covers him!
1!
2! Simtul kicks out with authority!
Valentine makes his way over to White but White surprises him by picking him up in Powerbomb position! Valentine looks freaked out and immediately starts punching White in the head! He drops to his feet and Simtul blows by him and hits a tremendous clothesline, taking down White!
Phoenix: What a clothesline!
Simtul drags White to his feet as fast as he can and throws him at Jack Valentine! Jack almost instinctively catches White and hits a piledriver as Simtul heads out of the ring! Valentine covers White!
1!
2!
3!
Carson: Here is your winner and…STIIIIIIILL 4CW World Heavyweight Champion… JACK ... MAD DOOOOOG ... VALENTIIIINE!!
Roberts What the hell was that?!
Jeffrey: Valentine has done it! Valentine retains the 4CW World Championship!!
Phoenix: What did we just witness?
Jeffrey: A message delivered by Elfan Simtul. He doesn’t care if he wins, so long as White didn’t win either!
Roberts: But why?
Phoenix: I'm just as confused! Why would Simtul give up his incredible opportunity here tonight?!
Jack keeps an eye on Simtul but Simtul doesn’t turn back to him, he just smiles as the titantron video focuses on the writhing White. Valentine is handed the title and he raises it high into the air, the achievement finally sinking in and he starts to celebrate.
Phoenix: Regardless of the controversy, we have our champion going into 2020! Tonight he's won Moment of the Year, Champion of the Year and Wrestler of the Year - but most importantly, Jack Valentine is STILL the 4CW World Champion!
---
Phoenix: Well, folks, here we are. The competitive culmination of over a year's worth of rage, chaos, and a concerted effort to rise above the flames of an unyielding adversity. A rivalry that has changed the face of 4CW forever, and become so... so...
Jeffrey: So..?
Phoenix: So personal , I—
Roberts: You sure you're up for this, Scott?
Phoenix: I have to be. Not as much for the job as for the fact that right now, this is as close as I can be to my daughter. I'm not going anywhere, gentlemen.
Michael Carson enters the ring and peers up at the ominous structure that hangs above his head like a dark storm cloud. Referee Anna Molly is standing in a nearby corner.
Carson: The following contest is the third annual WAR MATCH!
An anticipatory pop sounds out through the arena. Carson pauses briefly for this, then jumps back into his preamble.
Carson: Tonight's version of the match is tornado-style, has no time limit and is set to be contested under 5 vs 5 Captain Fall rules. Eliminations may occur only by pinfall or submission, with the captain of each team only being available for elimination after all of their teammates have been eliminated!
Bury Tomorrow's "Black Flame" overtakes the arena, met immediately by a crowd response that threatens to outdo the PA volume. Carson launches into his best attempt at a fair and enthusiastic introduction for the scourge of 4CW.
Carson: Introducing first, the team of GARRET FISCHER... BRUCE RIGG... ERICA MOXIE... and RHYYYYS CAAAIN... at a total combined weight of 1112lbs... THE BLACK FLAAAAAAME!!!
Despite the ongoing PA playback of their entrance theme, the five members of The Black Flame hit the darkened stage to the distorted roar of a unanimous loathing. At the centre of the stage (and his group), Cain inhales deeply, taking it all in; almost as though the air itself has become an improved life force with the aid of the intense anger clinging to it.
Jeffrey: Before Madeline Phoenix came to 4CW, who could have ever imagined the likes of what we've seen?
Phoenix: No one, I'd wager. All I know now is it has to be stopped stop. The feud and this pack of wolves.
Cain and his goons head down to the ring, clearly in no hurry and utterly unfazed by the audience. Four out of five faces are more or less unreadable, with Cain being the only exception as he briefly turns his attention to the crowd, merrily fanning the flames. After a few moments of Cain's egotistical posturing, the theme song cuts out, the lights return to normal, and Cain's teammates join him in the middle of the ring. Together, they face the ramp in anticipation of their enemies' arrival.
Roberts: It's time, gentlemen!
The lighting soon changes again, though not quite as anticipated: There's no sign of warm tones, red spotlights, or—oddest of all—music.
Jeffrey: Do I even have to say it? Something, something, light bill!
The Tron feed comes back in, changing from static black to...
Masked Hacker: Whoops! Little overboard there! One sec...
The Tron falls back into its former darkness. We now get some roaming silver spotlights that cast eerie shadows on the stage, which is now getting overrun by dense fog. The lights eventually coalesce at centre stage, where the light suddenly dies. And then, on the Tron...
Much of the audience pops, knowing exactly what's on the horizon. The opening keys of "Nocturnal Strains" shimmer through the speakers to a massive pop, and four overhead stage spotlights illuminate an eerie scene: Hazel, Tsukiko, Kira, and—indeed—Willow the Widow stand 10 feet apart, side-by-side, held in place by thin ropes that weave up to the rafters and out of sight. All of their heads and arms hang limp, and their eyes are all closed. After the song's intro passes by, things kick into full gear—and along with the music, the four living marionettes open their eyes and begin struggling in their bonds.
Roberts: The Widow herself! Just like when this all began.
Jeffrey: Time to get a little weird here in Cleveland!
In the ring, Cain wears a wry grin. Under the roar of the crowd, he mutters something unheard to the effect of, "Nice touch," then resumes silently observing the on-stage spectacle.
"Nocturnal Strains" cuts out, and Rob Zombie's “The Lords of Salem” hits the speaker. This is met with an overwhelming crowd response as Carstein steps out onto the stage with a pair of garden shears in hand.
Jeffrey: Can you imagine this loony fucker tending a garden, guys?
Roberts: Maybe outside a funeral parlour.
Phoenix: And only on the foggiest of nights.
Jeffrey: Ha!
Phoenix: All joking aside, Carstein's presence has been felt through and through since his return to 4CW, and by none more than The Black Flame! Love him or hate him, he's a great addition to Team Phoenix!
Carstein sets about cutting his allies' bonds, starting with Hazel and working his way through the rest. When done, the quintet of oddballs line the top of the ramp, stand side-by-side and meet the hungry eyes of their adversaries. Carstein and Willow each remove their long coats and toss them aside. Willow is wearing a more filled-in variation of her ring attire, with long lace trim around her arms, neck and tights. Finally, she removes her hazmat mask, unveiling her old fabric half-mask underneath.
Carson: And their opponents, at a combined weight of 816lbs... the team of... CARSTEEEIN... and WITCH HAZEL... TSUKIKO MIZUNO... OKI-KIRA... and MADELIIINE PHOEEENIIIX... THE ORDER OF THE PHOEEEEENIIIIIX!
Madeline—in full Willow garb and mask—throws her arms out to the sides, cuing blasts of silver and red pyro. And with that, Madeline Phoenix leads her team into battle!
Jeffrey: WOOHOOHOO!!
All hell breaks loose the very second Team Phoenix slides into the ring. As the cell begins to lower, the two warring factions butt heads, exchanging wild shot after wild shot. In the chaos, Anna Molly slips out onto the apron and calls for the bell.
DING-DING-DING!!
The cell now sits in place, entrapping the 10 combatants within its cold confines. Forced up against the ropes by Carstein, Fischer receives a vicious flurry of knife edge chops. Fischer falls to hands and knees, then rolls out of the ring (on hard-cam side) to gain some reprieve. Satisfied, Carstein turns his attention to the still-raging brawl, but gets a leg chopped out from under him by an opportunistic Miss Moxie. In the midst of the sea of limbs, Tsukiko ducks low and seeks an opening. Finding one between Cain and Kira, Kiko breaks loose, starts into a short sprint and dives through the ropes, ramming Fischer up against the cage wall in the process!!
Roberts: Seems Fischer can't catch a break in the early goings here.
Phoenix: Actually, I think some one-on-one outside the ring is preferable to the madness unfolding in the ring right now!
The action in the ring begins to split off into sections, with some fights ending up in a corner or near the ropes. In one corner, Kira is desperately trying to block body shots from Rigg. He manages to gain momentary reprieve with a hard shoot kick to Rigg's thigh, then hops up onto the second rope. Kira goes sidelong for a cross-body, but Rigg catches him and unceremoniously swings him over the ropes, leaving Kira to crash and burn on the floor! An "ooh" ripples through the stands.
Jeffrey: Y'know I bet that's how Rigg puts his kids to bed.
Phoenix: He doesn't have any children, far as I know.
Jeffrey: Well, yeah, I mean... not anymore.
Meanwhile, in the middle of the ring, Willow gets a hold of Zephyris and DDTs his face into the mat! In one smooth motion, she then slides herself sidelong on the mat and swings a leg over Zephyris, ultimately situating herself across his back as though for a camel clutch. Instead, Willow uses both hands to grab her prey by the head with one hand and manipulates his jaw with the other, making it look as though her dazed puppet is speaking! After a few moments of this, she releases Zephyris' jaw and repeatedly slams his face into the mat until she gets bored.
Phoenix: I've seen better puppets in my day, but Zephyris was at least a decent conduit of Widow's Speak!
Behind Willow, Moxie is locked in battle with Hazel. A sudden uppercut knocks Hazel off-balance, sending her reeling away and to her knees, winding up draped over the middle rope. Meanwhile, as Willow begins to stand, Rigg comes rampaging through with one arm extended. The Widow thinks fast, pulling off a Matrix evasion that leaves Rigg's arm connecting with the back of Moxie's neck, sending his cohort out over the top rope! Rigg's moment of confusion and frustration is all the opening Hazel needs to scurry away, keeping low as she does so. Seeing Willow nearby, Hazel gestures to Rigg and the pair of allies exchange a knowing look. In tandem, they charge at their 300lb adversary and knock him out through the ropes (opposite hard-cam) with a synchronized pair of dropkicks!
Jeffrey: That's how ya do it right there!
Roberts: Team Phoenix is looking strong here, no doubt about it.
Cain and Carstein, who have been battling it out in a corner til now, wind up in a momentary stalemate when they both attempt clotheslines on one another, resulting in a tangled, dazed mess on the canvas. On the other end of the ring, Hazel and Willow are formulating a plan as Rigg and Moxie (still on the floor) work on shaking the cobwebs out. Handily, Tsukiko slides back into the ring at this point and joins her teammates. Willow begins directing traffic, asking Hazel to back up a ways and for Kiko to drop to hands and knees near the ropes. Some anticipatory buzz fills the arena.
Phoenix: Big things are in the works!
Hazel backs away as instructed, but goes a little too far—Fischer, still on the outside, grabs her by the ankles and pulls her off her feet, sending her face-down into the mat! Fischer doesn't let go, instead opting to pull Hazel out of the ring. He gets her up onto her feet, then sends her crashing into a cage wall with a hard irish whip!
Roberts: Pretty slick stuff from The Rotterdam Raven, like him or not.
Phoenix: I sure as hell don't like him, but this kind of match environment is an opportunist's playground, true enough.
Plans foiled, Willow changes focus, joining Carstein's side as he pulls himself up using the ropes. Zephyris and Cain find their feet as well, and the two pairs face off and brawl in the middle of the ring. Meanwhile, Tsukiko grabs the top rope and leaps into a pendulum dropkick that punishes Moxie for leaning against the apron. Rigg, however, is closer to the cage wall. Kiko grabs the top rope again, this time using it to slingshot herself to the outside, only to get caught; hoisted into a military press; and thrown into the cage wall by the Scottish brute! The Q arena audience isn't pleased with this turn of events.
Jeffrey: Geez Louise! I don't think she's gonna get up from that one anytime soon!
In the ring, Willow and Carstein momentarily get the upper hand on Cain and Zephyris when, thinking alike, they pull off a pair of enzuigiris, taking the brothers momentarily off their feet. In sync, Carstein and Willow hit the ropes. Carstein pulls off a textbook spinning heel kick to take Zephyris down, while Willow's hurricanrana is reversed into a desperation powerbomb by Cain! Willow folds up like an accordion on the canvas, but manages to drag herself over to a corner. A moment later, Rigg and Fischer are back in the ring, and Fischer pushes a still-dazed Tsukiko in with him, leaving her on lying on the mat. Carstein gets himself vertical and faces Cain, only for his peripheral vision to inform him that Rigg and Fischer have flanked him. At the same time, Zephyris silently rises back onto his feet, totally unseen. A tense moment unfolds, then is swiftly broken by Carstein as he abruptly pivots and lunges at Fischer, taking him off-balance enough to begin raining down clubbing blows across his back. This effort is inevitably short-lived, however, as Zephyris runs up from behind and rocks Carstein with a ruthless forearm smash to the back of the head! Together as one, The Black Flame quickly engulfs The Lord of the Night, throwing everything but the kitchen sink at him. After a short-but-thorough beatdown, Cain directs his allies to pick their prey up, at which point Fischer and Rigg each hit the ropes opposite one another, bounce off and blast Carstein with a high/low dropkick combination that nearly turns him inside-out!
Roberts: Hate to say it, but the tide is really turning in favour of The Black Flame!
Tsukiko, lying nearby, begins to stir; so does Willow, seated in a corner. This doesn't seem to sit well with Cain, who barks some orders at The Liberation and steps aside, keeping an eye on his surroundings. The Liberation roughly pull Tsukiko up, lock her arms in a dual arm wringer, then whip her into the corner. As her wrung arms are freed and she picks up forced momentum, Kiko helplessly rolls forward, crashing into the turnbuckle as Kira (still recovering on the outside) pulls Willow out of dodge at the last second! With nothing else to stop her, Kiko bounces off the middle turnbuckle and winds up in a heap on the canvas.
Phoenix: Well that's half a disaster avoided, at least!
Cain is quick to get his hands on Willow once more, and so pulls her to her feet and plants her into the mat with a Side Effect!
Roberts: Good move and all, but under captain fall rules, Black Flame need another member of Team Phoenix in that ring!
As if on cue, Fischer sets his sights on Oki-Kira. He bounces off the far ropes and leaves his feet on the way back, diving through the ropes straight into Kira's raised, swinging leg!! Fischer crumbles on the outside, much to the satisfaction of the crowd! Before anyone can react, Kira slides into the ring, pops up and spots Moxie cambering up onto the apron. Kira charges dashes right past Zephyris, heads on to the far corner and springboards off with a triangle dropkick that forces Moxie off the apron and back onto the floor! Zephyris tries to blindside The Silent Senshi, receiving an out-of-nowhere superkick for his troubles, and the fans are rallying behind Kira!
Phoenix: Just scintillating! How d'ya like this action, folks?!
Roberts: This is a lightning-quick turnaround unfolding before our eyes. Talk about an unexpected one-man wrecking crew!
In nearly the same moment, Rigg tries his luck and finds it in the form of simply running straight at Kira and mowing him down like he's a tackling dummy! Cain looks pleased—that is, until he checks his perimeter and eats a seemingly out-of-nowhere missile dropkick, courtesy of Hazel! Cain goes down near the ropes, and with instinctive ring awareness he rolls out of the ring. Not two seconds later, Willow the Widow runs up behind Rigg, leaps low just as he's turning around and dropkicks his leg right out from under him. Rigg growls and tries to get back up, but Hazel is already running to the ropes behind him and when she comes back, the silver-haired sorceress drives Rigg's face into the mat with a facebuster! All the while, the crowd is going wild—and Anna Molly is pulling off some creative dodging to keep out of harm's way.
Jeffrey: Man alive, this is pure carnage! Don't even blink, boys!
Roberts: But my eyes dry out real quick.
Jeffrey: *sigh* Y'know what never dries out when I'm around, James?
Phoenix: RAY!
In the middle of the ring, Willow pulls Zephyris onto his feet and grabs him by the throat with her right hand, throws his arm over her shoulder and wraps her left hand around the back of his neck. With a primal scream, she hoists Zephyris up, sidelong, and sits out with her knees up, cracking Zephyris' back with a chokeslam backstabber! The crowd response is a mixture between an immediate, visceral "OOOOH" and a more delayed response of trying to register what they've just seen.
Phoenix: The Widow Maker, a Willow the Widow original!! By any name and in any guise, that's my girl and that's how you do it!
Willow slithers into a lackadaisical cover, pretty much just kneeling on Zephyris' arms and staring down at him. Anna Molly slides into position.
One...
Two...
Three!!!
Carson: Zephyris has been eliminated!
The entire arena's worth of fans let out a collective roar of approval.
Roberts: Zephyris has to return to the backstage area, but I think he's out cold!
Jeffrey: No shit, Sherlock. Somebody get in there and scrape that idiot-shaped pancake off the canvas!
The cell raises, and Kira slides out to ringside with Zephyris in tow, pulling him out of the ring so some attendants can drag him out of bounds. While the cell lowers back down, Kira hauls Fischer onto the apron and rolls him into the ring, right at Willow's feet.
Jeffrey: This is a real one-stop shop kinda operation Kira's running, huh? Goon out, goon in.
Phoenix: Smart. When things are going your way in a match like this, you've gotta keep the pressure on and your perimeter accounted for.
Willow hauls a weary Garret Fischer onto his feet, sets him up in a standing headscissors and—again showing off her unexpected strength—hoists him up and over her shoulder, where she positions him in the manner of a crucifix powerbomb. Instead of a familiar follow-through, Willow walks over to a corner, turns away from it, and flings Fischer face-first into the top turnbuckle!! An "OOOH" sounds out through the arena, and Fischer dizzily falls through the ropes and onto the apron.
Phoenix: Fischer went all the way up in a Willow Tree and came back down the hard way.
Jeffrey: Woo, baby!! It's always easier getting up than getting down! I hope Fischer has a good dentist.
Willow then removes what turns out to be just outer layers of ring gear, revealing the familiar red-and-black attire of her counterpart persona. Finally, the mask comes off, and The Mad Phoenix is ready to rock! Phoenix gets a hold of Fischer and pulls him onto his feet. From inside the ring, she hooks Fischer up for a suplex and hoists him high into the air, where she keeps him suspended while the fans count the seconds. At the count of 14, Madeline Phoenix completes this bit of poetry in motion, suplexing her opponent down to the mat with authority!!
Phoenix: Sonnet Suplex! Fischer is getting the starch knocked out of him.
Jeffrey: Hell yeah, I love that move!
At the same time, outside the ring, Cain gets back up. On the opposite side of the cell, Moxie pulls herself up with the aid of the cage wall. The two meet up on the outside and begin antagonizing their opponents. This creates enough of a distraction for Rigg to spring into action and clobber both Hazel and Kira to the ground, an action that is quickly followed up by a hard forearm shot to Tsukiko that knocks her on her ass. Carstein shuts Rigg down the hard way, sneaking up behind the 300-pounder and taking him out with a release German suplex!
Roberts: That's two consecutive displays of incredible strength and technique from Team Phoenix! They need to keep this pressure on to keep the lead here.
At the same time, Cain slides back in with a mad look in his eye and goes straight for Madeline Phoenix, with whom he exchanges some stiff shots back-and-forth. Cain gets the upper hand with a kick to the gut and whips Phoenix into a corner with such force that she bounces right off the buckles and crumbles at Cain's feet! Carstein runs up behind Cain and cinches on a waistlock, again looking for that big German suplex. Cain blocks it, however, and delivers a low blow in the form of a mule kick that has the crowd erupting into a chorus of boos and other such jeering. Carstein goes down to a knee with his adversary still held in the waistlock.
Phoenix: Well leave it to Cain to take the easy way out of a sticky situation.
Right after the cheap shot, Moxie hops up onto the apron. Cain gestures to her, and she nods. Cain breaks free of Carstein and rolls to one side, while Moxie comes front-rolling in under the top rope and leaps up, pulling Carstein down face-first with a slick jumping cutter!
On the other side of the ring, Rigg is trying to get a hold of the ever-elusive Hazel, who's tormenting him with her stick-and-move approach. Meanwhile, Moxie goes for the pin off the Omaha Slicer, but has her brains scrambled by a basement dropkick at the count of two, courtesy of Tsukiko Mizuno. Loosing a maddened snarl from his lips, Cain blindsides Kiko with a quick super kick and immediately follows it up with Avada Kedavra!! The cover!
One...
Two...
TH-KINSHAAAAASAAA!!
Jeffrey: Where the hell did he even come from?!
Phoenix: Quicker than a hiccup, that Kira. Can't take yours eyes off him for a second.
With captain fall rules in place, Cain is ineligible for elimination, so Silent Sorcery move onto the next issue: Moxie, who's just now getting back up off the mat. The tag team champions share a look, some quick signing, and a nod. Kira whips Moxie into a far corner and drops to his knees in front of it. Kiko gathers a full head of steam, takes off like a shot and leaps off Kira's back, rolling in mid-air to crash into Moxie like a human cannonball!!
Roberts: Poetry in Oceans!
Jeffrey: Yeah, real impressive—now cover her, you idiots!
Together, as if on cue, Kiko and Kira pin Moxie to the mat.
One...
Two...
RIGG SLAMS HAZEL ONTO BOTH OF THEM!! A second later, Fischer—lying on the mat with an aching back matched only by the whiplashed woman lying prone beside him—scoots into position and locks Madeline Phoenix in the Sovereign Crossface!
Phoenix: Say what you will about them for following Cain, but Rigg and Fischer have been invaluable assets in this match. Team Phoenix needs to get one of these guys gone, pronto!
Carstein finds his feet, spots Fischer and unceremoniously boots him right in the face! Rigg sneaks up and grabs him though, then rams Carstein shoulder-first into the nearest ring post! While Fischer shakes the cobwebs out, Rigg picks Phoenix up off the mat and tosses her out through the ropes, leaving her to bump on the apron and tumble to the floor. Finding the only thing (other than Fischer and the referee) that's still moving, the growling Glaswegian grabs a hold of Tsukiko and delivers a big belly-to-belly suplex that practically flattens 4CW's resident siren! Already knowing the play here, Fischer scrambles to his feet and climbs up to the top rope where he takes a moment to steady himself. A breath and a bend of the knees later, The Rotterdam Raven takes flight and seems to knock whatever air is left out of Tsukiko's lungs with his perfectly executed shooting star press! Fischer bounces off and reels away, clutching at his abdomen, but big Rigg drops into a lateral press and cradles the legs for good measure!
One...
Two...
Three!!
Carson: Tsukiko Mizuno has been eliminated!
Rigg's satisfaction with this result is short-lived, however, because Tsukiko immediately springs to life, latches both hands around the back of the brute's neck and shrieks at the top of her lungs, briefly, with what little breath she can muster. Spent and winded, Tsukiko Mizuno lets her head rest back down on the mat. Rigg recoils and leans up on the ropes with his hands over his ears. Damage done, Tsukiko rolls out of the ring as the cell raises and crawls under to the other side.
Roberts: Well, Tsukiko is done here for tonight, but talk about going out on a high note!
Jeffrey: Shut up, Roberts! Man, if it weren't for all the time I've spent with your mother, I'd swear you were made in some kind of nuisance manufacturing plant.
Roberts: I swear I've heard you make basically the same joke before! Not to mention a whole backlog of similar such puns.
Jeffrey: Yeah, but I have charisma, class and wit. I'm a triple threat, baby!
Roberts: You're a 42-year-old bachelor with a Madonna–whore complex and an ego that would make Bono blush.
Jeffrey: Like I said, triple threat, and don't you forget it, Roberts!
Carstein sees his opening with Rigg. He goes straight for Rigg, but the brute gets a boot up just in time. Nearby, Hazel gets back up, but Fischer is quick to get a hold of her and fire off a forearm smash. Fischer delivers a few more of these while Hazel tries to cover up and back away toward the ropes. Across the way, Rigg recovers and does some quick communication with Fischer. With a nod, Fischer whips her off the ropes and straight at Rigg, who ducks low and launches Hazel over his head, right into the steel mesh wall, where Hazel pulls a Spider-Man—latching on with her fingers and planting her feet at the last second!
Jeffrey: How about that! Hypersexual Batwoman has evolved into Hypersexual Spider-Witch! That is how evolution works, right?
Roberts: Maybe... in the Pokémon universe, at least.
Phoenix: No, that's way more consistent than what Ray proposed in his quip.
Jeffrey: Well I'll be damned! Didn't know you were such a Pokénerd, Scotty.
Phoenix: Maddie was really into as a kid—probably still is. When she took off, she left an old DS with Platinum still in it. Helped to pass the time when the wounds were still fresh.
Dissatisfied with this turn of events, The Liberation craft a new gameplan. Fischer runs full-speed at Rigg, who repeats the previous maneuver, launching his partner at the cell wall too! Fischer gets less air than Hazel, latching on a little below her. Hazel tries to kick Fischer down, but he evades the strike, grabs onto her extended leg and bashes it against the unforgiving steel! In desperation, Hazel lets her other foot free of the mesh and this time, succeeds in booting Fischer in the face! This knocks him off the cage wall, breaking his grip in the process—but on the way down, he gets a hold of her other ankle and sets his own feet on the floor. Fischer gives Hazel's ankle one hard tug, and Hazel comes crashing violently down to the floor! After this, the crowd noise becomes deafening, as all in attendance give Fischer hell for his actions.
Phoenix: My god, the visciousness on display by The Black Flame tonight is—
Jeffrey: Exactly what we had to expect from them, frankly.
Back in the ring, Rigg takes a shotgun dropkick from Phoenix out of nowhere, knocking him back into a corner where he crumbles and sits in a recuperative state. At the same time, Cain and Moxie gang up on Kira, kicking away at him in a nearby corner. Madeline begins to break this up by blindsiding Cain with a kick to the back of the leg, a move that takes him down to one knee, but she gets kneed in the ribs by Moxie before she can do anything else. Moxie follows this up by whipping Maddie into Kira, then charges in and eats a boot courtesy of The Mad Phoenix! Moxie reels back and goes down to a knee beside Cain, and Madeline drops to hands and knees in front of Kira while still facing toward Cain and Moxie. Kira hoists himself up so he's standing on the middle rope, then uses Madeline as a platform, running along her back to deliver a double dose of single-leg dropkicks—one for Cain's face and one for Moxie's, much to the joy of the crowd!!
Phoenix: And Team Phoenix is not about to be outdone by sheer aggression! Craftiness like that can make all the difference when the chips are down!
Fischer slides into the ring and immediately breaks into a run, hoping to cross the ring and ambush his adversaries. Carstein interrupts this attempt by baseball sliding over from Fischer's right and tripping him, sending Fischer face-first into the mat!
Roberts: And some more ingenuity on display right there! Simple, but effective.
Jeffrey: So now I'm imagining Carstein playing baseball. Y'know, he'd be a pretty useful teammate. Ain't no one protecting the bases when Carstein is barrelling toward them! Only problem is they'd have to play at night...
Phoenix: On point as always, Ray.
Fischer tries to scramble back up and is immediately put down by a Pele kick, expertly executed by The Shiga Stomper himself! A moment later, Rigg springs back into action with a simple shove that knocks Carstein into Phoenix, the latter of whom is bowled over in the process. For the second time in the match, Rigg gets Carstein into a waistlock and this time, successfully pulls off his punishing release German suplex on the Vampire Warrior!
Roberts: Damn! Rigg's looking to force a turn-around yet again!
Jeffrey: Seriously, someone's gotta deal with the big guy here, ASAP!
Undeterred, Phoenix and Kira use some stick-and-move tactics to chip away at Rigg. Eventually Kira gets him down onto his knees by rotating into a lightning-quick heel trip, which Madeline immediately follows up with a shorthand hurricanrana that spikes Rigg's head into the mat! Phoenix takes a moment to share in a high-five with her silent ally. Recuperating in the corner, Rigg sets his eyes on Carstein, who's finally showing signs of life for the first time since taking that big suplex. Cain and Moxie soon rejoin the chaos, but so does Hazel, who comes diving off the top rope with a crossbody that takes Moxie down! Nearly at the same time, Cain—as expected—goes straight for Phoenix, who performs a rolling dodge to evade a clothesline and breaks into a sprint in the opposite direction to hit a recovering Rigg with a sliding forearm smash to the face, rattling his skull against the turnbuckle before he can get up out of the corner!
Phoenix: That's it! Keep the pressure on 'em!
Carstein, with a second wind, grabs the top rope and pulls himself to his feet in fine form, then rushes Cain. Like his adversary a moment earlier, Cain evades a clothesline, but Carstein lets his moment carry him through to another bounce off the ropes and comes back with—of all things—a spear!!
Jeffrey: WOO!
Phoenix: And how about that! Carstein just stole one out of Cain's old playbook!
In the middle of all this, Fischer seems to be down and out, but after Carstein takes Cain down, he strikes like a snake in the grass, pulling Hazel's legs out from under her! With a self-satisfied look on his face, Fischer pops up off the mat... and takes a look around the ring, turning in place. Phoenix, Kira, and a wild-looking Carstein have all eyes trained on The Rotterdam Raven. Flanked and seeing no way to take flight, Fischer takes a swing at the nearest thing to him. The nearest thing to him, unfortunately, is the re-energized Vampire Warrior, who barely registers this and hits back with authority! Fischer reels and retreats to the ropes, but Carstein is on him the whole time and just lays in shot after shot of forearms and chops. In utter desperation, Fischer goes for a kick below the belt, but Carstein blocks it, takes control of Fischer's leg, and spins him out—but this proves unwise. On the rotation, Fischer swings the same leg out and up, knocking Carstein off-balance with a rolling sole butt kick to the gut! Fischer slings himself over the top rope to stand on the apron, and before Phoenix or Kira can react, hops up on the ropes for a springboard. Carstein instinctively rushes forward and—almost mirroring The Rotterdam Raven's earlier play on Hazel—pushes Fischer's legs out from under him, causing him to fall gut-first onto the top rope, teetering awkwardly!
Roberts: Vicious tactic by Carstein, but all's fair in WAR!!
Carstein grabs the see-sawing Fischer by the head and under-hooks his arms. Then, the Lord of the Night snaps himself down to the mat, spiking Fischer head-first with a ROPE-HUNG DOUBLE-ARM DDT!!
Phoenix: DEVASTATING!! That's gotta be the nastiest Blood Drinker we've ever seen in all of 4CW history!
Roberts: Fischer must be done, no way anyone's kicking out of that!
Anna Molly slides in from.. somewhere, and the hot crowd collectively interrupts its own wall of sound for the cover.
One...
Two...
Three!!
Carson: Garret Fischer has been eliminated!
The fans are thrilled with this outcome. Immediately following the pin, Carstein aggressively hauls Fischer up onto his feet and throws him out through the ropes, where the usual cycle with the cage begins and ends in short order.
Phoenix: And another one bites the dust!
Moxie is the first of Black Flame to get back up. Phoenix and Kira simply shoot her off into the ropes and on the way back, Carstein launches her up into a free-fall with a release flapjack, during which Hazel runs over and interrupts Moxie's descent with a brutal shotgun dropkick! Moxie goes flying to one side and crash-lands under the apron, ultimately tumbling insensibly out of the ring!
Jeffrey: Man do I ever love seeing these Black Flame bastards get wrecked!
Roberts: And by the sounds of this crowd, I doubt you'll find a single dissenting opinion here tonight.
While Moxie is mid-tumble, Carstein grabs a fistful of Cain's hair with both hands and yanks him onto his feet. Cain boots Carstein in the gut and breaks free, only for Carstein to power through and throw all of himself into a knife edge chop that echoes throughout the arena! Revelling in his rival's pain, Carstein delivers a second chest-scorching chop and this time, Cain reels away—right into another knife edge chop, courtesy of The Mad Phoenix herself! Phoenix then lays in four more chops in rapid succession, reddening Cain's chest even more. Off-balance and desperate for reprieve, Cain stumbles away from his attacker and is granted his wish in the form of ending up dazed on the mat, thanks to a picturesque crane kick from Kira! The crowd response says it all about this sequence, but commentary gives it a shot anyway.
Phoenix: If you believe catharsis can be experienced vicariously, get yourself an eyeful of this action!
Rigg rejoins the fray in typical fashion by mauling Kira with an onslaught of clubbing blows, but is quickly set upon by Carstein, who rushes over and up and brings the fight right back! Rigg finds himself struggling with Carstein's use of the stick-and-move approach, delivering quick combos of body shots. Rigg ultimately resorts to stomping on one of Carstein's feet to break up the attack; at the same time, Hazel runs up and jumps on Rigg's back, but takes a snapmare onto the mat before she can get a good hold on him. Next, Madeline moves in and kicks the big man in the thigh. This throws Rigg off-balance for just a moment, and he aggressively retaliates by simply shoving her down on the mat. At the same time, Carstein boots Rigg in the gut and sets the brute up for the Blood Drinker, but suffers a rabbit kick to the back of the knee from the still-grounded Cain! Rigg uses this opening to lock his arms around Carstein's waist and lift, taking him down belly-to-belly style. Cain, meanwhile, lashes out at Kira with a superkick of his own and follows it up with a snap German suplex that brings Kira down on the back of his head!
Roberts: You can say a lot of things about Cain, but you can't say he's ever missed an opening!
Madeline gets back up and throws all of herself at Rigg, who swings and misses in the process. Phoenix subsequently hits the ropes, springboards back at Rigg for a crossbody and gets caught, sidelong, in mid-air. At this point, the big man spots Moxie out on the apron with a crazed look in her eyes. She points at Rigg's prey and does an upward gesture with her right arm, and Rigg grins a wicked grin. As Moxie comes front-rolling in through the ropes, Rigg holds Phoenix outward from his body and tosses her into the air, right in time for Moxie to leap out of her roll and drive her rival team's captain face-first into the canvas with a supersized jumping cutter!! The crowd can't help but be impressed, even giving out what adds up to a decent smattering of applause.
Jeffrey: Well that's a new one! Even I didn't count on the "turn opponents into roadkill" gambit, and now look where we are.
Phoenix: Dammit, that's my daughter, Ray!
Jeffrey: Sorry Scott, but I just wanna keep my job here. You might be new to 'em, but I can't afford any more disciplinaries for conduct at this point!
Cain only catches the tail end of this madness, but it's enough for him to be overjoyed. Cain grabs Kira round his shoulder and gets up in his face, loosing a growl that says "I'm done with you," before shoving him off toward Moxie, who takes Kira for a hell-ride with a front-falling gutwrench powerbomb! Moxie stacks Kira up...
One...
Two...
THREE!!
Carson: Oki-Kira has been eliminated!
With a devilish grin, Cain yanks his silent foe back up and motions to Rigg. On Kira's left, Cain grabs a shoulder and a handful of tights; Rigg then mirrors this action on Kira's right. Together, they get some forward momentum going and launch their helpless victim through the ropes with such force, the poor man sails all the way to the cage wall, crashing into it spine-first!! Like a worn old ragdoll, Kira bounces off the cold, hard steel and crumples to the floor. The three remaining members of Black Flame look quite pleased with themselves.
Phoenix: Oh sure, what a thing to be proud of! "Gee gang, isn't it great what we can accomplish when we just abandon every tenet of basic human decency?"
While the cage begins to rise back up, so too does Carstein. Ready and waiting nearby, Moxie thoroughly shuts him down with a stiff spinning back elbow right to the forehead! No time wasted, Moxie drops into a lateral press and hooks a leg.
One...
Two...
Th–dropkick!
More specifically, Hazel evades Rigg and gives Moxie a taste of her boots with a running basement dropkick to the face! Moxie is knocked clean off of Carstein and ends up nursing her aching side on the mat. Rigg tries to get a hold of Hazel, but she avoids all contact and slides out to the floor. Rigg is in hot pursuit, but Hazel hits the ground running and creates some distance for herself. Cain slides out of the ring on the opposite side, and between the two men, Hazel soon finds herself cornered.
Roberts: Oh, Hazel is just in no man's land now!
Jeffrey: No shit. Caught between a prick and a brick wall!
BAM!
The Mad Phoenix gets back into the action with a baseball slide to Cain, sending him shoulder-first into the cage wall! After the impact, Phoenix lets her legs continue to rest on the apron where she stopped. She handily uses the bottom rope to swing the rest of the way onto the apron, then immediately gets up onto her feet and faces away from her nemesis. As soon as Cain collects himself and steps away from the wall, Madeline Phoenix takes to the sky and brings Cain down with a dazzling Asai moonsault!
Phoenix/: Got him just about as on-target as possible! I never fancied myself a great teacher, and I'm sure Kira knows a damn lot more about a springboard than yours truly, but you just can't teach that quality of execution! That's just sheer talent.
Hazel's attention is diverted away from Rigg by this knockdown, and the Scotsman sees his opening. Rigg runs at Hazel with a full head of steam, opens his arms wide for a body avalanche and hits nothing but steel!! This comes as a result of Hazel hooking her fingers into the steel latticework and acrobatically hoisting herself up, kicking her legs outward in the process such that Rigg hits the cage where she'd been standing, and her legs comes swinging back at Rigg. During this motion, Hazel tightly bends her knees and by doing so, she catches Rigg round the neck with her thighs as he bounces off the steel wall! With this unique application of an elevated headscissors, Hazel uses herself as a pendulum to bash Rigg's face into the steel two more times before Rigg slumps to his knees and her grip begins to slip! Moxie, meanwhile, finds her senses and gingerly makes her way out to the apron, determined to go deal with the matter herself. With the last of her grip, Hazel shifts herself into an unsteady standing position on Rigg's slumped shoulders and rolls her way down his back—hits the floor—and leaps up at Moxie, receiving a reflexive slap to the face for her troubles... but also managing to spit her silver mist in mid-air!! Hazel falls awkwardly to the floor and crumples in heap, but the damage is done: Moxie—succumbing to the effects of the Brain Fog—flails blindly on the apron and winds up careening off to the floor below! This mad sequence has The Q Arena turning into an erupting volcano of voices! Even Carstein, who's now back on his feet, cocks an eyebrow up in impressed silence. As one would expect, the arena fills with emphatic chants of "HOLY SHIT!"
Jeffrey: WOOOOO BABY!! The Hypersexual Spider-Witch, out in full force tonight!
Phoenix: That's gotta be the single craziest thing Hazel's done! .. In the past day or two, at least.
Jeffrey: Right!
Phoenix: Joshing aside, that whole turnaround is definitely going on the highlight reel!
Roberts: We don't actually do any highlight reels, Scott.
Ryan George 1: Whoops!
Ryan George 2: Whoopsie!
In the ring, Carstein can barely contain the beast within, licking his lips at the prospect of further destruction. Like a frightfully pale kid on Christmas, he slides out of the ring and grabs a hold of Rigg, whose eyes are glazed over. With all the care of a paperboy from hell, The Vampire Warrior drags Rigg toward the apron (and, incidentally, Madeline Phoenix) and dumps him into the ring. Madeline seems pleased with Team Phoenix's unusual 5th member, who merrily pats her on the back and nods his head at Rigg. With that, Carstein re-enters the ring, while Madeline Phoenix hops up onto the apron and heads up top.
Roberts: This is The Order of the Phoenix's biggest opening in the match thus far, let's see if the big Scotsman can finally be put away!
Carstein drags Rigg into position for his teammate. With a high vertical leap and great form, The Mad Phoenix burns through the 300-pounder—PHOENIX RISING!!! Ignoring her aching abdomen, Madeline manages to drop a lateral press, while Carstein pins down Rigg's legs for good measure!
One...
Two...
Three!!!
Carstein: Bruce Rigg has been eliminated!
Not being the type to waste any time, Carstein turns his attention on Cain, who's now using the apron to pull himself back up. Of similar thinking, Phoenix promptly makes her way to the adjacent side of the ring and out to ringside to assess the situation with Hazel and Moxie, both of whom are still down.
Phoenix: And at long last, the literal biggest threat in this chaotic contest is outta here!
Roberts: In fine fashion, too. This little quintet Madeline put together may be a motley crew, but Team Phoenix has proven pretty damn effective!
While Rigg is being dragged (by a trio of underpaid attendants) out of the raised cage, the view from the hard-cam shows Cain being hauled up onto the apron by Carstein, who lands a stiff body shot, buckling Cain forward. Carstein takes his longstanding adversary up for a vertical suplex, but Cain throws his weight into it, kicking his legs out for a forced over-rotation. The very moment his feet hit the mat, Cain takes off for the far side of the ring. Carstein wheels around to face the
DRAGON RAGE!!!
Carstein is nearly knocked out of his weathered old ring boots and ends up whirling through the air before hitting the canvas like a fumbled devil stick. Cain lands nearby and gingerly crawls his way toward Carstein, but Carstein—having landed nearer to the ropes—drags himself just far enough away to grab the bottom rope, which he uses to haul himself to the apron where he tumbles, insensible, down to the floor. Cain lets out a pained growl of frustration, but has no one to take his rage out on for the moment and instead takes a much-needed moment to catch his breath for the first time in ages.
Phoenix: How good must Carstein's ring awareness be to make it out of that exchange with both his head and his spot in this match intact? And that's just one of many, many faucets of his talent that exemplify just why this man is a 4CW Hall of Famer.
Just around the bend from Carstein's resting place, Madeline Phoenix tries to quietly rouse Hazel from her stupor without alerting Erica Moxie, who's still struggling with the effects of the Brain Fog. Hazel manages some cobweb-shaking in response to her ally's efforts efforts, and so Madeline turns her attention to Erica Moxie, who's currently propped up on her knees and rubbing at her eyes in an attempt to remedy her compromised vision. All the while, Moxie has no awareness of Madeline's presence nearby. A A few moments pass while Moxie slowly makes her way back up onto her feet; the moment she does, Phoenix grabs an arm and a handful of hair at the back of Moxie's head and swings her round, running her face-first into the cage wall! On impact, Moxie bounces off, swings back round at her unseen assailant and throws a blind haymaker, hitting Phoenix square in the face! Both women are down, as are Scott Phoenix's headphones.
Jeffrey: Hold it together, Scotty!
Scott Phoenix is on his feet. He clumsily rounds the commentary table and approaches the cell wall, where he links his fingers over the latticework, shouting out his daughter's name. At about the same time, referee Anna Molly climbs out of the ring and checks on Madeline, who appears to be out cold from Moxie's closed-fist punch.
Cain, naturally, spots this and is quite delighted. Catching Scott's eye for a moment, he merrily waves at the concerned father in cruelly comical fashion. Referee Anna Molly climbs out of the ring and communicates herself calmly to Scott. He eventually backs off from the cage and tries to collect himself as best he can.
Jeffrey: Damn. Can't blame the man, y'know. Still, I can't help being reminded of those cavalier days of my reckless youth, racking up disciplinary warnings like pool balls.
Roberts: You literally just received one at last month's Storm Front, Ray.
Jeffrey: *wistful, longing sigh* Ah, the time. How it flies! Try to appreciate it while you're still young and depressingly virginal, James.
Roberts: *exasperated, "too old for this shit" sigh*
Meanwhile, Hazel gets her senses together enough to assess the current state of things. In doing so, she meets eyes with Cain, who motions for her to enter the ring. Hazel takes a moment to properly get the gears turning in her head, then runs up and slides into the ring. Cain rushes her, but Hazel also breaks into a run as she rises from the mat, keeping her head low. She ducks past Cain, who readily whirls round as quickly as he can for Hazel's return, finding himself surprised that she's nowhere to be seen. Quicker than a hiccup, Hazel slides back into the ring from the adjacent side. Cain catches this in his peripheral vision and readies himself, and sure enough, Hazel again breaks into a run. Cain whips around with an elbow sticking out, but Hazel has prepared for this as well, sending herself into a sliding take on the Matrix evasion, looking like she's in the middle of a figure-skating routine. Upon stopping, Cain approaches, and the Silver-Haired Sorceress rises up, performs a partial back handspring and kicks Cain right in the face!
Roberts: Really gotta hand it to Hazel—she's proven to be absolutely invaluable to her team.
Jeffrey: Sure, and observant as I always am, I've noticed this kind of match environment always brings out the best in her.
Roberts: Huh. A very pertinent point, Ray.
Jeffrey: Not just a pretty face that shows up in your mom's front door peephole every Friday night, huh, Roberts?
Cain wobbles backward, which conveniently leaves room for Hazel to complete her handspring. Body still turned away from her opponent, Hazel casts a quick glance over her shoulder before taking off for the ropes. Upon rebounding back at Cain, Witch Hazel wheels herself up into a running headscissors and finds herself abruptly pulled in tight to Cain's body as he wraps his arms tight around her waist. Cain quickly drops to a knee, driving Hazel shoulder-first down onto it! After the impact, Cain stays in place and maintains his waistlock on Hazel. From here, he relinquishes one of his arms from the hold and pushes Hazel away, onto her back. As she lands, Cain—in one fluid motion—switches to gripping Hazel by one of her wrists, stands back up to his full height, and moves into a standing position over her with his legs at either side of her midriff. Looking down at Hazel, his face contorts into a mask of rage. With animalistic ferocity, Cain clamps his free hand over Hazel's other wrist and pulls her up just enough so that her head is slightly raised from the mat. Then, without a moment's hesitation, the villain proceeds to stomp away at his victim's face, bashing the back of her head into the mat with each one!!! Cain clearly revels in the unbridled cruelty all the while, and the backlash from the crowd is cacophonous. After six brutal stomps, Cain takes a moment to soak up the energy in the Q Arena like he's Mister Negative on a corruption bender.
Jeffrey: Well that sure is something to take pride in.
Roberts: Y—
Jeffrey: Before you say it, yeah, I sound like Scott. I expect we all will before this one is all wrapped up. Let's not pretend for even half a second that this match won't just get uglier and uglier as it goes.
Pleased with the damage done, Cain leans back against the ropes and simply watches on as Hazel slowly begins moving again, eventually managing to make it onto her hands and knees, either fortunately or unfortunately turned away from Cain, depending on one's perspective. Cain calmly steps away from the ropes on his side of the ring when Hazel nears the ropes on the opposite side. Predictably, he crosses the ring in a sauntering fashion and casually stomps on her back before she can reach the bottom rope. To further his enjoyment, Cain begins running off at the mouth, spouting all manner of trash talk that can't be heard over the crowd noise by anyone but Hazel.
Roberts: Leave it to Cain to turn to his mind games when he's already in control of his opponent.
While Cain is picking on Hazel, on the other side of the cell walls, Scott Phoenix returns to the commentary desk. He sits down next to Ray Jeffrey, but doesn't put his headphones back on. Ray gives him a pair of consoling pats on the back, then turns his focus back onto the match.
At this point, hidden beneath the cloak of crowd noise, Cain apparently says something that hits Hazel like a ton of bricks. Referee Anna Molly, standing near enough to pick up some of this, bears a look of shock and disgust. All at once, Hazel's face is wet with tears and her mascara is running. Beyond the tears, something changes in her eyes...
Jeffrey: Whoooaaa... what the hell did that little bastard just say to her, James?! For the past ten minutes, I haven't heard anything other than the roar of the crowd, your miserable voice and the sound of flesh hitting steel!
Roberts: Whatever it was, Hazel is a mess right now.
With what seems in the moment like preternatural speed, Hazel sweeps her bully's legs out from under him! Cain doesn't see this coming at all and as he goes down, he largely lands at an odd angle where his shoulders hit the mat and the back of his head bounces helplessly off the canvas—indeed, in similar fashion to how Hazel's did, just moments ago. The second Cain hits the mat, she pounces on him. Using her pointed nails, Hazel wildly scratches away at his chest, shoulders, face—any exposed skin she can scratch away at before Cain can manage to cover up, Hazel manically flails her arms at!! If Cain's arms or hands get in the way, then those end up taking the brunt of Hazel's onslaught, which also includes slaps and hammer-fist strikes as her rage reaches its peak, breaking through Cain's guard! Every fan in attendance is going berserk for this turn of events, some of them even leaving their seats and cheering Hazel on. Even Anna Molly can't fully conceal her feelings; the slightest hint of a smile creases her otherwise neutral lips for just a half of a second.
Jeffrey: WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! That's some gooood beatdown! Can I get this as a VR game?!
[Scott throws his headphones back on for a few moments.
Phoenix: Sentiment echoed, Ray! I'd obviously never fit in Hazel's shoes, but OH what I'd give to be in them right now!
Jeffrey: OoOOooh, is that like a fetish thing, Scotty?
Phoenix: RAY!
Jeffrey: What?
Phoenix: Never change.
[Scott tosses his headphones back down on the desk and silently watches on.]
Beneath the embittered hellcat currently straddling him in the worst of ways, a bloodied Cain hazily tries to collect his senses. Conversely, Hazel begins to run out of steam, if not tears. The gears turn and turn in Cain's head, trying to piece together a practical plan of action. This leads to Cain actually leaning into the strikes, grabbing a hold of Hazel's neck and clumsily implementing a kind of chokehold monkey flip, releasing Hazel's neck along the way. Both competitors scramble to get up, managing this at roughly the same time. In the same moment, Cain and Hazel whirl around to face and approach one another, but in this instance, Cain is a split second quicker: he turns the combined momentum in his favour, pulling off a low side-step that he uses to slide on one knee, swing round behind Hazel and hook on a waistlock. Cain yanks Hazel back into an O'Connor Roll, and Anna Molly gets into position.
One... (Hazel struggles under Cain's weight!)
Two... (Villain to the last, Cain executes a partial bridge and pulls on the ropes beyond his head, creating a tighter bridge formation with unusual leverage; Hazel's instincts in the bridge tell her to push an arm away, but Cain's arms aren't where her instincts say!)
Three!!!
Carson: Witch Hazel has been eliminated!
Cain releases his grip on the ropes and completes his bridge, which Hazel immediately breaks. Cain pops up off the mat, grinning from ear to ear beneath a wet mask of crimson and snickering like a schoolboy who's just heard a saucy rumour. At the commentary desk, Scott Phoenix looks frustrated with this outcome. Similarly, Anna Molly seems to be feeling torn about having counted Hazel out; Cain picks up on this and gets up in her face about it. For a moment, Hazel doesn't know what to do with herself. This changes just a few seconds later, as she slinks up behind Cain and tries to dig into him again. This action is cut short by Carstein, who slides back into the ring and runs up on Cain, mowing him down with a Polish Hammer that sends him tumbling out to the floor! Carstein then turns his attention to Hazel, who's still seeing red. She clambers up off the mat and moves to go after Cain, but Carstein holds her off. Along with Anna Molly, Carstein settles Hazel down just enough to get her out of the ring and out of the cell. Hazel makes her way up the ramp, exhausted in every sense and surrounded by a sea of impressed, emotional fans. Halfway up the ramp, Tommy Young heads down to help her in any practical ways he can.
Roberts: Lot to unpack there no doubt, but my biggest takeaway is that we just witnessed one hell of a showing by Hazel!
Jeffrey: I'll echo that—in a much more charismatic voice, mind.
Carstein turns his attention back to Cain and begins to step out through the ropes to get back on the offensive, but is interrupted by Erica Moxie. The rambunctious Nebraskan native yanks Carstein back into the ring and brings the fight to him with a big European uppercut, knocking the Vampire Warrior off-balance! Moxie follows this up with a WOO-worthy knife-edge chop, really leaning into her step on the follow-through for maximum velocity. Carstein reels back, clearly feeling it, but this only shows for a second. Just one more second after the impact, he lets loose a growl and closes the distance by rushing Moxie and offering up a chop of his own. Moxie retaliates by grabbing a handful of pitch-black hair and delivering a stiff forearm shiver, then another, and one more for good measure. Carstein appears to have been dazed by this assault, so Moxie goes in for a kick to the gut; Carstein catches her by the foot, however, and uses both hands to spin her out. On her return to facing forward, Carstein takes his own turn at a kick to the gut—connects—and sets up for the Blood Drinker DDT! Moxie promptly stomps on Carstein's foot, then pulls off a much more voluntary spin in order to rotate her way out of the hold and give her opponent's arm a twist of her own. Moxie looks to reel Carstein in for a short-arm something-or-other, but Carstein slaps down hard on Moxie's left arm, breaking her grip! Moxie instantly retaliates with a much more successful boot to the ol' break basket and sets up for her own double-arm DDT. Carstein—being the wily veteran that he is, not to mention the long-time wielder of the same maneuver—immediately bends at the knee and throws all of his weight down with it, dropping himself into a kneeling position and, moreover, a reliable block against the double-arm DDT. Moxie aggressively relinquishes the double-underhook hold with a sidelong shoving motion and springs quickly into action, abruptly throwing her left knee forward, but Carstein's superior instincts bring him to duck low, thus avoiding contact altogether. Furthermore, Carstein ends up behind/beneath Moxie, a position from which he hoists his adversary up onto his shoulders, electric-chair style, and transitions into driving Moxie down with a deadlift German suplex!!
Phoenix: What a sequence! While running on what must be rapidly-emptying tanks, no less!
Jeffrey: Eyy, good to see you back behind the reins, Scotty!
Phoenix: I am for now, at least.
Carstein is all fired up, as are the fans! The Midnight Aristocrat pulls Moxie onto her feet, locks on the double-underhook and drives her face-first into the canvas! Carstein shoots the half...
One...
Two...
Thr–no!!
Cain, somewhat dazed though he is, manages to haul himself roughly halfway into the ring just in time to (very much literally) pull Carstein's leg, breaking up the pin. Cain looks to slam Carstein's leg down on the apron, but eats a boot for his trouble. Cain drunkenly slithers back down to ringside, where he leans heavily on the ring apron with both hands. Unbeknownst to all but the crowd and the commentary team, Madeline Phoenix comes bounding up the ring steps on Cain's side just as soon as she spots his position. Phoenix enters the ring, lines herself up with Cain's position and flattens her foe with a slingshot corkscrew splash!!! Madeline topples down awkwardly off Cain's upper back/shoulders, but the damage is done!
Scott Phoenix: Firebird Splash!! Cain's a pancake!
Roberts: Gotta hand it to Team Phoenix—even with just two members left, they're really keeping the pressure on!
Carstein gets back up and grabs a hold of Moxie once again, getting rolled up in the process~
One...
Two...
Kick-out!
Carstein handily wriggles out of the failed pinning combination. Getting up onto his knees, he pulls Moxie up onto her own. Moxie lashes out, striking at Carstein with wild fury. This situation quickly devolves into a slug-fest, which Moxie gets the upper hand in with a cheap-but-effective raking of her opponent's eyes! Carstein covers up as best he can, keeping his head low and his guard up while rubbing at his eyes. All at once, Madeline Phoenix comes sprinting up behind her teammate, bounds off of his shoulders and blasts Moxie in the face with her take on the Superman Punch, paying Moxie back for the closed fist!!
Scott Phoenix: DAMN RIGHT, BABY GIRL!!
Jeffrey: That's some damn fine play-by-play, Scotty.
Scott Phoenix: You want play-by-play? How's this for ya: "Innovative offense like what we've just witnessed from Madeline Phoenix is what makes all the difference when the chips are down!"
Jeffrey: Woo! That's the good stuff, brother!
Madeline Phoenix does some quick communication with Carstein, then drags Moxie into the middle of the ring, sits her up and locks her in a double chickenwing hold. Phoenix turns Moxie face-down while maintaining the hold, planting her feet at Moxie's sides. With fine form, Madeline bridges over, pulling Moxie's trapped arms up as far as she can force them!!
Scott Phoenix: Hell yes!
Roberts: Cattle Mutilation!
Scott Phoenix: In the Phoenix family gym, it was always the Wing Ripper to us. And no one does it better than my Maddie!
While Moxie struggles and suffers in the submission hold, Carstein keeps an eye on Cain, who's still down on the floor. Every so often, he glances over his shoulder; after a while, he becomes acutely aware of the fact that Moxie is somehow still hanging on. Phoenix keeps wrenching away on the hold, but Moxie refuses to give up!
Roberts: Credit where it's due, no one can deny Erica Moxie is tough as nails!
Jeffey: We're closing in on 30 seconds of this brutal submission and she's still conscious; I'm pretty sure that's bordering on actual X-Men shit, James.
Carstein's expression changes. Next thing we know, The Vampire Warrior drops to the mat and slinks into position over Moxie's back, situating himself beneath and between all four submission-entangled arms. Carstein drives his knee into Moxie's back, slips his right arm around her throat and uses his free hand to apply a nerve hold on Moxie's shoulder! The Q Arena is all abuzz, watching on in morbid fascination at the jumbled mass of limbs in the centre of the ring!
Phoenix: Good lord! That may be an innovation too far right there; a whole new take on the Lahmian Clutch, paired up with the Wing Ripper! Just unreal.
Jeffrey: Absolutely no one could hang on through this—not without a particularly complex death-wish, anyway.
This mad bit of ring science has only a short test run, as Moxie has to submit almost immediately!
Carstein: Erica Moxie has been eliminated; captain fall is now in effect on The Black Flame!
Thoughtful as ever, Carstein helpfully rolls a very limp Miss Moxie out of the ring, leaving her to crash on the floor. Now, after all this time, all eyes are on the bastard, Cain himself, who's still down on the outside. The Lord of the Night wastes no time going after 4CW's living bane, hopping out to ringside to bring the pain straight to him. Carstein rushes over and grabs Cain by the head, then gets pulled face-first into the cage wall!
Phoenix: And of course, the little bastard was playing possum!
Indeed, Cain seems to be well-recovered, returning to his feet with relative ease. In the ring, Madeline Phoenix takes off for the far rope—an action that Cain just barely catches out of the corner of his eye. Thus, the villain devises a plan, and when Maddie comes leaping out through the ropes she is met with a
*THWACK!*
VICIOUS CHAIR SHOT TO THE HEAD!!!
Madeline tumbles through the ropes, crashing and burning at ringside, landing unconscious not far from Carstein. Overjoyed with this result, Cain celebrates by immediately bringing the chair down across the small of Carstein's back—and again—and once more, with feeling!!
The audience gives Cain hell for his chair attacks. Between that and Cain's elation, the atmosphere in the arena shifts horribly, like all the clean air has been sucked out and replaced with engine fumes. Scott Phoenix absently tosses his headset down and rounds the cell to where he can be nearest to Madeline, clinging to the steel wall like his life—or his daughter's—depends on it.
Roberts: Well. Just as promised... it's quickly getting much, much uglier out here, folks.
Cain knows exactly what he needs to do and gets to doing it straightaway. For starters, Cain hauls Carstein back up and whips him right into the cage wall on the ramp-facing side. Before Carstein can slump down to the floor, Cain takes off like a shot and clotheslines him up against the steel! Carstein's legs want to give way, but Cain will only have that go his own way and so dumps his old foe onto the ring apron. Formulating a plan, Cain grabs his chair and brings it round to the same side Carstein is on and sets it down on the floor.
Jeffrey: Oh, what now?!
Roberts: Nothing good, no doubt.
Now that the area is clear, Anna Molly climbs out of the ring to check on Madeline Phoenix. Across the way, Cain hops up onto the apron next to Carstein—a little gingerly, but efficiently. Lo and behold, the lone Black Flame angles himself just right and sets Carstein up for the C4! Just as Cain bends at the knees, Carstein instinctively springs into action with what little he has left, striking away at Cain's midsection with his free arm and throwing somewhat stunted elbows at the back of Cain's head with the other. Successfully breaking free, Carstein bends forward, opening himself up hammer blows to the back—this seemingly unwise decision shows its true form when Carstein wraps his arms around Cain's waist and rams him into straight the ringpost!!
Roberts: Again—not pretty, but effective!
Catching his much-needed break, Carstein slumps down on the apron and pulls himself into the ring with the aid of the bottom rope. Similarly, Cain nurses his aching back upon impact and then falls forward onto hands and knees on the apron. Both men take a moment to collect themselves. Both men ultimately get back up at the same time and immediately launch right back into attack mode, slugging away at one another in the middle of the ring!
Jeffrey: I almost wanna say it's like 2014 all over again, but way too much has changed since then!
Roberts: No kidding! It almost feels unreal... never in a million years could I have imagined that we'd ever be rooting for a vengeful Carstein to rain hell down on a Cain that isn't even a shadow of the man he once was—or seemed to be, at least.
Jeffrey: Right?! I'd posit that we fell through a crack in the 4CWverse and now we're living in the Bizarro 4CW timeline, but you're still, y'know... you, so I guess this really is just ol' faithful!
Roberts: Thanks for that analysis, Ray.
Jeffrey: I'm a man of science, James. Sexy, sexy science!
The slug-fest grinds to a halt when each man catches the other with an equilibrium-breaking strike to the temple, rendering each other momentarily off-balance. Cain centres himself first and uses the opening to shoot Carstein off the ropes and take him for a ride with a big back body drop! Knowing he has to keep the pressure on, Cain pulls his pale rival back up and delivers a simple vertical suplex, further working on Carstein's aching back. True to form, Cain rolls his hips to one side, turning himself and his opponent over so he can rise up for another suplex. Carstein attempts to fight his way out of it, but Cain delivers a stiff body shot and completes the second suplex!
Roberts: Cain's going for his trifecta!
Jeffrey: Oh please, the ol' beastie has had that scouted for years by now!
Cain takes Carstein up for the third suplex, but Carstein indeed counters out of it, neatly setting himself down right behind (and facing) Cain's back! The second his feet hit the mat, Carstein puts on a waistlock and sends Cain flying with a release German suplex—Cain manages an over-rotation—lands on his feet—rushes Carstein—DRAGON RAGE—no! Carstein side-steps, leaving Cain to crash down on the canvas! Carstein quickly turns Cain over onto his chest, steps over his left leg and applies a rear facelock!
Jeffrey: Whew! What a turnover!
Roberts: Incredible stuff, and now we're getting a classic from Carstein's bag of tricks, the always punishing STF!
Jeffrey: This could be the one right here!
Cain reacts quickly upon being put in this submission hold, wisely using his arms to push up and forward, bringing himself roughly a foot-and-a-half nearer to the ropes he previously came in under. He then tries to claw his way yet closer, making slow progress as Carstein really cinches up on the submission. Nonetheless, Cain does eventually make it to the ropes. Finally getting to enjoy the perks of no DQs for himself, however, Carstein maintains the hold. Cain's eyes bug out of his head as he desperately tries to work out some means of escape.
Roberts: Cain is fading fast! If he can't escape this hold, he's gonna have to give it up!
At this point, Cain throws all instinct for self-preservation out the window and instead opts to swap ropes—and hands, in a manner of speaking: First, he releases his right hand from the bottom rope and grabs onto the middle rope, then he repeats this action with the left and pulls his arms inward, binding himself yet tighter in the facelock—but also forcing Carstein to readjust his lower body to keep Cain's leg bound properly. As Carstein does this, Cain feverishly flails about, throwing Carstein off course enough to drive his free heel between Carstein's legs, shutting the hold down altogether!! Cain catches all manner of hell from the crowd (and Scott Phoenix) for the low blow, but this of course only puts that shit-eating grin right back on his bloodstained face!
Jeffrey: Always has an answer to every little thing, doesn't he?
Roberts: .. Ray?
Jeffrey: Shut up, Roberts! Just call the damn match...
With Carstein incapacitated for the moment, Cain sprawls face-down on the canvas, trying to catch his breath. Once he succeeds in this endeavour, he tries to get back up with the aid of the ropes. Carstein spots this and shuts Cain down by springing forward and driving his forearm into the back of Cain's knee! Cain howls in pain and crumples back down onto the canvas, then hurriedly sets about trying to scramble out of the ring. Carstein is having none of this—he darts forward once more and throws all of his weight onto Cain's legs in an effort to stop him! This action, unsurprisingly, is met with even more desperate squirming and slithering from Cain. Fed up with this cowardice, The Vampire Warrior attempts to reel Cain in like the slippery little eel that he is, but Cain manages to get a hold of the apron's edge! Dragging Carstein along for the ride, Cain pulls himself further out of the ring, ending up dangling off the apron with his fingers touching the floor. This turns round in Cain's favour when he unwittingly lays fingers to his discarded chair! Realizing this, Cain greedily snatches the chair up, twists himself around and—with everything he has—bashes Carstein over the head with it!!!
Roberts: Oh, that's gotta be it for Carstein! No one's getting up from a shot like that!
Ditching the chair, Cain lets himself tumble relatively harmlessly to the floor, while Carstein is left slumping horribly on the ring apron, unmoving. A close-up of the chair reveals a formidable dent, though to be fair, that can probably be partly attributed to the earlier chair shots. After getting back up to a somewhat steady vertical base for the first time in minutes, Cain rolls himself back into the ring and doggedly hauls Carstein away from the ropes. Cain crawls into position for a decent pinfall, even hooking a leg in the process...
One...
Two...
Thr–!
Carstein's shoulder rolls so briefly off the mat before falling back to exactly where it was before, the referee has to get another count going straight away!
One...
Two...
Th-roll of the shoulder once more!
This time it's a bit more decisive; Carstein's shoulder remains off the canvas long enough for Cain to get frustrated, slapping away at the mat and getting on Anna's case about the speed of her count.
Jeffrey: Riddle me this, Roberts: How does throwing a shit-fit aid in putting one's opponents away?
Roberts: Uh—
Jeffrey: Exactly!
Fed up and desperate to finish Carstein off, Cain retrieves his new best friend from ringside and slams it down in the middle of the ring. He then picks Carstein up off the mat and sets him up for Avada Kedavra. Carstein tries to elbow his way out of it, but Cain shuts him down with a knee to the solar midsection! Cain re-readies himself, but right before he leaps back, Carstein manages to push the chair away with his foot, taking the impact of the C4 without landing on the steel insurance policy Cain had set up for himself! Unaware of this, Cain lazily pins Carstein, thinking he's got a 100% sure thing...
One...
Two...
Thr–no! Carstein digs down deep and kicks his way out of Cain's lackadaisical cover, throwing The Black Flame for a loop!
Jeffrey: Ha! Cain forgot he's not the only wily veteran in that ring. That's what he gets for being so cocksure!
Roberts: Nice ten-dollar word, there, Ray.
Jeffrey: And funny, too!
After another frustrated slap of the mat, Cain spots the chair lying nearby and pieces together what happened. With a bitter growl, Cain crosses the ring, picks up the chair and turns back around—Carstein is up! Cain receives a kick to the gut, dropping the chair upon impact! Carstein sets him up for the Blood Drinker, but Cain twists his way out of it and reels Carstein into a short-arm bicycle knee lift, stunning him! Cain ducks around Carstein, snatches up the chair and drives the top end of it into Carstein's back! Seizing the moment, Cain tosses the chair aside and takes off back the way he came. The Black Flame bounds off the ropes, leaps into the air and mows Carstein down with the Dragon Rage!!! Cain crawls into a cover...
One...
Two....
Three!!!
Carson: Carstein has been eliminated; only captains remain. Next fall wins it all!
When the elimination-and-exit process begins, Cain retrieves his dented-up chair, sits himself down in a corner and does absolutely nothing, focused simply on recuperating. Across the way, Scott Phoenix uses every second of the cell being raised to be closer to his daughter, if only in the literal. Meanwhile, the crowd is still taking in all that's just happened, while at the same time buzzing over just what manner of chaos is about to unfold. Finally, Scot exits and the cell lowers for the last time tonight.
Jeffrey: Well, this is it, Roberts. The calm before the storm. Any minute now, we're gonna get at least a handful of answers to the question, "What's the worst that could happen?!"
Roberts: I'll wager you're just about spot-on with that call. If you made it this far, folks, you may be all well and good, but at this stage I'd be remiss in not saying this really won't be for the faint of heart, folks!
Mere seconds after Roberts makes the latter statement, it's proven to be a pertinent one.
Roberts: Oh, man...
When Madeline Phoenix finally gets back up off the floor, she looks like she's been in a car wreck. In the time since Moxie socked her in the face, Madeline's left eye has swollen half shut and become encircled by a dark purple bruise. This damage being clearly visible is a testament to just how nasty it is, as Madeline's face is caked in a mixture of dried and drying blood from forehead to chin, forming a macabre mosaic of dark red upon her already altered visage.
Jeffrey: Jesus, it's like we're seeing the aftermath of Cain's attack at War II all over again!
The one reassuring thing in Madeline's appearance is that the gash above her brow has already been hastily sealed with skin glue, courtesy of ever-helpful Anna Molly. More to the overall point, she's on her feet and has her eyes—or eye, at least—trained on Cain. Every fan in the stands is either on their feet in anticipation, or missing out!
Roberts: Wow! Can you feel the electricity in the air, Ray?!
Jeffrey: Hmm. Yeah, I think I can! Is that a wiring issue, or atmospheric, or..?
*Roberts chuckles lightly*
Roberts: Thanks, I needed that, Ray.
Jeffrey: Needed what? *Ray's headset crackles and sparks*
Roberts: What the hell?! Unplug that thing and use the spare!
With a bit of a limp along the way, Phoenix takes a few steps toward the ring apron. Cain neatly pulls himself with the aid of the top rope, rising from the mat in one smooth motion. Once he's vertical again, Cain picks up his chair and heads to the middle of the ring, never taking his eyes off his target—who falls to hands and knees on her next step!
*Jeffrey swaps headsets*
Jeffrey: Damn. She already out of it before she can get back into it, huh?
Roberts: Hate to say it but it looks that way.
Cain takes a moment to register what's just happened; once he does, however, the bastard grins that awful grin and saunters across the ring. Practically salivating in anticipation of doing further damage, Cain steps out through the ropes and is met with a dropkick that knocks his chair back into his own face!! Cain slumps sidelong, upper body teetering on the middle rope. This unintentional balancing act is much more short-lived than Fischer's was earlier, and Cain flops insensibly onto the apron! Even the chair has a hard time of it, as the frame is now in a totally different place than the seat! This shocking turnabout has Scott Phoenix and roughly 20,000 other people absolutely over the moon!
Jeffrey: WOOHOOHOO!! Phoenix Junior has some possum blood in her too!
Roberts: I thought she was done for! Really can't ever count a phoenix out, huh, Ray?
*Ray isn't listening.*
Jeffrey: Oh no! My mind's eye has created the most terrible hybrid of real marsupial and fictional avian ever! Damn this beautiful brain!
Madeline tosses the wrecked chair rounds the nearby ringpost and slides partway into the ring and stays down—a position from which she can haul Cain toward the corner by his right leg and arm. The Mad Phoenix slides back down fully to ringside, pulls Cain's legs in tight around the post and hooks him up in a suspended figure-four leglock!!!
Roberts: Oh this is a real nasty hold, one that doles out so much punishment!
Cain is in a world of hurt, being stretched out and strained in joints and muscles he didn't even know he had! With nowhere to go, Cain finds himself trapped until eventually, from simply being dizzy and tired rather than merciful, Phoenix relinquishes the hold and takes a breather on the ringside floor! In the ring, Cain crawls away from the corner and tends to his aching legs and ankle. The second Madeline is done with her short break, she slides into the ring and approaches Cain, whose attempt to scramble back up off the mat is thrown off by the work Maddie put in just a minute ago. Nonetheless, Cain manages to shove Phoenix away, throwing her slightly off-balance for a moment. She recovers her balance before Cain can do the same, planting her feet firmly on the mat. Madeline quickly closes the distance between herself and her rival, sidestepping a wild punch along the way and punishing Cain with a stiff shoot kick to the thigh! He doesn't go down as expected, so Madeline lays into him with a couple more of these, then takes to the ropes to garner more momentum and knock Cain down with a low dropkick that connects with his upper calf!
Roberts: Madeline Phoenix jumped back into the action with quite the gameplan, it seems!
Jeffrey: Yeah—cut the little bastard even further down to size!
Madeline moves quickly, looking to follow this up with a more traditional figure-four leglock in the middle of the ring, but Cain boots her away with his free leg when she twists round with the other. This throws her off-balance just long enough for Cain to dive at her heels and pull her legs out from under her. With Phoenix prone on the canvas, Cain climbs over her by way of a mat wrestling transition, bringing himself up and around so that he's now in front of her. Here, he grabs two fistfuls of hair and gets his feet back under him, pulling Madeline up with him. Anna Molly doesn't like this one bit, but there's nothing she can do but verbalize this. Keeping controlling of Phoenix's head, Cain drags her to the nearest corner and fires off a hard knife-edge chop that buckles his opponent. Cain straightens her back up and lays into her with another ruthless chop, then props her up on the top turnbuckle.
Roberts: I don't even want to think what Cain might have in mind here!
Rather than following Phoenix up the ropes, Cain takes off in the opposite direction—a little slower and more akwardly than usual, but pretty fast nonetheless. When he reaches the other side of the ring, he grinds to a stop, runs back the other way and steps up off the ropes, stinging the Mad Phoenix with a slick enzuigiri!! Cain tumbles back down to the mat and nurses his ankle, while Madeline drunkenly slumps to one side and falls onto the apron!
Jeffrey: What an idiot! Oh sure—great move—but not a smart one for a man whose skinny little chicken legs have been tenderized and battered!
Roberts: From one angle, sure, but it may pay off for him in the grand scheme of things. You should know well by now that neither of these competitors is the sort to pass up a golden opportunity, no matter the risk!
Cain carefully pulls himself back up onto his fee with the help of the ring ropes. He stands with a slight limp and staggers over to where Madeline has ended up, then proceeds to haul her up by head and hair yet again. Cain takes her back in over the ropes with a big vertical suplex, then rolls his hips and swings his legs out just as he did earlier with Carstein. For the second suplex, Cain uses a slightly differet approach, taking Phoenix up and over with a snap suplex, perhaps to reduce Madeline's chances of countering him. When Cain takes Phoenix up the third (and presumably final) suplex, he utilizes another modifier by slingshotting Phoenix's legs off the top rope, slamming her into the mat with extra velocity! After this grueling trilogy of suplexes, Cain decides he's still not done and rolls himself backward over Madeline, dragging her back up with him and deadlifting her high up into the air! As has become Madeline's custom, Cain keeps her held up in the air a while before falling forward, driving her face-down into the canvas with a devastating Gourdbuster!
Roberts: Well that's a new one! Good lord, Phoenix might be done for!
Cain shoots the half, then hooks up the far leg for good measure...
One...
Two...
Th–no!
Madeline Phoenix just barely manages to keep herself in this match!
Jeffrey: No way she can take many more hits like that, I don't care how tough you are. Hate to say it, but there comes a point where you just can't get back up.
Cain is visibly frustrated, but doesn't let it hinder him. With all the tender love and care of a cat with a mouse, The Black Flame forces his prey up onto her knees. Madeline's head lolls back, and her eyes stare up, unperceiving, at the ceiling above. Cain takes a few measured steps back, turns sidelong and delivers a superkick.. to the thin air where Madeline's head should be!
Roberts: Nice evasion!
Cain goes off-balance in the process, and Phoenix rolls Cain up from behind!
One...
Two–Cain pushes Maddie off him at the count of two! Undeterred, she uses this momentum to continue on toward the far ropes. Madeline Phoenix rebounds off, sprints at Cain, springs into the air and latches onto his shoulders, pulling him up and over with a running monkey flip! Hurting but fired up, both athletes scramble to get up and manage to do so at about the same time. Cain tries to rush Madeline with a clothesline, but she simultaneously ducks and sidesteps to the left, hooking his outstretched right arm with her left. Phoenix then wraps her right arm around Cain's waist while also wrapping her right foot round his right ankle, then rolls herself forward, dragging Cain along for the ride and the pinning combination!
One...
Two...
Th–kick-out!
Jeffrey: Clever little trap right there, thought she might've had it!
Roberts: That's a Japanese classic, the Gannosuke Clutch, innovated by the legendary Mr. Gannosuke. Before tonight, I couldn't even tell you the last time I saw that move in a 4CW ring!
Again, the two competitors hurry back to their feet. Cain is slightly off-balance when he gets back up, but in this instance he manages to turn it in his favour, throwing himself into a hard forearm smash that knocks Phoenix on her ass! Cain then sends himself bouncing off the ropes and comes back with a running knee lift—Phoenix drops herself flat to the mat—Cain takes a half-second too long to readjust—schoolboy!—Cain rolls through it and throws a wild kick—Madeline evades again, rolls to the side and kicks Cain right in the shin!
Roberts: Both athletes are on their second wind here!
Jeffrey: And the big question is, who's gonna gain the upper hand?!
Cain yelps and drops to one knee. Madeline takes off in the opposite direction, bounces back and leaves her feet for a crossbody, but Cain catches her in mid-air! Phoenix is hoisted up higher, right across Cain's chest, but elbows her way out of it and grabs hold of Cain's left arm as she regains her footing on the canvas. Before Cain even knows what's happening, The Mad Phoenix wraps Cain's arm around his own neck and leaps to the side, pulling Cain violently down to the canvas with the String Cutter!
Roberts: There's some impact for ya! Shades of William Regal on that one.
Jeffrey: I guess this answers my question about gaining the upper hand!
Madeline Phoenix rolls herself out to the apron and hauls herself vertical using the ropes, then sets about the laborious task of getting her tired, beaten body up to the top rope!
Jeffrey: Maddie's gonna put the kibosh on this match right now!
Madeline has some trouble steadying herself as she tries to plant her feet on the top rope. This turns out to be just the start of her problems, as Cain manages to get himself up off the mat well enough to drunkenly throw himself at the ring ropes, smacking down on them with both arms—an action that throws Madeline's already poor balance off altogether, causing her to end up crotched on the top turnbuckle! Cain catches glorious hell from the crowd, but he isn't even registering any such noise at this point. In a haze, the villain drags himself over to the corner and makes a tired ascent of his own. Gingerly planting his feet on the middle rope, Cain grabs Madeline Phoenix by the sides of her head and brings his face close to hers. For a long moment, he just sits there, eyes trained on his chosen nemesis' face—the chapped lips; the swollen eye and cheek; all beneath a pattern of caked-on blood and matted strands of dark hair. Cain himself isn't looking much better, frankly—his face and arms are peppered with little cuts and scrapes, each one surrounded by splotches or trails of dried blood.
Jeffrey: The hell is wrong with him now?! One loose screw too many, at long last?
Roberts: I don't know, but I don't like this one bit.
Something changes in Cain's eyes; he seems to be both far away and entirely present at the exact same time. Then, like an ill omen, that godforsaken smirk creeps over his face once more. And with that, the bastard Cain leans as forward as possible (forcing Madeline to lean back, in turn) and bashes Scott Phoenix's only daughter spine-first onto the top of the ring post!!!
For a long moment, the only sound is one of uanimous rage and disgust from the Q Arena audience. Cain steps back down onto the mat and heads to the middle of the ring, making it a point to take this all in, savouring every second—especially when he hears Scott Phoenix's horrified voice shouting out from just outside the cell. Grinning from ear to ear, the scourge of 4CW hops down to ringside to mock Madeline's long-estranged father, getting close enough to be heard by Scott at speaking volume, but keeping himself just a hand's length away from Scott's desperately grasping fingers. Both Ray Jeffrey and James Roberts quickly tire of this sickening scene and head over to stand with Scott, who's utterly inconsolable at this juncture. Scott points his friends back toward the commentary desk, but before they go, Ray directs some of his energy and voice at Cain himself. Cain, of course, ignores this and instead remains totally honed in on Scott Phoenix. Through all the crowd noise, only one phrase is clearly audible, and it comes from The Black Flame himself:
Cain: LET'S SEE IF LITTLE MADDIE PHOENIX CAN REALLY FLY!!
Cain quickly grows bored of this and decides to take a stroll around ringside, stopping when he gets near to where Madeline Phoenix is, still laid out precariously over the turnbuckle and ring post. Here, Cain slides back into the ring and climbs up onto the middle rope. Here, he pulls Maddie up into a seated position and takes her head in his hands once more, staring at his favourite dumping ground for all his hate and anger. Practically shaking with rage, Cain lets go of Madeline's head and climbs the rest of the way up to the top rope, then reaches down and grabs Madeline again, pulling her up to his height and setting her up for Avada Kedavra! Cain gets his balance right, bends at the knees and receives a desperation headbutt to the forehead!! It becomes immediately obvious that Madeline has re-opened the gash on her forehead, but with this one move, Madeline Phoenix manages to break free and slip down between her enemy's legs, dropping herself awkwardly back down onto the mat. The second she sets foot to canvas, Phoenix whirls around and pushes Cain's legs out from under him, forcing him into a seated position on the top rope! Madeline takes a moment to gather herself, desperately trying to piece together a plan of action in her undoubtedly concussed brain. Taking a deep breath and mustering every last bit of brain power she can, Madeline Phoenix works out exactly what to do next. First, she takes herself on a trip up to the top rope, warily climbing up behind Cain. He throws a desperate elbow back at her, but Maddie manages to avoid this, then hammers away at the back of Cain's head for good measure. Setting up for something big, Madeline braces herself against Cain's upper back using her hands, making sure her balance is okay. She then performs a short vertical leap, hooks her feet and ankles around/under Cain's armpits... and The Mad Phoenix throws all of her upper body weight backward, forcing a rotation that brings Cain crashing down onto the back of his neck!!!
James Roberts and Ray Jeffrey is back at the desk just in time to make the call!
Roberts: VICTORY! STAR! DROP!!!
Jeffrey: WOOOHOOOHOOOOOO!!! By which I really mean to say, "Geez, I sure hope he didn't break his fucking neck during 'LITTLE MADDIE PHOENIX'S' FIRST REAL FLIGHT, BAY-BEEEE!!!"
Roberts: It's academic at this point, folks!
Madeline Phoenix's unintentional double-leg nelson falls apart upon impact, as she ends up in a heap of folded limbs and torsos with her unmoving adversary, so she instead rolls herself to one side and drapes an arm over his chest...
One...
Two...
THREE!!!
DING-DING-DING!
Roberts: And there it is!!
"Nocturnal Strains" takes over the PA system once more, and the stage is soon flooded with Madeline's co-victors, who all head down to the ring and slide in as the cell rises all the way back up to the rafters! Scott Phoenix, overwhelmed with emotion, does the same.
Carson: Your winners of this year's WAR match: Madeline Phoenix; Tsukiko Mizuno; Oki-Kira; Carstein; and Witch Hazel... THE ORDER OF THE PHOEEEEENIIIIIX!
Lying on the canvas in a small pool of her own blood, Maddie Phoenix doesn't look like the go-to mental image of a winner. But with her father raising her hand in victory, her teammates joining her side (and casually flinging Cain out of the ring to properly get at her), and 20,000 strong cheering "PHOE-NIX, PHOE-NIX" in the stands, The Mad Phoenix knows full well that right now, she's on top of the world!
Jeffrey: Well how d'ya like that, James?! Not for nothing, this may have been the single most hellacious and emotional War match in 4CW history! Now it's over, and the outcome has me full of adrenaline, joy and pride in equal measure! WOOOO!!
Roberts: Hear, hear, Ray! *ahem* I want to give a sincere thank you to all the fans who joined us at home for this spectacular event, and we hope to see you all again, safe and sound, in 2020! Goodnight, and have a very happy new year!!
Quick Results
-The Janiturs defeated The Supergroup in a Destruction of the Decade match
-Phil McGroin defeated Tommy Young (c) in an Ultimate X match to win the 4CW Custom Cup Championship
-Pilgrim Paige defeated Supreme (c) to win the 4CW Universal Championship
-Jack Valentine (c) defeated Brian White and Elfan Simtul to retain the 4CW World Championship
-The Order of the Phoenix (Madeline Phoenix, Witch Hazel, Tsukiko Mizuno & Oki Kira) & Carstein defeated The Black Flame (Rhys Cain, Erica Moxie, Garret Fischer, Bruce RIgg and Zephyris) in the WAR match
Writing Credit
-Destruction of the Decade: Rhys (with input from Senecca/RD)
-End of Year Awards: Rhys
-Young vs McGroin: Gorgrim
-Supreme vs Paige: LHeat
-Carstein vignette: Compy
-Valentine vs Simtul vs White: Stingmon
-War match: Paige (Rhys helped a little)
Review Sheet:
-Destruction of the Decade:
-End of Year Awards:
-Young vs McGroin:
-Supreme vs Paige:
-Carstein vignette:
-Valentine vs Simtul vs White:
-War match:
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Thanks Taker_2004 for the banner!