The camera goes inside the locker room of Dr. Zeus. He seems to be comforting John Doe when Ramparte walks in and kneels before him.
Ramparte: I hope I have pleased you master.
Zeus: Though defeat suffered our brother
Your win has given rise to another
Now I will dispatch Theron the fool
And show that our darkness will rule
Zeus then stares into the camera, causing the cameraman to quickly back out of the room.
-----------------------------------
Harrys: Ladies and gentlemen, this is your co-main event for the evening!
*DING*DING*
Harrys: This match is an eight man elimination match! The captain of the winning team will go on to compete for the WZCW World Title at Gold Rush!
[YOUTUBE]pc2GXtwnxJU[/YOUTUBE]
As the music blares through the arena, Team Kickass makes their way down the ramp, high-fiving the fans, before circling the ring, hugging some fans and posing for selfies with some fan signs. Mikey even gets a hot dog from a fan that disappears in two bites. They enter the ring, high-fiving and fist-bumping each other.
Copeland: Team Kickass looks focused, but they are short a man, after that vicious assault on Gino earlier. I, along with my broadcast colleagues, wish him the best, and we hope to see him back quickly!
Cohen: Speak for yourself, Seabass. Gino knows better than to mistreat a legend like Holmes, and he got what was coming to him. Mikey sure packed together a rag tag team here, and I'd bet money we're in for a quick match here.
Connor: A rag tag bunch they may be, but Vee and Mikey have been very hot lately, and M is no slouch himself. And how do we know they're down a man? I'm sure there's a number of guys in the back that would jump at the opportunity to help Mikey out.
[YOUTUBE]mCYfw2CyUdA[/YOUTUBE]
The lights dim as three members of Team Constantine enter onto the stage. Kagura and Abel stand beside their team captain, Steven Holmes trailing behind them. As the music picks up, they make their way to the ring, noticeable less social than their opponents. They enter the ring, and immediately all six competitors are face-to-face.
Connor: Certainly a tense moment here! I have to ask, Jack, where the fourth member is on Constantine's team? Did he get cold feet?
Cohen: I don't know why you'd ask me, as if I'd have insider info, but I assure you that Constantine did not come into this match with just two partners. His fourth man will be here any moment, I'm sure.
Copeland: They certainly look prepared, and ready for a brawl. I cannot wait to see what happens. Let's go to Truman Harrys with the match introductions.
Harrys: To my left, the team of "The Maleficent" M! Vee A.D.Z.! And the captain of Team Kickass...MIKEY! STORMRAGE!
Each of the men raise their hand, receiving cheers from the crowd as their names are read. They never break eye contact with their counterparts.
Harrys: And to my right, accompanied by Steven Holmes...Abel Hunnicutt! Kagura Daikonran! And their captain...CONSTANTINE!
Their actions are much more muted, barely acknowledging the reading of their names; also staring eye-to-eye with their opponents.
The jawing and trash talk quickly begins, with all six competitors now chest-to-chest, screaming at the wrestler across from them. Kagura flinches first, nailing Vee square in the jaw with a loud right hand! M opens up on Abel with an elbow to the bridge of the nose, drawing first blood, but Abel smiles in return and grabs M by the throat, throwing him over the top rope, and following him to the floor. Vee and Kagura hit the mat, tumbling over each other as fists fly, but Mikey and Constantine stand silently in the ring, visibly shaking with built up fury, but neither man moving a muscle towards the other. As chaos erupts around them, they maintain rigidity, but the referee has already called for assistance at ringside as he attempts to pry Abel off of M. M is on his back in full guard, connecting with an endless stream of rabbit punches while Abel repeatedly picks him up and slams him into the mats. Kagura and Vee roll under the bottom rope, crashing to the floor, but nothing can stop their rage as fists fly, drawing blood from both competitors as the referees and stagehands try to pry them off each other.
As the madness hits a fever pitch, Constantine finally breaks form, and releases a right hand, but Mikey catches it! He swings with a right of his own, knocking Constantine backwards! Mikey tackles him to the mat, and starts laying hammerfist after hammerfist to the Power Trip's face!
Cohen: This is total insanity! The referees need to gain some control out here, or throw away the match!
Copeland: Throw the match out? And not have a title match at Gold Rush? Now you're just talking crazy! And let me remind you, Kagura is the one that started this!
The referee sees Mikey and Constantine brawling in the ring, and slides under the bottom rope, immediately diving between the two big men to separate them, but gets tossed aside as Mikey pulls Constantine to his feet and immediately crushes him with a Game Over! Mikey falls on top of Constantine again, grinding his forearm into his opponent's face!
[YOUTUBE]eMqsWc8muj8[/YOUTUBE]
Connor: Oh my! It's Blade!
Cohen: I told you Constantine had a fourth member!
Copeland: For the second time tonight, we have a handicap match! What's going on around here?
Blade races to the ring and dives under the bottom rope, just as Mikey is getting to his feet to meet him. Blade crushes him with a Blade Runner! With Mikey flat on the mat, Blade rolls out of the ring, and collects Abel and Kagura, urging them to the apron, allowing the referee to finally ring the bell!
**DING**DING**DING**
The referee immediately starts counting both men down as Constantine wipes blood from his nose, and Mikey is immobilized by Blade's sneak attack.
1! 2! 3! 4!
Vee and M finally collect themselves, and get to the apron, screaming for Mikey to get up. Abel, Blade, and Kagura do the same for Constantine.
5! 6!
Mikey and Constantine are both on their knees, staring daggers through each other. The ref ends his count as Mikey gets to his feet a second before Constantine. He charges, driving a shoulder into his mid-section, pushing him straight back into the corner, but Abel is waiting and clubs him in the back with a forearm, before tagging himself in.
Constantine hits the mat, and rolls outside, collecting himself, as Abel steps over the top rope and stands over Mikey's body, blood dripping from his mouth, landing on Mikey below. As Mikey gets to a knee, Abel grabs a handful of hair, dragging him to his feet, and just as easily flings him into Team Kickass's corner. He points at M, and motions for him to get in the ring. Mikey barely lifts his hand, allowing M to make the tag. He leaps over the top rope, and comes face-to-chest with Abel in the middle of the ring. Abel wipes the blood from his mouth, and stares at his hand, before slapping M across the face with that same hand, splattering him with blood. As M stumbles backward, leaning off the ropes and bouncing back with a standing moonsault that barely moves the much larger Hunnicutt. Abel picks him up off the mat, palming his head, before landing a headbutt to the bridge of the nose that covers M in his own blood as it pours out onto the canvas. Abel stands over the supervillain, admiring his handiwork, before kicking him in the ribs, sending him back to his team's corner. He points at Vee, calling for his next victim.
Vee tags himself in, and slowly steps through the ropes, looking into the eyes-gone-wide on Abel's face. Abel nods, using a single finger to motion for Vee to bring the fight. Vee attempts a single leg takedown, but Abel just stands over him, laughing, as the smaller MMA specialist tries with all his might to lift the leg. Abel grabs an arm, pulling Vee to an upright position, but drives him to the mat with an STO!
Cohen: This is a thing of beauty, watching Abel just dismantle Team Kickass, isn't it? They don't have any answer for this much larger monster of a man!
Connor: I hate to admit it, but as long as Abel is upright, Team Kickass literally faces an uphill battle if they want to win this contest!
Abel strokes his beard, before spitting a spot of blood on Vee's chest. He plants his boot into his chest, and steps over him, heading to his own corner, where he tags in Kagura. Kagura bows softly to Abel, before entering the ring, and immediately going for a pin!
1...2...REVERSAL!
Vee rolls Kagura into a small package!
1...2...KICKOUT!
Kagura and Vee both jump to their feet, and this time Kagura attempts the single leg takedown, driving Vee into the ropes! The referee separates the two, but Kagura denies the clean break, delivering a throat thrust to Vee! Vee clutches at his throat, gasping for air, dropping to a knee! As the ref pushes Kagura away, Vee manages to get back to his feet, surprising Kagura with a Mawashi Geri! Kagura tumbles to the mat like a ton of bricks! Vee goes for the cover!
1...2.SAVED BY BLADE!
Blade stomps on Vee's head, breaking the pin, allowing Kagura to roll over her opponent!
1...2...3!
Harrys: Vee A.D.Z. has been eliminated!
Connor: Oh no! Now what are they going to do? This tall order just got taller!
Copeland: Now would be a hell of a time for Mikey's new fourth man to make his way to ringside!
Cohen: There is no fourth man, you dolt! Get it through your head! Constantine is one step closer to his shot at redemption!
Vee is barely able to roll under the bottom rope, but M is back in the ring, bringing the fight to Kagura as the two exchange highly animated elbows, punches, thrusts, and chops! M gets the better of his smaller opponent, Irish whipping her into his team's corner! He chases after her, delivering a lifting knee to her back, knocking her to the canvas as she takes a seated position in the corner. He sees the opening and sets up a Mega M Kick! After some theatrics, his kick connects, crushing Kagura's ample bosom! She lies motionless on the mat, coughing and trying to catch her breath, spitting out a smear of blood as M showboats to the crowd.
Kagura struggles back to a seated position, but M maintains control with a choking Thesz press! The hold is broken before the ref can start his count, and M hooks the leg behind his back!
1...EASY KICKOUT!
Copeland: M got a little too cocky there, and those are the mistakes you cannot make in a match like this!
M allows Kagura to get to her feet, and attempts an Irish Whip, but Kagura reverses it, instead sending M into Team Constantine's corner! M recognizes his predicament, and starts madly delivering elbows to his opponents, clearing the way for him to leap to the top turnbuckle, and escape their clutches with a crossbody, pinning Kagura under him as he hooks the leg, pulling the tights!
1...2...3!
Harrys: Kagura Daikonran has been eliminated!
Cohen: What a surprise, and such dirty tactics on M's behalf! What kind of team is this that Mikey put together!
Connor: I don't blame M for trying to even up the odds! And Mikey knew exactly what kind of character he was bringing to his team, when he selected M!
Before M can rise to his feet, Blade is on the top rope, smiling, as he is the only wrestler not currently dripping blood. He clears half the ring, slamming onto the supervillain with a frog splash! He hooks the leg!
1...2.SHOULDER'S UP!
M nips up as Blade leaps to his feet and the two men are eye to eye before M makes the first move, hitting an STO of his own! He keeps the pressure on, hitting a pair of standing moonsaults, before ascending the turnbuckles and landing on Blade with a Mega M Flip! Blade kicks out easily of a pin attempt, rolling into the ropes to force M to back off. The ref urges Blade to a standing position, and the two men instantly lock in a collar and elbow tie up, with neither man gaining an advantage. Another has no effect as well, and Blade lets his frustration out by surprising M with a "Double A" spinebuster! M rolls him over, and gets to his feet, planting his boot to Blade's forehead, knocking him backward through the ropes. M runs off the far ropes, and dives through the middle ropes with a suicide dive onto Blade! The two men exchange a flurry of punches up the ramp as the referee counts!
1! 2! 3! 4! 5!
Mikey, Abel, and Constantine all rush to their partner's aid, respectively, and another brawl ensues! The referees are out almost instantly trying to restore order as Abel yanks M off of Blade and tosses him aside, just a moment before Mikey knocks Abel off his feet with a Falcon Punch!! Blade finds M again, and whips him into the ring apron, and charges after him with a clotheslines, but M ducks and Blade crashes into the apron himself! Mikey and Constantine exchange a glare, but return to their corners as Holmes converses with Abel on the ramp, before getting him to return to his corner.
M scoops up Blade, rolling him into the ring. With Blade face down on the mat, M falls on top of him, and locks in the
M Special! Blade frantically tries to escape the hold, but every movement locks the hold in deeper! He spins on top of M, but the hold will not be broken!
Copeland: Is this it for Blade's return? Is he going to submit? The M Special is a nearly inescapable submission hold!
Connor: If M can make Blade tap here, the teams will be even up at two apiece!
As she says it, Blade frantically taps as his face takes on a shade of purple!
Harrys: Blade has been eliminated!
M breaks the hold, allowing Blade to fall off of him. Before the ref can check on Blade, or get him out of the ring, Abel grabs Blade around the waist, and drops him through the ropes, turning and setting his sights on the supervillain. M hastily rolls away, using the far ropes to get to his feet, but Abel caves his face in with a Big Boot, sending him toppling over the top rope!
1! 2! 3!
M is face down on the mat, not showing any signs of life as blood pours from a fresh gash on his head. Abel stands over the ropes, stroking his beard as his eyes go mad, admiring his handiwork. Constantine also manages a smile, as does Holmes on the outside.
4! 5! 6!
M is still not moving, seemingly in defiance of Mikey's cheering him on.
7! 8!
Mikey has leapt off the apron, and is shaking M, but to no avail.
9! 10!
Harrys: M has been eliminated!
Cohen: What was that, about the teams being even, Cat?
Connor: Mikey still has an ace in the hole. He has to! He would not have come out here to face this team four-on-three! Not with a title match on the line!
Mikey stares up at Abel, his face turning red with pure rage. He leaves M on the outside, and rolls through the ropes, but is barely to a knee before Abel drives a knee into his neck, sending him back to the mat. Abel wipes more blood from his mouth, and repeatedly slaps Mikey on the back with an open palm, tattooing him with red handprints. Abel grabs Mikey's hair, and pulls him to his knees, where Mikey responds with a flurry of ineffective punches to the gut!
Abel drops Mikey, and walks away, turning his back on the big man! Mikey angrily gets to his feet, and charges at Abel, but is leveled with a Big Boot! Mikey hits the mat in a heap as the referee starts his count!
1! 2! 3!
Cohen: This is just about over! Abel is an absolute force, and the rest of the roster needs to be on watch!
Mikey is stirring, but not close yet to being to his knees.
Copeland: Mikey isn't dead yet! C'mon, Mikey!
MI-KEY! MI-KEY! MI-KEY!
MI-KEY! MI-KEY! MI-KEY!
MI-KEY! MI-KEY! MI-KEY!
MI-KEY! MI-KEY! MI-KEY!
MI-KEY! MI-KEY! MI-KEY!
7! 8!
Mikey grabs the ropes, getting to a knee!
[YOUTUBE]OmND5_zHUD4[/YOUTUBE]
Copeland: OH MY GOD! IT'S MATT TASTIC!
Connor: LIVE MAS RIDES AGAIN!
Cohen: OH NO!
Matt Tastic races to the ring, jumping to the apron, and tagging the outstretched hand of Mikey! Tastic rushes through the ropes and charges Abel, ducking a hard lariat, and springboarding off the ropes with a
Screw Attack! Abel is to a knee! Tastic charges again, and blocks a punch from Abel, reversing it into a Charge Shot! The final punch to the gut knocks Abel off his feet, and Tastic goes for the pin! He has the legs hooked!
1...2...3!
Harrys: Abel Hunnicutt has been eliminated!
Cohen: How can a man that's not even in the match eliminate someone? This is bogus! Mr. Banks will be hearing from Holmes, I'm sure! This is ludicrous!
Copeland: We knew there had to be a fourth man! Did Mikey know Tastic was coming? Or did Tastic understand the direness of the situation, and make the decision on his own?
Connor: Either way, Constantine must now face Live Mas all by himself!
LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS!
LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS!
LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS!
LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS!
LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS! LIVE MAS!
Abel reluctantly rolls out of the ring, meeting with Holmes at ringside, before the two slowly leave. Abel is much more restrained, but Holmes is infuriated, screaming at the top of his lungs at Mikey, Matt, and the referee!
Constantine steps through the ropes, eyeing his fresh opponent from across the ring. Matt stands with his hands on his knees, ready to fight the former politician as Mikey watches from the apron, stomping his foot and clapping with the crowd. Constantine nods slowly, acknowledging the camaraderie of his opponents.
Suddenly, he charges at Tastic, but Tastic sidesteps him, slamming his face into the turnbuckle. He turns him around and mounts the turnbuckles, raining fists down on Constantine's face!
UNO! DOS! TRES! QUATRO! CINCO! SEIS! SIETE! OCHO! NUEVE! DIES!
Tastic jumps down, letting loose a primal scream as Constantine stumbles out of the corner! Mikey and the crowd are full behind him as he leans into the ropes, sizing up Constantine, but he falls forward to the mat, completely motionless! Holmes is outside the ring, smiling a wicked smile, clutching his cane in his grip!
Copeland: Did he do what I think he did?
Connor: He just knocked Tastic out cold with his cane! I didn't see it, but what else could it have been? What a sore loser he is!
Constantine drops to his knees, and rolls over Matt's lifeless body, and collapsing over him, lacking the energy needed to even hook the leg.
1...2...3!
Harrys: Matt Tastic has been eliminated!
Cohen: Serves him right!
Constantine pulls himself up, sitting back on his heels, as he pushes Matt under the ropes, letting him fall to the floor. Mikey screams from the apron, and jumps to his friend's aid, cradling his head in his hands as he fights back tears. A medic hurries to ringside just as Tastic starts to come around. With Mikey's help, he gets to his feet, and calls off any assistance. He grabs the back of his head, stretching his neck, trying to ease the pain. He looks around, trying to gather himself, and spots Holmes walking through the curtain at the top of the ramp. He gives chase, leaving Mikey alone.
Mikey turns slowly, his eyes blood red, burning a hole in Constantine. Constantine backs away from Mikey, giving him space to get in the ring. Slowly, Mikey grabs the middle rope, pulling a knee to the apron, and then the other. He steps through the ropes, never breaking his gaze from the Power Trip. Constantine awaits him in the middle of the ring, and attempts to greet him with an overhead right, but Mikey ducks, firing off a series of his own! Constantine is reeling, but won't go down as Mikey starts frantically mixing in left hands as well! Mikey crosses his arms, thrusting his forearms into Constantine's throat, taking him off his feet! Mikey drops down on top of him, and continues the barrage, but Constantine covers up, blocking the hardest of the blows! Constantine manages to grab a hold of Mikey's shoulders, tumbling over on top of him, and beginning an all out assault of his own!
Both men are swinging wildly as the blood streaks across the ring from both men! Mikey gets his feet up, and shoves Constantine backwards, momentarily stopping the attack! As he gets to his knees, both men begin firing off right hands again as they both move to a vertical base!
Copeland: This wrestling match has clearly devolved into an all out blood feud, right before our eyes!
Cohen: Mikey has taken a hell of a beating though! I don't see how he can keep up with a slightly fresher Constantine!
Constantine attempts to hook in a DDT, but Mikey rushes him backwards, driving him into the turnbuckle, where he begins laying in knife edge chops to Constantine's chest! Constantine has had enough, and uses the corner as leverage to deliver a driving straight kick to Mikey's face, forcing him back! Mikey tries to rush back in, but is leveled with an exploding lariat out of the corner by Constantine! Constantine drops to a knee, watching as the blood leaks from his own head as Mikey struggles to catch his breath on the mat below him. John continues the fight, dropping a quintet of elbows to the sternum, before going for the pin! The leg is hooked!
1...2...SHOULDER'S UP!
Constantine admonishes the ref, demanding a speedy count, and Mikey gets to his feet while he's not paying attention! Constantine turns around, and is dropped by a high dropkick from the big man! Constantine is out on the mat! Mikey is instantly to his feet, and lumbers into the corner, taking a breather as he watches his opponent on the mat, looking for signs of life. the ref starts his count!
1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6!
Constantine is able to sit up twice, but falls back each time.
Connor: What is Mikey doing?
Mikey starts to climb the turnbuckles! He gets to the top, and points out to the crowd, acknowledging his fans, before leaping into the air, and flattening Constantine's already lifeless body with a picture perfect moonsault! The two foes lie next to each other; Mikey unable to make the cover!
Cohen: I think that took all Mikey had to pull that off! Now there's no way he can win!
1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7!
[YOUTUBE]MabuNr-wQkk[/YOUTUBE]
Copeland: It's Vance Bateman!
Bateman stands at the top of the ramp as the ref stops his count, and the crowd falls silent.
Bateman: No! No no no no! This is not how this co-main event is going to end!
Constantine and Mikey still lie motionless on the mat, either unable or unwilling to move.
Bateman: This match will continue, with no count outs, and no disqualifications. There must be a number one contender named for Gold Rush!
The crowd cheers, but neither man is moving still. The referee checks both men, looking back at Bateman with a puzzled look on his face, unsure of what to do.
Bateman: Fine! So be it! Since neither of you seem willing to grab the brass ring on your own...This match will be called as a draw, and Gold Rush's main event will be a Triple Threat match, featuring both Constantine and Mikey Stormrage, against the winner of tonight's championship match!
Bateman turns and leaves with a disgusted look on his face as the crowd roars to life with the news. Medics and referees race to the ring to check on the fall combatants.
Cohen: What an announcement that was! Mikey and John apparently both have earned a title shot tonight! But what does this mean for the rest of the members of this match?
Connor: I have no idea, but you have to wonder what kind of shape these men are in after this...this...this war! This is clearly not the kind of match where these men will appear on Meltdown or Ascension and be 100%!
-----------------------
Leon: I'm backstage with EurAsian Champion Titus Avison.
Titus looks a bit worse for wear but has a big smile on his face after that gruelling encounter.
Titus: You know Leon, before this match I heard a podcast, they were talking about me and one of them asked "What's next for Titus Avison? He's done it all."
Leon: That is a good question. What is next for Titus Avison?
Titus: What do you think Leon? What is next for the decorated Hall of Famer?
Leon: Surely you're throwing your name in the hat for Gold Rush?
Titus laughs a rather maniacal laugh. His beaten up body and sweat dripping from his brow makes this far worse than it should be.
Titus: Don't be so stupid Leon. The EurAsian is the top prize by default because I've shown the others what I can do. I have spoken to Becky and Vance and I will not be entering the Gold Rush Tournament. Why go for a prize that's secondary in my eyes? I'm going to do what the I've never done before.
Be a great champion.
Titus walks off leaving Leon looking rather perplexed.