We go backstage to the medical centre within the arena, where Garth Black is being checked over by a doctor of some sort. Black grimaces as the doctor pulls on his arm and then sets it back into a resting position.
Doctor: Well, you've been through the wars, that's for sure. I can't recommend making an appearance out there tonight. But you wrestlers are all the same, I guess. As far as things go, you're medically able to compete.
Black doesn't show any signs of happiness as he hops down off the table and away from the old man. Suddenly, Leon appears into shot; microphone in hand and camera man trailing.
Leon: Welcome backstage, ladies and gentlemen, where I am now joined by Garth Black. It's been a hectic few weeks for Black and last round he was brutally attacked by a mystery assailant.
Black gives Leon a disgusted look before grabbing the microphone from him. Garth breathes in an out deeply; seemingly raging with the interviewer.
Black: Mystery assailant? Are you kidding me, Leon? You know just as well as I do that it was Abel Hunnicut and Steven Holmes that carried out the attack on me last week. And I think that it's really convenient that it comes at the same time as I start opening my mouth about the injustice around here. Am I suggesting that WZCW Management are orchestrating these attacks because they don't want me to start some sort of uprising? We can't rule it out.
Leon, rather tiredly, reaches out for this microphone but Garth simply moves away from him and continues.
Black: All of those idiots in the locker room need to realise that I am not doing this for them. I'm not speaking my mind for a better tomorrow. I'm simply giving people the facts of the matter. And here is another fact for Steven Holmes and Abel Hunnicut. I am coming for you tonight and I will get my own back for what you did last round. Whatever your motivations were for the attack on Ascension, I guarantee that you will pay for them dearly.
With that, Black turns around and throws the microphone towards Leon before walking off in the opposite direction.
* * * * * *
Anderson: This match is a Fatal Fourway Elimination Match! The participants will enter the King For A Day match at Kingdom Come in the order they are eliminated!
Selena pauses as the crowd roars, shaking the hard camera. As the noise dies down, she starts the introductions.
Anderson: Entering the ring first...
[YOUTUBE]JzrDFxIgRLo[/YOUTUBE]
Anderson: From Ise, Mie, Japan, weighing in at 160 pounds...Kagura! Daikonran!
The lights fade from cherry to grey as Kagura enters the arena and ignores the crowd as she nears the ring. The boos are audible, but have no effect on her demeanor. After handing off her book, she slides in the ring, awaiting the next competitor.
Connor: Ladies first, tonight, Jack! I'm intrigued to see how Kagura's newfound mean streak will affect not only this match tonight, but how it will play out in the chamber at Kingdom Come!
Cohen: It will certainly take one heck of an effort, being the only woman in the match, but if I could pick one women to enter and have a shot, it'd be Kagura-san.
Anderson: And her first opponent!
[YOUTUBE]Gz2GVlQkn4Q[/YOUTUBE]
Anderson: Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota..."The Unforgettable" Noah Ryder!
Noah explodes through the curtain, clearly amped for what he believes to be his first big match. He high fives as many fans as possible, before sliding into the ring and mounting the far turnbuckle, locking eyes with Kagura the whole way.
Cohen: Are you kidding me with this guy? He's certainly got the skillset, but why would they put him in a match like this? Even if he manages to win, he's never going to remember that he is King For A Day to cash in!
Connor: You can't discount the fact he is the largest wrestler in this match, even if only by a few pounds. That has to count for something!
Anderson: And from Silicon Valley...
[YOUTUBE]pd8QL1Nclyw[/YOUTUBE]
Anderson: Kendrick! Xavier!
A few seconds pass as the music plays, and there's no sign of "The X-Man". Selena looks around awkwardly, waiting for a signal.
Anderson: From the Silicon Valley...Kendrick Xavier!
Still nothing. Noah and Kagura look at each other puzzlingly, not sure what to make of Kendrick's failure to show. Then the Hovertrax rolls out through the curtain...
Cohen: Well, there's his ride! But where is he!?
As Jack says that, Kendrick rolls through the curtain, bleeding from the mouth. He makes an attempt at crawling to the ramp, but Cassanova appears behind him, blood running down his arm!
Connor: It appears Cassanova couldn't wait to get this match started!
Cohen: I could get used to this fire, if he can hang on to it!
Cassanova pulls Xavier to his feet, and walks him to the ring, sliding him under the bottom rope, and taking the stairs to enter the ring himself. The ref checks on Xavier, who uses the ropes to pull himself to his feet. The ref whispers to Selena, who makes the announcement.
Anderson: Ladies and gentlemen! The referee has informed me that Kendrick Xavier will be allowed to compete!
Connor: No way he'd forfeit his chance because of a little blood! He may be leaning back in the corner, but he's got his fists up, and he's ready to go!
Cohen: If he had as much common sense as he has brains, he'd know you back down and live to fight another day!
*DING DING DING*
At the sound of the bell, Cassanova charges into Xavier, shouldering him into the corner. He whips him off the far ropes, and connects with an Asai DDT as Kagura and Noah come to blows against the opposite ropes. With Xavier down, Cassanova leaps to the top rope, and connects with a Library Dive! He hooks the leg!
1...2...3!
Anderson: Kendrick Xavier has been eliminated!
Cassanova leaps to his feet, unable to hide the look of shock as he makes the first elimination!
Cohen: See, Cat? Xavier might as well have just said he couldn't go!
Connor: Certainly a shock there, as Xavier went from being a favorite at Kingdom Come, to the first man into the chamber!
As Xavier rolls under the bottom rope, and Cassanova stands in shock, Ryder and Kagura are exchanging kicks to each other's legs and sides. Ryder winds up to give his next kick a little extra, but Kagura telegraphs and catches his leg! She uses a Dragon whip to toss him to the middle of the ring, waking Cassanova from his stupor. Cassanova begins stomping on the downed opponent, before Kagura taps him on the shoulder to back him off. She delivers a series of her own stomps, but is stopped by Cassanova now! Cassanova leans off the ropes, and drops a hard knee to Ryder's ribs, drawing out a scream. Kagura follows in kind, forcing Ryder to roll away, grabbing the far rope.
Cohen: It seems we have a game of one upmanship on our hands!
Connor: If Noah wants to stand a chance tonight, he may want to get far away from these two! Their newfound meanstreaks are really showing through right now!
Noah pulls himself to his feet, but can hardly turn around before he's toppled over the top rope with stereo back elbows from Cassanova and Kagura! Cassanova plays to the crowd, and turns to offer Kagura a fistbump, but gets a palm thrust to the throat! He double over, clutching his neck as Kagura begins to lay into him with knees and elbows, backing him into the corner. The ref attempts to separate the two, but Kagura shoves her off and rocks Cassanova's head back with a side kick! As he stumbles into the ring, she picks him up and crushes him with a Saito suplex!
She springs to her feet, and charges the ropes, but Noah pulls the top rope down, spilling her to the floor! He stomps on her hand, before giving her a boot in the ribs, then pulls her to her feet. He whips her along the apron, into the stairs nearest the ramp!
Connor: Noah may have found a way to neutralize his opponents, if he can keep her down, and away from Cassanova!
Cohen: Have you been paying attention, Cat? She just laid out Cassanova. I'd say any chances at an alliance are over!
Kagura lies motionless on the floor, as Noah rolls into the ring, and crawls to cover Cassanova!
1...KICKOUT!
Noah sits back on his heels, clearly frustrated. Cassanova gets to his feet, and the two men begin to exchange right hands as Kagura starts to stir on the floor. Ryder hooks a headlock, and takes his opponent to the mat, keeping an eye on the woman outside. Kagura is finally getting to her feet, as Ryder wrenches the headlock on his man. Cassanova is stretching his legs, looking for the ropes, but the taller, heavier, Ryder is keeping him flat in the middle of the ring.
Kagura circles the ring, causing Noah to break the hold. He gets to his feet, and attempts a baseball slide to Kagura who sidesteps the dive, allowing Noah to exit through the bottom two ropes. She grabs his arm as he catches his balance, and throws him against the apron, crashing him to the floor. As he clutches his back, he drives hard knees into the small of his back, each one followed by an elbow to the head.
Cohen: Kagura is not taking his attack lightly, is she? You gotta love a woman with a little fight in her, eh Cat?
Connor: This is smart, not only injuring her opponent, but keeping the two men away from each other, since she is the smallest competitor in this match!
Kagura stands over the downed Ryder, letting a sinister smile form on her face as she peers out from under her brow at the nearby crowd. Noah is barely able to roll over, as she gives him one final knee, before pulling him to his feet. She shoulders him into the apron, before grabbing him under the leg, and pushing him backwards into the ring. Instead of following, she slowly circles the ring, eyeing Cassanova as he gets to a knee. He gives her a glancing look, but turns his attention to Ryder who is still flat on the mat, clutching at his back. He hooks one of Noah's legs, and pulls him to the center of the ring, rolling him to his back via his legs.
Kagura continues to circle the ring slowly, grinning slyly at the two men in the ring, occasionally peering into the crowd as Cassanova hooks Ryder into Locked In The Book. Ryder screams out in pain as Cassanova pulls back, attempting to add as much pressure as he can! Noah finally completes a push up, gaining back a little leverage, but collapses again!
Connor: This may be the end of the road for Noah here, Jack!
Cohen: You know I hate agreeing with you, but I don't see how his body can sustain this much damage, and manage to continue.
The ref gets down, asking Noah if he gives, but he violently shakes his head "no"! He starts pounding his fist into the mat, trying to get the crowd behind him!
NO-AH! NO-AH! NO-AH! NO-AH!
He uses the energy to push up again, but Cassanova wrenches on his ankles, pulling back, adding to the already immense amount of torque on Noah's back! Before the ref can ask again, Noah taps furiously!
Anderson: Noah Ryder has been eliminated!
Cassanova again leaps to his feet, amazed at the elimination! He collapses to his knees, nearing exhaustion from holding on the submission! Kagura slowly climbs the only steps left standing, and steps through the ropes, accentuating her body with every movement.
Noah Ryder rolls out of the ring, and a medic is with him immediately, helping him to his feet, and helping him to the back. Cassanova watches, and Kagura capitalizes on the distraction, connecting with the First Dance Of Awarawa no Mikoto! Cassanova falls over in a heap, his eyes rolled back, as Kagura giggles with glee. Her smiles quickly vanishes as she plants a knee between his shoulders and applies a chinlock, yanking his head backward against her thigh! He flails for the ropes, but she pulls back, lifting his upper half off the mat!
Connor: There's a theme here, with Kagura not only hurting her opponents, but going the extra mile and punishing them! Cassanova may not be that much bigger than her, but that's impressive,to see him nearly bent in half!
Cohen: Very impressive, Cat! The fans may not be cheering her anymore, but they have to respect her abilities inside the ring! She has been slow and methodical all night!
Kagura gets to one foot, with her knee still buried into Cassanova's back, and drives his chest into the mat. She grabs a handful of his long hair, and smashes his face into the canvas repeatedly, drawing blood from his nose and above his eye! The ref attempts to intervene, but she is backed off by a menacing glare. Kagura rolls Cassanova to his back, and wipes the blood from his face, marking her face like warpaint.
Cassanova tries to sit up, but she crushes his chest with a stiff kick. He falls back as his red turns bright red with a welt appearing across his sternum. She teases going for the pin, but gains half guard before raining down on his head and shoulder with elbows and hammerfists. He continues to try to squirm away, but she is relentless, not giving up until he bears a crimson mask!
As he rolls and gets to all fours, blood drips from his face, pooling on the mat, as Kagura admires her handiwork from her knees. She gets to her feet in one motion, and facewashes the downed man, pushing him out of the ring. Without giving him a breather, she steps out, and drops a knee from the apron.
Cohen: It's impossible to bet against Kagura, seeing how she's handled the opposition here tonight! If she's this bloodthirsty in what has become a one-on-one, then imagine what she can do with all that steel!
Connor: I shudder to think, Jack!
Kagura allows Cassanove to grab the apron, pulling himself to his feet. As she approaches, he lands a sharp elbow, followed by a set of right hands to her jaw. Kagura retreats, covering her face, as she turns to create space. Cassanova doesn't let up, and drives her head backwards to the mats on the outside with the Cass-O-Matic! In one fluid motion, he turns and mounts her chest, raining punches down on her as his blood covers her chest and neck.
Kagura gets her hands up, blocking the final punches as Cassanova rises to his feet, flipping his hair back as he eyes the crowd. He climbs to the apron, but sees Kagura getting to her feet behind him, so he takes her out with a Writer's Rana! The crowd pops as both wrestlers's blood smears across the mats on the outside!
Connor: He's not dead yet!
Cohen: You couldn't tell by looking at him!
Both rise to their feet at the same time, facing each other. The blood from both their faces is dripping the lengths of their bodies as the crowd is stunned silent. As if on cue, they hammer each other with straight punches, keeping a handful of the other's hair at the same time. Cassanova gets the upperhand, knocking her back against the stairs. The sound of the steel jolts new life into Kagura as she lays him out with a shuffling side kick! As she approaches, Cassanova nips up, and monkey flips her onto the announce table!
Kagura is quickly to her feet, and pushes Cassanova back with a kick to the forehead. He rolls into the ring in an attempt to get away. Kagura leaps onto the apron from the table, and steps through the ropes, getting met with a knee to the ribs. Cassanova whips her across the ring, but she dives back with the Fifth Dance of Amaterasu Omikami! He falls straight back, clutching his chest, as she hooks the leg!
1...2.KICKOUT!
Cohen: She is absolutely shocked! I thought that was it, and I can tell she did too!
She pulls the bloody high-flier to his feet, but her Second Dance of Yamatohime no Mikoto is reversed into an armbar! Cassanova torques on the arm, using his rare size advantage to push her into the mat, keeping a hold of her wrist. He bends her hand back, adding pressure to her arm as he buries a boot under her shoulder. Kagura is able to get the ropes, but the ref struggles to separate the two! As Cassanova tries pushing past the ref, Kagura blasts him with the red mist! The ref is caught up in the confusion as the crowd boos wildly! Kagura surprises Cassanova with a schoolboy roll-up!
1...2...3!
Anderson: Cassanova has been eliminated! Your winner...KAGURA! DAI...KON...RAN!
Kagura rolls out of the ring, snatching her book from the timekeeper as Cassanova rests on his knees in the ring, wiping the mist from his face, screaming obscenities in Kagura's direction. She pays him a little sly smile as the ref raises her hand at the bottom of the ramp.
Cohen: I called it, didn't I! I knew she'd win! These guys tonight found out exactly what she brings to the table, but I can guarantee Gino and Vee had an eye on this match tonight as well! They are all in for some real trouble, if they think they can take Kagura-san lightly at Kingdom Come!
Connor: For sure, Jack! Kagura came into this match with a gameplan, obviously, and executed it to perfection! But we can't take away from the effort Cassanova put forth, eliminating the X-Man almost immediately, and forcing Noah to tap!
* * * * * *
We skip backstage in the locker room of Eve Taylor who is fixing up her hair in the mirror before picking up her Elite X championship. She smiles at the sight when Stacey Madison enters the room. Eve darts a look at Stacey before looking back at herself.
Taylor: Come here for a quick question on my upcoming match tonight?
Madison: No, I-
Taylor: Are you here to apologise for what you said to me at the bar?
Madison: Not that either, I-
Taylor: Then we have nothing to discuss.
Eve goes to walk off but Madison steps in her way.
Madison: I'm here to ask you about the newest match Becky just signed off for Kingdom Come: a triple threat match between Flex Mussel, Ramparte & yourself.
Taylor: This match was inevitable. Good to see Becky has her head screwed on and allow us to destroy Cerberus the right way. Even better that I've got the night off from my defending my title. Nobody deserves to challenge me, anyway.
Madison: Actually Eve, the Triple Threat match is for the Elite X championship.
Eve looks at Stacey with shock and disgust, clutching her championship.
Taylor: That tramp! How could she? I need to speak with her right now!
Madison: You can't. Your match is next. You better hurry.
Eve stares a hole through Madison before letting out a high-pitched scream, storming off.
