We return to Meltdown a night full of action and drama already behind us, but there is still one more event to come, the main event in fact. The crowd is waiting as Truman Harrys begins his pre-match duties:
Harrys: Ladies and gentlemen, your final match of the evening is a triple threat contest set for one-fall and it is for the EURASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP!
The crowd lets out a small cheer, hoping to conserve their energy for the actual contest. Then they come unglued as the first participant is introduced:
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Harrys: Introducing the challengers, first, from Phoenix, Arizona, weighing 220 pounds; TRIPLE X!
X jumps out from behind the curtain and is clearly extremely excited. He is like a ball of energy as he moves from end to end on the entrance stage, trying to get the crowd even more in his corner. Eventually, he sprints to the ring, determined and focused.
Copeland: Former Elite X Champion Triple X looks to try and claim the EurAsian Championship tonight and make himself one of the few men in history who can brag about holding both prestigious championship’s.
Cohen: That may be what he hopes will happen Seabass, but I can’t see it happening. There are just too many factors working against him.
Copeland: Oh really, name one.
Cohen: The fact that he’s an idiot who instead of capitalising on his opponents when they’re down decides he’s going to risk not only the match but his life with some stupid flippy move. That sort of factor.
Copeland audibly groans at Jack Cohen’s response and rolls his eyes as Triple X poses with his signature X taunt before the music and mood in the arena changes:
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Harrys: Introducing next, from the ashes of Bridge to Salvation Church in Texarkana, Arkansas, weighing 238 pounds and representing the Sacrificial Altar; MASON WESTHOFF!
Westhoff’s traditionally ceremonial like entrance begins. He looks skyward towards his Almighty. As the music begins to ramp up, he climbs to his feet and makes his way to the ring, a sole spotlight shining on him.
Cohen: This guy right here is the dark horse and might even just be my pick to win this...
Copeland: There can be no doubt that Mason Westhoff has been impressive lately and his recent run of good form would be capped off perfectly by bringing some gold to the Sacrificial Altar.
Now Westhoff sits in the ring in the same pose as the start of his journey to the squared circle. X watches on, prepared for him and the final entrant whose music now kicks in:
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Harrys: And finally, from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, weighing 322 pounds he is the reigning and defending EURASIAN CHAMPION; RUSH!
The monster who has been champion since Meltdown 75 enters the arena very slowly. He wears the glittering EurAsian gold around his waist and smiles. He walks very slowly to the ring as if making his challengers for the evening think very carefully about facing him.
Copeland: It was last July at Meltdown 75 when Rush became the EurAsian Champion. He would claim sole rights to the gold at Apocalypse back in October and since then he has been a dominant force. No one man has been able to stop the reign of the beast known as Rush. Can two men do it Jack?
Cohen: I don’t know Seabass, but I’ll tell you this, if there ever was a night, tonight is it. Rush looks in great shape though and I don’t think I’d ever bet against the champ.
Copeland: But you already said you’d take Westhoff to surprise the world.
Cohen: Well I’ve changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that it’s a free country after all.
As Rush enters, all three men stand across from one another, Rush holding his EurAsian Championship up high as if to provoke his enemies for the evening. X looks at Westhoff who stares intently at the belt. The straight-edge superstar notes the distraction and charges at the distracted Westhoff. He nails a forearm to send Westhoff through the ropes. The bell rings and Rush smirks at this sudden development. He prepares to clock X with the title, but the high-flyer ducks the shot of gold, in fact holding down the ropes to send Rush and his EurAsian Championship to the outside. X looks left and right before letting out a scream of intent. He backs off swiftly before sprinting like an athlete, twists and hitting what can only be described as a Fosbury Flop! His body crashes onto his opponents and all three men are down! The fans chant Triple X’s name.
Copeland: Well that’s one way to start a championship contest.
X is the first man to his feet following the flop. With one hand he holds his back and the other he pumps his fist in the air. Rush is not too far behind and neither is Westhoff as all three men begin to rise. Highly focused on X now, Rush does not notice Westhoff behind him and the Sacrificial Altar member nails Rush in the back of the head with a stiff elbow. X decides to capitalise on this opening and executes a beautiful enziguri to down Rush. The champion is in trouble early. Westhoff though picks his spots well and as Triple X climbs to a standing position, Westhoff delivers a facebuster, giving him control of the contest. He notes that with Rush down, victory will be easier. He picks the lighter Triple X up and tosses him back into the ring. He soon follows. X grabs the ropes trying to get to his feet while Westhoff stalks him like a predator. Grabbing X’s skull, Westhoff tosses his foe like a rag doll and sends him crashing into the mat. He walks over before following up with a standing leg drop He moves over into a cover, making sure to push X’s skull into the mat whilst doing so; 1...2...KICK-OUT!
Checking to see if the champion is stirring, Westhoff notes that the mammoth Rush’s hand is on the apron. He rises to his feet, taking no note of Triple X’s movements. Rush’s top half is now leaning forward on the apron and he prepares to reach upwards when Westhoff gets up a sprint to try and throw a move at Rush. However, what Westhoff meets isn’t Rush but the ropes as the champion dodges the manoeuvre. Taking notice of his enemies predicament, Rush wraps Westhoff’s arms around the ropes, exposing his chest to the open air. He clenches a fist and strikes not once, not twice, but over and over again until he has clobbered Westhoff a total of ten times! Eventually he allows Westhoff out of the ropes and the Texarkana native collapses forward. Rush steps over the ropes and sees Triple X getting to his feet. He recalls the earlier attacks by Triple X and moves towards him with pain suffering in mind. He grabs a risen X by his neck with both hands and reduces him quickly to his knees. He screams in X’s face:
Rush: You do not disrespect me! I am your champion, understand you arrogant little man?
There is no response and Rush hoists the former Elite X Champion into the air and dropping him. He then allows himself to drop with an elbow falling onto Triple X’s midsection. A cover follows: 1...2...KICK-OUT! Triple X continues to show solid resolve.
Copeland: Triple X has sustained a plethora of punishment after the early advantage he had developed...
Cohen: Well that ought to teach him for being an ‘arrogant little man’.
Now motivated from the earlier ‘disrespect’ shown to him, Rush picks X up effortlessly. He uses a mere one hand to execute a hard bodyslam. This display of raw power continues as Rush alternates the arm he uses, picking Triple X up for a second bodyslam. Only with the third bodyslam does the defending champion use both arms. He turns as if prepared to drop another elbow over X, but is met face-to-face with Mason Westhoff much his and the crowd’s surprise. A stiff kick is thrown and Rush is briefly winded. It allows Westhoff the opportunity to do something unbelievable and using every fibre of his being he begins to lift Rush off his feet and high into the air with a gorilla-press! The arena gasps and cheers.
Copeland: The power! The strength! I cannot fathom it!
Freaking out and flailing like mad, Rush eventually manages to wriggle free. Taken aback, Rush heads to the corner and stares at Westhoff in surprise.
Cohen: Rush is used to being the powerhouse in a match. Westhoff’s strength is underrated as he just showed.
It is not often Rush is put in such a predicament. Triple X meanwhile has rolled out of the way and found sanctuary in the opposite corner. Westhoff stands in the middle between his two opponents. The fans clap and cheer, anticipating a greater second act to this already enticing contest. Westhoff looks at both men before deciding he should pursue the fresher Rush. Westhoff invites Rush out of the corner for a lock-up. With sweat creeping down his brow Rush smirks slightly and nods, accepting. The two men lock up neither wanting to give up ground. They are like two beasts in the wild and neither wishes to back-down. Eventually Rush though manages to gain the advantage, shoving Westhoff back. Westhoff is quickly back to his feet and tries to lock up again, but Rush this time smashes him down with a straight big boot. Angered by the earlier display of power by Westhoff, Rush decides to upstage his foe by lifting him off the mat. He does exactly the same feet, but with much less surprise as he raises Mason high into the air with a gorilla-press. He walks around the ring as if to show off and display a real sense of superiority. Meanwhile, Triple X has managed to get into position for a springboard. He bounces off of one set of ropes into an Arabian Press off another, before flipping onto Rush who collapses backwards, dropping Westhoff. Holding his body in pain, X covers the champion; 1...2...KICK-OUT! Rush throws X high into the air with his kick-out.
Copeland: Just as we suspected this is a clash of styles as the high-flying Triple X uses an unorthodox display of offence just as Rush attempts to use a vast array of power.
Not to forget Mason Westhoff, the other challenger rolls away from the action for the time being. He finds solace in yet another corner of the ring. Rush on the other hand is right in the midst of the fire and rises to confront Triple X who is also back to his feet. X throws a few forearms at Rush, but the champion appears un-phased and pie-faces X before shoving him down. The offence of X seems to annoy Rush more than anything else and the already angered giant is starting to boil even more. He wishes to end X once and for all and to do that he requires a finisher. So the big man throws his leg into X’s midsection to drop him to his knees. He puts him in position before using a throat slit taunt. He picks X up into a powerbomb position, prepared to put this one to bed. However, just as Rush prepares to throw X, the challenger wraps his legs around Rush’s bulging neck. This exposes the midsection of Rush something which Mason Westhoff looks to take full advantage of. He sprints as fast he can and charges, executing a spear on Rush! All three men fall, but it is Westhoff who squirms into a cover on Rush!
Cohen: This is it, a new champion!
1...2...BREAK-UP! Triple X boots Westhoff off of a cover and jumps into one of his own: 1...2...BREAK-UP! Westhoff returns the favour grabbing X off of the pin. Westhoff and X face-off for a moment, standing over the fallen Rush. They prepare to do battle when suddenly the big man sits up! Both men step back in surprise as Rush holds his ribs. He starts to get to his feet when Westhoff and X look at one-another and nod. They both attack Rush, but the veteran throws his arms at them, cracking the both in the head. He turns, grabbing Triple X who is closest to him and whips him into the corner. Westhoff attempts to jump him, but Rush sees him coming and whips him into the corner also. Both men are now stacked. Rush smirks at this development. He backs away from the two challengers prone in the corner before swiftly turning and charging at their corpses. He gains momentum before slamming right into the two man stack. The sheer ferocity of three men’s bodies crashing together makes even the turnbuckle and its metal supports buckle slightly. Rush backs out, rubbing his chest as Westhoff, top of the pile, falls backwards out of the corner. X, bottom of the pile, slowly slinks out tripping over the fallen Westhoff. Rush laughs heartily and raises his arms in mock victory. Then a new idea creeps into his head. He turns slowly to analyse the destruction he has caused and one side of his face lights up with a smile.
Copeland: Uh, oh, this can’t be good.
Moving over to his fallen foes, Rush picks up Mason Westhoff first before lifting X to his feet also. They are stood as if waiting in a line and indeed they are as Rush grabs their limbs, pushing them together before hoisting them both high into the air! Both men are in real trouble as the crowd gasps in awe at a Double Torture Rack!
Copeland: Oh my God!
Cohen: That’s how you put an exclamation point on things!
As Rush laughs at his dominance, he doesn’t realise that his grasp of the hold is weakened due to its larger load. This allows the man on top, Triple X, to slip out fairly unharmed as Westhoff continues to take the full brunt of the attack. X, desperate to end the submission and save his title hopes, does what he does best; he flies high! Running up the turnbuckle he had earlier been squashed against, he throws himself at Rush and Westhoff with a whisper in the wind! This happens just as Rush turns to see what has become of X and thus the challenger’s body smashes the champion square in the face. Westhoff is freed but in no state to capitalise at this moment and X has managed to land on top of Rush! 1...2...KICK-OUT! Using his vast strength, Rush powers out of the pin again, throwing X off of him. Rush rises at the same speed as X and it appears we have another stand-off suddenly. With strategies devising in both men’s heads, Triple X chooses to act first. He charges at Rush, but as the big man tries to grab him he moves away. X then turns and without stopping, charges at him again just as Rush turns. He is nailed with a flying forearm, but Rush is merely staggered. X rises swiftly and repeats the effort, nailing a second forearm. Again, the giant is merely staggered. Then a third attempt. This time the big man goes down. The crowd roars as Triple X completes the sequence with a kip-up! He takes in the crowd’s adulation for a few seconds before looking at the top turnbuckle with a steely determination. For better or worse Triple X begins to climb.
Cohen: What is this doofus doing? He has Rush on his back. Go for a cover you moron!
Copeland: That’s not Triple X’s style Jack. He’s a high-flyer and he’s going to try and end it with a high-octane move.
Reaching the summit, Triple X tries to reassure his footing. This takes his eyes away from his opponent. This costs him though as Rush throws himself at the ropes to shake X and crotch him. Now to his feet, Rush grabs X’s skull and throws a vile right hand at his foe. He then stands on the bottom rope and repeats before rising to the second rope and again repeating. He does so a third time as his large frame tries to balance on the top rope along with X. The fans sense something big is coming.
Copeland: Both men now in a dangerous area. This turn could turn out really bad for both of them.
Both men up top, Rush throws his foes arm over his neck. He prepares ready to set up a massive superplex. He takes a deep breath and a moment to compose himself when suddenly his expression changes. He begins to panic as he tries desperately to see what is occurring behind him, but we can see as Mason Westhoff rises up once more, this time beneath Rush. He has Rush in an electric chair like position. The crowd’s anticipation and excitement rises and a cheer begins to grow louder and louder. Rush still has X in the superplex position as Westhoff falls backwards! The tower of doom hits as the superplex connects along with a massive electric chair drop! The arena explodes for the carnage.
Copeland: What a move! All three men crashing to the mat below!
Cohen: Westhoff’s in a prime position to pick up the win though, look!
Sure enough, Mason Westhoff is the freshest of the three and crawls over into a lacklustre cover on the champion. 1...2...
Cohen: He’s got it in the bag! We’ve got a new champion!
...KICK-OUT! Rush throws his arm in the air and Westhoff can’t believe it. He looks at the referee who holds two fingers to him in confirmation. He shakes his head and looks like he’s about to cry, the emotions riding high. He looks to the sky, to his almighty before remembering that there is another man he can defeat in this match; Triple X! He clambers over Rush and throws his anatomy onto X for another cover: 1...
Copeland: Surely this time!?!
2...
Cohen: Mason Westhoff, welcome to the big time...
...BREAK-UP! Rush pulls Westhoff off of the cover. The two men glare at one-another as Westhoff thought he had it. He throws a stiff foot into Rush’s face and follows up with another, finally sending Rush away. Westhoff gets to his feet and looks at his two adversaries. He looks at the fallen X and then glances over at Rush who holds his face, but is preparing to get back to a standing position. Westhoff backs off for a second and waits for Rush to take his hands from his face so he can charge and deliver a big lariat. The thud of the move is solid and Rush is taken off his feet. Westhoff begins to feel in total control and shakes, knowing he is in the driving seat. Westhoff peels Rush from the mat and whips him into the corner. With Rush in prime position, the Sacrificial Alter member sprints straight at his enemy and unleashes a big boot.
Copeland: Westhoff appears to be getting closer to that win he--
Cohen: Not so fast Seabass, take a look!
Rush has Westhoff’s leg having moved his head at the right moment. He smirks as Westhoff panics. Using his strength, Rush lifts Westhoff up before grabbing Westhoff’s other leg; this puts Mason in position for the Rushing Powerbomb! The EurAsian Champion runs forward a little at first, preparing to toss his opponent, but just as he lifts Westhoff, a resurrected Triple X makes an appearance! The second challenger delivers a swift, precise and downright devastating X-Rated superkick square to Rush’s jaw! The crowd cheers loudly, stunned by this sudden turn of events. Rush collapses, Westhoff falling on top of him in a seated cover:
Copeland: What a move by Triple X, but the awkward landing!
1...2...X-RATED TO WESTHOFF! The finisher strikes Westhoff this time and he rolls off of Rush. Both his opponents down, and adrenaline pumping, X flashes a look at the top rope, then to the crowd and finally to his opponents, noting their heads are right next to one another only Westhoff is lying face-front. The crowd roars X on and he sprints as fast as his body will take him over to the corner. He jumps to the top rope, takes a deep breath and leaps backwards for his trademark finisher; The Firefly! The moment seems to pass in slow-motion as the crowd watches X’s death-defying flips and twists in mid-air before ultimately he crashes down on top of not just Rush and not just Westhoff, but both men. There is a moment’s pause for the move to register, but the crowd cheers like crazy seconds later. They are jumping up and down like mad, delighted with what they have seen, but then it sinks in, X is in position for a cover on top of both men! The referee is in place; 1...2...3! The eruption that follows the third slap is deafening! Harrys has to practically shout over the fans.
HARRYS: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN HERE IS YOUR WINNER AND NEEEEEEEEW EURASIAN CHAMPION; TRIPLE X!
X drags his wounded carcass off of his foes, unsure if it’s all over, but he looks around to see the referee retrieving the EurAsian Championship. The official, Jurou Akiyama hands X the title whilst holding his hand up high, X crumbles to his knees, emotion overriding his being. He smacks the title several times in recognition of his accomplishment and sheer delight.
Cohen: He did it...he actually did it...
Copeland: The reign of Rush is over! The reign of Triple X has begun!
Cohen: Well, hats off to him. Perhaps I don’t say it often, but X has defeated the greatest EurAsian Champion of all time and in some style. His high-flying may irritate me to no end, but when it pays off, it does so in spades.
Holding his newly won prize high in the air, X is jubilant. There is a huge smile on his face and perhaps a tear in his eye too. In stark contrast, the fallen Rush very slowly rolls out of the ring, the damage done. Westhoff remains flat on the mat with little movement; the match official is next to him, checking up on his status. X starts to climb the turnbuckle with his new title and holds it up high for all to see. He raises it high in the air to thunderous cheers.
Copeland: Well ladies and gentlemen, this was a show for the history books. We saw a new champion crowned as another was defeated. Triple X has climbed his way to the top of the EurAsian mountain that is Rush and he’s claimed his most prized possession too. From all us here at WZCW, I’m Sebastian Copeland, he’s Jack Cohen and we’ll see you tomorrow for Ascension! What a night!
Our final shots are that of Westhoff finally beginning to stir some more, Rush lying on the outside and Triple X standing tall with his music in the background holding his championship up high in ultimate victory.
