PROVING GROUND XXIV: BUTCHER AND THE BEAST RESULTS

♫ To be more than a conqueror
You have to learn to enjoy the pain
If you want to survive the game ♫

With Skillet’s “Surviving The Game” playing in the background, the video intro begins with former Grand Champion, Mark Hunter, as he hits his Mercy Killer on an overmatched opponent. That is soon followed by the Sultan of Spice, Serrano Poblano, as he wiggles his body in the center of the ring and slaps his ass cheeks in preparation for a stink face. We then get a shot of Scott Oasis, surrounded by his entourage as he flexes on the entrance stage.

♫ You can try to defeat me (Defeat me)
You don't know it's the pain that'll feed me (Feed me)
And I'm gonna take back what you took before (Before)
'Cause I was born for this
All the bones that you're breakin' (Breakin')
You pretend that you're the one that can save me (Save me)
Now I'm takin' it back, it was never yours (Never yours)
I'm fightin' ♫

Lil’ Petey is shown cradling his newly won Warrior Rising Championship with a look of disbelief on his face, before we get a shot of Brandon Hendrix hitting his Acknowledge spear. This section of the video wraps up with an image of Caden Young in all of his fabulous glory.

♫ Fightin' for my focus
Give the pain a purpose
Light the fire inside
Feel it come alive (Come alive)
Show 'em what I'm made of
Victory's for the brave ones
Who never bow the knee
When it's do or die (Do or die-ie-ie)
One more time ♫

The Essence of Egotism lets out a primal roar before leaping onto the ring apron, and following this shot of Lance Williams we see John Blade waving his hand in front of his face before turning completely invisible. Tara Fenix is the next to be highlighted, as we see the Phoenix Queen executing her Phoenix Lock.

♫ Survivin' the game
I can be unstoppable
Gonna walk through Hell
Gonna shake the walls
Survive, survivin' the game (Survivin' the game)
Livin' the impossible
I'm the champion, indestructible (Survive)
Survive, 'cause I'm survivin' the game ♫

Kyle Valentine and DJ Hunter take over the screen next, with these members of The Phantom Troupe hitting Gran Rey Cero with perfect accuracy. After that shot of in-ring action, we then see Arata Asakura decked out in one of his many expensive suits, glaring at the camera.

♫ I can be unstoppable
Gonna be indestructible
I can be unstoppable
Gonna be indestructible ♫

The smug smile of Larry KaChow appears, soon to be followed by the eccentric Percival Burque as he throws one of his pocket rats at an unsuspecting opponent. From those unlikely images, we go to a shot of MYOJIN with The X-Factor Championship before The Shining Star is seen hitting their Falling From Heaven EX.

♫ All the liars around me
Like the wolves of the walls that surround me
In the face of the fear, I keep standin' tall
'Cause I will conquer this
Knock me down like a lion (Lion)
I was born to be demon defiant (Defiant)
And I won't ever let this kingdom fall (Fall)
I'll show 'em ♫

Cadillac Jackson smiles for the camera before sliding his sunglasses down to the tip of his nose, immediately followed up by KAYLA executing their Kraken Slayer. Then comes the disturbing sight of a smiling Casanova English, moments before he connects with the Silence of the Lamb.

♫ Show 'em what you're made of
Victory's for the brave ones
Never bow the knee
'Cause it's do or die (Do or die-ie-ie)
One more time ♫

Malachite Minj licks the back of his hand before brushing a few strands of hair away from his face, which then transitions to TJ Thompson executing Hip with the Drip. Then comes the mysterious masked man known only as Quid, who is shown hitting Quid’s Rights.

♫ Survivin' the game
I can be unstoppable
Gonna walk through Hell
Gonna shake the walls
Survive, survivin' the game (Survivin' the game)
Livin' the impossible
I'm the champion, indestructible (Survive)
Survive, 'cause I'm survivin' the game (Game) ♫

With Francis in hand, DIANA gives a happy smile to the camera before the scene switches to the much different visual of Jormungandr. Swindle Shelldrake and Jay Crowley are nothing less than impressive as they hit the Deep Sea Damnation.

♫ I am more than a conqueror
The past behind me, life is ahead
I'll take the way of the warrior
I walk alone, no fear to the death
One more time ♫

As the intro draws nearer to its conclusion, General Manager Indy Darling gives the camera a thumbs up, before we then see The Platinum Standard in motion. Following Emmanuelle’s Palisades Bomber, we get a shot of the newest member of Proving Ground, Skylar Ramsay, giving a smirk during her entrance.

♫ Survivin' the game
I can be unstoppable
Gonna walk through Hell
Gonna shake the walls
Survive, survivin' the game (Survivin' the game)
Livin' the impossible
I'm the champion, indestructible (Survive)
Survive, 'cause I'm survivin' the game (Survive)
Survivin' the game (Survive)
Survivin' the game
Livin' the impossible
I'm the champion, indestructible (Survive)
Survive, 'cause I'm survivin' the game (Survive) ♫

Finally, the Proving Ground logo emerges on the screen with the reigning Grand Champion, Ozymandias, rising above it with arms outstretched, like a leviathan rising from the darkest depths of the ocean.

♫ I can be unstoppable
Gonna be indestructible
I can be unstoppable
Gonna be indestructible ♫



With an explosion of pyrotechnics erupting around the arena, another episode of Proving Ground is on the air! The cameras give us several shots of the sold out crowd in the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas, picking up several homemade signs in the process…

“I’D RATHER BE IN FENIX”
“PERCIVAL > PENNYWISE”
“WHO THE @#*%$ IS CLIVE DARLING?”
“ARATA’S GONNA KILL YOU”
“JOHN BLADE STOLE MY GIRL”

One of the ringside cameras finally lands upon the announce position, where the welcoming faces of Trey Booker and J.T. Price are ready to greet the viewing audience at home.

TREY BOOKER: They say everything is bigger in Texas, and tonight Proving Ground will be bigger than ever! The Clive Darling Memorial Round Robin kicks off tonight and the contenders for the Grand Championship will all be in action!

J.T. PRICE: We’ve also got a huge ten person tag as Caden Young and Larry KaChow continue to battle for the job of Assistant GM, and Lil’ Petey has his first title defense against the bizarre Casanova English!

TREY BOOKER: We’re going to kick things off with a Gatekeeper Championship match, but first, we have a special look at Earl Boyde’s challenger, Serrano Poblano!


“Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti, better known as the theme from Rocky, plays in the background as we are treated to a training montage featuring The Sultan of Spice himself, Serrano Poblano. The Heater is shown in a meat locker, throwing hands at a large side of beef. He pounds his meat like a man possessed, beating it with everything he’s got.

♫Trying hard now
It's so hard now
Trying hard now♫

Sweat drips from his round face as his body jiggles with his every movement, the hefty piece of meat being tenderized by the frantic fury as he uses both fists. Then the scene changes, and Serrano is no longer beating the meat, but struggling to perform a series of ab crunches. He bends forward, his face contorted by the physical exertion he’s putting on his body. He lets out a few primal grunts before he slumps backwards, emotionally drained and physically spent.

♫Gettin’ strong now
Coming on, now
Gettin’ strong now♫

We then see the stadium steps within the American Airlines Arena, as a sweat suit clad Serrano looks up at them from ground level. We then see a close-up of Serrano’s face as the arena whizzes past him in the background, but his face shows no signs of physical exertion. The camera then pans out, and we see that he is seated in an electric chair normally reserved for handicapped patrons as it moves alongside the arena steps. In his hands is a footlong chili dog with extra onions, peppers, and a thick layer of mayonnaise. He holds the extra long Weiner tightly with both hands, pulling it closer and closer to his hungry mouth as saliva dribbles over his lips.

♫Gonna fly now
Flyin' high now
Gonna fly, fly, fly♫

Finally, the training montage ends with Serrano mean-mugging for the camera as splotches of mayo dangle from his chin.

SERRANO POBLANO: Earl Boyde...I’m coming for you, boy!


We return to ringside as Trey and J.T. both stare at the camera, the two men at a loss for words. Thankfully, they are saved by the sound of entrance music...

The stage remains empty as the sound of a guitar playing can be heard over the sound system. Moments later, the opening lyrics to “Fire Water Burn” can be heard…

♫The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire
The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire
The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire
We don't need no water, let the motherfucker burn
Burn motherfucker, burn♫

At that moment, the music picks up its tempo and the curtains fly apart to reveal “Spicy” Serrano Poblano. With his bleached blonde hair spiked up and his sleeveless flame theme shirt unbuttoned, Serrano headbangs toward the ring. After rolling under the bottom rope, he tosses his shirt aside and throws his hand up with his fingers giving the metal sign.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for The Project Honor Gatekeeper Championship! Introducing first, representing Flavortown and weighing in at three hundred twenty pounds...he is “The Sultan of Spice”...SERRRRRANOOOO POBLANOOOOO!!!

“Word Up" by THE BOSSHOSS hits and the fans know what's gonna come when this theme hits, a good ol' brawl! Earl comes from the back and walks to the ring and holds the title above his head. Earl stops and pours some beer on some lucky bystander. Earl rolls into the ring and waits for the match to begin.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent, hailing from Redfeathers, Colorado and weighing in at one hundred fifty nine pounds...he is the “Daredevil of Brawling” and the reigning Gatekeeper Champion...EARRRRRL BOYYYYYYDE!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: This should be an interesting contest. Serrano has had his eyes on that championship since the announcement of its creation, but Earl Boyde seems to have had a death grip on it so far.

J.T. PRICE: That could all come to an end here tonight, Trey.

The two men meet in the center of the ring, but before they can lock up, Earl points at something behind Serrano and shouts, “Hey boy...look!” Serrano quickly spins around to see what has caught Earl’s attention, only to realize that there’s nothing there. Earl then jumps onto the back of the distracted Serrano, immediately applying a sleeperhold. Poblano struggles around the ring flailing his arms in a desperate attempt to grab hold of the ropes, but Earl manages to steer him like a mule by twisting his head in the hold. It looks as if Serrano is in trouble during these opening moments, when he finally falls down to his backside. This inadvertently drives Earl’s jaw against the top of Serrano’s head, and the hold is successfully broken!

Serrano pulls himself back up and tries to shake off the effects of the sleeper, as Boyde holds his jaw in pain. Poblano then charges and hits Earl with a big cross body block that takes him to the mat. The Heater stays on top for the cover, but Boyde is able to kick out without much effort. Still hoping to keep some kind of advantage, Serrano then attempts to lock in his Feel the Burn ab stretch, but mere seconds after applying the hold, Boyde counters with a hip toss that sends Serrano to the mat. Earl meets Serrano with a combination of punches when he gets onto his feet and then bounces off the ropes to hit a cross body block of his own.

Unfortunately for Boyde, Serrano manages to catch him in midair and then drops him over his knee with a backbreaker! Poblano hits two more consecutive backbreakers for good measure, known as his No Problemo For Poblano. Earl is down on the mat and momentarily stunned, as Serrano makes his way to the top rope...

TREY BOOKER: The Heater is looking to end it here!

J.T. PRICE: If he hits this one, it’s all over!

Serrano leaps off the top rope and makes an awkward frog motion in midair as his flying sit down frog splash looks to be on target! Then, Earl manages to pull up one of his feet at the last moment and Serrano ends up racking himself! The combat chef is stunned and gasping for air as Earl gets back to his feet. The Daredevil of Brawling then grabs Serrano by both legs and lifts him onto his back...REDFEATHER SPECIAL! Poblano is down and Earl leaps on top of him for the pin attempt…

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winner of the match and still Gatekeeper Champion...EARRRRRLLLL BOYYYYYDE!!!

TREY BOOKER: All of that training turned out to be for nothing as Serrano becomes the next victim of Earl Boyde’s championship reign!

J.T. PRICE: If there’s one thing Earl knows, it’s balls. A well placed foot nearly castrated Serrano and kept the gold around Boyde’s waist!


We cut away to backstage where Larry KaChow is collecting his things, getting ready to accompany his team to the ring when he turns his nose up at a foul odor.

LARRY KACHOW: Ugh...did something die in here? It smells as bad as Caden Young’s booking...

Larry turns around and is greeted by a rat of a man creeping through the door of the broom closet he is using as a temporary office. Percival “Ratman” Burque does a bow before raising his head to look at his team's leader.

RATMAN: Hello Larry! It is so good to finally meet you! There are not many people around here I think I could consider being like myself, but I’ve seen you on the television and I’ve got to say… you remind me so much of one of my fellow rats that I assume you must be one just like me!

Larry initially meets Ratman’s appearance with a look of disgust, but it soon turns to a look of confusion and bewilderment. Ratman raises from the bow and creeps over to Larry who slowly backs away when a rat wearing his signature karate gi pops over Ratman’s shoulder.

PAPERCUT: *Squeak*

Larry jumps, slightly frightened but not entirely surprised by the rodent's appearance.

RATMAN: Too true, Papercut, my furry friend. He does look like one of your brothers too!

LARRY KACHOW: What...in the KaHell...are you doing in my office?! And...oh my god...that smell….

Larry pinches his nose and makes a foul expression, still doing his best to keep his distance from Burque in the confined quarters.

LARRY KACHOW: Oh, I get it. You’re the building janitor, right? Someone must have made a mistake and forgotten to reserve my private office, so I’ll be commandeering your broom closet tonight. Even if it does smell like a rat’s ass in here...

RATMAN: Yes, my natural scent. Beautiful isn’t it?! But no, you must have me confused with someone else. You see Larry… Can I call you Uncle Larry? Oh what am I saying, it’s far too soon for that. I just wanted to meet you before our big debut together as a team! “KaChow and Burque, the Ratmen!” Sounds good right?

A sense of recognition finally starts to appear on Larry’s face.

LARRY KACHOW: Oh yeah...you’re that guy. Wait...you do understand that I didn’t actually choose you to be on my team, right? Cadillac and I had nothing to do with it. That idiot, Indy Darling, gave us a bunch of random people as a way to test my impeccable leadership abilities against Caden Young. I mean...you don’t honestly think that I’d choose someone like you to represent me...

Initially Ratman is shocked by Larry’s words but immediately begins to laugh it off.

RATMAN: Oh Uncle Larry you jokester, quit being so modest! I can tell just by the way you're acting that you're trying to hide the fact you want to be friends with I, the Ratman, wrestling supreme! I can see the embarrassment all over your face!

PAPERCUT: *Squeak!*

Papercut’s noises make Larry jump back even further, so that his back is now against the broom closet wall.

LARRY KACHOW: Ah! Fine...we can be friends or whatever...just keep that rabid little beast away from me!

Papercut sneezes just as Ratman begins to clap and jumps for joy. Papercut is barely able to hold on to his shoulder and his hind legs begin to flop around. Ratman slams his hands onto the folding table KaChow is using as a desk.

RATMAN: Rabies! That’s a good one. He really can be quite a beast sometimes though, that much you got right. You really are such a funny guy! You won’t regret this Uncle Larry! I think this could be great for the both of us! After all, you don’t have any friends, I don’t have any friends… It’s perfect!

Larry knocks over a couple of brooms in his effort to keep some distance between himself and the eccentric wrestler.

LARRY KACHOW: Speak for yourself, stinky! I have plenty of friends! There’s Caddy and...well...Arik Holt! Yeah, Arik is totally my friend! Then there’s Caddy and...well, you get the picture. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m a very busy man…

Larry begins to squeeze past the folding table in an effort to escape the broom closet, when Percy leaps in front of him, putting his hand against the wall to block his retreat.

RATMAN: Well, you know what they say! My friends are your friends and your friends are mine! I can’t wait to meet them, Uncle Larry! I’ll even get to meet Caddy tonight! Lucky me! Well, I must be getting ready for my match so I shall be going but before I do…

Before Larry can pull away, Ratman wraps his arms around the slightly smaller man and squeezes him tightly. Larry can’t break away from the hug and begins to look like he might throw up. Papercut begins to scurry back and forth across the two men's shoulders causing Larry significantly more discomfort.

RATMAN: I’ll see you later Uncle Larry!

Ratman lets go of the hug, allowing Larry to tumble backward into a stack of buckets and the previously toppled brooms. As Larry begins crawling away, Percival Burque runs in a small circle and charges through the door. In the distance down the hall, Ratman can be heard with his voice slowly fading.

RATMAN: We have a friend Papercut~

Now alone on the floor of the broom closet, the camera zooms in on Larry’s disturbed face.

LARRY KACHOW: Uncle Larry…

After a few seconds, he starts to sniff the air and he once again looks completely disgusted.

LARRY KACHOW: Oh god...that smell...he left his stank on me!

Without thinking twice, Larry grabs the nearest bottle of bleach, rips off the lid, and starts pouring it over his own head as the scene comes to an end.


“Rainbows” by A9 plays over the sound system as MYOJIN and Caden Young appear at the entrance. The pair begin to make their way toward the ring, and moments later they are followed by their odd collection of teammates selected by Proving Ground GM, Indy Darling. Skylar Ramsay, Malachite Minj, DIANA, and John Blade all join MYOJIN in their corner of the ring, as the team captain does their best to organize some kind of strategy between this unique group of individuals.

HOLLY PEREZ: This next contest is a ten person tag team match scheduled for one fall! Joined by their coach, Caden Young, here is the team of DIANA...JOHN BLADE...MALACHITE MINJ...AND SKYLAR RAMSAY...with team captain...the Project Honor X-Factor Champion...MYOJIN!!!

“All of the Lights” by Kanye West replaces the sound of “Rainbows” over the arena speakers, signaling the arrival of Cadillac Jackson with a drenched Larry KaChow at his side. They pause at the entrance as Caddy notices the odd smell coming from his coach, and all Larry can do in response is shrug his shoulders. As they begin to make their way to the ring, they are soon followed by The Phantom Troupe, Percival Burque, and KAYLA, rounding out their own odd team for the evening.

HOLLY PEREZ: And their opponents...accompanied by their coach, Larry KaChow...the team of DJ HUNTER...KYLE VALENTINE...KAYLA...AND PERCIVAL BURQUE...with their team captain...CADILLAC JACKSON!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: I’m not sure what to make of this one. Indy Darling has given Cadillac and MYOJIN some very strange teammates so that Caden and Larry can display their leadership abilities, but I’m not sure if anyone is capable of turning these unique individuals into a pair of teams.

J.T. PRICE: Just admit that it’s a clusterfuck, Trey. It’s what we’re all thinking.

It looks as if MYOJIN is taking the responsibility for starting things off for their team, but whether or not that is because they place little trust in their teammates remains to be seen. At first, it looks as if Cadillac Jackson will start things off for his team as well, but then Percival Burque rushes toward the center of the ring in a desperate attempt to impress his “Uncle Larry”. The Ratman’s enthusiasm betrays him however, as MYOJIN meets his charge with a sudden side kick to the midsection. The blow doubles over Percy and has him gasping for oxygen, as MYOJIN follows up with a flurry of strikes to his upper body. The Shining Star then drops the sewer-dweller with a DDT, spiking him headfirst against the mat. MYOJIN continues to punish Percival with a snap suplex for good measure, before flinging him into the corner of Team Caden. Burque slumps against the turnbuckles, leaving himself wide open for MYOJIN to deliver a cannonball senton, but upon rolling into his corner, The Shining Star also leaves himself open to a blind tag.

John Blade leaps into the ring following his slap to MYOJIN’s shoulder, and despite the look of concern on The Shining Star’s face, Big Match John starts laying into Percival with a series of stomps. He then pulls Burque back up to deliver a back suplex before bouncing off the ropes, dusting off his shoulder, and dropping all five knuckles against The Ratman’s forehead. Looking to end the match and gain some prestige in the process, John lifts Burque onto his shoulders for his Attitude Adjustment. Sensing danger, The Ratman lands on his feet after John flips him into the air, and he immediately reaches out to poke Big Match John in the eye.

Despite having the opportunity to make the tag, Burque continues to lay into John with rights and lefts, still determined to impress his “Uncle Larry”. As KaChow screams for Burque to tag out at ringside, The Ratman hits Blade with an inverted atomic drop and then rockets off the ropes with a spinning lariat. With John down on the mat, Percy finally hears KaChow screaming his name, but instead of taking his coach’s advice and tagging out, The Ratman slides to ringside in order to give Larry a great, big hug. As KaChow is embraced against his will, Papercut scurries out of Percival’s pocket and perches on Larry’s shoulder. Then, with KaChow completely unaware that there is a rodent resting upon him, Percy slides back into the ring. Unfortunately, his time outside has given Blade a moment to recover, and he’s immediately met by an Attitude Adjustment.

ONE!
TWO!
THR - SAVE BY CADILLAC!

TREY BOOKER: Percy really should have made the tag there!

J.T. PRICE: The guy wants to impress our future Assistant GM! Who can blame him for that?

Sensing that he won’t do it for himself, Caddy grabs hold of Percy’s arm after kicking John Blade away and forcefully drags Percy to his corner where he can tag himself in. Jackson then rushes back in towards Blade, taking him off his feet with a shoulder tackle. Caddy continues to bounce off the ropes, but this time Blade hits the canvas and Jackson leaps over him. He rebounds again and...EJECTION BY JACKSON! The move hits John Blade hard, but also with such force that it knocks him back towards his corner where Diana is able to tag herself in. She charges in at the captain of Team KaChow but Jackson greets her with The Cadillac Flapjack! He immediately goes for the pin on his stunned opponent!

ONE!
TWO!
THR - SAVE BY MYOJIN!

Cadillac glares at the X-Factor Champion as they go back to their corner, and he then pulls Diana up by her head. Hooking her in a front facelock, he drags Diana back to his corner where he can tag in DJ Hunter. The member of Phantom Troupe enters the ring off the top rope, dropping a double ax against Diana’s exposed back while Caddy holds her in place. He then hits a German Suplex, rolls back to his feet, and fires off a ripcord clothesline that flips Diana head over heels! With his opponent down, Hunter quickly tags out to KAYLA, who charges into the ring and connects with a basement dropkick on the kneeling Diana. KAYLA then whips Diana into the corner and attempts to follow up with a running knee, but Diana has just enough awareness to duck away!

A quick tag brings Skylar into the ring and her running blockbuster drives KAYLA down to the mat. Ramsay then lays in some seated back kicks and a low dropkick as well. She then bounces off the ropes with a big knee drop in mind, but Kyle Valentine strikes her from the apron with a clothesline to the back of the head! KAYLA then drops Skylar with a drop toe hold, before rolling to her corner to tag Kyle into the match. Valentine springboards off the top rope and plants an elbow drop to the back of Skylar’s head. He quickly rolls her over and goes for a pin, but Malachite Minj breaks up the pin at two!

TREY BOOKER: We’re seeing lots of tags in and out of the match now that Burque is out of the ring, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

J.T. PRICE: With ten people involved in this one, it’s going to be difficult for anyone to score a winning fall.

Kyle pushes Skylar into the corner where he starts to unload a series of chops, but suddenly she reverses and shoves Valentine into the corner to hit some chops of her own! She then backs up before hitting a corner Yakuza kick that knocks Valentine onto his ass. After backing up again, Skylar hits a running face wash before dragging Kyle to the center of the ring and tagging in Monsieur Malachite! Minj enters the ring for the first time with a springboard moonsault that is right on target, but the following pin attempt is quickly broken up by DJ Hunter. Minj is not deterred as he hits a stiff roundhouse kick as Valentine is getting on his feet, and then follows that up with an attempted Hint of Minj Corkscrew Roundhouse with Kyle on his knees!

Valentine is able to duck under the kick at the last second, and he then springs up to tackle Malachite off his feet. The two roll back and forth on the mat as each one tries to get an advantage over the other, and Cadillac Jackson jumps between the ropes to try giving his teammate the advantage. Caddy is cut off by the official, which only allows John Blade to enter the ring and grab Valentine, lifting him up and then sending him back down with a gutwrench powerbomb. Blade is back out of the ring before the referee’s attention returns to the match, and Minj hits the downed Valentine with a double footstomp to the chest. He then grabs hold of Valentine’s head and reaches out for the tag, bringing Diana back into the ring.

Diana returns to the match by going for her Energy Splash off the top rope, but Kyle is able to pull up his knees at the last second and The Energy Bunny has a rough landing. With both competitors down, Diana begins to crawl towards her corner to make a much needed tag after the failed frog splash attempt, but this brings Cadillac Jackson running into the ring to stop her. Not fond of Jackson’s continued attempts at interference, MYOJIN springboards into the ring and nails Caddy with a front dropkick! Seeing his team captain attacked, Burque runs back into the ring as well, which only leads to Minj leaping between the ropes. The referee is quickly losing control as the brawl between Cadillac and MYOJIN spills to ringside, soon followed by Burque and Minj as well. With the referee distracted by everything that’s going on, KAYLA enters the ring and charges to hit Skylar Ramsay with a spear that knocks both of them to the ringside floor. With Ramsay and KAYLA now outside, John Blade returns to the ring to help out his partner, only to be met by Sinner’s Nirvana from The Phantom Troupe.

The four move combo sends Blade rolling under the ropes for cover, leaving only Diana and The Phantom Troupe inside of the ring. With everyone else in the match caught up in their battle at ringside, Valentine and Hunter hit Diana with Gran Rey Cero and Kyle quickly follows up with a pin.

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winners of the match...Kyle Valentine, DJ Hunter, KAYLA, Percival Burque, and Cadillac Jackson...TEAM KACHOW!!!

TREY BOOKER: KaChow’s team has managed to pull of the victory here, due in part to him having a legitimate tag team on his side!

J.T. PRICE: The Phantom Troupe gets to stand tall at the end of this one, but I don’t think the rest of these maniacs are done!

As The Phantom Troupe celebrates in the ring, half of the match participants continue to fight amongst themselves at ringside. Skylar puts the boots to KAYLA and Percival chokes Minj over the guardrail, as Cadillac and MYOJIN exchange a series of chops. Looking to get involved for himself, we see Larry KaChow snatch up a steel chair and creep up behind the unsuspecting Shining Star. MYOJIN is too focused on Cadillac to sense Larry’s approach, but thankfully Caden Young is there to see everything unfolding. Before he can slam the chair over MYOJIN’s head, Caden spins Larry around and gives him a hard kick to the midsection. He then yanks the chair out of Larry’s hands, and before he can even get his hands up, Caden slams the steel over KaChow’s exposed head!

The loud bang of the chair followed by Larry’s collapse to the floor draws the attention of the other fighters. Terrified to see his “Uncle Larry” treated in such a manner, Percival shoves Minj aside and rushes to KaChow’s side. As Caden backs away while raising MYOJIN’s hand into the air, Percival cradles the unconscious Larry in his arms, looks to the heavens above, and lets out an overly dramatic scream. Meanwhile, Cadillac stares down MYOJIN as both competitors accept that their battle is far from over.

TREY BOOKER: Damn! Larry is going to think twice about trying to blindside someone after that shot!

J.T. PRICE: Team KaChow are the official winners in this strange test of leadership, but Larry doesn’t look like much of a winner compared to Caden right now.

As Caden and MYOJIN continue to make their exit following a disappointing loss that neither can be blamed for, Cadillac turns his attention back to his fallen coach. He barely has time to take stock of what’s happening before Percival stands up with Larry cradled in his arms. The Ratman then rushes back towards the entrance, desperately crying out for medical assistance, leaving a bewildered Jackson and the rest of the match participants at ringside.


Backstage in the dressing room reserved for tonight’s officials, the Proving Ground General Manager has called a meeting as promised. The overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated referees are scattered around the room as Indy stands near the center near a monitor, where he was able to watch the events of the previous match.

INDY DARLING: That was exactly what I’ve been talking about. I understand that the blame doesn’t just fall on you guys, considering how much we’re asking from you with our booking decisions, but it’s becoming more and more clear that regular referees just aren’t up to the job. You guys don’t have eyes in the backs of your heads and you’re sure as hell not trained to act as security. I want to make it perfectly clear that what I’m about to do isn’t a reflection on your performance.

A few of the referees look at each other with doubt, as the GM does his best to reassure them.

INDY DARLING: I’m not about to have Proving Ground become a lawless wasteland like Fallout, so instead of throwing out the rulebook completely, I’ve decided to bring in a specialist to help you all cope with some of the more difficult situations you’re being put into.

The doubt that many of the referees were displaying is replaced by mixed expressions of concern and confusion, as they wonder exactly what their boss has in mind.

INDY DARLING: It’s clear that Proving Ground has a problem with the rules lately, so I’ve taken the liberty to bring someone onto the payroll who is known for solving problems. I’m sure most of you will be familiar with Proving Ground’s new head of security and special enforcer…

Indy lets out a sigh, as if he’s not totally confident in the decision he’s made.

INDY DARLING: ...Mason Kane.

The intimidating man most recently known for being Lance Williams’ henchman steps into the room, a scowl on his face as he looks around at the surprised referees. He stands beside Indy and crosses his arms, his scowl slowly turning into a smirk.

INDY DARLING: The last thing I want is for Proving Ground to fall into the hands of someone like Arik Holt, or for someone to get seriously injured the way Jason Long was several weeks back. He may not be the most friendly man...his presence may even put some people on edge...but Mr. Kane is here to earn a paycheck just like the rest of you. From now on, he’ll be on hand to put an end to any issues that might develop at ringside, and in the rare instance that we have a match beyond a normal official’s ability to contain, he’ll be available to step in as a guest referee.

Indy looks around at the referees, well aware of the concern many of them are showing.

INDY DARLING: So...any questions?

One of the officials cautiously looks at Mason Kane before hesitantly rising from a wooden bench.

REFEREE ROBBIE: Uh...Mr. Darling...how do you know this guy isn’t still working for Lance Williams?

Before Indy can respond, Mason puts his hand on the GM’s shoulder and elects to speak for himself.

MASON KANE: Lance paid good money for my services, but my loyalty to him ended when those checks were cashed. Now Indy and Rock Johnson are signing my checks, and as long as they clear the bank, I’ll solve any problems they might have.

REFEREE ROBBIE: Yeah but…

The referee gulps as Mason turns to glare at him.

REFEREE ROBBIE: Uh...what about Mark Hunter? Didn’t this guy do some really rotten stuff to him?

INDY DARLING: Yeah...I’ll take care of Mark. We have an understanding, so I’m sure he’ll see that this is the best move I can make for Proving Ground. Anything else?

Mason’s eyes narrow as he looks from one referee to another, and none of them seem brave enough to speak up any further. The General Manager then gives a confident nod of his head as we go back to ringside...


TREY BOOKER: I’m not so sure I agree with our General Manager on this one, J.T. Mason Kane is little more than a hired mercenary, and now he’s the guy who’s going to uphold law and order on Proving Ground?

J.T. PRICE: Well, if you ever take a trip down to Cobb County, Georgia, you’d better read the signs and respect the law and order…

TREY BOOKER: Were you dropped as a child?

The lights go dim as the eerie voice of a former member of the notorious Manson Family rings through the arena.

"yeah, I
remember her saying:
I'm already dead... I'm already dead... I'm
already dead..."

The lights flicker revealing Casanova English on the stage as the voice continues.

"You're going to get up and scream. I'm
already dead... I'm already dead... I'm already dead..."
You're
going to get up and-
Burn an x in your head."

The lights turn back on as Casanova English takes a long drag off his already lit cigarette, his leather jacket hung loosely over his shoulders. He scowls at the crowd before Bash Daddy slowly walks from behind the curtains to join him - the towering man shirtless, wearing black jeans and a leather mask.

English and Bash Daddy look at one another and smirk before walking down the ramp slowly. English stops to blow smoke in the general direction of some fans. Bash Daddy walks over to the corner between the guard rails and the ring. English slowly struts up the steps onto the ring apron. He hangs his jacket on the turnbuckle before stepping through the second rope. English smirks, pulling the cigarette from his lips, he blows a cloud of smoke straight up into the air and tosses his coffin nail into the crowd. English laughs as people move trying to avoid the ember. Bash Daddy glares from the outside at the referee.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for The Project Honor Warrior Rising Championship! Introducing first...from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and weighing in at two hundred twenty pounds...he is the number one contender...CASANOVAAAAAAA ENGLISHHHH!!!

The opening beat to "oops!!!" by Yung Gravy w/ Lil Wayne graces the ears of everyone in the audience. Peach and pink strobe lights start going off. Every woman in attendance suddenly feels the drip as the lyrics start and Lil Petey steps out onto the stage. Fur coat, multi-colored button up that's only halfway buttoned up, and black pants make up his attire. Petey's got a microphone in hand and starts to rap with the lyrics, even though the mic doesn't actually work.

♫Ayy, supercalifragilisticexpialiexpiali-dope shit
Supercalifragilic-, my ex be on some ho shit
Superman, I get dem bands but ain't gon' buy you roses
Super-duper get them cougars, took my wrist and froze it
Super-duper hoes
Y'all got Oompa Loompa hoes
I ain't never knew ya hoes
Prolly still ran through 'em, though♫

Lil Petey stops on the ramp and looks around at some of the women reaching out to him. He walks up to this couple as the song continues. Petey looks at the dude and points at the chick.

♫Oh, wait, wait, I do know your hoe?
You talkin' 'bout, you talkin' 'bout Tracy?
Nah, nah, nah, nah, you mean like, like, Tracy with the ass?
Tracy with the, with the Honda?
Shit, well♫

Petey winks at the woman and then starts jumping up and down while getting closer to the ring.

♫Oops, baby
Fuck up on your bitch, like oopsy daisy
Never knew that was your boo, baby
Hit her five times in the coupe, Mercedes, whoopsie dai-, yeah
Oops, baby
Gravy hit my bitch, yeah, whoopsie daisy
I just tried to hit, it's my duty, baby
Sippin' on the Goose, like Boosie, baby♫

By this time, Petey is in the ring, taking his fur coat off. He gently hands it to an official outside and vibes in the ring until the start of the match.

HOLLY PEREZ: And introducing his opponent...hailing from Condom, France and weighing in at one hundred eighty pounds...he is the reigning Warrior Rising Champion...LIL’ PETEEEEEYYYYYYY!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: I don’t know about you, but I am really looking forward to seeing Lil’ Petey’s first championship title defense!

J.T. PRICE: The drip is all over this arena tonight, but I’m not so sure Casanova is feeling very hip…

Petey is removing his sunglasses and gold necklace when suddenly Casanova dashes across the ring and delivers a stinging elbow strike to the back of the champion’s neck! Petey falls to the canvas where English immediately pounces on top of him, landing a series of hard elbow strikes to the side of The Drip Sensation’s head! The champion is still reeling as Casanova pulls him to his feet before hitting a German suplex. The referee goes down for a count, but English then rolls back to his feet to hit a second German, and back to his feet yet again, this time to drop Petey with a Russian Legsweep. Instead of hitting the move and releasing it, Casanova rolls over with Petey in his grasp and immediately applies a crossface submission hold!

TREY BOOKER: My god! The champion is being decimated right before our eyes! English jumped him as the bell rang, and it’s been all Casanova ever since!

J.T. PRICE: This might be it already, Trey! I think the drip is starting to fade!

Casanova has Petey locked in the hold in the center of the ring, and despite his best efforts, it’s clear that the champion is too far from the ropes to force a break. Petey does his best to scoot across the canvas with the challenger holding onto him, but just when his fingertips brush against the bottom rope, English rolls him back to the center of the ring and wrenches down even tighter on the hold. The referee drops to the mat and asks Petey if he’s ready to submit, but the champion adamantly refuses to give up his hard-earned title so easily. After suffering in the hold for longer than he’d like, Petey is finally able to roll his body, putting English’s shoulders on the mat in the process.

ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!

Casanova has no choice but to release the crossface in order to get his shoulders off the mat, and as soon as he does, Petey rolls toward the ropes to put some distance between himself and his opponent. The referee goes between both men as Petey gets to his feet, but a sudden and unexpected charging clothesline sends the champion spiraling over the top rope! The referee gets more forceful with the challenger as he pushes him back, but this only allows Bash Daddy to grab Petey and fling him into the ringside steps. Bash then walks toward the other side of the ring as English pushes past the official and makes his way outside. He then drives his knee against Petey’s body as the champion is slumped against the steps, before pulling him back to his feet and rolling him under the bottom rope.

With a sinister smirk, Casanova gets back onto the apron and starts to step between the ropes, when a desperate champion lurches forward to grab the middle rope and yank it up between the challenger’s legs! English stumbles into the ring and drops to his knees, giving Petey the chance to bounce off the ropes and hit a low dropkick to the side of his head. With Casanova momentarily down, Petey bounces off the ropes again, this time landing with his Eat This atomic leg drop! Not stopping there, Petey hits the ropes again, this time returning to hit his Can’t See This fistdrop! Finally, Petey bounces off the ropes a third time, finishing off his flurry of attacks with Lil’ Petey’s Elbow! He goes for the pin!

ONE!
TWO!
THR - KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: What a trio of moves from the champion! It was looking bad for him early on, but I think Lil’ Petey’s back in this thing!

J.T. PRICE: If Casanova had been pinned by Lil’ Petey’s Elbow, he’d never be able to show that twisted face in a wrestling ring again!

Despite the kickout, Petey does not seem to be deterred. In fact, he actually leaves Casanova laying on the mat while digging into his back pocket to produce his cell phone. Then, in the middle of a championship defense, Petey starts to send a text message.

TREY BOOKER: What...the...hell...

J.T. PRICE: Look at that grin on his face. I think he’s actually texting Hannah in the middle of his match!

TREY BOOKER: Oh Petey...that is not a good idea with a man like Casanova English on your plate...

After finishing his text, Petey slides the phone back into his pocket and returns his attention to the challenger. He slaps his knee to signal for The Drive By, but when he charges in, Casanova has recovered enough to sidestep and hook Petey’s leg with his arm to trip him up. The champion tries to get back on his feet quickly, but English bounces off the nearest ropes and comes back with his English Lesson instead, driving Petey face first to the mat. The move has Petey rocked, but English is not able to immediately capitalize with a pin attempt. Instead, he measures Petey as the champion gets on his feet and attempts a spinning heel kick at his dazed target. The Drip Sensation ducks under the strike and ends up behind English, enabling him to drop the challenger with a neckbreaker.

Casanova is quick to start getting back onto his feet, so Petey immediately grabs his head and drops him back down with a DDT. With his opponent laying prone, Petey goes to the top turnbuckle as quickly as possible, before launching himself back off with The Freaky Bomb! The swanton connects and he goes for the pin…

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

NO! Somehow English is able to get his shoulder up at the very last second! With a look of disbelief, Petey questions the referee’s call before eventually accepting his decision. He then grabs hold of English and whips him into the ropes, ducking down on the rebound to hit him with a back body drop. Instead, Casanova is able to stop his momentum, and he takes advantage of the situation by hooking Petey’s arms and lifting him into the air for the Existential Existence! It connects and Petey’s head bounces off the canvas like a basketball! The challenger is forced to shake off the effects of the Freaky Bomb, but slowly he makes his way on top of Petey for the pinfall attempt!

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

NO! This time it is the champion who barely gets his shoulder off the canvas, much to the dismay of Casanova English. With a shake of his head, the challenger decides to further punish Petey’s neck by applying another crossface submission, but almost immediately, Petey rolls him to the mat in a surprise cradle…

ONE!
TWO!
THREE - KICKOUT!

English pops back up and immediately charges at the defiant champion, but Petey holds up his hand and once again pulls his cell phone from his pocket.

TREY BOOKER: Oh my god...is he asking for a time out?

At first, Casanova gestures as if he’s willing to give Petey a second, but then when The Drip Sensation starts to text, English leaps up to grab the champion’s head before pulling him back down into The Silence of the Lamb! While he was able to avoid the crossface, the champion cannot avoid the flying triangle choke, and Casanova has the hold locked on in the center of the ring! Much like early in the match, Petey reaches out in desperation to grab the ropes, but they are simply too far out of reach. The referee asks him if he wants to submit, but The Drip Sensation refuses to relinquish his championship without a fight! He continues to struggle, waving his free arm frantically, but to no avail. After several moments in the hold, Petey’s arm no longer reaches out with as much energy until it finally droops to his side. The referee has no choice but to check it once….twice….and three times it falls!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: The winner of the match...and NEEEEWWWW Warrior Rising Champion...CASANOVAAAAA ENGLISHHHHH!!!!

Unlike his last match against TJ Thompson, Casanova releases the hold upon hearing the official announcement, and as the official leans down to check on the unconscious former champion, English snatches the championship belt from a ringside attendant.

TREY BOOKER: Unbelievable! We have a new Warrior Rising Champion, and the creepy bastard’s name is Casanova English!

J.T. PRICE: I can’t believe the Drip Prince went out like that! After a rough start, it looked like he was on his way to a successful defense, but then he got distracted by...his phone?! I guess it was that grinning psychopath’s night after all.

TREY BOOKER: I for one am embarrassed by Petey’s lack of focus. So much for him living up to the prestige Emmanuelle created for the Warrior Rising Title. Although something tells me that won’t be an issue with our new champion.

Joining Bash Daddy at ringside, Casanova slides the championship title over his shoulder while grinning back towards the ring. Lil’ Petey slowly starts to regain consciousness, and with a look of utter disappointment on his face, he sees his belt now in the possession of someone else. Still smiling, Casanova lights up a victory smoke as he makes his way back towards the entrance with the fans booing his every step.




Amidst a night of top notch in-ring action, Indy Darling remains busy backstage, now in his temporary office as he attempts to finalize plans for the next episode of Proving Ground. His attention is so focused on his job, that he fails to notice when someone enters the room unannounced. It isn’t until a familiar scent of perfume hits his nostrils that he looks up to see Proving Ground’s top backstage reporter, Crystal Ward, standing in front of his desk. He immediately smiles upon seeing the beautiful young woman, but that smile is not reciprocated.

INDY DARLING: Crystal! I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in. I’m still trying to nail down the details of the next show and...

CRYSTAL WARD: Mason Kane?

Her interruption is directly to the point, and Indy can tell by the tone of her voice that she’s not pleased in the least. It also catches Indy off guard and leaves him momentarily speechless. Crystal, however, is not in the mood to wait for his response.

CRYSTAL WARD: Seriously, Indy? What in the hell are you thinking about hiring that guy? He was Lance Williams’ right hand man, and you know all of the terrible things Lance said about me in the past!

INDY DARLING: I know it’s a strange move but…

CRYSTAL WARD: No. There’s no buts about it. You couldn’t have made a worse decision. It’s bad enough I have to worry about idiots like Poblano or KaChow slapping my ass, but a guy like Mason is dangerous on a whole different level. Are we supposed to feel safe with him running around? Am I supposed to feel safe knowing that he’ll turn a blind eye the next time Lance threatens to physically assault me?

INDY DARLING: Okay, please calm down. I think you're overreacting…

Crystal slams her hands down on the surface of Indy’s desk, clearly not reacting well to his accusation.

CRYSTAL WARD: Overreacting? Are you kidding me? I understand the need to bring some order to the chaos around here, the need to protect the members of your staff, but I thought you were the kind of man who would actually take matters into his own hands instead of hiring some heartless thug!

INDY DARLING: I’m the General Manager, Crystal. I have to be…

CRYSTAL WARD: Oh…I have to be fair. I have to be impartial. I can’t put my hands on the talent. That sure as hell didn’t stop you from putting your hands on me!

INDY DARLING: Whoa! Let’s not...

CRYSTAL WARD: Next you’ll be blaming it on your sore back! You can’t get physically involved in Project Honor, but that sure as hell doesn’t stop you from having matches on the other side of the globe for a rival company!

INDY DARLING: Come on, you know the PH doctors…

CRYSTAL WARD: Yeah, I know the doctors here won’t clear you, but the fact that you let a bunch of med student interns dictate your future is pathetic. When we started seeing each other, I thought I was dating a guy who could stand up for himself, but it’s starting to seem like Christian DeMarco was right about you all along. With or without your injuries, you’re just a spineless coward.

If it had come from DeMarco or Lance Williams, Indy could have shrugged it off. Coming from any opponent in the ring, he would have had a comeback. But coming from Crystal? From someone he cared about? The words cut like a knife. As she continues to glare at him from across the desk, Indy feels his heart break. Yet instead of letting it show, he does his best to put on his most professional face and respond accordingly.

INDY DARLING: Your concerns have been noted, Ms. Ward. If you have anything else, my door is always open.

In response, Crystal scoffs and shakes her head.

CRYSTAL WARD: Fucking prick.

And with that, she turns on her heels and storms out of his office. Whatever relationship the two had shared behind the cameras, with the occasional glimpse visible to the viewers, it is now clearly a thing of the past. Indy continues to stare at his open doorway for a few moments, before he finally hangs his head back toward the paperwork on his desk.

INDY DARLING: ...fuck...


HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and has a fifteen minute time limit… Introducing first from Los Angeles, California and weighing in at three hundred fifteen pounds…He is the former X-Factor Champion of Project: Honor... “The Essence of Egotism”...LANCE WILLIAMS!!!

"Bulldozer" by Machine Head graces the ears of those in attendance as it plays throughout the arena. The crowd reaction is clear to hear that they hate Lance Williams as they boo and shout abuse at him. The lights dim down, enough to just see the frame of a mountain of a man, the lights come back on after "The Essence Of Egotism", "The Bulldozer” Lance Williams lets out a ferocious primal roar. Lance stands there flexing his biceps, holding his guns up for the world to see. Once he has soaked in the boos and abuse, he starts to head down towards the ring with an arrogant smirk on his face. The crowd still maintains the booing and abuse, Lance Williams smirking smugly at those who boo him and give him abuse, he even stops to abuse the crowd back. Now at the ring, Lance jumps up onto the ring apron showing off his amazing athletic side letting out another roar just as ferociously primal as the first as pyros shot up from each turnbuckle. He then gets into the ring, the focus and determination clear to see as he stands there showing off his 315lb muscular physique, dressed in just a pair of black shorts that are just above his knee and black wrestling boots. A self satisfied smirk on his face as he is ready for action.

The music is replaced by "Cash Flow" by Ace Hood ft T-Pain/Rick Ross.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent, currently standing in the corner to my right, from Pacific Palisades, California...she is the former Warrior Rising Champion and “The Platinum Standard”...EMMANUELLE!!!

The music completely fades and Holly Perez leaves the ring, after a short pause the ref calls for the bell.

DING! DING! DING!

Emmanuelle starts the match with hard forearm shots until Lance counters with a stiff european uppercut, sending her staggering back. Lance charges forward with a clothesline that's ducked. A smooth transition has Emmanuelle taking control with a front facelock. She wants to snap down with a ddt, but Williams rushes her into the corner, slamming her back into the pads. The big man with a series of shoulder thrusts into the midsection. He hooks Emmanuelle by the head and attempts a running bulldog, but she shoves him off a few steps out. Lance turns right into a running forearm shot. Staggered, Emmanuelle goes for an irish whip on Lance but he reverses it, sending her into the far ropes. Williams looks for a sidewalk slam, but The Platinum Standard counters with a tilt-a-whirl headscissors that flips Lance over and down to the mat. She keeps the headscissors applied for a moment, but Williams pushes Emmanuelle's thigh off of his throat enough to impressively kip up out of the maneuver.

TREY BOOKER: Emmanuelle as always looking really impressive from the outset here and trying to build on forcing Brandon Hendrix to pass out just a couple of weeks ago. She genuinely may be the most naturally gifted talents on the roster.

J.T. PRICE: And Lance Williams is still an asshole!!

Emmanuelle spins back to her feet, but she's quickly caught by a high hip toss. Upon landing, Emmy picks Lance's ankle and yanks him down to the mat as well. Emmanuelle floats over top for a cover, but Lance shoves her off almost immediately. The two push right back up to their feet and this time Lance catches the former Warrior Rising champion with an arm drag that he turns right into a standing armbar. Emmy pounds the mat in frustration as Lance torques her shoulder for a moment, before she spins around on the mat and kips back up to her feet as well. Williams, still with wrist control, goes to pull her in for a short-arm lariat, but she ducks and takes a waistlock behind Lance. Lance breaks the grip and performs a standing switch. Williams pops his hips and snaps off a release german suplex, but Emmanuelle backflips through the move and lands on her feet. She stumbles for a moment, then charges forward for a punt kick along the side of Lance's head, but he moves at the very last moment. Lance picks the ankle and goes for the lateral press. Emmanuelle kicks out from underneath immediately. Lance grabs her for a reverse chinlock, but Emmy sits out and reverses the leverage into a hammerlock. Lance struggles for a moment but uses his strength to force both himself and Emmanuelle back to a vertical base. They step away from each other as the crowd responds well to the chain wrestling.

TREY BOOKER: This is a real change of pace for a Project Honor wrestling match.

J.T. PRICE: I give it two seconds before Lance gives up on this idea, he may have the real talent to wrestle like this but rarely the patience.

Lance throws a hard back elbow in Emmy's direction, but Emmanuelle ducks it and takes her opponent's waist from the front. Williams counters with a double-ax handle down across her back. He pulls her up onto his shoulders for a powerbomb, but Emmanuelle splits her legs at the highest point, breaking Lance's grip so that she lands right on her feet again. Emmy rears back for a clothesline of her own, but this time Lance ducks it. Both competitors carry through with their momentum and follow through to bounce off of the opposite ropes. The Platinum Standard goes low with a baseball slide, and Lance goes high with a leapfrog, missing each other altogether. They both turn and each go for a dropkick at the same time, the bottoms of their wrestling footwear colliding in the center of the ring. Both wrestlers pop right back up to their feet and into a fighting stance and the crowd in the American Airlines Center give them a positive applause.

TREY BOOKER: Holy fucking shit! They are still wrestling.

J.T. PRICE: Maybe two seconds was pushing it but no way does Lance allow this for much longer.

They eventually circle each other before approaching the centre of the ring, with Lance getting the early upper hand with a side headlock. Emmanuelle smashes Williams in the kidneys twice with hard forearm shots but Lance spins her over with a side headlock takedown. Emmy tries to counter the grounded headlock with some headscissors, but her larger opponent swats her legs away. Lance bridges to twist the neck and apply leverage down on Emmanuelle's shoulders for the cover.

ONE! Emmanuelle shifts Lance's body weight so that his shoulders are the ones now down on the mat.

ONE!
TW…

Lance releases the hold and both spring back to their feet. Williams uncorks another euro cut that has Emmanuelle falling back into a corner. Lance follows up with a charging corner lariat, but The Silver Starlet gets her boot up right to Lance's bicep. Emmanuelle charges him but he catches her attempting a tilt-a-whirl headscissors and he counters her right into the backbreaker across the knee. Emmy arches her back on the mat and the first groans of true agony are heard as she bends her spine back into place. Lance has to take a moment to shake out the arm a bit and by the time he thinks about a cover, Emmanuelle kicks him away. Emmanuelle works to push herself back up to her feet but Williams is right on top of her with a gutwrench variation that lands more like a fallaway slam, further working on the back. Lance pulls himself back up and does the same with Emmanuelle, taking her by the waist with another gutwrench. Emmanuelle grabs Lance's grip and bends his fingers back. She takes wrist control and spins around and quickly rolls Williams up…

ONE!
TWO!
THREE! YES! NO! WHAT WAS THAT!!

J.T. PRICE: FUCK!!! Lance kicked out big on the count of three!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER:The ref called for the bell, he’s called that a pin. I did not see that coming.

J.T. PRICE: That call was seriously debatable.

Emmanuelle quickly rolls out the ring as an absolutely fuming Lance Williams screams “TWO” in the face of the referee.

HOLLY PEREZ: The winner… via pinfall… “The Platinum Standard”...EMMANUELLE!!!

Emmy is making her way back up the ramp with a proud smile on her face, but back in the ring, Lance Williams is not about to let the issue drop. The referee insists that he made a three count, but his insistence only fuels the building rage in The Bulldozer. After a few moments, Lance is no longer willing to debate things verbally, as he grabs the referee and lifts him onto his shoulders...TORTURE BOMB!

With the referee lying prone on the mat, Lance paces back and forth inside of the ring like a caged beast. After Indy Darling’s meeting with them earlier in the night, the Proving Ground officials seem desperate to keep control of the program, as two of the men in striped shirts rush down to the ring. While one of them checks on their fallen co-worker, the other does his best to calm the ire of Lance Williams. It proves to be a foolish gesture as Lance scoops the man off the mat and then delivers his second Torture Bomb of the night. The third official looks up from his fallen associate like a deer in the headlights, just as Lance Williams charges towards him and plows down the ref with a devastating spear. Having now brutalized three Project Honor officials, it comes as no surprise when arena security makes their way toward the ring, but the overmatched officials are no match for the tempest of fury that has taken over The Bulldozer.

He drops everyone who dares to approach him with punches and headbutts, only pausing to give off a primal roar of frustration. In the midst of this chaos, Indy Darling finally makes his way towards the ring as well, and for better or worse, Mason Kane is right by his side. Lance spits and snarls at Indy when the GM enters the ring, and it would seem that the presence of Mason Kane is the only thing forcing Lance to pause. With a microphone in hand and his special enforcer at his back, Indy addresses the crazed competitor with as much authority as he can muster.

INDY DARLING: Enough! You’ve already earned yourself a fine and a suspension, but I swear to god if you don’t get out of this ring and cool off right now, I’ll be forced to take things even further…

Williams actually pauses for a moment, but an arrogant smirk starts to cross his face moments later. Calling the GM’s bluff, Lance grabs one of the fallen officials and slings him onto his back as if he weighs nothing at all…

INDY DARLING: Lance, I’m warning you for the last time...don’t do it!

And then, with the smile still on his face, Lance does exactly what Indy has ordered him not to do. The official is dropped with a Torture Bomb as if his well-being means nothing to The Essence of Egotism. Lance then steps forward and gets right in the GM’s face, as if he’s daring him to live up to his word.

INDY DARLING: Fine! You brought this on yourself, you arrogant son of a bitch! Lance Williams...you’re fired!

Lance’s expression turns from one of arrogance to complete surprise, as he cannot believe the words that have just escaped Indy’s mouth. Then, after the immediate shock has worn off, he reaches towards the GM with malicious intent. That’s when Mason Kane shoves Indy aside and jabs a previously unseen taser against Lance’s ribcage. The shock drops Lance to the mat, and while he’s stunned, the members of arena security pounce on top of him. By sheer numbers alone, and with Mason Kane assisting them, the officials are able to restrain Lance Williams by zip-tying his hands behind his back. Moments later they pull him from the ring and begin to escort him towards the entrance. Back inside of the ring, Indy Darling shakes his head while the crowd gives Lance the “Na Na Na Na Goodbye” treatment...





HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and has a fifteen minute time limit… Introducing first… already in the ring to my left… Standing at six foot, six inches tall… Weighing in at two hundred and thirty seven pounds… From San Antonio, Texas… Don Dada… BRRRAAANNNDDDOOONNN HEEENNNDDDRRRIIIXXX!!!

"Power" by Kayne West fades out as Brandon Hendrix stands in the ring with a smug look on his face.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent… residing in Hartford, Connecticut and weighing in at one hundred forty three pounds… The Phoenix Queen… TARRRRAAAA FENNNNNIIIXXXXX!!!

Every light throughout the arena flickers out while the crowd gives a premature cheer; when the beginning of “The Eagle Flies Alone” begins to play, a blue spotlight comes in at the same sequence and is shining at the curtain which gets the crowd riled up further. The cheers that The Phoenix Queen is receiving from the audience is outweighing anyone in the crowd that opposes her. The sound of the fog machines can be heard going off heavily as the stage soon fills with fog. The lights in the arena are coming back up creating a blue hue and just as the chorus kicks in, the crowd lets out a huge roar when they finally see Tara Fenix emerge from behind the curtain.

I, I go my own way!
I swim against the stream!
(Forever) I will fight the powers that be!

Tara is standing at the top of the stage wearing one of her designed jackets, and the hood pulled over her head. She is carrying a flagpole with a flag attached; she takes a moment to scan the crowd and see the number of her supporters and soon she raises the flag and waves it back and forth several times and the cameras do their own scan over the crowd and can see a number of people raising the same logo that is on the banner. The Age of the Phoenix. Tara continues to wave the banner for a few more seconds before holding it straight up and bringing the pole down to tap it against the stage and finally slings the pole over her shoulder while marching down to the ring. Some of the fans stretch their hands out for her, and she walks to one side with her arm held out slightly; however, her eyes remain locked on the ring. When she reaches the bottom of the ramp she goes to the nearby steel steps and quickly ascends. She stops for a moment and carefully attaches her own flagpole to the steel post where the Age of the Phoenix banner will be for the duration of the match.

I, I go my own way!
I swim against the stream!
(Forever) I will fight the pοwers that be!
The eagle flies alone!

After securing the flagpole to the ring pole, she takes two steps on the apron before sliding forward and down onto one knee; her head and eyes scan the crowd again while the crowd is chanting her name. She finally crawls between the middle and bottom ropes then charges to the far corner and as she lands on the second rope, she pulls her hood back and lets her arms go out with her palms up. She holds the pose for several seconds, then does a one-eighty off of the second rope to land back on her feet; she runs to the opposite end where the flagpole is, and repeats the process but this time holds the banner out for all to see the symbol. She does another one-eighty, lands inside the ring, and takes off her jacket while waiting for the match to begin.

J.T. PRICE: Be interesting to see what version of Brandon Hendrix we see tonight, he was so impressive and gained a fair amount of respect when he refused to quit last time out, only to throw some of it away with his ridiculous excuses on twitter.

TREY BOOKER: If everyone reacted the same way to everything it would be a boring world, we wouldn’t have much of a business if everyone shook hands like Tara and Hunter did last week, we need people to react strongly to make this shit interesting.

DING! DING! DING!

For a few moments Tara and Hendrix simply stare at each other as they walk forward to the center of the ring. After exchanging a few words, Brandon attempts a quick go behind, but Tara is quick to stretch an arm out, putting pressure on his elbow, before going around with a hammerlock. Brandon reaches behind him and places an arm around Tara's head, enveloping it in a headlock. Tara quickly takes Brandon by surprise and pushes him into the corner before he can gain his footing, and the referee calls for a break.

TREY BOOKER: Starting out with some good old chain wrestling.

J.T. PRICE: Which will surely suit the more experienced Tara Fenix, Hendrix will be looking to use his size and power advantage I’m sure.

As Tara is backing up, Brandon surprises her with a rabbit punch to the kidney. As she doubles over from the sudden pain, he charges forward with a clubbing blow to the back and the single shot is enough to drop her to her hands and knees. He lifts her up and hits a forearm smash to the jaw that sends her sprawling to the ropes, where she falls across the middle. He runs off the opposite side, but she quickly pushes herself out and leaps up with a spinning heel kick that knocks Brandon down.

TREY BOOKER: Right on cue Tara uses her speed.

Brandon gets up to his knees quickly, and Tara responds by kicking him with the sole of her boot square in the chest. He moves to the corner and she starts to follow, but he grabs her in a waistlock and tosses her behind him before then turning around and repeatedly driving his shoulder into her abdomen. She gives him a forearm to stop the assault and moves to another corner, but he runs in and drives his shoulder into her gut several more times.

J.T. PRICE: And as a perfect response Brandon Hendrix uses his superior power.

TREY BOOKER: These two will both be fancying their chances in this round robin tournament.

He backs up and tries for a spear in the corner, but she leaps up and catches him in the chin with a knee. He stumbles but doesn't fall down, so she executes a surprise snapmare on her bigger opponent, then runs up and hits a solid kick to the spine! He drops to the mat, arching his back in pain, and she quickly covers.

ONE!
T… Easy Kick Out!

TREY BOOKER: Tara knew that wouldn’t win the match but forcing someone to expend energy with a kick out is never a bad idea.

She tries a headlock of her own but Brandon is way too strong, getting to his feet with her latched on and tossing her into the corner. He attempts another shoulder thrust to attack the ribs, but she moves out of the way. He stops himself just before colliding with the turnbuckle, but when he turns around she charges in with a huge chop to the chest. She grabs the arm and attempts to throw him to the other side, but he hangs on to her wrist, readjusts himself and throws her toward the ropes instead. He lifts up the boot but she slides underneath, then handsprings off the other side, catching him with the flipping back elbow.

J.T. PRICE: Nice move, great agility from Tara Fenix.

Brandon is up to his hands and knees now and Tara gets in position to attempt her version of the codebreaker, named The Fallen Phoenix. She charges in, but it's still way too early and Hendrix catches it, getting to a fully vertical base whilst doing so and still clutching her legs. He then lifts her up onto his shoulders and steps backward, tossing her behind him, Tara lands throat first onto the top rope! She flies off and hits the mat hard, clutching her larynx and coughing.

TREY BOOKER: Great reversal by Brandon, but neither of these two seem capable of gaining and keeping control of the match.

J.T. PRICE: Back and forth action is always a good thing.

Brandon doesn't waste any time and as Tara turns onto her stomach, coughing, he charges in and drives a knee into her ribs. She tries to roll away and is clearly having a hard time breathing. He runs up and kicks her square in the back, before lifting her to her feet. She wobbles for a minute and he charges off the ropes with a massive clothesline. Tara Fenix literally does a 360 on the move behind landing! Hendrix covers!

ONE!
TWO!
THR---NO! Tara gets her shoulder up.

Brandon doesn't try to argue with the ref, instead he lifts Tara to her feet and runs off the ropes again. He seems to be looking for another clothesline, but this time Tara rolls forward to avoid it. She gets to her feet and spins around, kicking him in the shin to drop him to a knee, then kicking him in the jaw with a superkick!

TREY BOOKER: GENOCIDE KICK BY TARA FENIX!!

J.T. PRICE: He ain’t down though.

Somehow Brandon is still on a knee and hasn’t dropped, so Tara charges in with a shining wizard! She takes a moment to rest. As she does so, however, Hendrix rolls to the outside of the ring for a breather, and to avoid getting pinned. Tara doesn't give him the chance though, she runs and leaps over the top with a diving crossbody!

TREY BOOKER: Tara just won’t let up right now.

Tara is up first as Brandon broke her fall. She grabs him by the head and leads him into the ring. She gets in after him and charges, but as she does so he gets the standing big boot he was looking for earlier! He collapses as he hits it and Tara drops to the mat, meaning both are down and out! Hendrix lies on his back, breathing for a few moments, before rolling over and draping an arm across Tara.

ONE!
TWO!
NO! Another kickout!

Slightly frustrated, Brandon gets Tara in a headlock and gets to his feet, but she begins to fight out with forearms. He adjusts his plan and instead throws her into the nearest corner as hard as he can, causing her to bounce off of it and fall face first to the mat. She pulls herself up using the ropes for help, and finds herself resting in the corner. Hendrix charges in for a spear, but Tara steps up the turnbuckle and leapfrogs him, bounces off the ropes and then hits a spear of her own on the way back! The size difference means it doesn't have a huge effect, and Brandon is quickly back up. She charges off the ropes again and nails a running Codebreaker…

TREY BOOKER: FALLEN PHOENIX!!!

Tara hooks the leg…

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!! TARA FENIX WINS!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: Great match.

HOLLY PEREZ: The winner of the match via pinfall… The Phoenix Queen… TARA FENIX!!!

TREY BOOKER: So the first round of the Clive Darling Memorial Tournament is complete with Emmanuelle and Tara Fenix both sitting at five points each, while Brandon Hendrix and Lance Williams are at two points a piece. With two more rounds to go, there’s no way to declare an early leader just yet.

J.T. PRICE: And Lance Williams has been fired! What is that going to do to the tournament moving forward?


Our view slowly comes up and we see Fallout General Manager, Arik Holt, sitting behind a desk with his hands interlocked. Dressed in a light blue suit, he is giving off super creepy vibes.

ARIK HOLT: Well HELLO to all my friends over in Proving Ground land.

Even though you can not see it, you can hear the fans booing.

ARIK HOLT: I come to you tonight with some major news from the green brand. You know...Fallout...the superior brand? The brand of True Society?

The booing gets even louder as Arik’s smile gets wider.

ARIK HOLT: I know...I know...you love me, it really shows. But tonight isn't about me. Tonight is for you all to enjoy a bland, watered-down, ho-hum, technical wrestling show that you will forget about by the time you get home. Tonight is for you to watch the Lil Peteys and Percival Burque’s of the world participate in tickle fights and White Claw drinking contests.

Fans continue to boo.

ARIK HOLT: But like I said, I bring news from the show that tickle each other with barbed wire. News from the show that participates in Whiskey and Absinthe drinking parties. You see, last night you all watched the unveiling of a mega-power. You all saw the birth of a True Society! And while some of the peons on Fallout think they could stand up and match-up to the force I have put together, others found out that they could not.

Arik’s smile fades away as he takes a deep breath.

ARIK HOLT: Pyro, a man once known as Sameal Eville...if that isn’t a made up name, then I don’t know what the hell is going on...attacked one of my True Society members and was promptly met with a Giga Drill Break onto a metal trash can. As Alara Adams unceremoniously put it, it looked like Pyro’s neck folded up like an accordion. After the show went off the air, medics rushed down to the ring and immediately began to assess the situation and take care of Mr. Evil- ahem, Pyro.

He looks down at some papers in front of him.

ARIK HOLT: It seems Pyro had suffered a broken neck and an injury to his spine that imploded multiple vertebrae. While Pyro will be able to walk and use his extremities much to the delight of young Anya, I am afraid that his career has been cut short. Pyro can not be cleared to continue his Project: Honor career.

With the papers back in a nice pile, Holt looks back up to the camera.

ARIK HOLT: So originally I had planned for Pyro to take on Slade Castle and the winner of an Ellie Quinn/Savannah Sunshine match-up. Instead, as of last night, Pyro will be stripped of the Noble Championship. And at Bloodbath, Slade Castle will fade off against Ellie Quinn and Savannah Sunshine for the newly vacated Noble Title. And of course, we know he’s going to win, so no problem there.

After quieting down during the information about Pyro’s injury, the fans began to boo again.

ARIK HOLT: And as for the Project: Honor Tag Team Championship Titles? While Pyro is no longer able to defend his title, it can be stripped from him...but not of Julius Fairweather. So again, as where I had plans to throw Fire & Ice against The Massacre and another team of my choosing...shit happens.

Holt leans down behind his desk before coming back up and placing the Project: Honor Tag Team Championship Titles in front of him.

ARIK HOLT: You see, I had a nice discussion with Lazarus Arjen and Charon Seede last night. Lazarus has some personal business to attend to and Charon is going to rest his body while Arjen takes care of said-shit. SO...I have reclaimed the Tag Titles from them...with the promise that when they DO return...they will get FIRST crack at them! But for now? Julius Fairweather...one of these are yours for sure, but what about the other one? Julius has sixteen days to find a partner for Bloodbath, to go against True Society’s Graham Baker and Lesley Adora. He either finds a partner and sees if they can coexist...or it becomes a Handicap match for these pretty little shiny things.

A little lost in the moment, Arik begins to run his finger along the designs of the belts.

ARIK HOLT: Just think, by the time Bloodbath comes to an end...True Society can hold the Tag Team Championships, the Prime, the Noble, AND the Ascension Titles.

His eyes slowly move up to meet the camera.

ARIK HOLT: Then maybe...just maybe...we might start to bleed out onto Proving Ground and reach for your gold too.

Arik winks at the camera.

ARIK HOLT: Maybe.

And with that, the scene slowly fades to black.


When we return to the ring, Arata Asakura is already present, standing in his corner with a scowl upon his face, clearly annoyed by having to participate in yet another tag team contest. As "Honō no Megami (炎の女神)" by Adrian von Ziegler is playing, Holly Perez begins her introductions.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is a tag team match and it is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Osaka, Japan and weighing in at two hundred twenty pounds… “The Gaijin Killer”...ARATAAAA ASAKURAAAA!!!

“Feel Invincible” by Skillet suddenly sounds throughout the building and the crowd erupt into an undeniably positive response. After a few seconds' pause Mark Hunter strolls out onto the ramp area, he smirks in a self-satisfied and confident manner at the reaction from the fans and begins his walk down to the ring. Mark acknowledges a few fans with fist bumps as he wanders down the ramp, he continues to receive the great crowd response as he ascends the ring steps. He enters between the middle and top rope and instantly wanders over to the far corner, where he exchanges an uncomfortable glance with Arata before climbing up and posing for the crowd, whilst taking in the response from the fans. He soon steps down to the canvas and stretches his arms in the air before readying himself for action. At this stage the music slowly fades away.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his partner, from San Jose, California and weighing in at two hundred eleven pounds… “The Straight Shooter”...MARRRRRRK HUNTERRRRR!!!

The lights in the arena fall dark for a moment before a serpent coated in dark purple and bright pink scales appears on the titantron, circling round and round until it consumes its own tail as letters seem to emerge through a watery effect to read "JÖRMUNGADR". The spotlights of purple and pink hues turn to light up Crowley and Shelldrake respectively on the stage. Both wearing their masks. Crowley walks down the ramp first, with the taller frame of Shelldrake right behind him. The DAMNED Heart steps up onto the apron and stands by the corner turnbuckle, Shelldrake moving through the ropes before standing on the middle rope behind his tag team partner and removing his mask, raising the 'up-yours' V gesture to the camera. Meanwhile Crowley pulls down his hood to reveal his own dark mask, ripping it off and outstretching his arms. Shelldrake places his kraken mask on the ring post as Crowley steps through the ropes and into the ring.

HOLLY PEREZ: And their opponents, at a total combined weight of four hundred fourteen pounds...Jay Crowley...Swindle Shelldrake...they are “The World Serpents”...JORMUNGANDRRRRR!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: Separate entrances for Arata and Mark, although that shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Meanwhile, Crowley and Shelldrake have been on a tear recently, whether together or as a team.

J.T. PRICE: I guess Asakura and Hunter had better come up with some kind of cohesive strategy if they want to compete against The World Serpents.

Mark Hunter will be starting for his team, as Arata clearly has no interest in this upcoming bout. On the other side of the ring, Jay Crowley starts out for his team and he meets Hunter in the center of the ring shortly after the opening bell. The two men lock up, and being of similar size and stature, neither is able to gain the early advantage. After a few moments, Hunter begins to push Crowley back, but when they reach the ropes, Jay reverses and starts to dominate for himself. Mark finds the strength to push back, and this time the two men move their lock up to the opposite side of the ring. Once again, Crowley reverses, but instead of pressing Mark against the ropes, both men spill to the outside.

Even on the floor, they continue to struggle for superiority in the lock up, but the hold is finally broken by Jay, who then grabs Mark’s head and slams it against the ring apron. Not to be outdone, Mark immediately grabs Crowley’s head and gives him a taste of his own medicine. Mark then grabs Jay by the wrist and attempts to whip him towards the guardrail, but Crowley shifts the momentum and it’s Mark’s body that crashes against the steel barrier. With the referee not even up to a five count, Crowley rolls Mark back under the bottom rope and then leaps onto the apron. Hunter is just getting back on his feet when Crowley leaps into the ring with a springboard clothesline that hits its target. Jay then grabs Mark by the head and reaches back to bring his partner into the fray.

TREY BOOKER: Good quick tag by Crowley as Jormungandr are already showing their tag team skills.

J.T. PRICE: Skills that pay the bills!

Crowley picks up Mark in a back suplex lift and then tosses him forward into Shelldrake’s European Uppercut before leaving the ring, making sure that Swindle has the advantage as he goes to work on the Straight Shooter. After a spinning side kick to the gut, Swindle drops Mark with a double arm DDT, then runs to the ropes and fires back by dropping a series of elbows onto his prone opponent. With Hunter starting to get softened up, Shelldrake drops on top of him to apply a side headlock, if for no other reason than to force Mark to expend some energy. Hunter is only in the hold for a short time as he fights to his feet, eventually breaking the headlock by shoving Swindle off toward the ropes. Mark tries to catch him with a sling blade clothesline on the rebound, but Shelldrake ducks under it, hits the opposite side of the ring, and comes back with a sling blade of his own.

Once again, Mark is down on the mat and Swindle drops back on top of him to go back to his side headlock. For the second time, Mark is able to get on his feet, but instead of breaking the hold in the same manner, he elects to pick Swindle up and drop him back down with a back suplex. Despite the impact, Swindle keeps his arms locked on Mark’s head, so Hunter goes for a second back suplex, this time knocking Shelldrake off of him. With a moment to breath, Hunter decides it’s a good time to make the tag to Arata, but as he nears the corner, Asakura begins walking along the apron, even refusing to look Mark Hunter in the eyes. The Straight Shooter starts to object, but before he can get the words out, Shelldrake grabs him from behind, bounces him off the ropes, and flips him back with a rolling reverse cradle…

ONE!
TWO!
THR - KICKOUT!

As Arata shakes his head disapprovingly from the apron, Mark hops back to his feet only to be met by some stiff forearms from Shelldrake. Swindle then whips Mark across the ring and meets him with a picture-perfect dropkick before dashing to his corner to bring Jay back into the contest. This time, Shelldrake hits an enziguri on Mark before Crowley leaps out of the corner with a tornado DDT, once again displaying their impressive tag abilities. Swindle steps out of the ring as Jay makes the quick cover on Mark…

ONE!
TWO!
THR - KICKOUT!

Mark continues to display his perseverance by getting his shoulder off the mat, but Jay responds by planting a series of stiff kicks to the seated Hunter, rounding out the combination with a basement dropkick. Jay then pulls Mark to his feet and whips him into the ropes, ducking his head for a back body drop upon the return. Hunter leapfrogs over the attempt and immediately halts his momentum, planting a surprise Instant Karma superkick against Jay’s jaw as soon as he spins around! Unfortunately for Mark, the match is taking its toll and he’s unable to come up with a pin attempt. Instead, he slowly makes his way towards his corner in the hopes that Arata is now ready to enter the match. Mark reaches out his hand, but that happens to be the exact moment that Arata chooses to drop to one knee in order to readjust his kickpads. The disgust on Mark’s face is obvious, but before he can do anything, Crowley grabs him from behind and throws him to the mat with a German Suplex.

TREY BOOKER: Things are not looking good for the team of Hunter and Arata! Mark has tried to tag out twice now, but Asakura doesn’t seem the least bit interested in working with his partner!

J.T. PRICE: Looks like this is gonna be a long night for the Straight Shooter.

After hitting the German Suplex, Crowley makes a tag to Swindle, and this time the duo punish Mark with a lariat/chop block combo before Jay leaves the ring. Hunter slowly starts to get to his feet, but Swindle scoops Mark up as if to deliver a tombstone piledriver. Kicking his legs desperately, Mark is actually able to reverse the tombstone, landing on his feet while holding Swindle up for a piledriver of his own! The move connects and once again Mark has a precious few moments to collect himself. At first he looks to his corner, but before he can even think about making a tag, Arata drops to the ringside floor to intimidate a member of the audience.

Realizing he’s in this on his own, Mark grabs Shelldrake and connects with his Antidote twist of fate! Hoping to capitalize, Mark then makes his way to the top turnbuckle and it’s clear that he has the Zero Gravity shooting star press in mind. Before he can leap off the top, Jay Crowley runs across the apron and gives Mark a shove, sending him off the top buckle and to the outside of the ring, where his upper body lands atop the steel guardrail! As the referee begins to count Hunter out of the ring, Swindle shakes off the damage and steps onto the ring apron. He then runs off the apron to plant a knee against Mark’s back, pushing him harder against the steel barricade!

Swindle hops back onto the apron to break the count, and then gets a running start to drive Mark against the barricade a second time. This time Hunter falls away, and Shelldrake’s knee smashes against the steel guardrail. Swindle falls onto the ringside floor as Mark rolls away, and this is the moment Arata chooses to make his first move! Asakura leaps off the ring apron to hit the Golden Dragon on Swindle at ringside!

HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!

TREY BOOKER: Oh my god! What a move by Asakura! He may not be willing to do his tag partner any favors, but that doesn’t mean he’s not willing to bring the pain to his opponents when the opportunity arises!

Following the move, Arata grabs hold of Swindle Shelldrake and rolls him into the ring, before then grabbing hold of his own partner and rolling him into the ring as well. Mark is lying prone in the ring, at which point Arata leans over to slap him on the back of the shoulder. Asakura then enters the ring, just as Swindle makes the desperate tag to Crowley before rolling to ringside while still holding the knee that connected with the barricade.

Jay immediately charges across the ring towards Arata, who ducks under Crowley’s clothesline attempt and spins around to plant a stiff kick to the back of Jay’s knee. The move drops Jay onto one knee, and Arata wastes no time in following up with the Raikiri! The move stuns Crowley, but he still attempts to get back on his feet. This convinces Arata to hit a second consecutive Raikiri, and this one leaves Crowley unmoving on the canvas! With Shelldrake still trying to shake off the damage to his knee at ringside, Arata hooks the leg…

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

Swindle dives back into the ring, but he’s too late to stop the pinfall that Arata has claimed over his tag team partner. Asakura immediately slides to ringside after the pin to avoid Swindle attacking him, at which point he takes notice of Mark Hunter kneeling on the floor. Without hesitation, Arata hits his unsuspecting partner with the Raikiri, turning Mark’s lights out completely!

TREY BOOKER: What in the hell is that man doing? Arata and Hunter have won this tag match, but Asakura just dropped Mark like a bad habit!

J.T. PRICE: Despite the caliber of talent that exists between Arata and Hunter, this has to be considered an upset with the way Jormungandr were working as a team, and I don’t think Swindle Shelldrake is very happy about it!

Before leaving the ringside area, Arata pulls Mark up and rolls him under the bottom rope. He then gestures with his hands, almost as if he’s feeding a piece of raw meat to a pack of wolves. Asakura then starts to exit back up the ramp, not even looking back to see Swindle Shelldrake pull Mark to his feet. Jay has managed to recover from the two shining wizards to the back of his head, as he and Swindle show their displeasure by hitting Hunter with The Fall From Grace!

Even that tandem move is not enough to make up for their loss, as Crowley and Swindle pull Mark to his feet a second time, only to execute another of their signature moves, The Hart Attack V2! The spinebuster and penalty kick combo would be enough to keep any man down on the mat, but the appetite for destruction that Jormungandr has is still not sated. Shelldrake instead locks Mark into a Gory Special before Crowley comes off the turnbuckles with a somersault cutter, their Sinking Ship just the latest in tandem moves Jormungandr use against their helpless prey.

TREY BOOKER: I know it’s not fun to lose, but this is getting out of hand! We’re gonna need some help for Mark Hunter out here!

J.T. PRICE: Where’s Mason Kane now?

As if Mark has endured enough at the hands of Shelldrake and Crowley, he finds himself in a tombstone lift which turns into The Deep Sea Damnation. That doesn’t stop Jay Crowley from grabbing a pair of chairs from ringside and sliding them into the ring. He then slides one of the chairs underneath Mark’s head and passes the other one to his tag team partner. A twisted smile emerges on Swindle’s face as he takes the chair and slowly raises it over his head, and despite the fans hoping that he’s only bluffing, Swindle then brings the chair slamming down over Mark Hunter’s head with all of his strength behind it! With the thought of eliminating one of his Grand Championship rivals on his mind, Shelldrake then raises the chair to hit Mark a second time...

Mark Hunter is clearly unconscious and was in that state long before the chairs entered the picture, yet after what they faced at the hands of Lance Williams, it would seem as if the Proving Ground officials are in no mood to interject. Thankfully, a sense of justice is not lost on everyone in the locker room, as Tara Fenix emerges from backstage with a steel chair in hand, soon followed by other Proving Ground babyfaces like TJ Thompson and Diana. Not in the mood to be outnumbered, Shelldrake and Crowley finally leave the ring as Tara drops to Mark’s side and the others stand guard at the ropes.

Despite the situation now being under control, Mason Kane meets Jormungandr at ringside, resting his hand on the billy club tucked into his belt in a threatening manner. He gestures for Shelldrake and Crowley to continue making their way backstage, to which they oblige, as EMTs begin to make their way to ringside.


Perhaps most notably absent from the previous events in the ring was Proving Ground General Manager, Indy Darling. If anyone was wondering exactly where he was when his friend was being brutalized in the ring, the answer comes to them courtesy of a backstage camera. We see Indy walking through one of the corridors, wearing his jacket and with a gym bag slung over his shoulder. It’s clear that the GM has had to deal with enough for one night and is attempting to leave the building early. He walks past the medical station, where Percival Burque is pacing back and forth, clearly troubled by something.

RATMAN: Oh! Mr. Darling! Maybe you can give me an update on my Uncle Larry! I haven’t seen him since I brought him back to the paramedics earlier tonight and I’m so worried about him!

Indy gives Percival a nonchalant glance and shrugs his shoulders.

INDY DARLING: No clue.

He then starts to walk away, but Percival remains persistent.

RATMAN: But...but...but aren’t you in charge? Where are you going?

INDY DARLING: In charge? Yeah, right. I’m going home, Percy. Not that anyone will notice.

Indy manages to take a few steps before Percival interrupts him again.

RATMAN: But Mr. Darling…!

INDY DARLING: Oh, that reminds me. I fired Lance Williams tonight. Congratulations, Percival. You’re now in the Round Robin for the Clive Darling Memorial Cup...for whatever that’s worth…

Without further explanation, Indy continues on his way out of the building, leaving a confused and somewhat concerned Ratman alone in the corridor. After a few seconds, the GM’s words begin to sink in.

RATMAN: …..me?!


When we return to ringside, Mark Hunter has been removed by EMTs and only TJ Thompson remains in the ring. With his main event match coming up next, The Hip Beast apparently saw little need to make an exit only to return a second time.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, hailing from The Hip House and weighing in at one hundred eighty pounds… “The Hip Beast”...TJ THOMPSONNNNNN!!!

As the slow, creeping sounds of Heilung start to play the lights around the entrance dim down to bare visibility. The drums of the song beat, as small glimpses of a rainstorm can be seen on screen. The stage itself begins to billow out a thick fog, a cold mist curling its way along the platform and down the ramp. Quickly, the stage itself is engulfed in the fog, as much of the ramp is also. A small light shines its weak glow from the entrance, shining against the figure of a man. His silhouette, huge in size against the soft light now moves as he does, down the ramp and through the curtain of mist. He emerges towards the end of the ramp, his form now fully visible… Ozymandias.

He pauses before the ring, staring into the squared-cage before slowly removing his jacket and placing it under the apron. He stands upright, cracks his neck in both directions then power-squats onto the apron, before entering through the ropes.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent...hailing from Old Harbour, Alaska and weighing in at three hundred fifty seven pounds...he is the reigning Grand Champion of Project Honor… “The Butcher of Reine”...OZYYYYYYMANDIASSSSSS!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: TJ Thompson was standing tall at the end of our last Proving Ground with the Grand Championship in hand, and it won’t be long until he’s got a change to win that title officially!

J.T. PRICE: That’s if he can survive Ozymandias tonight and make it to Clash For the Cup! From the way things are looking already, Mark Hunter may be out of contention already!

Ozymandias steps to the center of the ring like the immovable monster he often seems to be, but it would appear as if TJ Thompson isn’t going to play that game. Instead the Hip Beast remains in his corner with a grin on his face before motioning his hands at his waist, as if the Grand Championship will soon be his. Ozymandias cocks his head to the side, as if TJ’s bravado has piqued his curiosity, and that’s when Thompson runs forward without a hint of fear. Ozy reaches out with both arms to grab Thompson, but TJ drops to the mat and goes between Ozy’s legs with a baseballs slide, quickly jumping back to his feet behind The Butcher of Reine. TJ is able to land a few kidney punches before Ozy turns around, this time with a clothesline meant to take Thompson’s head off his shoulders. Instead, TJ ducks behind Ozy a second time, and when the Butcher spins back to keep focused on him, Thompson plants a superkick right under the champion’s chin!

Ozy rocks on his feet but doesn’t even threaten to take a step back or drop to a knee. So TJ does what anyone would do at a time like this, and plants a second superkick to the big man’s jaw. Ozy rocks again, but before he can find his balance, TJ lands a third consecutive superkick right under The Butcher’s mask! TJ then bounces off the ropes and comes back with a running European Uppercut to continue rocking his opponent, and then repeats the move a second time! On his third rebound, TJ completely leaves his feet and plants a flying forearm to the bridge of Ozy’s nose, and the champion finally drops to one knee! The Hip Beast clearly sees this as a work in progress as he goes to the ropes again, this time coming back with a step up enzuigiri! The crowd roars as Ozy goes down and TJ leaps on top of him!

ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: What in the sunken house of Cthulhu are we seeing here? TJ Thompson is showing no fear whatsoever! It’s like his big moment at the last Proving Ground has filled him with more confidence than ever before!

J.T. PRICE: Go, TJ, go! Do the thing before Ozy decides to kill you!

Somewhat staggered by Thompson’s early offense, Ozy staggers back into the corner upon reaching his feet, and TJ quickly follows him in! The Hip Beast goes to monkey flip Ozy out of the corner as part of his Worship the Hip combo, but Ozy hooks both arms over the top rope and refuses to budge, sending Thompson onto his back when the monkey flip fails. The Butcher then takes a big step out of the corner to drop an elbow on TJ’s chest, but Thompson manages to roll away at the last second! Ozymandias starts to get back up quickly, but TJ catches him with a headscissors while he’s on his knees and turns it into the Hip is a Construct DDT! Ozy is down again with TJ going for the cover!

ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!

A strong kick out by Ozy doesn’t deter TJ as he hits the ropes and runs back at the champion, leaping onto his shoulders as he looks for a hurricanrana! TJ flips back, but that’s when Ozy refuses to budge again, instead lifting TJ back onto his shoulders. Thompson fires down a few punches from the high ground, but that ultimately doesn’t stop The Butcher of Reine from pivoting on his feet and planting Thompson with a spinning powerbomb! TJ arches his back in pain, and it’s clear that the champion has a strong advantage for the first time in the match.

J.T. PRICE: Well, that was fun while it lasted.

TREY BOOKER: You may be willing to count TJ out, but after what he’s shown so far, I’m not going to make that assumption!

Ozymandias takes his time waiting for TJ to get back on his feet and then lays him out with a heavy clothesline! Next, Ozy grabs TJ by the head and pulls him up, only to lock him in his massive arms and sends him back down with a hard belly to belly suplex. The Butcher then takes a few steps back and measures Thompson as he slowly rises, and then charges in with a jumping bicycle kick that nearly takes TJ’s head off! After that trio of moves, the champion feels confident enough to go for his own pin attempt for the first time in the match…

ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!

Thompson shows just how much fight he has by getting his shoulder off the mat, not staying down any longer than his opponent had previously. If the champion is impressed by TJ’s courage and tenacity, it does not show, as he pulls him off the mat and right into The Arms of Azathoth. Quite possibly the most powerful bearhug in all of professional wrestling, Ozymandias squeezes TJ’s abdomen while completely lifting his feet off the mat and swinging his body in the air. The referee jumps in to ask TJ if he’s still there, and Thompson responds with a shout that keeps the fans firmly on his side. While such an action may help his morale, it does little in the way of helping him breath, as Ozy continues to squeeze Thompson’s body like a near-empty tube of toothpaste.

Nowhere near the ropes, TJ instead fires off a few right hands to Ozy’s forehead, but the big man barely seems to notice and is no closer to releasing the hold. He squeezes again and this time TJ shouts in pain instead of defiance. Giving him no other choice, TJ finally decides to lower his teeth towards Ozymandias’ exposed forehead, and he bites the big man’s skin like a dog attacking a chew toy. The unexpected pain and the trickle of blood that follows finally convinces Ozy to release his hold on Thompson, who drops to his knees as he desperately sucks in some oxygen.

TREY BOOKER: See? I told you! There’s more fight in Thompson than anyone would suspect at first glance!

Ozy is quick to wipe the small drips of blood from his forehead, but as he leans down to grab hold of TJ again, The Hip Beast spits the blood that he drew right into Ozy’s eye! The champion reaches for his eye in response to the sudden sting, which leaves him open to TJ headbutting him right in the gut. The desperate move is enough to double Ozymandias over, and TJ quickly follows up with a rocker dropper! The big man is down again! He doesn’t stay down long however, but just as the Butcher is getting to his feet, TJ springs off the top turnbuckle for Hip with the Drip! It connects!

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

NO! Ozy shoves TJ off of his chest at the last second, keeping his hopes of winning alive! With some of his biggest moves nullified by the champion’s size, TJ instead opts to go with speed and high impact, bouncing off the ring ropes and coming back with an attempted asai moonsault, but Ozymandias catches him and turns it into the Sinking Faith! Now the champion goes for the pin!

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

NO! This time it is TJ who shocks the world by kicking out of one of the champions signature moves, and even Ozymandias is momentarily taken aback. Still, TJ is obviously feeling the pain and he’s unable to mount any kind of defense as The Butcher pulls him to his feet. Ozy then positions TJ for a powerbomb before lifting him up with both arms...it looks like The Call is about to be delivered...NO! TJ manages to escape Ozy’s grasp and drops behind him, hitting a reverse neckbreaker on the way down! This still doesn’t keep Ozy down, but as he gets to his feet, TJ slams into him with For Your Own Good!

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

KICKOUT! Ozymandias shoves TJ aside yet again, and this time the frustrated young man can visibly be seen saying ‘fuck it’. Leaving Ozy in the ring, TJ slides to ringside and grabs the nearest steel chair. He takes a big swing, no longer concerned about being disqualified, only with keeping the champion down! Unfortunately for TJ, the time it took him to retrieve the chair also gave Ozymandias valuable time to recover, and the big man punches the steel chair right back into TJ’s face!

The referee makes a judgment call and allows the match to continue, but The Butcher doesn't plan on it continuing for long as he once again lifts TJ up for another Sinking Faith! Not only is the move spot on, but TJ’s spine is firmly planted on top of the discarded steel chair. Ozymandias goes for the pin, and even shows a modicum of respect by hooking TJ’s leg…

ONE!
TWO!
THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winner of the match...the Grand Champion of Project Honor...OZYMANDIAS!

The champion snatches his belt away from the official, not only pleased that he has put down one of his upcoming challengers, but also to bring an end to Proving Ground as the man who raises the championship over his head. TJ rolls to the ringside area as the referee checks on him, while Ozymandias parades around the ring, his title firmly in hand once again.

TREY BOOKER: Despite an amazing performance by TJ Thompson, Ozymandias has scored another victory here tonight. I thought for sure that TJ was going to pull off the upset to the delight of these fans, but it just wasn’t meant to be.

J.T. PRICE: At least he’ll live to fight another day, and we still don’t know what kind of match the champion and contenders will have at Clash For the Cup. Maybe TJ will fare a little bit better when that time comes…

TREY BOOKER: For J.T. Price, Crystal Ward, and all of us at Proving Ground...good night and we’ll see you in two weeks!


*OFF CAMERA*

The show is over and the crowd has started to file out of the arena while the crew begins to tear down the ring. Yet one man remains behind, standing alone in the backstage area with a phone up to his ear.

MASON KANE: Yeah...it went even better than you thought. I'm right where you wanted me to be. In just one night, he lost his girl, was forced to fire his first employee, his buddy got carted out on a stretcher, and he has members of his staff openly questioning his decision. The little dumbass even left early. As long as your checks continue to clear, I'll be here every week to push this place closer to the chaos you love so much. 

He pauses, listening to the voice on the other end of the line. Then, when his next instructions have been given, Proving Grounds special enforcer gives his parting message.

MASON KANE: It's a pleasure doing business with you...Mr. Holt.