The cameras go backstage where we get a back view of a figure with blonde flowing long hair that belonged to a woman. She is seen doing some stretches and doesn't notice the cameras are there. The figure turns around and it is revealed to be Lexi Gold, newcomer to the company and the Proving Ground roster. Already dressed to compete, she gives the cameras a smile before she moves on to stretch her arm. Crystal Ward walks into view and approaches The Golden Goddess with a microphone in hand. Lexi stops what she was doing and looks on with excitement in her eyes to get some interview time with her.

CRYSTAL WARD: Lexi Gold, welcome to Project:Honor. The world has been buzzing about your signing. How are you feeling right now?

LEXI GOLD: I feel like I could leap some tall buildings right now. That's how excited I am about being here and don't worry, Crystal there are no spiders, or snakes accompanying me on this ride. I am flyin' solo this time.

Crystal looks a little uneasy at the mention of snakes but puts her fear aside and continues on with the interview.

CRYSTAL WARD: That is great Lexi, so in just a few short minutes you will have your debut match against Guy. How are you feeling and what can we expect from you out there?

Lexi looks up toward the ceiling and crosses her arms, taking a moment to process the idea that she is actually there and is going to compete for the first time, then takes a deep breath and nods her head before answering.

LEXI GOLD: I’m feeling the goosebumps all over my entire body. I have treated every single match that I’ve ever been a part of like it's my last. This will be no exception. I know this Guy fella wants to go out there and prove himself, but guess what? So do I, Crystal. I want to prove consistency and hard work does pay off. Most people would look down on my opponent, because he isn’t exactly well established and would shit on him immediately, but I’m all about giving chances, because I was in his shoes once, so here is your chance at the spotlight. Bring everything you got. I don’t plan to leave this arena, or the match itself until I do the same. I predict 2022 will be the year of the rising and Lexi Gold will be the one rising to any challenge put in front of me like the phoenix she is. Now if you will excuse me I must go now.

She gives her a smile before she walks away from the interviewer as she watches with the mic tightly in her grasp.

LEXI GOLD VS. GUY

In her much-anticipated debut for Project: Honor, Lexi Gold entertained fans during the pre-show by displaying her skills against the competitor simply known as Guy. Despite being shown a rare display of respect by his opponent, Guy was clearly outmatched from the opening bell. After ducking under a wild swing by the delivery man, The Golden Goddess dropped Guy with a high-angle belly to back suplex, followed shortly thereafter by a crisp jumping DDT.

Guy found the internal fortitude to kick out of that early offense, but as Lexi turned up the heat, it became clear that his time was running out. Lexi’s Gold Digger Gory bomb further softened up her opponent, before she once again took him to the mat with a headscissor takeover. Instead of releasing the hold, Lexi continued to apply her Golden Flare submission hold, forcing Guy to tap out just shy of the five-minute mark. After having her hand raised in victory, Lexi went one step further by helping her humbled opponent back to his feet and congratulating him on a well-fought match.

LEXI GOLD DEFEATED GUY BY SUBMISSION AT 4 MINUTES AND 13 SECONDS.

December 24th, 2021
Christmas Eve
8:45pm
During Proving Ground XXVIII: Season’s Beatings

Fading into a shot of long, wall-height windows, the dark pitch of the winter evening lit with small stars as the camera pans through to the interior of the room, seeing a series of gym equipment. The gym is quiet, but not without the sparse person here or there. The scene moves to focus on one person within the gym, along with someone who seems to be helping them with cooldown stretches.

TRAINER: Just hold your neck back for a few seconds. Bring it forward. Roll your shoulders back. You’re getting more at ease with the new routine, that’s good progress to see.

The man in question exhales calmly before wiping the sweat from his brow, the shot revealing that it is none other than Mark Hunter, the now retired former wrestler of Project: Honor. He turns and looks over to the glass panels that see through to the coffee shop of the gym, where he sees a familiar figure. Taller, and certainly lankier than your typical gym rat that would frequent a place like this, the trademark shock of pink striking over his fringe. Mark’s eyes narrow as he stares across the gym.

MARK HUNTER: ....I think we’re done for today….

—----

The scene cuts to Mark seated at one of the tables, back in his normal clothes, a coffee being placed in front of him by The Kraken. Swindle gently places his own drink to the table before sitting across from The Straight Shooter.

MARK HUNTER: What are you doing here, Shelldrake?

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: Is it so unbelievable that I’d come and see how you were doing?

MARK HUNTER: With how it ended the last time, yes, I’d say this isn’t your style. Did Darling or the board put you up to this? Your version of community service or something?

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: Considering I should be in a match round-about now, I’d think you’re not so hot on why I’m here. Does show you’re fully disconnecting from it all though, so at least that’s good.

Mark’s eyes squint as he looks Swindle dead in the eyes, not taking too kindly to The Kraken’s tone. Always thinking he’s a step ahead of everyone.

MARK HUNTER: If I don’t know then please enlighten me to your grand design, Swindle.

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: I came to say sorry. For what it’s worth….

That was even more disarming and worrying than Swindle showing up in the first place. The aftermath of the Scramble match, all the frustration now being distilled down to a chat over a cup of coffee of all things. A long pause goes by, and a sip from his mug, before Swindle continues. Oddly enough, despite that same oily smile on his face being neutered down a little to a more mellow visage, the notoriously treacherous Shelldrake, perhaps for the first time in his tenure in Project: Honor, seems….genuine? In his own strange way, but genuine. Which should be even more cause for caution.

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: I’m sorry if you had any….unresolved goals to make in wrestling before what happened, with such a quiet exit. And I’m sorry that you were in the way. It wasn’t personal….

Swindle draws some hesitation in his own word choice, while the retaliation that Mark’s face was building now had no idea where to go, perplexed all the more by the Kraken’s visit. His patience wears a little thin.

MARK HUNTER: ....Is that it? If it wasn’t personal, why do it after the match with nothing to gain? Why bring the end of my damned career when you did-

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: Because I am not good enough to have beaten you any other way…..

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: If that were a singles match, even if you really had declined from your glory days as champion. Even then, I wouldn’t have had it to win. The others could talk about your waning ability, I could too, but it would have been a lie. And it was. Anyone with their name to that title has it in them. Something that I’ll never have…..It was to get that person out of the way…..and it simply turned out to be you. I’m sorry that your career came to an end….but I don’t regret what I did. Without moments like these, people like me don’t get our time in the sun. I don’t revel in it, not really. And I didn’t with you, as much as it looks like I do. What manifests as a necessity always has a bitter aftertaste.

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: I came here because telling you in person is more important to me than some nothing match they put me in. It’s more important that I at least try to make you understand. Not ask for forgiveness, but to understand.

Hunter’s head shakes slowly, taking a sip of his coffee with a strained look on his face.

MARK HUNTER: To wash your own conscience clean. I’m still not convinced that you have one, Swindle. Mmm….you went to those lengths for the sake of removing me. What happens now when someone else wins that title? Does it happen all over again? You’re chasing something that will never be finished, and it’ll destroy you. Let’s say you finally get your moment and the way is clear to win the big one, you’ll just want more after that. On and on it goes.

MARK HUNTER: You being here doesn’t make you any less of a piece of shit. Either way I have to accept the new norm, and I have. Seeing you lurking around doesn’t exactly fit with that future.

Swindle listens intently before finishing his coffee, the smile returning to his face.

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: ....I can respect that. But until I find out for myself what being at the top means, it’ll never quite hit the spot. It’s ok, you can tell me I’m wrong when it all goes wrong….not a moment sooner….

Swindle drops a few bank notes over the table before standing, looming over Hunter for a moment with a small nod before he starts to walk away.

MARK HUNTER: Hey. If the board didn’t obligate you to be here…then who did? Unless you really showed up here off your own back…

He stops on his heel. Mark can see he’s thinking about turning to say something, The Kraken’s head turned to glance back lazily, seeing more of the Kraken he had the misfortune of knowing in the moody, slightly hunched twig that he is. At the same time, seeing a little more of what he means by other people. It's not the same gravitas of character that his contemporaries hold. The intangibles that would make a star, seeing that they’re nowhere to be seen.

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: ......good luck with the rest of your new life, Mark…..

He takes another long stride forward and stalks out of the room, leaving out into the dark evening night. Mark Hunter is left there with a reflective look on his face. Turning back to the table, The Kraken left enough money to buy himself another coffee.

♫ Where are the people that accused me?
The ones who beat me down and bruised me
They hide just out of sight
Can't face me in the light
They'll return but I'll be stronger ♫

Fireflight’s “Unbreakable” video appears on the screen when the music begins, but as the first chorus hits, images of Proving Ground superstars replace images of the band. The reigning Gatekeeper Champion, Angelo Caito, hurls a brick at the screen, creating a shattering glass effect in slow motion. LeeAnn Morgan then appears within the shards of floating glass, as we see The Gypsy Rose capturing a prize box at Black Friday to earn a shot at Angelo’s title. Next is the sight of Percival Burque and Serrano Poblano, the two men coming towards each other in dramatic fashion before ultimately giving each other a great, big hug. As heartwarming as that may be, the sight of The Phantom Troupe hitting the Gran Rey Cero casts a doubt as to whether or not Pepper Jack Cheese can be as successful in the ring as they are at recruiting their fellow outcasts.

♫ God, I want to dream again
Take me where I've never been
I want to go there
This time I'm not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it's unmistakable
No one can touch me
Nothing can stop me ♫

The screen of glass is shattered a second time as Douglas Crane seems to hurl TJ Thompson’s body right through it, a scene from Crane’s vicious attack on Thompson within an arena men’s room. The disturbing stare of Crane is then interrupted by the sight of TJ Thompson wielding a chainsaw after bringing the Rockefeller Christmas Tree tumbling down in an attempt to get revenge. Then comes the image of Johnny Levy, a lit cigar between his fingers and an arrogant smirk upon his face. Shards of glass continue to float across the screen as Swindle Shelldrake violently replaces Levy’s image with the execution of his Xanadu Clutch.

♫ Sometimes it's hard to just keep going
But faith is moving without knowing
Can I trust what I can't see?
To reach my destiny
I want to take control but I know better ♫

Tara Fenix raises the Clive Darling Memorial Trophy overhead, an action that shatters the glass screen once again, with images of Kurtis Slayne’s visage emerging in the broken pieces around her. As glass continues to shatter in slow motion, we can see the faces of John Blade, Officer Greyfield, Diana, Malachite Minj, Giovanni, Betsy Galagher, Sonya Benson, and Stella Jade become visible in various pieces floating across the screen.

♫ God, I want to dream again
Take me where I've never been
I want to go there
This time I'm not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it's unmistakable
No one can touch me
Nothing can stop me ♫

Lexi Gold’s version of the Gory Bomb on Guy from the Pre-Show is the next move to shatter the screen, sending broken pieces of glass flying in all directions. Images from MYOJIN’s championship victory over Lance Williams and their recent defense against Kyle Valentine appear in different chunks of the shattered glass, only to be replaced by shots of Casanova English’s sinister smile. We see his mystery box victory at Black Friday and images of his successful Warrior Rising title reign slowly replace MYOJIN’s highlights.

♫ Forget the fear it's just a crutch
That tries to hold you back
And turn your dreams to dust
All you need to do is just trust ♫

Arata Asakura hits the Golden Dragon on Ozymandias to capture the Grand Championship, shattering the screen of glass in the process. Different angles of his victory and post-match celebration appear in the sharpened pieces of broken glass before shots of Emmanuelle begin to emerge as well. We see the execution of The Platinum Standard’s Rodeo Driver and The Gaijin Killer’s Raikiri, highlighting their impending battle for the championship.

♫ God, I want to dream again
Take me where I've never been
I want to go there
This time I'm not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it's unmistakable
No one can touch me
Nothing can stop me ♫

As the song reaches its final chorus, Ozymandias hurls Syndicate off the fourth floor of the Mall of America to shatter the glass screen. This is followed by shots of The Butcher’s 6 month domination of Proving Ground, before he’s struck down by a baseball bat-wielding masked man. At that point, the pieces of shattered glass stop spreading out across the screen, pulling themselves back toward each other. This rewind effect ends as the glass reforms into a solid image, the confident stare Syndicate with the Legacy Championship securely over his shoulder.

♫ God, I want to dream again
Take me where I've never been
I want to go there
This time I'm not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it's unmistakable
No one can touch me
Nothing can stop me ♫

Fireworks erupt from the stage, ring posts, and around the perimeter of the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio as Unbreakable Resolution II is officially on the air! The sold-out crowd is on their feet with thunderous applause and cheers as the cameras scan around to pick up a few of their homemade signs…

“I’M THE COOLEST TJ THOMPSON”
“JEWISH KRAKEN KILLER”
“THE ONE REAL GRAND CHAMPION”
“KAVENGERS KASSEMBLE”
“MYOJIN WILL GET AN ENGLISH LESSON”

One of the cameras finally lands upon Trey Booker and J.T. Price at their normal ringside position, as the announce team prepares to welcome the viewers to the evening’s sold-out event.

TREY BOOKER: Welcome one and all to Proving Ground’s Unbreakable Resolution, live from Columbus, Ohio!

J.T. PRICE: This crowd is hip, Trey!

TREY BOOKER: As well they should be, because we’ve got the Legacy, Grand, X-Factor, and Gatekeeper Titles all on the line here tonight!

J.T. PRICE: What a way to kick off the new year!

TREY BOOKER: Speaking of kicking things off, we’re starting with what we’re being told is a huge announcement for the future of Project Honor as a whole.

J.T. PRICE: And I know exactly what it is.

TREY BOOKER: Really?

J.T. PRICE: Nope.

The crowd is buzzing for the start of the show as “Enemies” by Shinedown hits the arena.

J.T. PRICE: Hey… we heard that at Wired Consequences.

To a positive but reserved response from the crowd, the same short brown haired man from Wired Consequences strolls out from behind the curtain, this time he looks a lot more relaxed in jeans and t-shirt compared to the suit from last time out.

TREY BOOKER: I don’t know who he is but this guy is clearly part of Project Honor after appearing again here tonight.

J.T. PRICE: Looks more like a country singer than a damn wrestler to me.

The man has by now made his way to the ring steps having slapped hands with a few fans on the way, he climbs them slowly before looking around the sold out arena and mouthing “wow”. Upon entering the ring he is handed a mic and the music dies away.

MAN: You may have to bear with me through this, the wrestling business despite me being a fan for as long as I can remember has never really been my domain, safe to say I’ve not done much speaking on this scale and I sure as hell ain’t no wordsmith like Shakespeare. However, I can promise I’m not going to ever stand here and fill you with the self-serving bullshit that bald headed bastard running Fallout likes you to suffer.

The crowd pops at the insult.

MAN: I’m also not going to stand here and take up too much time, it’s important that the stars in the back get the time they deserve. For now though I must introduce myself, my name for the purpose of Project Honor is Adam Ekaterin and I’m the company's new Director Of Operations, I stand before you appointed by the new ownership of this great company with the power to run Project Honor however I see fit.

TREY BOOKER: HOLY SHIT!!

ADAM EKATERIN: First and foremost I want to say something to Mr Holt… the very reason I have a name solely for the purpose of Project Honor is you!! Since I dropped that paperwork on your table, you have tried VERY hard to find out all you can about me and my past, you have been digging away trying to work out why I exist and who I work for. A name can tell a story, a name can reveal almost anything, knowing someone's real one makes life a little easier, you don't know mine.

ADAM EKATERIN: I’m in a pretty fortunate position because I know a lot of shit that can ruin people here, I’m fortunate because that knowledge isn’t just mine, everything I know about the people here is knowledge held by the new ownership and a trusted figure connected to Project Honor. Now, Mr. Holt, I already don’t like you, I already don’t trust you, and I sure as hell don’t agree with your attitude towards using Society as a crutch to make up for your own shortcomings and the fact you’re a walking waste of oxygen.

Adam pauses before moving on.

ADAM EKATERIN: You will see over time that I have a real preference for letting talent get on with putting on a show, I’m not here to micro manage everything the way you may have been used to up till this point. I believe in the wrestlers getting what they deserve, if they deserve nothing, they’ll get nothing, if they deserve opportunity, they’ll get that. The talent under my leadership will get what they do and don’t deserve if I can help it.

ADAM EKATERIN: Julius DID NOT deserve to get jumped by True Society so I did something at Wired Consequences about it, Lexi Gold DID deserve to be under contract with Project Honor so I did something about it, and the big one affecting tonight… Emmanuelle DID NOT deserve to keep getting overlooked, Emmanuelle has every right to be granted an opportunity therefore I got the message out that she would get what she deserves by being booked against whoever held the Grand Title here tonight.

The crowd pops huge at the last statement.

J.T. PRICE: So he’s our new boss basically.

TREY BOOKER: And he clearly isn’t scared to make a decision.

ADAM EKATERIN: I don’t have much more to say tonight other than this… and I hope you are listening Mr Holt… I can’t legally reveal the ownership of Project Honor right now… in fact you can keep hunting but NOTHING will prepare you for the mark set to be made by those in power!!

Adam hands the mic back over and receives a really positive crowd reaction.

TREY BOOKER: Project Honor’s landscape just changed big time.

“Enemies” by Shinedown hits again as the company’s Director Of Operations starts to leave.

A disorienting strobe light effect fills the arena as the cheerful melody of “Even Rats” begins to play over the sound system…

♫Even the rats know that trouble's gonna come
To the edge of the city, see the little guys run
I hear Spring's nice in Canada
Maybe the men up on Capitol Hill
Need a little less Jack and a little more Jill
You can have my stereo
Even though the race may never be won
I can lay like a dandy, get heavy in the sun
Take a love song and beautify
Whoa whoa whoa♫

Percival Burque and Serrano Poblano emerge from backstage, The Ratman spinning in circles with his arms outstretched to his sides as Serrano holds his hands behind his head and slowly gyrates his hips. When Percy finally stops spinning and Serrano stops thrusting, they face each other and perform a ‘Patty Cake’ routine along with the song’s rhythm.

♫I hear the words but the meaning gets lost
It’s a game, it depends on who the ball gets tossed
It's the same ball anyway
You're tuggin' me now, cut me loose or take me on
You can pray, you can play the piper all night long
That's some good home cooking
Even though the race may never be won
I can lay like a dandy, get heavy in the sun
Take a love song and beautify♫

With the lyrics of the song complete and nothing but the happy yet somewhat melancholy instrumental remaining, Percy once again starts to spin in circles on his way down the ramp, while Serrano follows closely behind, occasionally reaching out to make sure The Ratman doesn’t spin right off of the entrance ramp.

They finally reach the ring and roll under the bottom rope, at which point Percy continues to spin without a care in the world, while Serrano does his best ‘Cabbage Patch’ and ‘Lawnmower’ dance moves. At ringside, Larry Kachow and Papa Rasputin watch on with expressions of annoyed disbelief as Papercut hops from one of their shoulders to the other.

As the music begins to die down, Percy stops spinning and it’s clear that he’s unsteady on his feet. Fortunately, his spicy friend is there to keep him from falling over, and once they both have their footing, they perform a second ‘Patty Cake’ routine before giving each other a great big hug.

TREY BOOKER: And here we are with Pepper jack Cheese! A team that hasn't had the greatest success in recent memory but have been giving their best day in and day out.

J.T. PRICE: That's an understatement, Booker. Has this team had any real success in general?!

TREY BOOKER: Well, tonight they may have a chance of turning things around against one of the hottest tag teams in Project: Honor currently, Phantom Troupe.

"Crossfire USA" hits the PA as Phantom Troupe, Kyle Valentine and DJ Hunter, make their way past the curtains to the ring. They high five some fans on the way to the ring before climbing in, heading to their respective corner.

TREY BOOKER: Speaking of Phantom Troupe, here they are! And they look ready for action!

J.T. PRICE: Even I have to admit that this team, especially Valentine after showing a star-making- pun not intended- performance against MYOJIN for the X-Factor Championship. He didn't win, but he made sure the world knew his name afterward. Then he and Hunter went on to win at the last Proving Ground of 2021.

TREY BOOKER: You have to wonder, can they continue the momentum into the new year?

J.T. PRICE: Against THESE chumps?! Is that even a question?

Both teams decide who will be starting the match, DJ Hunter climbing into the ring as Percival Burque climbs in as well. The referee lets both men know that he wants a clean match before it begins.

DING! DING! DING!

The two make their way toward each other, circling around the ring as both of them look for an opening. The Elegant Assassin reaches one hand out above his head, the Ratman following suit. Their hands connect into a grapple, soon enough followed by their other hands as it turns into a test of strength. Hunter with his 27 pound weight advantage begins backing Ratman back toward the ropes, pressing him against them as the referee quickly moves in to make sure a clean break happens! Hunter slowly lets go… then steps back, raising his hands in the air from touching Burque.

TREY BOOKER: Classy showing of sportsmanship from Hunter!

Burque frowns, but moves back into the center of the ring to lock up with Hunter once more. The two transition into a collar elbow tie up, Burque starting to gain some of an advantage- before Hunter transitions to a back waistlock! He goes to lift the Rat for a GERMAN- but no, Burque resists while gritting his teeth, doing his best to keep himself grounded!

TREY BOOKER: DJ Hunter is just way too good of a grappler!

J.T. PRICE: Pepper Jack Cheese really stands no chance.

Serrano encourages Burque from the apron! As he and Hunter struggle, the heavier man quickly transitions from a waistlock to reaching his arm between Burque's legs while falling backward, pulling him down into a textbook Schoolboy! The referee drops down to count!

ONE!

TW- KICKOUT quickly!

TREY BOOKER: Ooooh, he caught Burque off guard with that.

J.T. PRICE: Close, but close isn't enough to put him away, Trey.

As Ratman quickly stands up in surprise, Hunter grins while pinching his index finger and thumb- pointing out just how close he was to getting a three count. Burque glares as he walks up, reaching his hand to tie up once more- Hunter obliges, reaching his hand out to as well but- the Rat licks his palm!

TREY BOOKER: Ew!

J.T. PRICE: What the hell?!

Hunter, quickly startled, jumps back to wipe his hand off - not realizing Burque runs in with a CLOTHESLINE as he's taken off guard! Hunter goes down, holding his jaw! Valentine winces!

TREY BOOKER: What a line he threw!

J.T. PRICE: Huh.. Not bad, getting your opponent off his A-game to catch him by surprise. Maybe he isn't so bad.

Burque lifts Hunter UP and drops him back down harshly with a snap suplex! Hunter yells out, holding his back as Burque quickly floats over into a lateral press for the pin!

ONE!

TW- KICKOUT!

Hunter kicks out with authority, holding the small of his back- so Burquie buries his knee into his spine while grabbing ahold of both of his wrists, bending him against his knee with the stretch! Hunter cries out in pain!

TREY BOOKER: Burque showing his ring IQ by quickly applying a submission, not letting Hunter breathe.

J.T. PRICE: Textbook wrestling. Okay, the Rat DOES know how to wrestle!

Valentine yells for his friend, trying to motivate him- clapping his hands, the audience claps in the same rhythm as well- trying to hype Hunter up- and it begins working! The Elegant Assassin begins trying to stand, attempting to escape the hold- but Burque pulls him into an inverted facelock and DROPS HIM WITH THE REVERSE DDT, SPIKING HIM ON THE BACK OF HIS HEAD!

TREY BOOKER: REVERSE DDT!

J.T. PRICE: Hunter looks a bit out of it!

Burque walks over to his partner and tags Poblano in- AND POBLANO RUNS TO VALENTINE AND PUNCHES HIM OFF THE RING APRON SENDING HIM TO THE FLOOR AS THE CROWD BOOS, the two of them look toward Hunter and the Ambassador of FlavorTown grins as they quickly walk over picking Hunter up! Poblano lifts the dazed Hunter up on his shoulders as Burque climbs the top rope!

TREY BOOKER: They've isolated Hunter!

J.T. PRICE: Look what they're going for!

The Ratman dives off with a MISSILE DROPKICK- SENDING HUNTER OFF POBLANO'S SHOULDERS AND HARSHLY DOWN ONTO THE MAT!

TREY BOOKER: OH RATS!

Burque climbs out of the ring as Poblano quickly goes for the pin!

ONE!

TWO!

THR- KICKOUT! Hunter throws his shoulder up defiantly as Poblano grumbles under his breath! He drags Valentine back to his corner and tags Burque back in who climbs up the top rope while Hunter is held still- AND JUMPS OFF WITH A SEATED SENTON THAT FLATTENS HUNTER AND SENDS HIM OFF HIS FEET!

TREY BOOKER: WHOOPIE CUSHION!

J.T. PRICE: That has to be a broken rib or two!

He gets off of Hunter and tags Poblano back in, they lift the Elegant Assassin up and drop him with a DOUBLE DDT! ON THE TOP OF HIS HEAD! Burque leaves the ring as Poblano lifts Hunter up one more time and BODYSLAMS him harshly back onto the mat, Hunter writhes in pain but Poblano smothers him with a pin!

ONE!

TW- KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: They are really trying to destroy DJ Hunter:s back!

J.T. PRICE: He can't fight if he can barely walk!

Poblano grumbles under his breath. He calls for Burque to get back into the ring and they drag Hunter to the corner, lifting him up and pulling him down hanging in the Tree of Woe position!

TREY BOOKER: Oh no, anything but this…!

Burque moves out of the way as Poblano charges forward looking for a Bronco Buster- NO! HUNTER SITS UP ON THE TOP TURNBUCKLE AT THE LAST SECOND AS POBLANO GOES BALLS FIRST INTO THE BUCKLES! HE COLLAPSES AND LETS OUT A SHRIEK THAT ECHOES ACROSS THE ENTIRE ARENA!

TREY BOOKER: OH MY GOD! AN ODE TO UNCLE LARRY MISSED, AND POBLANO IS PAYING FOR IT!

J.T. PRICE: He'll never have kids… That's probably a good thing.

Burque runs toward Hunter who sees him coming and BACKFLIPS OFF THE TOP TURNBUCKLE LANDING ON HIS FEET TO THE CROWD'S AMAZEMENT! Poblano finally gets up and turns around to catch him- NO, SUPERKICK STRAIGHT TO THE JAW AND THE HEATER GOES STIFF AND FALLS OVER LIKE A SACK OF ROCKS!

TREY BOOKER: GLAMROCK SHOCK CONNECTED FLUSH!

J.T. PRICE: POBLANO'S OUT COLD!

Burque runs toward Hunter and he GETS LIFTED WITH A SCOOP AND HUNTER DROPS DOWN, SLAMMING BURQUE STRAIGHT ON HIS NECK AND UPPER SHOULDERS WITH THE SITOUT DRIVER! HE GRABS BOTH LEGS TIGHTLY FOR THE PIN!

TREY BOOKER: MICHINOKU DRIVAAAAAH!

ONE!

TWO!

THRE-! KICKOUT! Burque manages to kick out but goes limp pretty fast! Valentine finally makes it back to his corner, he's reaching out DESPERATELY for the hot tag! Yelling for his partner as the audience begins getting loud! Hunter tiredly begins crawling as Poblano finally starts stirring, he sees Hunter and goes to grab him by the leg, lifting him up- BUT THE ELEGANT ASSASSIN COUNTERS WITH AN ENZUIGIRI TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD THAT SENDS POBLANO REELING! HE DIVES FOR THE TAG AND HE MAKES IT, ROLLING OUT AS VALENTINE HOPS ONTO THE TOP ROPE WITH A SPRINGBOARD MISSILE DROPKICK TO THE CHEST OF POBLANO

TREY BOOKER: VALENTINE IS IN! VALENTINE IS IN AND IMMEDIATELY TAKES POBLANO DOWN!

Burque turns and hits Valentine with a stiff elbow strike that sends him stumbling! He Irish whips Valentine to the ropes and he rebounds off, Burque goes for a CLOTHESLINE- but Valentine ducks and rebounds off the ropes again! Burque turns around and gets met with a SHOOOOOOOTEI PAAAAAALM STRIKE THAT SENDS HIM COMPLETELY INSIDE OUT AND ROLLING OUT OF THE RING TO THE FLOOR!

TREY BOOKER: SHOTEI! SHOUTOUT TO JUSHIN THUNDER LIGER!

J.T. PRICE: WHAT A PALM STRIKE, HE OBLITERATED HIM!

Poblano pulls himself into the corner, sitting and holding his jaw- and Valentine sees him! He runs in and CRUSHES HIM WITH THE DOUBLE KNEES TO THE FACE, THEN PUSHES HIM OUT OF THE CORNER! Valentine stalks him, waiting as he starts to stand- he then runs back to the corner and jumps onto the second turnbuckle/rope with a pause, before LEAPING OFF WITH A SPRINGBOARD GAMENGIRI TO THE BACK OF POBLANO'S HEAD WHICH DROPS HIM FACE FIRST ONTO THE MAT!

TREY BOOKER: VALENTINE IS A MAN ON A MISSION! METEORA IN THE CORNER FOLLOWED BY THE BLACK METEOR!

J.T. PRICE: BUT WAIT, HE'S NOT DONE!

Valentine goes to rebound off the ropes and comes running back and jumps up- AND FALLS DOWN WITH A STANDING KOKESHI. HEADBUTT TO THE BACK OF POBLANO- HE THEN PUSHES HIM OVER AND HOOKS HIS LEG FOR A PIN!

TREY BOOKER: VIVA LA BAM!

J.T. PRICE: THAT'S GOTTA BE IT! WHAT A COMBO!

ONE!

TWO!

THR- NO, POBLANO STILL KICKS OUT! Valentine is stunned, but he isn't finished as he goes to lift Poblano up while hooking both arms into a double chickenwing- HE'S GOING FOR A TIGER SUPLEX- BUT NO, BURQUE IS BACK IN THE RING AND CLUBS VALENTINE WITH A DOUBLE AXE HANDLE TO THE BACK! He begins beating him down- but HUNTER GETS BACK INTO THE RING!

TREY BOOKER: THE RAT DOESN'T SEE HIM!

HUNTER TURNS BURQUE AROUND AND HOOKS HIS LEG WHILE PULLING HIM INTO A FRONT FACELOCK, HE LIFTS HIM UP AND DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD WITH THE FISHERMAN BUSTER!

TREY BOOKER: MEGA BUUSTER!

J.T. PRICE: BURQUE IS DEAD!

HUNTER NODS TO VALENTINE AS HE PUSHES BURQUE TO RINGSIDE FLOOR BEFORE FOLLOWING CLOSE SUIT! Valentine grabs the barely conscious Poblano with the double chickenwing again- BRIDGING BACKWARD AND SENDING POBLANO OVERHEAD WITH A BRIDGING TIGER SUPLEX!

TREY BOOKER: WOW! PICTURE PERFECT BRIDGE!

THE REF GOES TO COUNT!

ONE!

TWO!

THRE- NO! HE BARELY GETS THE SHOULDER UP!

TREY BOOKER: HOW IS POBLANO STILL IN THIS?!

J.T. PRICE: I HAVE NO IDEA!

Hunter gets back into the ring! Valentine looks toward him and Phantom Troupe already know what they must do, they pull Poblano up to his feet- who's practically out cold! They both rebound off the opposite side of the ring ropes- AND SIMULTANEOUSLY HIT A COMBO, LEG SWEEP BY HUNTER WHILE VALENTINE CONNECTS WITH THE YAKUZA KICK!

TREY BOOKER: WALKING THE DRAGON! But they aren:t going for the pin!

While the referee asks for Hunter to step out, they pull Poblano toward the corner on the same side as theirs- using their combined strength to lift all 320 pounds of Poblano to the top rope! Hunter then goes back to the ring apron as Valentine grabs the wrists of Poblano and SENDS HIM FLYING OFF THE TOP WITH A THUD TO THE MAT WITH AN ICONOCLAST!

TREY BOOKER: ICONOCLAST!

J.T. PRICE: They are killing him!

Valentine then tags Hunter back in, who climbs up to the top rope and FLIES OFF WITH A MAGNIFICENT 450 ROTATION SPLASH TO THE STERNUM OF POBLANO!

TREY BOOKER: OMNISPLASH! THAT'S IT!

J.T. PRICE: COUNT TO A HUNDRED, HE'S DONE!

ONE!

Burque begins getting up and sees what's happening, he climbs back into the ring but Valentine quickly runs in his way!

TWO!

He tries to stop the pin, but Valentine tackles him down to the mat!

...THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: AND YOUR WINNERS ARE…. THE PHANTOM TROUUPEEEEEE!

TREY BOOKER: What a match!

J.T. PRICE: I honestly didn't expect much from Pepperjack Cheese, but they put a hurting on Hunter!

TREY BOOKER: But the magnificent, synchronized teamwork between Phantom Troupe was just too much! They were on fire tonight!

J.T. PRICE: Truly one of the best teams Project: Honor has to offer. Kudos to Pepperjack Cheese for giving their best shot, but man- who can stop these two?!

Valentine goes to help his partner up. Valentine holds his back, wincing in pain, but both of them have their hands raised in victory by the referee as the crowd cheers.

We see LeeAnn Morgan standing in the gorilla position as an interviewer approaches her.

CRYSTAL WARD: LeeAnn this is the biggest match of your short career. Our fans have stated they sense a bit of nervousness in your voice recently. Your thoughts?

LEEANN MORGAN: Really? You wait until mere minutes before I make my entrance to talk to me about it? Just like Angelo Caito will be in this match you are a little too late. I am going to go out here and win my first title ever. Stop trying to fill my head with doubt.

Keeping it short, sweet, and to the point, LeeAnn walks away as we can hear her entrance music begin to play in the arena…

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the Project Honor Gatekeeper Championship! Introducing first…

'Sick Like Me" plays as the challenger to tonight’s match, LeeAnn Morgan, makes her way from the back.

HOLLY PEREZ: She is the challenger. From Boston, Massachusetts, she is the 'Gypsy Rose'... LeeAnn….. MOOORRRGGAAANNN!

She continues walking down the ramp before sliding into the ring.

"911 what's your emergency?"

"HELP ME! HE'S IN MY HOUSE!"

"Ma'am who's in your house?"

"HELP HE'S GOT A GU-"

The sound cuts out and the arena lighting goes red. The instrumental for the mashup of "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "Lying From You" kicks into the arenas PA System as from behind the curtain comes Angelo Caito. He stands on the stage, and when the beat switch kicks in, getting the instrumental for Lying From You starts, there is a flash with the lights, and each flash, Angelo twitches.

HOLLY PEREZ: Hailing from Milan, Italy, he weighs in tonight at two hundred and twenty pounds! He is the reigning and defending Project Honor Gatekeeper Champion…. He is Annnnnngelo…. CAAAAAAAAAAAITTTTTOOOO!"

He continues to twitch and twitch until "Lying From You" fully kicks in. When it does, Angelo stomps his foot on the ground and fire erupts from the stage and the top of the Honor-tron and Angelo stares at the ring with a look that can kill. He starts walking slowly to the ring, fans reaching out for the normal high fives he gives, but are ignored. Angelo slides under the bottom rope and runs to the ropes, bouncing off them and yells as the lights start to flicker and a design is made in the ring, one of a pentagram. Angelo sits in the middle of the ring, which is the middle of the pentagram as his theme ends.

DING! DING! DING!

Angelo hands the referee his belt, to which is held high in the air before the bell rings, and Angelo fires right at LeeAnn Morgan with a dropkick out of the gate. He then stomps LeeAnn down before hitting another dropkick, followed by a German Suplex. Morgan grabs the rope to stand up afterwards, but Angelo runs at her with a clothesline, only for LeeAnn to duck and Angelo falls to the floor. LeeAnn then nails a baseball slide dropkick, before trying for a Tope Con Giro, only for Angelo to catch her in mid-air as the fans and everyone would look in shock at Angelo's raw power. Caito then deadlifts Morgan before powerbombing her onto the announcer's table! LeeAnn immediately falls to the floor and yells in agony, as a sinister smile appears on Angelo's Face. Angelo then puts LeeAnn on the apron, before climbing in the ring, and seemingly trying to German Suplex LeeAnn into the ring, but Morgan immediately elbows Caito's Neck, before punching Angelo in the eye. Caito falls down, but LeeAnn lifts him back up, and then nails an Apron Tombstone Piledriver! Angelo falls to the floor, before Morgan tosses him into the crowd. LeeAnn smiles, before telling the audience to move. Morgan climbs in the ring as Angelo tries to stand, but as soon as Caito does, LeeAnn jumps off the ropes and nails him with a springboard dive!

The Fans chant "Holy Shit" as LeeAnn grabs her shoulder immediately. After a few seconds, LeeAnn gets up and throws Angelo over the barricade, and then into the ring. She then stomps on Angelo's Leg, before nailing a Dragon Screw. She lifts Angelo up and hits an elbow strike, before whipping Angelo into the turnbuckle. She then lifts Angelo, and tries for a Superplex! She gets halfway there before Angelo headbutts his way out, then hits a sunset flip bomb! He covers!

One!

Two!

Kickout.

Angelo soon gets up as Morgan rolls out of the ring, and Angelo nails a suicide dive, taking her out! Angelo throws her in, then climbs the top rope and nails a Front Dropkick! He then delivers Rapid Gut Punches, as Morgan laughs, asking for more. Angelo obliges as he starts kicking LeeAnn in the head, before elbowing away! Angelo picks her up and places her in the corner, nailing a series of corner roundhouse kicks! Angelo then runs back and nails a corner lariat. Morgan then falls out of the corner, and sees Angelo running at her for a lariat, only for LeeAnn to duck and nail a Sleeper Suplex!

Angelo slides out of the ring, and starts crawling under the ring apron. LeeAnn sees this and immediately slides under the bottom rope, lifting the apron up, but suddenly is sent back, with a dazed look on her face. Suddenly, Angelo gets to his knees and swings, colliding… A BRICK TO THE SKULL OF LEEANN MORGAN! This time in the referee's view, he orders the bell to ring for a disqualification.

HOLLY PEREZ: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner of the match via disqualification.. LeeAnn Morgan!

Angelo grins ear to ear as he drops the brick right onto the neck of LeeAnn Morgan before backing up and snatching his title from the ring announcer. He walks back over to Morgan and crouches beside her.

HOLLY PEREZ: As per the rules, title can NOT change hands in a disqualification. So, STILL your Project Honor Gatekeeper Champion… Angelo Caito!

ANGELO CAITO: I told you I will do anything it takes to remain Champion. And you? You don't get a second opportunity, you go back to the bottom of the ladder, where you deserve!

The cocky champion berates his former challenger as LeeAnn tries to shake off the fog after being hit with the brick. Determined to get a piece of him, The Gypsy Rose leaps forward to tackle Angelo’s legs and take him to the mat, but the official is quick to restrain her, allowing Caito to escape. He smirks as he stands back up and places his title over his shoulder, walking past oncoming security.

TREY BOOKER: He may have lost the match, but Angelo has managed to keep his title, putting him on track to surpass Earl Boyde as the longest reigning Gatekeeper Champion.

J.T. PRICE: Someone really needs to keep track of all these random bricks.

TREY BOOKER: LeeAnn Morgan gets the win in her Pay Per View debut, and while the Gatekeeper Championship may be out of her reach for now, I wouldn’t be surprised if other title opportunities are coming her way very soon.

Following the previous match, we go backstage to see the face of a very angry woman. Flanked on either side by her personal security, Senator Margarat Carmichael makes her way through the backstage area with a definite purpose in mind. In need of directions, she marches up to the very first person that comes into view, which just so happens to be Percival “Ratman” Burque, as he opens a bottle of water in order to rehydrate himself after tonight’s opening contest.

RATMAN: The last bottle. I should really talk to friend Serrano about sharing better…

SENATOR CARMICHAEL: You! Painted freak!

RATMAN: Eep!

SENATOR CARMICHAEL: Where can I find this Adam Ekaterin person?

RATMAN: Who?

SENATOR CARMICHAEL: Adam Ekaterin! The man who claims to be speaking for the new owners of this dump!

RATMAN: When?

SENATOR CARMICHAEL: Earlier tonight, you moron! Have you been dropped on your puny head too many times?

RATMAN: What?

SENATOR CARMICHAEL: Oh my god…look at this useless piece of filth…

RATMAN: Where?

Ratman turns to look in the other direction, which proves to be the final straw for the politician as she marches on, slapping Percy’s water bottle to the ground as she passes him by.

RATMAN: …why?

The camera continues to follow Senator Carmichael and her entourage further along the hall as she looks for some sign of the new Director of Operations. Her search seems to be going nowhere when a voice calls out to her from one of the shadowed cross corridors.

??: Why Maggie, how lovely it is to see you again…

She stops in her tracks and it seems as if she recognizes the voice at first, when the painted face of Kurtis Slayne creeps out of the darkened hallway. Once he’s visible, the look of recognition on the Senator’s face quickly fades.

SENATOR CARMICHAEL: I’m sorry…have we met?

Kurtis cocks his head to the side, giving Margaret a curious look.

KURTIS SLAYNE: Ah, I see. Playing coy for the cameras, are we? That’s okay, Maggie. I wouldn’t say anything to incriminate you.

SENATOR CARMICHAEL: I…don’t know what you’re talking about. Now if you’ll excuse me, the United States Government still has some unresolved issues with this company whether they’re under new ownership or not.

She begins to move away from Slayne but that doesn’t stop The Bastard from moving forward, eventually blocking her path.

KURTIS SLAYNE: Having your son out of the business still isn’t enough? Determined to close Project: Honor for good? Well, best of luck to you, Maggie. You do things your way, and I’ll do them mine.

It looks as if she wants to say something in response but is unable to find her voice. Instead, she simply watches from the safe position between her armed guards as Kurtis crosses ahead of her and enters an adjacent corridor. He then pauses to look back over his shoulder…

KURTIS SLAYNE: Oh, later tonight when I’m done with Tara Fenix, when I get my hands on that obscene trophy that your son made to honor his father, would you like a good look at it before it’s melted down? I’m not sure if you’re the type to be sentimental about seeing your old lover’s name etched in gold. Although, on second thought, if you hate the son, you’re probably not all that fond of the father either.

There is a visible anger on the Senator’s face, as if she’s seething inside but afraid to speak her mind with the camera present. Instead, she remains silent as Kurtis gives her a knowing smile, and then continues to vanish out of sight. When he’s finally gone, she feels free to curse under breath…

SENATOR CARMICHAEL: …goddamn wrestling and it’s goddamn freaks…

"Hurt" by Johnny Cash begins to play and after a few seconds Douglas Crane comes out the back and heads down the ramp, at a steady pace, emotionless, his piercing blue eyes focused on the ring. Once inside, he just goes to a corner and waits for the match to start.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from a place that cannot be determined, weighing in at two hundred forty pounds…DOUGLAS CRANE!!!

Nonstop by Drake hits as the fans rise to their feet, watching the curtain while cheering. T.J. Thompson marches out onto the ramp, pounding his chest while shouting at the crowd with contagious energy.

Chants of "HIP" are heard as he high fives fans on his way down to the ring. At the bottom of the ramp, Thompson singles out a fan, and begins shaking uncontrollably as he raises his hand up. The crowd plays along with it as if Thompson is charging up before Giving a massive high five to the fan. The fan swings his arm back from the impact of the high five while Thompson fires up the crowd before sliding into the ring.

TJ briefly poses on the top turnbuckle as the crowd continues to cheer before waiting for the match to start with a huge grin on his face.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent, hailing from The Hip House and weighing in at one hundred eighty pounds… “The Hip Beast”...TJ THOMPSON!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: This one has turned into quite the personal rivalry, with Crane attacking Thompson in a men’s room following a tag team loss, and TJ attempting to get revenge by bringing down the Rockefeller Tree on Christmas Eve.

J.T. PRICE: It’s the classic battle of a mental patient versus a high school drop-out, Trey.

A running pump kick from TJ Thompson kicks things off, but the move doesn’t succeed in budging the larger Douglas Crane, who glares at his opponent with soulless eyes in response. Looking to build up some more momentum, TJ hits the ropes and comes charging back toward a Crane clothesline, which he’s able to duck under. TJ hits the opposite ropes and comes back with a dropkick, staggering Crane but still failing to take him off his feet. That doesn’t deter TJ who opts to hit one of his signature moves early when he attempts the For Your Own Good. Unfortunately for Thompson, Crane blocks the slingblade attempt and turns it into a spinning side slam, driving the air out of TJ’s lungs.

Crane then goes to the ropes for himself, coming back with a high leap and a hard kneedrop to TJ’s skull. Instead of going for an early pin attempt, Crane follows up by blatantly choking TJ on the mat, forcing the referee to administer his five count.

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

FIVE!

Crane breaks the hold and then immediately goes right back into another choke, punishing Thompson and keeping him from refilling his lungs with oxygen.

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

FIVE!

After breaking the second time, Crane pulls TJ up and slams him across his knee with a backbreak, picks him up again for a second consecutive backbreaker, and finally a third. With his focus on keeping TJ from being able to breath proving effective, Crane pulls Thompson up to his feet and locks on a bear hug. He squeezes at TJ’s midsection with all his strength, but then, just when the referee is coming in to check on Thompson, Crane turns the hold into an overhead belly to belly suplex! Confident in his offense, Douglas goes for the first pin attempt of the match.

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: Crane is being both methodical and ruthless so far. It’s almost like he wants to dissect his opponent.

J.T. PRICE: Not a bad strategy considering TJ never made it past 8th grade biology.

Thompson is clearly dazed on the mat and attempting to catch his breath, giving Douglas an opportunity to make his way to the turnbuckles. He goes all the way to the top for a rare high risk move, finally diving off to drive his own head into TJ’s midsection. Thompson is able to roll away at the last second and Crane’s skull connects with nothing but the canvas, giving The Hip Beast the opening he desperately needs.

After getting to his feet, TJ plants a double stomp onto Crane’s chest before he can recover. Douglas continues attempting to get to his feet, only for TJ to land a low enzuigiri that drops him back down. TJ then makes his own way to the top turnbuckle, leaping off to connect with a flying senton. The move is on target and Thompson hooks Crane’s leg as makes a follow up pin attempt…

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

Crane immediately starts to get on his feet after kicking out and TJ measures him for a superkick, but Crane catches his leg! He turns the move into a release head and leg suplex, once again stunning Thompson and taking the advantage. TJ tries to get back up as quickly as he can, but Crane slams into him with a Lou Thesz Press and a series of closed fists to the head. As he rains down punches on TJ’s skull, Crane shouts “RELEASE ME!” several times, and the referee keeps his distance as a result.

Douglas pulls TJ back to his feet and immediately wraps his big arms around The Hip Beast’s head, successfully applying his Release Me cobra clutch. He manages to get the move locked on tight despite TJ’s best attempts to struggle free, and it becomes clear that it’s only a matter of time until Thompson goes to sleep! With the ring ropes just out of arm’s reach, TJ instead lifts his feet toward the corner turnbuckles and kicks off, forcing Crane to fall backwards with TJ rolling on top of him, turning the cobra clutch into a modified cradle!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

Only when he releases his hold does Crane realize that his own shoulders have been counted down the mat, as TJ Thompson wisely slides under the bottom rope while holding his head. The referee joins TJ at ringside to raise his hand, which only infuriates Douglas Crane even further.

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winner of the match by pinfall…TJ THOMPSON!!!

TREY BOOKER: That was one hell of a counter by Thompson, earning him a win that Douglas Crane couldn’t see coming!

J.T. PRICE: TJ may not be able to pass his GED test, but he was still able to outsmart Douglas Crane. I hope I didn’t say that too loud. Do you think he can hear me?

TREY BOOKER: I think the only thing on Douglas Crane’s mind is TJ Thompson, but whether or not this is the end of their rivalry remains to be seen.

The lights dim slightly in the arena, as a flapping American flag appears on the screen hanging high above the entrance ramp. A massive, muscular, suit-wearing man appears from the backstage area, holding a microphone. It’s Barlon Mando: Johnny Levy’s personal valet, stunt double, bodyguard and now - apparently - personal announcer.

He pulls out a neatly folded piece of paper from inside his suit, unfolding and inspecting it with a furrowed brow before clearing his throat. He seems a bit nervous, like he’s not used to public speaking; but he does his best to not stutter or trip over his words as his booming voice is projected over the PA system.

BARLON: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Coming to the ring first and hailing from the birthplace of civilized society - and all things good in this world - Hollywood, California… he stands at 7’4” tall and weighs in at 375lbs of pure, chiseled marble… he is the Hero of the Common Man, the American Dream, Johnny ‘SUPERSTAR’ LEEEEEEVYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

The crowd immediately reacts with scattered boos and uncouth chants, causing a few beads of sweat to form on Barlon’s head. Levy is nowhere to be seen, to the visible confusion of his announcer/valet. The bodyguard nervously glances around, looking like he’s forgotten something before he remembers to flip the card around and read the opposite side.

BARLON: And as a special treat for the audience - and those watching at home - Johnny Levy has personally paid for a special guest, out of the goodness of his heart. Here to deliver the National Anthem, please give a warm welcome to rap sensation and all-around beloved music industry icon..

The massive man’s eyes widen as he gets to the name written on the card. He starts inching back towards the curtain, making sure he's as close to it as possible before he finally announces the guest.

BARLON: TRAAAAAVIIIIIIISSSSS SCCCCOOOOOOOOOOOOTTT!!!!!!

Turning around to flee from the intensifying boos that pour out from the crowd in reaction to this ‘special’ guest, Barlon shoves the microphone into Travis’ hand before fleeing backstage. The disgraced rapper steps onto the top of the entrance ramp, opens his mouth, and unleashes pure, unadulterated, heavily autotuned HEAT on the mic.

TRAVIS: OHHHH SAAAAAYYYY CAN YOU SEEEEEEE...

A gaudy red, white and blue pyrotechnic display begins to go off on both sides of the entrance ramp, as Johnny Levy steps out from behind the backstage curtain.

TRAVIS: BY THE DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT...

The auto-tuned singing continues while Levy pauses at the top of the ramp, spreading his arms wide to bask in the crowd’s reaction. He does look a tad confused that it doesn’t sound like cheering, but he probably chalks it up to bad acoustics in the arena.

Pyro continues to explode up into the air, obnoxiously loud and excessively bright. The singing goes on, and Levy steps through the cloud of smoke that the fireworks have caused, coughing slightly as he waves one hand in front of his face. He takes plenty of time to stop and wave at his booing fans, and the national anthem is just wrapping up by the time he reaches the ring.

The fireworks finally end, but several minutes of constant pyrotechnics have made the arena noticeably hotter and smokier. Levy is a true professional, though; he hardly seems bothered, grabbing a microphone offered to him by a ringside official before climbing through the ropes to address the crowd from the middle of the ring.

LEVY: Well folks, I don’t know about y'all... but as far as I’m concerned, if you didn’t like that then you probably don’t love America.

Loud jeers and boos become near-deafening, and the special guest singer finally decides to step backstage before he’s caught up in a(nother) potential riot. The actor/wrestler opens his mouth, but his voice barely rises above the assorted shouts of the crowd.

LEVY: A big round of applause for Travis Scott, everybody!

That increases the intensity of the crowds’ reaction again; so much so that Levy’s next words are...

LEVY: <INAUDIBLE>

He gesticulates with his hands as he paces back and forth across the ring, speaking the entire time. It looks pretty thought-out and important. His words are completely wasted, but he doesn’t seem to notice.

LEVY: <INAUDIBLE>

This ridiculous display carries on for a few minutes. Somehow, the audience is capable of drowning him out the entire time. Finally, the speech winds down and he tosses the microphone out of the ring before climbing to the second turnbuckle.

He blows the audience a kiss, before waving to his adoring fans with a perfect smile on his face.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following singles match is scheduled for one fall… already in the ring, weighing in at two hundred and twenty five pounds… “Superstar”... JOHNNY LEVY!!!

'Wire Rot' by Mega Drive begins to blare through the arena, its swirling and unrelenting synthesised timbre beckoning the entrance of The Kraken, Swindle Shelldrake. He bends down slightly as he emerges through the curtain into the roaming grid of neon lights that scan over the audience and himself, bathed in colours of bright pink, white and blue. A wry smirk plastered on his face underneath a black octopus tentacle mask, he throws a middle finger gesture from both hands to the camera in a taunting manner. Despite the serious presentation of himself, Shelldrake has a different level of enjoyment in his eyes. An enjoyment for the bout that lays ahead. His tall frame walks down the ramp towards the ring, hopping up to the apron and wiping his boots along it before stepping through the top and middle ropes. He remains hunched over, looking down to the mat and removing his octopus mask as the announcer reads through his details, correcting his posture up tall with an "up yours" "V" gesture to the hard camera and the crowd, pulling out his tongue and showing that devious smile.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent, hailing from Cardiff, Wales and weighing in at one hundred ninety one pounds… “The Kraken”...SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE!!!

DING! DING! DING!

Swindle and Levy circle in the middle of the ring before locking up. Shelldrake gets the quick advantage with knees to Levy’s mid-section and then whips him into the corner. Swindle starts to unload with a flurry of punches before the referee tries to separate them, Shelldrake reluctantly obliges. Both men square back off in the middle of the ring and lock up once again. Levy takes advantage of his own with a poke of the eye causing Swindle to quickly grab his face. Johnny then shoulder tackles Swindle down to the mat and begins unloading with furious lefts and rights of his own, after a few seconds he lets up and gets back to his feet. He pulls Shelldrake up to his feet and drops him back down to the mat with a snapmare. He grabs one of Shelldrake’s legs and wraps it around his, locking him in a modified figure four!

TREY BOOKER: These two will be hoping to make a statement here tonight.

J.T. PRICE: Johnny is already doing just that.

The ref checks Swindle for submission, but he just screams at him to “fuck off” and shakes his head in refusal. Levy then releases the lock, grabs that same leg and begins driving his knee into it. Johnny goes for a quick pin, but Swindle gets the shoulder up before the count of one! Johnny then locks in a rear chin lock. The referee again checks Shelldrake for submission, but Swindle just gives the ref a dirty look. The crowd surprisingly begins to cheer for The Hybrid Hunter as he starts to get to one knee. After getting to both knees, he begins driving an elbow into Johnny’s gut, Levy tries to fight back, but Swindle reaches up, grabs the skull and drops back down to the mat with a devastating jawbreaker!

TREY BOOKER: And just like that Shelldrake is back in the match.

J.T. PRICE: I wonder how he feels about actually having some of the crowd on side, that’s gotta be alien to him.

Levy is slow to stir, but he finally makes it back to his feet. Unfortunately, as soon as he turns around, he’s greeted with the sight of Swindle Shelldrake charging towards him like a screaming rocket and damn near takes his head off with a dangerous Bicycle Knee Strike. Swindle waits for Levy to pull himself up off of the mat and then immediately drops him with a second Bicycle Knee Strike!! He tries for a quick pin…

ONE! Levy kicks out on a count of one!!!!

Swindle pulls Johnny back up to his feet and tries to whip him into the ropes but Levy finds a way to reverse it and drops Shelldrake with a lunging knee followed by a leg sweep DDT! Johnny now goes for a pin…

ONE! Swindle now kicks out on one!!!

TREY BOOKER: No one taking a breather in this.

J.T. PRICE: To be fair, these two are a bit good at this wrestling lark.

Johnny then pulls Swindle up to a kneeling position, wraps his arms around his chin, and clamps on a Camel Clutch!!

TREY BOOKER: CASTING COUCH!!

J.T. PRICE: Things just got messy for Swindle, you don’t wanna be getting stuck like this.

Swindle is wincing and screaming out in pain as Levy adds more pressure by pulling back further on Shelldrake’s neck. The referee is there to ask him if he is ready to submit, but Swindle quickly and loudly refuses with another scream of pain. After a while Swindle appears to begin fading as the referee raises his left arm and watches as it immediately falls back down. The referee raises the arm again, and again, it quickly falls back down. He then raises Swindle’s left arm up a third time and it quickly fa-NO!

TREY BOOKER: There is no quit in Shelldrake tonight and the fans are really with him.

Somehow, Swindle is able to find something deep down to stop his arm falling. He begins clenching his fist, trying to get the blood flow back to going. The crowd begins to get behind him as he starts to force Levy up and gets to his feet. Levy is trying to hold onto the jaw, but Swindle is making it very difficult, Shelldrake finally gets back to a vertical base and begins delivering more elbows into the mid-section until finally breaking free. As he then tries to make a break for the ropes, Levy grabs him from behind and hits a backstabber. The crowd is actually chanting Swindle’s name now! Johnny hooks the far leg…

ONE!

TWO!

TH… KICK OUT!!!

TREY BOOKER: Amazing from both men.

J.T. PRICE: I know we’ve mentioned the crowd already but I do seriously wonder how these men feel about the reactions here.

Johnny gets to his feet and pulls the struggling Shelldrake up with him. He grabs Swindle by the back of the neck and tries to toss him over the top rope to the outside, but the Kraken lands on the apron. Swindle waits for Levy to turn around. As soon as Levy does, he sees Swindle standing on the apron and charges at him, Shelldrake ducks down and drives his shoulder through the ropes into Johnny’s gut. Wasting no time Swindle steps back through the ropes and grabs the doubled over Levy, he grabs the arms and nails the PICTURE PERFECT DOUBLE UNDERHOOK PILEDRIVER!!!

TREY BOOKER: VIOLENT SAVAGE!!

J.T. PRICE: What a match!!

Swindle makes the pin…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!! NO!!! JOHNNY LEVY GOT THE SHOULDER UP!!!!!

J.T. PRICE: Fucking hell…

Not wasting a moment even in shock, Swindle returns to his feet, he pulls the lifeless frame of Johnny Levy with him… then hits a second VIOLENT SAVAGE PILEDRIVER!!! He hooks both legs on the pin this time…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!!! SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE WINS!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: Wow, what a match that was and how the fuck did Johnny kick out of that first piledriver?

Swindle sits up and takes a few deep breaths as he lets the match and crowd response sink in.

HOLLY PEREZ: The winner of the match via pinfall… “THE KRAKEN” SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE!!!

TREY BOOKER: A hard fought fight, but that piledriver continues to be a near unstoppable move against anybody he fights!

With Levy still frustrated over his loss, Shelldrake is quick to get onto the top turnbuckle to celebrate his second win in a row in just as many matches, but eventually his eyes are drawn away towards a new figure sliding up onto the apron.

TREY BOOKER: Who the hell is interfering in Shelldrake’s celebration?!

J.T. PRICE: I can recognise that magnificent backside a mile away, that’s Giovanni’s muse, Calliope!

In the momentary confusion, Shelldrake’s attention is taken by the muse who goes out of her way to steal it. But Shelldrake finds himself pulled off the turnbuckle and turns into STARSTRUCK! The superkick straight to the unsuspecting jaw of Shelldrake drops the victor out cold on their face.

Calliope is quick to join and taunt the victim, but Giovanni wastes little time with microphone in hand, ignoring the cascade of boos raining down upon the ring from the greater Columbus area.

GIOVANNI: Oh shut up, all of you. The only good thing about Ohio is the road leading out of it!

More boos erupt, but Giovanni seems less interested in trading barbs with the audience, or even his opponent. Instead leveling his sight towards Levy who had been sitting in the corner, oblivious to what had just happened.

GIOVANNI: Levy, you and I have business to attend to… Because unlike Shelldrake, and unlike most of the cavemen -and cavewomen- I will be forced to share a ring with later tonight, there’s only one man in this company that has any sort of craftsmanship, any sort of admiration for the finer arts beyond beating each other into concussion filled delirium.

Closing in on the corner where Levy sat, the latter’s bodyguard Barlon Mando takes their time getting on the apron, less interested in protecting their client as much as simply being present enough to hopefully not need to lift a finger.

GIOVANNI: Easy does it, square-jaw. I know Levy didn’t pick you for your brains, or for your artistic integrity, but you see, Levy over here, that’s the man I want to speak to, face-to-face, artist-to-artist, genius-to-genius.

Waiting for Levy to get to their feet, Giovanni smiles as Calliope wraps herself around his arm, and letting a small pause linger, he extends his hand.

GIOVANNI: The two of us, the most powerful minds in this arena, and the most intellectual artists to have ever graced this ring, should join forces and become the unstoppable artistic force that will turn this ten-cent third-grade ‘sport’ into a true marvel of artistic brilliance and freedom. Together, we’d make Project Honour into a truly honourable venture!

Being handed a microphone from Barlon Mando, Levy gives the bodyguard a pat on their oversized chest before cocking his head and expertly appraising the offer laid before him, and the hand extended towards him…

Reaching out, Levy accepts the handshake with a cheesy grin. He uses his other hand to wave at his adoring fans in the crowd, who respond with an even louder chorus of boos.

JOHNNY LEVY: Thank you, Giovanni. You know, I always appreciated your work, even if the rubes and know-nothings can’t.

He releases his fellow artist’s hand, turning away from the man and circling the ring, smiling broadly at the audience as he continues.

JOHNNY LEVY: This is what I’ve been saying, ladies and gentlemen. You see the violence here - violence approved of by Proving Ground’s management, I might add - against yours truly. Violence perpetrated by some upjumped fool with delusions of grandeur. A mere professional wrestler, who dared to lay his hands on a man such as myself.

JOHNNY LEVY: Needless to say, my people will be pursuing any and all valid legal action.

JOHNNY LEVY: But I’m not going to stand here and make a speech to all you fine people in the audience. After all, my time is expensive, and I’m afraid management simply couldn’t afford it. The fact is, the cheap suits running this promotion can barely afford to pay the rosters’ salaries. And who can be surprised? Who would buy tickets or turn on the TV to see a bunch of no names, who are only relevant when they’re performing in this tiny ring?

JOHNNY LEVY: Come on people, would you really stop and ask Ozymandias or Emanuelle for an autograph on the street? If you even recognized them in the first place? Well, maybe you people would. You are here, after all. Let me say ‘normal, well-adjusted people with families’ instead.

JOHNNY LEVY: What Project: Honor - no, what the entire sport of professional wrestling - needs, is a touch of class. A bit of name recognition. And most importantly, real talent. Not just athletes, but artists like my friend Giovanni and myself, who can turn these cheap ropes and this filthy canvas into a place of culture and meaning.

JOHNNY LEVY: So, like the great Mozart did with classical music, and as the even greater Logan Paul did with the sport of boxing, we are here to elevate professional wrestling. To lift it above its current place as a carnival sideshow, into the heavens where geniuses like ourselves dwell.

JOHNNY LEVY: Have a blessed evening, y’all.

With the two of them shaking hands one final time for an expertly crafted photo-op, they accept the loving boos from the crowd with the poise and grace befitting two misunderstood artists.

TREY BOOKER: What did we just see? Giovanni and Levy are joining forces together?!

J.T. PRICE: Seems like it to me, Book. Two of the greatest artistic minds in the business are joining forces to bring some class to this company!

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is an eight-person Tag Team Match scheduled for one fall! Introducing first are four of Proving Ground’s newest stars…BETSY GALAGHER…GIOVANNI…SONYA BENSON…AND STELLA JADE!!!

With the exception of Giovanni and Sonya Benson, who make their way toward the ring while sharing some private thoughts about the upcoming contest, there is no hint of teamwork or collaboration among the members of the first team. Betsy and Stella make their entrances separately, arriving not long after the pair of Benson and Giovanni.

HOLLY PEREZ: And their opponents, four of Proving Ground’s more established talents…DIANA…JOHN BLADE…MALACHITE MINJ…AND OFFICER GREYFIELD!!!

Unsurprisingly, the second group shows even less team spirit, with each and every one of them entering on their own. Even more clear is the mix of cheers and boos that both teams receive during their entrances, with some like Betsy Galagher and John Blade receiving positive receptions while Officer Greyfield and Sonya Benson could not be more disliked. Finally, all eight participants are in their two corners, and with Diana and Betsy starting out for their respective teams, the opening bell sounds.

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: We’re in for an interesting contest here. I don’t expect to see much in the way of a tag team classic, but with future Warrior Rising shots going to the members of the winning team, who knows what might happen?

J.T. PRICE: I see seven unique and diverse talents out there, Trey. And if you correct me by saying there’s eight because you can see John Blade, you’re a filthy liar.

Diana and Betsy go for a lock-up, which Galagher quickly turns into a side headlock takeover, followed by Diana reaching back with her legs to snag Betsy in a headscissors. Betsy quickly kips out of the hold and grabs Diana in a waistlock when both women are on their feet, lifting her into the air and slamming her back down. Galagher stays on top of Diana as she does her best to escape, showing off her skills as a multi-generational UK star.

Diana finally manages to escape, but whether it is because Betsy allows it is up for debate. Whatever the case may be, Lady Galagher continues her attack with some European uppercuts that land with enough strength to send Diana back into the buckles. Betsy then charges in with a running European Uppercut, but Diana manages to catapult herself off the mat and counter the charge with a sudden meteora. With her opponent momentarily down, Diana rolls to her corner and slaps the hand of the wrestling world’s most corrupt law enforcement officer.

TREY BOOKER: Entertaining back and forth to start things, but let’s see what Officer Greyfield can bring to the party.

J.T. PRICE: My prediction? Donuts and police brutality.

The big man moves into the ring with Betsy in his sights, but Lady Galagher trips up her larger opponent with a sudden drop toe hold. She keeps his ankles tied up with her own and reaches for his feet, no doubt looking to apply some kind of lower body submission. Instead, she gets a plain boot to the face from Greyfield as he attempts to rearrange her physical features. Greyfield then grabs a handful of Galagher’s hair and yanks her to her feet before shooting a few right hands against her jaw. He then whips Betsy into her corner, as if he’s daring her to tag out. While she still has plenty of fight left, Galagher takes up Greyfield’s offer by doing the smart thing and bringing in a fresh teammate.

Stella Jade enters the ring by catapulting herself over the top rope towards Greyfield, who catches her crossbody attempt and drops her with a basic forward slam. As Stella’s spine is shocked by the impact, Greyfield backs up to hit the ropes and comes back with a big splash attempt, only for Stella to roll aside at the last second. Greyfield starts to pull himself up, but Stella hits a sudden superkick to his face…then two to his chest…and finally a shining wizard to the back of his head. Her Temperance combo successfully drops Greyfield and she goes for the pin…

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

Greyfield is slow to get back on his feet, giving Stella Jade the chance to hit the ropes and come back with a discus lariat attempt. Instead, Greyfield manages to duck under her swing, hook his arm across her torso, and counter with a surprising STO! Having put the young woman down on the mat, Greyfield decides to give himself a rest by reaching out to tag Big Match John.

TREY BOOKER: Listen to all those high-pitched voices! The ladies and the toddlers sure do love John Blade!

J.T. PRICE: Never before has someone so invisible gotten such a huge reaction.

Stella Jade is immediately in trouble as Blade charges in with a big shoulder block, bounces off the ropes, and then slams into her with a second shoulder. She tries to fight him off with a clothesline, but Blade ducks under it and lifts Stella onto his shoulder, spinning her around before dropping her with a sit-out suplex. John then springs to his feet, waves his hand in front of his face, and goes back to the ropes. It’s clear that he’s looking to hit a Five Knuckle Shuffle, but Sonya Benson interrupts his attempt by sticking her foot under the bottom rope for a trip. Blade hits the mat and then jumps back to his feet, moving toward Sonya in a threatening manner as she attempts to hide behind Giovanni. From behind, Stella grabs Blade by the waist, pushes him into the ropes, and rolls him to the mat in a cradle!

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

Big Match John is able to get his shoulder up, but Stella uses this opportunity to reach out and tag Giovanni. The Artiste comes into the ring with a springboard forearm that lands against Blade’s jaw, regaining the advantage for his team. Giovanni follows it up by surprising John with a float-over DDT, stunning the big man and giving himself the opportunity to present a 5-second pose. After voguing for the cameras for a full 5-seconds, Giovanni goes to drop an elbow, but John Blade is no longer laying on the mat. He has made it back to his corner, where Malachite Minj is mindlessly tending to his manicured nails. When Blade slaps Minj’s hand, a look of surprise comes over his face, before the Prince of Purrfect enters the ring to come face-to-face with his one time tag team partner.

TREY BOOKER: Giovanni left Minj high and dry two weeks ago in their tag team match against the Phantom Troupe. This may be Malachite’s chance at revenge!

J.T. PRICE: Can you imagine how long it took Minj to get all of that hog slop out of his perfectly styled mane?

The two opponents scowl at each other as they approach the center of the ring, taking turns hurling insults that the cameras can’t quite pick up. After several moments, as things grow more heated between the two primadonnas, Officer Greyfield decides there’s been enough talking as he runs back into the ring. This leads to Betsy Galagher returning in order to cut Greyfield off, bringing in Diana…then Stella…and finally John Blade. Just like that, we have a free-for-all on our hands as the referee begins to lose control.

An Attitude Adjustment from Blade onto Stella Jade…The Betsy Bomb onto Blade…Greyfield’s Stun Gun onto Minj, who is actually his partner, but that doesn’t seem to bother him in the least. In all of this confusion, Giovanni is able to land his Starstruck superkick on the already dazed Monsieur Malachite, dropping him to the mat. Unfortunately, Giovanni is unable to follow up when Diana cuts him off. That does not stop Sonya Benson however, as she steps between the ropes for the first time in the match and subtly rests her hands on Minj’s shoulders. The referee is so confused as to who is legal and desperate to bring the match to an end that he goes to make the count…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winners of the match by way of pinfall…BETSY GALAGHER, GIOVANNI, STELLA JADE, AND SONYA BENSON!!!

TREY BOOKER: You have got to be kidding me! Sonya Benson gets the win for her team without ever being legally tagged into the match!

J.T. PRICE: God she’s hot.

TREY BOOKER: This is an absolute travesty. I can’t imagine that Betsy Galagher or Stella Jade will be happy about winning this way…

J.T. PRICE: So hot.

TREY BOOKER: Nonetheless, they have each earned a future shot at The Warrior Rising Championship with that victory, although I’m not sure Grefield, Diana, or Blade will take that loss laying down.

The arena goes dark.

TREY BOOKER: What now.

Suddenly the close up of the front end of a burning cigarette illuminates the big screen. The sound of crackling tobacco echoing through the arenas as the crowd boos and some cheer knowing full well Casanova English is about to speak:

J.T. PRICE: Wow, this is the first time English has cut a promo during a show.. Right before he has the chance of becoming a double champion.

The camera pulls back from the close up of the cigarette and English blows a plume of smoke in its direction before speaking.

CASANOVA ENGLISH: You’re welcome. You are welcome for me deciding to bless you with my words. See it is not everyday I decide to show up on the big screen and say a few words, but since you all burned a few dollars from your minimum wage jobs I figured why the hell not.

TREY BOOKER: Whether people like it or not English has shown he is one of the fastest rising stars in Project Honor.

J.T. PRICE: That momentum could all come to a screeching halt tonight though as he challenges for the X-Factor Championship.

English has his Warrior Rising Championship hung over his shoulder.

CASANOVA ENGLISH: You can say what you want Myojin, you can claim the people… your own ilk who have been trying to establish this place… the ones I put down as unworthy challengers all you like. But I see it in your eyes, you are in no way shape or form ready to step between the ropes with me. You can take the low hanging fruit, make fun of my name all you want… I’ve heard it thousands of times. Everyone thinks is sounds silly til it echos through an arema while they are on hands and knees on trying to find their fucking teeth. If I was to do the same to you I’d be canceled, insulting Japanese culture is what they would probably say… but me… nah I’ve got plenty of ammo on your Myojin.

English takes a drag off his cigarette using the Warrior Rising Championship to knock off the ashes.

CASANOVA ENGLISH: I know you aim to have the match of the night every time you go out there, it’s cute, admirable even… but if you think the people I have laid out are nothing, then you need to do a reassessment of what you think of this company. Personally, I don’t think you are wrong… I just figured a bright light like you may have a little more respect. You think I carry myself as the greatest Warrior Rising Champion, well.. Thanks, but this isn’t about my title. I’ve got nothing to lose. I can do what I want, hell if I find myself in a bad spot I’ll crawl out of the ring, grab a steel chair and smash your skull til your brains ooze out your ears. You fail to realize you may be in the ring with the sickest, most sadistic person in that locker room. This isn’t going to be a clinic because of your wrestling style, no it’ll be a clinic because I am going to make all these fans sick with the ways I find to hurt you in mere moments.

English throws the cigarette to the ground and stomps on it with his boot, walking closer and closer to the camera.

CASANOVA ENGLISH: This isn’t about being the best, this is about resetting this company. You want to call my past opponents substandard… well Myojin I hope you truly are ready to take me to the next level, ready to prove it shouldn’t be me in your slot and you in mine… but that’s not how I like to do things, I don’t want a piece. I am coming for the whole fucking pie. Tonight one way or another the darkness will find a way in… if not in this company… in Myojin’s skull.

English flicks his cigarette toward the camera as the scene fades back to the arena.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is an unsanctioned match… there are to be no rules… the two competitors have signed a waiver that clears Project Honor of any responsibility beyond supplying a ref to count pinfalls and check for submissions. Introducing first… weighing in at two hundred and seven pounds… The Bastard… KURTIS SLAYNE!!!

The arena is plunged into darkness as the first sounds of organ music begin to play. As the electric guitar joins in, a pair of white spotlights scan around the crowd, eventually moving to the entranceway. The lights crisscross until they reach the entrance and fall upon a lone figure, their head bowed forward and covered by the hood of their sleeveless black vest. His hands rest at his sides, but the sharpened silver ring that covers his left index finger cannot be ignored. The music suddenly cuts away as the opening lyrics echo in a Capello, and the figure keeps his focus on the ground at his feet.

“Wake up
Grab a brush and put a little make-up
Hide the scars to fade away the shake-up
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
Here you go create another fable”

The music rejoins the lyrics, at which time he raises his head to look at the ring in the distance. Methodically, he begins to walk toward it, maintaining his forward gaze no matter what the fans along the entrance way do or say.

“You wanted to
Grab a brush and put a little makeup
You wanted to
Hide the scars to fade away the shake-up
You wanted to
Why'd you leave the keys upon the altar?
You wanted to
I don't think you trust
In... My... Self-righteous suicide
I... Cry... When angels deserve to die”

He slides under the bottom ring rope and holds his body on the canvas, his torso raised as his palms press against the mat. He stares forward at the hard camera, revealing the skeletal paint that has been applied to the left side of his face. His pale blue eyes stare ahead, cold and emotionless.

“Ohhhhh, Wake up
Grab a brush and put a little make-up
Hide the scars to fade away the
Why'd you leave the keys upon the table?
Here you go create another fable
You wanted to
Grab a brush and put a little make-up
You wanted to
Hide the scars to fade away the shake-up
You wanted to
Why'd you leave the keys upon the altar?
You wanted to”

As the music slows but the lyrics continue, he pushes himself backwards on his hands and knees until he reaches the corner of the ring. He presses himself to a standing position against it, before turning and stepping onto the second turnbuckle.

“I don't think you trust
In... My... Self-righteous suicide
I... Cry... When angels deserve to die
In, my, Self-righteous suicide
I, cry, when angels deserve to die”

When the song begins to speed back up with the return of electric guitar, he reaches up with his left hand and pulls back his hood, simply staring at the fans without gesturing to them or giving them a hint of emotion. He then brings his hand to his chest as he tilts his head back and closes his eyes. There is almost an aura of ecstasy about him as he runs the silver finger ring across his bare flesh, creating a self-inflicted cut that drips streaks of crimson down his torso. At that moment, the two white spotlights turn to a deep shade of red, one remaining upon him as the other multiplies into many and they dance over the audience.

“Father (father)
Father (father)
Lucifer (Lucifer)
Satan (Satan)
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit
Father, into your hands
Why have you forsaken me?
In your eyes forsaken me
In your thoughts forsaken me
In your heart forsaken me
Trust in my self-righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die
In my self-righteous suicide
I cry when angels deserve to die

When the song reaches its conclusion, he steps back down to remove his vest and the crimson-tainted finger ring, before resting his forehead on the top turnbuckle, content to remain in that position until the opening bell has rung.

TREY BOOKER: We already know Tara is in the arena, and I have no doubt she’ll be answering Slayne’s open challenge momentarily.

J.T. PRICE: His blackout trick may have contributed to Tara losing a big time match. No matter what he’s said or done, I think that’s enough motivation for the Phoenix Queen.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent… weighing in at one hundred and forty three pounds… The Phoenix Queen… TARA FENIX!!!

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 throws off her jacket before running at the turning Kurtis, she takes him down with a double leg and starts throwing punches.

TREY BOOKER: Tara wasting no time getting this underway!

DING! DING! DING!

Tara gets up quickly and rushes to the ropes as Slayne gets up a little slower. On the rebound from the ropes Tara hits a jumping heel kick that hits the right shoulder of Slayne rather than his head. Slayne falls while grabbing his shoulder, but rolls with it to get back up on his feet. Tara wastes no time and attacks by grabbing Slayne's right arm and hits him with an armdrag takedown. She lets Slayne get back up and arm drags him again. He’s up, third arm drag, up again, fourth arm drag, up again, Arm Drag Number Five! Tara keeps focusing on anything she can do to assault that right shoulder when suddenly we hear… A SICK POPPING SOUND!!!

TREY BOOKER: HIS SHOULDER IS OUT!!!

J.T. PRICE: Fuck!!

Tara looks down at the damage she's done. She looks slightly amused by the injury. Slayne rolls out of the ring and lets out a guttural roar, slamming his shoulder back into socket by hitting it against the ring post. Slayne yells at Tara to "Come on!" and she nods. Tara leaps into the air, over the post, and takes Slayne down with a headscissors. Quickly getting back up and tossing Slayne into the ring, she hops back up to the top rope. Top Rope knee drop to Slayne's head.

TREY BOOKER: Like him or not, Kurtis Slayne is clearly a tough competitor.

J.T. PRICE: Still a bastard though.

Tara reaches down and picks up Kurtis before whipping him into the ropes. She leaps over Slayne's head and catches him with a hurricanrana. Slayne grabs the back of his neck with his left hand and Tara grabs his right arm. Lifting Irish Whip! Slayne goes chest first into the corner and slumps down. Tara charges to the corner, but Kurtis gets around and hits her with a drop toe hold, facefirst, into the bottom turnbuckle post! Slayne takes a moment to catch his breath and kips up!

J.T. PRICE: Uh-oh, he’s pissed!

Slayne shakes his right arm to try and work some of the pain out as he waits for Tara to get up. He runs up behind her. Snap German suplex to the center of the ring! Slayne picks Tara up quickly and slams her in the centre of the ring with a second German! Slayne doesn't let up or even go for a cover, and quickly sets up Tara for a crucifix powerbomb into the turnbuckles right on her neck!

TREY BOOKER: Kurtis is damn relentless.

J.T. PRICE: It’s move after move.

Slayne grabs the clearly dazed Tara and hits a swinging neckbreaker into the mat! Slayne yet again wastes no time and goes up top, he instantly takes off for a Corkscrew Shooting Star Press!!

TREY BOOKER: SELF RIGHTEOUS SUICIDE!!

Tara moves out of the way at the last moment. Slayne lands with a thud and lays on the mat for a while as Tara catches her breath.

TREY BOOKER: Kurtis went big but has Tara weathered the storm?

Fenix is up and attempts to make the most of it by grabbing Kurtis but he kicks Tara in the gut and tries to go for a snap DDT, Tara pushes Slayne back into the ropes, clothesline attempt by Slayne, ducked by Tara, quick leg sweep by Fenix!

Tara lays for a moment on the mat and as she starts to surface we see Kurtis roll towards the corner to pull himself up. Tara kips up and makes a "Come On!" motion to Slayne, he responds with a sick smirk and laughs as he rises.

J.T. PRICE: These two are insane!

TREY BOOKER: They are indeed, Kurtis Slayne has shown so much more than I expected here tonight.

The two charge each other and start trading punches. Slayne swings and Tara ducks, she hits Slayne with a quick fire superkick!

TREY BOOKER: GENOCIDE KICK!!

Tara doesn’t bother trying to cover Slayne, as she leaps to the top rope. She takes off with a perfect Corkscrew Shooting Star Press!!

TREY BOOKER: THAT’S THE MOVE SLAYNE WENT FOR AND MISSED EARLIER!!!

Kurtis Slayne looks to be completely out of it as Tara crawls towards a corner to catch her breath after the impact. At that moment the crowd begins to rumble as the camera catches some movement, it’s clear someone is making their way through the masses of people but it’s hard to see who it is, however the crowd that can see pop huge and start going mad. As the figure gets to the barricade it’s now clear to the world… the man is Mark Hunter!!! The crowd goes mental!!!

TREY BOOKER: HOLY SHIT!!

J.T. PRICE: Mark “Fucking” Hunter is here!!

Wearing jeans and an Indy Darling t-shirt, Mark jumps the barricade. He grabs two chairs from the timekeeper's area before sliding one of them under the bottom rope as Tara looks on confused, Mark picks up a bottle of water from the commentator's desk before now sliding under the bottom rope.

TREY BOOKER: What the hell is he doing?

J.T. PRICE: He can’t be here!! The terms of his insurance payoff make it clear he can’t be physically involved in anything Project Honor is responsible for.

TREY BOOKER: Yeah but remember, this is unsanctioned by Project Honor.

J.T. PRICE: Sneaky bastard!!!

Holding his own chair, Mark walks straight over to Tara and clearly says something. Tara nods and picks up the other chair. As Tara picks it up, Mark splashes water over Kurtis which stirs him to life, as Slayne rises, Tara and Mark nod towards each other… CONCHAIRTO!!!

TREY BOOKER: He’s dead!!

Slayne drops on the spot and the crowd finally begin to settle as Mark rolls out of the ring, he drops his chair at ringside and leaves the way he came.

TREY BOOKER: Pretty sure Mark was doing something tonight whether Tara needed it or not, and she probably didn’t.

J.T. PRICE: Mark respects Tara, we know that, but this was all about his friendship with Indy.

In the ring Tara watches the departing back of Hunter without a flicker of emotion, she then drops her own chair on the mat before double underhooking the arms of the lifeless Slayne, Tara gets him up before nailing him with a Double-underhook Jumping DDT onto the chair!!

TREY BOOKER: PHOENIX WINGS!!

Tara makes the cover…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!!! TARA FENIX WINS!!!

DING! DING! DING!

J.T. PRICE: That was brutal!!

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

TREY BOOKER: Slayne called her out and Tara answered! With her win and Mark Hunter’s surprise appearance, I can imagine our GM has a smile on his face as he’s watching at home.

J.T. PRICE: It’s back to the Underground for Kurtis, but you have to think he’ll be taking a lot of eyes with him to Project: Honor’s developmental brand.

TREY BOOKER: Let's send it to Crystal Ward, who's standing by backstage.

On cue, we cut to the backstage area, where Proving Ground interviewer, Crystal Ward, is standing in front of a large Unbreakable Resolution banner with a microphone in-hand.

CRYSTAL WARD: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my guests at this time, JJ Kline and the Project: Honor Legacy Champion, the Los Angeles Outlaw, Syndicate!

FANS: BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

As the Columbus crowd voices their disapproval towards what's to come, the devil himself, Syndicate, steps in front of the camera, grinning from ear-to-ear as if he's about to win the Powerball lottery. Wearing his well-worn black leather jacket over a white wife-beater and blue jeans, the Los Angeles Outlaw holds his favorite darling, the prestigious Legacy Championship, over his left shoulder. Behind him, we see his best friend and agent, JJ Kline, walk into view wearing a gray suit with matching tie.

CRYSTAL WARD: Syndicate, you've got a huge title match coming up later tonight against -

Before the interviewer can possibly finish her thought, Syndicate reaches over and rips the microphone out of her hands.

SYNDICATE: Yeah, yeah, alright, let me stop you right there, Pistol Pete.

CRYSTAL WARD: My name's Crystal...

SYNDICATE: Of course, yeah, Crystal Meth, whatev'. Make like Rock Johnson and go die in a ditch - daddy's talking now.

Furious, Ward storms off-camera, leaving Syndicate and his agent, JJ Kline, alone in front of the camera. Syndicate seems to be his usual cocky self, but JJ - standing behind the champ's right shoulder - seems to be a bit more pensive than usual.

SYNDICATE: I'll make this one quick and snappy for y'all, because I think every single person in this damn building already knows what's about to go down. For the past 69 days -

JJ KLINE: Nice.

SYNDICATE: - I have held this beautiful Legacy Championship over my shoulder, and after all that time, after all the asses that I've kicked and rebellions that I've quelled, the very best that Project: Honor has to face me is...Ozymandias. But every time I check social media, I see the same lowlifes in my DMs, all saying the same damn thing: "they've got too much offense, Syndicate! They're too strong! No one can POSSIBLY stop them!" Although, come to think of it...they may have actually been talking about the Ohio State football team this season before they got STOMPED INTO THE FUCKING GROUND by "That Team Up North"!

FANS: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

As Syndicate hears the crowd's response through the walls of the Nationwide Arena and cackles, the voices of the Proving Ground commentary team cut in.

J.T. PRICE: The fans sure didn't like that one, Trey!

TREY BOOKER: Well, we're only five minutes away from the campus of the Ohio State University here in Columbus - of course they wouldn't like it!

SYNDICATE: That Michigan squad spent the entire season beating up on fools and showing that they were the true force in the Big 10 East, but all the fans and the media wanted to hear about was how badly they would most certainly lose to the Buckeyes, and when that didn't happen, you people were left scratching your asses - not your heads, of course, since Ohio State didn't teach y'all the difference - and wondering what went wrong. Sound familiar? Yes, everyone LOVES to talk about Ozy and everything he's been able to accomplish...but, hello??? Your CHAMPION, the man that did the impossible beat Elena DeDraca, the person that won the Purge and survived Mall Mayhem on back-to-back nights, is standing RIGHT...FUCKING...HERE. Where are my awards? Where is MY respect?? If I don't have it by now, I sure as hell will by the end of tonight, because I'll be fuckin' DAMNED if Big Silver isn't still sitting over my shoulder, one way or another.

Glancing back at JJ Kline, Syndicate cocks his head and smiles.

SYNDICATE: But of course, that's only half the story. Tell 'em, JJ.

JJ KLINE: That's right, Syd, because regardless of what happens tonight, we've still got...

He raises his right hand, revealing that he's holding Syndicate's all-powerful Universal Briefcase. Won by the Los Angeles Outlaw at the Second Annual Fallout Purge, the large black case holds three keys, each with the power to grant Syndicate a shot at one of Fallout's three major championships.

JJ KLINE: ...the "Insurance Policy", ready to whip out at a moment's notice. For those keeping score at home, that means that at any time, at any place, and whenever he damn well feels like it, my client can double, triple, even QUADRUPLE his value by getting yet another title slung over his shoulders.

Seemingly a bit confused by his agent's statement, Syndicate holds up a hand.

SYNDICATE: Hol' up, JJ. Rewind. "Whenever I feel like it"? I already told you, I'm not cashing in any of those key cards unless a True Society member loses their title.

JJ KLINE: Yes, and I'm telling you that that's a absolutely idiotic strategy. What have those people ever done for you to deserve your love and respect? Just take the belts off of them and let them deal with the consequences. They've got no loyalty to you - fuck 'em!

Syndicate lowers the microphone, and the two start having an hushed-tone argument with one another.

SYNDICATE: They're the only people that accept me - why would I turn on them?

JJ KLINE: Because the second you lose that Legacy title, you're no longer of use to them, and they'll spit you out like a sunflower seed shell the first chance they get.

SYNDICATE: "The Insurance Policy" is meant for the entire group, not just for me.

JJ KLINE: Oh, so you're suddenly being selfless now? Bullshit. You'll be lucky if you still even have this case come Fallout next week.

SYNDICATE: Look, fuck this - we'll talk about this later.

Raising the mic back up to his lips, Syndicate turns from his scorned manager and back to the camera documenting the proceedings.

SYNDICATE: You people better PRAY to whatever god you worship that Ozy can get the job done tonight...because if he can't? There ain't gonna be any...body...left. Welcome...to the Syndicate.

With his cocky grin distracting from his cold, dead eyes, the Legacy Champion nods and walks out of frame, with JJ Kline reluctantly following suit.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for ONE FALL and is for the X-Factor Championship!

The fans cheer loudly before slowly dying down to a quietness. 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..."

HOLLY PEREZ: Introducing first, the challenger, accompanied to the ring by Bash Daddy... CCCAAASSSAAANNNOOOVVVAAA EEENNNGGGLLLIIISSSHHH!

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 Casanova's opponent.

HOLLY PEREZ: And the X-Factor Champion... MMMYYYOOOJJJIIINNN!

Are you ready?

The lights dim down while the catchy, fast paced rock of RAINBOWS by A9 echoes as a spotlight suddenly appears on a figure on the ramp, with his back turned and begins kneeling. Once the beat finally kicks in, MYOJIN explodes with energy- wearing a masquerade-style mask over his eyes and turns around with a confident smile on his face, raising his arms to soak in the positive reaction from everyone around.

With his blonde locks hanging over his face. He then whips his head back, flipping his hair out of his face before excitedly running down the ring before performing a cartwheel and a jump, landing on his feet near ringside!

He climbs up to the apron, grabs a hold of the top rope, and slingshots himself into the ring. MYOJIN performs a somersault roll, landing on his side with a hand on his hip. The other, taking off his mask to reveal his piercing blue eye contacts. He tosses it aside nonchalantly before climbing up the top turnbuckle, tilting his head upward as if he’s looking toward the sky- while the lights mimic stars above. He backflips off, back onto his feet while taking off his flamboyant coat and moving to his corner. The lights go back to normal as he checks his wrist tape. His charismatic smile fading to a more focused expression as he paces back and forth, ready for action.

MYOJIN hands the X-Factor championship to the referee, the championship held in the air, before being put aside. After checking to ensure both competitors were ready, the bell was rung and all bets were off. Both competitors met in the middle of the ring, where Casanova goads MYOJIN into what appears to be a simple lock up. Once MYOJIN reaches upwards to lock hands, a boot is driven into his sternum. The wind completely knocked from his lungs as Casanova merely wore a devious grin on his lips. Casanova wastes little time, hands wrapping around MYOJIN's head, and twisting around with momentum for a full Swinging Neckbreaker. MYOJIN is slammed onto the canvas with full force as Bash Daddy slams his hands on the apron in appreciation of the move.

TREY BOOKER: Early control taken by the challenger, but I’m sure the champion is far from defenseless at this point.

J.T. PRICE: In the words of John Paul Jones, “I have not yet begun to fight”!

TREY BOOKER: …sometimes it’s like I don’t even know you.

Casanova drops down with MYOJIN, staying on top of his opposition, elbows raining down onto the face and head of MYOJIN. The referee issues a warning, one that Casanova throws a pointed glare at. Casanova stands to his feet, getting right into the face of the referee. The referee holds his hands up, merely talking to Casanova and letting him know he was only doing his job. As Casanova whips around, he's met with a Spinning Back Fist to the right and then one to the left as MYOJIN gets fired up. The crowd backs the champion who fires away with lefts and rights rapidly until backing Casanova into a corner. MYOJIN fires away with chops that echo throughout the arena. The fans let out loud WOO's in response to each chop. MYOJIN backs off, letting out a loud battle cry as Casanova slumps down into the corner a moment later.

As Casanova stumbles out of the corner, MYOJIN fires away with a Jumping High Knee strike right to the face. The move quickly and swiftly transitioned into a Flying Triangle Choke! The XS is locked in and Casanova is fighting to get out of it, but it's hard to see and the hands reaching out to strike MYOJIN are missing each time... Until one hand touches something solid. Solid and bumpy all at once. The ropes! MYOJIN holds the move for a few more seconds, only letting go just before the four count with a low groan of frustration. Casanova has some breathing room, but it's not going to last for too much longer. However, when MYOJIN goes for another attack, Casanova has it scouted and MYOJIN is sent shoulder first into the turnbuckle.

TREY BOOKER: Back and forth we go, but no one said Casanova’s quest to become a double champion would be easy!

With MYOJIN tangled up, Casanova takes full advantage of the situation. Casanova climbs onto the apron, prepping to set up for the English Lesson. Leaping up into the air, he drops down, driving his leg right across the back of the neck of MYOJIN to connect the move. MYOJIN lets out a cry of pain, falling backwards onto the canvas as he rolls around holding the back of his neck. The referee drops down to check on the champion, who merely shakes his head, wanting to continue on. Casanova has already climbed on top of the turnbuckle, where he drops down to connect with the Newfie Noggin Hug! Diving Headbutt right to the sternum of MYOJIN as Casanova goes for a pin!

ONE... TWOO...

MYOJIN kicks out with vigor, forcing Casanova away from him as he tries to catch his breath. Casanova sits in a corner, smirking slightly as he takes a moment to regain his strength. MYOJIN and Casanova are both up at once, but MYOJIN bends backwards to avoid an incoming attack. Matrix Evasion coming into play as he whips back onto his feet. As Casanova goes for a Spinning Heel Kick, MYOJIN catches his leg and sends him tumbling with a Reverse Dragon Screw Leg Whip. With Casanova on the canvas, MYOJIN locks in the Vogue Lock III! Indian Deathlock Cobra Twist is locked in tight, but Casanova refuses to tap out! MYOJIN keeps the hold locked in, only until he finally releases his opponent due to a rope break, frustration clear on his face as he shakes his head.

TREY BOOKER: The champion simply cannot put Casanova away!

J.T. PRICE: MYOJIN had to know this would be a tough defense despite the confidence he’s shown.

When both opponents are on their feet, Casanova leaps onto MYOJIN in a last ditch effort. Casanova locks in the Silence of the Lamb! Dragging MYOJIN down with the hold, he locks it in tight, looking to seize this moment to the fullest. Casanova applies more pressure, keeps it locked in as tight as possible. It looks like MYOJIN is starting to fade! MYOJIN tries to stumble close enough to the ropes, which are just merely out of reach! He stretches out further…HE REACHES THE ROPES! Casanova keeps the hold locked, only until just before the five count as he drops to the canvas. Both opponents fall to the canvas, both exhausted and ready to give in. But, they know better than to do something so severe.

As both slowly get to their feet, MYOJIN is up first, though Casanova is on his knees. MYOJIN lets out a loud battle cry, swinging around sharply to nail Casanova with a wicked Kiss and Tell! Casanova is looking a little woozy as MYOJIN climbs the turnbuckle closest to him a moment later. Slowly, but surely making it to the top. Sizing up Casanova, MYOJIN flips from the top turnbuckle and lands with a swift Imploding 450 Splash! Falling From Heaven connects! MYOJIN hooks the legs, both of them, as he leans back for added support.

ONE... TWOO... THREE!

HOLLY PEREZ: Here is your winner via Pinfall and STILL X-Factor Champion... MMMYYYOOOJJJIIINNN!!!

TREY BOOKER: Holy hell! Casanova English suffers his first pinfall loss in Project: Honor, but not before coming within an eyelash of capturing the X-Factor Championship!

As MYOJIN is handed his championship and has his hand raised in victory, he’s oblivious to the steel chair that Bash Daddy slides under the bottom rope. Still stunned from the finish of the match, Casanova uses the chair to push himself onto his feet before taking a big swing, slamming it against the side of MYOJIN’s head! The Shining Star crumples to the mat and the championship bounces on the canvas. As MYOJIN lays prone, Bash Daddy hands Casanova his Warrior Rising Title. English looks at it for a second before leaning down to grab the X-Factor belt as well, holding both in his hands. For a moment, it looks as if he’s going to leave with both belts, before he finally tosses the X-Factor Title on top of its stunned champion. Then, after a spit of disgust in MYOJIN’s direction, Casanova finally leaves the ring alongside Bash Daddy.

TREY BOOKER: What a disgusting display by Casanova English, but I guess we shouldn’t expect anything less from a member of The True Society.

J.T. PRICE: What are you so worked up about, Trey? English warned us he might smack a steel chair across MYO’s head and that’s exactly what he did. But do you think hacking that goober was Casanova’s way of showing what he really thinks of MYOJIN or the allies of Big Drip in general?

TREY BOOKER: Who cares? The sooner this gang war between Big Drip and True Society is over, the better off we’ll all be.

Emmanuelle, with new sky-blue and white wrestling gear and braided black and white hair, is shown warming up for her championship match, which is moments away. There’s none of the usual flair and swagger from the former Warrior Rising Champion, she’s simply all business. As she’s continuing to prepare Crystal Ward comes into the picture, microphone in hand as Emmy rises up from her stretching to speak with her.

CRYSTAL WARD: Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m here with the challenger for the Grand Championship, the returning Emmanuelle who is not only making her return to action after an injury scare but getting her first opportunity to claim one of the richest prizes in Project: Honor. Emmy, glad to have you back! How are you feeling right now as you prepare for this moment, is your ankle good to go?

EMMANUELLE: My ankle is in perfect condition. There was no structural damage and after a week or so off I was able to move on it without a worry. Even if I wasn’t a hundred percent, I’d be taking on this match. Ever since I’ve arrived on Proving Ground I’ve been working towards this opportunity…and here it is.

Crystal looks a little worried to breach some of the other subjects of her interview, pausing for a moment while even giving Emmy an apologetic look before continuing.

CRYSTAL WARD: A lot of people seem to view this opportunity with a skeptical outlook. A lot of people will point to your losing in the Clive Darling Memorial Cup’s playoff tiebreaker against Tara, failing to win the Purge or the Black Friday event.

Emmy chuckles a little, shaking her head dismissively.

EMMANUELLE: Hey, I’m not the one who makes the rules or makes the matches. If anyone wants to whine and complain, let them. I’m going to worry about the task in front of me and let haters hate and speculators speculate, know what I mean?

CRYSTAL WARD: And the task that is in front of you is definitely a tall order: the new Grand Champion Arata Asakura, a man that you know very well. You’ve faced him a couple of times before in singles competition, a 1-1 record between the two of you. You’ve even teamed with him at OWA’s recent Civil War event. What are you thinking right now as you get ready to face him for the first time in Project: Honor, this time with a championship on the line?

EMMANUELLE: Every time we face each other, it’s for something. The first time that we fought, I beat him right in the middle of the ring to become WrestleWorld’s Shogun Champion. An undefeated prodigy beat the most highly touted wrestler in the world. A few weeks ago, we wrestled for a second time for the King of the World Crown. I gave him everything but that night he was simply better. I don’t like him as a person and even on a professional level we will never see eye to eye…but I don’t doubt his talent. But tonight, I can tell by the way he’s talked to me before. He doesn’t see me as a challenge. He doesn’t respect me as an athlete. He doesn’t think I’m on his level. And you know what? That’s fine. I just can’t wait to go out there and prove to you all what I already know: Not even the King of the World can measure up to the Platinum Standard.

As Emmy prepares to step away, Crystal stops her to ask her for one more comment.

CRYSTAL WARD: While Ozymandias is lined up to take on Syndicate for the Legacy Championship in our main event, there’s no telling whether or not he’ll come to reclaim his former title regardless of the outcome of that contest. Also, Tara Fenix interestingly said that she would prefer to face Arata, more out of a personal vendetta than anything against you. What do you make of that?

Emmy smirks, putting her hands on her hips as she gets a little closer to Crystal, who appears flustered as the challenger gives her an amused grin.

EMMANUELLE: Trying to stir the pot, aren’t ya? Well, it’s like this: I’m sure Ozy would like to take his title back from the guy who lucked up and managed to steal it and I know that Tara wants a crack at that dipshit Arata again. Unfortunately for them, that title is coming home with me and they’ll have to make due with coming to see me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a Gaijin Killer to shut up…

Emmy walks out of the picture, her gaudy entrance robe sliding over her shoulders as she makes her way to the entrance stage.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is set for one fall... and it is for the Project: Honor Grand Championship!

“Cash Flow” by Ace Hood ft T-Pain and Rick Ross begins to play, and the crowd stands in knowing that she’s here; “The Silver Starlet” Emmanuelle. She takes her time walking to the ring, but once she does, she removes her ring jacket and enters through the ropes. She walks into the corner and crouches down, watching the entrance way as she awaits the champion's entrance.

HOLLY PEREZ: Introducing first, the challenger... wrestling out of the Pacific Palisades in California... THE PLATINUM STANDARD! THE SILVER STARLET! THIS IS EMMMMMANNNNUELLLLLEEEEEEE!!!!

"Honō no Megami (炎の女神)" by Adrian von Ziegler begins to play as Arata Asakura steps between the entrance curtains, a look of utter disdain for the audience upon his face. He slowly makes his way to the ring, doing his best to ignore the jeers from those fans brave enough to taunt him. Once he reaches the ring, his eyes fall upon Ozymandias and the two men exchange an uncomfortable stare for several moments. Finally, Arata removes his entrance attire - showing off his Grand Championship wrapped around his waist - and proceeds to stretch in his corner, never taking his eyes off of Emmanuelle in the corner.

HOLLY PEREZ: And her opponent, the champion... wrestling out of Osaka, Japan and weighing in tonight at two hundred and twenty pounds... he is the current, reigning and defending Project: Honor Grand Champion... THE ONE REAL SHOGUN! THE GAIJIN KILLER! THIS IS ARATTTTTAAAAAA ASSSAAAAAAKUUUUUUURRAAAAAAAAA!!!!

DING! DING!

The match had begun with the two staring one another down, the crowd were red-hot for this match, and considering the history these two have had in the recent week or two, this might become a bloodbath very soon if Arata were to get the upper-hand on Emmanuelle. The more that Arata stared at Emmanuelle, the more she stared right back at him-- and judging by the look in his eyes, he was ready to maim whatever was right in front of him, like a lion staring down his food. Arata began to circle around the ring- but Emmanuelle stood still, just watching Arata, and even giving off a cocky-looking half-smile resting on her face. Arata stood dead center of the ring and waited for Emmanuelle to make a move, knowing if it's mind games that she wanted to play, then two could play at that game.

TREY BOOKER: This is quite the interesting start to this match, J.T- these two are just staring one another down and not even looking to make a move at all. They're just going to stand there and let things happen, I guess?

J.T. PRICE: Well, it's not like Arata's got these magical powers he can use. The man could literally sit back and let all of that do the work for him if he really wanted to. Besides, he is the coward in all of this anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if he does happen to pull the Harry Potter book out of his ass-

TREY BOOKER: HUSH! HE COULD HEAR YOU!

J.T. PRICE: ...meh. Doesn't really matter to me.

Arata, surprisingly, takes a seat right in front of Emmanuelle--but it'd prove to be his biggest mistake of playing mind games with Emmanuelle as she charged in with a Penalty Kick right across the chest of the Grand Champion, Emmanuelle goes for the quick pinfall attempt but she's pushed off immediately by Arata. The kip-up from the Grand Champion brought him back to his feet but he was soon brought back down to the mat with a backslide into the pinfall attempt, but Arata kicked out before the referee could even make the count of one. Emmanuelle tries to taunt the Grand Champion with an attempt at his Ayatsuri-- but Arata wasn't having it and blocked the knee with his arms, bringing himself back to his feet and pulling Emmanuelle in for the Northern Lights Suplex. Arata bridges and flips over, going for his own Ayatsuri, but Emmanuelle goes under the legs and flips Arata over onto his back. Emmanuelle finally lets go of Arata's arms and leaves him laying on the mat as he looks up and sees the challenger just standing there with a large smirk on her face. The crowd are on their feet after the two's amazing sequence of moves as the two in the ring just look around and soak in the reaction they're both getting right now.

TREY BOOKER: Listen to this place! Ohio is on their feet for this match right now!

J.T. PRICE: Emmanuelle is bringing something to the Grand Champion that I never thought I'd ever see--and that's pure embarrassment. Arata might need to find some way of countering this or his reign with the championship might come to an end sooner than expected.

The Grand Champion was not willing to let defeat be in his sight, springing back up to his feet and charging in for Emmanuelle, but she ducked in time and rebounded off of the ropes- right into the Tilt-a-Whirl Backbreaker and crushed any chances of her keeping the momentum from the sequence. Arata lifted Emmanuelle up into the Reverse Facelock position before spinning and dropping her down onto his knee with a Lariat. Arata was already seeking a killing blow and the lead up to it too, rolling Emmanuelle onto her knees and rebounding off of the ropes- dropping her head first into the mat with the Front Flip DDT! A hook of the leg from the champion...

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

Emmanuelle was able to kick out in time, but Arata had other plans for The Silver Starlet, and that meant attempting to lock in the Touch of Gold on the challenger- but Arata struggled as Emmanuelle held her arm close to her chest, not being able to lock in the Crossface. Emmanuelle tried her best to get Arata off of her back- but Arata outsmarted her as he tucked her head in and rolled her forward, keeping her shoulders down for a pinfall attempt...

ONE!

TWO--

KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: The challenger kicks out again by some chance- DOUBLE A MISSED! AND THERE'S THE MALIBU SHINE FROM EMMANUELLE! SPIKING ARATA'S HEAD INTO THE MAT!

J.T. PRICE: They're going back and forth with their main moves right now, and maybe Arata might be looking for an ending way too soon, unless he can bounce back and land something that might put an end to Emmanuelle quickly.

The Platinum Standard desperately crawled her way over to the Grand Champion, but once she was in arm's reach, Arata had moved and rolled over towards the ropes. The Grand Champion looks to have been caught in some trouble, but he wasn't going to let his championship reign end on such short notice, it gave him enough motivation to bounce right back up AND STRIKE WITH AN UNSUSPECTING EMMANUELLE WITH A MORE FORWARD RAIKIRI RIGHT TO THE FACE! ARATA GOES FOR THE COVER--BUT THE LEG IS RESTING DOWN ON THE ROPE! EMMANUELLE WAS SCOUTING HER SURROUNDINGS ENOUGH TO HAVE HER FOOT ON THE ROPE!

TREY BOOKER: THAT WAS SO CLOSE TO BEING THE ENDING THAT ARATA NEEDED!

J.T. PRICE: It's what he needed but I don't think he expected Emmanuelle to get her foot up the way she did, came so close to retaining the Grand Championship-- EMMANUELLE WITH THE ROLL UP! SHE'S GOT THE CHAMPION'S TIGHTS!

ONE!

TWO!!

THR--

KICKOU- AYATSURI! FOLLOWED UP RIGHT AFTER THE ROLL UP ATTEMPT! EMMANUELLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN KNOCKED OUT CLEANLY WITH THE KNEE--BUT SHE TUMBLED RIGHT OUT OF THE RING!

TREY BOOKER: Not exactly what Arata needed right now. Emmanuelle is showing her ring awareness here in these last few moments that have passed.

J.T. PRICE: And that fire in Arata's eyes grows more with how Emmanuelle is playing this out- wait a second, the Grand Champion might be thinking of taking to the air on the outside, rushing into the ropes and... EVIL OF THE SKYYY--NO! BICYCLE KNEE STRIKE TO THE CHAMPION AND NOW--

TREY BOOKER: AH GOD! THE EXPLODER SUPLEX ONTO THE RING APRON! ARATA'S CHANCES OF RETAINING ARE SLOWLY RUNNING DOWN AND IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD, IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD AT ALL!

Emmanuelle pushes Arata back inside of the ring and slides inside--BUT ARATA WAS WAITING! HE'S GOT THE TOUCH OF GOLD LOCKED IN TIGHT! THE TOUCH OF GOLD IS LOCKED IN TIGHT AND THERE'S NOWHERE FOR THE CHALLENGER TO GO! HER FOOT IS TRYING TO REACH THE ROPES BUT THERE'S NO USE- SHE CAN'T REACH IT! ARATA TIGHTENS THE GRIP! HE'S COMING SO CLOSE TO RETAINING THE CHAMPIONSHIP AS EMMANUELLE'S HAND BEGINS TO SHAKE! SHE'S ABOUT TO TAP! THE CROWD ARE ALL ON HER SIDE FOR ONCE-- SHE'S GOT THE CROWD CHEERING HER ON AND-- SHE SLAPS THE MAT! PUSHING HERSELF OVER AND INTO THE PIN! THE LEG IS HOOKED...

ONE!

TWO!!

THR--

KICKOUT FROM THE GRAND CHAMPION! HE'S TRYING TO BRING THINGS BACK INTO POSITION, TRYING TO PUT IN TOUCH OF GOLD AGAIN-- EMMANUELLE IS HOISTING ARATA UP ON HER BACK-- ARATA WITH THE FRONT FLIP STUNNER! EMMANUELLE IS LEFT ON WOBBLY LEGS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING! ARATA BACKED IN THE CORNER... THE CHAMPION RUSHES IN FOR THE DOUBLE A--

TREY BOOKER: OH MY GOD! EMMANUELLE CAUGHT ARATA AND LANDED THE RODEO DRIVER! SHE JUST SPIKED THE CHAMPION ON HER HEAD WITH FULL FORCE!

J.T. PRICE: AND SHE'S NOT DONE THERE...

EMMANEULLE PICKS UP ARATA AGAIN... PASADENA BOMB! ROLL THROUGH! THE PLATINUM DYNAMIC! BACK TO BACK TO BACK WITH THE MAJOR MOVES GOES EMMANUELLE! SHE GOES FOR THE COVER-- IMMEDIATE KICK OUT! AND ARATA'S EYES HAVE TURNED TO PURPLE! THE SIGNS OF BLESSING ON HIS FOREARMS!

TREY BOOKER: OH NO! IT'S IZANAGI!

Arata has awoken the deity of Izanagi within himself and it seems like the tide of this whole match has turned on its head, Arata wipes out Emmanuelle with the Bicycle Knee- following up with the Moonsault perfected. Arata -- or even Izanagi -- seems to have this match won as he grabs the arms of Emmanuelle and pulls her in FOR THE AYATSURI! But one of those, it just wasn't enough. ANOTHER AYATSURI! Emmanuelle was left laid out on the mat and the champion was seeking the ending just like he wanted. Arata begins climbing all the way up to the top and looking right down on Emmanuelle-- but she pounces for the corner, almost knocking Arata off of the top rope. Emmanuelle is holding onto Arata's foot and trying to pull him down, but he desperately wants to hit the Golden Dragon. Kicking Emmanuelle away, and pulling the turnbuckle away with her, but-- that was the opening she needed. Emmanuelle grabbed the foot of Arata and pulled him forward, tripping him up and making him fall spine-first into the exposed turnbuckle.

TREY BOOKER: OUCH! THAT HAD TO HURT!

J.T. PRICE: BUT WATCH EMMANUELLE...

With the Grand Champion stumbling into the middle of the ring, Emmanuelle seeked the ending and she went for the kill-- PALISADES BOMBER!!!! SHE HIT HER MOST FLASHIEST FINISHER! A MOVE THAT'S WON HER SO MANY MATCHES BEFORE IN THE PAST! THE HOOK OF THE LEG! AND A HOLD OF THE TIGHTS AS WELL!

ONE!

TWO!!

...

THREE!!! AND A KICKOUT!!!

J.T. PRICE: ...wait... WHAT!? WHAT HAPPENED!?

THE BELL DOESN'T EVEN RING!

EVERYONE IS CONFUSED!

ARATA KICKED OUT AT THE SAME TIME THE THREE COUNT WAS HIT!

THE PURPLE EYES SOON FADE AWAY--

.

.

.

.

BUT THE BELL RINGS AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND ARATA'S FACE DROPS WITH SHOCK! HIS CHAMPIONSHIP REIGN HAS COME TO AN END!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: EMMANUELLE IS THE BRAND NEW GRAND CHAMPION! SHE'S THE BRAND NEW GRAND CHAMPION.

'Cash Flow' begins to play over the speakers as confetti begins to pour down from the rafters, the referee reaches to the outside and grabs the Grand Championship. Arata is pleading for the referee to hand the championship over- but he walks right past him and hands the championship to Emmanuelle, who climbs the same corner that she pulled the turnbuckle down from- holding the Grand Championship up high.

HOLLY PEREZ: HERE IS YOUR WINNER.... AND THE NEWWWWWWWWW... PROJECT: HONOR GRAND CHAMPION... THE PLATINUM STANDARD... EMMMMMANNNNNNUELLLLLLLEEEEEEEE!!!!

TREY BOOKER: WHAT A MOMENT! ARATA'S REIGN COMES TO A SHORT END!

J.T. PRICE: COME ON, TREY! SHE HAD THE TIGHTS! YOU SAW IT! EVERYONE SAW IT! SHE HAD THE DAMN TIGHTS!!

TREY BOOKER: MAYBE SOMEONE NEEDS TO SORT THIS MESS OUT... BUT THERE'S ONE THING CERTAIN RIGHT NOW... AND THAT IS EMMANUELLE IS THE BRAND NEW GRAND CHAMPION!

Following an amazing Grand Championship match, we go backstage where Tara Fenix has been watching the prior contest on a monitor. There is a nod of her head as she sees the celebration in the ring, but what that might mean is up for interpretation. With the match over, Tara steps away from the monitor, apparently on her way back to her dressing room. The camera continues to follow, perhaps hoping to get her comments on the previous match or her own fight from earlier in the evening. When she reaches her locker room door and opens it, a shocked expression comes over her face, and the cameraman is convinced to shoot the interior of the room instead of posing a question for the Phoenix Queen.

What we see next is the remains of the Clive Darling Memorial Cup Trophy, broken into various pieces and scattered about Tara’s dressing room. While most of the prize is irreparable, that task would be made even more difficult by the missing plate that Clive Darling’s name was etched into. While it is easier to read Tara’s anger and frustration now than it was to determine her mood following the Grand Championship Match, she also shares one simple word to sum up her feelings…

TARA FENIX: …bastard.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is our main event of the evening and it is for The Project: Honor Legacy Championship!!!

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: Introducing first…the challenger. He hails from Old Harbour, Alaska and weighs in at three hundred fifty seven pounds… “The Butcher of Reine”...OZZZYMANNNNDIASSSS!!!

*TSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH*

The sound of television static flows through the sound system as the lights dim. A single spotlight flashes down onto the edge of the entranceway, and as the hiss of the static fades into "Wake Up" by Rage Against the Machine, we see the word "SYNDICATE" appear in massive white letters on the overhead video board.

#Although ya try to discredit
Ya still never edit
The needle, I'll thread it
Radically poetic

Soon enough, we see Syndicate himself step into the glow of the spotlight, a cocky smile plastered across his stubbled face. Dressed in a black leather jacket with a white tank top underneath, as well as blue denim jeans and black Under Armour sneakers, the Los Angeles Outlaw holds his championship over his left shoulder, its silver faceplate glittering in the light, as he stretches his arms outward into his signature crucifix pose.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent, making his way to the ring, from the City of Angels, weighing 224 pounds, he is the Los Angeles Outlaw and the reigning Legacy Champion of Project: Honor...SYYYYNNNNNNDICATEEEEEEE!

#Standin' with the fury that they had in '66
And like E-Double I'm mad
Still knee-deep in the system's shit

Syndicate drops his arms and makes his way down to the ring, jaw-jacking with fans in the front row as he does so, before jumping up onto the apron, holding onto the top rope, and leaning forward towards the crowd. The lights in the arena strobe on and off as Syndicate holds up his title for all to see.

#WAKE UP!
WAKE UP!
WAKE UP!
WAKE UP!

With his sick, sick smile still present, the Los Angeles Outlaw steps into the ring, climbs the nearest turnbuckle and spreads his arms out into another crucifix pose before jumping down and stretching himself out on the ropes.

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: This is it, J.T.! A Legacy Championship Match is a rare treat, and a contest between two men like Ozymandias and Syndicate only makes it better!

J.T. PRICE: Best seats in the house, Trey! I hope they don’t get blood on my suit!

A pair of cold, heartless stares follow the opening bell as the official holds up the championship in the center of the ring for all to see. Once the belt has been passed on to a ringside attendant, Ozymandias moves toward the center of the ring with a confident stride. Syndicate begins to match his challenger’s steps, but then turns his back and slides under the bottom rope, a grin on his face as the ringside fans hurl obscenities in his direction. The champion takes a moment to flip off one of the fans before he inexplicably shoves Trey Booker out of his chair! He then lifts the announcer’s chair off the ground and tosses it over the top rope in the challenger’s direction. In response, Ozymandias swats the chair aside and continues to stare down Syndicate from the center of the ring. The champion then grabs Trey’s ringside monitor and rips it off the desk before sprinting back toward the ring. He slides under the bottom rope and charges at Ozymandias with the monitor, clearly not concerned about a potential disqualification.

As he swings for Ozy’s head, the challenger throws a fist at the weapon, shattering its screen and knocking it out of Syndicate’s hands. The referee immediately goes to retrieve it, and as soon as his back is turned, The Outlaw hits a blatant low blow kick between his opponent’s legs. With Ozymandias stunned, Syndicate follows up the kick with his Catalyst DDT, holding Ozymandias’ head and turning it into The Vault! The match has barely begun, and Syndicate has Ozymandias locked in his signature hold!

J.T. PRICE: Trey! Get back over here! I can’t do this on my own! I think Syndicate is about to retain in record time!

As Trey does his best to rejoin his broadcast partner, the official is able to return his attention to the match unfolding in the ring, dropping into position should Ozymandias choose to submit. Between his mask and Syndicate’s arm wrapped around his head, there’s no way to judge Ozymandias’ pain by his expression. Instead, we can see the back of his head turning red as veins bulge out in his neck.

Syndicate continues to crank down on the hold, doing as much damage as possible while Ozymandias attempts to get one of his legs underneath his body. After several moments in the hold, he manages to get onto one knee, and then puts both feet firmly on the mat, rising up and lifting Syndicate along with him. There is a look of concern on Syndicate’s face, but he does not relinquish The Vault, hoping that the pressure will put Ozymandias back on the mat. Now on his feet, the challenger has a different idea, as he wraps both arms around Syndicate’s body in The Arms of Azathoth! The Guillotine Choke and Ragdoll Bearhug are both locked on at the same time, with neither man willing to let the other go!

TREY BOOKER: I’m back in position, folks, and just in time! Either one of these men could submit at any given second!

J.T. PRICE: But which one will give out first?

The strain from both men is easy to see, both in their faces and in their arms as they try to wear each other down. Then comes a burst of energy from the challenger, as he begins to swing Syndicate back and forth in his massive arms, finally breaking free of The Vault. Once that happens, Ozymandias has no further need to keep Syndicate in the Arms of Azathoth and he turns the hold into an overhead belly to belly suplex. The champion crashes to the mat hard, but Ozy cannot capitalize as he sinks down to one knee!

Syndicate slowly pulls himself up with the assistance of the ropes as he gasps for air, while Ozymandias turns to take measure of the champion. The Butcher of Reine suddenly charges at him, but Syndicate drops down while holding the top rope…low bridge and Ozy sails over the top to floor! The Outlaw follows him outside quickly, grabbing Ozymandias’ arm and flinging him into the ringside steps. Ozy’s body crashes into the steel and sends the top half of the stairs tumbling to the floor, as Syndicate grabs his arm to then whip him into the guardrail.

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

But Ozy reverses at the last second, and it’s the champion’s body that crashes into the steel! Without missing a beat, Ozymandias charges after him, spearing Syndicate and sending both men through the steel barricade and into the front row!

FOUR!

FIVE!

SIX!

With the fans too close for their liking, Ozymandias pushes one of them aside and grabs the chair they were sitting in. The only thing that saves Syndicate from feeling the steel is the cup of beer he manages to get his hand on. Ozy gets a facefull of alcohol to momentarily blind him, giving Syndicate the chance to nail a couple of right hooks and a clothesline that knocks Ozymandias back against the ring apron.

SEVEN!

EIGHT!

NINE!

Syndicate then rolls Ozy onto the apron itself, before measuring him for a drive by kick to the side of his head, the impact once again forcing Ozy to roll onto the floor and breaking the referee’s ten count. Syndicate then grabs the challenger by the head and starts to lead him around the ring, slamming him against every ring post they move past.

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

Reaching the announce table, Syndicate forces Ozymandias on top of it and quickly follows him. He then positions Ozy’s head between his legs as he looks to deliver a piledriver right through the table! That’s when Ozymandias straightens up, holding Syndicate on his shoulders. The challenger then drops backwards, driving Syndicate through the table with all of his weight and momentum on top of him!

FIVE!

SIX!

SEVEN!

EIGHT!

It doesn’t take long for Ozymandias to climb out of the wreckage, and not willing to let Syndicate get counted out, he pulls him up as well. Lifting the champion up in a Gorilla Press, Ozymandias hurls him back into the ring between the second and third ropes before climbing onto the apron himself. The champion steps over the top rope to get back into the ring, when Syndicate suddenly uses what little energy he has to grab the top rope and yank it upwards between Ozy’s legs! The challenger is stunned as he straddles the ropes, and Syndicate follows up with another drive by kick, the force of it stunning Ozymandias and forcing his body to fall into the ring. The champion does his best to shake off the pain as he rolls his body on top of his opponent…

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: They’ve gone through the steps, through the barricade, and through the table, but they’re not done yet!

J.T. PRICE: I saw my life flash before my eyes, Trey! Why does that always happen when those two are around?

Despite Ozymandias’ kickout, Syndicate seems to be refocused and pushing through the pain in his back. He watches his opponent as Ozy gets onto one knee and then rushes forward, catching him with another Catalyst DDT! It looks like he’s going to follow it up with another application of The Vault, when the Honor-Tron suddenly comes to life and “Rocket Skates” by the Deftones begins to play. Syndicate looks up with a shocked expression as Elena DeDraca makes her way onto the entrance stage, her dangerous eyes focused upon the ring.

J.T. PRICE: What is she doing here? She’s a Fallout competitor, not Proving Ground!

TREY BOOKER: I have no idea, but Syndicate likes it even less than you do!

With his eyes locked right back on Elena, Syndicate moves to the ropes and he can be seen mouthing something to the effect of “What the fuck are you doing here?”. As The British Raven continues to make her way toward the ring, Syndicate manages to get his head back in the game as he turns back towards Ozymandias…just in time to catch a bicycle kick to the face! The champion is down, but this time it is The Butcher of Reine who sees Elena’s arrival at ringside, forcing him to pause and look at her questionably. Ozy then turns back toward the ring, and seeing Syndicate pulling himself up in the opposite corner, he charges toward him. Unfortunately for the official, he gets caught between Ozymandias’ body and Syndicate’s as the challenger hits an avalanche in the corner.

REF BUMP!

The official is down, but that doesn’t stop Ozymandias’ momentum as he grabs hold of his stunned opponent, lifts him into the air, and brings him crashing to the canvas with The Call! Syndicate is down and Ozymandias goes for the cover…but there’s no official! Frustrated by this turn of events, Ozymandias rolls off of Syndicate and goes to ringside, grabbing the nearest chair he can find. Meanwhile, the champion rolls outside as well, desperate to recover after taking one of his opponent’s big moves. Ozymandias moves around the ring with the chair in hand, grabbing Syndicate by the leg and pulling him out from under the ring apron. Suddenly a black baseball bat slams against Ozymandias’ leg, dropping him onto one knee!

Syndicate then emerges, stunned but smiling, as his trademark bat is securely in his hand. Still at ringside, he then places the bat around Ozy’s head before forcing him to the floor…crossface with the baseball bat is applied!

TREY BOOKER: My god! It’s like he’s trying to pry the top of Ozymandias’ skull away from the bottom half!

J.T. PRICE: He’s gonna break his jaw…his nose…at least a few teeth if there are any underneath that mask!

Ozymandias manages to get both of his hands on the baseball bat that’s wrapped around his face, and he pushes it away with all the strength in his arms. With Syndicate pulling back on it at the same time, the weapon eventually snaps in half! Syndicate rolls off of Ozymandias with the hold broken, but still holds one half of the bat in his hands. He takes a swing to smack The Butcher with his half of the bat just as Ozy swings with his own half of the weapon…and both halves connect! Ozymandias and Syndicate are both down at ringside as Elena DeDraca watches on and while special problem solver, Mason Kane, rushes toward the ring to take the referee’s place. Once he’s in the ring, Mason begins his count…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

FOUR!

Both men begin to stir, Syndicate with blood staining his blonde hair from an open wound on the side of his head, Ozymandias with his own gaping wound over the bridge of his nose.

FIVE!

SIX!

SEVEN!

Ozy is up to one knee…but so is Syndicate…both men reaching for the ring apron…

EIGHT!

NINE!

And they both roll under the bottom rope to break up Mason Kane’s count! Syndicate pulls himself up by the ropes while Ozymandias does the same, both men reaching their feet at nearly the same time. The challenger takes a couple of steps forward when suddenly Syndicate dashes in with his Original Syn knee strike! The blow does not have Syndicate’s full strength behind it, but it’s still enough to send Ozymandias backwards into the ropes. He then staggers back forward where Syndicate is waiting to hook him for No Signal, but Ozymandias fires off a desperation lariat! Both men are down again!

TREY BOOKER: Are you kidding me? What’s it gonna take, J.T.? What mountain will one of these men have to climb in order to end this match?

J.T. PRICE: It ain’t about how fast they get there and it ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb, Trey.

TREY BOOKER: Was that…Miley?!

Once again, both champion and challenger struggle to get back onto their feet, but it’s Syndicate who gets there first. Bloody and drained of strength, he glares at his opponent before reaching out to hook him for his Chaos STO…which Ozymandias counters by suddenly hooking Syndicate’s head and lifting him off his feet…SINKING FAITH CONNECTS!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

KICKOUT! Somehow…someway…Syndicate manages to roll his shoulder off the mat at the very last second. For a moment, the disbelief on Ozymandias face is palpable, but it only lasts for a brief time. He then pulls Syndicate back to his feet, hooks his head a second time, and despite Syndicate desperately trying to counter the move with some kind of inside cradle, Ozymandias powers him off his feet and drops him with a second Sinking Faith!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winner of the match…and NNNNEEEWWWW Legacy Champion of Project: Honor… “The Butcher of Reine”...OOOOZZZZYYYYMANNNDIASSSSS!!!

Syndicate’s lifeless body remains on the mat as Ozymandias rolls to his knees, a dazed look in his eyes. Mason Kane is handed the championship title and leans down to present it to the new champion as he raises his hand. Slowly, the realization of what’s happened begins to dawn on Ozymandias as he looks at the prize in his hands.

TREY BOOKER: My god, what a match! I didn’t think it was ever going to end, but we’ve reached the conclusion and Ozymandias has emerged as the fifth Legacy Champion of Project: Honor!

J.T. PRICE: Hold up, Trey! I don’t think this is over quite yet…

Elena DeDraca, having watched the conclusion of the match from ringside without being a direct factor, steps onto the apron and between the ropes. With his body racked by pain, Syndicate has slowly managed to pull himself up, while Ozymandias stands in the center of the ring with the title that used to be his. Elena continues into the ring, eventually coming between Ozymandias and Syndicate, taking a moment to look at both men as a tense threeway showdown has the crowd buzzing.

Suddenly, Elena breaks the tension as she turns to hit Syndicate with a front dropkick…God Save The Queen…and the former champion spills between the ropes to the ringside floor. As Syndicate does his best to scramble back to his feet, Elena turns to set her eyes on Ozymandias. Then she slowly reaches out, grasping the new champion’s hand in a display of mutual respect. This odd pair then raises each other’s arms, much to the dismay of Syndicate at ringside.

TREY BOOKER: What…what are we seeing here? Has some kind of alliance formed? Are we seeing Project: Honor’s new power couple?

J.T. PRICE: That…would be one hell of a powerful alliance, Trey.

TREY BOOKER: Indeed it would, but our speculation will have to wait for another day. Thank you for joining us for Unbreakable Resolution ladies and gentlemen…and don’t forget to join us next month for Project: Honor’s cross-brand Pay-Per-View event…The Crowning!