PROVING GROUND XXXIII: FOOLS RUSH IN RESULTS

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

With Skillet’s “Surviving The Game” playing in the background, the video intro begins with the reigning X-Factor Champion, MYOJIN, as they hit the Falling From Heaven EX on a fallen opponent. That is soon followed by the Sultan of Spice as he wiggles his body in the center of the ring and slaps his ass cheeks in preparation for a spicy stink face. Then, with arms crossed in front of his massive chest, comes an image of the imposing Shooter Landell.

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

Lexi Gold is shown celebrating a victory as the crowd cheers her on, before we get a shot of Douglas Crane screaming as he locks in his Release Me submission hold. This section of the video wraps up with an image of Stella Jade connecting with one of her tarot themed signature moves.

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

We see John Blade waving his hand in front of his face before turning completely invisible. Tara Fenix is the next to be highlighted, as we see the Phoenix Queen executing her Phoenix Lock. Finally, there is a shot of the young Mikey Hero as he does a backflip in the ring and poses for the crowd.

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

Kyle Valentine and DJ Hunter take over the screen next, with these members of The Phantom Troupe hitting Gran Rey Cero with perfect accuracy. After that shot of in-ring action, we then see the smiling face of Cadillac Jackson as he slides his sunglasses down to the tip of his nose.

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

The smug smile of Larry KaChow appears, soon to be followed by the eccentric Silas Isaac Naberius flashing a grin for the camera that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. From those unlikely images, we go to a shot of Mark Hunter as he locks in The Last Act.

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

Giovanni vogues for the camera and gives his best runway model expression, immediately followed up by Officer Greyfield beating down a perp with his billy club. Then comes the disturbing sight of a smiling Casanova English, moments before he connects with the Silence of the Lamb.

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

Malachite Minj licks the back of his hand before brushing a few strands of hair away from his face, which then transitions to TJ Thompson executing Hip with the Drip. Then comes images of Johnny Levy, who gives the camera an arrogant grin before we see the execution of his Box Office Blockbuster.

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

With Francis in hand, DIANA gives a happy smile to the camera before the scene switches to the much different visual of Swindle Shelldrake. The Kraken is shown planting an opponent with Violent Salvage before we switch to images of Archimedes J. Manson, The DIZ, and Stanford Edison celebrating together in the ring..

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

As the intro draws nearer to its conclusion, General Manager Indy Darling gives the camera a thumbs up, before we then see The Platinum Standard in motion. Following the execution of Emmanuelle’s Palisades Bomber, we get a shot of James Raymond removing his mask after entering the ring.

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

Finally, the Proving Ground logo emerges on the screen with the reigning Grand Champion, Arata Asakura, towering above it with the championship on his shoulder and his eyes radiating with glowing energy.

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



The TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts comes alive as the 33rd edition of Proving Ground is on the air! Following the eruption of pyrotechnics on the stage, the cameras scan the lively crowd and pick up a few signs in particular…

“READY TO S.I.N.”
“HUNTER IS A STRAIGHT SHITTER”
“RIP FRANCIS”
“JAMES RAYMOND HAS ARRIVED!”
“HEIL HERR INDY!”

One of the cameras finally sets its sights upon the announce table, where Proving Ground’s award-winning commentary team is ready to kick things off!

TREY BOOKER: Welcome to Proving Ground and happy April Fool’s Day! We’ve got a huge lineup scheduled for tonight, and that’s no joke!

J.T. PRICE: Hardy har. Good one, Trey.

TREY BOOKER: All of Proving Ground’s champions are in our main event tonight as they’re forced to team up with some of their most recent rivals! It sounds like a recipe for disaster to me!

J.T. PRICE: Tara Fenix returns to action against Johnny Levy as well, which has left fans wondering exactly how Indy will screw the posterboy of the Jewish faith this week!

TREY BOOKER: Don’t even start with that garbage. We’ve also got a huge tag team match, a fatal four way, and a pair of debuting superstars! Don’t change that channel because it all starts…right now!!!



The camera view fades in with Rich Mahogany already strutting around, wildly swinging a 2x4 while waiting.

The loud opening guitar riffs of “MAKEMEFEELALIVE” by You Me At Six plays through the P.A. System in the arena as the house lights flash down onto the stage and onto the entrance curtain as the crowd awaits the arrival of James Raymond and raining down the boos from every inch of the arena. The figure of James slowly passes through the curtain from Gorilla Position as he looks around the arena. The half-mask worn around his head doesn’t give James the advantage of expressing himself, but from the way he’s looking around the arena and soaking in the crowd’s negative reaction, his nods are in approval of how the crowd feels about him.

James begins his walk to the ring, the spotlights following him down the ramp as he ignores those who reach out for him, even going as far as kicking the barricade that holds the fans back as he passes by. The Coventry native makes his way to ringside and walks around the ring until he’s leapt onto the ring apron where the hard cam faces, from there he begins to unwrap the mask from behind his head, pulling away at the final knot as the ring announcer begins his introduction.

HOLLY PEREZ: Hailing from Coventry, England, weighing in at 187 pounds and standing at 6 feet and a half… He is the "Reckless Star" JAAAAAAMES RAAAAAAAAYMOOOOOND!

Upon hearing his name being announced, James pulls the mask away from his head and reveals the bottom half of facial features to the hard camera that points right down at him, finally getting a good look at his cocky grin rubbed all over his face before he passes through the ropes and enters the ring, looking around the arena with that same shit-eating smug look on his face as he slips free from his ring jacket and places it down in his corner, ready for the match to begin.

TREY BOOKER: One of the newest signings to Project: Honor, one-half of the XHF Global Tag Team Champions currently and an AXW alumnus- James Raymond. This man is not here to play any games. You can see it with the way he walks.

J.T. PRICE: This kid looks dangerous, undoubtedly someone to look out for. But this isn't AXW or XHF in general, this is Project: Honor, so the question is- can he hang?

The bell rings as the Broken Crown paces back and fort- RICH MAHOGANY RUNS IN LOOKING FOR A LARIAT- NO! Raymond quickly ducks, a little taken off guard as Mahogany stumbles into the ropes! He rebounds off of them, turning around into- A CALAMITY KICK! HIGH ROUNDHOUSE RIGHT TO THE TEMPLE THAT ROCKS THE BIG MAN, SENDING HIM STUMBLING AROUND THE RING!

TREY BOOKER: RAYMOND'S CAT-LIKE REFLEXES PAY OFF WITH THE CALAMITY KICK!

J.T. PRICE: That hurt Mahogany good, but he's not down just yet!

Raymond sends ANOTHER CALAMITY KICK TO MAHOGANY'S DUMB WITH HIS LEFT LEG- SHIN SAIKYOU HIGH KICK STYLE! THE THUD IT MAKES ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE RING AND MAHOGANY FALLS TO ONE KNEE! Raymond than turns and sprints to the ropes- He rebounds off of them and SWINGS HIS ARM FOR THE NECESSARY DEATH-

TREY BOOKER: JESUS CHRIST!

MAHOGANY COUNTERS WITH A LARIAT OF HIS OWN THAT TURNS RAYMOND COMPLETELY INSIDE OUT! RAYMOND'S LAID OUT, DAZED AND THE BIG MAN QUICKLY GOES FOR A PIN!

O- KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: …Not even a full one count?

J.T. PRICE: A lariat like that to anyone else would be considered murder. This kid is built differently!

Mahogany ROARS and wastes no time picking Raymond back up, he goes looking for a POWERBOMB- LAST RIDE STYLE- NO, Raymond ties his legs around Mahogany's neck with an inverted figure four necklock at the last second! He grabs hold of his trapped arm as well- THE TRIANGLE CHOKE IS LOCKED IN!

TREY BOOKER: Raymond counters that huge powerbomb with the ETERNAL REST!

J.T. PRICE: THE BIG MAN IS FADING!

Mahogany's face begins turning red, desperate as he stumbles around, Raymond yells with FEROCITY, squeezing his opponent's carotid arteries with his legs as much as humanly possible- but MAHOGANY STARTS LIFTING HIM UP…

TREY BOOKER: Mahogany is STILL ALIVE-!

J.T. PRICE: LOOK!

FALLING POOOOOWERBOMB! Both men collapse..- BUT NO, RAYMOND GRITS HIS TEETH IN PAIN BUT AS SOON AS BOTH MEN FALL TO THE MAT, HE LOCKS THE ETERNAL REST IN ONCE MORE! HE STARTS VICIOUSLY DELIVERING STRIKES WITH THE TIP OF HIS ELBOW! SMASHING THE SHARP BONE INTO THE DOME OF MAHOGANY WITH MURDEROUS INTENT, MAHOGANY STARTS LEAKING BLOOD-

TREY BOOKER: ELBOWS! ELBOWS IN THE ETERNAL REST! MAHOGANY'S NOT MOVING! BLOOD IS POURING FROM HIS FOREHEAD!

J.T. PRICE: THE REFEREE NEEDS TO CALL THIS IMMEDIATELY!

The referee goes to check- MAHOGANY IS OUT COLD, RAYMOND IS STILL DELIVERING ELBOWS WHILE KEEPING THE CHOKE TIGHT! THE REFEREE CALLS IT!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: And your winner by submission is.. JAAAAAAMES RAAAAAYMOND!

TREY BOOKER: But look! Raymond still isn't finished! He's still elbowing, caving Mahogany's head in! The referee has to pry him off!

Raymond stands, wild-eyed as he stares at Mahogany's limp body. Not breaking eye contact as his hand is raised by the referee.

TREY BOOKER: ..What a debut.

J.T. PRICE: We have a new killer in Proving Ground, ladies and gentlemen.


From Fallout, the new Legacy Champion Billy Bennett has issued an open challenge, one with some major title opportunities in the future for the person who can defeat her. The scenery is pitch black, but a voice echoes throughout the darkness.

?: Billy Bennett, I accept. How I've been waiting for this opportunity for a long, long time. Well, not to face you because honestly, I’d rather have faced Christopher Sabertooth, Emmanuelle, or even Mark Hunter for that opportunity to get a title shot at that Legacy Championship, but it's fine, because defeating you will make getting this opportunity so much sweeter. Let me take everyone back to May 18th, 2021. At 7:59pm, I signed my name on a Project Honor contract, and I came in here and was portraying my ways as one is currently doing that holds the biggest prize in this business. Full of themselves to no end. I don't know, maybe then I didn't deserve that honestly. You? Ten and zero before your first loss to one of the greatest to ever do it in Havoc. You, and it hurts me to say it, but you earned that way to be full of yourself. I still haven't, even after the couple of wins I got, the 'momentum' people believe I have, I don't feel like I earned an ego just yet. Hell, when I heard your opportunity, and I said I was going to take it, I'm shocked that no one stopped me.

Maybe because they believe in me more than I do. I can say I'm ready for the opportunity, but who am I to say that in all smart aspects of thinking? In almost a year, this would become my third opportunity for a Championship in any way and form of one, and I failed both my first two times, so what makes this different? Everything. I stepped into those opportunities cocky, arrogant, and alone. I had no friends, no allies, no fans backing me, I had nothing. Now, I have a locker room that believes in me. I have best friends that believe in me. I have fans that believe in me. What do I have now that makes it different, Bennett?

Then, a light shines down from seemingly the skies above, and in the shining light stands the person answering the challenge, Brandon Hendrix.

Brandon Hendrix: Because I have the fire of the people that believe in me! Everytime I look out and see a "Hendrix Supremacy" or "RISE HENDRIX RISE!" SHIRT OUT IN THAT ARENA THAT GIVES ME POWER! THEY GIVE ME THE STRENGTH! AND THEY WILL BE MY GUIDING LIGHT AT PUBLIC EXECUTION! OH I ACCEPT BILLY! I ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE AND I WILL FIGHT YOU TO THE DEATH FOR EVEN A SHOT AT THAT TITLE!

This is my shot… and with all the ones I've wasted before, it'll be hard to change everyone's perspective on me… but damnit… I'll fight and die trying. I accept Billy Bennett…. I accept.

Brandon looks up at the light, closing his eyes as the light slowly dims before turning off completely, bringing the scenery back to pitch darkness and quietness as Brandon Hendrix has accepted the challenge, but will he live to regret it?


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

HOLLY PEREZ: Currently making his way to the ring, hailing all the way from Flavortown, he is the Ambassador of FlavorTown and the Sultan of Spice. He is "The Heater" "Spicy" Serrano Poblano!

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

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

TREY BOOKER: The Heater is looking in good shape tonight, maybe he can finally change the fortunes for the KaVengers.

J.T. PRICE: Round IS a shape, very good Book.

The lights suddenly go out, plunging the arena into darkness. 'Sympathy for the Devil' by The Rolling Stones begins to play and, after a short wait, a spotlight floods the entrance way revealing Silas Isaac Naberius. He slowly turns around, raises his head and tilts the brim of his Panama hat up, and scans the arena. He begins to twirl his cane and makes his way down the ramp.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent, hailing from the District of Whitechapel in London, England. He is Silas Isaac Naberious!

He climbs the ring steps and takes a moment to look over the crowd, his gaze passing over the front rows before him. He takes off his hat and places it on the ring post and his cane on the top turnbuckle. He steps between the ropes and walks around the ring, still inspecting the crowd, before finally settling into his corner.

J.T. PRICE: I've seen Larry's documentary on Silas, and we can definitely say this man is a curious rookie.

TREY BOOKER: I don't think I agree with his policy on orphanages, though. But I guess what matters more is how he'll do against his first challenge in Serrano Poblano.

DING! DING! DING!

With the introductions behind us, the referee is quick to call for the bell and get the second match of the night underway. And whilst Poblano seems to try a semblance of starting with a lock up, it was quickly stopped dead in its tracks by an extremely overt rake to the eye by S.I.N. who debilitates his opponent with surgical efficiency.

The referee was quick to jump in and admonish the mysterious Brit before asking Poblano if he was ready to continue, and after a few seconds of pause the match would continue. This time Silas seemingly gesturing for a test of strength, but before it could happen Poblano is once more stopped dead in his tracks because this time Silas stomps the heel of his boot straight onto the foot of his opponent causing the man to stumble awkwardly on one foot.

J.T. PRICE: S.I.N. is immediately showing that he is taking no prisoners!

TREY BOOKER: What a disgusting act!

With Poblano hobbling on one foot, Silas lines him up and goes for a swinging neckbreaker that drops the larger man to the mat. Sliding down to meet him, Silas locks in a neck crank and makes overtly sure to angle himself into the referee's blindspot as he immediately starts gouging Poblano's eyes and hooking his fingers into every opening they could find. Making sure to make it hurt, and even after the referee sees it happen it takes a hard count to four for Silas to somewhat reluctantly release his grip.

Ignoring the admonishments, Silas tries pulling Poblano up by his hair, but quickly finds out that the bacon grease that kept it stylized made for a poor grip. Instead he'd grab his ears, pulling up harshly whilst S.I.N.'s emotionless eyes merely looked for the next opening. Pushing Poblano off towards the referee, and as the referee tries his best to avoid getting taken along for the ride, Silas runs up and places the point of his boot straight into the salt and pepper shaker of Serrano Poblano. The man keels over, but is prevented from falling fully by two hard knees in his back as Silas gives him "A Knife For Your Back" lungblower!

TREY BOOKER: Can this man do anything EXCEPT cheat?!

J.T. PRICE: I don't know what you're talking about, that backstabber was clean!

Silas crawls into a cover.

One!

Two!

Nope?

Silas goes out of the cover as he got up to his feet and walked towards his corner. Digging in his vest and in sight of the referee he'd grab a set of brass knuckles, slipping them onto his hands. But the referee is immediately there to yell at him and take away the brass knuckles.

After the referee handed the illegal item to the timekeeper, he turned around to see Silas holding a chain covered in barbed wire. Once more, he immediately jumps forward to stop Silas dead in his tracks and prevent him from using such a diabolical weapon, and quickly confiscates it.

J.T. PRICE: I wonder how many more he'll pull out of his vest!

The referee turns around, but this time to his own surprise Silas has nothing in his hands, instead the referee would look down upon Serrano Poblano who was completely out cold. A cane shaped welt on his cheek, but no weapon in sight, merely Silas standing in the corner throwing up his hands wondering what kind of nonsense the referee would spout this time around.

TREY BOOKER: I... Wait, what just happened?

Silas would shake his head at the referee's paranoia before picking up Serrano Poblano's limp body from the mat, and dropping him straight down with a picture perfect Silas' Ladder DDT! Before rolling into the cover a final time, making sure that the moment the ref's eyes focus on the cover he plants his feet on the rope for leverage.

One!

Two!

Three!

HOLLY PEREZ: Here is your winner by pinfall, Silas Isaac Naberius!

Getting off Poblano, Silas would get to his feet and courteously request the referee to raise his hands, which they'd do purely out of professional courtesy. The crowd booed the man from Whitechapel, but an equally stunned and confused murmur went around as nobody had apparently been able to understand what they had just seen.

TREY BOOKER: A 'perfect' victory for Silas Isaac Naberius, as he never gave Poblano a chance to begin with.

J.T. PRICE: It's impressive, honestly. I have never seen a man bend the rules to a point of perfection as he has. I think he has a lot of potential here on Proving Ground!

With his work done, Silas Isaac Naberius would retrieve his cane that had a fresh Poblano shaped dent in it, and make his way back up the stage as the show cut to a backstage segment.


Despite being born of the Gallagher wrestling family, Betsy was much simpler than her national hero of a brother Charles, her charismatic but disappointing brother Ricky, their world-renowned parents, and any of the thousands of graduates from the Academy that Charles now leads. This is most true when it comes to her pre-match rituals and preparations, of which there are less if not none.

To Betsy, preparing for a match was all about the mindset. Days before, she would have already taken care of the body, training herself in the many ways she was brought up with. Hours before a match, all she needed to do was to get herself in the right state of mind. And maybe find her robe that is nowhere near where it should be tonight.

BETSY GALLAGHER: What in the Queen’s name?

Betsy narrowed her eyes, starting to get annoyed. She always puts her robe in the same place every damn time, no matter the building they were in. Well, maybe not the same place, more like the same spot, and that was always near the corner of the locker room where she’d also place most of her stuff. Did someone steal her stuff? That stuff being just one robe? Who would even do such a thing?

BETSY GALLAGHER: Where the heck is my robe?

The camera pans over to the side where we see The Golden Goddess Lexi Gold standing there holding Betsy's robe she is missing as a smile crosses her face. The crowd cheers upon seeing her appearance. Since she is scheduled for a match, she is already dressed and ready to compete.

LEXI GOLD: I believe this is what you are looking for. I also wanted to approach you to say good luck and that I look forward to sharing the ring with you once again. It's something I've been wanting to experience again and now we get our chance tonight.

Betsy grins as she shakes her head, finally noticing The Golden Goddess Lexi Gold with her robe. Heaving a sigh, she extends a hand, waiting for the most important piece of her gear to be returned to her. There is no malice or hatred or annoyance in Betsy’s face, only a playful smirk that seems to suggest she gets the attempt, that there is no such ill will with it as well. For the most part anyway.

BETSY GALLAGHER: Feeling’s mutual, Lexi. Things haven’t gone my way here recently, especially with what happened to my last match, but me and you? Again? That would be a step in the right direction. Good luck out there.

Lexi looks her over and hands the robe back, then being the kind-hearted person she is, extends her hand out and waits to see if she returns the handshake.

LEXI GOLD: Good luck to you as well, sweetheart. Let's not forget that we have the wild cards to deal with in the match itself. That being Mikey Hero and Diana. I certainly know you will pull your weight in this and I also know you will be unbothered by the numbers game. Sounds to me like we have a lot in common if that's the case.

Betsy gracefully takes her robe back and puts it on, making sure there are no creases or anything of the sort. She even flips her hair back to make sure not a single strand is out of place where the robe is concerned. It’s a Gallagher thing.

BETSY GALLAGHER: Yeah, you don’t have to worry about me, Lexi. I always pull my weight, do my part, and make my very best effort. We’ve tagged with DIANA before. Remember In Like A Lion? Sure, Stella Jade got the pin but the three of us? We worked well together, didn’t we?

Betsy grins at that nostalgic thought. Even if she was going to war with both her former tag partners from that show, it was still a fun match, and to Betsy, having fun while wrestling was a good sign. That and winning.

BETSY GALLAGHER: I know we won’t be working together in this match, but at the very least, the three of us are all on equal standing in that we’ve seen each other wrestle first-hand because we’ve been in the ring together.



Betsy narrows her eyes at her next point. What does she even know of Mikey Hero? This was their first time facing each other, Fatal Four-way or not, but Betsy was going to make sure it was going to be a memorable affair for everyone involved.

BETSY GALLAGHER: Mikey Hero, on the other hand, I haven’t worked with… Have you?

Lexi rubs her chin and thinks about her question, then crosses her arms and replays what she said in her head, appreciating the fact that they can carry a conversation without hostility involved.

LEXI GOLD: I have not, no, so that makes two of us, but I wouldn't underestimate him. That goes for you as well. Seeing how your family has been in the business as well, it has certainly taught you a lot, I'm sure. However, I don't have that bloodline, but at the same time I won't use what you have as a way to attack you, so I will leave you with this instead, expect to see the best from me out there and no less. That is my promise. I'll see you out there.

She nods her head and turns on her heel to leave the room.

The silence is broken up as the sultry sounds of Madonna fill the airwave. “Vogue” blasting loud and proud to an unappreciative Boston crowd who couldn’t understand the perfection hidden within its message.

But to even bigger anger, the sight of Giovanni walking onto the stage would be appreciated even less, as a crowd of overweight depraved ‘Massholes’ let their hatred known for Giovanni in the only way they knew how, by being from Boston and existing.

In tow would be Calliope, wearing a fiery red outfit matching her equally fiery head of hair. And the presence of Larry Livingstone would trundle behind it all somewhat sheepishly, today’s ‘drip’ being a polka dot three piece suit that clowns wouldn’t even be caught dead in. To top it all off, a neck protector cradled his neck, still recovering from Lil Petey dropping him on it four weeks ago, or at least giving the idea of recovery…

Slinging the Warriors Rising Championship over his shoulder and running his hand across it in a protective caress, Giovanni would make his way down towards the ring as his mind and attention was only with his title.

TREY BOOKER: Oh no, not Giovanni again. I thought he’d shut up and leave us all in peace for a change.

J.T. PRICE: The new Warriors Rising Champion getting a… not so standing ovation in the city of Boston. But it doesn’t seem like it phases him one bit.

Giovanni would shoo away the announcer as he made his way into the ring and took the microphone away from her, patting his belt some more before moving the microphone towards his lips.

GIOVANNI: Now I’m a busy man, so I will make this very short and possibly very sweet… Petey, four weeks ago you assaulted my lawyer and you avoided me ever since! I will no longer let you avoid this confrontation, so I will tell you to come out right here, right now. And apologize to me!

It wouldn’t take long before Yung Gravy started playing and the capacity Boston crowd would become unglued from their seats and let out a rapturous ovation even before Lil’ Petey appears on stage. His smile beamed in confidence.

TREY BOOKER: Boston is going wild for Lil’ Petey, only a few weeks away from his retirement match, he looks like he’s ready to go five more years in this business!

J.T. PRICE: The world loves Big Drip, and Drip loves them right back!

Getting onto the apron, Petey would make sure to spring to the top turnbuckle and applaud his fans back as he took every second to drink in the adulation he had grown accustomed to. On the other side of the ring, Giovanni had his arms crossed and looked much less impressed at what was transpiring, with Larry and Calliope speaking their support into his ear.

LIL PETEY: What’s fuckin’ poppin’ Bosto—

GIOVANNI: You’ve said enough, Petey. I’m not going to let you stand here and get in your cheap pops during one of MY segments!

The crowd would boo viciously, the entirety of the TD Garden shooting venom at the artist like they would Kyrie Irving’s very existence. But Giovanni seemed undeterred by the vitriol, as he stepped into the center of the ring, claiming it as his own.

GIOVANNI: For the past four weeks, I have been dealing with the aftermath of you laying your delusional hands on Larry Livingstone. I have barely been able to sleep, for I have had to hear him talk about his nightmares, his bedwetting, and his screeching about how his ‘drip’ was lambasted in front of millions of impressionable youths, by none other than you!

TREY BOOKER: Wait, did he say ‘bedwetting’?

The crowd was somewhat stunned, but Giovanni would take Larry Livingstone close and pat his back in support as the attorney seemed more awkward than ever, even with the oversized neck protector.

GIOVANNI: Now I don’t know what this ‘drip’ is what you’re talking about, but I’m sure he has none of it like you said. But I don’t care, he’s my attorney, he’s here not to be ‘drippy’ or whatever, but to deliver my words in my stead when my busy schedule doesn’t allow me to talk to speak personally towards luddites. It all doesn’t matter, what does matter is that you will give me recompense for the damages suffered. I demand you start apologizing to me, so that I can put this chapter behind me and start properly on my renaissance of Project Honor, and the golden age of the Warrior Rising Championship…

Petey runs his fingers through his hair then looks out at the Boston crowd, moving the mic up to his mouth simultaneously.

LIL PETEY: I’m feelin’ a lil’ frisky tonight, so how about a good old-fashioned dance off, broski?

GIOVANNI: A ‘dance-off’?! Do you make me for a brainless pleb who has zero style and even less self-respect? I came here demanding you grovel at my feet for forgiveness, I have zero interest in getting drawn into this sophomoric bullshit. Maybe you forgot we’re on Proving Ground, the brand I am making into a more artistic place, not that mudpit called Fallout!

Petey would shrug with a careless smile, taking Giovanni’s remarks in stride.

LIL PETEY: I mean it’s fine if you’re a bitch, but I figured a ‘true artiste’ like you could bust some moves that can even make this lit Boston crowd think twice. But, what do I know? I didn’t just have the whole crowd cheering for me like I always do.

The crowd booed at the idea of giving love to Giovanni, but despite protestations by Calliope and Larry Livingstone, Giovanni seemed incensed. Following the boos, the crowd releases a roar of cheers to side with Lil Petey.

GIOVANNI: These people couldn’t appreciate any sort of art because this entire city is a pit devoid of class and culture… But you know what, I will accept your challenge, but instead of a ‘dance-off’, let’s make it more classy, more deserving of the man that’s bringing a renaissance to this place… Instead of you challenging me, I challenge YOU to an interpretive dance contest! After I dazzle them all with a true display of talent, not even these braindead fools will be able to ignore my brilliance!

The crowd seemed confused, but would cheer as Petey nodded along in agreement to the proposal.

TREY BOOKER: It seems Calliope has been sent from the heavens to provide commentary on this impromptu ‘Interpretive Dance Contest’.

J.T. PRICE: You’re a much finer presence to join us at the commentary booth than Johnny Levy has ever been, Calliope!

CALLIOPE: Ugh, don’t talk to me you mouth breathers. I’m just here to support the beautiful genius that is Giovanni, as he faces that weirdo Lil’ Petey.

LARRY LIVINGSTONE: That’s right, go take a hike you two. We don’t need a bunch of amateurs giving commentary.

TREY BOOKER: What do you mean amateurs?! We have done this for years now!

LARRY LIVINGSTONE: Well I once did announcing at a Drag race to impress a girl in college, so buzz off and let the true greats do this!

J.T. PRICE: The more things change, the more things stay the same… I’m getting a beer.

With the regularly scheduled announcers having been ejected from the scene once more, the action would return to the ring where Giovanni had taken off his golden jacket, Calliope cradling the belt on her lap. Petey instead stayed in his current outfit as he extended a hand towards the center of the ring to indicate that Giovanni could start first.

Giovanni would not need to be asked a second time as he immediately presented himself in the middle of the ring, raising his hands as the lights darkened and a spotlight aimed directly at him. Shining brightly from what had to be a stealthy application of glitter, “Beautiful Stranger” by Madonna started to fill the air.

What would come next would only defy and confound lesser minds, as Giovanni used every single rhythm imaginable to portray a beautiful scene between two star-crossed lovers stuck in an impossible love, a war fought and friends lost, after about five minutes of increasingly fabulous and emotional flourishes, an exhausted but positively winded Giovanni would once more raise his hands as the music faded and the lights went back on. Doing a bow towards the world as he had shown the world eternal beauty in the form of dancing.

Of course, the Boston crowd was stunned silent, their eyes locked in a trance at their phone screens and the other half coming back from a much needed toilet break.

LARRY LIVINGSTONE: This crowd is stunned into silence at what I can only describe as the most confoundingly beautiful scene ever brought forth by a singular person. I have no idea what it was about, but I can say without any doubt that Giovanni is the greatest artist in the world today.

CALLIOPE: You’re so right, Larry. This is the beauty I have come to love from Giovanni, such a fragile soul with such beautiful messages, I can barely hold back tears of joy and emotion at knowing that he has finally managed to show the world how brilliant he truly is.

LARRY LIVINGSTONE: That loser Petey can better just give up now, rather than completely embarrass himself in front of a man ten times his better.

Nodding in something resembling respect for his opponent, Petey would be the only one other than Giovanni’s supporters to give the man an applause for the efforts they had put forth. But it being his time to show his stuff, Petey nodded and bounced with confidence as he took his place in the center of the ring and with a smile to the camera would raise one finger into the hand.

It might not have been Madonna’s stylings, but the music of ‘2 Live Crew’s - “We want some p***y”’ would blast through the stadium as the lights went out and Petey decided to bust a move that only an absolute expert at move-busting like Petey could do.

The crowd would come unglued, and Petey would quickly invite the entire front row to join him at ringside as he brought the entire crowd along in his dancing moves that might not have told a heart-rending story of forlorn hope, but instead brought the house down in the TD Center with the entirety of the people watching at home undoubtedly ‘getting jiggy with it’.

After a handful of minutes of unbridled booty popping and rump shaking, Petey would finally relent and let the music die down. The crowd getting ushered back to their seats by equally exhausted stewards who had joined in.

Giovanni looked on in horrified silence at the affront to his eyes, as well as the announce table seemed to need a few seconds, Calliope even brought to near hysteria as she had covered her eyes to all that had happened.

LARRY LIVINGSTONE: All I can do to the world is apologize for what we have just seen unfold. A horrifying sight of pure human dancing excrement as Petey enraptured poor innocent people into a scandalous display of hysteria. My beautifully graceful announcing colleague is completely shocked and silent by it! Absolutely shameful display!

With Larry having somewhat recomposed himself, we once more return to the ring as Petey had made his way back into the ring. Holly Perez having found her way back to the ring holding a golden envelope and a microphone in her hand.

HOLLY PEREZ: After all the votes have been tallied, we have come to a winner. And the winner of the first ever Proving Ground Interpretive Dancing Contest is…

A drumroll would play through the arena as the crowd tapped along in their seats. Holly opening the envelope and side-eyeing Giovanni with a smug grin before raising her voice with a big smile.

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winner is Lil Petey with “Ode to Booty”!

The crowd would explode into rapturous cheers at the announcement of the winner, and Petey raised his hand with a smile on his face as he shook hands with Holly Perez, accepted a small trophy, and bowed to the crowd who gave him an ovation and even called for an encore presentation. But Giovanni seemed completely livid and out of it, his face angry and swollen in shock and frustration, he rips the microphone out of Holly’s hands and points his finger at Giovanni.

GIOVANNI: This is an absolute gogh-damned outrage! Your drivel could never have beaten my dancing! Also who even voted for this shit, the Oscar Committee?! Also where the heck did they bring a trophy from this quickly, this is all a complete farce!

Petey shrugged as he raised the trophy high to another cheer, but Giovanni wasn’t done yet as Calliope and Larry sped into the ring to try and hold him back.

GIOVANNI: This isn’t over, Petey! I will get my recompense, I will get the dues you owe me you absolute hack! Just because you’ll retire in a few weeks, doesn’t mean I won’t find a way to make your life an absolute heck!

With security joining in, Giovanni would be dragged off leaving Petey in the ring with a quirked eyebrow and a smile on his face. Shrugging at all that transpired, he raised his finger one more time as the encore presentation would immediately begin to the joy of everyone, the classics of 2 Live Crew booming back through the arena as the show would go to a commercial break.




HOLLY PEREZ: Ladies and gentlemen, the next match is scheduled for one fall. Making his way to the ring first, standing at six-foot-three-inches tall and weighing two-hundred-and-sixty pounds… The Last Carny… SHOOOOOTEEEERRRR LANDEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLL!

Lynyrd Skynyrd's “Gimme Back My Bullets” plays over the PA system as the imposing figure of Shooter Landell makes his way from the entrance. He strolls down the ramp, up the steps, and into the ring without bothering with any unnecessary pomp and circumstances.

HOLLY PEREZ: His opponent, standing at six-foot-four-inches tall and weighing two-hundred-and-ninety-nine pounds… OFFICER GREEEEYYYYYFIEEEEEEELLLLLD!

The remix of C.R.A.S.H theme hits and Officer Greyfield comes from the back and twirls his nightstick while making his way to the ring, he hits the steel steps with his nightstick and enters the ring and waits for the match to start.

DING! DING! DING!

Rather than rush forward to throw their weight around as they might with a smaller opponent, the relatively evenly matched - in terms of strength and size - wrestlers cautiously move towards the center of the ring. Shooter’s keen gaze eyes Greyfield up and down, looking for any signs of weakness he might be able to take advantage of, but finding none.

Greyfield also seems somewhat hesitant to begin his usual flurry of offensive strikes, perhaps unused to facing someone who is nearly as large and imposing as he is himself. Seeming to reach some kind of silent agreement between themselves, Greyfield and Shooter slowly extend one hand into the air, locking grip as they do the same with their other hands.

They begin to push against each other, beginning a test of strength that seems like a stalemate, the massive biceps and shoulders of both men straining and flexing as they try to overpower the other.

Finally, Greyfield seems to find the proper leverage to start pushing Landell backwards, Shooter’s upper body bending back as Greyfield grits his teeth and starts to unleash his full strength.

This continues for several moments, before Shooter plants his feet onto the canvas and begins to push back, eventually forcing Greyfield back into a neutral position… and then, against all odds, he actually manages to bend him back, beginning to seize the advantage in this test of strength.

TREY BOOKER: This is the kind of edge-of-your-seat action you just won’t see on Fallout ladies and gentlemen!

J.T. PRICE: So true! I may disagree with Johnny Levy about damn near everything, but he’s right when he calls the green brand an outlaw mudshow.

Before Landell can press the advantage further, Greyfield manages to lunge forward with a side knee strike to the Last Carny’s midsection; a surprise attack that almost staggers him. Rather than keel over from the impact of the knee into his gut, Landell allows his grip to be broken, quickly reaching out to apply a side headlock before Greyfield can follow up on his attack.

He begins to tighten his grip, but Greyfield is able to act before the hold is truly locked in, using his strength to send Shooter hurtling into the ropes. Landell rebounds back towards Greyfield, as the cop lifts one foot into the air for a Big Boot.

Showing surprising agility and reflexes for a man of his size and age, Shooter ducks it and then slides behind his opponent to lock in a Full Nelson. Though he’s able to place Greyfield in the hold without any issues, the man is too strong to keep in place; Greyfield stomps towards the ropes, even as Shooter attempts to drag him back into the center of the ring.

Lifting up one boot, Greyfield places it on the bottom rope, and the referee steps in to force Landell to release the hold.

Backing away to give his opponent some room, Landell allows Greyfield a moment to recover before the two men begin to circle one another. Eventually, they step forward to lock up again; this time, Greyfield grunts with effort as he overpowers Landell, shoving him back into a corner and beginning to unload with knife edge chops to the chest.

By the time he lands the sixth chop, Landell’s skin is already bright red and broken from the vicious strikes. When Greyfield goes for the seventh chop, Shooter kicks out to boot him in the stomach, staggering his opponent and reversing positions as he tosses Greyfield into the corner.

Unleashing a series of chops of his own, Landell manages to hit Greyfield with ten strikes before grabbing his opponent by the hair and dragging him to the center of the ring; clearly looking to get him away from the ropes.

Landell locks in another side headlock, able to fully secure it this time as his thickly muscled arms flex, beginning to sap Greyfield’s considerable strength. Before he reaches the point of no return, Greyfield elbows Shooter in the midsection several times to loosen the hold; following up by reversing the headlock into a Saito Suplex.

As they crash violently to the canvas, both men seem drained; chests heaving with exertion from being forced to face an opponent who is an even match in terms of raw physical strength.

TREY BOOKER: I’m loving this hoss fight, J.T.! It takes me right back to calling matches in ‘86! Remember those days?

J.T. PRICE: I wasn’t born yet, asshole.

Greyfield is the first to move, pulling Shooter up and stunning him with a few haymakers to the jaw, before shoving him into the corner and lifting him up to sit him on the top turnbuckle.

Climbing after him, Greyfield looks ready to execute an Avalanche Suplex… but before he can pick Shooter up, the man fights back with several punches to the side of Greyfield’s rib cage.

As Greyfield recoils in pain, Landell quickly reverses the hold and lifts Greyfield up into a Vertical Suplex position. Holding it for a moment, he drops Greyfield - and himself - onto the outside of the ring from their position on the top turnbuckle.

The crowd explodes, as the referee begins the ten count. It’s only when he reaches ‘SIX’ that Shooter is able to get back to his feet, still dazed and reeling as he clutches at his back. Realizing he has only seconds to get back into the ring, Shooter moves towards the apron to slide back in as the count reaches ‘EIGHT’.

He is stopped at the last moment by Greyfield, who reaches out from his spot on the ringside mats to grab his opponent’s ankle; preventing him from returning to the ring.

TEN!

DING! DING! DING!

As the crowd begins to boo at this unsatisfactory ending, Holly Perez returns to the ring to announce the results.

HOLLY PEREZ: This match has ended in a draw, by way of count out!

While she speaks, Landell and Greyfield continue to fight at ringside, throwing wild forearms and fists at each other as several backstage personnel rush out to break up the melee.

TREY BOOKER: I love it! We need a no holds barred rematch between those two mastodons as soon as possible!

J.T. PRICE: If only we could make everyone's TV screens black and white to really capture the nostalgia…


We go backstage to find Serrano Poblano, covered in sweat and sporting a large welt on his head from his earlier contest. The Sultan of Spice seems down in the dumps as he sits on an equipment crate with his head hanging forward.

SERRANO POBLANO: What in the spicy hell was that? I’m pretty sure he cheated, but I’ll be damned if I can figure out how. If only Percy or one of the other guys had been here…he never would have gotten away with that…

Just then, a voice rings out to interrupt Serrano’s sad monologue.

??: Can Serrano come out to play?

Serrano looks up to see Willem Dafoe peeking around the corner like a perverted peeping tom, his eyes almost swirling hypnotically as if he were the snake from The Jungle Book. Once Serrano has spotted him, Willem walks around the corner and the rest of his DaVengers teammates follow close behind.

SERRANO POBLANO: Oh…uh…hey there. I’ve heard about you guys. You’ve been doing really good work filling in for my friends lately. Wherever they are, I’m sure they appreciate it…

Dafoe responds with a gentlemanly bow before answering.

WILLEM DAFOE: No need to thank us. We are merely trying to live up to the high standards that you and your fellow KaVengers have set for us. It is both an honor and privilege to sacrifice ourselves to make the stars of Project: Honor look as formidable as possible.

For a moment, Serrano is taken aback by Dafoe’s comments.

SERRANO POBLANO: Oh, that’s not really what The KaVengers is about. We’re more into overcoming adversity through the power of friendship. Sure, we may not win much, but we always give it our best.

Willem smiles politely as he nods his head.

WILLEM DAFOE: Yes, of course. I just wanted to properly introduce my team should you ever become incapacitated and need one of us to fill your rather large wrestling boots. As you may already know, I am Academy Nominated Actor and winner of the Honorary Golden Berlin Bear, Willem Dafoe. You may call me Mr. Dafoe.

Serrano smiles sheepishly as he nods his head.

WILLEM DAFOE: This strapping young man beside me is “Hardwood” Rich Mahogany. You’ll find that no one can handle a massive piece of wood quite like him.

Mahogany steps forward, his head bandaged from his earlier match, and shoves a 2x4 in front of Serrano.

RICH MAHOGANY: Look at the quality of my wood, boy! Look at it!!

SERRANO POBLANO: Oh, yes. It’s…uh…very nice.

RICH MAHOGANY: You’re damn right it is, cause it was made right here in the good ol’ USA, ho!

SERRANO POBLANO: Huh?

WILLEM DAFOE: Next, allow me to introduce our resident master of the martial arts, Steve the Samurai. You will find no one more dedicated to their craft than him.

Steve steps forward and immediately strikes a martial arts pose in front of Serrano.

STEVE THE SAMURAI: HAI!!!

Serrano smiles and gives a friendly wave in response.

SERRANO POBLANO: Hello.

WILLEM DAFOE: Then we have this fine gentleman, our representative from Belgium. This…is Howie Dewitt.

Howie steps forward and begins to gyrate his hips, raising one arm after another in epileptic fashion, forcing Serrano to flinch with uncertainty over whether or not Howie is dancing or suffering from a medical condition.

SERRANO POBLANO: That’s…a really interesting way of doing it.

WILLEM DAFOE: And last but certainly not least, you will not find a cooler dad in all the world. Perhaps if you’re lucky, someday you’ll be able to sit on his porch and share a beer with him, or maybe even witness him restoring one of his many classic cars. This is “The Cool Dad” Don Crenshaw.

A burly man steps forward, chewing tobacco dripping from his lips onto the fanny pack that’s fastened around his waist. He holds out his hand for Serrano to shake, but when The Heater reaches for it, Don pulls it back to straighten his hair.

DON CRENSHAW: Ha ha! Gotcha, bud!

He then gives Serrano a hard slap on the shoulder before falling back in line behind Mr. Dafoe. Together, the five men known as the DaVengers strike a group pose and manage to look quite formidable indeed.

SERRANO POBLANO: Wow. It’s really nice of you to take the time to introduce your team, Mr. Dafoe. The thing is, I’m not sure how much longer Project: Honor will need you. I’m sure Rapture will turn up eventually, and Guy and El Puma have probably just been busy with their side jobs. Percy may be busy running Fallout now, but Noah Hope and I are still here and ready to represent friendship the best we can! So, as much as I appreciate your recent help, you might want to plan for the future. The roster is pretty full already, amiright?!

With a friendly smile, Serrano gets to his feet and steps forward to embrace Willem Dafoe in a sweaty but friendly hug. The award winning actor puts on his best smile, but it’s clear that he holds a certain level of disgust regarding the embrace. Finally, Serrano releases the hug and gives the group a parting wave.

SERRANO POBLANO: Well, nice to meet you all, but I’d best be going! Catch you on the flip flop, daddio!

With that, Serrano makes his exit as Dafoe watches him leave, his smile slowly turning into a twisted sneer.

WILLEM DAFOE: Not if we catch you first, Serrano. Not if we catch you first…


HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is a Fatal Four Way Match scheduled for one fall!

"Dusted" by Astroid Boys plays and Betsy walks out with her robe on, taking her place in the middle of the ramp, where she stretches her arms to either side and lets the robe fall slightly down her back, exposing her shoulders but still being mostly worn. As she starts walking to the ring, she alternates between pointing at herself and at the crowd, her confidence only second to how much she appreciates the fans.

HOLLY PEREZ: Introducing first, hailing from Manchester, England and weighing in at one hundred forty-three pounds… “Titania”...BETSY GALLAGHER!!!

As Betsy removes her robe and warms up in the ring, the entrance music for her fist opponent begins to play. As “The Hamster Dance” plays, DIANA skips down to the ring with a big smile on her face and when she gets into the ring she waves to the crowd in excitement.

HOLLY PEREZ: Next, she hails from Okinawa, Japan and weighs in at one hundred nineteen pounds… “The Energy Bunny”...DIANA!!!

“5 out of 6” by Dessa plays and Lexi Gold appears from behind the curtain to some thunderous cheers from the crowd. She slowly makes her way down the ramp and gazes out at the crowd, then claps a few fans hands before climbing the steps with a strut and enters the ring through the bottom rope. Once inside the ring, she stands in the middle, taunting the crowd. When she is finally satisfied with her grandstanding, she turns her focus to the entrance stage, impatiently awaiting her opponent's arrival as her music begins to die down.

HOLLY PEREZ: And introducing, from Los Angeles, California and weighing in at one hundred twenty-five pounds…she is “The Golden Goddess”...LEXI GOLD!!!

Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out For A Hero" blares from the sound speakers as Mikey Hero Sheepishly walks out through the curtain with his head down, he walks to the center of the entrance way and begins to tap his feet to the music until the chorus kicks in.

"I Need A Hero!"

Mikey's head shoots up as he runs down the ramp, and slides into the ring under the bottom rope. Mikey jumps to his feet in the middle of the ring and does a backflip, landing on one knee as he poses for the crowd.

HOLLY PEREZ: And their opponent, from Buffalo, New York and weighing in at one hundred sixty-three pounds…MIKEY HERO!!!

DING! DING! DING!

J.T. PRICE: What I wouldn’t give to be Mikey Hero tonight. He’s in there with three of the most beautiful women in Project: Honor!

TREY BOOKER: I don’t think it’s going to be all sunshine and roses for the kid, J.T. It’s a wrestling match, not a date.

The four competitors are in no rush to jump into the action, none of them wanting to make a costly mistake early in the match. The crowd seems torn as they wait for the action to start as each of the competitors is a clear fan favorite. After a bit of circling each other, we finally get a pair of lock-ups as Betsy ties up with Diana and Lexi tangles with Mikey Hero. Almost simultaneously, Mikey and Diana are taken to the mat with a pair of armdrags from Betsy and Lexi, but just as quickly they both pop back to their feet to hit a pair of dropkicks. With Lexi and Betsy knocked back toward opposite sides of the ring, Mikey grabs The Golden Goddess to whip her across the ring while Diana does the same with Lady Gallagher.

As they meet in the center of the ring, Lexi ducks down to allow Betsy to leapfrog over her head. Betsy then continues to charge forward, catching Mikey off-guard with a clothesline that sends him over the top rope and onto the arpon. Lexi attempts a similar move on Diana, but The Energy Bunny counters with a backdrop that puts Gold on the apron as well. Betsy then charges at Diana, who counters with a go-behind and shoves Gallagher into Lexi, knocking her off the apron and onto the floor. Diana immediately follows that with a rolling reverse cradle, but before the referee can make a count, Mikey Hero springs off the ropes to drop an elbow across the back of Diana’s neck!

TREY BOOKER: Fast action to start this thing off and no one has a clear edge as of yet!

J.T. PRICE: I wonder what it’s like for Mikey to be the biggest competitor in a match for a change…

After breaking up the pin, Mikey pulls Diana to her feet and gives her a few chops to back her into the ropes. He then attempts to whip her across the ring, but she’s caught in the center by Betsy Gallagher, who wraps her arms around The Energy Bunny to hit an overhead belly to belly suplex! After Diana hits the mat, Mikey rushes forward to catch Betsy off guard, but she ducks to the mat and takes him down with a drop toe hold, immediately following that by applying an ankle lock to Hero!

She has the hold locked on tight, but Lexi Gold slides back into the ring and breaks up the submission with a stiff kick to the side of Gallagher’s head. She pulls Betsy up and hooks her for a suplex, executing the move perfectly. She then rolls through and lifts Betsy up for a second suplex, but as Lady Gallagher is falling toward the mat, Diana grabs her legs and turns the suplex into a powerbomb combo! The Energy Bunny maintains her hold on the sit out powerbomb for a pin attempt…

ONE!

TWO!

SAVE BY LEXI!

A basement dropkick to Diana’s jaw ends the pin attempt and Lexi quickly follows it up with a leg drop over Diana’s face. It looks as if she’s going to attempt a cover of her own, but Mikey Hero isn’t having it as he pulls Lexi to her feet and hits a reverse neckbreaker! All three women are down on the mat, with Mikey having an opportunity to hit a big move! He goes to the top rope and measures Betsy Gallagher for his Big 450 Splash, but as she pulls up her knees he lands on his feet and leaps over her with a forward roll! He pops back up and turns to hit Betsy with a spinning kick, but she catches his foot and drags him to the mat in another ankle lock!

TREY BOOKER: What agility by Mikey Hero!

J.T. PRICE: And what technical timing by Betsy!

She has the hold locked in tight, but as Mikey fights against the pain, Diana grabs Betsy from behind, locking her in a dragon sleeper! Despite being held in Diana’s grip, Lady Gallagher keeps the ankle lock applied on Mikey! Feeling a bit left out, Lexi Gold joins in by grabbing Diana from behind in a sleeper hold! Two of the competitors are now locked in submission holds with a third trapped in a knock-out maneuver! It’s a race to see who will tap or release their hold first! Then, despite the pain in his ankle, Mikey reaches out to get his fingers around the bottom rope! Completely confused, the referee instructs Lexi to break her hold on Diana, which she finally does against her better judgment.

After shooting the referee a disgusted look, Lexi decides to hit Diana’s lower back with a soccer kick, forcing her to break the dragon sleeper as well! With Mikey’s hand still on the ropes, the referee then turns his attention to Betsy, instructing her to finally release the ankle lock. After letting go of Mikey, Betsy crawls away and shakes her head to relieve the pain in her neck. Mikey rolls onto the apron, clutching at his ankle, as Diana and Lexi exchange a series of kicks and chops in the center of the ring. It is a duel that Lexi wins as her strikes finally drive Diana to her knees! With her opponent stunned, Lexi hits the ropes and comes back to connect with her Striking Gold kick on the kneeling Diana! She goes for the cover…

ONE!

TWO!

THR - NO!

Betsy Gallagher is just in time to break up the fall as she brings a falling double ax down across Lexi’s back! A dizzy Diana rolls under the bottom rope to the floor as Betsy pulls Lexi up in a wrist lock before executing her Queen’s Lariat! The Golden Goddess goes down hard, but Betsy isn’t done as she grabs Lexi’s leg and twists her into The Regal Stretch! Lexi is trapped in the middle of the ring with nowhere to go as Betsy has the hold applied! It looks as if she may be close to tapping out when Mikey flies from the top to hit both women with his Big 450 Splash! He hooks Betsy’s leg for all he’s worth and…

ONE!

TWO!!

THREE!!!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winner of the match by pinfall…MIKEY HERO!!!

TREY BOOKER: That was some nonstop action from four bright, young competitors, even if it did end a little too soon for my taste!

J.T. PRICE: Mikey gets a huge win here over four of the toughest ladies in the company. As much as I love dirty tactics and illegal weapons, it was nice to see such a competitive match between those four!

TREY BOOKER: It was definitely a close one. Those four are so evenly matched that it made it hard to call a winner!




When we return to ringside, Brandon Hendrix and Stella Jade are already in the ring as “In My Zone” is playing over the sound system. The duo share a confident nod and a pair of smiles as it would seem they are completely on the same page for tonight’s match.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall! Currently in the ring, from New Orleans, Louisiana…she is Proving Ground’s “Beacon of Hope”...STELLA JADE!!! And her tag team partner, residing in San Antonio, Texas…he is “The Don”...BRANDON HENDRIX!!!

ALL OF THE LIGHTS.

"All of the Lights" by Kanye West hits, and the lights go out. Small flashes of multicolored lasers shoot through the arena in the dark, as a large white spotlight scans the crowd during the intro of the song. As we approach the drop, the lights go out besides the spotlight that stays on the middle of the entrance curtain. As the drums and lyrics pick up in the song after the drop, Cadillac bursts through the curtain and into the spotlight, where he stands soaking in it for a few moments. He then makes his way to the ring with the spotlight following him, pointing and waving at fans while making sure to be out of reach of them. He walks up the stairs and onto the apron, leaning his back against the ropes and surveying the crowd before spinning around and hopping into the ring. He goes to the top rope and removes his sunglasses and ring jacket, handing it to a stagehand before hopping down and getting ready for action.

HOLLY PEREZ: And introducing their opponents…first from Hampton Falls, New Hampshire and weighing in at two hundred forty-seven pounds… “The Luxury Experience”...CADILLAC JACKSON!!!

“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 partner, fighting out of the Hip House and weighing in at one hundred eighty pounds… “The Hip Beast”...TJ THOMPSON!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: Just listen to the ovation for both of these teams! Cadillac Jackson has been a huge fan favorite since his return and this team he’s formed with TJ Thompson has gotten the fans all riled up!

J.T. PRICE: I still can’t believe Caddy Daddy is an ally of Big Drip. Maybe this combination of Brandon and Stella will knock some sense into him.

The two larger competitors from each team start things off as Brandon and Cadillac lock up after the opening bell. Hendrix takes the advantage early by overpowering Jackson, forcing him backwards into a neutral corner. Once there, the referee calls for a clean break, and with a bit of trepidation, Hendrix complies. The two men size each other up again, eventually resulting in a second lock-up. This time it’s Caddy who shows off his strength as he backs his opponent into the opposite neutral corner. Again the official calls for a clean break, to which Caddy obliges by slowly backing away. Then, as Brandon takes a step out of the corner, Jackson throws a quick right hand, hoping to catch Hendrix off guard. Brandon is able to blow the attempt and fire back one of his own, then another and another as Caddy is forced back toward the center of the ring.

Jackson is able to duck under another attempted swing from Brandon and wrap him up from behind, slamming a few forearms against his shoulder blades for good measure. Caddy then steadies himself to take Brandon over with a German Suplex, but Hendrix is able to counter with a go-behind and then slap a side headlock onto Jackson. Cadillac tries to reverse this with a back suplex, but Hendrix goes with the momentum to land on his feet, once again behind Jackson. Brandon then hits a back suplex of his own to drop Caddy to the mat and then drops a pair of hard elbows to his upper body for good measure.

TREY BOOKER: Quite the back and forth start between the two big men, but it’s Brandon Hendrix who comes out on top.

J.T. PRICE: Meh, for now at least.

Looking to pick up the pace and increase the impact of his moves, Brandon drags Caddy to his feet and whips him into the ropes, meeting Jackson back in the center to hoist him into the air and connect with a strong European uppercut on his way back down! The move rocks Jackson, who is left wide open for the running big boot that follows from Don Dada! Looking to end things early so that he can fully focus on his upcoming challenge against Billy Bennett, Brandon drops for the cover while Stella cheers him on!

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

Brandon pulls Caddy back up and sends him into the ropes again, but Jackson reverses it at the last second. As soon as Hendrix bounces off the ropes, Cadillac is there to meet him with a sudden spear! The impact of the move is impressive, but unfortunately for Jackson, he’s not immediately able to follow up on it. Instead, he starts making his way to tag in TJ, but it’s clear that he’s had his bell rung and he’s not moving at top speed. Brandon is able to catch up to him just before the tag is made, hitting Caddy with an overhead belly to back suplex that sends him back toward the opposite corner of the ring. Taking advantage of the position, Hendrix grabs hold of Caddy’s hair before reaching out to tag Stella into the match!

The plucky young babyface comes into the ring with a springboard missile dropkick that has such force it knocks Cadillac out of Brandon’s grasp. Jackson is clearly rocked and in need of the tag, but Stella does her best to keep the ring cut off so that he remains away from his partner. She moves around Jackson with great speed and agility, hitting him with a series of palm strikes before dropping him with a sling blade. Jackson tries to get on his feet as quickly as possible, but he still hasn’t found his balance when Stella hits him with a running crossbody block that puts both his shoulders on the mat!

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

Despite the offense he’s endured, Caddy remains too stubborn to give up, forcing Stella to increase the intensity of her offense. She goes for her Death Card maneuver, connecting with the jumping knee strike to Jackson’s jaw, but when she tries to lift him for the electric chair driver, it looks as if she’s struggling with his size. This gives Caddy the opportunity to reverse it into a victory roll as he puts Stella’s shoulders on the mat!

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: Stella manages to kick out there, but I think she may struggle with executing some of her offense against the significantly larger Jackson.

J.T. PRICE: I’m sure she's had Brandon on top of her a few times and she managed to handle him…

Following the pin attempt, Jackson once again goes to make a much needed tag, but Stella stops him at the last second and whips him into the ring ropes. She leapfrogs over Cadillac instead of hitting an immediate move, and that costs her as he bounces back to hit The Ejection! The move sends Stella flying and nearly knocks her between the ropes, but more importantly, it buys Caddy the time he needs to bring TJ Thompson into the match.

The crowd cheers the Hip Beast as he enters the ring and plants a superkick against Stella’s chin. The move nearly knocks her head off, but somehow she remains standing on both feet. Of course TJ doesn’t give a damn about that, as he takes her to the mat with snap suplex instead. Thompson then bounces off the ropes and comes back with a hard double stomp on Stella’s chest that brings a gasp from the crowd. With The Beacon of Hope hurting, he decides to go for a pin attempt…

ONE!

TWO!

THR - KICKOUT!

Despite having the wind knocked out of her, Stella manages to get her shoulders off the mat. TJ remains unfazed as he smacks Stella with a European Uppercut and then a kick to the gut to double her over. Thompson then lifts Stella up and charges across the ring, slamming her back into the corner with a big buckle bomb! The impact snaps Stella’s head back before she crumples to the mat and TJ goes for an immediate cover again…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE - NO!

A last second kick out by Stella Jade keeps her in the fight, forcing TJ to change up his tactics. Before she can get off the mat, he locks Stella in his Please Tap Boston Crab, adding further damage to her already sore back. He has the hold locked in tight and despite Stella’s best efforts, she cannot manage to drag herself close enough to the ropes to break the hold. She instead tries to roll out of the move, but TJ keeps both feet planted and refuses to budge. She finally tries to tuck her upper body inward and manages to counter by rolling TJ into a modified pinning position…

ONE!

TWO!

NO!

TJ keeps hold of Stella’s legs and rolls back to his feet, reapplying the Please Tap with the ropes still out of Stella’s reach. She tries to tuck and counter again, but this time TJ is ready as he lowers his own body to stop her and simultaneously apply more pressure. It looks as if Stella has no means of escape, when Brandon can no longer stand by and watch. He rushes into the ring and plants a running kick to TJ’s head, successfully breaking the hold and dropping TJ to the mat despite being admonished by the referee. As the official forces Brandon back to his corner, Caddy takes the opportunity to run into the ring and drop Stella with a DDT, leaving both her and TJ completely unmoving on the mat!

TREY BOOKER: That was a much needed save by Brandon, but Jackson took full advantage of the referee’s distraction!

J.T. PRICE: TJ may be stunned, but he’s got to have more left in the tank than Stella at this point. I think the advantage is still in Thompson’s favor!

TJ sits up and starts to shake out the cobwebs as Stella is slowly crawling toward her corner for a tag. She manages to get onto her feet, but before she can dive to slap Brandon’s hand, TJ is able to grab one of her ankles. He starts to drag her away from her corner, but Stella leaps off her feet to hit TJ with an enziguri! TJ is still on his feet but Stella has just enough left to then hit him with a superkick to the face…then two superkicks to the chest…and finally a shining wizard to complete The Temperance! TJ is down and Stella makes the hot tag!

Brandon comes in and takes TJ off his feet with a big clothesline! When Caddy tries to enter the ring to help, Brandon meets him with a running knee lift that knocks him from the apron! He then turns back toward TJ and charges for his Fall of the Guard, but Thompson drops to the mat at the last second and Brandon hits Stella on the apron! There is immediate regret and concern on Brandon’s face as he leans over the ropes to check on his fallen partner, which gives TJ the chance to roll him up from behind with a schoolboy!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

NO!

TREY BOOKER: Hendrix kicks out at the last second, but his team is in serious trouble now!

J.T. PRICE: It’s not like Caddy is in much better shape to be of any help to TJ!

Brandon pushes his concern for Stella out of his mind long enough to kick TJ in the gut and then hit a strong Double Arm DDT. Still, instead of following up on it, he once again turns his attention to Stella at ringside. Seeing this concern amongst his opponents seems to give Cadillac Jackson an idea. He makes his way around the ringside area to where Stella is slowly recovering, and he pulls her off the floor. Hendrix shouts a warning, but Jackson ignores it as he lifts Stella over his head in a Gorilla Press, threatening to drop her face first over the guardrail. It looks as if Brandon is going to jump to ringside to help his partner, when he’s suddenly hit from behind with a European Uppercut to the back of the head! TJ follows that up by hitting Hip With the Drip out of nowhere, taking Hendrix to the mat!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winners of the match by pinfall…CADILLAC JACKSON AND TJ THOMPSON!!!

Instantly after the referee has made his count, Brandon slides to ringside, forcing Cadillac to drop Stella to safety and dive back into the ring. As Hendrix checks on his partner and offers his apologies, Caddy and TJ embrace in the ring, having scored another stunning win for their new makeshift team.

TREY BOOKER: Another huge win for Caddy and TJ! I hope The Phantom Troupe and The BFG Division are watching, because these two continue to climb toward tag team title contendership.

J.T. PRICE: Stella Jade was actually impressive tonight, Trey. It seems like maybe Brandon’s head wasn’t in this match, considering he has to have Billy Bennett on his mind. Then again, if he hadn’t been such a sucker for Stella’s well-being, he never would have gotten pinned.

TREY BOOKER: That remains to be seen, but I’m betting we see a much more focused Brandon Hendrix if he does get the shot he wants against Billy Bennett.




HOLLY PEREZ: Please welcome the former Purge winner, former Project Honor Grand Champion, and new Project Underground General Manager… MARK HUNTER!!!

The camera focuses on the ramp as the crowd waits whilst booing intensely. After a short pause the booing goes up a notch and “Feel Invincible” by Skillet blasts throughout the arena.

J.T. PRICE: The fans here seem about as welcoming as the fans were on Fallout.

Eventually Mark Hunter, dressed in a blue pinstripe suit, strolls out carrying a huge smirk, almost on cue the crowd find another level of abuse to hurl toward Hunter.

TREY BOOKER: It’s almost like deja vu, the crowd here are almost responding in an identical manner as the fans on Fallout did.

J.T. PRICE: Mark’s made his bed.

Hunter seems to embrace the reaction by basking in the moment. The crowd begin to ease the abuse as Mark makes his way down the ramp and into the ring via the ring steps, the still smirking Hunter poses in the corner before taking the microphone from Holly, the music fades away. After taking a moment he goes to speak.

MARK HUNTER: Sometimes I just don’t understand why I ever tried to do what you people wanted.

The crowd booing intensifies.

MARK HUNTER: After everything I’ve done for this company, after everything I’ve done to make Proving Ground the number one show, after all the sacrifices, I NEARLY LOST MY FUCKING CAREER TRYING TO PLEASE ALL OF YOU!!

Mark takes a deep breath.

MARK HUNTER: And this is how you repay me, I gave you all of me, I nearly broke my neck protecting this company from the so called bad guys, I got an injury that could have ended my career saving all of you from those that wish to harm this company. I did everything for you, I sacrificed time with my family to help grow this place. Which leaves some questions doesn’t it… Why did you make assumptions about Elena’s misfortune being down to me? Why did you side with the known evil bitch that is Elena DeDraca over me? Why didn’t you wait for a damn explanation?

Mark looks around at the crowd who all appear to be looking on in a confused state, as if wondering whether Mark has a point.

MARK HUNTER: You want the truth? You wanna know what happened? I played the fucking nice guy like you wanted, I got my friend Adam to help Elena against the creep that is Holt, I got her traded to Proving Ground, I did all of that because I’m the good guy. I then did the best I could to protect Elena from an injury at the hands of Hendrix because I know the pain of having all of this taken away by injury, I saved Elena and all I got was accusations about my motives. These accusations didn’t just come from all of you… they came from Elena too, she was raging and threw the first shot, I defended myself as anyone in this business would… even after that I still called for help because I wanted to please all of you!

Mark’s head drops in what appears to be a defeated manner and the crowd's reaction now appears to be more mixed.

MARK HUNTER: I did all of that for you and THEN because it wasn’t appreciated, you all… ALL OF YOU turned on me before I could say a word, I came out for the main event and you’d made your minds up already, you booed the shit out of an innocent man because you couldn’t wait for the truth. So the question is not why Mark why? The question is for all of you… why did you do it? Why did you turn on me?

Mark now snaps his head up and has the most sadistic grin.

MARK HUNTER: Is it because you KNOW I am the most evil, lying, sadistic bastard on the roster!!!

The grin remains.

MARK HUNTER: Lying is fun, admit it… I had you going there didn’t I?

The boos rain down.

MARK HUNTER: Elena DeDraca stole my biggest moment in Project Honor when she took that Legacy title for a second time, all I had to do was bide my time, pick my moment… and then…strike! I didn’t fucking forget that moment. Despite that moment Elena NEVER meant as much to any show or this company as I do Proving Ground. I now plan on doing something she can never claim to have done, I’m going to become Ascended Prime Champion… After that, I’m going to take over Fallout and lead it to heights her frail mental state would never allow.

Hunter’s eyes narrow as he stares at the camera.

MARK HUNTER: Havoc… you may be alive… but I will hunt you down, that title is goi…

At that exact moment the lights in the arena drop and the crowd start rumbling, anticipating something big. When the lights return Havoc is alone in the ring, Mark is on the ramp laughing. The crowd can’t help but start chanting Havoc’s name.

MARK HUNTER: You got me once but twice is pushing it.

Havoc starts to walk towards the ropes which causes Mark to take a step back, at which time Indy Darling strolls onto the stage flanked by security, mic in hand.

INDY DARLING: SECURITY!! I’m not about to let the Fallout roster think they can show up on my show whenever they feel like it! Get out here and keep that intruder away from Mark Hunter!!

Havoc extends his arm to point the gun finger at Hunter for the second time in two nights before throwing both arms up in the air and leaving the ring, Havoc makes his way through the crowd, stopping to look back once with a satisfied smirk.

TREY BOOKER: I can’t believe we ever respected that man. He’s every bit the scumbag we originally thought.

J.T. PRICE: Would have been fun to see Havoc get his hands on him, but of course Indy has to protect his boy...

TREY BOOKER: I can’t blame Indy from nipping Fallout intrusions before they get out of control again, but just this once I would have been okay with it. We’ll be right back folks…




HOLLY PEREZ: The following match is a singles contest and is scheduled for one fall… Introducing first… already in the ring… SUPERSTAR… JOHNNY LEVY!!

Johnny, looking unimpressed, starts shouting off the mic.

JOHNNY LEVY: How dare Indy take away my entrance, what kind of repugnant preposterousness is this?

Holly just looks at Johnny and can be seen to mouth “are you done?”. Levy looks back in shock.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his opponent… from Hartford, Connecticut… 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!

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

TREY BOOKER: Emmanuelle’s presence doesn’t seem to please Johnny much.

J.T. PRICE: Yeah, he doesn’t appear to be the happiest bunny right now.

DING! DING! DING!

The two lock up and Tara uses her speed to keep one step ahead in the exchange of holds, and with her technical background everytime it seems as though Levy is about to get the upper hand she rolls or transitions herself back into control. Levy counters one of Tara's waistlocks with a Quesadora armdrag. Fenix lands and her momentum carries her over to one knee. Her and Emmanuelle share an uncomfortable glance before she looks up at Johnny, and Johnny back at her. Tara picks herself back up and brushes off her wrestling tights, the superstar gracious enough to allow her back to a vertical base uncontested. Tara comes in for another lockup but this time Levy takes her down with a snap armdrag and cinches in an armbar. Tara slaps the mat in a bit of frustration as she knows she fell right into the trap.

TREY BOOKER: Don’t let Johnny’s attitude distract you from the fact, he can really wrestle.

Levy wrenches in the armbar and forces Tara to fight her way out of it. Eventually Tara shifts her weight, locks her hands with Levy and gets Johnny’s shoulders on the mat in a modified pin attempt…

ONE!

TWO!

Kick Out!!!

Tara is up to one knee and then a vertical base, she delivers a shot to the midsection of Johnny. With their hands still locked, she pulls him over to the corner, springs up off the bottom rope, and takes Levy down into a small package...

ONE!

TWO!

Kick Out!!!

Tara steps away from Johnny and receives a nod from Emmanuelle. Now Levy is the one looking up at Fenix, who glares at him much in the same way. Anything you can do, I can do better, and the like. Johnny nods his head and just as he did for her before, Tara allows him back to his feet unchecked. Levy charges toward her like he's going for a lockup, Tara tries to counter with an armdrag but catches nothing but air when Johnny slams on the brakes at the last possible moment. Tara falls down onto her knees and Levy drops down on top of her with the point of his elbow driving into the back of her head. Tara screams out in pain, Levy floats over and takes control of the head with a front facelock. However Tara forces Johnny down with a boot to the back of his knee, she uses his lower base to her advantage by reversing into a quick crucifix pin…

ON … Kick Out by Levy!!!

J.T. PRICE: Third attempt already by Tara to get this thing over and done with.

TREY BOOKER: I don’t see Johnny falling that early to anyone.

Levy breaks the pin almost immediately, this time he is quick to his feet, however Tara looks quite sluggish. Levy lines up his shot and goes to drop an elbow right across the small of Tara's back, he misses due to Emmanuelle quickly dragging Tara out the ring and to safety.

TREY BOOKER: Rare to see Emmanuelle get involved in a manner like that.

Immediately Tara begins to clutch at her stomach area. Levy follows her out and goes to grab ahold of Fenix, however Emmy steps between them thus giving Tara time to slide safely back into the ring. Levy looks somewhat unimpressed before wandering over to Trey and stealing his headset.

JOHNNY LEVY: It’s just fundamentally wrong in every way to try and deprive these people of Levy with attempts to end a match quickly. It’s scandalous the behaviour Dorking condones from his favorites. Also why in the name of all things as great as me is Emmanuelle out here? Another attempt by the dork man to slap me down… it’ll take more than management conspiring to slap me down, I’m a rock of a man dammit!!!

Levy throws the headset back at Trey before heading toward the ring, in passing he pie-faces Emmy.

J.T. PRICE: Johnny has a point.

Levy enters the ring, Tara is on her feet and goes for a spinning heel kick, but Levy ducks it, Fenix carries her momentum forward to bounce off the ropes. Levy drops down but Tara leaps over him. Tara hits the other ropes and comes back, this time she ducks under as Levy goes high with the leapfrog. Finally Tara bounds off of the ropes a third time and this time the Los Angeles native catches her with a quick dropkick that sends her through the ropes and out onto the apron, she is stopped from falling any further by the hands of Emmanuelle. Levy waits for her to pull herself back up, he then swings with a leaping enziguri but Tara ducks it. Levy lands on his stomach in the ring, Tara goes to spring up the ropes but her ankle is grabbed by Emmy, Emmy shakes her head at Tara who raises her eyebrows before entering between the ropes, Tara drops a leg over the neck of Levy but clutches her lower back and stomach for a split second before making the cover…

ONE!

Levy powers out at one and half…

TREY BOOKER: Every chance Tara gets she’s been trying to end this one.

Tara appears to be working through what she wants to do next as she's pulling Levy to his feet. She drives a few forearm shots into the side of his head and backs him into a nearby corner. Fenix with an irish whip attempt but it’s reversed by Johnny who sends Tara careening into the far turnbuckles. Tara chooses to run in stomach first but puts the brakes on before impact. Tara steps backward as Levy hits the ropes and looks for the tilt-a-whirl headscissors, Tara is able to spin Levy back around on a full rotation and land him on his feet, she then finishes the counter with a side russian leg sweep. The move takes it out of The Phoenix Queen as well, and she can't capitalize as she clearly would want to otherwise.

J.T. PRICE: I still have no idea who’s gonna win this one.

TREY BOOKER: Same but what an impressive counter by Tara.

Both work their way back to a vertical base, Levy snaps off a spinning heel kick that also gets ducked, but instinctively he spins back and connects with a leaping enziguri that this time connects right to the back of her head. Tara drops down to all fours, Johnny backs up as if lining Fenix up for a punt kick to the gut, Emmanuelle however grabs his leg from under the bottom rope screaming “NO”...

TREY BOOKER: Again an uncharacteristic interference from Emmanuelle.

Johnny looks down at Emmy somewhat bemused before suddenly being rolled up from behind by Tara…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!!! TARA FENIX WINS!!!

DING! DING! DING!

Emmanuelle quickly grabs the arms of Tara and pulls her out the ring.

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

TREY BOOKER: Tara gets the win here with a little help from Emmanuelle, which seems a bit out of character to me…

J.T. PRICE: Speaking of out of character, I don’t think Tara went for a single high-impact move. She normally throws caution to the wind, but she seemed determined to keep this one mat-based.

TREY BOOKER: No matter what, Levy is certainly not happy about this. At least he can’t blame Indy Darling this time, although he may want to point a finger at The Platinum Standard.


The commercial begins from a first person point of view, as an unidentified individual makes their way through an idyllic suburban neighborhood, operating a handheld camera to document their journey. They make their way along the sidewalk until they slowly turn, pointing the camera at a luxurious three-story home, completely surrounded by the stereotypical white picket fence. The camera operator then opens the gate and starts to make their way toward the house’s front door.

Upon reaching the front step, the camera points downward to reveal a doormat that reads “Welcome to Lucky Larry’s Lethal Lottery”. As the camera pans back up, we see a hand reach out for the door, rapping on it a few times. Almost immediately, the door opens to reveal Larry KaChow with a smile on his face.

LARRY KACHOW: Well it’s about time. I thought you’d never make it back.

Larry then reaches out to take the camera for himself, slowly turning it to reveal that it was Cadillac Jackson documenting everything thus far. With the kind of smile that would make a conman envious, Caddy slides his sunglasses down to the tip of his nose….

CADILLAC JACKSON: Who says opportunity never knocks twice?

With that the scene reaches its conclusion, as Larry and Cadillac are replaced by a graphic on the screen…



Not far from the Gorilla Position, we find Johnny Levy storming through the backstage area following the previous contest. As he mumbles about injustice and the evils of management under his breath, he fails to notice a rather large masked man blocking his path. After nearly walking into the man’s chest, Johnny looks up to come face-to-face with the words THE SYSTEM printed on the giant’s singlet.

There is a momentary look of shock on Johnny’s face, which quickly turns into an expression of reluctance. Without saying a word, he quickly turns on his heels to go back the way he came, only to find another man blocking his exit. This other masked giant is similarly dressed as THE SYSTEM, but across his chest the words THE ESTABLISHMENT can be seen. It would seem like Johnny is caught between a rock and a hard place with nowhere to go.

JOHNNY LEVY: …fucking Indy Darling…

Both of the masked men take a step forward to close the gap between themselves and Johnny Levy. Just then, the sound of a honking horn blares through the backstage area as one of the production team’s golf carts speeds into the scene. Behind the wheel is Giovanni, with his muse, Calliope, seated beside him.

GIOVANNI: Hurry, my immaculately coiffed friend! Jump aboard your cart of salvation!

For a brief moment, Johnny looks a little choked up as he gazes upon his rescuers.

JOHNNY LEVY: It’s just like that scene from “Saving Private Levy”...

The SYSTEM and The ESTABLISHMENT both lurch forward, but Johnny dives away from them onto the back of the production cart. With no time to waste, Giovanni floors it and the overloaded cart meanders out of the scene. With their target slowly getting away, the two large masked men look at each other. The SYSTEM starts to give chase, but he’s stopped as The ESTABLISHMENT puts a hand on his shoulder.

THE ESTABLISHMENT: We’re not being paid to deal with the artist. At least not yet. Let them have their moment today, because in the end, no one escapes THE STATUS QUO…

The SYSTEM nods his head in agreement as the sound of a production cart can be heard puttering away in the distance…


HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is a Keep Your Enemies Close Triple Threat Tag Team Match scheduled for one fall! Introducing first…GIOVANNI?!?!

Holly’s normal introduction is interrupted as a production cart bursts through the entrance curtains with Giovanni behind the wheel. Still seated beside him is Calliope with Johnny Levy hanging onto the back of the cart for dear life. The normally slow-moving cart picks up a significant amount of speed as it rolls down the entrance ramp, and without fully understanding how to make it stop, Giovanni slams the cart into the side of the ring. The impact lurches Calliope forward and she bumps her head on the dash as Levy flips over both of them onto the hood of the cart.

Giovanni finally gets out of the cart and dusts himself off, refusing to sell the embarrassment of the entrance in favor of making it look like it was all a part of his plan. As he says something about “art in motion”, Holly continues with her introductions.

HOLLY PEREZ: And his tag team partner…hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and weighing in at two hundred twenty pounds…CASANOVA ENGLISH!!!

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

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

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

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

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

English and Bash Daddy look at one another and smirk before walking down the ramp slowly. English stops to blow smoke in the general direction of some fans. The two men then reach the cart that Casanova’s tag team partner drove to the ring, and with a casual flick of his wrist, Casanova tosses the remainder of his cigarette onto the passenger seat. He then climbs into the ring and looks at his partner, shaking his head incredulously. On the outside of the ring, Bash Daddy takes his normal position while shooting a glare toward Calliope and Johnny Levy. In response, the two turn to look behind them, wondering exactly who he could be leering at.

HOLLY PEREZ: And introducing their opponents…


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.

HOLLY PEREZ: Residing in San Diego, California…they are the current Project: Honor X-Factor Champion… “The Shining Star”...MYOJIN!!!

As MYO eyes up English and Giovanni, “Two Headed Hydra” starts to play and Swindle Shelldrake marches toward the ring with a purpose in mind. It’s almost like he doesn’t even notice the production cart as he slides under the bottom rope and shoots a glare toward his scheduled tag team partner…

HOLLY PEREZ: And their partner, from Cardiff, Wales and weighing in at one hundred ninety one pounds… “The Kraken”...SWINDLE…

Suddenly, Holly is cut off as Swindle turns on his heels and charges across the ring, catching an unsuspecting Giovanni with a sharp charging elbow to the head. MYOJIN almost looks amused by this sudden turn of events, but their enjoyment is short-lived as Casanova follows Swindle’s example by charging at the Shining Star with a flurry of strikes! With one of the teams yet to enter, the referee makes a futile attempt to stop this brawl as Holly Perez ducks out of the ring.

Giovanni is saved from the barrage of strikes when his muse leaps onto the apron, doing her best to grab Shelldrake’s attention with her feminine wiles. Swindle glances over at her for a moment, then shrugs his shoulders and turns back to plant a fist against Gio’s jaw. Meanwhile, MYOJIN tries to create some space between themself and Casanova, but English drops down and tangles up MYO’s legs with a drop toe hold to drag them to the mat. The former Warrior Rising Champion then leaps on top of MYOJIN, desperately attempting to lock on a rear naked choke to prevent them from mounting an offense.

TREY BOOKER: It’s already broken down and Arata and Emmanuelle haven’t even entered yet!

J.T. PRICE: Hell yeah! Kill each other!

Suddenly there is a pop from the crowd as apparently Emmanuelle has grown tired of waiting for her introduction. She races toward the ring without her accompanying entrance music, sliding under the ring ropes and popping back to her feet. Without hesitation, she begins to rain down a series of hard heel kicks on English, weakening his hold on her occasional tag team partner. Now that five of the competitors are in the ring, the Grand Champion, Arata Asakura, finally steps between the curtains. He surveys the scene unfolding inside the ring, and with a disapproving shake of his head, he slowly makes his way down the ramp.

TREY BOOKER: It doesn’t seem like our champion is in a hurry to join the fight.

J.T. PRICE: We all know Arata HATES tag team matches. This is probably worse than a visit to the dentist for him.

Arata discards his entrance attire and hands his championship over to the time keeper before making his way up the ring steps. He then takes a position in what we have to assume is his legal corner, silently watching everyone who he considers beneath him brawl like dogs over a single bone. Meanwhile, his tag team partner has gotten Casanova back to his feet and into a corner, where she plants some kicks against his midsection. Displeased by the treatment his ally and partner is receiving, Johnny Levy waits until the referee is preoccupied with Emmanuelle and Casanova before reaching under the ropes to grab hold of Swindle’s leg. The Kraken shoots him a look that would kill, and Levy immediately holds up his hands to feign innocence. The ploy works however, as it buys Giovanni enough time to dive between the ropes to the ringside area.

With Arata and Giovanni now out of the ring, Swindle gives a nonchalant glance to his fallen tag team partner before stepping to the apron as well. With three of the participants finally out of the ring, the official decides that it’s as good as it’s going to get, and he calls for the opening bell.

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: There’s the bell, but it’s safe to say things were well underway already!

J.T. PRICE: You think?!

As MYOJIN gets back to their feet, Casanova turns the tables on Emmanuelle, pressing his forearm against her throat in the only neutral corner. The choke is short-lived however, as MYOJIN grabs Casanova from behind with a rear naked choke of their own, dragging him down to the mat. After Emmy is able to catch her breath, she starts to drive her boot against English’s exposed midsection. Casanova English is now at the mercy of both Platinum and Gold tag team members, even if they are technically on opposing teams for this contest. While one might expect his tag team partner to intervene, we instead see Giovanni still at ringside where Calliope attends to him.

Seeing his boss’s partner unwilling to help, Bash Daddy takes matters into his own hands by reaching under the ropes to grab Emmanuelle by both ankles, tripping her to the mat before pulling her to the ringside area. Bash receives a leaping knee strike for his efforts, but despite Emmanuelle having things well in hand, seeing the outside interference is enough to bring yet another interested party to ringside.

TREY BOOKER: And now Tara Fenix is on her way to the ring! As if Levy, Bash, and Calliope weren’t enough!

J.T. PRICE: Yeah but…hey…do you smell smoke…

Tara makes no move to interfere on anyone’s behalf, but her presence does draw the attention of Arata Asakura, who jumps down from the apron and moves in her direction. The two begin to have words that the camera can’t quite pick up, likely stemming from Tara’s promise to cash in on her Grand Championship opportunity in two week’s time. Things are looking tense, but before either comes to blows, Emmanuelle inserts herself between them and starts to give Arata an earful.

Back in the ring, MYOJIN has released their hold on Casanova and is peppering him with an artful kicking combination that successfully drives him backwards. Having forced him into their corner, MYOJIN briefly looks to their partner, more curious than actually expecting him to join in the effort. Swindle casually leans on the top rope and sees The Shining Star’s glance, simply offering up an uncaring middle finger in response. Shouta then lines Casanova up for a spinning back fist, but English ducks low at the last second and MYOJIN seemingly strikes Shelldrake by accident, knocking him backwards from the apron and onto the crashed production cart. As the camera zooms in to see Swindle’s reaction, we also see that the passenger seat of the cart is now smoldering, a side effect of Casanova casually discarding his lit cigarette.

J.T. PRICE: Uh…Trey? Fire…

TREY BOOKER: You’re right, partner! This is a complete mess but it’s totally lit, as the kids are saying nowadays!

Following the miscommunication between MYOJIN and Swindle, Casanova drops The Shining Star with a German Suplex, then rolls them back to their feet to hit an inverted DDT. Finally with a moment to breathe, English notices that Giovanni has finally made his way onto the apron. Looking for a brief respite, Cas makes his way to his corner and then violently slaps Giovanni across the face, constituting as the match’s first legal tag. English then slingshots the stunned Warrior Rising Champion into the ring before sliding under the bottom rope and going to Bash Daddy’s side.

Personally insulted at being treated in such a manner, Giovanni leans against the ropes and expresses his displeasure with a verbal barrage directed at his tag team partner. This allows MYOJIN to spin him around and hurl him toward the opposite ring ropes. As Gio charges across the ring, he sees Swindle back on his feet, standing atop the hood of the production cart. Hoping to turn the odds in his favor, Giovannia turns the Irish whip into a suicide dive, but Swindle catches him in his arms and executes a snap powerslam to counter…right onto the cart’s flaming seats!

TREY BOOKER: Oh my god! It’s on fire!

J.T. PRICE: And Giovanni will be too if he’s not careful!

Feeling the searing heat of melted plastic seat cushion against his back, The Warrior Rising Champion rolls out of the cart and to the floor, bringing Johnny and Calliope rushing to his side. As they are checking on his condition, Swindle leaps back into the ring and marches right up to MYOJIN, the two competitors literally butting heads as they go face-to-face. Emmanuelle slides back into the ring and goes to MYOJIN’s side, unconcerned that they are supposed to be opponents in the match. This finally brings Arata into the ring as well, but instead of backing up his partner, he charges at Swindle while his back is turned and drives a jumping bicycle knee against the base of his skull!

Emmanuelle and MYOJIN are momentarily surprised by Arata’s attack, but before they can react, both are assaulted from behind by the returning Casanova English, who hits both of them with a double dropkick! The momentum sends MYOJIN crashing into Arata, who responds by forcefully shoving The Shining Star to the mat. That’s enough to draw Emmanuelle’s ire, as she finally unloads on Asakura, the ferocity of her attacks forcing him into one of the corners. With Arata stunned, Emmy spins around and drops to all fours, just in time for MYOJIN to spring off her back and crash into Arata with a leg lariat in the corner! Unfortunately for Emmy, Casanova rushes in and plants a punt kick to her midsection, then reaches down to grab her head for a kneeling DDT!

By this point, the production cart is completely in flames, and Giovanni has had enough of this outlaw mud show bullshit. With a disgusted wave of his hand, he starts to make his way toward the exit with Johnny Levy and Calliope under each of his arms. Disgusted at seeing a competitor walk out of a match, Tara Fenix rushes up behind the trio and spins Giovanni around to give him a piece of her mind. Clearly Levy and Giovanni do not appreciate this, but just as they’re about to take out their frustrations on the outnumbered Tara Fenix, someone else emerges from backstage!

TREY BOOKER: James Raymond?! What in the hell is he doing out here now?!

With the fans wondering what part he plays in all of this, Raymond spins Giovanni around and clocks him in the jaw as Tara and Levy begin to exchange forearm shots between each other. Calliope runs for cover as an all-out brawl develops near the entrance, while back in the ring, Arata has forced MYOJIN onto the top turnbuckle, joining him there for what looks to be a massive Frankensteiner off the top. As Arata and MYOJIN attempt to keep their balance while fighting to see who will pull off a move on the other, Swindle Shelldrake sends Bash Daddy out of the ring with a clothesline over the top rope. That doesn’t bother Casanova English in the slightest, as he has managed to lock Emmanuelle in The Silence of the Lambs, victory in this wild melee now within his reach.

Swindle takes a moment to survey everything unfolding around him, and instead of breaking up the potential match-ending situation involving Emmy and Cas, he rushes toward the corner turnbuckle where his most recent rivals continue to struggle with each other while maintaining their balance. Then, before either Arata or MYOJIN can complete a move from the top, Swindle gives both of them a big shove, sending them off the turnbuckle and plummeting to the ringside area. With a thunderous crash, both the Grand and X-Factor champions slam into the ringside announce table, destroying it with incredible impact and nearly killing the commentary team in the process.

TREY BOOKER: HOLY SHIT!!!

J.T. PRICE: SWEET JESUS!!!

After disposing of both his partner and one of his opponents, Swindle turns back to see Emmanuelle fading fast in Casanova’s clutches. The referee is down to check on her…raising her arm once…twice…and a running PK to the side of Casanova’s head from Swindle breaks the submission! The kick to the temple greatly stuns English and leaves him temporarily immovable, allowing Swindle enough time to hook a hammerlock on the nearly unconscious Emmanuelle and execute The Xanadu Clutch!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winners of the match by pinfall…MYOJIN AND SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE!!!!

Despite the match being over, chaos still rules over the closing moments of Proving Ground. Arata Asakura and MYOJIN remain unmoving amongst the wreckage of the announce table, while Tara and James Raymond have managed to chase away Giovanni and Levy once and for all. Swindle has retreated to the ringside area with a cocky grin, as Tara hits the ring to check on Emmy while Raymond begins to dig MYO out of the wreckage. Bash Daddy has pulled Casanova English to ringside as well, leaving the various competitors to shoot hateful glares amongst each other as the show goes off the air…