PROVING GROUND XXXV: GLADIATOR GAMES PART 2

♫ 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 a tip of her hat, Gianna Fortuna sticks out her tongue as she mugs for the camera.

♫ 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 a smiling Anya Levy, who’s perhaps too damn polite to be in the wrestling business. This section of the video wraps up with an image of Declan O’Connor’s Tarantula Choke, followed by 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. The bizarre image of Willem Dafoe appears as he’s flanked by his fellow DaVengers. 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. This leads into a roar from Brandon Hendrix, moments before he executes The Fall of the Guard.

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

The smug smile of Larry KaChow appears, soon followed by the rest of the KaVengers surrounding him with a group hug. From that unlikely image, we go to a shot of Mark Hunter as he locks in The Last Act and then to Betsy Gallagher as she applies The Fairy Lock.

♫ 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 Arata Asakura nailing the deadly Raikiri on a dazed opponent. 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) ♫

DIANA gives a happy smile to the camera as she throws up a peace sign, but then we go to what looks like a dark and damp prison cell. From between the bars, the threatening eyes of Ozymandias reflect in darkness. Is this an omen of things to come, or is this just here to see if anyone reads the intro?

♫ 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, we see Swindle Shelldrake in motion with The Violent Salvage…The Tetran Coil…and The Xanadu Clutch. Then, he kneels in the center of the ring with the Grand Championship resting in his hands as streaks of neon pink bleed across the screen. As the intro concludes, that pink screen turns to Proving Ground blue and the show logo fills the screen.

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



The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina comes alive with a burst of pyrotechnics as the final edition of Proving Ground is on the air. The arena is sold-out and there’s no shortage of homemade signs on display…

“LEVY WAS RIGHT”
“WHO THE FUCK IS YUNG BREAD?”
“THE KRAKEN ERA HAS ARRIVED”
“MEOW MEOW”
“RIP OUTLAW MUDSHOW”

One of the cameras finally sets its sights upon the announce table, where Trey Booker and J.T. Price are standing by to welcome their worldwide audience to the show!

TREY BOOKER: With Convergence on the horizon, welcome to the final edition of Proving Ground!

J.T. PRICE: I’m excited about Convergence too, but first we have to survive Hell on Earth III: The Next Damnation!

TREY BOOKER: That’s not what it’s called…

J.T. PRICE: Meh, should be.

TREY BOOKER: All joking aside, we’re going out with a bang as tonight’s show is loaded from top to bottom!

J.T. PRICE: And unlike that jobber, Kayden Ellis, I’ll still have a job at the end of the night.

TREY BOOKER: Too soon, J.T., too soon.

J.T. PRICE: Not soon enough if you ask me. Second-rate ripoff…

TREY BOOKER: Ladies and gents, let’s go to the ring for our opening contest!


The ten competitors all stand in the ring as the bell rings and this battle royal gets underway. The brawls within are Alyssa and Cal, Andrei and James, Latoya and Mikey, Declan and ZERO, and lastly Cadillac and Betsy are going after each other. Declan pushes ZERO back and gives him a corkscrew roundhouse kick that sends ZERO over the top so he can resume stalking Savannah like a heartbroken simp he is.

HOLLY PEREZ: ZERO HAS BEEN ELIMINATED BY DECLAN O'CONNOR!

Cadillac and Betsy strike off with each other before Cadillac pushes Betsy into a corner and starts kicking away at her stomach. Latoya hits Mikey with a Lou Theze and starts slamming the back of his head into the mat for a short while before telling him she's the legit boss of proving ground and what not. James Raymond kicks Andrei in the stomach before hitting him with a snap suplex that sends him into the ropes. Alyssa catches Cal Culus with a superkick that sends him over the top rope to his elimination.

HOLLY PEREZ: CAL CULUS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED BY ALYSSA GRACE!

With eight remaining, James Raymond picks up Andrei from the floor and looks to toss him over the top rope, and when he goes to, Andrei counters and sends James Raymond over instead. Andrei looks on with a smug look before turning around and catches a jumping knee from Declan that sends him over as well.

HOLLY PEREZ: JAMES RAYMOND HAS BEEN ELIMINATED BY ANDREI SOKOLOV AND ANDREI SOKOLOV HAS BEEN ELIMINATED BY DECLAN O'CONNOR!

Six now remain: Cadillac, Betsy, Alyssa, Mikey, Layota, and Declan. With the six in the ring, it might be a while before we see another el- ah fuck nevermind. Cadillac runs off the ropes and hits Betsy with 'The Ejection' that sends her over the top rope. What a jinx!

HOLLY PEREZ: BETSY GALLAGHER HAS BEEN ELIMINATED BY CADIALLAC JACKSON!

Latoya and Mikey continue fighting before hitting a double knee facebreaker to Mikey that staggers him before hitting him with a clothesline that sends him over.

HOLLY PEREZ: MIKEY HERO HAS BEEN ELIMINATED BY LATOYA HIXX!

Now we're at the final four, Alyssa, Cadillac, Layota, and Declan. Layota walks in the middle of the ring.

LAYOTA HIXX: Do you not know who I am? I'm the legit boss! I'm the blu-

Then Alyssa steps in and superkicks Hixx right in the mouth, dropping her. Thank God for the gimmick infringement police! Cadillac turns Alyssa around and jacks her in the face and both tussle by the ropes. Suddenly, Declan steps in and uses their momentum to send both Alyssa and Cadillac over the top rope.

HOLLY PEREZ: CADILLAC JACKSON AND ALYSSA GRACE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED BY DECLAN O'CONNOR!

As Declan waves goodbye, he's hit with a backstabber by Layota. She waits for Declan to get up but sees a fan with a "HAVOC ACCEPTED YOUR TITLE MATCH CHALLENGE!" sign. Layota said LeFuck this and jumps over the top rope in excitement before running up the ramp.

HOLLY PEREZ: LAYOTA HIXX HAS BEEN ELIMINATED BY LATOYA HIXX! YOUR WINNER OF THIS MATCH, DECLAN O'CONNOR!

Very confused by what happened, Declan shrugs it off and has his hand raised by the referee as he is the winner of the battle royal on the final Proving Ground!


Following the opening contest, we go to a prerecorded studio interview with investigative reporter and interviewer of the stars, Lou Robertson.

LOU ROBERTSON: Welcome to a new edition of Project: Honor Perspective. I’m your host, Lou Robertson, and I’m very pleased to have a special guest with me in the studio tonight. After his appearance on last night’s Fallout, he’s managed to get people talking about the company’s upcoming changes. Ladies and gentlemen, one fourth of Project: Honor’s ownership team, Indy Darling.

The camera pans out to show Indy seated in the studio, once again choosing to wear a designer suit instead of his more informal denim attire.

INDY DARLING: Thank you, Lou, but I think I need to set something straight right off the bat. Indy Darling was my in-ring name. I thought it was cute because I made my name on the independent scene, but those days have been over for quite some time. If anything, judging from the ratings my segments received last night, I should probably be called The Media Darling instead.

Lou feigns some laughter as the so-called Media Darling gives a self-satisfied smirk.

INDY DARLING: Furthermore, Darling was my father’s surname, and considering I’ve surpassed the miniscule heights he achieved and made more money in one year than he did during his entire lifetime, I’ve outgrown it as much as I have the Indy nickname. My legal name is Nathaniel Demetrius Carmichael, and it has been since my mother gained full custody of me at age thirteen. I would appreciate it if you’d show me the proper respect by using it from now on.

Lou looks a little surprised at the request but shrugs his shoulders and continues.

LOU ROBERTSON: Alright then, Nathaniel…

MEDIA DARLING: Mr. Carmichael. I’m still your boss after all.

LOU ROBERTSON: *Ahem* Mr. Carmichael, that brings up an interesting point. Isn’t Carmichael your mother’s last name? The same mother you’ve verbally eviscerated in the past?

MEDIA DARLING: That’s true, Lou. It’s also true that my mother and I have not always gotten along. However, she’s not an unreasonable woman. In fact, she’s a very influential United States Senator who has the power to bring this entire company down to its knees. In fact, that’s exactly what she intended to do not all that long ago. Thankfully, I stepped up and negotiated with her on behalf of Project: Honor. In exchange for her generous monetary donation, I was able to purchase my stake in this company and in return, I made a promise to elevate it into an entertainment platform that’s fit for all audiences and not just a niche market.

Again, Lou looks fairly surprised at this new side of Indy Darling…er…Nathaniel Demetrius Carmichael that he’s witnessing firsthand.

LOU ROBERTSON: So, it’s safe to say that your mother’s congressional investigation into Rock Johnson’s murder is no longer an on-going issue?

MEDIA DARLING: That’s precisely right, Lou. Due in large part to the mistakes of incompetent managerial figures that I will not name out of our shared mutual respect, this company was cruising down a highway towards endless fines, regulations, and government sanctions. There was only one thing standing between Project: Honor and the full force of the United States government, like a dam holding back tons of flood water or a wall keeping the flesh-eating monsters from storming the village. I was that wall, Lou. On behalf of everyone employed by Project: Honor and its worldwide fanbase, I took a stand and told the government, “You shall not pass”.

It’s hard to ignore the eyeroll that Lou displays as he turns his head away from Nathaniel to feign a cough.

LOU ROBERTSON: Speaking of everyone employed by Project: Honor, you made several public cuts on Fallout last night. Was that in their best interest as well?

MEDIA DARLING: Ah, Lou. That was just business. As my dear, close, personal friend, Mark Hunter pointed out to me earlier today, I could have handled things in a more appropriate setting. I guess the energy of Fallout’s final appearance just had me riled up and I got a little carried away. Of course, no one likes to see people lose their jobs, especially in this economic climate, but I can assure you that those cuts were absolutely necessary in order to pave the way for Project: Honor’s bright future.

LOU ROBERTSON: I guess we’ll have to take your word on that for the time being. However, there are those who will not be so accepting. Certain individuals have been very critical of you in recent times, such as Johnny Levy.

Indy lets out a jovial burst of completely fake laughter, like a wealthy lawyer chuckling at a client who’s inquired about a pro bono case.

MEDIA DARLING: That Johnny Levy, what a mensch! Am I right? Seriously though, despite the inflammatory and potentially slanderous comments he’s made, I have nothing but love for his people. In fact, my mother’s current husband is of the Jewish faith. It’s not something I like to flaunt as Mr. Levy would typically do, but to each their own. Having said that, I consider any issues Mr. Levy and I have had now in the distant past. I sincerely…with all my heart…wish him the best in his future endeavors.

LOU ROBERTSON: Wait…are you saying…

MEDIA DARLING: Lou, I’d like to thank you for giving me this time to speak with the people. Since I wasn’t able to be at the arena tonight, having this opportunity is a true blessing. I feel that it’s important for upper management to maintain an open door policy at all times and to be completely transparent in all of the actions they take. With that, I want to assure the fans and supporters of Project: Honor that at least one of its owners will focus on doing what’s best for business moving forward. Goodnight and God bless.

It’s clear that Lou isn’t even close to being done with the interview, but Nathaniel chooses to ignore him as he stands and begins to remove his clip-on microphone. With no other option, Lou wraps up his segment appropriately.

LOU ROBERTSON: There you have it, folks. I wish I could provide more answers to your questions, but it looks like that will have to do for now. For Project: Honor Perspective, this has been Lou Robertson.



The camera returns to the ring, where Stella Jade and DIANA stand waiting for their match to begin.

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: I still don’t think it’s a good idea to allow a pregnant woman to compete…

J.T. PRICE: Yeah, well, this company has let people get away with worse. What do you expect, exactly?

TREY BOOKER: Excellent point.

DIANA steps forward to start the match, but Stella distracts her by pointing over her shoulder. Hesitating as she narrows her eyes at Stella, DIANA nevertheless glances behind her…

…giving Stella Jade the opportunity to kick out with the toe of her boot, attempting to plant it dead center in the pregnant woman’s stomach.

TREY BOOKER: What a heel!

J.T. PRICE: THIS IS TOO MUCH!

However, DIANA had been expecting foul play, catching Stella’s foot before it strikes her and shoving her back onto the canvas.

TREY BOOKER: Close call!

Before Stella has a chance to recover, DIANA has already moved towards her and locked in a Standing Ankle Lock that has her opponent frantically slapping the mat in seconds.

The referee signals for the bell.

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winner, by submission, DIAAAAAAAAAANNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Rather than break the hold, DIANA keeps it locked on; no doubt some retribution for Stella’s completely over-the-line attack. Even the referee seems to understand, as they are in no hurry to force the two women apart.

Eventually, DIANA releases her hold on Stella’s ankle and rolls her opponent onto their back, beginning to stomp down on Jade’s face as the commentators speak.

J.T. PRICE: BEAT HER ASS, DIANA!

TREY BOOKER: We’ll be right back, folks.



With the lights in the arena dimming, Mad Visions by Royal Blood starts playing as the crowd stands up, interested in the new figure strutting her way onto the stage. A rose in hand, she seems somewhat oblivious to the world but confident in every step of the way. The modern day Renaissance woman would smile a little as she lowered her sunglasses for just a second and looked at the ring ahead of her.

HOLLY PEREZ: Making her way to the ring, hailing from Florence, Italy. She is “The Bright Rose of Florence” Gianna Fortuna!

With a smile on her face, she makes her way down the ramp as the crowd gives her respectful encouragement as they’re excited to see the new blood make a good start to their wrestling career.

TREY BOOKER: A treasure hunter, a neuro-surgeon, a professional wind-surfer, and now the rookie Gianna Fortuna is making her first steps into the business of professional wrestling.

J.T. PRICE: It’s a long list of accomplishments for sure, but we all know that none of them are even on the level of becoming a professional wrestler. So this self-proclaimed renaissance woman better not come in with preconceived notions that she’ll master this sport as easily as she mastered something easy like becoming a neurosurgeon.

Once in the ring, she expertly removes the jacket off her back and leans across the top rope as her rose takes aim at everyone at ringside before aiming it at the camera with a final wink.

As silence falls onto the arena, it would take a while before a crew member moves down the ramp and hands Holly Perez a sizable sheet of paper. Scanning it, her expression would become dumbfounded and quickly horrified.

HOLLY PEREZ: …Am I supposed to actually read this? Oh my god, the first show without Indy Darling as General Manager and things are already falling apart.

Sighing into the microphone, she shakes her head in disbelief before inhaling deeply and reading the provided text.

HOLLY PEREZ: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and goys, children of all ages… coming to the ring now, a man who stood up against - and duly defeated - the racist tyranny of Indy ‘Lame Sunglasses’ Darling… a man who single-handedly healed the divide afflicting this great nation… a man of the people, a man of the animals, a man of the intangible ether that binds together all life on the planet… the greatest show on earth… the greatest American to have ever lived or who will ever live… the greatest actor this side of Nicholas Cage, who he actually trained as his apprentice… the man who makes the best damn latkes you’ll ever eat, you filthy plebs… standing at exactly seven feet and four inches tall and weighing in at a solid three-hundred and fifty pounds of pure, rippling Jewish muscle… please join your hands in prayer to welcome the saviour of Project: Honor - yes, even including that outlaw mudshow trash brand ‘Fallout’ - JOOOOOOHNNNNNYYYYYY ‘SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR’ LEEEEEEEEEEEVVYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

The rhythmic dinging of a cowbell pours through the arena’s sound system, as a confused din arises from the crowd. This isn’t the usual theme music for Johnny ‘Superstar of David’ Levy.

On the massive screen above the entrance, various scenes of Johnny Levy doing blue collar shit plays out. He’s lifting bricks, he’s digging ditches, he’s charging into battle against the Communist Menace from Venezuela, he’s… I don’t know, cleaning windows? What do normal people do for work?

Anyway, the cowbell is joined by a guitar riff, and vocals!


There’s an explosion of red, white and blue pyro that is almost blinding to the audience; it immediately raises the ambient temperature of the arena by several degrees. It even looks like it might be warping the metal directly around it, but that’s probably just a trick of the light! No melting Wrestlemania signs here, no sir!

‘HEY, HE’S AMEEEEERIIICAAAAAN DREAM
(AMERICAN DREAM!)
HEY, HE’S AMEEEEEERIICAAAAAN DREAM
(AMERICAN DREAM)’

The song continues, as Johnny Levy steps out onto the entrance ramp to a chorus of real boos and a much larger chorus of cheers and applause piped in through the soundsystem. He’s visibly sweating from the heat of the pyro, which continues into its second minute without the slightest hint of slowing down. The flares and heat of the pyro is so intense that he actually has to shield his face with his red, white, and blue striped cape as he makes his way past it.

J.T. PRICE: This is truly the greatest moment in Proving Ground history as Johnny Levy is making his grand entrance after defeating that bastard, Indy Darling!

TREY BOOKER: What the hell, two weeks ago you hated that man just as much as every single person in this company as well as in the crowd.

J.T. PRICE: Yeah, but Indy isn’t paying my wages anymore, and J.T. Price might’ve been given a nice thick envelope earlier tonight. Such things open a man’s mind, Trey.

TREY BOOKER: Maybe there’s hope for Kayden Ellis after all…

Unfortunately, a stray spark ignites the synthetic, poorly made, not-safety-rated material on his gaudy cape; a small fire that quickly begins to spread as it eats away at the made-in-China cape.

He doesn’t notice it at first, continuing towards the ring. It’s only when it approaches the point of igniting the rest of his suit that he finally cranes his neck backwards to notice the blaze building behind him.

Screaming like a little girl, Levy grabs the collar of the cape and - in one swift, fluid movement - takes it off and casts it into the crowd, where the flaming ball of fabric comes dangerously close to landing on a small child’s head. Fortunately, nobody is hurt, because reasons.

Not that he notices it or anything; once the danger to himself is gone, he begins to whistle a jaunty tune alongside his new and improved theme music, strutting to the ring, up the steps, and between the ropes to the center of the mat.

He snatches the microphone out of Holly’s hands without bothering to say anything, or even make eye contact. He has more important things to celebrate, after all.

JOHNNY 'DUSTY' LEVY: Hi, everyone. I just want to say one very important thing.

His voice is low, grave, and serious as he stares into the hardcam with a stern expression. An expression that quickly cracks into a wide, cheesy grin as he raises his free hand in triumph.

JOHNNY 'DUSTY' LEVY: Indy sucks.

Spitting on the ground, he tosses the microphone outside of the ring and takes to his corner to prepare for this titanic struggle between the Glorious Forces of Israeli-America and the Dark Kingdom of Italy.

As the referee brings some order to the chaos that was Johnny Levy’s oversized entrance, he checks in with Gianna Fortuna and Johnny Levy if they’re ready to start this fight. And without further ado, he gestures to the timekeeper to ring the bell.

DING! DING!

With the bell ringing, Gianna Fortuna would confidently stride forward looking to start her first ever wrestling match with the tried-and-true lock up. But to everyone’s surprise, Johnny Levy throws up his hands with a big smile and makes his way to step back out through the ropes to the outside.

Sorry, my time’s up tonight, that entrance is all this b-rate product deserves from me. the nearest microphone could pick up.

Without even a shred of shame, Johnny Levy starts making his way up the ramp. Leaving Gianna Fortuna and the referee dumbfounded at the sheer stupidity of what is happening right now.

J.T. PRICE: Good on Johnny Levy to not work more than he has to, really. He’s not just going to humor Indy Darling’s attack dog with an actual display of his wrestling abilities.

TREY BOOKER: It’s been two minutes since you flipped colors, and I already want to beat your head in with this tablet.

Having no other option, the referee starts counting but before he could begin in earnest Gianna Fortuna slides herself out of the ring to take chase at Johnny Levy who had found himself stopped halfway up the ramp having a verbal argument with a five-year-old fan dressed head to toe like the young man’s idol, Indy Darling. The words shared from Levy would be very much unsuited for the broadcast as the production truck works double time to mute all the expletives.

Fortunately for the young boy AND production, Gianna Fortuna is there to save the match and the show from losing even more sponsors and lands a picture-perfect forearm onto the chiseled jaw of Johnny Levy, making the self-proclaimed ‘Greatest American To Have Ever Lived’ reel back clutching his chin and looking utterly mortified at the renaissance woman’s assault.

But Gianna wouldn’t let up, showing her agility by putting herself in front of Levy to make sure the only way he could go is right back into the ring. Which, begrudgingly, the man would eventually do after a few more select kicks to the inside of his knee. The crowd cheering Gianna’s name, possibly only because she’s beating Johnny Levy up.

TREY BOOKER: The crowd shows their appreciation to young Gianna not wanting to end her first match on a count out.

Sliding into the ring after Johnny Levy, Gianna Fortuna is quickly met by a dropkick that staggers her and a DDT that plants the rookie on the top of her head. With Johnny Levy kneeling with a beaming smile aimed at the camera, reveling in his own genius.

J.T. PRICE: Perfection from Johnny Levy again, luring the enemy into thinking he’s taking a count out loss before hitting them with the ol’ one-two when they least expect it!

Knowing his work is done, Johnny Levy casually plants Gianna’s shoulders to the mat and calls for the referee to slap the mat for his much-deserved victory.

O-KICKOUT!

But the first hand hadn’t even slapped the mat before Gianna Fortuna emphatically launches her shoulder off the mat in defiance to Levy’s half-assed attempt at an offense. Levy, unfortunately, seemed completely shocked and infuriated at the referee and started shouting at him for an alleged slow count, decrying the clear bias towards the superstar still permeating through the ranks of the Proving Ground officials.

It gave Gianna Fortuna all the time to recover, though, and she’d hand Levy his receipt for his cheap shot by clutching his stomach from behind and using all her core strength to hit a beautiful release German Suplex that tosses the Z-List actor backwards across the ring before coming to a stop in the corner. With a smile and to the support of the crowd, Gianna struts her way to the opposite corner before slapping her butt and launching herself full speed towards Levy who horrifyingly gets a face full of Gianna Fortuna’s running hip attack that stuns the Superstar.

But Fortuna isn’t finished as she runs back to the opposite corner for a second attempt, but this time launching herself up in the air before smashing her knees straight into Levy’s head with the Corner Meteora… Well, that is if Johnny Levy was still there as he had fallen over and conveniently caused Fortuna to blast the turnbuckle with her knees and fall awkwardly onto her back.

TREY BOOKER: Rookie mistake from Fortuna, can this bring Levy back into the match?!

Despite being barely coherent from the hip attack, Levy finds some semblance of composure as he pounces on the opportunity by lifting Gianna up and quickly hitting a devastating Limelight Fisherman’s Neckbreaker onto his opponent. But rather than go for the pin again, for he is still suspicious of the referee’s unproven bias, he flips off the referee before definitely preparing himself for another devastating maneuver.

First he throws his arms up, then he throws up a diamond, before chopping his crotch and flexing his muscles. Even going down to the mat to do some push ups, before finally running the ropes fifteen times all in preparation for the most electrifying signature move in all of Project Honor. Jumping up and dropping the leg to assert his Creative Control… Except he took so long, Gianna Fortuna had more than recovered, causing Levy to smash his own tailbone into the mat at full force.

J.T. PRICE: How on earth did Gianna manage to avoid that move in time?! I smell a wellness violation incoming!

TREY BOOKER: … I don’t even, anymore.

With Johnny Levy having crippled himself and shortened his lifespan by three decades by using a legdrop as a signature move, it leaves him barely able to even look straight, let alone be able to move away from the Fortuna Kick that hits him straight on the side of his dome. Making him wobbly and weak enough to be set up for the Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Slam that plants Johnny Levy onto the mat and in position to get pinned by his opponent.

One!

Two!

Three!

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Here is your winner by Pinfall. “The Bright Rose of Florence” Gianna Fortuna!

With the crowd cheering loudly for Gianna’s big debut victory over Johnny Levy, the young Italian smiles as she has her hand raised by the referee in what would hopefully become many more.

J.T. PRICE: Brave Gianna Fortuna defied the odds and has managed to beat that delusional Z-Lister Johnny Levy!

TREY BOOKER: Wait, and NOW you’re against Levy again?

J.T. PRICE: The envelope only went as far as the match itself, I’m no fucking mark, bro.

TREY BOOKER: Right, anyways. I’m sure Gianna’s grandfather Giuseppe is smiling on from the heavens seeing her granddaughter start her wrestling career with a resounding victory over Johnny Levy!

Gianna celebrates her victory on her way back up the ramp and through the stage curtains, leaving Johnny Levy still laid out in the ring. The camera focuses on Johnny as he slowly sits up in a daze, feeling the full effects of what it means to underestimate Gianna Fortuna. Then, just as he manages to pull himself to one knee, someone slides into the ring behind him and…

CRACK!

The steel chair in the man formerly known as Indy Darling’s hands slams against the back of Levy’s skull with full force, immediately dropping him back to the mat as his bleach-blonde hair begins to turn red. Johnny is already unconscious and clearly a threat to no one, but that isn’t enough for the co-owner of the company as he raises the chair back over his head and brings it down across Levy’s skull a second time!

Then a third!

A fourth!!

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

TREY BOOKER: Jesus H. Christ! What in the hell has gotten into that man?! We didn’t even know he was in the arena tonight!

J.T. PRICE: I swear I’ll never make derogatory comments about him on commentary again…

As Levy’s blood runs down the side of his head and stains the mat around his face, Indy…Nathaniel…leans down and slides his head between the folds of the steel chair. Then he begins to shout, his words picked up by the ringside cameras without the need for amplification.

MEDIA DARLING: You’re right, Johnny! I do hate you! I hate everyone like you! I hate every goddamn comedy act that’s tarnished the name of the brand I built!

The Media Darling then drives his foot down against the legs of the steel chair, Pilmanizing Levy’s head between the sections of steel. He stomps again and again, as if he’s completely blinded by rage and lost in a violent delusion.

MEDIA DARLING: Are we having fun yet, Johnny?! Are you having a good laugh at my expense now?!

Finally, security rushes onto the scene, but they’re not alone as Mark Hunter leads the charge. The Straight Shooter wraps his arms around his friend and shoves him backwards into the turnbuckles with a tackle as the members of security get between the fallen Superstar of David and the co-owner of the company…

TREY BOOKER: We’ve…we’ve got to cut away, folks. We’ll be right back…

J.T. PRICE: Daaaamn…




When we return from the break, Arata Asakura has already made his entrance and is pacing back and forth in the ring like a caged tiger, the loss of his Grand Championship still taking its toll on his mental focus.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Osaka, Japan and weighing in at two hundred twenty pounds… “The One Real Shogun”...ARATA ASAKURA!!!

“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 fiving 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 his opponent/the match to start with a huge grin on his face.

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

TREY BOOKER: I expect Arata to be intent on hurting TJ and ending this quickly. He’s a proud man and the loss of his Grand Championship must still be weighing on him.

J.T. PRICE: Could be, but TJ has been on a roll with Caddy recently and he’s no slouch.

DING! DING! DING!

Arata charges forward with the bell barely having time to sound, looking to make quick work of a man he’s been able to best in the past. A high kick from The Gaijin Killer misses its mark as TJ side steps and Arata’s foot lands on the top turnbuckle. In response, Thompson immediately rolls his opponent to the mat in a schoolboy…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

NO!

Arata manages to kick out at the very last second, avoiding an embarrassing defeat during the opening seconds. He gets back on his feet quickly and shows TJ his displeasure with a series of stiff kicks to the kneeling man’s torso. He then reaches down to grab him by the head, dropping him the rest of the short distance with a snap DDT! With Thompson down, Asakura quickly goes to the top of the nearest turnbuckle and propels himself off backwards with a moonsault…

…but TJ pulls up his knees and Arata’s ribs crash hard! Thompson rolls him to the mat again…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

NO!

Another last second kickout keeps Arata in the game, but this time TJ is the first to his feet as he plants a superkick to the jaw of his opponent! The move staggers Arata backwards against the ropes, and when he bounces back forward TJ meets him with a second consecutive superkick! This one plants Arata on the mat and now it’s TJ who goes to the top. He comes off with a high risk senton that hits its mark!

ONE!

TWO!

THR - KICKOUT!

TREY BOOKER: Another close one! Arata may have underestimated Thompson tonight!

J.T. PRICE: He’s got a Legacy Title shot in his back pocket! I’d be overlooking Thompson too!

Feeling fired up, TJ gives the signal for his Get Hip or Die Blue Thunder Bomb, but when he lifts Arata up, The One Real Shogun wraps his legs around TJ’s head and counters with a hurricanrana! Thompson leaps back to his feet and charges, but Arata leapfrogs over him…and then leapfrogs a second time to avoid The Hip Beast before hitting a picture-perfect dropkick! He follows that up with his Double A cartwheel Pele kick and TJ is in trouble!

Arata lines Thompson up and then rushes forward, looking for the Raikiri…TJ ducks under the kick at the last second and grabs Arata around the waist…rolling reverse cradle!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

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

J.T. PRICE: Whoa! What an upset!

TREY BOOKER: I disagree! Thompson has been in the running for the Grand Championship in the past, and he’s currently one of the number one contenders for the tag straps! I think this is more a case of Arata being mentally off his game!

TJ rolls to ringside and hops up and down as the fans celebrate his victory. Meanwhile, Arata sits in the center of the ring, glaring down at his own hands as if he’s internally questioning himself.


Following the previous contest, we go backstage to one of the locker rooms to see Mark Hunter pacing back and forth in front of a seated, and surprisingly calm, Nathaniel “Indy Darling” Carmichael.

MARK HUNTER: I just don’t get it. I don’t understand what’s gotten into you, Indy.

MEDIA DARLING: Nathaniel, or Nate, please.

Mark stops pacing and looks down at his friend, somewhat confused.

MARK HUNTER: As if firing those people and embarrassing them in public wasn’t bad enough…

MEDIA DARLING: Mark, we’ve been through this. I know I took things too far and I’m sincerely sorry about that. But think about it like this…do you remember when I fired Lance Williams?

MARK HUNTER: Don’t…

MEDIA DARLING: Lance attacked you on a personal level. He went after your family. That’s what Fallout has been doing to me for the past year. I was attacked by a bunch of fans in Purge masks in their parking lot while still recovering from Ozymandias’ World Ender.

Mark starts to pace back and forth again as he listens to his friend’s explanation.

MARK HUNTER: We both know that was your brother…

MEDIA DARLING: Alleged brother. Even if it was Kurtis, he had an easy enough time riling up enough fans to join in the attack. Not only that, but my father died in a death match. Everytime they booked one of those matches it was like they were rubbing it in my face. They were attacking my family, indirectly, much like Lance was attacking yours…

He stops in front of Indy again and leans down.

MARK HUNTER: Those two things are NOTHING alike. Just…get a hold of yourself, okay? I know you’ve been under a lot of stress, but you’re not in this alone. Step back and let me handle Convergence like we planned, okay? Because…INDY…if you keep going down this path, I’m not sure I can support you on this. Are we clear?

Indy nods and gives Mark a friendly smile.

MEDIA DARLING: Of course. Crystal clear.

Mark holds his stare for several moments, as if he’s unsure whether to believe the words coming out of his friend’s mouth. Finally, with a shake of his head, he starts to walk away.

MARK HUNTER: And clean yourself up. You’ve got blood on your hands.

Once Mark is gone, Indy looks down to see crimson splatters from Johnny Levy’s skull painted across the back of his hand. With a slight chuckle, he pulls the handkerchief from his suit pocket and dabs the specks away.

GIOVANNI VS. MALACHITE MINJ

It has been a day like any other for the world-renowned (citation needed) artiste, professional wrestler (citation needed) and totally, definitely, authentically Italian person (citation needed) Giovanni.

Waking up at the crack of 4pm, spending several hours in the sauna, a lovely FaceTime call with beloved friend Johnny Levy, followed by a brief period review-bombing art galleries that refused to display his work.

It’s hard work, but somebody has to do it.

His duty for the day complete, he changes from his bathrobe into a silk smoking jacket before heading to his atelier, which is apparently where an artist goes to do art. Why Giovanni has one is anybody’s guess, but let’s not dwell on the matter.

Halfway down the hallway that leads to his workshop, he notices a large smear of red paint dragged along the wall; it almost looks like it was done with an oversized cat’s paw. He pauses for a moment, staring at it quizzically as he’s almost reminded of the match he’s supposed to be having with Proving Grounds’ resident cat-person, musician and fashion icon.

Before he’s able to recall the fact that he has a match scheduled for this evening, he notices another red-paint cat’s paw pressed against the wall further down the hallway. And another past that. And another. And so on.

Following these marks like a man lost in the woods might follow breadcrumbs, he eventually enters his atelier… and he screams in horror and shock as his eyes fall upon his beloved, antique velvet chaise

It’s been shredded to pieces, looking like the victim of a cat in heat with large gouges torn into the delicate fabric, and stuffing scattered all over the floor.

Lounging on the piece of furniture is his opponent in question - and the one responsible for those bizarre paw prints in the hallway - Monsieur Malachite Minj!

The loveable cat-person is dragging one paw across the velvet, wiping off what remains of the red paint as they hold a glass bottle of milk - occasionally sipping from it - in the other paw. Giovanni makes eye contact with Minj, mouth hanging open in disbelief as Minj casually shrugs and lifts the milk bottle into the air, upending it to pour the white liquid all over what remains of the chaise.

GIOVANNI: …you… monster…

MALACHITE MINJ: Oh, please. This tacky thing? I did you a favour.

With an uncharacteristic fury, Giovanni unleashes a bellow of rage at his priceless - now ruined - antique chaise (available from IKEA for $399.99) before charging towards the lounging Minj. Rolling her eyes, Malachite tosses the now-empty glass bottle towards Giovanni, who lifts both arms over his head to protect his beautiful face… as the bottle goes sailing past him harmlessly.

GIOVANNI: Whew, that was cl-OH MY GOD NO!

Minj has used this temporary distraction to crouch on top of the chaise, before pouncing through the air towards Giovanni. They slam into the artist, knocking him off his feet and swiping at his face with their claws.

Reaching to one side, Giovanni grabs a fallen painting palette and lifts it into the path of Minj’s paws, blocking the swiping claws which begin to cut into the wood. Meowing in frustration, Minj propels himself backwards to a crouching position, allowing Giovanni to push himself back to his feet.

Staring daggers at each other briefly, each competitor then turns their attention towards the contents of the room, scanning for a weapon. Giovanni rushes over to a cup full of paintbrushes and grabs the largest one available, as Minj hefts a massive marble bust of Johnny Levy off of a nearby table.

Giovanni wheels to face his opponent just as Minj throws the bust towards him with a big overhead toss.

GIOVANNI: JESUS CHRIST!

Ducking low, the marble object just barely misses him, hitting the ground and shattering into pieces. With no time to waste mourning the loss of such a priceless piece of art, Giovanni tosses the paintbrush towards Minj as one might throw a dart.

Spinning and jumping, the cat-person kicks the paintbrush out of the air with perfect accuracy, leaving Giovanni looking stunned at such an acrobatic display. Landing in a crouch once again, Minj yawns and glances at the back of her paws, looking rather bored with this whole ordeal.

MALACHITE MINJ: I mean, I can do this all day… you’re looking a bit tired, though, dear.

GIOVANNI: Sh… shut up!

Giovanni glances to the side, his eyes falling upon a small l jar of some green substance. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully for a moment, he reaches out and grabs hold of it, shoving the object inside the pocket of his smoking jacket and turning his gaze back towards Minj just in time to see her rush towards him.

Tackled head over heels by the charging cat-person, Giovanni struggles on the floor with Minj for what seems like minutes, rolling across the room with neither able to gain an advantageous position.

Eventually, their tumbling grapple takes them within arms reach of a weapon sure to turn the tide of battle:

A spray bottle of water!

Aiming the nozzle at Minj’s face, Giovanni begins to press the handle, unleashing a mist of tepid water into the cat-person’s face.

MALACHITE MINJ: No! Nononononooooo!

Helpless against this feline kryptonite, Minj lifts both paws up to try and shield their face. It’s precisely the opportunity Giovanni needs to reverse their position, forcing Minj’s back to the ground and taking up a spot on their chest.

Reaching into his smoking jacket, Giovanni produces the bottle he had grabbed earlier, laughing triumphantly.

GIOVANNI: You fool! You’ve fallen into my trap!

Minj raises an eyebrow, before Giovanni dumps a heaping pile of a green leafy substance into his hand, pressing it against Malachite’s mouth and nose and keeping his palm in place to prevent them from spitting it out. Seconds pass, as the cat-person becomes gradually more calm and complacent.

Hesitantly, Giovanni rises off of Minj’s chest; the cat-person begins to giggle and mew as soon as Giovanni’s hand is off their mouth. Looking down on their fallen, content, drugged opponent, the artist places one foot on Minj’s chest and begins to count.

GIOVANNI: UNO! DOS! TRES! Oh wait, that’s Spanish, not Italian… uh… ummm…. hmmmmmm…

Racking his brain for the Italian words for ‘1-2-3’, he apparently comes up blank, shrugging and turning to the camera to hold up the bottle of green powder. The label reads ‘catnip’. As Minj paws at the air, meows and growls, Giovanni winks and gives a cheesy thumbs-up, the camera slowly fades to black as good has once again triumphed.

…after several seconds of a black screen, the scene opens back up on the atelier, which is still trashed from the brief struggle between the two wrestlers.

Only now, both are seated on stools in front of an easel and canvas, each of them hard at work finishing a piece of art as a small panel of three respectable-looking judges watch with mild interest. Giovanni has a palette and brush, while Minj seems to be dipping their paws into a bowl of mixed paint and dabbing it on their canvas.

Suddenly, Giovanni slaps his paintbrush down on the table beside his stool, laughing and shouting triumphantly.

GIOVANNI: Aha, finished!

Minj replies, their voice still blissful and slurred from the lingering effects of that catnip, a pleasant grin on their face.

MALACHITE MINJ: Mmmme toooooo…

Both competitors stand up, grabbing their canvases off the easel and turning them around to face the judges.

Minj has drawn an amazing, jaw-dropping landscape; a sprawling green field in the silvery moonlight, populated by frolicing cats, flowing rivers of milk, and massive feline play structures that ascend to the heavens. The panel gasps in shock at this masterpiece, before lifting up scorecards.

STEVE: ONE DIME/10

CHAD: 15/10

ROB: TOO MUCH SHOOT/10

Giovanni scowls at Minj’s self-satisfied expression, before shoving them aside to display his own piece. It looks like a Kindergarten student did it with finger paints, and it appears to be a drawing of himself and Johnny Levy - stick figures, of course - doing battle with a massive dragon wearing sunglasses and a denim jacket.

The judges raise their scorecards again.

STEVE: ZERO DIMES/10

CHAD: 14/10

ROB: NOT ENOUGH CD/10

GIOVANNI: GODDAMNIT!

MALACHITE MINJ: Meowmeowmeowmeow…



Returning from the commercial break, we have a close-up shot of Emmanuelle as she crouches in one corner of the ring, her eyes set on the entrance stage as her theme music fades away.

HOLLY PEREZ: The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, hailing from Pacific Palisades, California…she is “The Platinum Standard”...EMMANUELLE!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOLLY PEREZ: And her opponent, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and weighing in at two hundred twenty pounds…CASANOVA ENGLISH!!!

The bell hasn’t even sounded when Emmanuelle bolts out of her corner, charging at an unsuspecting Casanova English who’s busy laughing at the ringside fans. Bash Daddy shouts a warning, but it’s too late as Emmy slams into him from behind, pressing his breastbone against the top turnbuckle before unloading hard elbows and forearms against the back of his neck. Still fueled by a desire for revenge on behalf of her friend, Tara Fenix, Emmy is relentless in her attack on Casanova as she beats him down to the canvas, refusing the stop until the referee physically pulls her back.

Once she’s been convinced to halt her attack, the referee checks on Casanova, who responds to whatever question he’s asked with a groggy nod of his head. With that, the official signals for the bell…

DING! DING! DING!

…and Emmanuelle charges forward again, smashing Casanova’s face between her knees and the middle turnbuckle pad with The Platinum Dynamic! Almost instinctively, English rolls to the outside of the ring, but Emmy is right on his heels.

TREY BOOKER: Emmanuelle is like a force of nature tonight, and with good reason!

J.T. PRICE: Bash Daddy might have to step in to give him a breather…

There is no escape for Casanova outside of the ring as Emmanuelle grabs him by the head and slams him face-first against the ring post! As blood begins to trickle from his forehead, English slumps down the post to a seated position. That’s all Emmy needs to charge at him with another Platinum Dynamic, but this time he’s able to roll to his side and her knee slams against the unprotected steel!

Both competitors are down and in obvious pain, but English manages to express a smile as he spots his opponent clutching at her knee. He takes a moment to wipe the blood from his forehead before reaching out to grab Emmy’s leg and fling it against the post. He then pulls her from the mat and rolls her under the bottom rope, but instead of following her inside, Casanova maintains a hold on her leg and wraps it around the post yet again!

Completely ignoring the referee’s warnings, English then bends Emmy’s leg around the post before intertwining it with his own limbs, executing a ring post figure four leglock! It’s an illegal hold that the referee refuses to acknowledge beyond issuing a five count to English, but even at the count of five he keeps the hold applied. Concerned about the wellbeing of a competitor, it looks as if the ref is going to call for the bell and declare a disqualification, but Emmanuelle grabs him by the pant leg and furiously shakes her head back and forth!

TREY BOOKER: Emmanuelle is not going to let this one end on a DQ, no matter how much pain she’s in!

J.T. PRICE: And with good reason, Trey! This is the rubber match! Casanova won their first encounter after some dubious actions towards Tara Fenix and Emmanuelle won the second when they met inside The Gates of Hell!

Knowing he can’t achieve the submission victory and hopeful that he’s done significant damage to Emmanuelle’s leg, Casanova finally releases the hold. Still, instead of joining her inside of the ring, English grabs Emmy’s leg and yanks her underneath the bottom rope to the ringside floor. He then starts to stomp away at her, not just her sore leg, but her torso and head as well. She does her best to cover up but several of the stomps land with sickening impact.

English then bends down to grab her leg, turning Emmy over into a single leg Boston Crab. The Platinum Standard has no immediate exit in sight, and even though she’s outside of the ring, she still has too much pride to give Casanova the satisfaction of tapping out, even when it wouldn’t count. Meanwhile, the official counts both participants while they’re outside of the ring, perhaps a little too fast in his hope of ending the contest. Finally, he reaches a ten count and calls for the bell…

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has declared this contest a…

Just then, Holly holds her fingers up to her ear in order to better hear the instructions she’s receiving from backstage.

HOLLY PEREZ: My apologies, but I have just been informed by General Manager Mark Hunter that a match of this magnitude for both competitors and their fans, will NOT end on a count-out, thus this match will continue!

Casanova has already released his hold on Emmanuelle when he hears Holly’s announcement, but when he turns back to continue his assault, he’s met with Emmy leaping onto his shoulders, twisting her body, and planting his head against the ringside floor with a modified Malibu Shine! Casanova is clearly seeing stars after the move, but the pain in her leg is significant enough to give Emmanuelle some extra trouble as she attempts to get English back inside the ring. She finally accomplishes her task and lays on top of him for the pin attempt…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE - KICKOUT!

English rises to a seated position with Emmanuelle still seated on the canvas as well, but from that spot she fires off a hard chop against Casanova’s throat! He responds with a headbutt from his own seated position that rocks Emmy, but not enough to prevent her from firing off another chop! He answers with another forward head thrust, but instead of taking the blow, Emmanuelle catches his head and rolls on her hips, maneuvering herself behind him to apply a dragon sleeper!

TREY BOOKER: Emmanuelle may be on one leg, but she has plenty of fight left in her body!

J.T. PRICE: Oh yeah? Well Casanova may be concussed, but he’s got plenty of fight of his own!

English uses his seated position to roll to his side and get his knees underneath him, turning the dragon sleeper into a front facelock. He forces his way up to his feet with Emmy still locked on his head until he’s able to counter with a Northern Lights Suplex attempt! It connects and her shoulders are down…

ONE!

TWO!

KICKOUT!

She releases her grip on English to avoid the pin and rolls back onto the foot of her good leg as Cas gets to his feet as well. Before English can respond, Emmy fires off an enzuigiri to the side of his head, dropping him back to the mat! Unfortunately for The Platinum Standard, she used her injured leg to hit the move and cannot immediately capitalize. Instead she takes a moment to reach a standing position with the assistance of the ropes and watches closely as Casanova gets back up.

She goads him with a gesture of her hands and an audible ‘BRING IT’, to which Casanova is willing to oblige as he throws a big right hand in her direction. The swing doesn’t connect as Emmy blocks and fires back with a stiff right cross of her own, the Cross Counter spinning English around on his feet. She quickly follows that up with a stinging liver punch and English sinks down to one knee in pain.

Emmanuelle limps in front of Casanova and grabs his head before driving him the rest of the way down with a DDT. She then backs up and gets onto the middle turnbuckle, unable to ascend any higher before Casanova is back on his feet. She dives off to connect with a cross body, taking him back to the mat, but English rolls through and grabs a handful of tights!

ONE!

TWO!

THR - KICKOUT!

J.T. PRICE: Great ring awareness by Casanova!

TREY BOOKER: Because he pulled the tights?!

Before Emmy can rebound from the pin attempt, he leaps on top of her for a series of mounted elbow strikes. He then stands and backs up a few feet as his opponent starts to rise, but then leaps back forward to hit The English Lesson! He goes for another pin attempt…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE - KICKOUT!

The frustration on Casanova’s face is clear but he’s not ready to give up on his offense just yet. Taking a page out of Emmanuelle playbook, he backs up onto the second turnbuckle and dives back off for the Newfie Noggin Hug, but The Platinum Standard raises her good leg and her foot is driving into Casanova’s face to block the headbutt attempt! English is dazed and Emmanuelle capitalizes with her Milan Miracle!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

NO!

Getting his shoulders off the mat at the last possible second, English gives Emmanuelle a reason to curse as the match continues. Fighting off the pain in her leg, Emmy braces herself as English gets to his feet and blisters his chest with some hard chops before blatantly punching him square in the nose! He staggers enough for Emmy to begin the motions of her Rodeo Driver, but as she lifts him up her knee gives out and he’s able to slip behind her! English dives down to hit a chop block on the injured limb and both competitors end up on the mat!

TREY BOOKER: The Rodeo Driver may be nullified, but Casanova is clearly concussed and unable to press this advantage!

J.T. PRICE: Mark should have let it end in a double count out.

TREY BOOKER: And deny them the chance to finish their grudge or deny us this amazing match? Forget it!

Casanova is the first to his feet as Emmanuelle either tries to shake some feeling into her leg or shake the pain out of it. Seeing his opportunity, he grabs both of her ankles and steps through to lock in his Came From Canada sharpshooter, but Emmy reaches up to snag him by the head and rolls him into a small package!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

NO!

Emmanuelle gets back to her feet but suddenly staggers backwards, the corner buckles being the only thing to prevent her from falling. English sees her situation and gives a sinister smile as he charges forward, but this time it’s Emmy who takes a page out of Casanova’s book, countering his approach with a drop toe hold that slams his head over the second turnbuckle! English slumps to the mat in the corner and Emmanuelle climbs her way to the top, only slightly slowed by her leg to the point where fans are wondering if she fed into the potential injury more than was authentic.

Then, just as she’s found her balance, Casanova leaps up to grab the top rope, causing enough of a shake to knock Emmanuelle off balance and drop her on the top turnbuckle. With what little consciousness he has left, English leaps onto the second buckle and wastes no time in hooking both of Emmanuelle’s arms…Existential Existence pulls Emmy off the top and plants her head hard against the mat!

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!



HOLY SHIT NO!!!

It is a move that Casanova rarely uses, a move that none have likely kicked out of, and yet somehow, whether by fate or luck, Emmanuelle’s foot is draped over the bottom rope. This time when he rises to his feet, English pulls at his own hair, shouting a string of expletives that are not meant to air on television.

TREY BOOKER: What’s it going to take to keep that woman down?!

J.T. PRICE: Don’t ask questions that English is willing to answer, Trey…

His face filled with rage, Casanova grabs both of Emmanuelle’s ankles yet again, and this time when he applies his Came From Canada Sharpshooter, he’s careful to avoid being countered. He manages to turn Emmanuelle over in the hold despite her best efforts of struggling for freedom and it’s locked on tight!

The Platinum Standard cannot reach the ropes and the pain in her leg must be unbearable, yet still she fights as Casanova sits down on the hold in an effort to keep her in place. Still she claws and scratches…stretching her arms as far as they will reach…until the bottom rope kisses her fingertips…only for Casanova to walk forward a few steps while dragging her in the hold behind him!

This time he sits down even lower, so that even one of the strongest Proving Ground competitors would find it difficult to crawl to the ropes. That doesn’t stop Emmy from reaching out for them, the pain on her face palpable. She digs her fingers against the canvas and pulls both her weight and the weight of her opponent, but it’s clear that the strength in her limbs is beginning to fade.

She reaches out again, the ropes taunting her flickering eyes. She can almost…almost reach…almost…until her head drops forward and her hand falls to the mat, her body having betrayed her in an effort to protect her from the pain.

The referee checks her arm once…twice…and three times before finally calling for the bell and demanding that English release his hold.

DING! DING! DING!

HOLLY PEREZ: Your winner of the match by referee stoppage…CASANOVA ENGLISH!!!

The victor immediately releases his opponent upon hearing the bell and falls forward into a heap of his own, his body spent from the war he’s experienced. From under the bottom rope, Bash Daddy grabs hold of Casanova’s arm and pulls him to ringside, using his own body to hold him up. As a weak smile comes across English’s face, MYOJIN rushes to ringside, barely taking the time to glare at Casanova before sliding into the ring to check on their fallen friend.

TREY BOOKER: What a fucking performance. What a pair of competitors. Just unbelievable.

J.T. PRICE: And do you really think it’s over? Because I don’t. I’m not sure it will ever be over and I don’t know if I want it to be.


The man who now prefers to be known as Nathaniel Demetrius Carmichael makes his way toward the arena exit, adjusting the tie around his neck and not giving any reaction to the camera focused on him. Then, before he can continue, he’s stopped by a familiar voice…

??: ‘Sup, motherfucker?

Nathaniel turns and a smile immediately forms on his face as he sets his eyes on one of his closest friends in the world, the bad motherfucker himself, Julius Fairweather. The two men exchange a fist bump/hand slap combo and a quick bro hug before Julius continues to speak.

JULIUS FAIRWEATHER: First up, I ain’t here to complain about you firing motherfuckers. That comes with your job now and I don’t want nothing to do with it.

MEDIA DARLING: I sense a ‘but’ coming.

JULIUS FAIRWEATHER: Buuuut…you really went hard on my boy, LIl’ Petey. I know he’s not the brightest motherfucker in the world, but he’s a good dude that’s always had my back, just like you. Remember Mexico?

MEDIA DARLING: Of course! How could I forget it?

JULIUS FAIRWEATHER: Good. So maybe you’ll lay off the little brother? I don’t know what kind of shit is going on between you owners in the ivory tower, but I’d rather settle it now before it turns into a thing. You feel me?

MEDIA DARLING: Trust me, Jules. I know. I went way off the handle but I’m thinking much more clearly now. We’re cool.

Julius gives Nathaniel a huge, toothy grin.

JULIUS FAIRWEATHER: That’s my boy! Now then, you saw me and Castle take that cage match last night, right? Well I know TJ and Caddy have their shot next, but I’m thinking you could do your brother a solid and add the Motor City Psychos to the match…

MEDIA DARLING: Ahhh…yeah. Sorry, Jules, but that’s just not gonna happen. It’s not that you're undeserving, but that match is already set in stone. I’ll tell you what though, it hasn’t officially been announced but Hell on Earth is going to feature the second ever Opportunity Knocks Rumble with the winner getting their choice of a Grand or Prime Championship match. It seems to me like you're the kind of man who would appreciate that kind of fight.

Julius considers his friend’s offer for a moment before finally nodding his head with a smile.

JULIUS FAIRWEATHER: Hell yeah, motherfucker. I can dig that kind of action. Count me as the first man to volunteer!

MEDIA DARLING: The first? Wow, Jules. That’s pretty bold of you, but I can make sure you enter at number one. No problem with that at all.

Julius’ smile quickly fades.

JULIUS FAIRWEATHER: That’s not really what I mea-

MEDIA DARLING: Here’s the thing though. This whole Convergence situation is causing some issues with having too much talent on one show. I know we're pals and all, but if you don’t win The Opportunity Knocks Rumble, I’m not really sure that I’ll be able to renew your contract when it’s up in a few weeks. So…best of luck!

JULIUS FAIRWEATHER: What are you-

MEDIA DARLING: Oh, and thanks for understanding, Julius. I knew I could count on you to realize that business is just business. Be cool or be gone, my brother!

With that, Nathaniel immediately turns away and briskly continues on his way toward the exit. Julius is left with his mouth hanging open, perplexed by what he’s just been told.

JULIUS FAIRWEATHER: ….motherfucker…


HOLLY PEREZ: The following singles contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the Project Honor X-Factor Championship.


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!

HOLLY PEREZ: Introducing first… from San Diego, California… The reigning and defending champion… Osaka's Golden Sun… MYOJIN!!!

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:And his opponent… already in the ring… from San Antonio, Texas… BRANDON HENDIXXXX!!!

The crowd response to Hendrix is a bit more mixed as he poses and smirks.

DING! DING! DING!

MYOJIN instantly approaches Hendrix, giving him a couple of stinging Calf Kicks before whipping him towards the ropes and nailing him with a Leg Lariat on the rebound! The crowd is instantly fired up by the fast start from MYO, he goes for the first cover of the match already…

ONE! Kick out from Hendrix!

TREY BOOKER: A one count there for MYOJIN, but I like what he’s doing! He’s looking to set the tempo and use his speed advantage right out the gate.

J.T. PRICE: Can never underestimate Hendrix, he may have only been in the business a couple of years and still basically be a rookie with a lot to learn but he can certainly compete with the likes of MYOJIN.

MYO gives Brandon a few Forearm Shots to the face before pulling him up and launching some more kicks at the self-proclaimed Star Of The Company! Hendrix takes a couple more kicks to the calf, before reaching out and pulling MYO in for a Muay Thai Clinch, working some Knee Strikes to the head of the champ! MYOJIN is staggering as Brandon lets go, Hendrix closes the gap and delivers a hard STO! He wastes no time and goes for a cover…

ONE!

TWO! Kick out from MYOJIN!

TREY BOOKER: Hendrix goes for a pinfall himself! I think he’s trying to show MYO that he can and will keep pace with him.

J.T. PRICE: He’s well-conditioned and always has been, if he gets his head in the game and picks stuff up from some of the vets of Project Honor he really could be the next breakout star. I think he needs to stop pretending, we all know when he talks his natural instincts are not to be nice.

Hendrix gives MYO a few Elbow Shots to the face before taking side mount and giving the “The Shining Star” more than a few drilling Knee Strikes to the ribs! MYO winces in pain with each strike, and after about a dozen, Brandon hooks the leg going for another pin…

ONE!

TWO!

TH… MYO rolls his shoulder up!

Hendrix pulls MYOJIN back up to his feet and lands a knee to ribs, before shooting him to the ropes. The larger Hendrix impressively leap frogs MYO on the rebound, before going for an Arm Drag on the next pass! However, MYOJIN flips over, landing on his feet, and kicks backwards with a Mule Kick, nailing Brandon in the gut! MYO gets him in a Standing Double Underhook, and delivers some stiff Knee Shots of his own to Brandon’s head! MYO lets go and immediately takes Hendrix off of his feet with a low spinning sweep! As Hendrix is on the mat, like a flash, MYO pulls off a Standing Shooting Star Press and remains in the pin…

ONE!

TWO!

T… Kick Out!!

With Hendrix still on the mat, MYO gets up and runs towards the ropes, jumping up and bouncing off for a Springboard Leg Drop! Brandon holds his face in pain as MYO pulls him back up, giving him such a hard European Uppercut that it sends the bigger man stumbling backwards and half spinning. This allows MYO to get behind Brandon and pull off a Reverse DDT, catching Brandon’s back across his knee on the way down! MYO then rolls the challenger over onto his belly, applying a Camel Clutch in the middle of the ring!

J.T. PRICE: Is there any wrestling move MYOJIN doesn’t know how to do?

TREY BOOKER: The MMA history really shows in some of MYOJIN’S work.

As MYO pulls back on Brandon’s chin with one arm, he uses the other to drive some vicious Forearm Shots against the face of the former SCW Heavy Metal Champion! Brandon is showing no signs of giving up, though, so MYO lets go of the Camel Clutch and slams Brandon’s face into the mat! MYOJIN motions for his opponent to get up, and as Hendrix gets as far as his knees, MYO tears into him with a series of hard, stinging kicks that echo throughout the arena! The fans chant “MYO!” with each kick, and he proceeds to light up Brandon Hendrix!

“MYO! MYO! MYO! MYO! MYO! MYO!”

After the sixth Kick, The Technical Aristocrat goes to wind up for a Knockout Kick, but as he throws it, Hendrix ducks and rolls behind MYO, pulling him in for a School Boy! The ref doesn’t see that Brandon has a handful of tights as he begins the count…

ONE!

TWO!

THRE… MYOJIN just barely kicks out!

J.T. PRICE: Wow, that was so close.

TREY BOOKER: Hendrix showing the side of him we all know exists right there.

J.T. PRICE: Plus we all know how desperate he is to be a champion.

Hendrix is pissed, and he wastes no time attacking MYOJIN following the pinfall attempt, battering MYO with his knees and fists on the mat, even connecting with some double axe handle shots to the small of MYOJIN’S back! Brandon rolls “Prince of the Constellations” over onto his back, and mounts him, unloading with half a dozen punches before pulling MYO back up to his feet by the hair. Once he has him up to a vertical base, Hendrix locks him in a Standing Cravate, hitting a few knees to the crown of the head before dropping down for a Cravate to the Knees Facebreaker!

TREY BOOKER: We’ve really seen Brandon targeting the head of MYO! It’s an obvious strategy knowing Hendrix has that Fall Of The Guard in his locker.

As MYO is on the mat, Hendrix mounts MYO and traps the’ arm between his legs before rolling through to apply an Omoplata, putting a ton of pressure on the’ shoulder! MYOJIN grits his teeth in pain as Brandon tries to wrench the hold!

J.T. PRICE: He could pop MYO’s shoulder clean out with this hold! MYOJIN needs to get out, and he needs to get out quickly!

MYO tries to tumble out of the Omoplata, but Brandon rolls with him, maintaining the pressure of the hold! MYO is now on his back instead of his belly, sensing that MYO is gonna try and escape again. In a fluid motion, Brandon switches from the Omoplata to an Armbar!

TREY BOOKER: Good display of technical acumen from the challenger!

MYO’s left arm and shoulder are screaming out in pain, but he shows his grit and determination by continuing to try and fight out! Despite the pain, he manages to roll Hendrix up into a Pinfall attempt…

ONE!

TWO!

THR… Brandon Hendrix is forced to let go of the hold in order to kick out!

TREY BOOKER: Great counter by the champ there! This fight is between two technically sound wrestlers, and it’s been a good one so far!

MYOJIN is nursing his arm as both men make their way to their feet, Brandon is quick to nail a Kick to the hurt left arm! MYO howls out in pain as Hendrix grabs a hold of the arm, twisting it before pulling MYOJIN in for a Wrist Clutch Exploder Suplex!

J.T. PRICE: Damn!!

Hendrix then drags MYO towards the ropes, and wraps his arm around the bottom rope, driving his knee into the shoulder socket of Biggs while he cinches the arm around the rope! The ref begins the mandatory five count, and of course, as everyone does, Brandon waits until 4 to let go! He goes right back to the hold, wrapping MYO’s arm around the bottom rope again, and using his knee to press into the shoulder! Again, the ref begins the count, and obviously, Hendrix lets go on four! The ref reaches in to pull Brandon back but doesn’t need to as MYOJIN stuns Hendrix to the core with a brutal right elbow shot that echoes off the skull.

TREY BOOKER: Holy shit MYOJIN needed that.

J.T. PRICE: You ain't kidding but has Brandon wiped out most of MYOJIN’s arsenal with the damage to that arm?

MYOJIN is on his feet and seems to have the smirk you wouldn’t expect from someone in his condition, Brandon turns back and is absolutely destroyed by a brutal codebreaker!!!

TREY BOOKER: FALLEN PHOENIX!!!! TARA FENIX’S MOVE!!! Where the hell did he pull that from?

J.T. PRICE: Like I asked earlier, is there any move MYOJIN doesn’t know?

MYOJIN clearly has very little left in the tank and just about drapes his good arm over Hendrix…

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!!! MYOJIN WINS!!!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: What a match!!!

J.T. PRICE: Hendrix just got caught, he had control but in one split second the world changed.

HOLLY PEREZ: The winner of the match via pinfall… and still the X-Factor Champion… MYOJIN!!!



HOLLY PEREZ: This main event is scheduled for one fall, and is a non-title match. Making her way to the ring first, she stands at five feet tall and weighs in at one hundred and seventeen pounds… she is the LEGACY CHAMPION OF PROJECT: HONOR… COTTONMOUTH, BIIIIIIIIILLLLYYYYYY BEEEENNNNNNNNNEEEEEETTTTTTT!!!

The warm, inviting lights of the arena cut out, replaced with a series of harsh, blue/white spotlights which illuminate the ring and entrance ramp, leaving the crowd in darkness.

Dissonant, harsh, sludgy guitar riffs pour out of the speakers, as a bizarre metal cover of 'The Promised Land Playhouse' theme heralds the arrival of the Legacy Champion. Without any further fanfare, Billy Bennett steps out onto the top of the entrance ramp; torn jeans, chunky boots, and a filthy white shirt under her black leather vest. She stands still and unmoving until joined by Candi Cain, who holds the Legacy Championship belt over one shoulder.

As her sister whispers in her ear, Billy nods along with blank eyes that only snap to life when Candi hands her the championship. Snatching it out of the other woman's hands, Billy drags the faceplate of the company's top title across the ramp as she stomps down to the ring, as Candi disappears backstage. The chorus of boos from the crowd almost overpowers her entrance music, though there are a few, scattered cheers from audience members who clearly appreciate her brand of violence.

Slithering under the ring ropes and onto the canvas, she rises to her feet and lifts the Legacy Championship into the air with one hand, before casually dropping it in the center of the ring to be scooped up and removed by the referee. The spotlights die out, replaced by the usual lighting within the arena.

Rather than taking up her usual spot in the corner, Billy steps up onto the bottom ropes and leans over the top, eyes fixed on the top of the entrance ramp to await the arrival of her favourite person ever!

HOLLY PEREZ: And now, coming to the ring… he stands at six feet and four inches tall, and weighs in at one hundred and ninety one pounds… he is the GRAND CHAMPION OF PROVING GROUNDS… THE KRAKEN, SWIIIIIIIIIIIINDLE SHELLLLLLDRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKEEEEE….!!!!

The arena lights fall to dark as the grinding, distorted bassline of “Two-Headed Hydra” by Hoffen begins to play, with the mix of emphatic boos, and underlying cheers heralding the entrance of The Kraken. The lights begin to flash in roaming lights of white and pink in the darkness of the arena as the grim lyrics chime out.

Before I find you

Two-Headed Hydra

I’m not going to do your will

The hunched over form of Swindle Shelldrake, the champion of Proving Ground, emerges from the entrance curtain, standing upright. The pink lights flashing over the metal spikes and buckles of his black leather jacket, and across the pink-dyed streak over his fringe. Also, underneath the jacket, he’s wearing a piece of Billy Bennet merch; a messy green graffiti design reading “Swamp Bastard”. The dismissive expression on his face stays as he walks to the ramp and down to the ring.

Where you been hiding

You ran away from me

Two-Headed Hydra

The camera pans down and behind Swindle to watch him walk away, tracking with him to see the metal clasp of the Grand Championship lightly scraping along the ramp. He holds it both loosely, but protectively as it hangs.

Drowsy and quiet

Where no one knows you

Two-Headed Hydra

Swindle exchanges a scowl with a fan at ringside as he steps up to the apron, the lights starting to float inwards to pierce just the ring, his entrance music building to a crescendo and a hit of bass with the following verse. He stands leaning back against the ropes and looking out to the crowd. He basks in the reaction for a moment, undeterred by the jeers from the front seats.

Could this be right?

Like ghost in sadness

Rise and fall

Billy holds the ropes open for Swindle to enter, slapping him on the ass as he climbs between the second and third set of ropes, dismissing it with an innocent smile as he turns back to glare at her.

The lights begin to converge into the center of the ring as he steps forward, raising the Grand Championship’s front plate to the sky as the lighting rig starts to bounce a kaleidoscope of pinks and blues off the metallic surface. The scowl on his face turns to a wry smile as the camera focuses in on him, lowering the title as the small gemstones outlining the gold still hold the glittering light. For the final outing under the Proving Ground banner, he looks over to Billy Bennett waiting impatiently in her corner, holding the title up high towards the toughest foe he’s faced yet in Project: Honor.

While days go be

While people die

In heaven’s gate

I could not bring

Your smile again

My sweety hydra

I stand beneath your eye

TREY BOOKER: Well, ladies and gentlemen, the newly-crowned Grand Champion of Proving Grounds has a lot to prove here today.

J.T. PRICE: Even though this isn’t a title defense, being in the ring with the company’s top champion will doubtlessly be the toughest match of his career!

TREY BOOKER: You’ve got to wonder what he was thinking accepting this challenge; maybe he wants to start his reign off strong with a rare victory over Billy Bennett… but if you ask me, it’s more likely to go the other way.

DING! DING! DING!

Before the third bell rings, Billy is already charging across the ring towards her opponent. Swindle stands his ground, halting her rush by lifting both palms up in front of himself. Surprisingly, Bennett actually stops in her tracks, quirking an eyebrow until Swindle extends one hand closer towards her, seemingly offering a Test of Strength to begin the match.

TREY BOOKER: Looks like Swindle wants to start the match off slow.

J.T. PRICE: And it seems like she’s actually considering obliging him…

After a moment’s consideration, Bennett nods and smiles, stepping forward and attempting to lock hands with the Kraken. Swindle inches his hand up higher and higher as Billy attempts to intertwine fingers with her opponent.

This continues until Shelldrake is holding his hand far above Billy’s head, completely out of her reach as he looks down at her with a self-amused smirk on his face, barely holding back laughter.

J.T. PRICE: Provoking Billy Bennett like that? Does this man have a death wish?

Billy’s smile melts away into a frown at this joke, placing her hands on her hips as she glares at her opponent. With a growl, she lashes out to kick Swindle in the shin, slapping him across the mouth when he bends down to grab at his limb. It carries enough force to split Shelldrake’s bottom lip wide open, and it’s Billy’s turn to smirk; though she doesn’t attempt to hold back her laughter as he did.

Dabbing at his bloody lip with two fingers, Swindle chuckles once before returning the favour with a backhand smack that sends BIlly’s head snapping to one side, turning back to look at her opponent with a grin on her face that earns a raised eyebrow from Swindle.

The pair progress into trading Knife-Edge Chops to the chest, each smack rising above the din of the crowd; despite the size difference, Billy seems to be doing a much better job of absorbing the impacts as well as the pain, as Swindle eventually begins to be pushed back towards the ropes.

TREY BOOKER: Stronger men have tried to go blow-for-blow with this woman, and it rarely ends well!

J.T. PRICE: Not his brightest idea! Is he just indulging his #1 fan, or does he honestly think he can trade strikes with the Legacy Champion?!

When Billy goes to land another vicious chop to Swindle’s reddened, bleeding chest he grabs her hand out of the air, twisting the limb as he attempts to place her in a Wrist Lock. Before he can complete a full rotation on her arm, she hits the mat and rolls in the opposite direction, before kicking out with her boot to strike Swindle in the knee.

He staggers back half-a-step, releasing Billy’s wrist before moving forward again and lifting his own boot up high, bringing it down towards her stomach. Bennett rolls away with only inches to spare before the stomp hits her, scrambling back to her feet and rushing towards the Kraken just in time to catch a Spinning Backfist that arrests her momentum and sends her stumbling back.

Eager to press any advantage he can, the Kraken follows up with a closed fist punch to the jaw that is strong enough to drop the resilient Billy to one knee. Taking a few steps backwards to create some distance, he takes off in a brief run towards the kneeling Legacy Champion, aiming a Bicycle Knee directly for the middle of her face.

Billy lifts her arms up in time to catch Swindle’s leg out of the air, to the Kraken’s visible surprise. Holding tight onto her opponent’s limb, Bennett stands up out of her kneeling position; but before she can take advantage of Swindle’s trapped leg, he leaps up and hits Bennett with an Enziguri that drops her back down to one knee.

J.T. PRICE: Smart move; we’ve seen what the Legacy Champion can do if given even an inch of breathing room… looks like he has no intentions of allowing her any space to recover!

As Swindle moves to follow up, Billy lunges forward to take her opponent to the mat with a Double Leg Takedown, scrambling onto his chest and beginning to throw wild, sloppy - but full-force - punches down at his face and head.

Lifting both arms up to block the blows as best he can, Shelldrake waits patiently for an opening; when Bennett lifts both hands up for a double axehandle blow, he takes advantage of the momentary lapse in her offense to thrust three fingers into her throat. Grabbing at her neck as she struggles to breathe, the Legacy Champion rises off Swindle’s chest and attempts to create some distance.

J.T. PRICE: Get that bitch, Swindle!

TREY BOOKER: There’s no doubt that our Grand Champion is one of the few on the roster who fights as dirty as his opponent. It might be the difference between victory and defeat!

The Kraken moves quickly to prevent her from getting away, kicking out with his leg to trip Billy up and bring her stumbling down to the canvas. Standing up and moving towards her, Swindle grabs a handful of her long, greasy hair with both hands, lifting her off the mat and using his grip on her hair to swing her up and around, tossing her through the air and releasing his grasp to send her face-first down to the canvas several feet away.

Once again, Billy explodes off the mat as Swindle moves towards her, taking him down to the mat again and leaping into the air as she attempts to drop a knee down onto his prone body. Shelldrake rolls to the side as Billy’s knee hits nothing but canvas, eliciting a frustrated growl as she propers herself towards his new position and attempts to drop an elbow onto him.

Swindle continues to roll away, underneath the ropes to ringside; Billy scrambles on all fours towards that side of the ring, leaning out between the bottom and second ropes and reaching with one arm to try and grab a handful of Shelldrake’s hair.

Wheeling back around to face her, Swindle lashes out with one hand to gouge her in the eye, forcing Billy to pull her arm back as she grabs at her own face, screaming angrily. The Legacy Champion pulls herself back to her feet, barely able to see Swindle as he leaps up onto the apron and - when Billy turns back around to face the ropes - leaping up onto them and hitting her with a Springboard Cutter.

TREY BOOKER: Vulture Culture! Swindle hits her with his signature Cutter!

With his opponent laid out unmoving on the mat, Swindle drops over her and hooks a leg for the pin as the referee starts the count.

ONE!

TWO!

THR-

KICKOUT!

Swindle remains kneeling over Billy after she kicks out, pointing at the referee and slapping his own hand to argue the speed of the count. This temporary distraction is immediately seized upon by the recovering Billy Bennett, who reaches up to grab a handful of Swindle’s hair, forcing him back down to the mat and locking in a Fujiwara Armbar.

TREY BOOKER: Wait a second… that’s the Kentish Armbar! The same move that Billy tapped to when in the ring with Mark Hunter!

J.T. PRICE: Maybe the Straight Shooter managed to teach her a thing or two after all?

She only has the move locked on for a second or two, before the referee shouts at her and points to Swindle’s leg, which is resting on the bottom rope. Predictably, Billy keeps the hold locked in for a few seconds longer, until the official threatens her with Disqualification.

Just as predictably, Billy stands up and immediately gets in the referee’s face, clearly upset at being forced to abide by Proving Ground rules instead of the usual no disqualification Fallout-style matches.

This gives Swindle the chance he needs to recover, pulling himself up off the mat and moving towards Billy while her back is turned to him. Placing his opponent in a Full Nelson, he takes advantage of the size difference between him and Billy to lift her feet up off the ground as he keeps the hold locked on, preventing her from trying to move away.

Struggling in Swindle’s grip, Billy manages to throw her head back and strike the bridge of his nose with a lucky hit; it’s enough to loosen Swindle’s grasp, an opportunity she seizes upon to drive the heel of her boot back between the man’s legs.

J.T. PRICE: Can we get a goddamn disqualification here?!?!

TREY BOOKER: With all the flailing Billy was doing, maybe the referee thinks it was accidental?

J.T. PRICE: Oh, please! She knows what she’s doing!

Forced to relent, Swindle releases the Full Nelson hold and stumbles backwards as he tries to force himself past the pain. Billy is on him immediately, driving the Kraken back into the corner with a series of forearm strikes to the jaw.

Before Swindle has a chance to force his way out of the corner, Billy begins to deliver boots to his stomach; with her opponent on the defensive and lacking oxygen, she lunges forward to wrap both hands around the man’s throat, digging her thumbs into his windpipe as Swindle thrashes; he tries to force her away, but Billy seems entirely focused on the task at hand.

Behind the pair, the referee begins to count to five, before shouting at Billy to let go of Swindle’s neck.

TREY BOOKER: Do something, ref!

J.T. PRICE: Come on, Swindle!

Bennett keeps choking him despite the referee’s warnings, as the official finally decides to physically step in. He moves towards the pair, just in time for Billy to rear back for a punch; her elbow strikes the referee in the head and knocks him to the mat.

BILLY BENNETT: (off-mic) What the f-

Keeping one hand around Swindle’s throat, she begins to glance back to see what her elbow just hit; a distraction that her opponent uses to reach out and poke her in the eyes. Breaking her grip on the Kraken and staggering backwards, Billy gives herself only a fraction of a second to recover before rushing back towards Swindle in the corner.

Shelldrake grabs the ropes and uses them to lift his legs up into the path of the charging Legacy Champion, booting her in the face and forcing her back again. This time it takes her slightly longer to recover, but she’s soon rushing right back in.

Taking a step out of the corner, the Kraken meets Billy with a boot to the stomach that doubles her over, placing her in position and executing a Double Underhook Piledriver, dropping her onto the top of her head as her neck bends viciously from the impact.

TREY BOOKER: Oh my god! Violent Salvage! Billy looks to be out cold!

J.T. PRICE: This might be it! Swindle could get the first clean pin on Billy Bennett here tonight!

TREY BOOKER: But there’s nobody to make the count, the referee is still laid out from that accidental elbow!

Swindle has dropped down onto Billy for the pin, only realizing after several seconds that there’s nobody to make the count. Bennett remains still and unmoving for over a full three-count, completely laid out as Swindle looks up to notice the KO’d referee.

Pounding the mat in frustration, he moves towards the official and attempts to rouse them, to no avail.

J.T. PRICE: This is bullshit! Swindle should have won the match here and now, but there’s nobody to make the count!

TREY BOOKER: We need a second official out here ASAP! Someone! Anyone!

There’s a collective gasp of shock from the audience as Mark Hunter appears on the entrance ramp, running from the backstage area down to the ring in a dress shirt and slacks, clearly in a hurry to reach the ring.

TREY BOOKER: The General Manager is rushing to the ring!

J.T. PRICE: What’s going on here?

Swindle gives up on waking the referee as soon as he notices Hunter, standing back up and moving into a defensive position as he eyes the new General Manager - and old rival - warily. Mark slides into the ring and moves towards Swindle, who seems ready to fight back against what he views as a potential threat.

J.T. PRICE: There’s no love lost between these two! Swindle looks ready for a fight!

MARK HUNTER: (off-mic) YOU IDIOT, PIN HER! I’LL COUNT!

TREY BOOKER: What?! Mark Hunter is here to act as a replacement referee!

Shelldrake narrows his eyes at Hunter, seemingly distrustful of the man’s statement… but after a few seconds of consideration, he nods and drops back onto Billy, who remains knocked out from the Violent Salvage over a minute ago.

ONE!

TWO!

THRE-

KICKOUT!

J.T. PRICE: Goddamnit!

TREY BOOKER: NO! Swindle had her dead to rights for over a minute, but with no official to make the count she was given enough time to recover!

J.T. PRICE: Just barely! Swindle had the match in the bag, but Billy lucked her way out of a pin!

TREY BOOKER: He’s got to stay on top of her! He can’t give her a chance to recover!

With a look of frustration and disbelief on his face, Swindle lifts Billy off the mat by her hair and moves her towards the corner. Picking her up and placing her on the top turnbuckle, he ascends after her and attempts to hit her with an Avalanche Saito Suplex…

…but before he can reach the point of no return, Billy’s eyes snap open and she kicks off the turnbuckle, launching herself up and over Swindle’s shoulder before he can execute the suplex. As she moves over him, Bennett grabs the Kraken’s around the neck and brings him down with her in an Avalanche Inverted DDT counter.

TREY BOOKER: A lucky reversal by Billy Bennett!

J.T. PRICE: That slippery bitch!

Both of them lay on the mat for several moments, before Billy forces herself to crawl over for the pin, which Hunter wastes no time in counting.

ONE!

TWO!

TH-

Mark stops counting suddenly, as Billy looks at him in a fury before Hunter points at Swindle’s leg, which is resting on the bottom rope.

Wasting no time arguing the matter, Bennett drags herself to her feet and picks Swindle up with a grunt of exertion, making eye contact with Hunter and smiling sweetly at him before managing to lift her much larger opponent up and drop him on his head with a Cradle Piledriver.

J.T. PRICE: That’s the Mercy Killer! Billy just hit the Kraken with Hunter’s finisher!

TREY BOOKER: No doubt she’s trying to send a message to the Straight Shooter, but I couldn’t guess what that message might be!

Laying on her back for a second, Billy forces herself to roll over and crawl on hands and knees to Swindle’s unconscious body. Her body gives out suddenly, falling face-first to the mat…

…but with one arm barely draped over Swindle’s chest. Mark Hunter wastes no time in dropping down to make the count.

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

DING! DING! DING!

TREY BOOKER: What a display from both competitors here tonight!

J.T. PRICE: Billy Bennett may have ended up on top, but I think the Kraken was the real winner here tonight! If the referee hadn’t been knocked out, he would’ve had a three-count on the Legacy Champion!

Swindle and Billy remain on the mat, unmoving as Mark Hunter stands watching from above. After a few moments, the General Manager bends down to grab Billy under the arm, lifting her up

MARK HUNTER: (off-mic) Congratulations, you lucky bitch.

Billy stares blankly through unfocused eyes, looking confused until a sense of realization seems to dawn on her. A short bark of laughter escapes her lips before she slaps Hunter on the arm and replies.

BILLY BENNETT: (off-mic) Thanks for countin’ it fair, ya ol’ bastard,

Shaking his head at Bennett, Mark moves towards Swindle, who has recovered enough to prop himself up on his elbows. Offering the fallen Kraken a hand, Hunter receives only an angry, hesitant and skeptical glare from Shelldrake in return.

There’s several seconds of tension between the two, as Mark keeps his hand out until Swindle eventually offers a small nod, taking his old enemy’s hand and allowing him to be aided back to his feet.

Bennett moves towards Shelldrake on unsteady feet, almost toppling over as she tries to regain her bearings after the brutal match.

BILLY BENNETT: (off-mic) Thanks, pal…

She extends a hand towards Swindle, who looks down at it for a few moments before begrudgingly shaking the woman’s hand. He looks incredibly disappointed with the outcome of the match, an emotion that is matched by the tone of his voice when he replies.

SWINDLE SHELLDRAKE: (off-mic) Sure. Whatever.

Breaking off the handshake after only seconds, Swindle turns towards the ropes, clearly looking to get out of the ring as soon as possible. He’s stopped by Mark Hunter, who grabs him - and Billy - by the wrist, lifting both their arms up in the air.

It lasts only a moment, before Swindle yanks his arm away and shakes his head at Hunter, turning his back on him and Billy and rolling out of the ring. The Kraken grabs his Grand Championship from ringside before walking back up the entrance ramp, head hanging low in disappointment as the crowd cheers him nonetheless.

Left alone in the ring, Mark Hunter and Billy Bennett stare at each other for several seconds, before Bennett shrugs and drops to the mat, rolling out and collecting her Legacy belt before staggering towards the backstage area as Hunter’s eyes follow her up the entrance ramp.