Post by Boss Joe on Jan 27, 2022 12:52:43 GMT -5
Before Arthur La Forge and Mary DeSue can even welcome fans to the show, a video appears on the wall to signal the arrival of someone.
As “Quiver” thunders through the house speakers and the audience roars, pyro explodes across the stage and from behind the curtain, head held high, steps Level Up’s brand new Final Boss Champion Robert McAlroy. He’s dressed in a black turtleneck, leather jacket, and jeans. A prideful smile helps that scrappy rookie the fans spent a year cheering to the top shine through as he begins making his way down the ramp.
Mr. RAD: MAKING HIS WAY TO THE RING, YOUR LEVEL UP FINAL BOSS CHAMPION….THE UNDENIABLE BERT MMMMMMMMMMMMMCAAAAALLLLLLRRROOOOYYYYY-OYYYYY-OY-OYYYYYYYYYYY
Bert tosses the belt in over the top rope before siding in under the bottom. He retrieves his Championship before waking to the ropes, stepping onto the middle and over the top where he balances and holds the title high above his head in one hand, nodding to the thunderous, approving applause before moving to another sice of the ring and repeating it.
Mary DeSue: Look at this ass, just hamming it up. We didn't even get to do our intro!
Arthur LaForge: He’s earned it, Mary. Not many people could have survived what he went through to earn it. To go from opening the curtain jerking matches, to main eventing three PPVs, winning all but two titles in the company, and being the one to unseat Maggie? He’s. Earned. It.
Mary DeSue: God, why don’t you just kiss him?
Bert signals for his music to be cut as he slings the title over his shoulder, signaling for a microphone that is quickly given to him. He stands silent for a moment, soaking in the love before waving a hand through the air to quiet the crowd.
Bert McAlroy: What up St. Louis?
A Cheap pop.
Bert McAlroy: I did it yo…well, nah, [BLEEP] that. WE did it. Because without you, all of you rooting for the skiinny stoner? Man, I wouldn’t have had the drive to overcome the shit I have in this company…
He lets the mic drops for a moment, leaning against the ropes and facing the audience. His eyes drift to the announce table.
Bert McAlroy: Shout out to Artie for always reminding the viewing audience of the struggle ,and shoutout to Mary for reminding everyone that women who cosplay are the devil.
Mary DeSue: [BLEEP] YOU STONER
Bert grins as he turns around, facing the entrance ramp now. He paces for a moment, before lifting the mic to his lips.
Bert McAlroy: Now, for the new business. The new era business, because were in a new era yo. The Era where now, finally, we are free of ghosts and ghouls from a city that was never all that charming. So now right, I’d like to address the bullshit that is the Gam–
The sordid laughter signaling the beginning of ‘Cheer up London’ hits and Bert drops his arm in frustration. Joey Crash walks onto the stage with a mic under his arm and clapping sarcastically as he saunters down to the ring, savoring every moment of the disruption. Crash climbs through the ropes slowly and continues clapping, large and exaggerated with a simpering smile plastered across his face.
Arthur LaForge: Joey Crash? What business does he have out here?
Mary DeSue: Does it matter? Bert’s stopped talking, let me enjoy this!
Joey Crash: Bertie! The new Final Boss Champion! I have to admit, I didn’t think you had it in you. But hey, respect where it’s due. Put her there, champ.
Joey extends his hand towards Bert, mouthing words of encouragement that can’t be picked up from the microphone. Bert doesn’t move and after ten seconds, Crash gives up.
Joey Crash: Suit yourself! Let’s get down to business. You finally defeated Magdalena Lockheart to become the Final Boss Champion in an absolute war at Final Fantasy. It’s all anyone can talk about. I’m not sure if you heard but I was also victorious on Night One of Final Fantasy in a Fatal-4-Way match - which means I had to work three times harder than you did by the way - which guarantees me the final spot in The Last of Us match in March. Can you see where I’m going with this yet?
Bert smirks, chuckling as he takes a step toward Joey, rolling his shoulder that the title rests on once.
Bert McAlory: Yeah, you ain’t that subtle. Smart. Or talented, yo….but please, finish.
Joey Crash: Final Boss Champion or not, you’re always going to be just one step lower on totem pole than Joey Crash. That’s just the way of things. But answer me this, why should I have to battle the entire roster when everybody knows, whether they like to admit it or not, that I’m the best uncrowned champion in this place?
Arthur LaForge: That’s an awfully bold claim to make.
Mary DeSue: And you’re going to argue with him? Look at him!
Arthur LaForge: Are you… simping? Did I say that right?
Mary DeSue: I regret bookmarking urban dictionary for you.
Joey Crash: So here’s my proposal. I’ll give up my number 30 spot in the gauntlet. I’ll gracefully step aside and someone else can get that chance. But in return… I get the opportunity that I am overdue. I want to face you, one-on-one for the Final Boss Championship at The Last of Us!
There’s a rise of noise from the crowd at this proposition and Bert is giving Crash a look of disbelief. Crash lowers his microphone and starts inaudibly talking trash again.
Arthur LaForge: I’m not sure that’s how the Number 30 spot works.
Mary DeSue: Exchange rates are very good this time of year.
Joey Crash: And hey, it’s a big decision. You don’t have to answer me right now. But just a reminder, I have already beat you before… In case you had forgot who the better man in this ring is.
Bert lets out a chuckle, letting the mic drop to his side. He nods once, before sliding the belt from his shoulder and letting it fall to the mat.
Bert McAlroy: You want it? Come get it, BITCH!
Bert loses patience and closes the gap with Crash, the champion going nose-to-nose with the challenger as they trash talk each other, furious and fists clenched, either man waiting for the other to make the first move.
Arthur LaForge: This is about to boil over! Crash might be biting off more than he can chew!
Mary DeSue: More than he can chew? He’s beat Bert already!
Arthur LaForge: A roll-up, Mary? That’s not a very decisive victory.
Mary DeSue: Kick him in his balls, Joey!
Joey Crash: That belt doesn’t make you better than me! You’re nothing! You don’t think I couldn’t beat you again?! Prove me wrong and give me my title shot! Or… are you too much of a bit–
Bert throws the first punch, sending Crash reeling for a second but he returns fire! The fight is on! Crash is obviously doing more damage with his blows but Bert hangs in there like always! Bert ducks an errant blow and nails Joey with a spinning backfist that rocks him! He steps back to fire off the BONGWATER superkick but Joey bails, rolling out of the ring and backing up the ramp holding his jaw and mean mugging Bert who retrieves the title, and raises it above his head.
Bert McAlroy: LAST OF US JOEY. YOU GOT ONE SHOT. DON’T MISS, BITCH!!
---
Eli Goode vs. Amber Payne
The bell rings and the two remain looking at each other. Fists being balled up, fury rising in both of them and hell breaks loose as Amber and Eli unleashes a fury of shots at each other. Forearms and elbows are traded as the crowd are out of their chairs, yelling positively to the quick change of action.
Arthur La Forge: Kicking off the first match of 2022 with a bang!
Mary DeSue: Several of them, actually.
Punch to Amber, then punch to Eli. Punch to Amber, then punch to Goode. Punch to Amber, then punch to Goode. And repeat on until Amber kicks Goode's leg, sending him back as he limps a bit. She then throws fists to Goode’s gut like he was a human punching bag, each strike connecting before trying for a face shot and Goode blocks it, and puts Amber into the corner and starts to punch Payne right into the face as Amber tries blocking but to no avail. Goode goes for another until his hand gets caught. Amber throws her fist back, and Goode retaliates with an elbow to the jaw. Amber brings her head back in a snap and elbows Goode in the jaw, sending him back on his behind. He holds his jaw as Amber cracks her neck and approaches, but Goode kips up and nails a hurricanrana to Amber, rolling her out of the ring and onto the mats outside.
Arthur La Forge: Eli Goode has been waiting to get back in the ring, fully healed, and he’s showing why he was on a roll at the end of last year!
Mary DeSue: Yeah yeah, but let’s not forget: IT’S HIS FAULT BERT MCALROY IS CHAMPION.
Arthur La Forge: I think it was Bert that did that, with nobody helping him, but sure. Let’s start conspiracy theorizing out here.
Eli kips up again as the crowd cheers. He walks over the ropes and slides under them as Amber makes it back to her feet. He grabs Payne by her head and slams it on the top of the announce table as the ref starts counting. Eli then tosses Amber into the barricade, who retaliates with a clothesline that floors Goode.
Arthur La Forge: Amber Payne isn’t called the Queen of Strong Style for nothing. She hits hard.
Mary DeSue: Yeah and Goode’s about to get rekt.
Arthur La Forge: Even I know that phrase is horribly out of date.
The ref is at seven before Amber picks up Eli and tosses him in the ring and crawls over and covers Eli for a one count. Amber Payne lifts Eli Goode up and drags him to the ropes and hangs him there before delivering a few shots to the gut before running off the ropes and into a kick in the head by Eli that stuns her. Amber runs back but gets sent over the top rope by Eli, but hangs on. The two start trading shots before Eli ducks one and kicks Amber in the skull, dazing her. He walks a step forward and gets Payne into a suplex hold and lifts her over the ropes and suplexes her with a pinning combo.
ONE!
T--one and a half. Eli drags Amber to the center of the ring and adjusts his arm band and then locks Payne into a deep headlock, basically putting pressure onto her throat.
Arthur La Forge: Eli slowing things down here, which is unlike him but maybe he’s learned to work safer.
Mary DeSue: Or more boring. His arm is healed, go for broke!
Amber reaches under her arm and tries to make room to breathe but Eli wrenches tighter on the hold. Payne uses her long legs to her advantage and scoots over to the closet set of ropes she can. When her foot touches the rope, the ref tells Eli to let go before counting again. Eli lets go at four before kicking Amber out of the ring. Goode claps his hands together to get the crowd into it. When the crowd starts clapping, he runs off the ropes and goes for a tope con hilo, but Amber catches him in mid air as the crowd is in shock. She powerbombs Eli on top of the table, but it doesn’t break. Goode holds his back as Amber holds her throat and turns slowly and looks at the corner of the ring and at Eli. She then slides into the ring and climbs to the top rope as Eli pushes himself off the table and Amber dives, only for Eli to move and Payne lands stomach first on the edge of the table.
Arthur La Forge: Oh god! That was a nasty landing.
Mary DeSue: No kidding! Gross!
Eli leans against the stairs, almost shocked at seeing what Amber will go through to win, but he picks Amber up and tosses her in the ring. Eli slides in and so does the ref and Eli covers.
ONE!
TWO!
TH…NO! Eli seems stunned that Amber kicked out, he confers with the ref but nods in acceptance and stands up, pulling Amber with him. He lifts her going for the Goode Bye but she slips free! Amber goes for a bulldog but Eli Goode manages to slip her grip and goes to follow it up with a punt kick to Amber’s head but she evades it and snags Eli in a schoolboy pin!
ONE!
TWO!
NO! ELI ROLLS AND REVERSES IT, PUTTING AMBER’S SHOULDERS ON THE MAT!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!
Mr. Rad: Your winner of the match is ELIIIIII GOOOOOODE!!!!
Arthur La Forge: Eli picks up the first win of 2022!
Mary DeSue: And he’s already up and celebrating!
Eli Goode stands on the middle turnbuckle and smiles at the crowd. Payne rolls out of the ring and heads to the back to fight another day. Goode hears the cheers and bows to them. He chuckles to himself and hops off of the turnbuckle. He looks over to the timekeeper. He motions for a microphone. He is given a microphone and continues to smile.
Eli Goode: Well, didn’t we start this year off with a bang?!?!
The crowd cheers as Eli chuckles to himself.
Eli Goode: Look, I just wanted to say that I appreciate everyone here that sent me well wishes after I took my break to recover. My arm was killing me, and I didn’t want to go through the process of just taking pain meds. No, I wanted my arm to heal up properly, and that’s what I did. I healed it, and I’m back.
He looks at the crowd as they start to cheer. The appreciation slowly starts to go away.
Eli Goode: However, there’s been something going around that I haven’t enjoyed seeing. I’ve been seeing the Game Changers going around attacking people with Larry Tact leading them.
Eli looks around waiting to get attacked. Once he sees he’s safe, he continues.
Eli Goode: Tact won the Power Championship because the Game Changers attacked Duncan before the match. Now, Duncan should’ve been smarter and recovered first, but Tact still attacked him.
Eli looks up at the ramp and points at the locker room.
Eli Goode: Tact, I know you’re listening to me. I know that you’re hearing me. I don’t want to fight you for your title anytime soon. Everyone in LevelUp is getting ready for The Last of Us, but you’re someone that has been a thorn in, not only my side but in everyone’s side.
Eli keeps his eyes on his surroundings waiting for the Game Changers to attack him. In fact, he walks backward and leans his back against the turnbuckle.
Eli Goode: Tact, I’m not challenging for your belt. All I care about is making sure you know that someone isn’t afraid of you. Then again, when it’s someone like you, no one’s ever going to be scared of you. You needed people to do your dirty work just to accomplish anything. So, just know, when it’s all said and done, I’m going to be the one standing up to you, not just in Level Up, but also at The Last of Us.
“Carry On Wayward Son” hits on the PA system, and Eli drops the mic. He exits the ring and walks towards the backstage area. He keeps all of his attention on his surroundings to make sure he doesn’t get attacked.
---
Ziggy Morgan vs. Android 69
The match starts off with Ziggy and A69 circling around each other. A69 pelvic thrusts the air as Ziggy yell at the offical, Kirby, to keep an eye on that "darn mah chine" as A69 rushes forward going for a boot to the face, but Ziggy ducks it and Discus Punch, followed by another Discus Punch, and ending with a Discuss Lariat sending the big machine down much to The Masked Machinist anger on the outside as he pounds the ring apron with his fists yelling at his "creation". Ziggy picks up A69 quickly and slaps him into a snap suplex. He connects sending the sex machine down to the mat again. He picks up A69 and tosses him into the ropes and hits a picture perfect back body drop on the rebound. The fans give Ziggy a mixed reaction, but seem to be excited for his style and prowess.
Arthur La Forge: This Ziggy Morgan is an odd duck but he’s taking the fight to the android.
Mary DeSue: I don’t know what’s worse. You calling someone an ‘odd duck’ in the year of our lord 2022, or somehow implying he’s weirder than the SEX ROBOT.
Ziggy poses to the crowd for a moment as he reaches down and grabs A69 again. He does a lasso spin in the air taunt and tosses A69 into the ropes again, going for another back body drop, but A69 stops and...STARTS HUMPING ZIGGY'S HEAD!!
Arthur La Forge: Ladies and gentlemen I’m sorry for what you are witnessing.
Mary DeSue: THAT DAMN MACHINE IS GONNA GET US BOOTED FROM TWITCH!
Ziggy breaks away and goes to the outside of the ring, shaking his head, and yelling at A69. A69 decides to see if he can fly. ROBOT SUICIDE DIVE!! A69 HITS HIS HEAD ON THE RING BARRICADE LEAVEING A DENT!! Both wrestlers are down for the count on the outside...
ONE...
TWO...
Arthur La Forge: This one might end in a draw!
Mary DeSue: Good, get both of these weirdos out of here.
THREE...
FOUR...
Ziggy is the first to get up and kicks the ever loving cowboy crap out of A69's ribs. Ziggy hobbles for a moment and grabs A69 lifting him back up....
FIVE...
SIX...
Ziggy tosses A69 under the bottom rope and gets in to break the count. He picks up A69 and irish whips the robot man into the corner...Running Shotgun Dropkick to the corner from Ziggy!! A69 takes it , stumbles forward, and flops down...humping the mat as he lays there.
Arthur La Forge: I’m so glad my mother doesn’t watch this show.
Mary DeSue: I wish I didn’t.
Ziggy picks up A69 and tosses him into the ropes, instead of going to the well for another back body drop though, Ziggy catches A69 and hits a picture perfect and devestatting spinebuster!! The spine on the pine make a slam that deafens the arena!
Arthur La Forge: Picture perfect spinebuster!
Mary DeSue: Is there an echo in here?
"COWBOY KICKS ASS!!" "COWBOY KICKS ASS!!" "COWBOY KICKS ASS!!"
The fans continue to chant as Ziggy starts rubbing his fist. We see A69 crawl over to the corner and pull itself up. Ziggy goes to the other corner and goes charging in going for a flying superman punch to the corner, but A69 leaps up, crotch first and...PELVIC THRUST TO THE FIST OF ZIGGY!! Ziggy lands on the mat hard grabbing his hand!! He could have had his hand broken hitting the metal crotch of A69!!
Arthur La Forge: That’s…a weird counter.
Mary DeSue: Unique. And I think it worked! But yes.
Ziggy is trying to move his hand to see if anything is broken as A69 reaches down and picks him. The Robot tosses The Cowboy into the corner head first! A69 picks up Ziggy and places him on top of the top turnbuckle, facing the audience. A69 slaps Ziggy's ass and runs to the other corner and rushes back...Top Rope "The Coital Wave"!!! A69 grabs Ziggy...
One...
Two...
A69 has the tights and is showing off Ziggy's rearend that is blurred out thanks to Twitch!
THREE!!!
DING! DING! DING!
Mr. Rad: Here is your winner...Android Sixtyyyy Nin...Nin...NINE!!! Nice!
Arthur La Forge: I don’t know what we just witnessed. And I’m sorry.
Mary DeSue: Maybe we should just quickly get the hell to the next segment.
Ziggy gets up arguing with Kirby as A69 pelvic thrusts to the audience. He turns and slaps Ziggy on the ass again and..."CLINT EASTWOOD!!" A69 is out and Ziggy is hot under the collar as he heads up the ramp and out of the ring. Mouthing to the camera "Where's that damn announcer...I wanna talk to that there Develop'er..."
Arthur La Forge: I hope we’re still on the air next show.
Mary DeSue: The robot has another win. WHY IS THERE A WRESTLING SEX ROBOT?!
---
‘Commander Shepard’ hits the speakers and Duncan Shepard walks out onto the stage. He’s dressed in an N7 hoodie and jeans, clearly not ready for a match. The way he walks down the ramp is slightly tentative, as if he’s in some level of discomfort.
Arthur La Forge: Duncan Shepard isn’t on our card tonight but he’s said he wants some time to lay out his intentions for this year.
Mary DeSue: Whatever that means.
Duncan takes a microphone from someone at ringside then climbs up the steps and very carefully between the ropes. The crowd are cheering and Duncan waits for them to quiet before raising the microphone to his mouth.
Duncan Shepard: I’m gonna be straight with you all right now, being out here for the first time since Dead By Daylight without the Power title sucks.
Mary DeSue: Boo-hoo. You lost fair and square.
Duncan Shepard: I want to tell you all a story.
Duncan starts walking, slowly circling the ring as he speaks.
Duncan Shepard: Almost a year ago now I was in a bad place. I was living in my car, wrestling almost every night, if I was lucky, in bingo halls and school gymnasiums and barns, hoping to make enough money from one show to be able to afford the gas money to get to the next one and have enough left over to eat. When Level Up announced they were looking for potential contenders to the Power title I was in Wisconsin with bookings in New Jersey and had to figure out whether I could even afford to get to Indianapolis. Can you believe I even tweeted, who I now understand to be Mr. Rad…
Duncan gestures towards the big screen above the entrance ramp.
Duncan Shepard: …to ask if the Developer could loan me a hundred bucks for gas money. He refused, because instead he covered all my travel expenses and put me up in a hotel while I was in town. The first time I’d slept in a real bed for over two months I owed to the Developer and this company and that was just the start. Soon after I became the first ever Level Up Power Champion and as a champion I represented this company to the best of my ability. As a champion I won the UGWC Wrestlestock Open Cup, and as a champion my career, even my life, took on a meaning they’ve not had in a long long time. So I’ll say it again, being out here not as your Power Champion sucks.
Mary DeSue: Oh boohoo. The game changed Dunky.
Arthur La Forge: Really Mary? The man is pouring his heart out here.
Mary DeSue: Yeah and I wish he’d stop.
Duncan Shepard: But thinking about what being Power Champion meant to me made me realize what it is I have to do. Being Power Champion to me was about representing a young title and the company it is a part of with pride and dignity and the very best of my abilities, to be one of the faces of this company, which celebrates its first birthday tomorrow…
Duncan pauses for an appreciative pop from the crowd.
Duncan Shepard: …and show the world what Level Up Wrestling is all about. With that in mind, I could go back and try to challenge for the Power title again, and I expect one day I will, but right now I’m not looking back, I’m looking forward and I’m no longer content to be just one of the faces of this company, I want to be the face. The one that stands above all others as the representative of this great promotion to which I owe so much. I want to be the Level Up Final Boss Champion!
Mary DeSue: Yeah, yeah, who doesn’t?
Duncan Shepard: With that in mind and with The Last of Us Part Two approaching I want to make you all this promise, and I know you’ll hear it a dozen times from a dozen competitors, but I guarantee that at The Last of Us Part Two, my journey to becoming Final Boss Champion will begin, I will walk away the winner of the Last of Us gauntlet and as the Number One contender to the Final Boss title!
Duncan’s music starts to play but after just a second it is cut off, the lights go out, and the opening to ‘Pieces of Man’ by Drown begins, heralding the arrival of Larry Tact.
Mary DeSue: Oh finally, something exciting is happening.
Arthur La Forge: Well I think Commander Shepard was finished, the arrival of Larry Tact is only stretching things out further.
Mary DeSue: Yes, but stretching it out with game changing brilliance.
A golden spotlight shines down on center stage, and we find Larry, dressed in his ring gear and clearly ready to wrestle, the spotlight following him down to the ring. A microphone is already in hand and the Power title belt is wrapped around his waist.
Arthur La Forge: Larry Tact has surprisingly arrived without the support of any of his stooges.
Mary DeSue: Stooges? They have names you know, Artie.
Larry climbs up the steps and into the ring as the arena lights return to normal. His music fades and he is about to speak when Duncan interrupts him.
Duncan Shepard: Hey look everyone, it’s Larry…
Mary DeSue: Oh no, he’s not gonna say it is he? No. Oh god, he is, isn’t he.
Arthur La Forge: What’s he going to say?
Mary DeSue: Cover your ears Artie.
Arthur La Forge: What?
Mary DeSue: Just do it!
Arthur La Forge: OK!
Duncan Shepard: …Twat.
Mary DeSue: Oh god…
Arthur La Forge: Can I uncover my ears now?
The crowd have begun to chant along.
“LAR-RY TWAT! LAR-RY TWAT! LAR-RY TWAT!”
Mary DeSue: Uh, no, I’ll tell you when it’s safe.
Larry gives a withering look around at the crowd, and leans against a turnbuckle. He locks his eyes on Duncan until the chant slowly dies down and Duncan looks Larry in the eye.
Duncan Shepard: What do you want?
Larry Tact: Are you finished?
“NO! NO! NO!”
Larry Tact: Too bad, YOUR Power Champion is speaking!
The crowd jeers this with gusto as Larry shakes his head.
Larry Tact: You know, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately. Final Fantasy, where I did what no other competitor was capable of, at Level Up’s biggest event of the year. I claimed not one but TWO wins! Unprecedented doesn’t say enough. It was Simply Tactilizing.
Arthur LaForge: Yes, because there has only been one Final Fantasy event.
Mary DeSue: Stop being a wet blanket, Artie. You’re in the presence of a real life historic figure.
Arthur LaForge: I’m stating a fact.
Larry Tact: Nevertheless, you sheeple make uninformed choices. Take Duncan here, the made from a mold, directly ported hero. First, you interfered where it wasn’t your place to, and The Game Changers made an example of you. Then, I put you in a hospital and took your title. Yet still, still you have the gall to float challenging for this title, "someday?" Well don't let me stop you, hero. See, I didn’t come here to state my intentions for the year. I came out here to make an offer, for tonight.
Arthur LaForge: What the heck is he talking about?
Mary DeSue: Listen up, Artie. Larry’s about to drop a bombshell, I can feel it.
Arthur LaForge: Sometimes I can’t with this guy. The Game Changers nearly ruined the entire Final Fantasy event. Let me cover my ears again.
Larry Tact: Tonight, I’m here to lay out a challenge for you, Duncan. Face-to-face, Champion to, well… not a Champion, a J.A.G… Just A Guy! (snickers) Since you were so willing to start our title match on the spot at Final Fantasy, and you performed oh-so-well, I’m willing to return the gesture. You’ll notice there are no Game Changers here, only the two of us, and my offer lasts until one of us exits the ring. You and me, right now, in a Power title rematch!
Mary DeSue: See?! I told you, a bombshell!
Arthur LaForge: This is ridiculous. Duncan may not even be cleared to compete. He isn’t prepared for a match or in his ring gear. This is just another rotten set up, a cheap shot by Larry Tact.
Mary DeSue: Wah wah, he’s not in his ring gear. Stop making excuses for Duncan Donuts over here! A tactful champion is always ready.
Duncan Shepard: Wow Larry, that's a really great offer. How bold of you to come out here and lay your title on the line against someone who just told this whole arena that they're joy medically cleared to complete.
Mary DeSue: Oh boohoo.
Duncan Shepard: I may have let you sucker me into competing way below a hundred percent at Final Fantasy and yeah, it cost me that title. Now, I'm not going to let you sucker me into a rematch that might cost me more than that.
Larry Tact: See, I knew you wouldn’t. You go on about how dedicated you are to Level Up, how grateful you are to The Developer. I bet they did pay your room and board. For one goddamn time, there’s something Robert and I actually agree on… you were christened the Chosen One to challenge for the Final Boss title… and you failed to even get a shot. Now you’re suddenly above going for the Power title?
He pushes off the turnbuckle and goes nose-to-nose with Duncan.
Larry Tact: No, the humble truth is you’re a CHICKENSH(BLEEP)!!
The crowd voices their disagreement, clearly sympathetic to Duncan’s circumstances.
Duncan Shepard: Oh we're talking truth now are we? Truth? I'll give you some truth. I beat you at Dead By Daylight. I beat you at EXP 14, and at Final Fantasy, while coughing up blood and struggling to breath I still took you to your absolute limit. You see the TRUTH Larry, is you're not on my level and the next time we do compete, I'm going to prove it.
Larry smirks, mouthing silently for Duncan to come at him even as he backs away towards the ropes.
Larry Tact: This is not who we need as Final Boss. We need someone to tactilize these sheeple. Bring them the unvarnished truth, even if it hurts. If you won’t take me on, here and now, then not only is my generous offer withdrawn, but Drake, Isaac, and I will be entering The Last Of Us gauntlet. Oh and, good luck trying to make it there, yourself, much less win. Don't make guarantees you won’t be able to keep.
He drop the mic and unfastens the Power title, holding it up towards Duncan as he steps through the ropes.
Duncan Shepard: Whoa whoa whoa there, hold up just a second.
Larry pauses then climbs back into the ring.
Duncan Shepard: If you're so desperate for a match right now, it's only fair that you get one.
Arthur La Forge: No Duncan, don't do it.
Duncan Shepard: And while that's still not going to be me. I know someone who's more than happy, I'd even say excited, to get a shot at you.
From out of the crowd Emily Simms appears, carrying the metal pipe she wielded to Duncan's defense at Final Fantasy.
Arthur La Forge: It's Emily Simms!
Mary DeSue: Look out Larry!
Emily slides into the ring behind Larry and lines up a big swing with the pipe to the side of his head. Whether hearing Mary's warning or some Veteran instinct kicking in, though, Larry drops at the last second, the pipe arcs harmlessly overhead and he rolls swiftly to the outside. Emily chases him to the edge of the ring and takes another swing over the ropes that misses comfortably while Larry retreats to the ramp. The Power Champion backs up the stage with the title held high to venomous boos.
Mary DeSue: Can you believe that, Artie? Emily Simms just tried to take out Larry Tact before their match tonight.
Arthur LaForge: I believe that turnabout is fair play, Mary. Now I’m not sure what in the world Larry has planned, but it’s news that the Power Champion and his Game Changers teammates, Drake and Isaac will be entering The Last Of Us gauntlet match. That’s an immediate advantage for them, even if it all reeks of nefariousness.
Mary DeSue: Ahmya? Dionysus? Bert? This guy is our true Champion. Soon enough, Larry will be after that worthless pot thief. He'll restore tact and glory to the Final Boss title.
Arthur LaForge: Still holding that grudge? Fans, I would caution you to take Larry’s and Mary’s words with a heavy grain of salt. We’ll be back in moments with more action.
Duncan and Emily come to stand side by side at the edge of the ring jaw jacking at Larry as he backs away. They stop when Larry passes out of sight then look at each other. They each start to shuffle awkwardly and look around anywhere but directly at each other. Eventually Duncan pulls the top and middle ropes apart for Emily to climb through then pointedly looks away when she bends over to do so. The two of them drop to the floor and make their way up the ramp, a few strides apart and out of step.
---
We cut back to the leveluptron, and there's a brief pause. After a moment, the camera cuts in on a shot of Sidroy Covington the Fourth sitting in front of a black background. There's a mix of cheers and boos - mostly cheers at this point.
Sidroy Covington IV: Hello, St. Louis. I know most of you won't believe me at this point, but I'm actually a bit miffed that I couldn't be there in person. First time for everything, am I right?
Sidroy winks, and smirks.
Sidroy Covington IV: Seriously though, I do have a bit of bad news that I was hoping to deliver in person, however due to complications after what happened at Final Fantasy - I was unable to make it. So here I am, in Aberdeen Scotland, and I regret to inform you that I will be for quite some time, according to doctors.
A small boo sweeps the crowd.
Sidroy Covington IV: That being said, I'm not one on New Years resolutions - I mean, when you're born Ever Fortunate there's not a tremendous amount of things you're looking to change at the start of a year - but this year I have made a few for myself. Number one, is you bet your ass I'll be back, and I'm coming back stronger mentally and physically then ever. And number two? Larry Tact. I know you think you're slinging around quite the hog at the moment - but ride that high while you can friend. Because while I've done a lot of questionable things in my career - I've never tried to take away someone else's career. That's a real cowards play mate, and so the last thing I promise is this. You and your other rejects who couldn't get over without targeting people who are actually popular better have as much fun as you can. Bask in that fifteen minutes of glory that you've bought for yourself. Because my knee? It's going to heal. But what will never heal is what you did to me, and I will get my revenge for that. Mark my words, mate.
With a coy smile mixed with a look of determination, the camera fades back to ringside.
---
Buster Gloves vs. Valentine
Valentine lunges at Buster Gloves, looking for a flying clothesline right off the bat…but he trips over and falls on his ass. Buster Gloves shrugs and stomps on the masked man. Valentine looks to escape by crawling out of the ring, but BG is having none of it. He pulls him back in and locks in a rear waist-lock. BG lifts Valentine into a german suplex…and again…and again…and again…and again…
Arthur La Forge: The bull of the north is using this match to send a statement, it seems.
Mary DeSue: Yeah, like his undefeated streak doesn’t already do that? Come on!
Soon the crowd is just looking on in disbelief at the seemingly never-ending chain of German suplexes by BG, who is in some sort of trance. Eventually he snaps out of it, but the damage is already done. He looks at Valentine lying in a crumpled mess on the mat, then at Ref Crash, who has a stunned expression plastered on his face. BG frowns and looks at the crowd, then at Valentine.
Arthur La Forge: I think even Buster realizes he got carried away there.
Mary DeSue: Well he should have stopped. I guess when you’re on a roll, you’re on a roll..
Instead of pinning, BG decides to inflict more punishment on Valentine. He cinches in a muay thai clinch, then drives his knee right into Valentine’s head! The blow rocks him, partially cracking the Guy Fawkes mask he’s wearing. He groggily wanders around the ring in a daze. Suddenly he charges at Ref Crash, seemingly thinking he’s the enemy! Ref Crash manages to get out of the way and Valentine runs right into the turnbuckle.
Arthur La Forge: Valentine is dazed and confused after all that, but I can’t blame him!
Mary DeSue: Looks like Buster gonna end his night real quick…
Valentine stumbles back to the center of the ring, where BG spins him around. BG grabs his arm and pulls him forward, SOUL CRUSHER! The Standing D’Arce Choke draws an instant tap out from Valentine, giving BG the win!
DING DING DING!!
Mr Rad: Here is your winner, via submission, BUSTERRR GLOVES!!!
Arthur La Forge: Buster has done it again. Valentine is victim number four to the Soul Crusher!
Mary DeSue: There’s something about a lifeless man body that just moistens the loins. Know what I mean Artie?
Arthur La Forge: Surely, I don’t.
Mary DeSue: It’s like Niagara Falls down there. And don’t call me Shirley.
Buster Gloves walks to the ring ropes nearest the commentary table and calls for a microphone. Moments later a microphone is handed to him by a ring minion. Buster pats the mic to ensure it’s working properly. Buster is breathing heavily and animated after his sixth straight win.
The referee tends to Valentine who has returned to his senses in the corner of the ring near ramp. Buster gives him a respectful nod before addressing him.
Buster Gloves: Valentine. My masked friend. You flew all the way across the pond to the middle of this fine country just to perform for these lovely people in St. Louis Missouri. Thank you for that. You marched down to this ring, you looked me in the eye, and you fought me the best you could. I thank you for that too. But today wasn’t your day. It wasn’t Valentine’s Day. And I apologize… for that.
Buster offers out a hand to help up Valentine who has come to his senses in one of the ring corners. Valentine rejects the peace offering, and rolls under the bottom rope. The crowd boos as Valentine marches off in disgust and disappears through an exit next to the entrance ramp. Buster attempts to calm the crowd.
Buster Gloves: Don’t boo him. Don’t boo. Every person in this room knows what it feels like to take a loss. Valentine is going to be fine. And he’s going to learn from this match and come back stronger. But what about me? Where do I go from here? I have no more monsters to slay. And I have no plans for the actual Valentine’s Day. So, what do I do? Is there anybody in this building who isn’t busy in 2 weeks about wants to hang out with the Bull of the North?
The crowd cheers for Buster as he points to a child in the front row, then another fan in another section, then he points at the upper deck and sweeps from right to left.
Buster Gloves: The actual Valentine’s Day is coming up in two weeks and I’m looking for a partner to stand by my side and wrestle in a multiplayer match. I don’t want to be alone in the ring at EXP 20. So, I ask the wrestling fans in St. Louis, who’s coming with me? I ask the entire Level Up Locker room. Is there anybody backstage, that wants to partner up with Buster Gloves for one night only at EXP 20?
The crowd, already worked into a frenzy, starts to lose their mind, in anticipation of which Level Up Wrestler will accept Buster’s invitation.
Arthur La Forge: Well, this is a plot twist. Who’s it going to be? Is it Bert? Is it Duncan? Eli Goode?
Mary DeSue: I hope it’s Valentine.
Arthur La Forge: What’s wrong with you?
Emily Simms appears on stage and flashes her signature smile at the crowd. A full blue and purple display of pyro goes off. She waves and blows kisses, and the crowd responds with overwhelming applause.
Arthur La Forge: It’s Emily Simms. Not who anyone would expect to see here. Mary what do you say about this?
Mary DeSue: Duncan Shephard is going to be big mad when he finds out about this!
Arthur La Forge: You heard what Buster said. It’s just a match. It’s just one night.
Mary DeSue: That’s what I told myself about my English Lit Professor.
Arthur La Forge: I do not doubt that. Let’s see what Emily has to say.
Emily looks at a stagehand and with one hooked finger requests a microphone, which is tossed to her. She catches it and takes one last moment to smile and soak in the crowd before turning her attention to Buster Gloves, who is waiting with arms folded over the ring ropes.
Emily Simms: Hi Buster.
She says with another smile. Buster reciprocates with a casual wave.
Emily Simms: I heard what you were saying. And you’re right, you shouldn’t be alone on Valentine’s Day. And as fate would have it. I know someone who isn’t busy either.
Buster raises his eyebrows and cocks his head.
Emily Simms: I was planning on spending the night with Duncan, but the Commander has been busy on a couple other missions lately. You seem like a good guy Buster. So, what do you say? Will you be my Valentine’s Day multiplayer partner?
The crowd approves.
Mary DeSue: Oh, the tea is hot. Duncan Shepard versus Buster Gloves rivalry confirmed.
Arthur La Forge: But they are just friends. You heard what they said.
Mary DeSue: Yeh...Wink wink. Just friends, until that benefits on a pole match.
Arthur La Forge: Who hurt you, Mary?
Yes! Yes! Yes!.
Buster Gloves: I say…LET”S DO THIS!!!
The crowd erupts
Buster Gloves: EXP 20. Buster Gloves… and Emily Simms… versus the world.
The crowd joins in with Buster as he says his signature catch phrase.
Buster Gloves: The truth…shall be…revealed!
Mic drops.
---
We open up in the backstage area, where we see Jin Ishida for the first time ever in a Level Up locker room. Ishida is currently sitting down on a steel chair with a wooden round table in front of him, currently shuffling cards. Ishida pulls out the card at the top of the deck after being satisfied with shuffling the cards, ready to test his might. The card he ends up with is the King of Hearts.
Jin Ishida: "The King of Hearts, huh? The very suicidal king that has a sword going right through his own noble head. It also happens to be a card that portrays a man that has gone through the joys and tragic pain that only love could bring to a person. That's a card that would be more suited for someone like Bert McAlroy."
The camera zooms out more to show a man in a lavender suit with black dress shoes sitting in a club chair reading a newspaper. Ishida puts the King of Hearts card to the side and continues shuffling through the deck of cards. Coming to a stop, he picks out the top card again and pulls out the Ace of Spades this time around. The highest-valued card in the entire deck of cards in English-speaking countries.
Julius Montierre: "There you go, Ishida. That one is far more suitable for a man named 'The Protostar'. It is the card coupled with ancient wisdom along with the ambition and drive to achieve on a material level! Nobody in this business can reach as far into the stars as you can!"
The man in the business suit discards the newspaper by putting it on the round table in front of the duo. Sitting to Ishida's left is a man that looks like he's seen some tough times in his life as he sports a scar that goes through his left eye. The man is seen sporting a full beard. Something uncommon for successful businessmen in professional wrestling.
Julius Montierre: "Would you even believe how many headlines I've seen of the Waluigi... family in that newspaper and not a single one of 'The Protostar' himself?!"
The frustration that Julius is feeling right now could be felt through the screens of those watching EXP 19 from home.
Jin Ishida: "It's fitting though since I am the one they call 'Killjoy'. The very same kind of person that would go around popping balloons to spoil the fun of others. Who would put my name in the fake news designed to bring joy?"
The businessman jerks his head back out of what seems to be a state of surprise, raising an eyebrow at Ishida's question.
Julius Montierre: "Nonsense, a man of your immense talent and potential should never think of himself as a burden. There are very few people in this world that would put others before themselves, and you are one of those people. The only joy that a man of your caliber will be killing is the joy of your opponents as you bring their dreams to a tragic and abrupt end. The wrestling fans are already in your corner and have been ever since you signed your glorious name on the dotted line on a Level Up contract! As a matter of fact...
Julius stands up from the rather fancy chair that he was sitting in compared to the seat that Ishida is currently occupying. Julius stares directly into the camera situated in the locker room.
Julius Montierre: Come one, come all. Whoever thinks they have a chance of weathering the storm that Jin Ishida will be bringing to his first-ever match in the twentieth episode of EXP, step right up to the plate. Neither of us will bite, or at least we won't bite until you're standing across the ring from the man that has been foretold by the stars themselves to be the next big thing. The man next to me sits on a level that you could only reach if your talent possibly reached into the cosmos. Not a single star on the Level Up roster has that kind of talent, as 'The Protostar' shines brighter than all the others. So step up to the batter's box and test your might! But who am I kidding, only one that holds the Triforce of Courage will be brave enough to do so. So until we meet again Level Up Universe, remember that a protostar will always shine brighter than you.
With that final statement, Ishida suddenly becomes flustered and sends the cards that he was shuffling again all over the locker room. Julius looks over at the thunderstruck Ishida, making eye contact with one another. Julius slightly laughs to himself, then looks back at the camera and fixes his tie. With that, the camera shot moves back to ringside.
---
As the opening bell goes off Rekara and Lincoln Azrael circle each other and lock up. Lincoln wins out by being the taller and heavier of the two opponents and puts Rekara in a headlock. She pushes forward sending Lincoln into the ropes. He hits them and rebounds only to duck an attempted Flying Elbow Strike from Rekara. Rekara turns. Kick to the gut. DDT from Lincoln! Lincoln runs to the nearest turnbuckle and goes to the top, as Rekara slowly gets up with her back to him. Springboard Bulldog takes her right back down to the mat as Lincoln gets up and bows to the crowd, earning a smattering of cheers and quite a few boo's. Keira applauds in the corner as Lincoln continues to pose.
Arthur La Forge: We don’t know much about Lincoln Azrael but this crowd is already not enjoying him.
Mary DeSue: Yes because Great Value Ahmya is sooo much better.
Rekara starts to get up and Lincoln rushes forward kicking her in the ribs to keep her down. He picks her up and hits her with a spinning neckbreaker. Rekara is down and Lincoln gets up and charges the ropes. He goes back and forth bouncing off the ropes until Rekara gets up and...SPINNING HEEL KICK TO THE FACE! Cover...
One...
Kickout by Rekara, and that seems to have upset Lincoln. So much so that he starts just stomping away on her over and over again until Referee Pliskin pulls him off of her for a reprimand.
Arthur La Forge: Lincoln seems to have no problem hurting people.
Mary DeSue: Oh no, he’s kicking too much ass. Better disqualify him right now…
Lincoln continues to argue for a moment and reaches down to grab Rekara. As he pulls her up suddenly he gets a knee to the gut! Slap to the face from Rekara. Kick to the gut again..."The Girl In The Mirror"! Rekara is down after hitting the float over DDT and so is Lincoln...Keira slaps the mat to try and get Lincoln's attention.
One...
Two...
Arthur La Forge: Not gonna be a very good debut for Azrael if he loses via countout.
Mary DeSue: Hey, there’s two people out there. She’s not back in the ring yet.
Three...
Four...
Rekara gets up and charges to the ropes and comes back getting a now rising Lincoln in the face with a spinning heel kick. Lincoln lands on the second rope. Keira gets in front of him as Rekara charges toward him. Keira pulls on the ropes slingshotting Lincoln off of them as Rekara puts the breaks on and yells at Keira. Keira gets onto the ring apron as the two women continue to argue. Pliskin gets in between them as Keira almost gets in the ring. Pliskin keeps his focus on Keira as Rekara turns back to a now standing Lincoln. Kick the gut...SCISSOR KICK! Pickup. "Azrael Implaer"!!! Keira drops down just as Lincoln goes for the cover...
One...
Two...
THREE!!!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Mr. Rad:Here is your winnerrrr...Lincoln Azrael!!
Arthur La Forge: And just like that, Lincoln Azrael secures his first win in Level Up, knocking Natsumi’s batting average down to .500.
Mary DeSue: Batting average? This is wrestling!
Arthur La Forge: It’s a met…you know what? Nevermind.
Rekara rolls out of the ring as Lincoln celebrates with his sister in the ring.
---
The referee checks Joey Crash while Victoria Salinas makes her entrance, and goes to check her once she is in the ring. As soon as he clears her and turns to call for the bell, Salinas runs right at Joey Crash, who was still slumped in the corner as he typically is pre-match. She lands a running knee and the bell rings as she is stomping on him, sending him back down into the corner. Victoria lands an elbow and then executes a jumping knee with the tip driving his head right back into the turnbuckle. The referee finally gets between Victoria and Joey, to the chagrin of Salinas. The referee warns her that she will risk disqualification and she tells him to get out of her way!
Arthur LaForge: Victoria is fired up tonight as the referee is trying to get some control over the match.
Mary DeSue: Why should she stop? She has every right to attack once the bell rings.
Arthur LaForge: It looked like she clearly went after Joey before he was ready, or the match technically even started.
Mary DeSue: That’s on the referee, too sloppy, should have done a better job.
As Victoria turns her attention back to Joey, he stuns her with some educated hands! Boxing strikes hit their mark with ferocity and send Salinas backpedaling towards the ropes. Crash Irish whips her and Victoria ducks under a clothesline, only to have Crash duck a Salinas clothesline on the way back. He goes around and lands a Rolling Release Suplex on Salinas. As Victoria gets back up, Joey again stuns her with some well-placed strikes to the midsection, then lifts her up onto his shoulders and drops her down across the ropes with an Electric Chair Drop. Victoria goes bouncing off them and hits the apron before rolling off to the floor!
Arthur LaForge: That has to hurt!
Mary DeSue: Did Bert put him up to this? He’s clearly trying to hurt this sweet innocent woman who called the idiot out for his… idiot self! Did you hear what she called him, Artie? BERT MCDUMBF—
Arthur LaForge: Ohhh-kay! Let’s try and avoid being banned from Twitch tonight.
Mary DeSue: You always say that, and we never do. Live a little.
Arthur LaForge: Having to work with you is enough living for me. It’s safe to say the ‘sweet and innocent’ times of Victoria Salinas are long gone. Joey isn’t trying to hurt her, he’s done a good job keeping on her with high-impact offense so far.
After some showboating to the crowd, Joey goes outside and lifts Victoria up and into the ring, then follows for a pin!
ONE!
Just a one count! Joey places Victoria in a front facelock to control her movement. As they rise up together Joey lands another couple shots to the ribs of Victoria before switching grapples to setup a Sambo Suplex. Victoria elbows him in the head and neck to break free and then springboards off the nearby ropes to land a Clothesline that sends Joey to the mat. Victoria runs to the ropes but Joey is up quicker than she thought. He chases her and as she bounces off the ropes he hits his own Clothesline that sends her onto the apron. Victoria stands facing the crowd and Joey uses the bottom rope to reach over and hook her arm. With brute strength he brings her back into the ring with a modified Saito Suplex! Victoria lands on her feet! When Joey turns she lands a Standing Roundhouse Kick that staggers him along the ropes. She backs up and comes in with a running knee to the face that sends him into the corner. No sooner does he look up that Salinas comes in with a Jumpking Yakuza Kick that sends Joey crashing to the mat. Salinas covers!
ONE!
Crash kicks out!
Arthur LaForge: It looks like a pretty even match between these two. Someone is going to have to find a big move at just the right moment to gain a clear advantage.
Mary DeSue: Victoria is a Game Changer and when you have plenty of friends, you’d be a fool not to have a backup plan if things get too hot. Speaking of hot, Joey has that chiseled man meat look and… it works for him. I could dig it… you’re right, Artie, this is a close one.
Arthur LaForge: Glad your analysis is grounded in the important things in this match, Mary. Like the in-ring action.
Mary DeSue: I know, I should totally ask for a raise.
Victoria eyes the referee but not for long. She puts the boots to Joey and rolls him over, then interlocks their legs as one does to set up a Surfboard submission. She digs into his ribs with her hands, causing him to involuntarily spread his arms for her to grab. Instead of creating the momentum to swing onto her back and lift him for the submission, Victoria brings Joey up and then pushes his arms to send his face slamming onto the canvas! She does it two, three, four times until finally releasing him and heading to the top rope. She leaps off and hits a Moonsault right across Joey’s spine! Victoria goes for a pin!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
Mary DeSue: After that, Joey Crash won’t have a face his own mother would recognize.
Arthur LaForge: That was a uniquely vicious way of using a surfboard position. Victoria is no a dangerous opponent, and a seasoned veteran at that. Remember, she scored a win over Larry Tact to earn a future title match of her choosing.
Mary DeSue: That’s right, and pounding Joey’s face into the mat is only a taste of the vicious streak she’ll bring to whichever champion she goes after.
Arthur LaForge: Regardless of who she chooses, that match will be one to watch. But so is this one, and it’s far from over.
Victoria looks more perturbed with the referee, slapping her hands together in protest of the speed of the count. She looks down at Joey and reapplies the surfboard variation… but when she grabs Joey’s arms he begins struggling, rolling back-and-forth. The momentum combined with his weight advantage are enough and they roll, leaving Victoria facedown on the mat and allowing Crash to free his arms. Their legs still interlocked, he jumps up and smashes her knees into the canvas! He holds on and does it again and again before freeing their legs.
Arthur LaForge: Joey giving Victoria something like a taste of her own medicine there.
Mary DeSue: Where is the ref’s count?? Joey is being overly aggressive here, that’s shameful.
Arthur LaForge: There wasn’t anything illegal about it, and Mary, you just praised Victoria for pretty much the same thing.
Mary DeSue: Was not! But I guess they’re both cool. Carry on.
Joey lifts up Salinas and executes a pair of Rib Breakers that send her tumbling off his knee on impact. He then goes to the turnbuckle and begins untying the pad. The referee notices after checking on Victoria and begins admonishing Crash, telling him he must not do that and begins retying the pad. This allows Joey to go in his tights and pull out the Glove!
Arthur LaForge: That’s no ordinary glove! It’s been said Joey’s got it loaded with brass knuckles in the past, but he cleverly hides it.
Mary DeSue: Maybe he’s cold, Artie, ever think of that? His one hand is cold.
Joey puts on the Glove and readies for his finisher… until Larry Tact appears on the apron! Joey goes for the LOADED GLOVE on Larry, who jumps off to avoid it. The referee finished tying the turnbuckle pad and saw Larry on the apron. He was walking over to tell him off and instead gets BLASTED by accident on Joey’s follow through! It looks like he got shot as he falls to the mat. Joey looks down at the ref, largely apathetic, then at Larry and slides out of the ring. He jaws at Tact for his interference… and Larry rips off the Glove! It falls to the ground and the two begin brawling! Exchanging lefts and rights, Joey gets the advantage, backing Larry up from the ring and towards the guardrail. Playing to his size advantage, Larry sneaks a knee to the abdomen of Joey that halts him. Larry wheels Joey around and tosses him into the guard railing as Victoria joins him. The two lift Joey up and drop him BACKFIRST ONTO THE GUARD RAIL!! Larry lifts Joey’s body back to the ring and dumps him between the ropes. Victoria slides back in moments after and Larry waves for a referee to get to the ring. As one does, Victoria makes the pinfall!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR– NO! JOEY CRASH GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPES!!
Victoria looks stunned and Tact is fuming on the outside.
Arthur LaForge: First Joey Crash tried pulling a fast one, and Larry Tact came out to stop him from using that Loaded Glove. A referee knocked silly before Joey ended up being the recipient of a potentially game-changing double-team. Don’t blink in Level Up Wrestling.
Mary DeSue: That shows you shouldn’t always trust what people say.
Arthur LaForge: What do they say?
Mary DeSue: ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right.’ Uh, it sure looks like it hit right for the Game Changers!
Arthur LaForge: Except Joey Crash is still in this match. It didn’t work.
Mary DeSue: Well, he’s a tough guy! That proves my point.
Arthur LaForge: What point? Now I’m just lost, let’s keep on this match.
Larry stomps over and intimidates the timekeeper out of their chair, then takes it for his own and gets onto the apron. The referee is right on it, trying to grab the chair and telling Larry to let go or he’ll disqualify Victoria. Larry lets go of the chair and the referee leans through the ropes to dispose of it… only for VICTORIA SALINAS TO LOW BLOW HIM FROM BEHIND! Larry catches the referee and drags him to the floor, then retrieves the chair and enters the ring. He brings it down on Crash – NO! JOEY AVOIDS! He rolls onto his back and kicks the hands of Larry to grab the chair, then seeing a charging Victoria… THROWS THE CHAIR IN HER FACE! She’s sent to the mat as it hits and Joey gets to his feet. He backs up as Larry comes charging… and pulls the top rope down, sending Tact over and to the floor!
Arthur LaForge: Low bridge! Larry gets sent out of the ring where he never belonged in this match.
Mary DeSue: Shut up, Artie! That was a slick move by Joey, but if you think that’s the end of it then you don’t know what it means to be a Game Changer. That referee didn’t have a clue and look what happened.
Arthur La Forge: At this rate, we may need to get a Waluigi out here to officiate.
Not seeing a referee, Joey removes a turnbuckle pad to expose the steel ring. He then grabs Victoria’s legs and sends her up in a CATAPULT TO THE EXPOSED STEEL! SALINAS LANDS ON THE SECOND ROPE! She jumps off immediately with a hurricanrana that sends Joey flying to rest between the middle and top ropes… Larry Tact hits a cheap shot to the face of Joey just as a THIRD referee comes running down to the ring! Crash staggers back to his feet and turns…
ONLY TO BE HIT BY VICTORIA SALINAS WITH BRASS KNUCKLES!
Mary DeSue: Forget Dances With Wolves, that was a presentation of Crashes With Brass!
Arthur LaForge: Victoria with a knockout shot to Joey Crash! I don’t know whether she took those brass knuckles from Joey’s glove on the outside, or if Larry handed her a pair at some point, but she somehow got ahold of them.
Mary DeSue: Meanwhile, this lame ref is telling off Larry for no reason when Victoria has this match in the bag! We need another referee casualty!
Arthur LaForge: Folks, we do not endorse those reprehensible actions, and there are plenty of reasons why Larry deserves grief. Unfortunately, he’s served as a perfect distraction for Victoria to get that shot in.
The referee was admonishing Larry and as Victoria tucks the brass knucks away, Larry calls the ref’s attention to the ring as Salinas hoists Crash up. The referee slides in the ring as Victoria hits the VANITY BREAKER!! She hooks the leg!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
Mr. Rad: Your winner of the match…. VICTORIA SALINAS!!
---
The match begins with Dionysus eager to renew hostilities with Jenny, but EA Blizzard stepping forward to represent his team instead. The Courage champion shrugs his shoulders and begins circling with Blizzard, who attempts a swing. Dio ducks that and hits a couple of right hands, while EAB hits body blows. They continue to brawl back and forth, with neither man seemingly gaining an advantage. Dio finally kicks EAB in the stomach to knock him back into the neutral corner and hit a back elbow for good measure. Dio hits a few body blows of his own and EAB begins to move away to protect himself. Dionysus follows and then runs off the ropes, but whatever he was looking to hit is stopped dead when EAB charges at him and flattens him with a lariat!
Arthur La Forge: EA Blizzard is one of the veterans of Level Up and he’s shown why. He knows how to pick his spots when it comes to striking.
Mary DeSue: Remember when you hated him?
Arthur La Forge: I still think he’s making deals under the table, but there’s not much I can do about it.
Jenny reaches over the ropes and asks her partner for a tag, and Blizzard smiles and lets her have it. She flips over the ropes and lands in the ring, eyeing Dionysus. She reaches to pick him up and Dio suddenly ducks his head and flips her again, this time with a back body drop! She scrambles, but realizes too late that she’s in the opposing corner and Dio runs in and smashes her with a corner clothesline before tagging in Kat Jones. He holds Jenny in place and Kat gets a nice kick in before taking over. She grabs Jenny by the head and runs to a neutral corner, slamming her face first into it. She follows that up with a series of chops to the chest, which produce audible smacks that cause the crowd to groan. Jenny starts to laugh, so Jones hauls off and BITCHSLAPS her! That seems to knock the grin off Queenie’s face, at least for a moment, and knocks her down on her ass.
Arthur La Forge: It seems Kat Jones is not afraid of Jenny’s antics!
Mary DeSue: Well she should be. We all know the Queen Machine can take a lot of punishment!
Jones lifts Jenny up in the corner and hits a right hand, before Irish whipping her to the other side. She follows with a charge but Queenie gets the boot up, then immediately runs and grabs the head of Kat, attempting the Crowning! But Kat pushes her off, pulls her down into a reverse DDT position, then flips that to a front-face-lock, looking for Kat-astrophe! Jenny shoves herself free and slides outside of the ring, taking a breather as she hasn’t figured out the puzzle of her latest opponent just yet. She paces around ringside as Kat waits for her, then looks right at Jones and says something only she can hear. It’s apparently enough for Kat to run outside and Jenny begins to run away! Kat chases her around ringside and back into the ring, where suddenly Jenny turns right around and hits her with BOW DOWN as she starts to stand! She laughs at the booing audience and covers!
ONE!
TWO!
NO! Kat kicks out.
Arthur La Forge: I was just about to say, it’s not like Jenny to run.
Mary DeSue: She’s too smart for everyone!
Arthur La Forge: She knows how to get under people’s skin and Kat found that out the hard way.
Jenny reaches out and grabs Jones by the hair and pulls her into the corner, switching places. She then begins to lay in with some heavy chops to the chest, before clubbing Kat in the head with punches. When she thinks Jones has had enough, she tags in EA Blizzard to do more damage. As EAB climbs into the ring, Kat strikes out with an elbow to the jaw, then another, to try and fight back out of hostile territory. She hits a back elbow on the Queen Machine for good measure, then springboards out of the corner and catches EAB with a tornado DDT! She tries for a quick cover..
ONE!
TW--No! EA Blizzard kicks out with authority! Jones gets off and moves over to her corner, tagging Dio back in.
Arthur La Forge: Kat was almost caught in a bad position, but she managed to fight out and it’s back to the big men slugging it out.
Mary DeSue: Well I agree with her tagging out. EAB would have destroyed her in seconds!
Dio pulls Blizzard to his feet and Irish whips him into the ropes, then runs with him. EAB bounces off and when he sees no Dio, he turns around only to get caught with a clothesline! Dio floats over with the pin.
ONE
TWO--NO! EAB once again gets out with ease. Dio simply picks him back up and gets him in a front waistlock, perhaps for some type of suplex. He begins to push the stunned EAB to his corner, but EAB quickly realizes a double team may be coming. He sidesteps Dio, causing him to stumble forward. He turns around and tries to charge into Blizzard, only popped in the chin with a knee lift! Dio's legs go wobbly and he moves to try and tag Jones, but EAB grabs the waistline of his pants and pulls him back, before dropping him down with an old school atomic drop! Dionysus crumbles to the mat and Blizzard happily tags the Queen back in.
Mary DeSue: EAB and Jenny working well together! They both have a grudge against the champ!
Arthur La Forge: Well, Jenny seems to think she was robbed and EAB has issues with Dio’s business practices. Makes sense that they’re focusing on him.
Queenie sees Dio laying on the mat, attempting to regain his bearings. She turns her back to him and leaps up in the air before crashing down with a standing moonsault, staying on top for the cover!
ONE!
TWO! No! Dio pushes her off. Queenie shrugs her shoulders and pulls Dio up, before tossing him into a neutral corner. She steps back and then charges forward, hitting a corner crossbody, before moving through the ropes as Dio staggers out. She then leaps off the top and catches him with a JENNYCANRANA! ANOTHER COVER!
ONE!
TWO!
NO! Dio kicks out!
Arthur La Forge: If Jenny is trying to prove a point, Dio is proving one of his own by kicking out.
Mary DeSue: Right now. They’re wearing him down though.
Jenny gets Dionysus’ head in a cravat and looks like she wants the Crowning, but the Courage champion shoves her off. When she turns around, he kicks her in the abdomen to drop her to her knees, then hits the shining wizard! He follows that up with a lionsault, completing the ROUND OF APPLAUSE! He makes a quick cover of his own!
ONE!
TWO!
No! Jenny kicks out! Dio pushes Queenie in the corner and tags in Jones. Jones delivers a knee up into the ribs of Queenie. She takes a step back and charges forward, connecting with an enziguri! Queenie slumps down into a sitting position, so Jones grabs her foot and drags her away from the ropes with a cover.
ONE!
TWO
Th-NO! Queenie kicks out!
Mary DeSue: Come on Queen! Tag in EAB and send this thing home!
Arthur La Forge: It’s a very back-and-forth tag match so far, every time one team builds a little momentum, the other team snatches it away.
Jones gets up and tags Dio back in. Dio grabs the leg of Queenie as she tried to crawl to EA Blizzard and holds the ankle, not allowing her to get there. Jenny pushes herself up to one foot and then leaps up and hits an enziguri of her own on Dio! As Dio falls back, Queenie immediately scrambles to EAB and makes the tag! EAB gets in the ring and points at Dio, charging forward and lays him out flat with a clothesline! He spins around and catches Jones in the jaw with an elbow for good measure, sending her flying off the apron. Dio turns around and EAB attempts It Rolls Downhill, but Dio lands on his feet. He hooks a waistlock and tries the Grapevine, but Blizzard ducks the lariat and gets a Surprise Mechanic schoolboy!
ONE!
TWO!
THR--NO! Jones is in and breaks it up!
Arthur La Forge: EAB nearly had that!
Mary DeSue: That’s what it’s a “surprise” mechanic, Artie! It surprised him!
Jones begins to rain down blows on the head of EAB and Jenny runs in herself, grabbing Kat by the hair and tossing her through the ropes. Kat grabs her by the legs and pulls her out under the bottom rope and the two begin to brawl. Referee Plisskin is momentarily distracted by that, when EAB and Dio get up and Dio hits the STO Backbreaker!! He covers but the referee is trying to break up the brawl outside! Suddenly…ONE OF EAB’S ATTORNEYS HITS DIO IN THE BACK WITH A BRIEFCASE!
Arthur La Forge: Wait, WHAT?
Mary DeSue: I think that’s called a legal infraction!
Arthur La Forge: I think it’s called interference!
The shot doesn’t seem to faze Dionysus, who gets up and glares at the lawyer half his size. He grabs him by the tie and prepares to punch him, but EAB snatches the briefcase and hits Dionysus in the BACK OF THE HEAD WITH IT! He tosses the foreign object and as Dio tries to turn around, dazed, EAB hits THE INDUSTRY STANDARD! Plisskin slides in just as Blizzard makes the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!
Mr. Rad: Your winners of the match…JENNY and EA BLIZZARD!
Arthur La Forge: Oh DAMN IT! Of all the rotten tricks…
Mary DeSue: EA Blizzard just pinned the Courage champion!
Arthur La Forge: Yeah, and with one of the least courageous ways to do it!
Blizzard slides out of the ring and begins to go up the ramp with Jenny as Kat goes into the ring to check on her partner. Dionysus is starting to sit up, but is clearly out of it after taking an unprotected shot to the back of his head.
Arthur La Forge: EA Blizzard might have made his case for a Courage title shot, but I don’t expect the champion is going to be happy when he watches the tape back over!
Mary DeSue: Well he can die mad, because the right team won!
---
Backstage we see Duncan Shepard walking through the halls. He looks uncomfortable, anxious even perhaps. He reaches the door to a locker room and raises his hand to knock on the door but hesitates and draws back. He paces in a small circle, takes a deep breath and then raises his hand to knock again, but before he can do so the door opens. In the opening stands Emily Simms, dressed in her ring gear. He halts in the doorway, seemingly caught off guard by the unexpected sight of Duncan on the other side. Duncan stands with his hand still held awkwardly for too many painful seconds before slowly lowering it.
Duncan Shepard: Uh, hi.
Emily opened her dressing room door and was shocked to see Duncan standing there. She could tell he still wasn’t fully recovered simply by the way he was holding himself. She had an open bottle of water in her hand as she looked up at Duncan.
Emily Simms: Oh…hello.
She replied as she chewed on her bottom lip.
Duncan Shepard: I, uh, realized that I didn’t say thank you for having my back earlier. The look on Larry’s face was classic. Shame he managed to slip away, heh.
Emily Simms: Yeah real shame he got away, I’ll take him out tonight during our match though. I’m not sure about my teammates but I hope I can work with Ahyma and Chelsea to kick Larry’s ass as well as Drake and Isaac’s
Duncan Shepard: I hope so, be careful out there though. I’m sure you can rely on Ahmya.
Duncan paused and rubbed his jaw.
Duncan Shepard: Speaking of Multiplayer partners, I saw you’re going to team up with Buster next show.
Emily Simms: I am, I heard he’d been asking around backstage about a one time tag team partner so I decided to volunteer my services.
Emily raised an eyebrow at the mention of her teaming up with Buster and took a sip of her water. She leaned against the doorway as she looked Duncan straight in the eyes. Everything she wanted to say/yell at him went out the window when she saw him. She was just glad he was alright but still angry.
Duncan Shepard: Well, uh, that’s, that’s great. Guy’s on a real streak. I’m sure you guys will work really well together.
Emily Simms: Do you have a problem with me teaming up with Buster?” Emily asked as she finished off her bottle of water and tossed it over her shoulder and into the garbage can.
Duncan raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
Duncan Shepard: N-no, of course not. W-why would I? You can team with whoever you want.
Emily took a step back and frowned as she watched him closely.
Emily Simms: You tell me Duncan, you’re the one who brought it up…I want to…
Emily trailed off with what she wanted to say and threw her hands up.
Emily Simms: I don’t know what you want me to say Duncan.
Duncan Shepard: I don’t want you to say anything, I was just trying to be supportive.
Duncan hesitates and looks away.
Duncan Shepard: I was going to offer to come down to the ring with you but, maybe, I dunno, maybe it’s not a good idea.
Emily wanted to say yes! She wanted him to come down with her but at the same time she knew it wasn’t a good idea.
Emily Simms: I don’t think it would be wise Duncan. It would be just the time that Larry and his goons would try and hurt you again. I don’t think I could take it again watching you get beat up like that.
Duncan Shepard: Yeah…yeah, that uh, that would be bad. So um, I’m gonna find a good monitor back here and uh, I’ll be rooting for you.
Duncan takes a step back, then forward, opens his arms as if going for a hug then steps back and closes them again before putting his hand out for a fist bump. Emily takes two steps forward and looks up at him for a moment before looking down at his hand. She reaches out and gives him a fist bump in return.
Emily Simms: Thank you Duncan.
Duncan Shepard: Uh, yeah, sure, anytime.
Their eyes linger on one another for a long second before Emily turns and heads towards the ring. Duncan watches her go for a second more then turns and walks out of shot.
---
Arthur La Forge : Now we head to the backstage area with Lenny Brasco and he’s with The Game Changers.
The camera cuts to Lenny Brasco who stands in front of the Game Changers. Standing proudly at the front of the group is the newly crowned Power Champion, Larry Tact. His title is proudly displayed over his shoulder.
Behind him, The Wand that once belonged to ‘The Wizard’ James Wilcox, laying across staging crates, its signature sigils etched along the handle. Victoria Salinas sits next to it on the crates, leaning against the wall, her right arm resting on the leg bent up to her chest.
Further back from the crates and in the darkest area he could find is Isaac. He stands drinking a protein shake from a plastic bottle.
The unmistakable frame of the monster, Drake, stands directly next to Tact.
Lenny Brasco: THE GAME CHANGERS! Wow! What an impact! To say we as fans are shocked at recent events is an understatement!
Larry Tact: Yes, Lenny. Our little chat last month seems to have done the trick. I like this new attitude towards us.
Lenny Brasco: Firstly, you all emerged victorious at Final Fantasy. Y-Y-You demolished ‘The Wizard’ James Wilcox. The Faction is no more! You then step up and take out Sidroy and finally went on to claim the Power Championship. What do you have to say to the fans?
Drake immediately steps closer to Lenny and begins to stare him down. Lenny begins looking around trying to avoid the gaze of the monster.
Drake: DON’T mention my brother’s name to me.
Drake pushes his face closer to Lenny again.
Drake: Don’t mention his name to me…..AGAIN.
Lenny’s eyes widen and we see him begin to visibly tremble with Drake bearing down on him. Larry puts his arm out across the front of the giant, who immediately backs away. Drake begins to circle the floor behind Tact.
Larry Tact: Understand, Lenny. There’s no need to bring up sore spots, especially when this man could squeeze what little brain juice lies between your ears. At Final Fantasy, we handled our business in the way we know how… as professionals. Unlike the rest of Level Up, we stand by what we believe. Take Victoria, for instance. She believed what I said held water, and she believed in herself. Now, she has a banked title shot, and if I’m looking at the calendar right, The Last Of Us II looks like a pretty good place to stake that claim?
Victoria suddenly yanks the mic from Lenny, shoving him away with a boot.
Victoria Salinas: You’re damn right it is! I look around this roster and this company and there are so many things WRONG with this company. Of course, Bert McDUMB[BLEEP] being at the top is one of those things but to make matters worse? His SIDEKICK has one of the championships around here and that makes me sick! Yeah Ahmya, I am talking about you. You can’t have that much WISDOM if you’re aligned with that piece of shit. You think you’re the greatest because you beat Sidroy Covington? Yeah, you were EVER FORTUNATE that you weren’t facing ME at Final Fantasy because I was wasting my time with someone that gives more of a crap about wrestling cats in other companies than she does about this one. But your luck WILL run out at the Last of Us because let me tell you something Ahmya, you are NOT the best technical wrestler in this company no matter how many people want to blow smoke up your ass: I AM! I’m coming for YOU and I’m going to PROVE IT at the Last of Us WHEN I take that Wisdom Championship from you…
Once finished, she flips the mic back to Larry, who catches it smoothly in hand.
Larry Tact: The Game Changers aren’t a fly-by-night operation. We have goals, and a roadmap to unlock those achievements. While the rest of the roster was easing up in holiday mode? We were preparing. While Centurion thought he could come in and bask in the glory of his legend? We were ready. While Duncan Shepard thought he was the cock of the walk because he took Maggie Lockheart off guard? We were ascending. While Chelsea Skye thought she could coast past the Fire Flower, Victoria Salinas? We were poised to strike. While Ahmya and Robert thought they could sweep two matches in two nights? We were waiting for their failure. Drake and Isaac were biding their time. Now, they will bulldoze their way to opportunity.
Out of nowhere Drake grabs the microphone out of Larry’s hand, whilst simultaneously pushing him away. Tact inadvertently bumps into Lenny Brasco, whom, caught off guard, goes tumbling down to the floor like a ton of bricks. Larry looks down and smirks even as he trains his eyes on Drake.
Drake: What did you GOD DAMN expect? We aren’t here just to make up the numbers. We are here to change the landscape. To change the game! Look at the god damn talent Tact has assembled here!
Drake now stares directly into the camera. His face is red from the anger. His eyes wide open. Intensely staring down the lens.
Shaking slightly Drake continues.
Drake: We are putting the whole roster on notice. THE GAME CHANGERS. MEAN. BUSINESS. And we don’t mean like, “Oh look, it’s dark over here. The Faction’s feelings are upset and here’s some more Latin BS. Technical. Oh, unfair.” NO. Look at the destruction we have left in our wake so far. We don’t talk, we act. Tonight. Damn. I feel for those little bitches – Simms, Ahmya and Chelsea. Just look at the god damn size of me. Tonight, I’m going to break their [BLEEP]ing necks.”
Lenny staggers up to his feet. Drake immediately snaps and launches a vicious assault on him. Landing a huge barrage of punches on his helpless victim.
Victoria hops down to her feet as she and Tact witness the beating, and can only do one thing… break out into laughter! Drake and Isaac leave Lenny just as paramedics come rushing to the ground. Larry walks towards the arena’s entrance with the Game Changers following.
---
We begin proceedings with Drake Wilcox and Chelsea Skye facing off. Wilcox smirks at her and lunges forward, looking for a spear! Skye is able to leap over it, and bounce off of the ropes. She leaps into the air and connects with a flying forearm! Drake is back up and Skye nails him with a well-placed kick to the shin! Wilcox grunts as Skye again targets the leg with her strikes. Out of rage Wilcox swings wildly at Skye but she ducks the blow, then takes his legs out from under him with a leg sweep! Having felled the giant, Skye completes her combo with a standing moonsault! Cover!
ONE!
Drake shoves Skye off of him.
Arthur La Forge: Chelsea Skye is definitely a talent to watch, but ISAAC is a monster of a man so it is going to take a lot to beat him.
Mary DeSue: He’s bigger than the entire opposing team combined!
Skye rushes back in to keep the pressure on but is flattened by Drake’s big boot! He wastes no time whipping Skye into his team’s corner, where he follows up with a freight train of a clothesline. He tags in her brother and the siblings begin unloading clubbing blows on Chelsea as Tact watches on in satisfaction. The brothers Faction whip Skye off the ropes, and on the rebound look to deck her with a double clothesline…BUT SHE DUCKS! Chelsea springs off the ropes and lays out the boys with a springboard double elbow! Ahmya and Simms celebrate in the corner, then reach out for the tag. Skye manages to make it over to her corner and tag in Ahmya!
Arthur La Forge: And here comes the Wisdom champion! You know she’s fired up over what happened at Final Fantasy!
Mary DeSue: She can’t handle the Game Changers! She’d better just call it a night now and not get hurt!
The roundest robin enters the ring and takes down ISAAC with a tilt-a-whril headscissors! Drake charges her but she drops and pulls down the middle rope, sending him flying to the outside. She quickly ascends to the top rope and lines up ISAAC, leaping off and downing him with a missile dropkick! Before she can look for a pin, Larry Tact is in the ring! He makes a beeline for Ahmya but she takes him down with a drop toe-hold…and looks to lock in OYASUMINASAI! NO! Just as she’s about to cinch in the nasty submission hold, she is pulled out of the ring by Drake!
Arthur La Forge: Ahmya has been a thorn in Tact’s side with that hold before but this time he’s got the former Faction backing him up.
Mary DeSue: Faction no more! They are the GAME CHANGERS now!
Arthur La Forge: Either way, Tact might have just been saved from defeat there.
Wilcox manhandles Ahmya and sends her crashing into the steel steps! Ref Kirby valiantly tries to get control of the match, but he’s not having much luck, as Emily Simms runs along the apron and takes out Drake with a running knee! She helps Ahmya up, but is taken out by Tact, who sends both girls sprawling with a baseball slide! Tact barks at Wilcox to get up as ISAAC joins him outside the ring. They lift Simms up and propel her into the air and straight down onto the crowd barrier! Simms is laid out on the ground clutching at her ribs…just as Chelsea Skye stuns the Game Changers, taking them out with a SUICIDE DIVE! The high-flying maneuver sends Tact and ISAAC into the barrier, and Skye lands on her feet! Things finally get back to normality as Skye helps Ahmya up. Working together, all three girls manage to get ISAAC back into the ring. Ahmya slides in after him, and makes the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
ISAAC kicks out.
Arthur La Forge: I think the time taken to get the mammoth ISAAC into the ring is ultimately what allowed him to recover.
Mary DeSue: Or maybe he’s just too strong! The chains are off!
Ahmya keeps ISAAC down with a few stomps, then using all her strength, manages to drag him over to her corner and tag in Emily Simms, who has been chomping at the bit for the better half of this match. The two teammates bounce off the ropes, then connect a double-team move on ISAAC, with Simms landing a standing frog splash and Ahmya a running stomp to ISAAC’s head! Ahmya then points to the top rope and Simms nods. As Ahmya is ushered back to her corner by the ref, Simms ascends to the top rope. She steadies herself, then leaps off…STAR RISE!! NO!! NOBODY HOME! ISAAC rolls away at the last second and Simms crashes and burns.
Arthur La Forge: Oh no! A bad landing for Emily!
Mary DeSue: That’s what she gets!
Showing his resilience, ISAAC slowly makes it back to his feet. He pulls Simms up by her hair and rocks her with a massive uppercut. She staggers away and ISAAC clubs her on the back, the sheer force of the punch dropping Simms to one knee. ISAAC drags her to the ropes and begins choking her out with his knee, forcing her neck onto the middle rope. Ref Kirby starts to count, but ISAAC shoots him daggers and he backs off. Satisfied, ISAAC breaks the choke and whips Simms off the ropes…HUGE SPINEBUSTER! ISAAC covers!
ONE!
TWO!
THR-NO!! Simms kicks out!
Arthur La Forge: And now it’s Simms showing her toughness, as that spinebuster looked to break her in half.
Mary DeSue: Almost did too. Guess ISAAC will just have to try again. Maybe then Duncan will learn some respect!
ISAAC roars in frustration, and Ref Kirby distances himself from the brute. He’s about to continue the beatdown but Tact calls for a tag, eager to get in now that all the dirty work has been done. ISAAC obliges and tags him in. Tact has a field day, dragging Simms away from her corner and laying into her with some stomps. He grinds his forearm against the bridge of her nose, causing Simms to flail her limbs around from the pain. Larry grabs her by the chin and lifts her up to his eye level, screaming that GAME CHANGERS ARE HERE TO STAY! Tact pulls her up, locking in a TORTURE RACK! Tact roars as he drives his shoulders into Simms back, before planting her with the TACTILLISER! Tact hooks the leg!
ONE!
TWO!
THR-NO!! Simms kicks out AGAIN!
Arthur La Forge: Simms will NOT stay down and Tact is beside himself!
Mary DeSue: This is ridiculous! He’s clearly better! Stop fighting!
Ahmya and Skye erupt in cheers, trying to further rally their teammate, while Tact can’t quite believe it. Determined to end this here and now, Tact stands over Simms and swipes his thumb across his throat. He pulls her into the powerbomb position and lifts her up…STARBREAKER!! NO! REVERSAL! Simms counters into a bridge pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR-NO!! Tact kicks out!
Arthur La Forge: A unique counter but the Power Champion is able to avoid being beaten tonight.
Mary DeSue: Too bad she can’t make a tag. Larry’s wearing her down!
Arthur La Forge: Could you be any more of a cheerleader right now?
Mary DeSue: The Game Changers hate Bert. I hate Bert. So I like the Game Changers.
Using the last of her energy Simms tries to make it to her corner, but Tact grabs her by the leg! She stands up and twists around, clocking Tact with an enziguri! She finally makes the tag to Skye, who climbs through the ropes and sizes Tact up. He groggily gets to his feet and spins around right into a SUPERKICK…NO! Tact falls down at the last second and Skye accidentally drills Ref Kirby!
Arthur La Forge: Oh geez! There goes Kirby!
Mary DeSue: WAY TO GO, CHELSEA.
With the ref down the match descends into chaos with both teams entering the ring and brawling with each other. Wilcox charges Ahmya and spears her right through the ropes, sending them both to the outside. Skye hits a flying hurracanrana which sends her and ISAAC over the top rope. In the midst of all of this, Simms slides out of the ring and returns with a lead pipe! She swings at Tact…BUT HE DUCKS! Tact hits a neckbreaker, causing Simms to drop the pipe. Tact grabs it, just as Skye slides into the ring. He turns around and DECKS HER WITH THE PIPE! Tact covers!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!
Mr Rad: Here are your winners…Larry Tact, Drake Wilcox and ISAAC…THEEE GAMMEEE CHANGERSSS!
Arthur La Forge: Damn it. Larry used the illegal pipe and got the win.
Mary DeSue: Um…hello? EMILY BROUGHT THE PIPE IN!
Arthur La Forge: That doesn’t matter! That doesn’t mean he had to use it!
Mary DeSue: She got what her just desserts!
The Game Changers celebrate their win while Ahmya and Skye tend to Simms as she recovered from getting hit with a lead pipe. They help her to the back, vowing to fight another day. Isaac is standing outside the ring and begins pushing and laughing at the fans in the front row.
Arthur La Forge: My lord, these guys… they…
Mary DeSue : We need fans to buy up those front row seats. Attacking them isn’t good for anyone’s paychecks!
Suddenly and without warning the lights in the arena go dark. The normal lighting in the arena is now replaced by a dark purple glow. Isaac rolls back into the ring and the Game Changers stand their ground. The crowd begins to react as two figures emerge from the entrance to the arena. The figures are fully robed. The figure on the right raises both his arms up to a forty-five degree angle. As he does this, huge plumes of smoke erupt from under the ring. The second figure holds what looks like a ball of light. They raise it up and the LevelUp tron lights up. Electricity begins to hit the ball of light which now floats around fifteen feet above the robed figures. The Game Changers watch with concern, taking defensive stances.
““In absentia lucis, Tenebrae vincunt.” Echoes around the arena.
The big screen cuts to the church of the Faction. There are ten to fifteen cloaked figures standing with their backs to the camera. They stand in a V shape with the one at the front being closest to the church. The head figure slowly raises his arms and the church erupts into flames. The cloaked figures walk away to the right.
The lights in the arena go out momentarily. When they light back up The Wand is left on the middle of the ring between Tact and Drake. Larry looks down, then back up at Drake and demands him to explain how The Wand got there. Drake doesn’t take his eyes off of The Wand, and Larry finally pick it up off the ring canvas. After a few moments, he seems satisfied and holds it up for the crowd, Drake and Isaac roaring as the crowd boos in disappointment that they are unscathed.
---
Lord Raab vs. Ceila Luiz
Lord Raab is already in the ring, and the mystery arrival is there as well, his or her face covered with a hood. Referee Jack Kirby looks to see who it is and the competitor unmasks as CEILA LUIZ!
Arthur La Forge: She's back!
Mary DeSue: Didn't Lord Raab break her back?
Arthur La Forge: He definitely injured her, and now she's here to get revenge! And the winner of this will move on to challenge Larry Tact at The Last of Us Part II, so there's A LOT on the line.
If Raab is bothered by the return of Luiz, his mask hides it and he doesn't show it through his body language. The green-haired time traveler rushes at Raab and hits a combination of quick strikes, but for every three or four she hits, Raab returns fire with one large shot. Finally, he hits a body blow and then a forearm to the jaw that knocks Ceila back. She comes back with a forearm to the mask of Raab, then a chop to his massive chest. She soon realizes that isn't working when he hoists her up onto his shouders, so she wriggles free. He then cracks off a right hand that sends her through the ropes to the outside. She is undeterred, however, and slides back into the ring and hits a huge dropkick on the monster! Raab will not go down, so she runs and chop blocks the leg! Raab goes down to a knee and Luiz grabs the arm, attempting a triangle choke with him in a kneeling postion. Raab uses his strength and rolls on top, making a cover!
ONE!
TWO!
Luiz is forced to let go and they both pop up to their feet. She runs at him and Raab hits a MASSIVE kick to the gut that immediately doubles her over.
Arthur La Forge: I appreciate Ceila Luiz has a lot of fire and wants revenge, but Lord Raab is a monster for a reason.
Mary DeSue: The size difference is just...I mean it's almost unfair!
Arthur La Forge: She's going to want to take advantage of the no DQ rules if she wants to have a chance here, I think.
Raab hits her with a clubbing blow to the back and scoops her up for some type of slam, but she gets free again and lands behind him. Raab turns around and she connects with a enziguri that staggers the monster! He swings with a lariat but she ducks that, gets behind him and stomps the inside of his calf! That weakens his stance and she grabs the head, leaping forward with a bulldog! A quick cover!
ONE!
NO! Only one. Raab goes to the outside, annoyed, and Luiz goes out the other side to give chase. She gets a running start and then jumps off the steps to hit a flying forearm on Raab!Raab teeters but doesn't fall. Luiz avoids a grab attempt and slides in the ring! She runs off the opposite side and tries a suicide dive, only to get caught with a RIGHT HAND! Raab follows her in and grabs her for a German Suplex, but she slides underneath and then grabs his wrist, then spins him around with a ripcord and another enziguri! But Raab is still standing, even if dazed!
Arthur La Forge: Luiz is expending a LOT of energy here and Raab is absorbing her attacks!
Mary DeSue: I think she's wearing him down, but yeah, by the time she makes an impact she's gonna be too tired! WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER!
Luiz bounces off the ropes and races in with a forearm into the corner on Raab, who STILL won't go down. She runs and hits ANOTHER one, then a Pele kick! Then she finally hits a SNAP DDT and THAT takes the monster down! COVER!
ONE!
TW..NO! Still just one! Luiz huffs in frustration and turns, hoping to climb the ropes and hit something. But Raab sits up, gets to his feet and grabs her in a waistlock! He pulls Ceila down from the turnbuckles and tosses her behind with a German...but she lands on her feet! Raab turns around and she connects with a superkick! He wobbles and doesn't fall, she tries for another one and he ducks that and GETS A GERMAN SUPLEX. Raab dumped her right on her head with the release! He picks her up and grabs her belly to belly and hits another suplex! Now he covers!
ONE!
TWO!
THr--no! She kicks out!
Arthur La Forge: Ceila manages to stay in it! Give her a lot of credit so far, she's beating the hell out of Raab in there.
Mary DeSue: He just has a very high pain tolerance! And we know it takes a lot to beat him!
Raab lifts Luiz to her feet and grabs her around the throat, hoping to hit a chokeslam, but Luiz leaps out of it and lands behind him. She hits a chop block to the knee and that forces him to a kneel again, but rather than follow up she slides outside. She grabs a chair from ringside and snaps it shut, before sliding back into the ring! Luiz charges with the chair but EATS A SPEAR FROM RAAB! Lord Raab seems as though he's done playing, as he picks her up and lands a German suplex! But this time he holds on and hits another! THEN A THIRD! And with that he bridges, and the referee has to count!
ONE!
TWO!
THRe---NO! SHE KICKS OUT! Raab gets up, furious, and grabs the chair and just tosses it onto her body!
Arthur La Forge: Lord Raab clearly thought this would be over by now, as she's already went longer than she did in their previous encounter!
Mary DeSue: She'd better watch out, he might try to chokeslam her through the ring!
Arthur La Forge: Wouldn't be the first time he's done it.
Raab lifts Luiz to her feet and grabs her around the throat, but she decides to hit a LOW BLOW! The move is perfectly legal in this match! It also proves the monster is at least somewhat human, as he drops to his knees. Luiz then grabs the chair and swings it HARD at his spine! She then takes a few steps back and hits a SUPERKICK to the head! She then opens the chair in front of his face, takes a few steps back AGAIN and HITS THE VIVA LA FAMILA INTO THE OPEN CHAIR AND INTO RAAB'S HEAD! The monster slumps down and falls prone! Luiz covers!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR---NO!!!! LORD RAAB PUSHES HER OFF!
Arthur La Forge: I don't believe it! I think that mask protected his cranium there because that was an open chair and everything!
Mary DeSue: Yeah, that's more dangerous with all the edges and whatnot!
Luiz can't believe it but she still has a few moves of her own to hit yet. She places the chair down across the chest of Raab and looks to the top rope. She climbs up top, looks backwards and jumps off with the PRINCESA, but RAAB MOVES OUT THE WAY! Luiz catches nothing but the chair! Raab scrambles to his feet and grabs her by the throat, CHOKINATOR!!! COVER!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR---NO!!! LUIZ KICKED OUT!
Mary DeSue: HOW?!
Arthur La Forge: That move beat her last time, that exact move, and she will NOT stay down!
Mary DeSue: Not quite that exact same move, but it did lead to it...
Raab grabs Luiz and starts to apply the KILLERLOCK! Now it's the same move that knocked Luiz out the last time, and she starts scrambling to get out. She finally reaches into her knee pad and pulls something out...
Arthur La Forge: What is that?
Mary DeSue: It's a...roll of quarters?!
It seems Luiz had a plan for this very scenario as she slams the roll of quarters into the top of Raab's head, splitting the package open and sending the coins everywhere! It forces Raab to release the hold and she gets up, screaming down at the monster. She runs off the ropes as Raab gets up, hoping to hit VIVA LA FAMILIA...BUT RAAB REACHES UP AND GRABS HER AROUND THE THROAT.
Arthur La Forge: Oh...oh no.
The monster shakes his head, as he plans to deny her her redemption. He lifts Luiz up and SLAMS HER ON THE CHAIR WITH THE CHOKINATOR! Raab drops down and covers!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
Mr. Rad: Your winner and the #1 contender for the Power Championship....LOOOOOOOOORD RAAAAAAAB!!
Arthur La Forge: Damn, I thought Luiz was going to pull it out there.
Mary DeSue: I mean, she had a great strategy and everything, and she made the giant guy work for it but...
Arthur La Forge: I know. Raab's a monster and size matters in this case.
Raab rolls out of the ring and starts to head up the ramp. He glances back at Luiz, who is already trying to get to her feet and looks like he wants to go back in and do more damage. Luiz, to her credit, sees this and even in her hurt state, begins waving him forward. Raab simply shakes his head. Whether it's respect, amazement that she still wants to fight or he's just tired and wants to go home, we may never know. He starts moving up the ramp, his next title shot in Level Up Wrestling secure.
---
With that final statement, Ishida suddenly becomes flustered and sends the cards that he was shuffling again all over the locker room. Julius looks over at the thunderstruck Ishida, making eye contact with one another. Julius slightly laughs to himself, then looks back at the camera and fixes his tie. With that, the camera shot moves back to ringside.
---
Natsumi Rekara vs. Lincoln Azrael
As the opening bell goes off Rekara and Lincoln Azrael circle each other and lock up. Lincoln wins out by being the taller and heavier of the two opponents and puts Rekara in a headlock. She pushes forward sending Lincoln into the ropes. He hits them and rebounds only to duck an attempted Flying Elbow Strike from Rekara. Rekara turns. Kick to the gut. DDT from Lincoln! Lincoln runs to the nearest turnbuckle and goes to the top, as Rekara slowly gets up with her back to him. Springboard Bulldog takes her right back down to the mat as Lincoln gets up and bows to the crowd, earning a smattering of cheers and quite a few boo's. Keira applauds in the corner as Lincoln continues to pose.
Arthur La Forge: We don’t know much about Lincoln Azrael but this crowd is already not enjoying him.
Mary DeSue: Yes because Great Value Ahmya is sooo much better.
Rekara starts to get up and Lincoln rushes forward kicking her in the ribs to keep her down. He picks her up and hits her with a spinning neckbreaker. Rekara is down and Lincoln gets up and charges the ropes. He goes back and forth bouncing off the ropes until Rekara gets up and...SPINNING HEEL KICK TO THE FACE! Cover...
One...
Kickout by Rekara, and that seems to have upset Lincoln. So much so that he starts just stomping away on her over and over again until Referee Pliskin pulls him off of her for a reprimand.
Arthur La Forge: Lincoln seems to have no problem hurting people.
Mary DeSue: Oh no, he’s kicking too much ass. Better disqualify him right now…
Lincoln continues to argue for a moment and reaches down to grab Rekara. As he pulls her up suddenly he gets a knee to the gut! Slap to the face from Rekara. Kick to the gut again..."The Girl In The Mirror"! Rekara is down after hitting the float over DDT and so is Lincoln...Keira slaps the mat to try and get Lincoln's attention.
One...
Two...
Arthur La Forge: Not gonna be a very good debut for Azrael if he loses via countout.
Mary DeSue: Hey, there’s two people out there. She’s not back in the ring yet.
Three...
Four...
Rekara gets up and charges to the ropes and comes back getting a now rising Lincoln in the face with a spinning heel kick. Lincoln lands on the second rope. Keira gets in front of him as Rekara charges toward him. Keira pulls on the ropes slingshotting Lincoln off of them as Rekara puts the breaks on and yells at Keira. Keira gets onto the ring apron as the two women continue to argue. Pliskin gets in between them as Keira almost gets in the ring. Pliskin keeps his focus on Keira as Rekara turns back to a now standing Lincoln. Kick the gut...SCISSOR KICK! Pickup. "Azrael Implaer"!!! Keira drops down just as Lincoln goes for the cover...
One...
Two...
THREE!!!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Mr. Rad:Here is your winnerrrr...Lincoln Azrael!!
Arthur La Forge: And just like that, Lincoln Azrael secures his first win in Level Up, knocking Natsumi’s batting average down to .500.
Mary DeSue: Batting average? This is wrestling!
Arthur La Forge: It’s a met…you know what? Nevermind.
Rekara rolls out of the ring as Lincoln celebrates with his sister in the ring.
---
Joey Crash vs. Victoria Salinas
The referee checks Joey Crash while Victoria Salinas makes her entrance, and goes to check her once she is in the ring. As soon as he clears her and turns to call for the bell, Salinas runs right at Joey Crash, who was still slumped in the corner as he typically is pre-match. She lands a running knee and the bell rings as she is stomping on him, sending him back down into the corner. Victoria lands an elbow and then executes a jumping knee with the tip driving his head right back into the turnbuckle. The referee finally gets between Victoria and Joey, to the chagrin of Salinas. The referee warns her that she will risk disqualification and she tells him to get out of her way!
Arthur LaForge: Victoria is fired up tonight as the referee is trying to get some control over the match.
Mary DeSue: Why should she stop? She has every right to attack once the bell rings.
Arthur LaForge: It looked like she clearly went after Joey before he was ready, or the match technically even started.
Mary DeSue: That’s on the referee, too sloppy, should have done a better job.
As Victoria turns her attention back to Joey, he stuns her with some educated hands! Boxing strikes hit their mark with ferocity and send Salinas backpedaling towards the ropes. Crash Irish whips her and Victoria ducks under a clothesline, only to have Crash duck a Salinas clothesline on the way back. He goes around and lands a Rolling Release Suplex on Salinas. As Victoria gets back up, Joey again stuns her with some well-placed strikes to the midsection, then lifts her up onto his shoulders and drops her down across the ropes with an Electric Chair Drop. Victoria goes bouncing off them and hits the apron before rolling off to the floor!
Arthur LaForge: That has to hurt!
Mary DeSue: Did Bert put him up to this? He’s clearly trying to hurt this sweet innocent woman who called the idiot out for his… idiot self! Did you hear what she called him, Artie? BERT MCDUMBF—
Arthur LaForge: Ohhh-kay! Let’s try and avoid being banned from Twitch tonight.
Mary DeSue: You always say that, and we never do. Live a little.
Arthur LaForge: Having to work with you is enough living for me. It’s safe to say the ‘sweet and innocent’ times of Victoria Salinas are long gone. Joey isn’t trying to hurt her, he’s done a good job keeping on her with high-impact offense so far.
After some showboating to the crowd, Joey goes outside and lifts Victoria up and into the ring, then follows for a pin!
ONE!
Just a one count! Joey places Victoria in a front facelock to control her movement. As they rise up together Joey lands another couple shots to the ribs of Victoria before switching grapples to setup a Sambo Suplex. Victoria elbows him in the head and neck to break free and then springboards off the nearby ropes to land a Clothesline that sends Joey to the mat. Victoria runs to the ropes but Joey is up quicker than she thought. He chases her and as she bounces off the ropes he hits his own Clothesline that sends her onto the apron. Victoria stands facing the crowd and Joey uses the bottom rope to reach over and hook her arm. With brute strength he brings her back into the ring with a modified Saito Suplex! Victoria lands on her feet! When Joey turns she lands a Standing Roundhouse Kick that staggers him along the ropes. She backs up and comes in with a running knee to the face that sends him into the corner. No sooner does he look up that Salinas comes in with a Jumpking Yakuza Kick that sends Joey crashing to the mat. Salinas covers!
ONE!
Crash kicks out!
Arthur LaForge: It looks like a pretty even match between these two. Someone is going to have to find a big move at just the right moment to gain a clear advantage.
Mary DeSue: Victoria is a Game Changer and when you have plenty of friends, you’d be a fool not to have a backup plan if things get too hot. Speaking of hot, Joey has that chiseled man meat look and… it works for him. I could dig it… you’re right, Artie, this is a close one.
Arthur LaForge: Glad your analysis is grounded in the important things in this match, Mary. Like the in-ring action.
Mary DeSue: I know, I should totally ask for a raise.
Victoria eyes the referee but not for long. She puts the boots to Joey and rolls him over, then interlocks their legs as one does to set up a Surfboard submission. She digs into his ribs with her hands, causing him to involuntarily spread his arms for her to grab. Instead of creating the momentum to swing onto her back and lift him for the submission, Victoria brings Joey up and then pushes his arms to send his face slamming onto the canvas! She does it two, three, four times until finally releasing him and heading to the top rope. She leaps off and hits a Moonsault right across Joey’s spine! Victoria goes for a pin!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
Mary DeSue: After that, Joey Crash won’t have a face his own mother would recognize.
Arthur LaForge: That was a uniquely vicious way of using a surfboard position. Victoria is no a dangerous opponent, and a seasoned veteran at that. Remember, she scored a win over Larry Tact to earn a future title match of her choosing.
Mary DeSue: That’s right, and pounding Joey’s face into the mat is only a taste of the vicious streak she’ll bring to whichever champion she goes after.
Arthur LaForge: Regardless of who she chooses, that match will be one to watch. But so is this one, and it’s far from over.
Victoria looks more perturbed with the referee, slapping her hands together in protest of the speed of the count. She looks down at Joey and reapplies the surfboard variation… but when she grabs Joey’s arms he begins struggling, rolling back-and-forth. The momentum combined with his weight advantage are enough and they roll, leaving Victoria facedown on the mat and allowing Crash to free his arms. Their legs still interlocked, he jumps up and smashes her knees into the canvas! He holds on and does it again and again before freeing their legs.
Arthur LaForge: Joey giving Victoria something like a taste of her own medicine there.
Mary DeSue: Where is the ref’s count?? Joey is being overly aggressive here, that’s shameful.
Arthur LaForge: There wasn’t anything illegal about it, and Mary, you just praised Victoria for pretty much the same thing.
Mary DeSue: Was not! But I guess they’re both cool. Carry on.
Joey lifts up Salinas and executes a pair of Rib Breakers that send her tumbling off his knee on impact. He then goes to the turnbuckle and begins untying the pad. The referee notices after checking on Victoria and begins admonishing Crash, telling him he must not do that and begins retying the pad. This allows Joey to go in his tights and pull out the Glove!
Arthur LaForge: That’s no ordinary glove! It’s been said Joey’s got it loaded with brass knuckles in the past, but he cleverly hides it.
Mary DeSue: Maybe he’s cold, Artie, ever think of that? His one hand is cold.
Joey puts on the Glove and readies for his finisher… until Larry Tact appears on the apron! Joey goes for the LOADED GLOVE on Larry, who jumps off to avoid it. The referee finished tying the turnbuckle pad and saw Larry on the apron. He was walking over to tell him off and instead gets BLASTED by accident on Joey’s follow through! It looks like he got shot as he falls to the mat. Joey looks down at the ref, largely apathetic, then at Larry and slides out of the ring. He jaws at Tact for his interference… and Larry rips off the Glove! It falls to the ground and the two begin brawling! Exchanging lefts and rights, Joey gets the advantage, backing Larry up from the ring and towards the guardrail. Playing to his size advantage, Larry sneaks a knee to the abdomen of Joey that halts him. Larry wheels Joey around and tosses him into the guard railing as Victoria joins him. The two lift Joey up and drop him BACKFIRST ONTO THE GUARD RAIL!! Larry lifts Joey’s body back to the ring and dumps him between the ropes. Victoria slides back in moments after and Larry waves for a referee to get to the ring. As one does, Victoria makes the pinfall!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR– NO! JOEY CRASH GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPES!!
Victoria looks stunned and Tact is fuming on the outside.
Arthur LaForge: First Joey Crash tried pulling a fast one, and Larry Tact came out to stop him from using that Loaded Glove. A referee knocked silly before Joey ended up being the recipient of a potentially game-changing double-team. Don’t blink in Level Up Wrestling.
Mary DeSue: That shows you shouldn’t always trust what people say.
Arthur LaForge: What do they say?
Mary DeSue: ‘Two wrongs don’t make a right.’ Uh, it sure looks like it hit right for the Game Changers!
Arthur LaForge: Except Joey Crash is still in this match. It didn’t work.
Mary DeSue: Well, he’s a tough guy! That proves my point.
Arthur LaForge: What point? Now I’m just lost, let’s keep on this match.
Larry stomps over and intimidates the timekeeper out of their chair, then takes it for his own and gets onto the apron. The referee is right on it, trying to grab the chair and telling Larry to let go or he’ll disqualify Victoria. Larry lets go of the chair and the referee leans through the ropes to dispose of it… only for VICTORIA SALINAS TO LOW BLOW HIM FROM BEHIND! Larry catches the referee and drags him to the floor, then retrieves the chair and enters the ring. He brings it down on Crash – NO! JOEY AVOIDS! He rolls onto his back and kicks the hands of Larry to grab the chair, then seeing a charging Victoria… THROWS THE CHAIR IN HER FACE! She’s sent to the mat as it hits and Joey gets to his feet. He backs up as Larry comes charging… and pulls the top rope down, sending Tact over and to the floor!
Arthur LaForge: Low bridge! Larry gets sent out of the ring where he never belonged in this match.
Mary DeSue: Shut up, Artie! That was a slick move by Joey, but if you think that’s the end of it then you don’t know what it means to be a Game Changer. That referee didn’t have a clue and look what happened.
Arthur La Forge: At this rate, we may need to get a Waluigi out here to officiate.
Not seeing a referee, Joey removes a turnbuckle pad to expose the steel ring. He then grabs Victoria’s legs and sends her up in a CATAPULT TO THE EXPOSED STEEL! SALINAS LANDS ON THE SECOND ROPE! She jumps off immediately with a hurricanrana that sends Joey flying to rest between the middle and top ropes… Larry Tact hits a cheap shot to the face of Joey just as a THIRD referee comes running down to the ring! Crash staggers back to his feet and turns…
ONLY TO BE HIT BY VICTORIA SALINAS WITH BRASS KNUCKLES!
Mary DeSue: Forget Dances With Wolves, that was a presentation of Crashes With Brass!
Arthur LaForge: Victoria with a knockout shot to Joey Crash! I don’t know whether she took those brass knuckles from Joey’s glove on the outside, or if Larry handed her a pair at some point, but she somehow got ahold of them.
Mary DeSue: Meanwhile, this lame ref is telling off Larry for no reason when Victoria has this match in the bag! We need another referee casualty!
Arthur LaForge: Folks, we do not endorse those reprehensible actions, and there are plenty of reasons why Larry deserves grief. Unfortunately, he’s served as a perfect distraction for Victoria to get that shot in.
The referee was admonishing Larry and as Victoria tucks the brass knucks away, Larry calls the ref’s attention to the ring as Salinas hoists Crash up. The referee slides in the ring as Victoria hits the VANITY BREAKER!! She hooks the leg!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
Mr. Rad: Your winner of the match…. VICTORIA SALINAS!!
---
Dionysus & Kat Jones vs. EA Blizzard & Jenny
The match begins with Dionysus eager to renew hostilities with Jenny, but EA Blizzard stepping forward to represent his team instead. The Courage champion shrugs his shoulders and begins circling with Blizzard, who attempts a swing. Dio ducks that and hits a couple of right hands, while EAB hits body blows. They continue to brawl back and forth, with neither man seemingly gaining an advantage. Dio finally kicks EAB in the stomach to knock him back into the neutral corner and hit a back elbow for good measure. Dio hits a few body blows of his own and EAB begins to move away to protect himself. Dionysus follows and then runs off the ropes, but whatever he was looking to hit is stopped dead when EAB charges at him and flattens him with a lariat!
Arthur La Forge: EA Blizzard is one of the veterans of Level Up and he’s shown why. He knows how to pick his spots when it comes to striking.
Mary DeSue: Remember when you hated him?
Arthur La Forge: I still think he’s making deals under the table, but there’s not much I can do about it.
Jenny reaches over the ropes and asks her partner for a tag, and Blizzard smiles and lets her have it. She flips over the ropes and lands in the ring, eyeing Dionysus. She reaches to pick him up and Dio suddenly ducks his head and flips her again, this time with a back body drop! She scrambles, but realizes too late that she’s in the opposing corner and Dio runs in and smashes her with a corner clothesline before tagging in Kat Jones. He holds Jenny in place and Kat gets a nice kick in before taking over. She grabs Jenny by the head and runs to a neutral corner, slamming her face first into it. She follows that up with a series of chops to the chest, which produce audible smacks that cause the crowd to groan. Jenny starts to laugh, so Jones hauls off and BITCHSLAPS her! That seems to knock the grin off Queenie’s face, at least for a moment, and knocks her down on her ass.
Arthur La Forge: It seems Kat Jones is not afraid of Jenny’s antics!
Mary DeSue: Well she should be. We all know the Queen Machine can take a lot of punishment!
Jones lifts Jenny up in the corner and hits a right hand, before Irish whipping her to the other side. She follows with a charge but Queenie gets the boot up, then immediately runs and grabs the head of Kat, attempting the Crowning! But Kat pushes her off, pulls her down into a reverse DDT position, then flips that to a front-face-lock, looking for Kat-astrophe! Jenny shoves herself free and slides outside of the ring, taking a breather as she hasn’t figured out the puzzle of her latest opponent just yet. She paces around ringside as Kat waits for her, then looks right at Jones and says something only she can hear. It’s apparently enough for Kat to run outside and Jenny begins to run away! Kat chases her around ringside and back into the ring, where suddenly Jenny turns right around and hits her with BOW DOWN as she starts to stand! She laughs at the booing audience and covers!
ONE!
TWO!
NO! Kat kicks out.
Arthur La Forge: I was just about to say, it’s not like Jenny to run.
Mary DeSue: She’s too smart for everyone!
Arthur La Forge: She knows how to get under people’s skin and Kat found that out the hard way.
Jenny reaches out and grabs Jones by the hair and pulls her into the corner, switching places. She then begins to lay in with some heavy chops to the chest, before clubbing Kat in the head with punches. When she thinks Jones has had enough, she tags in EA Blizzard to do more damage. As EAB climbs into the ring, Kat strikes out with an elbow to the jaw, then another, to try and fight back out of hostile territory. She hits a back elbow on the Queen Machine for good measure, then springboards out of the corner and catches EAB with a tornado DDT! She tries for a quick cover..
ONE!
TW--No! EA Blizzard kicks out with authority! Jones gets off and moves over to her corner, tagging Dio back in.
Arthur La Forge: Kat was almost caught in a bad position, but she managed to fight out and it’s back to the big men slugging it out.
Mary DeSue: Well I agree with her tagging out. EAB would have destroyed her in seconds!
Dio pulls Blizzard to his feet and Irish whips him into the ropes, then runs with him. EAB bounces off and when he sees no Dio, he turns around only to get caught with a clothesline! Dio floats over with the pin.
ONE
TWO--NO! EAB once again gets out with ease. Dio simply picks him back up and gets him in a front waistlock, perhaps for some type of suplex. He begins to push the stunned EAB to his corner, but EAB quickly realizes a double team may be coming. He sidesteps Dio, causing him to stumble forward. He turns around and tries to charge into Blizzard, only popped in the chin with a knee lift! Dio's legs go wobbly and he moves to try and tag Jones, but EAB grabs the waistline of his pants and pulls him back, before dropping him down with an old school atomic drop! Dionysus crumbles to the mat and Blizzard happily tags the Queen back in.
Mary DeSue: EAB and Jenny working well together! They both have a grudge against the champ!
Arthur La Forge: Well, Jenny seems to think she was robbed and EAB has issues with Dio’s business practices. Makes sense that they’re focusing on him.
Queenie sees Dio laying on the mat, attempting to regain his bearings. She turns her back to him and leaps up in the air before crashing down with a standing moonsault, staying on top for the cover!
ONE!
TWO! No! Dio pushes her off. Queenie shrugs her shoulders and pulls Dio up, before tossing him into a neutral corner. She steps back and then charges forward, hitting a corner crossbody, before moving through the ropes as Dio staggers out. She then leaps off the top and catches him with a JENNYCANRANA! ANOTHER COVER!
ONE!
TWO!
NO! Dio kicks out!
Arthur La Forge: If Jenny is trying to prove a point, Dio is proving one of his own by kicking out.
Mary DeSue: Right now. They’re wearing him down though.
Jenny gets Dionysus’ head in a cravat and looks like she wants the Crowning, but the Courage champion shoves her off. When she turns around, he kicks her in the abdomen to drop her to her knees, then hits the shining wizard! He follows that up with a lionsault, completing the ROUND OF APPLAUSE! He makes a quick cover of his own!
ONE!
TWO!
No! Jenny kicks out! Dio pushes Queenie in the corner and tags in Jones. Jones delivers a knee up into the ribs of Queenie. She takes a step back and charges forward, connecting with an enziguri! Queenie slumps down into a sitting position, so Jones grabs her foot and drags her away from the ropes with a cover.
ONE!
TWO
Th-NO! Queenie kicks out!
Mary DeSue: Come on Queen! Tag in EAB and send this thing home!
Arthur La Forge: It’s a very back-and-forth tag match so far, every time one team builds a little momentum, the other team snatches it away.
Jones gets up and tags Dio back in. Dio grabs the leg of Queenie as she tried to crawl to EA Blizzard and holds the ankle, not allowing her to get there. Jenny pushes herself up to one foot and then leaps up and hits an enziguri of her own on Dio! As Dio falls back, Queenie immediately scrambles to EAB and makes the tag! EAB gets in the ring and points at Dio, charging forward and lays him out flat with a clothesline! He spins around and catches Jones in the jaw with an elbow for good measure, sending her flying off the apron. Dio turns around and EAB attempts It Rolls Downhill, but Dio lands on his feet. He hooks a waistlock and tries the Grapevine, but Blizzard ducks the lariat and gets a Surprise Mechanic schoolboy!
ONE!
TWO!
THR--NO! Jones is in and breaks it up!
Arthur La Forge: EAB nearly had that!
Mary DeSue: That’s what it’s a “surprise” mechanic, Artie! It surprised him!
Jones begins to rain down blows on the head of EAB and Jenny runs in herself, grabbing Kat by the hair and tossing her through the ropes. Kat grabs her by the legs and pulls her out under the bottom rope and the two begin to brawl. Referee Plisskin is momentarily distracted by that, when EAB and Dio get up and Dio hits the STO Backbreaker!! He covers but the referee is trying to break up the brawl outside! Suddenly…ONE OF EAB’S ATTORNEYS HITS DIO IN THE BACK WITH A BRIEFCASE!
Arthur La Forge: Wait, WHAT?
Mary DeSue: I think that’s called a legal infraction!
Arthur La Forge: I think it’s called interference!
The shot doesn’t seem to faze Dionysus, who gets up and glares at the lawyer half his size. He grabs him by the tie and prepares to punch him, but EAB snatches the briefcase and hits Dionysus in the BACK OF THE HEAD WITH IT! He tosses the foreign object and as Dio tries to turn around, dazed, EAB hits THE INDUSTRY STANDARD! Plisskin slides in just as Blizzard makes the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!
Mr. Rad: Your winners of the match…JENNY and EA BLIZZARD!
Arthur La Forge: Oh DAMN IT! Of all the rotten tricks…
Mary DeSue: EA Blizzard just pinned the Courage champion!
Arthur La Forge: Yeah, and with one of the least courageous ways to do it!
Blizzard slides out of the ring and begins to go up the ramp with Jenny as Kat goes into the ring to check on her partner. Dionysus is starting to sit up, but is clearly out of it after taking an unprotected shot to the back of his head.
Arthur La Forge: EA Blizzard might have made his case for a Courage title shot, but I don’t expect the champion is going to be happy when he watches the tape back over!
Mary DeSue: Well he can die mad, because the right team won!
---
Backstage we see Duncan Shepard walking through the halls. He looks uncomfortable, anxious even perhaps. He reaches the door to a locker room and raises his hand to knock on the door but hesitates and draws back. He paces in a small circle, takes a deep breath and then raises his hand to knock again, but before he can do so the door opens. In the opening stands Emily Simms, dressed in her ring gear. He halts in the doorway, seemingly caught off guard by the unexpected sight of Duncan on the other side. Duncan stands with his hand still held awkwardly for too many painful seconds before slowly lowering it.
Duncan Shepard: Uh, hi.
Emily opened her dressing room door and was shocked to see Duncan standing there. She could tell he still wasn’t fully recovered simply by the way he was holding himself. She had an open bottle of water in her hand as she looked up at Duncan.
Emily Simms: Oh…hello.
She replied as she chewed on her bottom lip.
Duncan Shepard: I, uh, realized that I didn’t say thank you for having my back earlier. The look on Larry’s face was classic. Shame he managed to slip away, heh.
Emily Simms: Yeah real shame he got away, I’ll take him out tonight during our match though. I’m not sure about my teammates but I hope I can work with Ahyma and Chelsea to kick Larry’s ass as well as Drake and Isaac’s
Duncan Shepard: I hope so, be careful out there though. I’m sure you can rely on Ahmya.
Duncan paused and rubbed his jaw.
Duncan Shepard: Speaking of Multiplayer partners, I saw you’re going to team up with Buster next show.
Emily Simms: I am, I heard he’d been asking around backstage about a one time tag team partner so I decided to volunteer my services.
Emily raised an eyebrow at the mention of her teaming up with Buster and took a sip of her water. She leaned against the doorway as she looked Duncan straight in the eyes. Everything she wanted to say/yell at him went out the window when she saw him. She was just glad he was alright but still angry.
Duncan Shepard: Well, uh, that’s, that’s great. Guy’s on a real streak. I’m sure you guys will work really well together.
Emily Simms: Do you have a problem with me teaming up with Buster?” Emily asked as she finished off her bottle of water and tossed it over her shoulder and into the garbage can.
Duncan raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
Duncan Shepard: N-no, of course not. W-why would I? You can team with whoever you want.
Emily took a step back and frowned as she watched him closely.
Emily Simms: You tell me Duncan, you’re the one who brought it up…I want to…
Emily trailed off with what she wanted to say and threw her hands up.
Emily Simms: I don’t know what you want me to say Duncan.
Duncan Shepard: I don’t want you to say anything, I was just trying to be supportive.
Duncan hesitates and looks away.
Duncan Shepard: I was going to offer to come down to the ring with you but, maybe, I dunno, maybe it’s not a good idea.
Emily wanted to say yes! She wanted him to come down with her but at the same time she knew it wasn’t a good idea.
Emily Simms: I don’t think it would be wise Duncan. It would be just the time that Larry and his goons would try and hurt you again. I don’t think I could take it again watching you get beat up like that.
Duncan Shepard: Yeah…yeah, that uh, that would be bad. So um, I’m gonna find a good monitor back here and uh, I’ll be rooting for you.
Duncan takes a step back, then forward, opens his arms as if going for a hug then steps back and closes them again before putting his hand out for a fist bump. Emily takes two steps forward and looks up at him for a moment before looking down at his hand. She reaches out and gives him a fist bump in return.
Emily Simms: Thank you Duncan.
Duncan Shepard: Uh, yeah, sure, anytime.
Their eyes linger on one another for a long second before Emily turns and heads towards the ring. Duncan watches her go for a second more then turns and walks out of shot.
---
Arthur La Forge : Now we head to the backstage area with Lenny Brasco and he’s with The Game Changers.
The camera cuts to Lenny Brasco who stands in front of the Game Changers. Standing proudly at the front of the group is the newly crowned Power Champion, Larry Tact. His title is proudly displayed over his shoulder.
Behind him, The Wand that once belonged to ‘The Wizard’ James Wilcox, laying across staging crates, its signature sigils etched along the handle. Victoria Salinas sits next to it on the crates, leaning against the wall, her right arm resting on the leg bent up to her chest.
Further back from the crates and in the darkest area he could find is Isaac. He stands drinking a protein shake from a plastic bottle.
The unmistakable frame of the monster, Drake, stands directly next to Tact.
Lenny Brasco: THE GAME CHANGERS! Wow! What an impact! To say we as fans are shocked at recent events is an understatement!
Larry Tact: Yes, Lenny. Our little chat last month seems to have done the trick. I like this new attitude towards us.
Lenny Brasco: Firstly, you all emerged victorious at Final Fantasy. Y-Y-You demolished ‘The Wizard’ James Wilcox. The Faction is no more! You then step up and take out Sidroy and finally went on to claim the Power Championship. What do you have to say to the fans?
Drake immediately steps closer to Lenny and begins to stare him down. Lenny begins looking around trying to avoid the gaze of the monster.
Drake: DON’T mention my brother’s name to me.
Drake pushes his face closer to Lenny again.
Drake: Don’t mention his name to me…..AGAIN.
Lenny’s eyes widen and we see him begin to visibly tremble with Drake bearing down on him. Larry puts his arm out across the front of the giant, who immediately backs away. Drake begins to circle the floor behind Tact.
Larry Tact: Understand, Lenny. There’s no need to bring up sore spots, especially when this man could squeeze what little brain juice lies between your ears. At Final Fantasy, we handled our business in the way we know how… as professionals. Unlike the rest of Level Up, we stand by what we believe. Take Victoria, for instance. She believed what I said held water, and she believed in herself. Now, she has a banked title shot, and if I’m looking at the calendar right, The Last Of Us II looks like a pretty good place to stake that claim?
Victoria suddenly yanks the mic from Lenny, shoving him away with a boot.
Victoria Salinas: You’re damn right it is! I look around this roster and this company and there are so many things WRONG with this company. Of course, Bert McDUMB[BLEEP] being at the top is one of those things but to make matters worse? His SIDEKICK has one of the championships around here and that makes me sick! Yeah Ahmya, I am talking about you. You can’t have that much WISDOM if you’re aligned with that piece of shit. You think you’re the greatest because you beat Sidroy Covington? Yeah, you were EVER FORTUNATE that you weren’t facing ME at Final Fantasy because I was wasting my time with someone that gives more of a crap about wrestling cats in other companies than she does about this one. But your luck WILL run out at the Last of Us because let me tell you something Ahmya, you are NOT the best technical wrestler in this company no matter how many people want to blow smoke up your ass: I AM! I’m coming for YOU and I’m going to PROVE IT at the Last of Us WHEN I take that Wisdom Championship from you…
Once finished, she flips the mic back to Larry, who catches it smoothly in hand.
Larry Tact: The Game Changers aren’t a fly-by-night operation. We have goals, and a roadmap to unlock those achievements. While the rest of the roster was easing up in holiday mode? We were preparing. While Centurion thought he could come in and bask in the glory of his legend? We were ready. While Duncan Shepard thought he was the cock of the walk because he took Maggie Lockheart off guard? We were ascending. While Chelsea Skye thought she could coast past the Fire Flower, Victoria Salinas? We were poised to strike. While Ahmya and Robert thought they could sweep two matches in two nights? We were waiting for their failure. Drake and Isaac were biding their time. Now, they will bulldoze their way to opportunity.
Out of nowhere Drake grabs the microphone out of Larry’s hand, whilst simultaneously pushing him away. Tact inadvertently bumps into Lenny Brasco, whom, caught off guard, goes tumbling down to the floor like a ton of bricks. Larry looks down and smirks even as he trains his eyes on Drake.
Drake: What did you GOD DAMN expect? We aren’t here just to make up the numbers. We are here to change the landscape. To change the game! Look at the god damn talent Tact has assembled here!
Drake now stares directly into the camera. His face is red from the anger. His eyes wide open. Intensely staring down the lens.
Shaking slightly Drake continues.
Drake: We are putting the whole roster on notice. THE GAME CHANGERS. MEAN. BUSINESS. And we don’t mean like, “Oh look, it’s dark over here. The Faction’s feelings are upset and here’s some more Latin BS. Technical. Oh, unfair.” NO. Look at the destruction we have left in our wake so far. We don’t talk, we act. Tonight. Damn. I feel for those little bitches – Simms, Ahmya and Chelsea. Just look at the god damn size of me. Tonight, I’m going to break their [BLEEP]ing necks.”
Lenny staggers up to his feet. Drake immediately snaps and launches a vicious assault on him. Landing a huge barrage of punches on his helpless victim.
Victoria hops down to her feet as she and Tact witness the beating, and can only do one thing… break out into laughter! Drake and Isaac leave Lenny just as paramedics come rushing to the ground. Larry walks towards the arena’s entrance with the Game Changers following.
---
Larry Tact & The Faction vs. Ahmya, Chelsea Skye & Emily Simms
We begin proceedings with Drake Wilcox and Chelsea Skye facing off. Wilcox smirks at her and lunges forward, looking for a spear! Skye is able to leap over it, and bounce off of the ropes. She leaps into the air and connects with a flying forearm! Drake is back up and Skye nails him with a well-placed kick to the shin! Wilcox grunts as Skye again targets the leg with her strikes. Out of rage Wilcox swings wildly at Skye but she ducks the blow, then takes his legs out from under him with a leg sweep! Having felled the giant, Skye completes her combo with a standing moonsault! Cover!
ONE!
Drake shoves Skye off of him.
Arthur La Forge: Chelsea Skye is definitely a talent to watch, but ISAAC is a monster of a man so it is going to take a lot to beat him.
Mary DeSue: He’s bigger than the entire opposing team combined!
Skye rushes back in to keep the pressure on but is flattened by Drake’s big boot! He wastes no time whipping Skye into his team’s corner, where he follows up with a freight train of a clothesline. He tags in her brother and the siblings begin unloading clubbing blows on Chelsea as Tact watches on in satisfaction. The brothers Faction whip Skye off the ropes, and on the rebound look to deck her with a double clothesline…BUT SHE DUCKS! Chelsea springs off the ropes and lays out the boys with a springboard double elbow! Ahmya and Simms celebrate in the corner, then reach out for the tag. Skye manages to make it over to her corner and tag in Ahmya!
Arthur La Forge: And here comes the Wisdom champion! You know she’s fired up over what happened at Final Fantasy!
Mary DeSue: She can’t handle the Game Changers! She’d better just call it a night now and not get hurt!
The roundest robin enters the ring and takes down ISAAC with a tilt-a-whril headscissors! Drake charges her but she drops and pulls down the middle rope, sending him flying to the outside. She quickly ascends to the top rope and lines up ISAAC, leaping off and downing him with a missile dropkick! Before she can look for a pin, Larry Tact is in the ring! He makes a beeline for Ahmya but she takes him down with a drop toe-hold…and looks to lock in OYASUMINASAI! NO! Just as she’s about to cinch in the nasty submission hold, she is pulled out of the ring by Drake!
Arthur La Forge: Ahmya has been a thorn in Tact’s side with that hold before but this time he’s got the former Faction backing him up.
Mary DeSue: Faction no more! They are the GAME CHANGERS now!
Arthur La Forge: Either way, Tact might have just been saved from defeat there.
Wilcox manhandles Ahmya and sends her crashing into the steel steps! Ref Kirby valiantly tries to get control of the match, but he’s not having much luck, as Emily Simms runs along the apron and takes out Drake with a running knee! She helps Ahmya up, but is taken out by Tact, who sends both girls sprawling with a baseball slide! Tact barks at Wilcox to get up as ISAAC joins him outside the ring. They lift Simms up and propel her into the air and straight down onto the crowd barrier! Simms is laid out on the ground clutching at her ribs…just as Chelsea Skye stuns the Game Changers, taking them out with a SUICIDE DIVE! The high-flying maneuver sends Tact and ISAAC into the barrier, and Skye lands on her feet! Things finally get back to normality as Skye helps Ahmya up. Working together, all three girls manage to get ISAAC back into the ring. Ahmya slides in after him, and makes the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
ISAAC kicks out.
Arthur La Forge: I think the time taken to get the mammoth ISAAC into the ring is ultimately what allowed him to recover.
Mary DeSue: Or maybe he’s just too strong! The chains are off!
Ahmya keeps ISAAC down with a few stomps, then using all her strength, manages to drag him over to her corner and tag in Emily Simms, who has been chomping at the bit for the better half of this match. The two teammates bounce off the ropes, then connect a double-team move on ISAAC, with Simms landing a standing frog splash and Ahmya a running stomp to ISAAC’s head! Ahmya then points to the top rope and Simms nods. As Ahmya is ushered back to her corner by the ref, Simms ascends to the top rope. She steadies herself, then leaps off…STAR RISE!! NO!! NOBODY HOME! ISAAC rolls away at the last second and Simms crashes and burns.
Arthur La Forge: Oh no! A bad landing for Emily!
Mary DeSue: That’s what she gets!
Showing his resilience, ISAAC slowly makes it back to his feet. He pulls Simms up by her hair and rocks her with a massive uppercut. She staggers away and ISAAC clubs her on the back, the sheer force of the punch dropping Simms to one knee. ISAAC drags her to the ropes and begins choking her out with his knee, forcing her neck onto the middle rope. Ref Kirby starts to count, but ISAAC shoots him daggers and he backs off. Satisfied, ISAAC breaks the choke and whips Simms off the ropes…HUGE SPINEBUSTER! ISAAC covers!
ONE!
TWO!
THR-NO!! Simms kicks out!
Arthur La Forge: And now it’s Simms showing her toughness, as that spinebuster looked to break her in half.
Mary DeSue: Almost did too. Guess ISAAC will just have to try again. Maybe then Duncan will learn some respect!
ISAAC roars in frustration, and Ref Kirby distances himself from the brute. He’s about to continue the beatdown but Tact calls for a tag, eager to get in now that all the dirty work has been done. ISAAC obliges and tags him in. Tact has a field day, dragging Simms away from her corner and laying into her with some stomps. He grinds his forearm against the bridge of her nose, causing Simms to flail her limbs around from the pain. Larry grabs her by the chin and lifts her up to his eye level, screaming that GAME CHANGERS ARE HERE TO STAY! Tact pulls her up, locking in a TORTURE RACK! Tact roars as he drives his shoulders into Simms back, before planting her with the TACTILLISER! Tact hooks the leg!
ONE!
TWO!
THR-NO!! Simms kicks out AGAIN!
Arthur La Forge: Simms will NOT stay down and Tact is beside himself!
Mary DeSue: This is ridiculous! He’s clearly better! Stop fighting!
Ahmya and Skye erupt in cheers, trying to further rally their teammate, while Tact can’t quite believe it. Determined to end this here and now, Tact stands over Simms and swipes his thumb across his throat. He pulls her into the powerbomb position and lifts her up…STARBREAKER!! NO! REVERSAL! Simms counters into a bridge pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR-NO!! Tact kicks out!
Arthur La Forge: A unique counter but the Power Champion is able to avoid being beaten tonight.
Mary DeSue: Too bad she can’t make a tag. Larry’s wearing her down!
Arthur La Forge: Could you be any more of a cheerleader right now?
Mary DeSue: The Game Changers hate Bert. I hate Bert. So I like the Game Changers.
Using the last of her energy Simms tries to make it to her corner, but Tact grabs her by the leg! She stands up and twists around, clocking Tact with an enziguri! She finally makes the tag to Skye, who climbs through the ropes and sizes Tact up. He groggily gets to his feet and spins around right into a SUPERKICK…NO! Tact falls down at the last second and Skye accidentally drills Ref Kirby!
Arthur La Forge: Oh geez! There goes Kirby!
Mary DeSue: WAY TO GO, CHELSEA.
With the ref down the match descends into chaos with both teams entering the ring and brawling with each other. Wilcox charges Ahmya and spears her right through the ropes, sending them both to the outside. Skye hits a flying hurracanrana which sends her and ISAAC over the top rope. In the midst of all of this, Simms slides out of the ring and returns with a lead pipe! She swings at Tact…BUT HE DUCKS! Tact hits a neckbreaker, causing Simms to drop the pipe. Tact grabs it, just as Skye slides into the ring. He turns around and DECKS HER WITH THE PIPE! Tact covers!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!!
Mr Rad: Here are your winners…Larry Tact, Drake Wilcox and ISAAC…THEEE GAMMEEE CHANGERSSS!
Arthur La Forge: Damn it. Larry used the illegal pipe and got the win.
Mary DeSue: Um…hello? EMILY BROUGHT THE PIPE IN!
Arthur La Forge: That doesn’t matter! That doesn’t mean he had to use it!
Mary DeSue: She got what her just desserts!
The Game Changers celebrate their win while Ahmya and Skye tend to Simms as she recovered from getting hit with a lead pipe. They help her to the back, vowing to fight another day. Isaac is standing outside the ring and begins pushing and laughing at the fans in the front row.
Arthur La Forge: My lord, these guys… they…
Mary DeSue : We need fans to buy up those front row seats. Attacking them isn’t good for anyone’s paychecks!
Suddenly and without warning the lights in the arena go dark. The normal lighting in the arena is now replaced by a dark purple glow. Isaac rolls back into the ring and the Game Changers stand their ground. The crowd begins to react as two figures emerge from the entrance to the arena. The figures are fully robed. The figure on the right raises both his arms up to a forty-five degree angle. As he does this, huge plumes of smoke erupt from under the ring. The second figure holds what looks like a ball of light. They raise it up and the LevelUp tron lights up. Electricity begins to hit the ball of light which now floats around fifteen feet above the robed figures. The Game Changers watch with concern, taking defensive stances.
““In absentia lucis, Tenebrae vincunt.” Echoes around the arena.
The big screen cuts to the church of the Faction. There are ten to fifteen cloaked figures standing with their backs to the camera. They stand in a V shape with the one at the front being closest to the church. The head figure slowly raises his arms and the church erupts into flames. The cloaked figures walk away to the right.
The lights in the arena go out momentarily. When they light back up The Wand is left on the middle of the ring between Tact and Drake. Larry looks down, then back up at Drake and demands him to explain how The Wand got there. Drake doesn’t take his eyes off of The Wand, and Larry finally pick it up off the ring canvas. After a few moments, he seems satisfied and holds it up for the crowd, Drake and Isaac roaring as the crowd boos in disappointment that they are unscathed.
---
Lord Raab vs. Ceila Luiz
Lord Raab is already in the ring, and the mystery arrival is there as well, his or her face covered with a hood. Referee Jack Kirby looks to see who it is and the competitor unmasks as CEILA LUIZ!
Arthur La Forge: She's back!
Mary DeSue: Didn't Lord Raab break her back?
Arthur La Forge: He definitely injured her, and now she's here to get revenge! And the winner of this will move on to challenge Larry Tact at The Last of Us Part II, so there's A LOT on the line.
If Raab is bothered by the return of Luiz, his mask hides it and he doesn't show it through his body language. The green-haired time traveler rushes at Raab and hits a combination of quick strikes, but for every three or four she hits, Raab returns fire with one large shot. Finally, he hits a body blow and then a forearm to the jaw that knocks Ceila back. She comes back with a forearm to the mask of Raab, then a chop to his massive chest. She soon realizes that isn't working when he hoists her up onto his shouders, so she wriggles free. He then cracks off a right hand that sends her through the ropes to the outside. She is undeterred, however, and slides back into the ring and hits a huge dropkick on the monster! Raab will not go down, so she runs and chop blocks the leg! Raab goes down to a knee and Luiz grabs the arm, attempting a triangle choke with him in a kneeling postion. Raab uses his strength and rolls on top, making a cover!
ONE!
TWO!
Luiz is forced to let go and they both pop up to their feet. She runs at him and Raab hits a MASSIVE kick to the gut that immediately doubles her over.
Arthur La Forge: I appreciate Ceila Luiz has a lot of fire and wants revenge, but Lord Raab is a monster for a reason.
Mary DeSue: The size difference is just...I mean it's almost unfair!
Arthur La Forge: She's going to want to take advantage of the no DQ rules if she wants to have a chance here, I think.
Raab hits her with a clubbing blow to the back and scoops her up for some type of slam, but she gets free again and lands behind him. Raab turns around and she connects with a enziguri that staggers the monster! He swings with a lariat but she ducks that, gets behind him and stomps the inside of his calf! That weakens his stance and she grabs the head, leaping forward with a bulldog! A quick cover!
ONE!
NO! Only one. Raab goes to the outside, annoyed, and Luiz goes out the other side to give chase. She gets a running start and then jumps off the steps to hit a flying forearm on Raab!Raab teeters but doesn't fall. Luiz avoids a grab attempt and slides in the ring! She runs off the opposite side and tries a suicide dive, only to get caught with a RIGHT HAND! Raab follows her in and grabs her for a German Suplex, but she slides underneath and then grabs his wrist, then spins him around with a ripcord and another enziguri! But Raab is still standing, even if dazed!
Arthur La Forge: Luiz is expending a LOT of energy here and Raab is absorbing her attacks!
Mary DeSue: I think she's wearing him down, but yeah, by the time she makes an impact she's gonna be too tired! WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER!
Luiz bounces off the ropes and races in with a forearm into the corner on Raab, who STILL won't go down. She runs and hits ANOTHER one, then a Pele kick! Then she finally hits a SNAP DDT and THAT takes the monster down! COVER!
ONE!
TW..NO! Still just one! Luiz huffs in frustration and turns, hoping to climb the ropes and hit something. But Raab sits up, gets to his feet and grabs her in a waistlock! He pulls Ceila down from the turnbuckles and tosses her behind with a German...but she lands on her feet! Raab turns around and she connects with a superkick! He wobbles and doesn't fall, she tries for another one and he ducks that and GETS A GERMAN SUPLEX. Raab dumped her right on her head with the release! He picks her up and grabs her belly to belly and hits another suplex! Now he covers!
ONE!
TWO!
THr--no! She kicks out!
Arthur La Forge: Ceila manages to stay in it! Give her a lot of credit so far, she's beating the hell out of Raab in there.
Mary DeSue: He just has a very high pain tolerance! And we know it takes a lot to beat him!
Raab lifts Luiz to her feet and grabs her around the throat, hoping to hit a chokeslam, but Luiz leaps out of it and lands behind him. She hits a chop block to the knee and that forces him to a kneel again, but rather than follow up she slides outside. She grabs a chair from ringside and snaps it shut, before sliding back into the ring! Luiz charges with the chair but EATS A SPEAR FROM RAAB! Lord Raab seems as though he's done playing, as he picks her up and lands a German suplex! But this time he holds on and hits another! THEN A THIRD! And with that he bridges, and the referee has to count!
ONE!
TWO!
THRe---NO! SHE KICKS OUT! Raab gets up, furious, and grabs the chair and just tosses it onto her body!
Arthur La Forge: Lord Raab clearly thought this would be over by now, as she's already went longer than she did in their previous encounter!
Mary DeSue: She'd better watch out, he might try to chokeslam her through the ring!
Arthur La Forge: Wouldn't be the first time he's done it.
Raab lifts Luiz to her feet and grabs her around the throat, but she decides to hit a LOW BLOW! The move is perfectly legal in this match! It also proves the monster is at least somewhat human, as he drops to his knees. Luiz then grabs the chair and swings it HARD at his spine! She then takes a few steps back and hits a SUPERKICK to the head! She then opens the chair in front of his face, takes a few steps back AGAIN and HITS THE VIVA LA FAMILA INTO THE OPEN CHAIR AND INTO RAAB'S HEAD! The monster slumps down and falls prone! Luiz covers!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THR---NO!!!! LORD RAAB PUSHES HER OFF!
Arthur La Forge: I don't believe it! I think that mask protected his cranium there because that was an open chair and everything!
Mary DeSue: Yeah, that's more dangerous with all the edges and whatnot!
Luiz can't believe it but she still has a few moves of her own to hit yet. She places the chair down across the chest of Raab and looks to the top rope. She climbs up top, looks backwards and jumps off with the PRINCESA, but RAAB MOVES OUT THE WAY! Luiz catches nothing but the chair! Raab scrambles to his feet and grabs her by the throat, CHOKINATOR!!! COVER!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR---NO!!! LUIZ KICKED OUT!
Mary DeSue: HOW?!
Arthur La Forge: That move beat her last time, that exact move, and she will NOT stay down!
Mary DeSue: Not quite that exact same move, but it did lead to it...
Raab grabs Luiz and starts to apply the KILLERLOCK! Now it's the same move that knocked Luiz out the last time, and she starts scrambling to get out. She finally reaches into her knee pad and pulls something out...
Arthur La Forge: What is that?
Mary DeSue: It's a...roll of quarters?!
It seems Luiz had a plan for this very scenario as she slams the roll of quarters into the top of Raab's head, splitting the package open and sending the coins everywhere! It forces Raab to release the hold and she gets up, screaming down at the monster. She runs off the ropes as Raab gets up, hoping to hit VIVA LA FAMILIA...BUT RAAB REACHES UP AND GRABS HER AROUND THE THROAT.
Arthur La Forge: Oh...oh no.
The monster shakes his head, as he plans to deny her her redemption. He lifts Luiz up and SLAMS HER ON THE CHAIR WITH THE CHOKINATOR! Raab drops down and covers!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
Mr. Rad: Your winner and the #1 contender for the Power Championship....LOOOOOOOOORD RAAAAAAAB!!
Arthur La Forge: Damn, I thought Luiz was going to pull it out there.
Mary DeSue: I mean, she had a great strategy and everything, and she made the giant guy work for it but...
Arthur La Forge: I know. Raab's a monster and size matters in this case.
Raab rolls out of the ring and starts to head up the ramp. He glances back at Luiz, who is already trying to get to her feet and looks like he wants to go back in and do more damage. Luiz, to her credit, sees this and even in her hurt state, begins waving him forward. Raab simply shakes his head. Whether it's respect, amazement that she still wants to fight or he's just tired and wants to go home, we may never know. He starts moving up the ramp, his next title shot in Level Up Wrestling secure.
---
Intro Video: Joe
New Year, New Champ: Bert & Crash
Eli Goode vs. Amber Payne: Brandon & Bert
Goode Guy Eli: Eli
Android 69 vs. Ziggy Morgan: Jay
A Statement of Intent and an Unwelcomed Guest: Duncan/Tact
Ever Fortunate Health Update: Sidroy
Buster Gloves vs. Valentine: Dubs
Will You Be My Valentine('s Day Tag Team Partner): Applesauce & April
Killjoy's Introduction: Kaleb
Natsumi Rekara vs. Lincoln Azrael: Jay
Joey Crash vs. Victoria Salinas: Tact
Dionysus & Kat Jones vs. Jenny & EA Blizzard: Joe
Awkward: Duncan & April
Game Changers Mission Statement: Tact, Wilcox, Salinas
The Game Changers vs. Ahmya, Emily Simms & Chelsea Skye: Dubs
Post Match Magic: Wilcox
Lord Raab vs. Ceila Luiz: Joe
Judges: Joe, Jay, Duane, as usual
New Year, New Champ: Bert & Crash
Eli Goode vs. Amber Payne: Brandon & Bert
Goode Guy Eli: Eli
Android 69 vs. Ziggy Morgan: Jay
A Statement of Intent and an Unwelcomed Guest: Duncan/Tact
Ever Fortunate Health Update: Sidroy
Buster Gloves vs. Valentine: Dubs
Will You Be My Valentine('s Day Tag Team Partner): Applesauce & April
Killjoy's Introduction: Kaleb
Natsumi Rekara vs. Lincoln Azrael: Jay
Joey Crash vs. Victoria Salinas: Tact
Dionysus & Kat Jones vs. Jenny & EA Blizzard: Joe
Awkward: Duncan & April
Game Changers Mission Statement: Tact, Wilcox, Salinas
The Game Changers vs. Ahmya, Emily Simms & Chelsea Skye: Dubs
Post Match Magic: Wilcox
Lord Raab vs. Ceila Luiz: Joe
Judges: Joe, Jay, Duane, as usual
