(Cut to backstage where Jerone McShea is standing in the hallway next to the EWC Light Heavyweight champion, "Silky Smooth" Simon Sanders.) [McShea] Thanks, Isaac. Mr. Sanders, first of all, congratulations on becoming the EWC Light-Heavyweight Champion. However, earlier tonight, EWC owner Armand LeBeaux mandated a rematch between you and Mike Powers for the Light-Heavyweight title, and that match will take place tonight, at Mike Powers' request. Any thoughts or comments? [Sanders] Brutha Mac, I was sittin' back here an' heard the whole thing. An' y'know, for once, dat loudmouth Mike Powuhs got a point. He *is* da numbuh one contendah. He *does* git a rematch. An' if he wants it tonight, if he wants one last shot at me, if he wants one last shot at dis belt, then he's gonna git it. Match accepted. Howevuh, da boy's got anutha point as well. Last time around, it *was* a bit on da unfair side fo' Mike Powuhs. He did have ta fight a two-on-one. It was a bit of a gang-up. You wanna whine about fair, Powuhs? Well, tonight, I"m in a generous mood. Tonight, you gonna git fair....in fact, you gonna git *mo'* dan fair. I'm actually gonna swing dis match in *yo'* favuh.... Ya see Mac, there be three things dat Powuhs wants in dis match. First, he wants nobody ta interfere. He don' want Mili'try Fury runnin' in an' gittin' in a cheap shot or two when da ref ain't lookin. Second, he wants ta fly. He loves it when he can float thru th'air wit' da greatest of ease. An' lastly, when ol' Simon Sanduhs realizes that he's totally outclassed an' outmatched by da greatest light heavyweight wrassluh in da world today, he don' want me ta run away. He don' wanna see me take no cheap-ass countout loss just ta keep da belt. Well Powuhs-boy, remembuh dis night fo' da rest of yo' life, 'cuz you gonna git *exactly* whatcha want. Ain't nobody gonna interfere, I ain't gonna run away, an' you gonna be flip-flop-flyin' all ovuh da place.....'cuz tonight, dis match is gonna be inside a 15-foot high STEEL CAGE!GOOD LORD!!! THE CAGE IS COMING DOWN TONIGHT!!! Sanders vs. Powers under Steel Cage Rules! So as you can see, da odds are clearly against me. But I don' mind. I've been ovuhcomin' long odds all my life - from da projects of Chicago, all da way ta where I am today. An' one mo' fight where I'm at a disadvantage, it ain't no problem fo' me, man. It just gonna make dis vict'ry all da sweetuh. An' when Powuhs eithuh taps out or passes out fo' da *fourth* time, I can say once an' fo' all dat I'm finished wit' Mike Powuhs. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@ *********************************** @ Camera Cut @************************************* @@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Simon Sanders coming right out of the gate as a fighting champion! Folks, the rules of a standard steel cage match are no disqualification, no countouts, you can win by pinfall, by submission, or even by simply leaving the cage!!! Which, if Sanders is going to win, is going to have to be the way. What do you mean? Well, we all know the only thing Silky Smooth can do against Mike Powers is run away as fast as possible... this way, he may actually pull a win out of things! @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ____ __ __ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ / __/__ / /__ / /________ ___ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ _\ \/ _ \/ / _ \/ __/ __/ _ \/ _ \@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/___/\___/_/\___/\__/_/ \___/_//_/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ /SS @@ @@ .88b d88. 6/..SSS @@ @@ 88'YbdP`88 eeeeeeSSSS/....# @@ @@ 88 88 88 GGe..........S....# @@ @@ 88 88 88 GG.................#SS @@ @@ 88 88 88 s......................SSS d8888b. @@ @@ YP YP YP (..........................QQ 88 `8D @@ @@ % ............................QQ 88 88 @@ @@ %% ..............................Q 88 88 @@ @@ d888888b %%C(............#RR/...............Q 88 .8D @@ @@ `88' %%CsO...........###6/....RR..........KK Y8888D' @@ @@ 88 %%CsG#...........##66/....#RR..........## @@ @@ 88 %%CsGS#...........##66/....#RBR..........## @@ @@ .88. %%CsGSKRR...........#K6/....#RRR...........# .d88b. @@ @@ Y888888P %%CsGSK#RB............QQ/....#R##R..........## .8P Y8. @@ @@ %CsOSK#RRRR.............Q....####RRRRRRR.....# 88 88 @@ @@ %CsOSK#RRRRRR.................###########RRRRR# 88 88 @@ @@ db %%sOSQ#RRRRRRRR................#Q############# `8b d8' @@ @@ 88 %%COSQKRRRRRRRRRRR................QQ########## `Y88P' @@ @@ 88 %%CsSQKRRRRRRRRRRRRR.................QQQ###### @@ @@ 88 %%CsGQKRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR..................Q#### @@ @@ 88booo. %%CsGSKRRRRRRRRRRRRRR###RR.................QQQ# db @@ @@ Y88888P %%CsGSK#RRRRRRRRRRRRR######RRR.................Q 88 @@ @@ %%CsGSK#RRRRRRKSSSRRR##########R/................QQ 88 @@ @@ %%CsGSK#RRRRRRe#...SSSSSS#######6/.................KK 88 @@ @@ db %CsOSK#RRRRRReS#.........SSSS##66/..................K# 88booo. @@ @@ 88 CsOSQ#RRRRRReSQ##...........##666/....RR.............## Y88888P @@ @@ 88 sOSQKRRRRRReSQQ#R............#666/....##RR............# @@ @@ 88 OSQKRRRRRReSQQ#RRR...........#666/....#RRRRB...........# @@ @@ 88booo. SQKRRRRRReSQQ#RRRBR..........##66/....#RRRR#...........# db @@ @@ Y88888P QKRRRRRReSQQ#RRRRRR...........#K6/....#RRRQ ............# 88 @@ @@ RRRRRReSQQ#RRRRRRRR............Q/....#RRQCC............# 88 @@ @@ RRRRRSQQ##RRRRRRRRR............Q....#RQCGG............# 88 @@ @@ d888888b RRReQQ##RRRRRRRRRRRR...............#Seee.............# 88booo. @@ @@ `88' ReSQ##RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR..............................# Y88888P @@ @@ 88 eSQQ#RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR............................# @@ @@ 88 eSQQ#RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR####RRRR.......................## @@ @@ .88. eSQQ#RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR#########RR....................## .d8b. @@ @@ Y888888P eSQQ#RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR############/.................### d8' `8b @@ @@ eSQQ#RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR############6/....RRRR......R### 88ooo88 @@ @@ eSQQ#RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR###########66/....####RRRRRRRKQ 88~~~88 @@ @@ .d88b. eSQQ##RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR###########666/....#########KKQ 88 88 @@ @@ .8P Y8. SQQ##RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR###########6666RRR..########KKK YP YP @@ @@ 88 88 Q##RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR###########6666####RR#######KKK @@ @@ 88 88 ##RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR###########6666#############KKK @@ @@ `8b d8' RRRRRRRRRRRRRRR###########6666#############KKK d8888b. @@ @@ `Y88P' RRRRRRRRRRRRRR###########6666#############KKKQ 88 `8D @@ @@ RRRRRRRRRRRR############666#############KKKQ 88oobY' @@ @@ RRRRRRRRRR############666##############KKQ 88`8b @@ @@ d8b db RRRRRRRRR###########666##############KKQ 88 `88. @@ @@ 888o 88 RRRRRRR###########666##############KKQ 88 YD @@ @@ 88V8o 88 RRRR###########6666#############KKK @@ @@ 88 V8o88 RR###########6666#############KKK @@ @@ 88 V888 ##########6666#############KKK @@ @@ VP V8P ########6666#############KKK @@ @@ ###6666#############KKK @@ @@ 6666#############KK @@ @@ 666############# @@ @@ 66###### @@ @@ 6###### @@ @@ ###### @@ @@ @@ @@ .o88b. db db .d8b. db db d88888b d8b db d888b d88888b @@ @@ d8P Y8 88 88 d8' `8b 88 88 88' 888o 88 88' Y8b 88' @@ @@ 8P 88ooo88 88ooo88 88 88 88ooooo 88V8o 88 88 88ooooo @@ @@ 8b 88~~~88 88~~~88 88 88 88~~~~~ 88 V8o88 88 ooo 88~~~~~ @@ @@ Y8b d8 88 88 88 88 88booo. 88booo. 88. 88 V888 88. ~8~ 88. @@ @@ `Y88P' YP YP YP YP Y88888P Y88888P Y88888P VP V8P Y888P Y88888P @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/ __/ | /| / / ___/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/ _/ | |/ |/ / /__@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/___/ |__/|__/\___/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Folks, we are about to being what we hope to see become one of the most exciting and unique tournaments in wrestling today, the Million Dollar Tournament! 16 men are vying for a winner-take-all prize of no less than one...million... dollars. You can see the rules for the tournament on your screen here... $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$ $$ $$$$$$$ $$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$ $$ $$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$$ $$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$ $$$ $$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$ $$$$ $$$$$$$ $$$ $$ <1> All tournament matches, save for the final, are one fall, 15 minute time limit, normal rules apply. The final is one fall to a finish. <2> The tournament is single elimination - you lose, you're gone. In the event of a draw, double disqualification or double countout, both men are eliminated from the tournament. <3> For one match in the course of their tournament, a competitor may call for a lifeline to be used. The exact lifeline used (as described below) will be determined randomly. The lifeline must be declared to be used prior to the match, and it will be determined immediately before belltime. If both sides choose to use a lifeline for the same match, both lifelines will be used. <4> The lifelines are: *PHONE A FRIEND* You may have a tag team partner involved in the match, making the match a 2 on one handicap match. Said partner will be paid $10,000 out of the full purse should you win the overall tournament. *POLL THE AUDIENCE* The match will become a biased lumberjack match, with 20 local indy wrestlers surrounding the ring, ready to beat upon your opponent...and your opponent only...should he leave or be thrown out of the ring. *50/50* There are four ways to win a match - pinfall, submission, disqualification, or countout. This lifeline removes two of those options for your opponent. For example, if "Pinfall" and "DQ" are chosen to be removed, your opponent can only win by submission or countout, while you can still win by any of those four means. Folks, we start with sixteen, we'll whittle it down until we get to Hot Summer Night, when we have two men, one match, for one...million...dollars. ///-----\\\ | PA System | *whispers* "Now this is what it's like when worlds collide..." \\\-----/// @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ____ __ __ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ / __/__ / /__ / /________ ___ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ _\ \/ _ \/ / _ \/ __/ __/ _ \/ _ \@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/___/\___/_/\___/\__/_/ \___/_//_/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@@@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@ @@@ @@ @@ @@@@@@@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@ @@@ @@ @@ !@@ @@! @@@ @@! @@! @@! @@@ @@! @@@ @@! @@!@!@@@ @@ @@ !@! !@! @!@ !@! !@! !@! @!@ !@! @!@ !@! !@!!@!@! @@ @@ !@! @!@!@!@! !!@ @!! @!@ !@! @!@!!@! @!!!:! @!@ !!@! @@ @@ !!! !!!@!!!! !!! !!! !@! !!! !!@!@! !!!!!: !@! !!! @@ @@ :!! !!: !!! !!: !!: !!: !!! !!: :!! !!: !!: !!! @@ @@ :!: :!: !:! :!: :!: :!: !:! :!: !:! :!: :!: !:! @@ @@ ::: ::: :: ::: :: :: :::: :::: :: :: ::: :: :::: :: :: @@ @@ :: :: : : : : : : :: : : :: : : : : : : :: :: :: : @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@ @@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@ @@ @@! @@@ @@! @@ @@ !@! @!@ !@! @@ @@ @!@ !@! @!!!:! @@ @@ !@! !!! !!!!!: @@ @@ !!: !!! !!: @@ @@ :!: !:! :!: @@ @@ ::::: :: :: @@ @@ : : : : @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@ @@ @@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@ @@ @@! @@@ @@! @@@ @@! @@@ !@@ @@! @@@ @@ @@ !@! @!@ !@! @!@ !@! @!@ !@! !@! @!@ @@ @@ @!@!@!@! @!@@!@! @!@ !@! !@! @!@!@!@! @@ @@ !!!@!!!! !!@!!! !@! !!! !!! !!!@!!!! @@ @@ !!: !!! !!: !!: !!! :!! !!: !!! @@ @@ :!: !:! :!: :!: !:! :!: :!: !:! @@ @@ :: ::: :: ::::: :: ::: ::: :: ::: @@ @@ : : : : : : : :: :: : : : : @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@ @@ @@@ @@@ @@@ @@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@ @@ @@ @@! @@! !@@ @@! @@@ !@@ @@! @@ @@ !@! !@! @!! !@! @!@ !@! !@! @@ @@ @!! !@!@! @!@@!@! !!@@!! @!!!:! @@ @@ !!! @!!! !!@!!! !!@!!! !!!!!: @@ @@ !!: !!: !!: !:! !!: @@ @@ :!: :!: :!: !:! :!: @@ @@ :: :::: :: :: :::: :: :: :::: @@ @@ : :: : : : : :: : : : :: :: @@ @@ @@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/ __/ | /| / / ___/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/ _/ | |/ |/ / /__@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/___/ |__/|__/\___/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ("When Worlds Collide" by Powerman 5000 plays as the arena goes dark, save for three multicolor-flashing underspots come on the main stage. Zach, Dan and Nick Rierson come out and stand above the lights sticking their arms out to make a cross. Zach and Dan each with a EWC World Tag Team belt slung across their shoulders. They stand their for a few seconds before walking towards the ring, plenty of boos coming for them, but with a small portion of crowd mutants popping hard for them) Folks, here come the World Tag Team Champions along with their brother Nick, who is scheduled in this contest to be facing Curtis Stone. I have to tell you, I may not agree with their philosophy, I may not agree with their tactics, but this is one tag team who has literally climbed the ladder to get to where they are today! [Zach] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Rejoice, for destiny has caught up, and now the age of the Apocalypse is upon you. (Crowd Reaction) [Dan] Snowbrawl was only the beginning though. We took your champions, the Weapons of Last Resort and took them out of the picture. We took Glenn Turner and left him lying, with no hope of returning to the match on the outside. For he was no match for the team of destiny. [V/O] Hate to break it to you guys, but the Weapons, as seen earlier tonight, are *FAR* from "out of the picture" [Zach] But that left Toshiro Kensake, the human Godzilla. A mountainous man who by himself could easily take out a city. But not even he could stop us. For even though no body thought it could be done, he was Fully Redeemed, his soul taken, and pinned flat on the mat. [Dan] We left your champs lying in the middle of the ring, emerging you new tag team champions. But now the war must continue, as their is more work to do. Tonight marks the beginning, as our brother begins his quest to emerge victorious in this Million Dollar Tournament. [Nick] Curtis Stone, you were there when I first came in to the hell known as EWC. With you, the rest of the Powersupply and my brothers we dismantled the Wave Runners. Only a man with such evil powers only to be rivaled by ours, could help with such a task. But what is this "you've seen the light" bull*silence*? You really think that you can escape your past? You are running from yourself Curtis, and allow me to knock you back into your senses. Only lights you'll be seeing at the end of the night are the ones above us. [Zach] So let it be known. Beware to all, the Apocalypse is coming. (Zach and Dan leave the ring as Nick gets ready for his match) Some strong words from Nick Rierson, but he's going to have to back them up... @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ____ __ __ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ / __/__ / /__ / /________ ___ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ _\ \/ _ \/ / _ \/ __/ __/ _ \/ _ \@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/___/\___/_/\___/\__/_/ \___/_//_/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ ^ (7%/ ^ @@ @@ (#BR#K#RBQ@/ @@ @@ GRRRR####RRRR3/ @@ @@ ^R#RRRRRRRR#R#6(^ @@ @@ S#RR#RRRRRR%S%/ ^ /^ @@ @@ ^#RRRRRRRR#RRC^ ##RRRRRBRRRRO/ %RBRRRRB@t^ ~@BB#^ @@B@~ @@@@@@@@%/ @@ @@ ^(#RR##RRRRRRR%^ R#RBRRRRRRRBK~ KRBBBBRRRRBS~^/RBBB@(~ BBBBO @@@B@@@@S% @@ @@ ^CRRR#R##RRRR#6~^^~(~RRRRRBKG6 G#RBBBRRRRR@Re(/RRB@@@B(BBBBS @@@@@B / @@ @@ RRRR##RRRRR#3/ /#R##RQC~^ B#RBBB RBRBBBC/RRR@@@@@B@B@S @@@@@B@@@@(/ @@ @@ eRRR#R#RRRBR##6/ /RRRR#Q%/ RR#BBBB RRRBR6/RBR@@@@@@@B@e @@@@@B@@@@%( @@ @@ G#R#RRRRRRRRRRQ%/ /RRRRRS%/ ^RBRRRRBBBRRBQ%~B@B@ @B@@@@@G B@@@@@sC%%7s^ @@ @@ ^ 6RRRRRRRRRRR#G%/^ /RRRRRS%/ /#RRBRBBRBRKC~/R@R@^B@@@@@@e @@@@@@@@@@@@7/ @@ @@ ^((6SRRRRQG6%// /RRRRRS7/ ^(6R#BR#Q6(/ (RR@KCBBB@@@@G7@@@@@@@@@@@@O( @@ @@ ^/~~~//^ //(((~/ ^//~~~/^ ^/~~///~(((~//^/((((((((((~/ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/ __/ | /| / / ___/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/ _/ | |/ |/ / /__@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@/___/ |__/|__/\___/@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ (The opening chords of "What's the Frequency, Kenneth" by R.E.M. come on as Stone steps out onto the stage and surveys the area before walking down to ringside, stretching his arms and greeting well-wishers. The crowd is responding warmly to him, but not rabidly. He's carrying a duffel bag with him, and begins to rummage through it as he gets to the ringside area) And there's a man who has made a strong effort to turn his emotional and psychological life around in the past several weeks, and it started to pay off with a non-title win over the current TV champion, Dr. Destructo! Hey, he can have a new attitude as much as he wants. The problem is a marked and sudden difficiency in ass-kicking quota, and THAT I have a problem with! Yes... far be it for someone to actually care about morals, or consequences of their actions, or anything like that. THERE YA GO, Deric! Who gives a damn about that junk?! Ummm... the fans? Okay... who of IMPORTANCE gives a damn about that junk! Stone apparently asking for the microphone, lets hear what he's got to say. [Stone] Before we get this little game of "Pin The Donkey On His Tail" underway, *crowd pop* I have just a little something to say ... you see, I've been doing some thinking in the back, and well, winning this Million Dollar Tournament, it's not something that would come along everyday. It's not an honor you can take lightly. It's not an accomplishment that would quickly be forgotten. Most importantly ... it's not something that's going to be won by a guy named "Curtis." {crowd reacts in a confused manner) [V/O] OK, now I'm starting to get confused. Is he giving up his place in the tournament? With that in mind, tonight I'm going to hold a little homage. I know you aren't too fond of Mr. Wrestling IV, Nick ... and chances are, you might get your hands on him later in this tournament. But seeing as how you might not GET that far, and seeing as how it'd give the fans something else to chant, and seeing as how everybody else is doin' it lately -- and seein' as how I already bought the mask at the last Summit Fanfest ... {Curtis ducks down, pulling something out of the bag, and re-emerges in a Mr. Wrestling IV mask ...} Tonight, say hello to Mr. Wrestling Stone! Mr. Wrestling Stone?!? OK, whatever works for him. Stone attempts to slide into the ring, but Rierson charges before the bell and nails Stone with an elbowsmash to the back of the head! Rierson now with an irish whip, and Stone goes *hard* into the opposite corner, and Rierson charges in with a clothesline, Stone ducks, *CROWD POP* and Rierson is LEVELLED by a charging spear from Stone! And Stone stands up and smiles at the reaction that move gets. The effect of the fans is really, REALLY underrated. Those cheers do a LOT to get adrenaline going... and getting your adrenaline pumped can be the difference between the "W" and the "L"! Elbowdrop by Stone and a cover, count of one, one only, Rierson was more humbled than hurt by that move, I think, although it looked like it hurt from here. Now Stone sends Rierson into the turnbuckles, and Stone standing on the 2nd turnbuckle, and he has that fist cocked! [Crowd] 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - Rierson grabs Stone, inverted atomic drop out of the corner! That stopped Curtis' momentun, and Rierson now going for a slingshot, Stone flying headfirst into the turnbuckle!! ONE!... Stone is up, but he's staggering around dazed...Rierson is right there with an armdrag takedown, and he rolls back right into a wakigatame armbar, and he's wrenching back on Stone's arm! Hey! What's up with THAT! You could have at least gotten up to "FOUR" there, Nick! Get back to banging his head against hard objects! This is a submission hold, known in past summit history as the Kunze Armbar, but Rierson not just holding it, but also rocking back in a way that if he grabbed the face, it could be a crossface submission! Stone in a LOT of pain right now, as Rierson's trying to rip that arm off! That is the way the C-O-A does things! They beat you down, rip off body parts, beat you with the wet end... And, for some reason, I feel the need to say outloud that this is a FAMILY show... Sorry, sorry... man... {clears throat} Beat them with the DRY end... Crowd getting a "C-Jack" chant going, even though Stone isn't really going by that anymore, and Stone is responding to it, he's on his knees, using his strength to get *under* Rierson in an attempt to get up and alleviate the pressure on the hold...finally Rierson, knowing he's losing the battle, drops a leg right on the arm, breaking the hold! And bringing us another step closer to the "wet end" method of... DAVID! Rierson grabs that arm again, and yanks it to pull Stone right into a kneesmash that doubles the former Toronto Argonaut over, now Rierson with a waistlock on Stone, and a gutwrench suplex!!! Stone landed right on that arm there! Notice the tilt there - he released him in a sideways motion rather than straight down... and that WILL have it's effect on Curtis! Rierson hasn't exactly presented himself as a submission specialist, but he knows that you take away a leg...or an arm, in this case, and the table falls. Rierson now has a cobra clutch locked on Stone, this too is a submission hold.. but Rierson uses it to go into a cobra clutch suplex that looked devastating. Rierson now with a cover, count of one, COUNT OF TWO...kickout by Stone, he's still in this. Curtis Stone has been through a lot in these past few months - the shakeup of the Power Supply, his win over the TV champion... I can't see him giving up that easily. Rierson climbing to the top rope, Stone is still dazed on the mat, Rierson now up top, frog spash, STONE GETS THE KNEES UP!!! Rierson took the full impact right in the abdomen! Means Nothing! That's been Stone's best offense today... he doesn't have it in him to come back from here! Both men are down now, Stone trying to shake off the effects of Nick's armwork earlier in the match. Nick's getting to his feet, as is Stone, but Nick gets there first with a kneelift that knocks Stone back into the ropes. Irish whip by Nick, Stone ducks an elbowsmash, *crowd pop* HARD SHOULDER TACKLE ON THE REBOUND sends Nick down, and Stone's starting to get pumped up! Again... you can NOT discount the crowd in these things! Crowd cheers give you an adrenaline rush, and adrenaline is KEY to ignoring the pain of, say, an injured arm. Stone picks up Nick and lifts him up and SLAMS HIM DOWN with a Pendulum Breaker. Stone taking Nicks head, he's setting up for a possible powerbomb, or a piledriver, it's hard to tell from that position, and we're not going to find out, as Rierson reversed it into a backdrop! Not a problem. That just means Rierson gets to start over again breaking a NEW limb, and seeing how long it takes to shake THAT off! Rierson now with a front facelock, HOOKS THE LEG, FISHERMAN'S BRAINBUSTER!!!! That DRILLED Stone into the mat, count of TWO, count of thrr..NO, two!! Two only! Wow! Last thing I saw hit the ground that hard was being operated by a man in a hard hat! Rierson not wasting a beat, sends Stone to the ropes, but Stone reverses the whip, HARD SPINEBUSTER that takes the wind out of Rierson's sails! Stone grabs Nick, pulls him up and DOWN into a piledriver!!! That hit right on the head, Stone covers, count of one, count of two, COUNT OF THREE, and CURTIS STONE IS THE FIRST TO ADVANCE! ("What's the Frequency, Kenneth" kicks in again as the crowd pops) Stone took his first step towards being a millionaire, and he didn't need the lifeline to do it, although one would argue he needed a little inspiration, if that mask is any indication. Folks, when we return, Dr. Destructo faces Joshua Archer, the former "Oracle", in his EWC debut! Don't go away!