Post by Jim Houston on Jul 14, 2019 10:47:34 GMT
The show opens with the same Free-1 video as before, except this time it highlights the individual blocks which were revealed this past week. It then shows brief highlights of the feud between The Guardians of Strong Style and Death Squad as well as focussing on the Davey Jones, Jack Sevren and Bobby O situation, with Jerry Bishop added in to preview the main event.
MW: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the final stop off on the road to Free-1 II. Tonight we find out our full Free-1 line up as well as showcasing another match in the bitter feud between our FPW Tag Team Champions Death Squad and the team they defeated for those belts, The Guardians of Strong Style.
SD: What a match that will be. We also get some real violence tonight between Graham Baker, who will be fascinating to watch after losing the FPW Championship at the last show, and Go Shihei, who still has a lot to prove here in FPW.
MW: Let’s reflect for a moment on Davey Jones taking that title from Graham Baker. It seems to have lit a fire under several people here in FPW.
SD: It sure has. Now that Davey is the FPW Champion, several of our roster members have come out of the woodwork and have claimed that they should get the first shot. Jim Houston however has been clear- win the Free-1 and you’ll get that chance.
MW: But tonight’s first match isn’t about the Free-1. Tonight’s first match is about the FPW Tag Team Championships. And in this match there is no champions’ advantage. If Death Squad get themselves counted out or disqualified, they will lose the Tag Team Championships.
SD: Yet another example of the bias of Jim Houston against Death Squad. Aiden Balmer and Evan Rorsche are a great team led by an excellent manager in Ava Knight. They don’t deserve to be treated like this.
MW: Well they did win the titles by cheating, Steven.
SD: They won the titles. That’s all that matters.
MW: By cheating.
SD: Who are the champions?
MW: Death Squad but-
SD: That’s the only thing that matters. Champions deserve respect and our General Manager hasn’t given them any. I wouldn’t blame them for not even showing up at all.
The introduction to The Guardians of Strong Style’s music begin to play and Sato stands at the top of the ramp, bowing low to the fans. At the end of the introduction, Sato stands and is joined by Hiro Takahara and Masa Tchyukiro before all three of them bow. Sato leads the team down to the ring with a purpose before Takahara and Tchyukiro climb into the ring. They stand to one side and stretch out, waiting for their opponents.
The lights in the arena then go down as a klaxon sounds, igniting boos from the crowd. The lights flash red for a few moments before they stop and smoke begins to flood the ramp. Ava Knight walks through the curtain with a microphone:
“Rejoice and be happy! Opportunity knocked… and Death has answered.”
The klaxon resumes as ‘Let’s Go’ begins to play. Evan Rorsche and Aiden Balmer walk through the curtain with their mis-matched gear complimented by their matching Tag Team Championships. They rip off the masks and vests as they charge down the ramp and into the ring, getting into the faces of Takahara and Tchyukiro, who don’t back down an inch. Ava Knight remains on the outside as Death Squad remove the belts and continue to stand nose to nose with The Guardians of Strong Style.
Match 1: FPW Tag Team Championships: Death Squad v The Guardians of Strong Style:
Aiden Balmer begins the match with Masa Tchyukiro, who stands and offers Balmer the first shot. Death’s Right Hand stands and walks up to Tchyukiro before turning away from him. Tchyukiro extends hid arms but Balmer turns and connects with a cheap right hand. The fans boo as Tchyukiro staggers backwards, allowing Balmer to rush in and drive his knee repeatedly into Tchyukiro’s gut. Balmer then hooks his arm over Tchyukiro’s head and delivers a snap suplex. He stomps viciously on Tchyukiro before tagging in Rorsche.
Rorsche pulls Tchyukiro to his feet and drives him back into the corner driving his knee repeatedly into the gut again. But Tchyukiro explodes out of the corner with a roar, arms extended. Rorsche aims a forehand at Tchykiro but Tchykiro absorbs it and unleashes a volley of forearms of his own before hitting the ropes and taking Rorsche down with a hard lariat. Rorsche staggers to his feet and Tchyukiro whips him into the ropes, taking him down with a hard shoulder tackle. He pulls him up and throws him into the Guardians’ corner. He unleashes a volley of chops before tagging in Takahara, who unleashes a hard kick to send Rorsche to a seated position. Takahara runs out of the corner before turning and sprinting at Rorsche, driving both knees into his face.
MW: The Guardians of Strong Style on top in this one!
SD: But I don’t see Death Squad letting them be on top for long.
MW: I don’t know if they’ll have the choice. The intensity of Takahara and Tchyukiro isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen from them before.
Takahara tags Tchyukiro back in. Tchyukiro pulls Rorsche to his feet in the corner and he aims a series of forearms at him. Rorsche staggers forward and Tchyukiro hits the ropes, connecting with a hard lariat to the back of Rorsche’s head, sending him down to the canvas. Tchyukiro makes a cover, 1-2-no. Rorsche kicks out. Before getting to his feet, Tchyukiro drives his forearm into Rorsche’s face again, sending him back to the canvas. Tchyukiro then hits the ropes and connects with a kokeshi headbutt, making another cover, 1-2-no. Again Rorsche manages to kick out.
Tchyukiro moves to the corner and tags in Takahara once again. Takahara stalks Rorsche as he struggles to his feet before taking him down with a hard mid kick. Takahara then hits the ropes and connects with a penalty kick as Rorsche sits up. He makes another cover, 1-2-no. Rorsche kicks out, but barely. Takahara pulls Rorsche up with him and hooks his arm over his head, connecting with a snap suplex before making another cover, 1-2-no. Again Rorsche manages to kick out. Takahara makes the tag to Tchyukiro and the two of them drag Rorsche into the corner, laying into him, Takahara with kicks and Tchyukiro with chops. As the official begins to count, Takahara leaves the ring and Rorsche slumps to the mat.
MW: I’ve never seen The Guardians of Strong Style be this dominant!
SD: Even I have to admit that Death Squad’s grip on those Tag Team Championships looks very insecure right now.
MW: And they can’t risk a disqualification or a count out.
SD: Well they have to try something different.
Tchyukiro turns from the corner and calls to the fans in deep, guttural Japanese. The fans cheer as he lifts Rorsche up and sits him on the top rope. Tchyukiro climbs after him and hooks an arm over his head, looking for a superplex. He pauses, looking down as he sees Aiden Balmer pull Hiro Takahara off the apron and then grasp Sato, cocking his fist. Tchyukiro immediately steps down from the turnbuckles and climbs through the ropes. Balmer drops Sato and grips Tchyukiro’s leg as he steps through the ropes, pulling it out from under him and forcing him to land face first on the edge of the ring.
Balmer then ducks a kick from Takahara and shoves him face-first into the ringpost before whipping him into the guardrail. He turns back to Tchyukiro and connects with a snap suplex before setting him up against the guardrail. He’s about to drive his knees into Tchyukiro when he sees Rorsche standing and holding the ropes. Rorsche leaps onto the top rope and dives off, connecting with a stalling dropkick to drive Tchyukiro’s head into the metal rail. Tchyukiro slumps down as Balmer slides into the ring. He too looks down, seeing Takahara standing, and leaps onto the top rope before diving off with a huge crossbody.
All four men are down on the outside and the official begins to count:
1…..
2…..
3…..
Rorsche starts to stir but he can barely drag himself to his feet.
4…..
5…..
6…..
Balmer too starts to make it to his feet and he looks to his partner who can barely stand.
7…..
Balmer moves over to Rorsche and tries to lift him up as Tchyukiro stirs.
8…..
Balmer shoves Rorsche into the ring as Tchyukiro stands and staggers.
9…..
Balmer holds onto Tchyukiro, but Sato pulls him away and Tchyukiro dives into the ring just as the official raises his hands for the ten count. Balmer turns and lands a forearm to Sato before moving around to his corner and calling for the tag from Evan Rorsche. Rorsche crawls over to the corner and tags the extended arm of Balmer, who comes into the ring quickly. Balmer drives Tchyukiro into the corner and lays into him with hard chops before connecting with hard right hands until the official pulls him away. Tchyukiro staggers out of the corner right into an overhead belly to belly suplex. Balmer makes the cover, 1-2-no! Tchyukiro just kicks out.
Balmer pulls Tchyukiro into a powerbomb position and lifts him before sending him into the turnbuckles. Tchyukiro slumps to the ground after the back of his head connected directly with the turnbuckle. Balmer then pulls Tchyukiro out of the corner by his foot and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Tchyukiro again just manages to kick out. Balmer strikes the canvas with frustration before tagging in Evan Rorsche. Rorsche comes in quickly, pulling Tchyukiro up and connecting with a ripcord hook kick before transitioning quickly into a cutter. He makes a cover, 1-2-no! Tchyukiro just kicks out again.
MW: I didn’t expect to see this much of a turnaround here. Death Squad are surely just a few moves away from victory.
SD: As long as Hiro Takahara remains down, I don’t think Tchyukiro will be able to get back into this one.
MW: Never count Masa Tchyukiro out!
Rorsche pulls Tchyukiro up and drags him over to the ropes, lifting him into a hung position. He holds him and drives his knees repeatedly into his head and chest, before dropping him with a rope-hung DDT. Rorsche makes a cover, 1-2-no! Again Tchyukiro manages to get a shoulder up, but it elicits a gasp from the fans due to how late it was. Rorsche is the one to bang the mat in frustration this time before he makes a tag to bring Balmer back in. Balmer climbs up to the top rope and waits for Tchyukiro to get to his feet. He dives down for a cross-body, but Tchyukiro absorbs it and Balmer bounces off him!
Balmer quickly scrambles up as Tchyukiro roars. Balmer aims a series of forearms but Tchyukiro starts walking through them before delivering one of his own which drops Balmer to the canvas. Tchyukiro looks for his partner but Takahara is only just pulling himself up from the giant crossbody to the outside. Instead, Tchyukiro turns back to Balmer and the two men go head to head, staring daggers into each other’s eyes before each explodes with forearms. They strike and strike and strike, sending the fans into an absolute frenzy. Tchyukiro gets the better of the exchange, forcing Balmer back into the corner before laying into him over and over again. Tchyukiro then backs away and runs at Balmer, aiming for a lariat in the corner, but Balmer moves out of the way. He hits the ropes and aims for a leaping back elbow, but Tchyukiro intercepts him with a desperation headbutt!
MW: What a match this is!
SD: Both of these men are down and they need to make a tag.
MW: And Hiro Takahara is back on the apron. He’s ready to get back into this one.
SD: But Evan Rorsche is the fresher man of the two. If he can get in, Takahara may well be there for the taking.
MW: I’m not sure either of these men is ever there for the taking. These teams could be battling all night long!
Both men crawl towards their corners and each make simultaneous tags. Takahara and Rorsche come in at full speed, each man laying into the other with forearms. Rorsche gets the better of the exchange and forces Takahara back towards the corner, where he delivers a series of knee lifts. Takahara drops his arms to protect his chest and Rorsche drives a hard knee into his head. Takahara staggers out of the corner and Rorsche runs at him, connecting with the Jawbreaker Special, making a cover, 1-2-no! Takahara just kicks out. Rorsche doesn’t waste time as he looks for The End’s In Sight. Takahara, however, manages to resist, connecting with stiff right hands to Rorsche’s jaw and forcing him to abandon the attempt.
Both men stand and face each other before they look for simultaneous roundhouse kicks, each connecting to send the other down. Both men begin to crawl towards their corner again. Aiden Balmer calls to the official, who turns to him just as Ava Knight runs over to The Guardians of Strong Style’s corner and pulls Tchyukiro from the apron, driving his head into the edge of the ring. The fans boo as Takahara realises he has nobody to tag and Balmer, having been tagged in, runs at him and connects with a knee strike to the back of the head.
Balmer then looks to position Takahara for The Ender, but Takahara wriggles free, landing forearms to Balmer’s gut. Balmer however, raises a knee and drives it into Takahara’s head before pulling him in once again. He lifts him and drives him into the match with The Ender. Balmer makes the cover, 1-2-no! Masa Tchyukiro manages to dive into the ring and break up the cover. Evan Rorsche dives in at the same time and engages with Tchyukiro, but his strikes make little impact on Tchyukiro, who drives his head into Rorsche’s chest before throwing him out of the ring. Takahara pulls himself to his feet as he and Tchyukiro stalk Balmer. The Guardians of Strong Style each hit the ropes and come off with running forearms, sandwiching Balmer between them before he collapses to the ground. Takahara makes a weak cover, 1-2-no! Ava Knight struck Masa Tchyukiro with one of the Tag Team Championships and caused him to fall onto Takahra to break up the pinfall.
MW: I don’t believe this!
SD: Brilliant from Ava Knight!
MW: Brilliant? She’s cheating. Again!
SD: She’s saving the match for her team after an illegal double team. Excellent management from Ava Knight.
Knight stands on the apron looking pleased with herself as Takahara stares at her he runs at her as she drops off the edge of the ring and Balmer reaches up for the schoolboy roll-up. He grabs a handful of tights and Evan Rorsche dives into the ring to give extra leverage to the pin attempt, 1-2-3.
Winners and Still FPW Tag Team Champions: Death Squad.
MW: No!
SD: Yes Watson! Death Squad retain their titles!
MW: Because of Ava Knight and a handful of tights. Our Tag Team Champions cheat once again and yet again they get away with it.
SD: Our Tag Team Champions get the victory that they deserve and yet again they get no credit for it.
Balmer and Rorsche quickly escape the ring and back away up the ramp with Knight bringing them the belts. Hiro Takahara stares after them before leaving the ring and running up the ramp to them as the back away through the curtain. In the ring, Masa Tchyukiro sits up with a dazed look on his face.
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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Bobby O.
DB: Bobby, you have a big match tonight and a second chance to qualify for the Free-1. What are your thoughts?
BO: I’m glad to get a second chance after being screwed out of my first chance. I also get the chance to get my hands on Davey Jones, and I won’t waste that opportunity.
DB: How does having Jerry Bishop in the match change things for you?
BO: Jerry and I have history, some positive and some not so much. I respect Jerry and I like Jerry. But if he gets in the way of me getting my hands on Davey Jones, or of me making it into the Free-1 to get the chance to take that belt away from Jones, then I won’t hesitate to take him out.
DB: Of course there’s another match tonight that might interest you tonight…
BO: I’ll be keeping out of Jack Sevren’s match tonight. I need to focus on my own match. I’ll get my hands on Jack when I get the chance, but it won’t be tonight. Besides, Botiatus has agreed to even the odds out there so I don’t feel the need to get involved.
DB: Not even out of revenge for the attack on you last week?
BO: I’ll get my revenge for that attack- and all the others- but unlike Sevren, I’ll get it in the ring, in a match between the two of us.
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We're brought back to ringside by Watson & Deville, ready as ever to call the next match.
MW: On deck, we have a contest for one of the remaining slots in the Free-1 Tournament Bracket!
SD: And Jack Sevren's got that spot all sewn up in a neat little bow! Aaron Williams doesn't stand a chance!
MW: Well, Steven, both men have been talking a big game lately, and-
Suddenly Watson is thrown into shadow. He looks up to see Davey Jones looming over the announce table. Jones motions for a headset and a chair, frightened ring hands scamper to oblige. Jones sets himself down next to Deville.
DJ: The only big game worth mentioning is me and this championship. So I'm just going to come out here and remind everyone of that while my good friend Jack smears Williams all over that ring, and before I send the Bastard and the Clown into the depths of Psychosis! Because I am the one who runs this show, I dominate everyone in that ring, and I defy anyone to take down the empire of the American Lunatic!
Jones laughs as the Freedom Fighters boo him vociferously. Deville tries to laugh along with Jones only to be rebuked by an icy stare from the Lunatic.
SD: Fighting words from our fighting champion! He's got a match later tonight, and he's still out here to support his friend! What a guy!
The lights dim and the speakers fill with Puddle of Mudd's "Famous". Botiatus takes the stage with a microphone and waves triumphantly and blows kisses to the crowd, who are now booing a little less and cheering a little more. Jones sneers up the stage. Bo clears his throat and a spotlight hits him. He slowly but surely walks down the ramp as he speaks.
Bo: Now, hold on, big man! You're the champion, you're the boss, you're the guy to beat! We all know that, and we appreciate your presence here tonight!
He pauses to give Jones a mildly sarcastic golf clap, which some fans follow. Jones doesn't react.
Bo: But one thing isn't sitting right with me, Davey Boy Shrek. You've already got a match tonight, right? So while it's admirable you're out here to give your buddy a boost, how about I come out here to make sure you don't break any of the, uh... House Rules in this match?
At this point Bo is standing in front of the announce table
Bo: This is supposed to be a one-on-one, after all, so how about this? You stay put in your spot, and I won't have to lay your ass out for interfering in a match that doesn't concern you?
Jones stares up at Bo for a moment before smiling and motioning to a chair on the opposite end of the desk. Bo bows and sits next to Watson.
MW: The atmosphere in this arena can't decide if it's boiling over or chilled to the bone!
SD: And you just tried to anthropomorphize the weather again! Now let's get going with the match already!
Shattered Skies' "15 Minutes" takes the speakers and the crowd once again unite in a chorus of boos. Jack Sevren swaggers out onto the stage with a big smirk across his face. He too-slows some Freedom Fighters at ringside and laughs at fan holding an "I Stil Believe in Camelot" sign. Sevren starts into the ring but trots along the apron to give Jones a salute, which Jones returns, before climbing between the ropes and stretching confidently.
MW: Jack Sevren looking like he has all the confidence in the world here tonight, but is he sure or is he just cocksure?
SD: Really taking advantage of the rating again, aren't you?
MW: It was clever!
SD: In middle school, maybe.
Frank Turner's "I Still Believe" fills the arena and the Freedom Fighters finally erupt into all-out cheers in relief. Aaron Williams takes the stage and drinks in the crowd's energy. He leads sections of the crowd in different parts of the song before bringing it all together as he heads to the ring. As is tradition, Williams poses with a young fan at ringside and hands them a marker. The fan writes #ShutUpSevren on Williams' kneepad, Williams nods in approval and tousles the kid's hair. Williams rounds the apron and offers Bo a fist bump. Bo looks at him as though he just threw an ice cream cone onto the ceiling. Williams nods "fair enough", slides through the ropes, poses with some more sing-along action, and shakes Dasha and the referee's hands. Dasha sets up the match.
DB: The following contest is a qualifying match for the Free-1 Tournament! Introducing first, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he "is" the best in the game, Jack Sevren!
Sevren bounces on his toes a bit before leaning back against the turnbuckle unconcerned by the crowd's booing.
DB: And his opponent, from the City of Brotherly Love, A-Plus Aaron Williams!
Williams raises his arms towards the crowd, and he catches a handful of fans chanting "A-PLUS! A-PLUS!" The referee calls for the bell and the match begins with the two contenders circling each other.
MW: Both men entering into this match confident in their skills, but how will the presence of our guests here at ringside affect their thought processes during the match?
SD: Sevren's got the mental edge here tonight, he's got the FPW Champion in his corner, he's on easy street! Meanwhile, Williams over there doesn't know whether this match will get ugly, or get REALLY ugly if the champion decides to step in.
Match 2: Free-1 Qualifier: Jack Sevren v Aaron Williams (written by Jerry/Berry):
Williams and Sevren lock up. Sevren gets control with a wristlock driving Williams back into the corner, wrenching the arm behind Williams' head. The referee begins the five count to break the hold. As the referee reaches 4 and a half he pushes Sevren off Williams. Sevren reaches behind the ref and pokes Williams in the eye. With Williams still smarting, Sevren reasserts control with another wristlock heading back into the corner. Sevren then mounts the turnbuckle and plants Williams with a tornado DDT. Sevren goes for a quick cover.
ON- NO!
MW: Definitely going to need more than that to pick up a win!
SD: Jack's just getting into Williams' head, Watson, he's reminding him that he can end this match any time he wants.
MW: Except right now.
SD: Well, he didn't want to right now.
Sevren grabs Williams in a waistlock and hits a quick bridging German suplex, keeping Williams off-balance. The referee counts.
ONE!
NO!
Williams kicks out. Jack nods passively and looks towards Jones outside. Jones simply nods in response. Williams starts towards his feet. Sevren whips him into a corner and looks for a dropkick. Williams regains his bearings and sidesteps leaving no one home and Sevren to crash to the mat. Before Sevren can pull himself up with the ring ropes, Williams runs the opposite side and rebounds into a cannonball. Williams gets up and runs back to the ropes. Sevren pulls himself up about halfway and Williams hits him with a running knee strike to the midsection, doubling Sevren over. Williams starts to clap to the crowd before launching. Williams lunges off the ropes and splashes hard onto Sevren, but before Sevren can collapse Williams runs the ropes again and hits another big splash, and another, and another. Williams calls for one more splash and lets out a holler reminiscent of a certain Scorpion. Williams dives for Sevren, but Sevren dodges aside and Williams smashes headfirst into the turnbuckle.
MW: Quite the burst of agility from Williams!
SD: And quite the dead end for him too!
Sevren sees an opening and climbs to the top turnbuckle behind Williams' back. Sevren dives off the top rope and takes down Williams with a snapmare, driving him once more face-first into the mat. Sevren goes for a cover.
ONE!
TW- NO!
Williams kicks out once more. Sevren starts to show some anger but takes a deep breath and resumes the match.
MW: Sevren looking a little annoyed at how easily Williams kicked out.
SD: He's still slowing down, though, just watch.
Sevren reaches for Williams but Williams catches Sevren with an Irish whip into the ropes. Sevren rebounds and Williams hits a discus clothesline and drops to a knee. Having bought himself some separation, Williams climbs to the near ropes and springboards off into a senton for a cover.
ONE!
NO!
Sevren kicks out, Williams realizes he didn't cover strongly enough. As Sevren starts back up Williams grabs him into a snap DDT, stunning him. Williams looks for his next attack but notices Sevren is starting to stir again. Williams charges the ropes and hits him with a hard knee strike to the chest flattening Sevren. Williams, once more feeding off of the crowd's energy, climbs the top turnbuckle and motions for a Swanton Bomb
MW: Here it comes!
SD: No, Jack, look out!
Just before Williams launches himself, Sevren rolls to the outside clutching his ribs. The referee starts the ten count to re-enter the ring as Williams dismounts the turnbuckle. Sevren walks seemingly absent-mindedly towards the commentary desk. Bo starts up from his seat but Sevren backs him off. Sevren leans over to Jones, still in his seat, and looks to be conversing with him. As the referee's count reaches five, Williams gives a quick "alrighty then" shrug and charges the far ropes. Just as Sevren disengages with Jones, he is met by Williams coming over the top rope with a picture perfect tope con hilo, and the two crash hard onto the ground in front of the announce desk. Bo and Jones simply look back and forth between each other and the downed competitors as the referee restarts the count
MW: What daredevilry from Williams here tonight! He's willing to do just about anything to pick up the win!
SD: He still has to get back in the ring, though! Can't win unless you're in the ring!
Williams stirs first as the referee reaches four. He pulls Sevren up and towards the apron. As he starts to roll Sevren back into the ring, Sevren grabs Williams by the hair and slams him into the apron facefirst several times. The referee's count reaches eight and Sevren rolls Williams back into the ring. Sevren nods once more to Jones before climbing into the ring himself by way of the top rope. Sevren perches himself on the top turnbuckle and leaps off into a knee-drop to Williams' head. Sevren pulls himself over to make a cover.
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Williams manages to raise his foot onto the ropes to break the pin, much to Sevren's ire. So much so, that Sevren grabs Williams' leg off of the rope, pulls Williams into the middle of the ring, and locks in a kneebar, seemingly less interested in forcing Williams to tap but to damage his legs. Williams tries to wrench himself free and succeeds after several agonizing moments by reaching the bottom rope. As Williams nurses his knee and the referee makes his checks, Sevren stalks Williams. He looks over to ringside to see Jones smiling wickedly. Sevren stands over Williams and draws his thumb across his throat, rolling his eyes back into his head.
MW: Oh, no, don't tell me he's going for it!
SD: I am telling you and he is! I can't wait!
Sevren grabs Williams by the weakened leg and pulls him up onto his stomach, taking control of both legs. Sevren reaches down to pull Williams up into the Tombstone, but Williams manages to hook his legs around Sevren's neck drive him into the mat with a last-ditch headscissor DDT
MW: How in the world did he have that in him?!
SD: It's just a fluke, he didn't know he was doing that!
Sevren struggles to clear his vision from the short drop and sudden stop. Williams hobbles to his feet and calls to the crowd for one last dose of energy. The crowd mounts up in cheers as Williams looks for the A-Triple Plus.
MW: He just might have it!
SD: Not for long! Look out, Aaron!
Davey Jones lunges forward from his seat and takes two large strides towards the apron looking to take down Williams. Suddenly, Jones is brought to the ground from a lightning-fast example of House Rules from Bo. Bo looks down at Jones and then up at Williams, giving him a "finish it" sign. Williams pulls Sevren up into position, and drops the A-Triple Plus onto his good knee for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Winner, and entrant into the Free-1 Tournament: Aaron Williams.
MW: Wow! Jack Sevren is out of the Free-1!
SD: No! No!
MW: Aaron Williams with a huge victory to send him into the Free-1. And now we know that Jack Sevren will be the biggest name thusfar to miss out on a Free-1 berth.
SD: The biggest so far. Until Jerry Bishop and Bobby O miss out at the hands of our FPW Champion later tonight.
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Backstage, we see Sato and Tchyukiro catching up with Hiro Takahara as he strides down a corridor.
HT: Watashi wa karera no detarame ki ni unzari shite imasu.
S: Dōi suru. Kore de owaridesu.
MT: Kore ijō fusei wa arimasen. Meiyo. Saigo no isshiai.
HT: Karera wa jibun-tachi o desusukuwaddo to yonde imasu ka? Watashitachi ga karera ni shin no shi o motarashite wa dōdeshou ka. Wafū.
Sato speaks directly to the camera.
S: Death Squad! You dishonour us again. You dishonour FPW again. You dishonour Tag Team Championships again. One final challenge. Death Squad versus Guardians of Strong Style. Tag Team Championships. No rules. Deathmatch. Free-1 final. You accept. Or we bring fight to you.
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MW: Up next we see an intriguing contest.
SD: Graham Baker, the man who was the ace of FPW, the FPW Champion, the man everyone wanted to beat. But who is he now?
MW: He may not be the champion, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t the ace of the company. He’s still a major player here and this is his chance to remind everyone how good he is.
SD: But has he picked the right opponent? We don’t know much about Go Shihei other than the fact that he’s a violent bastard who likes to do serious damage to his opponents. Would Baker not have been better to challenge someone like Zachary Bates?
MW: But why would Baker do that? He wants to prove that he’s still the man he was. Go Shihei is as good a man as anyone to prove that against.
‘DNA’ begins to play and Graham Baker steps out onto the ramp in his usual style. The fans explode for him, desperate to show him how much they still value him even though he isn’t champion. Baker looks out at all of them before marching down the ramp and sliding straight into the ring. He holds a low position for a moment, feeling the plywood that is usually covered by the mat before getting to his feet and climbing the turnbuckle, taking in the atmosphere as the fans continue to applaud him.
‘Fury, Oh Fury’ begins and the fans give a mixed reaction. Once the lyrics have begun and the dark red and white lights have come up, Go Shihei steps into the arena, Kat Mustang following on just behind him. He walks to the ring, his eyes on Baker all the way as he pumps himself up by beating on his chest and slapping himself in the head. As he reaches the ring, he walks all the way around it, feeling the wooden boards and checking out the weaponry which surrounds the ring. After a full circuit of the ring, Shihei climbs onto the apron and steps through the ropes, where he stands, staring straight at Baker.
Match 3: Japanese Deathmatch: Graham Baker v Go Shihei (written by Baker):
As the match starts, both Baker and Shihei toe the ground tenuously, aware of the dangers of the revealed plywood below. Shihei invites Baker for a lockup, and Baker agrees-only for Shihei to take advantage and immediately begin battering Baker with forearms! Baker’s taken aback, and Kate Mustang watches eagerly as Shihei uses his overwhelming force and power to dominate Baker. Shihei throws Baker into the barbed wire ropes, but Baker manages to stop short-ONLY FOR SHIHEI TO FOLLOW UP WITH A LARIAT FROM BEHIND SENDING BAKER INTO THE BARBED WIRE! Baker screams out in pain as Shihei lines up again, a wicked smile on his face-CROSSBODY that sends Baker into the barbed wire ropes! Shihei rolls off of Baker, who’s stuck on the ropes, and goes for one more dropkick-BUT SOMEHOW, BAKER MANAGES TO GET UP AND THROW SHIHEI OVER ONTO THE HARD APRON! Baker slips out between the ropes tenuously, making eye contact with Kate Mustang as he pulls Shihei up onto his shoulders for a Mustang Driver onto the apron-but Shihei nails Baker with repeated elbows to the head, causing Baker to drop him! He turns Baker around, picking him up-GERMAN SUPLEX into the apron! Baker rolls off in agonizing pain as Shihei follows him down.
Shihei grabs Baker and lays him out over the barricade, before reaching under the ring and grabbing a chair. He lets out a grunt as he hefts it high-AND SLAMS IT DOWN on the back of Graham Baker! Baker cries out in pain, and Shihei nails him again and again, doing incredible amounts of damage to Baker’s back, which was already aching from his match against Davey Jones! Shihei drags Baker off of the barricade and yanks it down, screaming at Watson and Deville before he sets Baker up on the announce table, pulling most of the gear on top off of it. Shihei climbs back in the ring as Mustang points to the top rope, screaming at him to ‘go for it’. He nods, going for his Year of the Toad-BUT BAKER ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY, SENDING SHIHEI THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE! Shihei writhes in pain on the ground as Graham Baker grabs his left arm, but Shihei struggles against it! Baker looks up to spot Mustang screaming at Shihei to ‘block his arm’, and Baker grunts, trying to yank it up-but Shihei powers through with immense strength, getting Baker up onto his shoulders. He goes for a Samoan Drop onto the chairs behind the announce table, but Baker fights against it, drilling Shihei with a combination of kicks before he lines up for a dropkick that sends Shihei out into the crowd! The crowd begins to scatter as Baker jumps up on the barricade-MOONSAULT FROM THE BARRICADE ONTO THE LEFT ARM OF GO SHIHEI!
Shihei clutches his arm in pain as Baker tries to grab a hold of it again, nailing it with stomps and kicks before he tries to lock in the Emergency Landing on the chairs, but Shihei’s had enough and he manages to get back to his feet before Baker can lock the hold in. He grabs Baker with a biel toss and HURLS him back to the ringside area, climbing out of the crowd and grabbing Baker by the arms. He rolls Baker back up onto the apron, and lines up-BIG BOOT to the skull of Graham Baker! Baker rolls back in the ring, clutching his face, as Shihei rolls in after him. He pulls Baker up for the Dead Man’s Bomb, drawing a line across his throat, but Baker manages to reverse the bomb into a roll-up!
ONE!
TW-NO! SHIHEI KICKS OUT!
Baker tries once again to transition into the Emergency Landing, but Shihei is able to expertly counter by getting Baker on his back and nailing him with a series of strikes to the head. Shihei stomps on Baker’s back again, sending it into the revealed plywood and causing great pain to Graham Baker. He tries to transition into a Liontamer to taunt The Aviator, but Baker manages to counter before Shihei can get it locked in, reversing onto his back and LAUNCHING Shihei with a dropkick from a grounded position! Baker goes for a mushroom stomp onto Shihei’s already injured arm, but Shihei pulls it out of the way, getting back to his feet as Baker rolls to his base-LARIAT to Graham Baker that flips Baker ass-over-head! Shihei goes for a cover on Baker!
ONE!
TWO!!
TH-NO! BAKER KICKS OUT!
Baker tries to immediately transition into his Emergency Landing, but Shihei’s having none of it again and rolls Baker through before harshly booting him in the face. He grabs Baker and pulls him up before chopping him hard across the chest with a loud SLAP resounding through the arena! Baker falls over to clutch his chest, and Shihei nails him with another chop, and another, before forcing Baker into the corner! He begins chopping Baker repeatedly, pulling him off of the corner and sending him into the barbed wire with another harsh chop. He lets out a roar and rips Baker off, placing him chest-first onto the ropes before he begins beating Baker’s back into the ropes harshly, causing the barbed wire to stick into Baker’s already battered and bruised chest. Shihei lines up for another dropkick, but Mustang screams not to and tosses in a chair and a bag of thumb tacks. Shihei nods, and pours the tacks out as Baker yanks himself off of the barbed wire with immense pain.
Shihei beckons Baker on, and Baker nods, running forward as Shihei pops him up-BUT BAKER TAKES ADVANTAGE AND NAILS SHIHEI WITH A BRUTAL POP-UP HURRICANRANA INTO THE TACKS! Shihei tries to recover as Baker grabs the chair and places it on top of Shihei’s head, going to the top rope-LANDING GEAR DOUBLE STOMP ONTO THE CHAIR ATOP GO SHIHEI! With the chair bent, Baker goes to throw it out of the ring...but hesitates, instead grabbing Shihei’s arm and sticking it in the chair wreckage. Mustang screams out as Baker nails Shihei’s trapped arm with a double stomp, and Shihei yanks it out, for once showing pain with a vicious yell. Baker’s not having it, however, and goes for a soccer kick to the head of Shihei-but Shihei ducks it and pops Baker up-POWERBOMB into the tacks! Shihei goes for a cover on Graham Baker!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR-NO! BAKER KICKS OUT!
Shihei grunts, his injured arm having taken more and more damage, and he looks at Mustang with a wary glance. He wrings his arm out and grabs Baker, dragging him back to his feet but keeping him at a ripcord’s length, going for a Ripcord Lariat-but Baker flips over Shihei and somehow ends up in a position with Shihei set up for a Sit-out Powerbomb! Baker attempts to heft Shihei up, but his injured back prevents him, and as such, he places Shihei down-POINT BLANK KNEE TO THE FACE OF GO SHIHEI! Shihei drops to a knee, and Baker goes for an Enziguri, but Shihei manages to grab Baker and spin him back around-SCREAMING FOREARM TO THE HEAD OF GRAHAM BAKER! Baker crashes hard to the canvas, and Shihei hits him with a massive running splash, going for a pin-BUT BAKER TRANSITIONS INTO THE EMERGENCY LANDING-ONLY FOR SHIHEI TO COUNTER AND GET BAKER UP FOR A POWERBOMB-AND HE POWERBOMBS GRAHAM BAKER INTO THE BARBED WIRE!
Baker cries out in pain, and Shihei lets out a roar as he rushes forward and nails Baker with repeated forearms from his good arm, before whipping Baker into one of the corners, going to follow up with a lariat to the back of Baker’s neck-but Baker leapfrogs Shihei, landing behind him-RUNNING HIGH KNEE THAT SENDS SHIHEI’S HEAD INTO THE EXPOSED TURNBUCKLE! Shihei stumbles off, and Baker runs up-LEAPING STOMP TO SEND SHIHEI’S HEAD INTO THE PLYWOOD! Baker goes for a pin on Shihei!
ONE!
TWO!!
THRE-NO! SHIHEI KICKS OUT!
Shihei powers through Baker getting back to his feet and begins drilling Baker with repeated forearms from a grounded position, before grabbing Baker for a Vertical Lift Suplex, only for Baker to knee Shihei in the head and stop him from locking the suplex in all the way. Baker manages to land on his feet as Shihei’s stunned, blood running down his face, and he grabs Shihei around the waist-GERMAN SUPLEX INTO THE THUMBTACKS WITH AN IMMENSE SHOWING OF STRENGTH! Baker rolls Shihei back onto his knees, and Shihei motions for Baker to bring it on, leading to Baker nailing Shihei with repeated shoot kicks to the chest, brusing it, before Baker nails him with a kick to the head-BUT SHIHEI STAYS UP! Shihei motions for Baker to bring it on again, and Baker roars, running-SHOTGUN KNEES TO GO SHIHEI! Baker goes for another cover!
ONE!
TWO!!
THRE-NO!!! SHIHEI KICKS OUT!
Baker goes to his knees as the crowd start to get behind him once again, understanding the underdog struggle they see before them. Baker looks to Shihei and pulls him up with his foot, getting him back onto his knees-LOW ANGLE LARIAT TO GO SHIHEI-BUT SHIHEI WORKS THROUGH IT, ABSORBING THE HIT! SHIHEI PULLS HIMSELF BACK UP-LARIAT THAT SENDS BAKER ASS OVER HEAD ONCE AGAIN! Shihei goes for a leaping knee drop to Baker, but Baker rolls out of the way, sending Shihei’s knees crashing hard into the plywood beneath him! Baker lines up, ready to bring about the end with one more Emergency Landing to the injured arm of Go Shihei, but Shihei resists it, swinging Baker around into a spin-out powerbomb onto the plywood!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE-NO!!! BAKER KICKS OUT AGAIN!
Shihei looks amused as he pulls Baker up for one more powerbomb, likely setting up the Final Bomber, but Baker reverses the powerbomb into a Victory Roll, rolling through Go Shihei! He grabs his arm and begins stomping and kicking it, causing Shihei to throw Baker into the turnbuckle! Shihei goes for his lariat one final time to prep Baker for the Dead Man’s Bomb, but Baker ducks it, catching Shihei by the arm and dragging him down with an armdrag onto the canvas! Shihei pops up onto his feet, but it’s too late-Baker grabs his injured arm and looks to go for the Emergency Landing-BUT HE SHIFTS IT INTO A FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Shihei and Mustang look shocked by this as Baker grounds Go Shihei, pushing back and applying major pressure to his arm before he begins drilling Shihei in the skull with North-South elbows! Shihei looks shocked, looks to Mustang-and he taps out!
Winner: Graham Baker (18:08, Submission)
Baker rolls to his feet as he breaks the armbar, barely managing to get back up as the adrenaline of the match wears off. He looks to Kate Mustang, who rolls into the ring, looking over Shihei...before she looks to Baker. She gives him a seductive smile and offers her hand, but Baker looks it over for a moment...and shakes his head. He collects his ICW World Heavyweight Championship and rolls out of the ring, heading to the outside as he walks off...
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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Berry Bishop:
DB: Berry. Thank you for joining me. How are you preparing for the Free-1?
BB: I can’t wait to get back to the Free-1, Dashy! When I was in it last year, I was just starting out in FPW. But now, I’m the Freedom Champion and I feel better than ever. I’m ready to be a genuine contender to win the Free-1 this year.
DB: And-
Ted Crewmember interrupts.
TC: I’m sorry, Dasha. We need to get over to the locker room.
The camera shakes as it is quickly moved along the corridor. Dasha and Berry lead the way, Dasha pushing the door open to see two people in FPW shirts crouching over someone wearing a bomber jacket.
DB: Bobby?
The two FPW workers move and we see Bobby O lying face down on the floor, a lead pipe next to him and a trickle of blood flowing from his head. A medical team quickly enters and shoos the camera out, alongside the rest of them.
MW: Well if this isn’t the work of Jack Sevren, I’ll be amazed.
SD: There’s no evidence to suggest Sevren is behind this.
MW: Really? A man who is angry after losing his Free-1 qualifier earlier tonight who has a very serious issue with Bobby O right now and a horse in the next race which just seriously increased his chance of winning. It was Sevren for sure.
SD: Maybe he just slipped and the pipe fell on his head…
MW: Slipped and… Ridiculous.
SD: Whatever happened, there’s no way Bobby O can compete tonight. He was out cold! This match is down to Jerry Bishop v Davey Jones. And I know who wins that.
MW: Well… I have to say I think we both do. Jerry Bishop hasn’t won a match all year and Davey Jones… well, he’s dominated FPW since his return and is now the FPW Champion. I fear for Jerry tonight.
‘Comedian’s Gallop’ begins and Jerry Bishop emerges from behind the curtain. He bows deeply to the fans before MDE walks out behind him. Jerry stands and MDE whispers into his ear. Instead of his usual dance conducting down the ramp, Jerry walks down the ramp, slapping hands with fans as he looks back at MDE, who gives him a slight disapproving look but doesn’t intervene. When Jerry gets to the ring, he slides in and runs the ropes a couple of times before posing for the fans and actively pumping them up to get behind him. MDE looks on from the outside.
After the music stops, the fans turn their heads to the ramp awaiting the new FPW Champion. ‘Bully’ begins and Davey, the title around his waist, walks out onto the ramp followed by Jack Sevren, who stands with a huge grin on his face. Davey raises his arms before slowly walking down the ramp, his eyes locked on Jerry. He reaches the ring and steps onto the apron before climbing over the top rope. He raises his arms again and points at Jerry before removing the belt and handing it to Sevren, who slings it over his shoulder as he stands on the outside.
The official checks both men and calls for the bell, announcing the match as a singles match.
Match 4: Free-1 Qualifier: Davey Jones v Jerry Bishop:
Both men hang back as a ‘Je-rry Bi-shop’ chant picks up, although it doesn’t quite gain the same momentum as usual. MDE looks on intensely from the outside while Sevren yells encouragement to Davey, both hands holding Davey’s belt. After a few moments, the two of them come forward to lock up. Jerry goes in low, ducking the lock-up attempt from Davey and catching a waistlock. Davey grips Jerry’s wrists and forces his grip apart before backing him into the corner. Jerry grunts with the impact before catching a hard back elbow from Davey. Davey steps out of the corner and turns to Jerry, aiming a hard lariat. Jerry, however, ducks it and rolls out of the corner, springing to his feet and leapfrogging Davey as he runs at him.
Davey stops short of the corner but Jerry runs at him and connects with a running dropkick which sends the champion into the turnbuckles. Davey staggers away and Jerry goes for a schoolboy roll-up, 1-2-no. Davey manages to escape the pin attempt. Jerry quickly makes it to his feet as MDE and Sevren each look on, Sevren with a look of mild concern while MDE nods and shadow-wrestles as he envisions the next moves. Jerry delivers a rolling elbow to Davey, who barely moves, before he takes another and another, finally staggering. Jerry then connects with a step-up enzeguiri and rolls Davey up with a small package, 1-2-no. Davey again just escapes.
MW: This is a great start from the Jes- the Joker.
SD: He knows he can’t play his usual game of slowly building. MDE has Jerry fully prepared for this one. He’s sticking and moving and he’s happy to take the quick win if he can manage it. So far, it’s working quite well, but Davey hasn’t stayed down yet.
MW: What’s Jerry looking for here?
Jerry doesn’t let Davey up, instead looking to trap the arms and go for the Last Laugh. Davey, however, frees his arms with ease and catches Jerry around the throat. Sevren yells gleefully as Davey lifts Jerry into the air and drives him hard into the mat with a chokeslam. Davey makes a cover, 1-2-no. Jerry manages to kick out but he can’t get to his feet as quickly as he’d like and Davey sets him up for a pump handle slam, which he delivers with brutal force. Jerry arches his back as Davey stands. The champion pulls Jerry to his feet and throws him into the corner, running at him and hitting him with a huge splash. Jerry drops down to a seated position and Davey backs away into the opposite corner before taking a run up and looking for a cannonball, only to be met with a loud cheer as Jerry barely dodges him.
Jerry pulls himself up and stalks Davey, connecting with another step-up enzeguiri and following up immediately with a bulldog. Jerry then rolls to the outside and doesn’t wait long to hit a slingshot DDT. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Davey powers out. Jerry stands but staggers for a moment, allowing Davey to get to his feet too. Jerry darts in but gets caught, Davey lifting him for a fireman’s carry and planting him into the mat before following up with a big leg drop. He covers Jerry, 1-2-no. Jerry just gets a shoulder up.
MW: Jerry Bishop still in this one!
SD: But it doesn’t look too good for him now.
MW: The tables have certainly turned. Davey Jones can take control of a match in an instant.
SD: His devastating power is really on display in this match. Jerry Bishop can’t withstand this kind of impact for long. If Graham Baker barely lasted ten minutes, I’d be amazed if Jerry lasts much longer than this.
Davey grabs Jerry by the hair and pulls him into position for a powerbomb. He lifts him onto his shoulders but Jerry manages to reverse into a hurricanrana, holding for a cover, 1-2-no! Davey barely escapes. Jack Sevren breathes a sigh of relief on the outside, nearly losing grip on the FPW Championship but lifting it back onto his shoulder just in time, taking a moment to admire it as he does. Both men scramble to their feet and Davey swings at Jerry, who ducks and connects with a side Russian leg sweep. He rolls under the bottom rope and stalks Davey. MDE tries to get Jerry’s attention, moving around to his side of the ring, but Jerry leaps up before MDE can get there, looking for a springboard forearm. Davey, however, catches Jerry in mid-air and turns the move into a devastating chokeslam!
Davey looks down at Jerry before calling for the Looney Bin. The fans hold their breaths as Davey lifts Jerry and locks in the chicken wing. He begins to spin but Jerry somehow manages to hook his foot behind Davey’s leg and use that to break the hold, dropping down and rolling the champion up once again, 1-2-no! Davey just escapes for a fourth time. The fans hold their heads but Jerry remains focussed, standing and readying himself as Davey stands. He connects with the parallel snapmare and rolls through, completing the Touchstone Takedown with a kick so powerful that it sends him off his feet. He scrambles over to Davey and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Davey kicks out.
MW: He kicks out!
SD: Of course he kicked out. He’s the FPW Champion. He’s the best we have around here. He can kick out of anything, as he proved against Graham Baker.
MW: Jerry only has one way to go now, surely? He needs to hit the Last Laugh.
SD: But can he hold Davey in position for long enough?
MW: I don’t know, but he has to find a way if he’s going to feature in this year’s Free-1.
Davey stands and Jerry stands ready. He kicks him in the gut and looks to trap his arms, but Davey quickly reverses, lifting Jerry for a vertical suplex. Jerry, however, drives a knee into Davey’s head and drops down, trying once more to trap the arms. He traps them and is about to let out his usual booming laugh when Davey forces his arms free once more. This time Davey looks to lift Jerry up for Psychosis. He begins to hit the move but Jerry uses the momentum to swing himself into a small package! 1-2-no! Davey somehow escapes. This time, however, Jerry is ready. There are no theatrics as Jerry transitions perfectly into the Chelsea Smile. Davey thrashes around to try and break the hold but Jerry manages to hold on like he’s riding a bull.
MW: Davey is about to tap!
SD: No he isn’t. He’s about to break the hold!
MW: He can’t. Jerry has it locked in too well. Davey Jones, the FPW Champion, is about to tap out to Jerry Bishop!
SD: Not a chance!
Davey raises his arm but he doesn’t tap, even though Jerry pulls back as hard as he possibly can. As Jerry pulls back even harder, Davey rolls backwards and manages to stand, lifting Jerry with him and repositioning him. The fans gasp as they realise the Jerry is perfectly set up for Psychosis. Just as Davey is about to drive him into the mat and win the match, he pauses, and the fans explode, as ‘This Means War’ begins to play. Bobby O strides out onto the ramp, still wearing his bomber jacket, and he breaks into a run towards the ring. Davey drops Jerry and stares down Bobby as he slides into the ring. The two men square up for a moment as Sevren enters the ring too. Both of them look set to attack Bobby but they pauses as Bobby pulls the lead pipe from the sleeve of his jacket. He points it at Sevren and Davey as they back away. As they do, Jerry stands.
MW: We have a stand-off here.
SD: He’s hurt. They can just take the pipe from his hand!
MW: I’m not sure Bobby O has any intention of coming quietly tonight.
SD: Intention or not, he won’t have a choice if Davey and Sevren choose to attack him.
Bobby lifts the pipe and swings it, but he connects with Jerry! The fans gasp and stand in silence as Bobby stands over Jerry. Davey and Sevren stand with looks of shock on their faces, barely anybody noticing the bell ringing. Bobby turns to Davey and Sevren and gives them a big grin as the fans realise what is going on and start booing loudly. Bobby extends a hand to Sevren, who stares down very warily before slowly extending his own. The two men shake hands before Bobby turns to Davey and offers the same hand. The fans continue to boo and to sling rubbish into the ring as the two men shake hands and Sevren claps Bobby on the back.
MW: I… I don’t believe what I’m seeing here!
SD: I mean… if you can’t beat them, join them, I guess. But even I didn’t see this coming.
MW: And now… now Bobby O starts directing traffic. This… this is despicable.
Bobby points to Jerry, who is just starting to stand. Davey pulls Jerry up and lifts him onto his shoulders, delivering Psychosis. Sevren and Bobby each raise one of Davey’s arms as he stands with his foot on Jerry’s chest, making what he believes is the match-winning cover. But the official doesn’t count and Sevren turns to him and begins berating him. The official extends his arms and looks to Dasha Banks on the outside.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the match via disqualification, and retaining his place in the Free-1… Jerry Bishop!”
Winner: Jerry Bishop.
The booing turns to silence which soon turns to cheers as Bobby O smiles widely. Sevren turns to him as he realises what Bobby has done but he’s too late to block the blow from the lead pipe. Davey too turns, but he’s also floored by Bobby with the pipe. The fans continue to cheer as Bobby pumps them up loudly. Bobby stands over both Davey and Jack Sevren, who still has a hand on the FPW Championship, lead pipe raised, as the show fades to black.
MW: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the final stop off on the road to Free-1 II. Tonight we find out our full Free-1 line up as well as showcasing another match in the bitter feud between our FPW Tag Team Champions Death Squad and the team they defeated for those belts, The Guardians of Strong Style.
SD: What a match that will be. We also get some real violence tonight between Graham Baker, who will be fascinating to watch after losing the FPW Championship at the last show, and Go Shihei, who still has a lot to prove here in FPW.
MW: Let’s reflect for a moment on Davey Jones taking that title from Graham Baker. It seems to have lit a fire under several people here in FPW.
SD: It sure has. Now that Davey is the FPW Champion, several of our roster members have come out of the woodwork and have claimed that they should get the first shot. Jim Houston however has been clear- win the Free-1 and you’ll get that chance.
MW: But tonight’s first match isn’t about the Free-1. Tonight’s first match is about the FPW Tag Team Championships. And in this match there is no champions’ advantage. If Death Squad get themselves counted out or disqualified, they will lose the Tag Team Championships.
SD: Yet another example of the bias of Jim Houston against Death Squad. Aiden Balmer and Evan Rorsche are a great team led by an excellent manager in Ava Knight. They don’t deserve to be treated like this.
MW: Well they did win the titles by cheating, Steven.
SD: They won the titles. That’s all that matters.
MW: By cheating.
SD: Who are the champions?
MW: Death Squad but-
SD: That’s the only thing that matters. Champions deserve respect and our General Manager hasn’t given them any. I wouldn’t blame them for not even showing up at all.
The introduction to The Guardians of Strong Style’s music begin to play and Sato stands at the top of the ramp, bowing low to the fans. At the end of the introduction, Sato stands and is joined by Hiro Takahara and Masa Tchyukiro before all three of them bow. Sato leads the team down to the ring with a purpose before Takahara and Tchyukiro climb into the ring. They stand to one side and stretch out, waiting for their opponents.
The lights in the arena then go down as a klaxon sounds, igniting boos from the crowd. The lights flash red for a few moments before they stop and smoke begins to flood the ramp. Ava Knight walks through the curtain with a microphone:
“Rejoice and be happy! Opportunity knocked… and Death has answered.”
The klaxon resumes as ‘Let’s Go’ begins to play. Evan Rorsche and Aiden Balmer walk through the curtain with their mis-matched gear complimented by their matching Tag Team Championships. They rip off the masks and vests as they charge down the ramp and into the ring, getting into the faces of Takahara and Tchyukiro, who don’t back down an inch. Ava Knight remains on the outside as Death Squad remove the belts and continue to stand nose to nose with The Guardians of Strong Style.
Match 1: FPW Tag Team Championships: Death Squad v The Guardians of Strong Style:
Aiden Balmer begins the match with Masa Tchyukiro, who stands and offers Balmer the first shot. Death’s Right Hand stands and walks up to Tchyukiro before turning away from him. Tchyukiro extends hid arms but Balmer turns and connects with a cheap right hand. The fans boo as Tchyukiro staggers backwards, allowing Balmer to rush in and drive his knee repeatedly into Tchyukiro’s gut. Balmer then hooks his arm over Tchyukiro’s head and delivers a snap suplex. He stomps viciously on Tchyukiro before tagging in Rorsche.
Rorsche pulls Tchyukiro to his feet and drives him back into the corner driving his knee repeatedly into the gut again. But Tchyukiro explodes out of the corner with a roar, arms extended. Rorsche aims a forehand at Tchykiro but Tchykiro absorbs it and unleashes a volley of forearms of his own before hitting the ropes and taking Rorsche down with a hard lariat. Rorsche staggers to his feet and Tchyukiro whips him into the ropes, taking him down with a hard shoulder tackle. He pulls him up and throws him into the Guardians’ corner. He unleashes a volley of chops before tagging in Takahara, who unleashes a hard kick to send Rorsche to a seated position. Takahara runs out of the corner before turning and sprinting at Rorsche, driving both knees into his face.
MW: The Guardians of Strong Style on top in this one!
SD: But I don’t see Death Squad letting them be on top for long.
MW: I don’t know if they’ll have the choice. The intensity of Takahara and Tchyukiro isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen from them before.
Takahara tags Tchyukiro back in. Tchyukiro pulls Rorsche to his feet in the corner and he aims a series of forearms at him. Rorsche staggers forward and Tchyukiro hits the ropes, connecting with a hard lariat to the back of Rorsche’s head, sending him down to the canvas. Tchyukiro makes a cover, 1-2-no. Rorsche kicks out. Before getting to his feet, Tchyukiro drives his forearm into Rorsche’s face again, sending him back to the canvas. Tchyukiro then hits the ropes and connects with a kokeshi headbutt, making another cover, 1-2-no. Again Rorsche manages to kick out.
Tchyukiro moves to the corner and tags in Takahara once again. Takahara stalks Rorsche as he struggles to his feet before taking him down with a hard mid kick. Takahara then hits the ropes and connects with a penalty kick as Rorsche sits up. He makes another cover, 1-2-no. Rorsche kicks out, but barely. Takahara pulls Rorsche up with him and hooks his arm over his head, connecting with a snap suplex before making another cover, 1-2-no. Again Rorsche manages to kick out. Takahara makes the tag to Tchyukiro and the two of them drag Rorsche into the corner, laying into him, Takahara with kicks and Tchyukiro with chops. As the official begins to count, Takahara leaves the ring and Rorsche slumps to the mat.
MW: I’ve never seen The Guardians of Strong Style be this dominant!
SD: Even I have to admit that Death Squad’s grip on those Tag Team Championships looks very insecure right now.
MW: And they can’t risk a disqualification or a count out.
SD: Well they have to try something different.
Tchyukiro turns from the corner and calls to the fans in deep, guttural Japanese. The fans cheer as he lifts Rorsche up and sits him on the top rope. Tchyukiro climbs after him and hooks an arm over his head, looking for a superplex. He pauses, looking down as he sees Aiden Balmer pull Hiro Takahara off the apron and then grasp Sato, cocking his fist. Tchyukiro immediately steps down from the turnbuckles and climbs through the ropes. Balmer drops Sato and grips Tchyukiro’s leg as he steps through the ropes, pulling it out from under him and forcing him to land face first on the edge of the ring.
Balmer then ducks a kick from Takahara and shoves him face-first into the ringpost before whipping him into the guardrail. He turns back to Tchyukiro and connects with a snap suplex before setting him up against the guardrail. He’s about to drive his knees into Tchyukiro when he sees Rorsche standing and holding the ropes. Rorsche leaps onto the top rope and dives off, connecting with a stalling dropkick to drive Tchyukiro’s head into the metal rail. Tchyukiro slumps down as Balmer slides into the ring. He too looks down, seeing Takahara standing, and leaps onto the top rope before diving off with a huge crossbody.
All four men are down on the outside and the official begins to count:
1…..
2…..
3…..
Rorsche starts to stir but he can barely drag himself to his feet.
4…..
5…..
6…..
Balmer too starts to make it to his feet and he looks to his partner who can barely stand.
7…..
Balmer moves over to Rorsche and tries to lift him up as Tchyukiro stirs.
8…..
Balmer shoves Rorsche into the ring as Tchyukiro stands and staggers.
9…..
Balmer holds onto Tchyukiro, but Sato pulls him away and Tchyukiro dives into the ring just as the official raises his hands for the ten count. Balmer turns and lands a forearm to Sato before moving around to his corner and calling for the tag from Evan Rorsche. Rorsche crawls over to the corner and tags the extended arm of Balmer, who comes into the ring quickly. Balmer drives Tchyukiro into the corner and lays into him with hard chops before connecting with hard right hands until the official pulls him away. Tchyukiro staggers out of the corner right into an overhead belly to belly suplex. Balmer makes the cover, 1-2-no! Tchyukiro just kicks out.
Balmer pulls Tchyukiro into a powerbomb position and lifts him before sending him into the turnbuckles. Tchyukiro slumps to the ground after the back of his head connected directly with the turnbuckle. Balmer then pulls Tchyukiro out of the corner by his foot and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Tchyukiro again just manages to kick out. Balmer strikes the canvas with frustration before tagging in Evan Rorsche. Rorsche comes in quickly, pulling Tchyukiro up and connecting with a ripcord hook kick before transitioning quickly into a cutter. He makes a cover, 1-2-no! Tchyukiro just kicks out again.
MW: I didn’t expect to see this much of a turnaround here. Death Squad are surely just a few moves away from victory.
SD: As long as Hiro Takahara remains down, I don’t think Tchyukiro will be able to get back into this one.
MW: Never count Masa Tchyukiro out!
Rorsche pulls Tchyukiro up and drags him over to the ropes, lifting him into a hung position. He holds him and drives his knees repeatedly into his head and chest, before dropping him with a rope-hung DDT. Rorsche makes a cover, 1-2-no! Again Tchyukiro manages to get a shoulder up, but it elicits a gasp from the fans due to how late it was. Rorsche is the one to bang the mat in frustration this time before he makes a tag to bring Balmer back in. Balmer climbs up to the top rope and waits for Tchyukiro to get to his feet. He dives down for a cross-body, but Tchyukiro absorbs it and Balmer bounces off him!
Balmer quickly scrambles up as Tchyukiro roars. Balmer aims a series of forearms but Tchyukiro starts walking through them before delivering one of his own which drops Balmer to the canvas. Tchyukiro looks for his partner but Takahara is only just pulling himself up from the giant crossbody to the outside. Instead, Tchyukiro turns back to Balmer and the two men go head to head, staring daggers into each other’s eyes before each explodes with forearms. They strike and strike and strike, sending the fans into an absolute frenzy. Tchyukiro gets the better of the exchange, forcing Balmer back into the corner before laying into him over and over again. Tchyukiro then backs away and runs at Balmer, aiming for a lariat in the corner, but Balmer moves out of the way. He hits the ropes and aims for a leaping back elbow, but Tchyukiro intercepts him with a desperation headbutt!
MW: What a match this is!
SD: Both of these men are down and they need to make a tag.
MW: And Hiro Takahara is back on the apron. He’s ready to get back into this one.
SD: But Evan Rorsche is the fresher man of the two. If he can get in, Takahara may well be there for the taking.
MW: I’m not sure either of these men is ever there for the taking. These teams could be battling all night long!
Both men crawl towards their corners and each make simultaneous tags. Takahara and Rorsche come in at full speed, each man laying into the other with forearms. Rorsche gets the better of the exchange and forces Takahara back towards the corner, where he delivers a series of knee lifts. Takahara drops his arms to protect his chest and Rorsche drives a hard knee into his head. Takahara staggers out of the corner and Rorsche runs at him, connecting with the Jawbreaker Special, making a cover, 1-2-no! Takahara just kicks out. Rorsche doesn’t waste time as he looks for The End’s In Sight. Takahara, however, manages to resist, connecting with stiff right hands to Rorsche’s jaw and forcing him to abandon the attempt.
Both men stand and face each other before they look for simultaneous roundhouse kicks, each connecting to send the other down. Both men begin to crawl towards their corner again. Aiden Balmer calls to the official, who turns to him just as Ava Knight runs over to The Guardians of Strong Style’s corner and pulls Tchyukiro from the apron, driving his head into the edge of the ring. The fans boo as Takahara realises he has nobody to tag and Balmer, having been tagged in, runs at him and connects with a knee strike to the back of the head.
Balmer then looks to position Takahara for The Ender, but Takahara wriggles free, landing forearms to Balmer’s gut. Balmer however, raises a knee and drives it into Takahara’s head before pulling him in once again. He lifts him and drives him into the match with The Ender. Balmer makes the cover, 1-2-no! Masa Tchyukiro manages to dive into the ring and break up the cover. Evan Rorsche dives in at the same time and engages with Tchyukiro, but his strikes make little impact on Tchyukiro, who drives his head into Rorsche’s chest before throwing him out of the ring. Takahara pulls himself to his feet as he and Tchyukiro stalk Balmer. The Guardians of Strong Style each hit the ropes and come off with running forearms, sandwiching Balmer between them before he collapses to the ground. Takahara makes a weak cover, 1-2-no! Ava Knight struck Masa Tchyukiro with one of the Tag Team Championships and caused him to fall onto Takahra to break up the pinfall.
MW: I don’t believe this!
SD: Brilliant from Ava Knight!
MW: Brilliant? She’s cheating. Again!
SD: She’s saving the match for her team after an illegal double team. Excellent management from Ava Knight.
Knight stands on the apron looking pleased with herself as Takahara stares at her he runs at her as she drops off the edge of the ring and Balmer reaches up for the schoolboy roll-up. He grabs a handful of tights and Evan Rorsche dives into the ring to give extra leverage to the pin attempt, 1-2-3.
Winners and Still FPW Tag Team Champions: Death Squad.
MW: No!
SD: Yes Watson! Death Squad retain their titles!
MW: Because of Ava Knight and a handful of tights. Our Tag Team Champions cheat once again and yet again they get away with it.
SD: Our Tag Team Champions get the victory that they deserve and yet again they get no credit for it.
Balmer and Rorsche quickly escape the ring and back away up the ramp with Knight bringing them the belts. Hiro Takahara stares after them before leaving the ring and running up the ramp to them as the back away through the curtain. In the ring, Masa Tchyukiro sits up with a dazed look on his face.
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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Bobby O.
DB: Bobby, you have a big match tonight and a second chance to qualify for the Free-1. What are your thoughts?
BO: I’m glad to get a second chance after being screwed out of my first chance. I also get the chance to get my hands on Davey Jones, and I won’t waste that opportunity.
DB: How does having Jerry Bishop in the match change things for you?
BO: Jerry and I have history, some positive and some not so much. I respect Jerry and I like Jerry. But if he gets in the way of me getting my hands on Davey Jones, or of me making it into the Free-1 to get the chance to take that belt away from Jones, then I won’t hesitate to take him out.
DB: Of course there’s another match tonight that might interest you tonight…
BO: I’ll be keeping out of Jack Sevren’s match tonight. I need to focus on my own match. I’ll get my hands on Jack when I get the chance, but it won’t be tonight. Besides, Botiatus has agreed to even the odds out there so I don’t feel the need to get involved.
DB: Not even out of revenge for the attack on you last week?
BO: I’ll get my revenge for that attack- and all the others- but unlike Sevren, I’ll get it in the ring, in a match between the two of us.
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We're brought back to ringside by Watson & Deville, ready as ever to call the next match.
MW: On deck, we have a contest for one of the remaining slots in the Free-1 Tournament Bracket!
SD: And Jack Sevren's got that spot all sewn up in a neat little bow! Aaron Williams doesn't stand a chance!
MW: Well, Steven, both men have been talking a big game lately, and-
Suddenly Watson is thrown into shadow. He looks up to see Davey Jones looming over the announce table. Jones motions for a headset and a chair, frightened ring hands scamper to oblige. Jones sets himself down next to Deville.
DJ: The only big game worth mentioning is me and this championship. So I'm just going to come out here and remind everyone of that while my good friend Jack smears Williams all over that ring, and before I send the Bastard and the Clown into the depths of Psychosis! Because I am the one who runs this show, I dominate everyone in that ring, and I defy anyone to take down the empire of the American Lunatic!
Jones laughs as the Freedom Fighters boo him vociferously. Deville tries to laugh along with Jones only to be rebuked by an icy stare from the Lunatic.
SD: Fighting words from our fighting champion! He's got a match later tonight, and he's still out here to support his friend! What a guy!
The lights dim and the speakers fill with Puddle of Mudd's "Famous". Botiatus takes the stage with a microphone and waves triumphantly and blows kisses to the crowd, who are now booing a little less and cheering a little more. Jones sneers up the stage. Bo clears his throat and a spotlight hits him. He slowly but surely walks down the ramp as he speaks.
Bo: Now, hold on, big man! You're the champion, you're the boss, you're the guy to beat! We all know that, and we appreciate your presence here tonight!
He pauses to give Jones a mildly sarcastic golf clap, which some fans follow. Jones doesn't react.
Bo: But one thing isn't sitting right with me, Davey Boy Shrek. You've already got a match tonight, right? So while it's admirable you're out here to give your buddy a boost, how about I come out here to make sure you don't break any of the, uh... House Rules in this match?
At this point Bo is standing in front of the announce table
Bo: This is supposed to be a one-on-one, after all, so how about this? You stay put in your spot, and I won't have to lay your ass out for interfering in a match that doesn't concern you?
Jones stares up at Bo for a moment before smiling and motioning to a chair on the opposite end of the desk. Bo bows and sits next to Watson.
MW: The atmosphere in this arena can't decide if it's boiling over or chilled to the bone!
SD: And you just tried to anthropomorphize the weather again! Now let's get going with the match already!
Shattered Skies' "15 Minutes" takes the speakers and the crowd once again unite in a chorus of boos. Jack Sevren swaggers out onto the stage with a big smirk across his face. He too-slows some Freedom Fighters at ringside and laughs at fan holding an "I Stil Believe in Camelot" sign. Sevren starts into the ring but trots along the apron to give Jones a salute, which Jones returns, before climbing between the ropes and stretching confidently.
MW: Jack Sevren looking like he has all the confidence in the world here tonight, but is he sure or is he just cocksure?
SD: Really taking advantage of the rating again, aren't you?
MW: It was clever!
SD: In middle school, maybe.
Frank Turner's "I Still Believe" fills the arena and the Freedom Fighters finally erupt into all-out cheers in relief. Aaron Williams takes the stage and drinks in the crowd's energy. He leads sections of the crowd in different parts of the song before bringing it all together as he heads to the ring. As is tradition, Williams poses with a young fan at ringside and hands them a marker. The fan writes #ShutUpSevren on Williams' kneepad, Williams nods in approval and tousles the kid's hair. Williams rounds the apron and offers Bo a fist bump. Bo looks at him as though he just threw an ice cream cone onto the ceiling. Williams nods "fair enough", slides through the ropes, poses with some more sing-along action, and shakes Dasha and the referee's hands. Dasha sets up the match.
DB: The following contest is a qualifying match for the Free-1 Tournament! Introducing first, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he "is" the best in the game, Jack Sevren!
Sevren bounces on his toes a bit before leaning back against the turnbuckle unconcerned by the crowd's booing.
DB: And his opponent, from the City of Brotherly Love, A-Plus Aaron Williams!
Williams raises his arms towards the crowd, and he catches a handful of fans chanting "A-PLUS! A-PLUS!" The referee calls for the bell and the match begins with the two contenders circling each other.
MW: Both men entering into this match confident in their skills, but how will the presence of our guests here at ringside affect their thought processes during the match?
SD: Sevren's got the mental edge here tonight, he's got the FPW Champion in his corner, he's on easy street! Meanwhile, Williams over there doesn't know whether this match will get ugly, or get REALLY ugly if the champion decides to step in.
Match 2: Free-1 Qualifier: Jack Sevren v Aaron Williams (written by Jerry/Berry):
Williams and Sevren lock up. Sevren gets control with a wristlock driving Williams back into the corner, wrenching the arm behind Williams' head. The referee begins the five count to break the hold. As the referee reaches 4 and a half he pushes Sevren off Williams. Sevren reaches behind the ref and pokes Williams in the eye. With Williams still smarting, Sevren reasserts control with another wristlock heading back into the corner. Sevren then mounts the turnbuckle and plants Williams with a tornado DDT. Sevren goes for a quick cover.
ON- NO!
MW: Definitely going to need more than that to pick up a win!
SD: Jack's just getting into Williams' head, Watson, he's reminding him that he can end this match any time he wants.
MW: Except right now.
SD: Well, he didn't want to right now.
Sevren grabs Williams in a waistlock and hits a quick bridging German suplex, keeping Williams off-balance. The referee counts.
ONE!
NO!
Williams kicks out. Jack nods passively and looks towards Jones outside. Jones simply nods in response. Williams starts towards his feet. Sevren whips him into a corner and looks for a dropkick. Williams regains his bearings and sidesteps leaving no one home and Sevren to crash to the mat. Before Sevren can pull himself up with the ring ropes, Williams runs the opposite side and rebounds into a cannonball. Williams gets up and runs back to the ropes. Sevren pulls himself up about halfway and Williams hits him with a running knee strike to the midsection, doubling Sevren over. Williams starts to clap to the crowd before launching. Williams lunges off the ropes and splashes hard onto Sevren, but before Sevren can collapse Williams runs the ropes again and hits another big splash, and another, and another. Williams calls for one more splash and lets out a holler reminiscent of a certain Scorpion. Williams dives for Sevren, but Sevren dodges aside and Williams smashes headfirst into the turnbuckle.
MW: Quite the burst of agility from Williams!
SD: And quite the dead end for him too!
Sevren sees an opening and climbs to the top turnbuckle behind Williams' back. Sevren dives off the top rope and takes down Williams with a snapmare, driving him once more face-first into the mat. Sevren goes for a cover.
ONE!
TW- NO!
Williams kicks out once more. Sevren starts to show some anger but takes a deep breath and resumes the match.
MW: Sevren looking a little annoyed at how easily Williams kicked out.
SD: He's still slowing down, though, just watch.
Sevren reaches for Williams but Williams catches Sevren with an Irish whip into the ropes. Sevren rebounds and Williams hits a discus clothesline and drops to a knee. Having bought himself some separation, Williams climbs to the near ropes and springboards off into a senton for a cover.
ONE!
NO!
Sevren kicks out, Williams realizes he didn't cover strongly enough. As Sevren starts back up Williams grabs him into a snap DDT, stunning him. Williams looks for his next attack but notices Sevren is starting to stir again. Williams charges the ropes and hits him with a hard knee strike to the chest flattening Sevren. Williams, once more feeding off of the crowd's energy, climbs the top turnbuckle and motions for a Swanton Bomb
MW: Here it comes!
SD: No, Jack, look out!
Just before Williams launches himself, Sevren rolls to the outside clutching his ribs. The referee starts the ten count to re-enter the ring as Williams dismounts the turnbuckle. Sevren walks seemingly absent-mindedly towards the commentary desk. Bo starts up from his seat but Sevren backs him off. Sevren leans over to Jones, still in his seat, and looks to be conversing with him. As the referee's count reaches five, Williams gives a quick "alrighty then" shrug and charges the far ropes. Just as Sevren disengages with Jones, he is met by Williams coming over the top rope with a picture perfect tope con hilo, and the two crash hard onto the ground in front of the announce desk. Bo and Jones simply look back and forth between each other and the downed competitors as the referee restarts the count
MW: What daredevilry from Williams here tonight! He's willing to do just about anything to pick up the win!
SD: He still has to get back in the ring, though! Can't win unless you're in the ring!
Williams stirs first as the referee reaches four. He pulls Sevren up and towards the apron. As he starts to roll Sevren back into the ring, Sevren grabs Williams by the hair and slams him into the apron facefirst several times. The referee's count reaches eight and Sevren rolls Williams back into the ring. Sevren nods once more to Jones before climbing into the ring himself by way of the top rope. Sevren perches himself on the top turnbuckle and leaps off into a knee-drop to Williams' head. Sevren pulls himself over to make a cover.
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Williams manages to raise his foot onto the ropes to break the pin, much to Sevren's ire. So much so, that Sevren grabs Williams' leg off of the rope, pulls Williams into the middle of the ring, and locks in a kneebar, seemingly less interested in forcing Williams to tap but to damage his legs. Williams tries to wrench himself free and succeeds after several agonizing moments by reaching the bottom rope. As Williams nurses his knee and the referee makes his checks, Sevren stalks Williams. He looks over to ringside to see Jones smiling wickedly. Sevren stands over Williams and draws his thumb across his throat, rolling his eyes back into his head.
MW: Oh, no, don't tell me he's going for it!
SD: I am telling you and he is! I can't wait!
Sevren grabs Williams by the weakened leg and pulls him up onto his stomach, taking control of both legs. Sevren reaches down to pull Williams up into the Tombstone, but Williams manages to hook his legs around Sevren's neck drive him into the mat with a last-ditch headscissor DDT
MW: How in the world did he have that in him?!
SD: It's just a fluke, he didn't know he was doing that!
Sevren struggles to clear his vision from the short drop and sudden stop. Williams hobbles to his feet and calls to the crowd for one last dose of energy. The crowd mounts up in cheers as Williams looks for the A-Triple Plus.
MW: He just might have it!
SD: Not for long! Look out, Aaron!
Davey Jones lunges forward from his seat and takes two large strides towards the apron looking to take down Williams. Suddenly, Jones is brought to the ground from a lightning-fast example of House Rules from Bo. Bo looks down at Jones and then up at Williams, giving him a "finish it" sign. Williams pulls Sevren up into position, and drops the A-Triple Plus onto his good knee for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Winner, and entrant into the Free-1 Tournament: Aaron Williams.
MW: Wow! Jack Sevren is out of the Free-1!
SD: No! No!
MW: Aaron Williams with a huge victory to send him into the Free-1. And now we know that Jack Sevren will be the biggest name thusfar to miss out on a Free-1 berth.
SD: The biggest so far. Until Jerry Bishop and Bobby O miss out at the hands of our FPW Champion later tonight.
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Backstage, we see Sato and Tchyukiro catching up with Hiro Takahara as he strides down a corridor.
HT: Watashi wa karera no detarame ki ni unzari shite imasu.
S: Dōi suru. Kore de owaridesu.
MT: Kore ijō fusei wa arimasen. Meiyo. Saigo no isshiai.
HT: Karera wa jibun-tachi o desusukuwaddo to yonde imasu ka? Watashitachi ga karera ni shin no shi o motarashite wa dōdeshou ka. Wafū.
Sato speaks directly to the camera.
S: Death Squad! You dishonour us again. You dishonour FPW again. You dishonour Tag Team Championships again. One final challenge. Death Squad versus Guardians of Strong Style. Tag Team Championships. No rules. Deathmatch. Free-1 final. You accept. Or we bring fight to you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MW: Up next we see an intriguing contest.
SD: Graham Baker, the man who was the ace of FPW, the FPW Champion, the man everyone wanted to beat. But who is he now?
MW: He may not be the champion, but it doesn’t mean he isn’t the ace of the company. He’s still a major player here and this is his chance to remind everyone how good he is.
SD: But has he picked the right opponent? We don’t know much about Go Shihei other than the fact that he’s a violent bastard who likes to do serious damage to his opponents. Would Baker not have been better to challenge someone like Zachary Bates?
MW: But why would Baker do that? He wants to prove that he’s still the man he was. Go Shihei is as good a man as anyone to prove that against.
‘DNA’ begins to play and Graham Baker steps out onto the ramp in his usual style. The fans explode for him, desperate to show him how much they still value him even though he isn’t champion. Baker looks out at all of them before marching down the ramp and sliding straight into the ring. He holds a low position for a moment, feeling the plywood that is usually covered by the mat before getting to his feet and climbing the turnbuckle, taking in the atmosphere as the fans continue to applaud him.
‘Fury, Oh Fury’ begins and the fans give a mixed reaction. Once the lyrics have begun and the dark red and white lights have come up, Go Shihei steps into the arena, Kat Mustang following on just behind him. He walks to the ring, his eyes on Baker all the way as he pumps himself up by beating on his chest and slapping himself in the head. As he reaches the ring, he walks all the way around it, feeling the wooden boards and checking out the weaponry which surrounds the ring. After a full circuit of the ring, Shihei climbs onto the apron and steps through the ropes, where he stands, staring straight at Baker.
Match 3: Japanese Deathmatch: Graham Baker v Go Shihei (written by Baker):
As the match starts, both Baker and Shihei toe the ground tenuously, aware of the dangers of the revealed plywood below. Shihei invites Baker for a lockup, and Baker agrees-only for Shihei to take advantage and immediately begin battering Baker with forearms! Baker’s taken aback, and Kate Mustang watches eagerly as Shihei uses his overwhelming force and power to dominate Baker. Shihei throws Baker into the barbed wire ropes, but Baker manages to stop short-ONLY FOR SHIHEI TO FOLLOW UP WITH A LARIAT FROM BEHIND SENDING BAKER INTO THE BARBED WIRE! Baker screams out in pain as Shihei lines up again, a wicked smile on his face-CROSSBODY that sends Baker into the barbed wire ropes! Shihei rolls off of Baker, who’s stuck on the ropes, and goes for one more dropkick-BUT SOMEHOW, BAKER MANAGES TO GET UP AND THROW SHIHEI OVER ONTO THE HARD APRON! Baker slips out between the ropes tenuously, making eye contact with Kate Mustang as he pulls Shihei up onto his shoulders for a Mustang Driver onto the apron-but Shihei nails Baker with repeated elbows to the head, causing Baker to drop him! He turns Baker around, picking him up-GERMAN SUPLEX into the apron! Baker rolls off in agonizing pain as Shihei follows him down.
Shihei grabs Baker and lays him out over the barricade, before reaching under the ring and grabbing a chair. He lets out a grunt as he hefts it high-AND SLAMS IT DOWN on the back of Graham Baker! Baker cries out in pain, and Shihei nails him again and again, doing incredible amounts of damage to Baker’s back, which was already aching from his match against Davey Jones! Shihei drags Baker off of the barricade and yanks it down, screaming at Watson and Deville before he sets Baker up on the announce table, pulling most of the gear on top off of it. Shihei climbs back in the ring as Mustang points to the top rope, screaming at him to ‘go for it’. He nods, going for his Year of the Toad-BUT BAKER ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY, SENDING SHIHEI THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE! Shihei writhes in pain on the ground as Graham Baker grabs his left arm, but Shihei struggles against it! Baker looks up to spot Mustang screaming at Shihei to ‘block his arm’, and Baker grunts, trying to yank it up-but Shihei powers through with immense strength, getting Baker up onto his shoulders. He goes for a Samoan Drop onto the chairs behind the announce table, but Baker fights against it, drilling Shihei with a combination of kicks before he lines up for a dropkick that sends Shihei out into the crowd! The crowd begins to scatter as Baker jumps up on the barricade-MOONSAULT FROM THE BARRICADE ONTO THE LEFT ARM OF GO SHIHEI!
Shihei clutches his arm in pain as Baker tries to grab a hold of it again, nailing it with stomps and kicks before he tries to lock in the Emergency Landing on the chairs, but Shihei’s had enough and he manages to get back to his feet before Baker can lock the hold in. He grabs Baker with a biel toss and HURLS him back to the ringside area, climbing out of the crowd and grabbing Baker by the arms. He rolls Baker back up onto the apron, and lines up-BIG BOOT to the skull of Graham Baker! Baker rolls back in the ring, clutching his face, as Shihei rolls in after him. He pulls Baker up for the Dead Man’s Bomb, drawing a line across his throat, but Baker manages to reverse the bomb into a roll-up!
ONE!
TW-NO! SHIHEI KICKS OUT!
Baker tries once again to transition into the Emergency Landing, but Shihei is able to expertly counter by getting Baker on his back and nailing him with a series of strikes to the head. Shihei stomps on Baker’s back again, sending it into the revealed plywood and causing great pain to Graham Baker. He tries to transition into a Liontamer to taunt The Aviator, but Baker manages to counter before Shihei can get it locked in, reversing onto his back and LAUNCHING Shihei with a dropkick from a grounded position! Baker goes for a mushroom stomp onto Shihei’s already injured arm, but Shihei pulls it out of the way, getting back to his feet as Baker rolls to his base-LARIAT to Graham Baker that flips Baker ass-over-head! Shihei goes for a cover on Baker!
ONE!
TWO!!
TH-NO! BAKER KICKS OUT!
Baker tries to immediately transition into his Emergency Landing, but Shihei’s having none of it again and rolls Baker through before harshly booting him in the face. He grabs Baker and pulls him up before chopping him hard across the chest with a loud SLAP resounding through the arena! Baker falls over to clutch his chest, and Shihei nails him with another chop, and another, before forcing Baker into the corner! He begins chopping Baker repeatedly, pulling him off of the corner and sending him into the barbed wire with another harsh chop. He lets out a roar and rips Baker off, placing him chest-first onto the ropes before he begins beating Baker’s back into the ropes harshly, causing the barbed wire to stick into Baker’s already battered and bruised chest. Shihei lines up for another dropkick, but Mustang screams not to and tosses in a chair and a bag of thumb tacks. Shihei nods, and pours the tacks out as Baker yanks himself off of the barbed wire with immense pain.
Shihei beckons Baker on, and Baker nods, running forward as Shihei pops him up-BUT BAKER TAKES ADVANTAGE AND NAILS SHIHEI WITH A BRUTAL POP-UP HURRICANRANA INTO THE TACKS! Shihei tries to recover as Baker grabs the chair and places it on top of Shihei’s head, going to the top rope-LANDING GEAR DOUBLE STOMP ONTO THE CHAIR ATOP GO SHIHEI! With the chair bent, Baker goes to throw it out of the ring...but hesitates, instead grabbing Shihei’s arm and sticking it in the chair wreckage. Mustang screams out as Baker nails Shihei’s trapped arm with a double stomp, and Shihei yanks it out, for once showing pain with a vicious yell. Baker’s not having it, however, and goes for a soccer kick to the head of Shihei-but Shihei ducks it and pops Baker up-POWERBOMB into the tacks! Shihei goes for a cover on Graham Baker!
ONE!
TWO!!
THR-NO! BAKER KICKS OUT!
Shihei grunts, his injured arm having taken more and more damage, and he looks at Mustang with a wary glance. He wrings his arm out and grabs Baker, dragging him back to his feet but keeping him at a ripcord’s length, going for a Ripcord Lariat-but Baker flips over Shihei and somehow ends up in a position with Shihei set up for a Sit-out Powerbomb! Baker attempts to heft Shihei up, but his injured back prevents him, and as such, he places Shihei down-POINT BLANK KNEE TO THE FACE OF GO SHIHEI! Shihei drops to a knee, and Baker goes for an Enziguri, but Shihei manages to grab Baker and spin him back around-SCREAMING FOREARM TO THE HEAD OF GRAHAM BAKER! Baker crashes hard to the canvas, and Shihei hits him with a massive running splash, going for a pin-BUT BAKER TRANSITIONS INTO THE EMERGENCY LANDING-ONLY FOR SHIHEI TO COUNTER AND GET BAKER UP FOR A POWERBOMB-AND HE POWERBOMBS GRAHAM BAKER INTO THE BARBED WIRE!
Baker cries out in pain, and Shihei lets out a roar as he rushes forward and nails Baker with repeated forearms from his good arm, before whipping Baker into one of the corners, going to follow up with a lariat to the back of Baker’s neck-but Baker leapfrogs Shihei, landing behind him-RUNNING HIGH KNEE THAT SENDS SHIHEI’S HEAD INTO THE EXPOSED TURNBUCKLE! Shihei stumbles off, and Baker runs up-LEAPING STOMP TO SEND SHIHEI’S HEAD INTO THE PLYWOOD! Baker goes for a pin on Shihei!
ONE!
TWO!!
THRE-NO! SHIHEI KICKS OUT!
Shihei powers through Baker getting back to his feet and begins drilling Baker with repeated forearms from a grounded position, before grabbing Baker for a Vertical Lift Suplex, only for Baker to knee Shihei in the head and stop him from locking the suplex in all the way. Baker manages to land on his feet as Shihei’s stunned, blood running down his face, and he grabs Shihei around the waist-GERMAN SUPLEX INTO THE THUMBTACKS WITH AN IMMENSE SHOWING OF STRENGTH! Baker rolls Shihei back onto his knees, and Shihei motions for Baker to bring it on, leading to Baker nailing Shihei with repeated shoot kicks to the chest, brusing it, before Baker nails him with a kick to the head-BUT SHIHEI STAYS UP! Shihei motions for Baker to bring it on again, and Baker roars, running-SHOTGUN KNEES TO GO SHIHEI! Baker goes for another cover!
ONE!
TWO!!
THRE-NO!!! SHIHEI KICKS OUT!
Baker goes to his knees as the crowd start to get behind him once again, understanding the underdog struggle they see before them. Baker looks to Shihei and pulls him up with his foot, getting him back onto his knees-LOW ANGLE LARIAT TO GO SHIHEI-BUT SHIHEI WORKS THROUGH IT, ABSORBING THE HIT! SHIHEI PULLS HIMSELF BACK UP-LARIAT THAT SENDS BAKER ASS OVER HEAD ONCE AGAIN! Shihei goes for a leaping knee drop to Baker, but Baker rolls out of the way, sending Shihei’s knees crashing hard into the plywood beneath him! Baker lines up, ready to bring about the end with one more Emergency Landing to the injured arm of Go Shihei, but Shihei resists it, swinging Baker around into a spin-out powerbomb onto the plywood!
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE-NO!!! BAKER KICKS OUT AGAIN!
Shihei looks amused as he pulls Baker up for one more powerbomb, likely setting up the Final Bomber, but Baker reverses the powerbomb into a Victory Roll, rolling through Go Shihei! He grabs his arm and begins stomping and kicking it, causing Shihei to throw Baker into the turnbuckle! Shihei goes for his lariat one final time to prep Baker for the Dead Man’s Bomb, but Baker ducks it, catching Shihei by the arm and dragging him down with an armdrag onto the canvas! Shihei pops up onto his feet, but it’s too late-Baker grabs his injured arm and looks to go for the Emergency Landing-BUT HE SHIFTS IT INTO A FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Shihei and Mustang look shocked by this as Baker grounds Go Shihei, pushing back and applying major pressure to his arm before he begins drilling Shihei in the skull with North-South elbows! Shihei looks shocked, looks to Mustang-and he taps out!
Winner: Graham Baker (18:08, Submission)
Baker rolls to his feet as he breaks the armbar, barely managing to get back up as the adrenaline of the match wears off. He looks to Kate Mustang, who rolls into the ring, looking over Shihei...before she looks to Baker. She gives him a seductive smile and offers her hand, but Baker looks it over for a moment...and shakes his head. He collects his ICW World Heavyweight Championship and rolls out of the ring, heading to the outside as he walks off...
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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Berry Bishop:
DB: Berry. Thank you for joining me. How are you preparing for the Free-1?
BB: I can’t wait to get back to the Free-1, Dashy! When I was in it last year, I was just starting out in FPW. But now, I’m the Freedom Champion and I feel better than ever. I’m ready to be a genuine contender to win the Free-1 this year.
DB: And-
Ted Crewmember interrupts.
TC: I’m sorry, Dasha. We need to get over to the locker room.
The camera shakes as it is quickly moved along the corridor. Dasha and Berry lead the way, Dasha pushing the door open to see two people in FPW shirts crouching over someone wearing a bomber jacket.
DB: Bobby?
The two FPW workers move and we see Bobby O lying face down on the floor, a lead pipe next to him and a trickle of blood flowing from his head. A medical team quickly enters and shoos the camera out, alongside the rest of them.
MW: Well if this isn’t the work of Jack Sevren, I’ll be amazed.
SD: There’s no evidence to suggest Sevren is behind this.
MW: Really? A man who is angry after losing his Free-1 qualifier earlier tonight who has a very serious issue with Bobby O right now and a horse in the next race which just seriously increased his chance of winning. It was Sevren for sure.
SD: Maybe he just slipped and the pipe fell on his head…
MW: Slipped and… Ridiculous.
SD: Whatever happened, there’s no way Bobby O can compete tonight. He was out cold! This match is down to Jerry Bishop v Davey Jones. And I know who wins that.
MW: Well… I have to say I think we both do. Jerry Bishop hasn’t won a match all year and Davey Jones… well, he’s dominated FPW since his return and is now the FPW Champion. I fear for Jerry tonight.
‘Comedian’s Gallop’ begins and Jerry Bishop emerges from behind the curtain. He bows deeply to the fans before MDE walks out behind him. Jerry stands and MDE whispers into his ear. Instead of his usual dance conducting down the ramp, Jerry walks down the ramp, slapping hands with fans as he looks back at MDE, who gives him a slight disapproving look but doesn’t intervene. When Jerry gets to the ring, he slides in and runs the ropes a couple of times before posing for the fans and actively pumping them up to get behind him. MDE looks on from the outside.
After the music stops, the fans turn their heads to the ramp awaiting the new FPW Champion. ‘Bully’ begins and Davey, the title around his waist, walks out onto the ramp followed by Jack Sevren, who stands with a huge grin on his face. Davey raises his arms before slowly walking down the ramp, his eyes locked on Jerry. He reaches the ring and steps onto the apron before climbing over the top rope. He raises his arms again and points at Jerry before removing the belt and handing it to Sevren, who slings it over his shoulder as he stands on the outside.
The official checks both men and calls for the bell, announcing the match as a singles match.
Match 4: Free-1 Qualifier: Davey Jones v Jerry Bishop:
Both men hang back as a ‘Je-rry Bi-shop’ chant picks up, although it doesn’t quite gain the same momentum as usual. MDE looks on intensely from the outside while Sevren yells encouragement to Davey, both hands holding Davey’s belt. After a few moments, the two of them come forward to lock up. Jerry goes in low, ducking the lock-up attempt from Davey and catching a waistlock. Davey grips Jerry’s wrists and forces his grip apart before backing him into the corner. Jerry grunts with the impact before catching a hard back elbow from Davey. Davey steps out of the corner and turns to Jerry, aiming a hard lariat. Jerry, however, ducks it and rolls out of the corner, springing to his feet and leapfrogging Davey as he runs at him.
Davey stops short of the corner but Jerry runs at him and connects with a running dropkick which sends the champion into the turnbuckles. Davey staggers away and Jerry goes for a schoolboy roll-up, 1-2-no. Davey manages to escape the pin attempt. Jerry quickly makes it to his feet as MDE and Sevren each look on, Sevren with a look of mild concern while MDE nods and shadow-wrestles as he envisions the next moves. Jerry delivers a rolling elbow to Davey, who barely moves, before he takes another and another, finally staggering. Jerry then connects with a step-up enzeguiri and rolls Davey up with a small package, 1-2-no. Davey again just escapes.
MW: This is a great start from the Jes- the Joker.
SD: He knows he can’t play his usual game of slowly building. MDE has Jerry fully prepared for this one. He’s sticking and moving and he’s happy to take the quick win if he can manage it. So far, it’s working quite well, but Davey hasn’t stayed down yet.
MW: What’s Jerry looking for here?
Jerry doesn’t let Davey up, instead looking to trap the arms and go for the Last Laugh. Davey, however, frees his arms with ease and catches Jerry around the throat. Sevren yells gleefully as Davey lifts Jerry into the air and drives him hard into the mat with a chokeslam. Davey makes a cover, 1-2-no. Jerry manages to kick out but he can’t get to his feet as quickly as he’d like and Davey sets him up for a pump handle slam, which he delivers with brutal force. Jerry arches his back as Davey stands. The champion pulls Jerry to his feet and throws him into the corner, running at him and hitting him with a huge splash. Jerry drops down to a seated position and Davey backs away into the opposite corner before taking a run up and looking for a cannonball, only to be met with a loud cheer as Jerry barely dodges him.
Jerry pulls himself up and stalks Davey, connecting with another step-up enzeguiri and following up immediately with a bulldog. Jerry then rolls to the outside and doesn’t wait long to hit a slingshot DDT. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Davey powers out. Jerry stands but staggers for a moment, allowing Davey to get to his feet too. Jerry darts in but gets caught, Davey lifting him for a fireman’s carry and planting him into the mat before following up with a big leg drop. He covers Jerry, 1-2-no. Jerry just gets a shoulder up.
MW: Jerry Bishop still in this one!
SD: But it doesn’t look too good for him now.
MW: The tables have certainly turned. Davey Jones can take control of a match in an instant.
SD: His devastating power is really on display in this match. Jerry Bishop can’t withstand this kind of impact for long. If Graham Baker barely lasted ten minutes, I’d be amazed if Jerry lasts much longer than this.
Davey grabs Jerry by the hair and pulls him into position for a powerbomb. He lifts him onto his shoulders but Jerry manages to reverse into a hurricanrana, holding for a cover, 1-2-no! Davey barely escapes. Jack Sevren breathes a sigh of relief on the outside, nearly losing grip on the FPW Championship but lifting it back onto his shoulder just in time, taking a moment to admire it as he does. Both men scramble to their feet and Davey swings at Jerry, who ducks and connects with a side Russian leg sweep. He rolls under the bottom rope and stalks Davey. MDE tries to get Jerry’s attention, moving around to his side of the ring, but Jerry leaps up before MDE can get there, looking for a springboard forearm. Davey, however, catches Jerry in mid-air and turns the move into a devastating chokeslam!
Davey looks down at Jerry before calling for the Looney Bin. The fans hold their breaths as Davey lifts Jerry and locks in the chicken wing. He begins to spin but Jerry somehow manages to hook his foot behind Davey’s leg and use that to break the hold, dropping down and rolling the champion up once again, 1-2-no! Davey just escapes for a fourth time. The fans hold their heads but Jerry remains focussed, standing and readying himself as Davey stands. He connects with the parallel snapmare and rolls through, completing the Touchstone Takedown with a kick so powerful that it sends him off his feet. He scrambles over to Davey and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Davey kicks out.
MW: He kicks out!
SD: Of course he kicked out. He’s the FPW Champion. He’s the best we have around here. He can kick out of anything, as he proved against Graham Baker.
MW: Jerry only has one way to go now, surely? He needs to hit the Last Laugh.
SD: But can he hold Davey in position for long enough?
MW: I don’t know, but he has to find a way if he’s going to feature in this year’s Free-1.
Davey stands and Jerry stands ready. He kicks him in the gut and looks to trap his arms, but Davey quickly reverses, lifting Jerry for a vertical suplex. Jerry, however, drives a knee into Davey’s head and drops down, trying once more to trap the arms. He traps them and is about to let out his usual booming laugh when Davey forces his arms free once more. This time Davey looks to lift Jerry up for Psychosis. He begins to hit the move but Jerry uses the momentum to swing himself into a small package! 1-2-no! Davey somehow escapes. This time, however, Jerry is ready. There are no theatrics as Jerry transitions perfectly into the Chelsea Smile. Davey thrashes around to try and break the hold but Jerry manages to hold on like he’s riding a bull.
MW: Davey is about to tap!
SD: No he isn’t. He’s about to break the hold!
MW: He can’t. Jerry has it locked in too well. Davey Jones, the FPW Champion, is about to tap out to Jerry Bishop!
SD: Not a chance!
Davey raises his arm but he doesn’t tap, even though Jerry pulls back as hard as he possibly can. As Jerry pulls back even harder, Davey rolls backwards and manages to stand, lifting Jerry with him and repositioning him. The fans gasp as they realise the Jerry is perfectly set up for Psychosis. Just as Davey is about to drive him into the mat and win the match, he pauses, and the fans explode, as ‘This Means War’ begins to play. Bobby O strides out onto the ramp, still wearing his bomber jacket, and he breaks into a run towards the ring. Davey drops Jerry and stares down Bobby as he slides into the ring. The two men square up for a moment as Sevren enters the ring too. Both of them look set to attack Bobby but they pauses as Bobby pulls the lead pipe from the sleeve of his jacket. He points it at Sevren and Davey as they back away. As they do, Jerry stands.
MW: We have a stand-off here.
SD: He’s hurt. They can just take the pipe from his hand!
MW: I’m not sure Bobby O has any intention of coming quietly tonight.
SD: Intention or not, he won’t have a choice if Davey and Sevren choose to attack him.
Bobby lifts the pipe and swings it, but he connects with Jerry! The fans gasp and stand in silence as Bobby stands over Jerry. Davey and Sevren stand with looks of shock on their faces, barely anybody noticing the bell ringing. Bobby turns to Davey and Sevren and gives them a big grin as the fans realise what is going on and start booing loudly. Bobby extends a hand to Sevren, who stares down very warily before slowly extending his own. The two men shake hands before Bobby turns to Davey and offers the same hand. The fans continue to boo and to sling rubbish into the ring as the two men shake hands and Sevren claps Bobby on the back.
MW: I… I don’t believe what I’m seeing here!
SD: I mean… if you can’t beat them, join them, I guess. But even I didn’t see this coming.
MW: And now… now Bobby O starts directing traffic. This… this is despicable.
Bobby points to Jerry, who is just starting to stand. Davey pulls Jerry up and lifts him onto his shoulders, delivering Psychosis. Sevren and Bobby each raise one of Davey’s arms as he stands with his foot on Jerry’s chest, making what he believes is the match-winning cover. But the official doesn’t count and Sevren turns to him and begins berating him. The official extends his arms and looks to Dasha Banks on the outside.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of the match via disqualification, and retaining his place in the Free-1… Jerry Bishop!”
Winner: Jerry Bishop.
The booing turns to silence which soon turns to cheers as Bobby O smiles widely. Sevren turns to him as he realises what Bobby has done but he’s too late to block the blow from the lead pipe. Davey too turns, but he’s also floored by Bobby with the pipe. The fans continue to cheer as Bobby pumps them up loudly. Bobby stands over both Davey and Jack Sevren, who still has a hand on the FPW Championship, lead pipe raised, as the show fades to black.
