Free-1 Thread (Matches and Preview Shows)

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:

MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm! 
MW: What a contest!
SD: Did you see what he just did?
MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!
MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!
MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!
MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is! 
SD: That man is super-human! 
SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!  
SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.
SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!
MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.
MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.
SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!
MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw! 
MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!   
SD: What just happened?
SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!
MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.
MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!
SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!
MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!
MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!
SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.
MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.
MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!
MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.
SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.
MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!
SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.
MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.
SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.
MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!
MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.
SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!
SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now
MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!
SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.
MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.

Dasha Banks sits in a studio alongside Jim Houston, Mike Watson and Steven Deville.

DB: Welcome everyone to the official Freedom Pro Wrestling Free-1 II preview show live right here of freedomprowrestling.com, as of course the entirety of the Free-1 tournament will be. I’m joined tonight by our announce team of Mike Watson and Steven Deville as well as our General Manager Jim Houston as we delve into all things Free-1. We will have picks, matches to watch and comments on all twelve of the competitors. But first, Mr. Houston, can you please tell us a little about the 8 port an early of the Free-1 to FPW?

JH: Thank you Dasha. It’s great to be here tonight. It feels like just a few months ago we were sat in the same places discussing the inaugural Free-1 and I can’t believe it’s come around again so soon. The Free-1 is the most exciting time of the year for me as FPW General Manager. It’s pure wrestling. For a month, we can forget all of the bullshit that goes along with running a wrestling company and allow twelve of the best wrestlers in the world to try and out-do each other as they look to hoist what has already become a very prestigious trophy all around the world. It also kicks off our run towards the biggest show of the year as we set half of our Judgement Day II main event in stone. It’s also a great jumping on point for new FPW fans as they discover us. Last year saw the biggest spike in views on our website and of our shows and so many of those fans stayed around to help grow FPW into the company that we are today. The Free-1 had a huge role to play in that growth and I hope for the same this year too.

DB: Now Mike, this tournament has a very different field to last year. How do you think that will affect the tournament?

MW: It certainly does. Out go Super Che Junior, MDE, Tommy Storm, Edward Dessius, Azazel and Adam Thompson and in come Jace Mason, Elizabeth Karlson, Aaron Williams, Botiatus, Go Shihei and Artemis Evans. That’s half the field which has been turned over. The newcomers will have to learn quickly how to adapt to the rigours of the Free-1 while those who competed last year will have to use the advantage of knowing what it takes to make it through five tough matches but also shrug off any nagging doubts from the failures of last year that really all of them except for Graham Baker will have.

DB: Steven. Let’s talk blocks. How do you feel the draw has planned out?

SD: I think it’s fascinating. The two finalists from last year are together in the B Block, but only one of them has the form to suggest they could win the Free-1. Otherwise, the B Block has the likes of Botiatus and Go Shihei who are still looking to prove themselves and Artemis Evans and Clutch McCloud who have been here for a while and are looking to make the step up to the main event level. It seems like a Block with a clear favourite. The A Block on the other hand seems like a Block without one. All six of the competitors in that block could make a genuine case for winning it. Marcus has to be the marginal favourite, but there are two champions, the Young Lions’ Cup winner, one of the biggest names on the independent scene and someone who has been one of the best wrestlers in the company this year. In my opinion, that’s the block which will steal the spotlight this year.

DB: Lets go through the competitors then. In draw order, I’d like a short summary of what you expect from the. And what questions they may need to answer this year. Let’s start with Berry Bishop. Mr. Houston?

JH: Berry is having a great year. She’s Freedom Champion and comes into this tournament with as much momentum as anyone. Can she sustain that and use it to really vault into the main event scene?

MW: Last year, Berry Bishop managed two points more out of luck than skill. The question for her is whether she can be a genuine contender with so many matches over a relatively short time. We know how good she is, but she has to make a big improvement from last year if she wants to win this Block.

SD: Last year, Berry was a bit of a joke. This year, she’s shown she can be taken seriously but I’m not sure she’s ready to compete with the very best. I think she’ll do fine, but I think she may come unstuck as the competition goes on.

DB: And in the B Block we have Artemis Evans. Steven, you’re a big fan but do you see her as a genuine contender?

SD: I happen to know that Artemis Evans sees this as an opportunity to show everyone just how good she really is. Her Women’s Title reign didn’t get the respect it deserved, so she’s going to earn that respect through this tournament. There will be some tough matches for her but I think she could have a good showing.

JH: I signed Artemis Evans because she genuinely is one of the best women in the world. She also happens to like taking shortcuts. Can she win without those shortcuts? That’s what I’d like to see her do in the Free-1 and I’ll consider her a success no matter what her points total if she approaches each match fairly.

MW: It’s her Free-1 debut and she’s up against some very tough competitors. I don’t think she can win the B Block but I think she’ll pick up a few points along the way.

DB: I’m sure we can all see Marcus Allen Jones picking up points in the A Block. But is this the same old Marcus, Mike?

MW: I, probably not the best person to answer that. What I do know is that Marcus Allen Jones is probably the most naturally gifted wrestler on the roster and maybe in the world. To me, he’s the favourite for the A Block but he has to be focussed. Last year he couldn’t beat Jerry Bishop on the opening night and he couldn’t take down Clutch McCloud when he needed a win to make the final. He has to avoid the mistakes as he can’t afford them in a Block like this.

SD: Is this the same old Marcus? Honestly, I don’t think he is. He’s moving away from TakeOver, rightly or wrongly, and he seems to be maturing. He’s still as talented as ever and I think he’s going to win at the very least his block and quite possibly the whole tournament.

JH: I agree almost entirely with Mike. If Marcus focuses on the wrestling, he could well walk away with another trophy. If he focuses on everything else like he so often has, he could be ending the Free-1 with a disappointing result once again.

DB: Well, let’s talk about last year’s shock runner-up. Jerry Bishop has been on a horrible run this year. Will it come to an end in this tournament?

MW: I have to think it will. I don’t like Jerry working with MDE, but you have to admit that MDE will make sure Jerry is ready, I don’t see him losing five more matches. Can he will the Block? I don’t see it. But I hope this is the start of Jerry returning to... well... Jerryness.

SD: MDE will help Jerry to prepare but can he help him to make the right decisions when it comes to the key moments? Psychologically, Jerry is all over the place. He needs to get his win early if he wants to have a chance of winning the Block because a couple of early losses and I’m afraid it’s curtains for The Joker.

JH: I too have mixed feelings about him working with MDE, but I think it’ll prove valuable for Jerry. If he can gain a couple of wins and get his confidence back, he has a chance of winning the Block and the entire Free-1.

DB: A big call there. Back to the A Block and we have Jace Mason making his debut after declining the chance to enter last year. He had a great run with the Freedom Championship this year but can he make the next step?

JH: Jace is a great talent and a better person. I’d love nothing more than to see him holding that trophy aloft after the workS put in this year. But he has a lot to overcome to win this Block, and it might be a step too far too soon for him.

MW: Mason has had some of the best matches this year in FPW but he hasn’t beaten a true top star. If he wants to win this Block, he’s almost certainly going to have to beat the likes of Marcus Allen Jones, James Saturn and the woman who pinned him to win the Freedom Championship, Berry Bishop. It won’t be easy, but he’s got the ability.

SD: He didn’t enter last year because he was scared of losing. This year he’s got better, but I question that attitude. Can he bounce back when he inevitably loses a match? That’s why I think he won’t quite make it to the top of this Block.

DB: Botiatus is probably the man we know the least about in this tournament. Mr,Houston, he’s certainly been confident since joining FPW. Can he win this tournament?

JH: One hundred percent he can. He is a confident person and that has meant I’ve had to have words with him, but he’s confident because he’s good enough to be. I think his match on the first night of the block could determine the winner. If he can beat Baker, he might be the man to take this Block and the whole tournament.

SD: I agree that he has the talent but does he have the experience? He’s done well on the west coast but this is something bigger. He needs to have a lot  of resilience to win this tournament and I don’t know if he has the experience to tough it out when he’s in pain in his last couple of block matches.

MW: Botiatus has rubbed a few people up the wrong way since signing here. I think he goes into this tournament with a target on his back. He could win the Block, but he’s going to get the best of every opponent and that will make it very tough for him to win the Free-1.

DB: Well we’re now over halfway through the competitors as we’ve reached James Saturn. He managed four points in his Free-1 debut. Can he go better than that this time?


SD: Short answer, yes. I think James Saturn is one of the favourites for this Block. He’s had a lot of time off recently and I think he’s tuning himself up for a real go at the Free-1. He won the Young Lions’ Cup and there’s no reason he can’t win this tournament too.

MW: I agree that he can go better than four points. The only thing holding him back will be his own attitude. Much like Marcus Allen Jones, he needs to focus on winning his matches rather than getting into verbal altercations with the fans. I think six points could win this Block and I think Saturn is capable of getting them.

JH: One man who certainly thinks that Saturn can go better than four points is Saturn himself. He’ll be backing himself to win this Block and I think he’ll be there or thereabouts by the end of August.

DB: Go Shihei is a rather enigmatic presence here in FPW. Does he have what it takes to hoist that. Trophy?

SD: Yes. My question with Go Shihei is his conditioning. He’s big, and that’s an advantage, but it’ll also mean that his matches will take more out of him. I expect a fast start but I think he might tail off towards the end,

JH: Go Shihei is a very impressive wrestler. You mention his conditioning, but I think he’ll have a big impact on that of his opponents. Facing him early could be a disadvantage to Artemis Evans and Jerry Bishop as he’ll no doubt leave them with a lot of aches and pains. He may not win this Block, but he could be a real spoiler for others.

MW: I think Go Shihei is a dark horse for this tournament. There isn’t much tape out there on hi. And that will help him. He also has Kate Mustang to ensure he’s ready and prepared. She will need to be factored in. If Garaham Baker doesn’t win this Block, I really think it could be Go Shihei.

DB: Aaron Williams was perhaps a surprise qualifier over Jack Sevren, but we all know how good he is. Could he be the one holding up the trophy on September first?

MW: Much like my last answer, I think he will really step it up in this tournament. This is a man who loves being in the ring. Having more matches will be a real motivator for Aaron Williams. If he gets early momentum, there could be no stopping him.

SD:For my money, Williams has been disappointing since making his debut. He had a team with Jace Mason that didn’t really go anywhere and then he was utterly destroyed by Davey Jones. He has a lot of questions to answer in this tournament.

JH: I’m going to be honest with you... Aaron Williams is my pick. For me, he’s a top five wrestler anywhere in the world. He’s motivated and he’s in great shape. I know he didn’t go so well against Davey but I think that was a blip. Aaron Williams is the real deal and he’s going to be true contender for this tournament.

DB: We’re getting towards the last few entrants now and we get to someone entering with really no fanfare at all. Clutch McCloud has qualified for the Free-1 and has now said that he refuses to face Artemis Evans out of principle. Mr. Houston, what is your response to that.

JH: Quite honestly, I’m disappointed. We are proud exponents of inter gender wrestling here at FPW and I’d expect everyone who signs here to respect that. I’ve told Clutch that he needs to either suck it up or find a suitable replacement otherwise he needs to withdraw from the Free-1 altogether.

SD: I hope he doesn’t withdraw. Clutch with his new attitude is a possible winner of this tournament. He won’t take any prisoners and that’s important in this tournament. Everyone in the B Block needs to be wary of Clutch.

MW: I hope he does agree to wrestle Evans as that’s a match I’d love to see. Will Clutch win this tournament? I’m not sure he will. But as Steven rightly says, he will be someone to watch out for. He could be a major factor in who does ultimately win that block.

DB: The final entrant into the A Block is Women’s Champion Elizabeth Karlson. Can she make the step up to the Free-1 successfully?

MW: I think she can. That first match against Berry is going to be fascinating as a champion versus champion match. The winner will gain a lot of confidence while the loser could find themselves quickly fading from the reckoning.

SD: Karlson is a good wrestler but she hasn’t had the experience of successful intergender wrestling that either Evans or Berry have. I think this tournament will be a learning curve for her. If she learns quickly, she could do very well. If not, then she’ll struggle.

JH: I believe Elizabeth Karlson to be one of the best pound for pound wrestlers in FPW. I think she’ll be a real contender in this Block. She could well make it all the way.

DB: And finally we come to the man many people are predicting to soon be a two-time, back-to-back Free-1 winner, Graham Baker. Can he win it again?

SD: I honestly think he will win the B Block and set up another encounter with Marcus Allen Jones in the final. They’re the best two wrestlers in the company and it would be the final we all want to see.

JH: I cant deny that I’d like to see that final. A lot many depend on Baker’s title match on the very first night. If he wins the belt back, I don’t see anyone stopping him. If not then it may become difficult for him as he’ll know this is the only way he’ll get a shot for a while.

MW: Baker is the man I expect to win the B Block but watch out for that first match. If he comes in hurting from facing Davey the night before, Botiatus could easily throw a spanner in the works.

DB: Well thank you to all three of you for those interesting thoughts. Now we come to Mike. Mike, you’ve put together a top ten list of matches that really shouldn’t be missed in this year’s Free-1. Mike?

MW: I have indeed. There are 36 matches in total in the block competition and I think so many will be truly excellent. But I’ve put together a list of those which I think really ought to be marked on every wrestling fan’s calendar.

10, B Block: Graham Baker v Go Shihei: 8/12:

A rematch of their excellent match on Road to Free-1 II: Night Three. It may not be as violent as their Japanese deathmatch but it certainly won’t be pretty.

9, A Block: James Saturn v Marcus Allen Jones: 8/1:

The very first match of this year’s Free-1 pitting two of the best high-flyers in FPW against one another. This could be a spectacle that everything else struggles to live up to.

8, A Block: Marcus Allen Jones v Jace Mason: 8/24:

One of the final matches of the A Block and another rematch from earlier in the year. Can Mason get a clean win over Marcus or will Marcus prove stronger than the former Freedom Champion?

7, A Block: Jace Mason v Aaron Williams: 8/1:

Another potential opening night classic as two former tag team partners face off against one another.

6, B Block: Botiatus v Jerry Bishop: 8/10:

Two men with styles that should mesh very well facing off after a match they had in a gym was caught on camera f ew weeks ago. Botiatus won that one but can he do the same when the pressure of the Free-1 ramps up in round three?

5, A Block: Elizabeth Karlson v Berry Bishop: 8/1:

The third of our opening night matches to make it onto the list. This is champion versus champion and the only all-woman match of the entire tournament. The winner will almost  certainly get a shot at the loser’s title. With so much on the line, this will be one to watch.

4, A Block: Jace Mason v Berry Bishop: 8/13:

Another big rematch as Jace Mason gets the chance to get his win back over the women who took the Freedom Title from him. That match was a classic and this one could well be even better as both will be battling for crucial points as we get towards the closing stages of the tournament.

3, B Block: Graham Baker v Botiatus: 8/2:

The first, but (spoiler) not last, Baker match on this list is his opening match against a man who’s been gunning for the top stars of the company since getting here, baker has made no secret of the fact that he hasn’t taken too kindly to Botiatus’ blistering start to life on the FPW roster and this will be his chance to teach Bo a lesson.

2, A Block: Marcus Allen Jones v Aaron Williams: 8/9:

If you don’t know why this match is must-watch, you haven’t seen much wrestling before. These two are probably the best pure athletes in the tournament and they’re sure to put on a classic that we won’t be able to take our eyes off. This is a rare first-time meeting in this tournament, and the winner will be in a great position to take the Block.

1, B Block: Graham Baker v Jerry Bishop: 8/25:

They contested last year’s final and it was many people’s match of the year. Jerry Bishop May be coming into the Free-1 in a dip, but he, and his new trainer, will be very much up for this match. Of all of the ,arches 8n this tournament,ent, this is possibly the most likely candidate for a time-limit draw.

DB: That’s a great list and I don’t think I can wait for any of those matches. Any disagreements?

JH: I think Mike has done a great job. I wouldn’t change much. That just highlights what a great tournament this is sure to be.

SD: Only two Marcus matches... and where is Artemis Evans? She’s always must-see.

DB: Moving very swiftly on... it’s time for predictions. Here’s what I want to know from each of you: Final Block standings, including points, and overall Free-1 winner. Let’s start with you, Steven.

SD: After much thought, I have it like this. At the top of the A Block is Marcus Allen Jones with 8 points. James Saturn also has 8 points but Marcus has him on the tie-breaker. Jace Mason, Elizabeth Karlson and Berry Bishop all have four points and Aaron Williams has two. The B Block has Baker top with eight, followed by Artemis Evans and Botiatus on six. Clutch McCloud and Go Shihei each have four points while Jerry Bishop manages two. Marcus beats Baker in the final.

DB: Sounds like a great tournament. How,about,you, Mr. Houston?

JH: My A Block has Williams with 8, then Marcus, Mason and Williams all with six. I then have Saturn and Berry with two, but each out up great showings along the way. In the B Block, I have Baker getting eight, Botiatus getting six and everyone else getting four each. I think Williams beats Baker in an absolutely classic final.

DB: And Mike, let’s close out with you.

MW: I think the A Block will be very close. I have Marcus, Saturn, Berry and Williams all with six points, Mason with four and Karlson with two. I’m going with Marcus on the tie-breaker. For the B Block, I’m taking Go Shihei over Graham Baker, both with six but Shihei beating Baker for the tie-breaker. I think Jerry Bishop and Botiatus each get five points after they draw an epic, and then Artemis Evans and Clutch McCloud each get four. I’ve got Marcus beating Shihei in the final.

DB: So there we have it. Three different finals and two different winners. Thank-

MW: Wait a minute, Dasha. As someone who correctly predicted the A Block finishing positions last year, we need to hear your predictions.

DB: Okay then. I think Berry Bishop wins the A Block. She gets eight points, Marcus and Mason each get six, Saturn and Williams each get four and Karlson gets two. Botiatus surprises everyone and wins the B Block with six points ahead of Baker and Jerry who also both have six. Clutch, Shihei and Evans all get four. Then I think Berry wins the final.

SD: Certainly... different.

DB: I believe in the Bombshell! And on that bombshell, we need to leave it there. Thank you so much to my guests, Mike Watson, Steven Deville and Jim Houston. We will be back soon with the first night of Free-1 action on August first, right here on freedomprowrestling.com.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Ladies and gentlemen, if you like what you just witnessed then Christmas has come early to FPW.

SD: Its Free-1 season and I could not be more excited!

MW: Twelve men will enter two blocks. Each man will face five gruelling matches before the two block winners compete on September 1st to crown our second ever Free-1 winner.

SD: And that winner will go on to the main event of Judgement Day II, the biggest show on the FPW calendar, to fight for the Freedom Pro Wrestling Championship. The journey to that match begins tonight.

MW: Of course tonight is the start of the A Block action. Tomorrow night we kick off the B Block. We’ve discussed this onfreedomprowrestling.com in the weeks leading up to this tournament, but I believe you’re especially pumped up for the A Block this year, Steven?

SD: I am indeed. A genuine case can be made for all six of these men to win this block. Personally I believe it will be my best friend Marcus Allen Jones, But James Saturn, Jace Mason, Aaron Williams, Elizabeth Karlson and Berry Bishop will all walk into tonight with very real ambitions of being in that Free-1 final one month from today.

MW: Tonight we get the first look at each competitor and the first points on the board for at least three of them. Who do you like tonight?

SD: Well I think Elizabeth Karlson and Berry Bishop, the first champion v champion match-up in Free-1 history by the way, could go either way or even all the way to a draw. Jace Mason May not have enough to defeat Aaron Williams but it could easily be his night and... well, Marcus Allen Jones did beat James Saturn last time out, but I think that result isn’t so clear-cut this time.

MW: In other words you don’t know.

SD: If you want to simplify it, I don’t really know.

MW: Then why don’t we find out. Ladies and gentlemen, I hand you over now to our ring announcer, Dasha Banks.



Dasha Banks stands in the ring with a microphone raised to her lips.



“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Chicago, Illinois for the first night of the second ever Freedom Pro Wrestling Free-1 Tournament!”



The fans cheer and a loud ‘Free-1’ chant begins.



“Our first match-up tonight is an A Block contest and is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time-limit. Introducing first... he is the current Young Lions’ Cup winner, from Portland, Oregon, he is known as The Paragon... James Saturn.”



The fans begin to boo as ‘White Knuckles’ hits the speakers. Saturn emerges through the curtain and regards the fans with distaste before swaggering his way down the ramp, jawjacking with fans and happily telling them how great he is. He looks to be in excellent condition, his time away from FPW clearly having been spent getting ready for the Free-1. Saturn climbs onto the apron and vaults over the top rope and into the ring before climbing to the top turnbuckle and standing there, revelling in the boos from the crowd. As his music stops, he drops down and settles in a corner.



“And his opponent... he is a former Young Lions’ Cup winner and a former FPW Champion. He hails from right here in Chicago, Illinois... Marcus Allen Jones.”



As ‘Cult of Personality’ begins to play, an odd sound fills the arena. There are a lot of boos for Marcus but a significant section of the fan base are starting a ‘Marcus, Marcus, Marcus’ chant. Marcus emerges, by himself, onto the ramp and completes his backflip, ending in his signature pose before starting to make his way down the ramp. He keeps a focus on the ring and his opponent, but almost involuntarily extends an arm to slap the hand of a young fan before his face reveals a slight confusion. Marcus pulls out his piece of paper which reads ‘0 points’ before sliding into the ring and facing off with Saturn.



Match 1: A Block: James Saturn (0) v Marcus Allen Jones (0):



As the bell rings, the two men take in the loud atmosphere before locking up strongly. Saturn takes the early advantage, forcing Marcus back into the ropes. The official steps between them to break them up and Saturn breaks at the count of four, starting to back away but then slapping Marcus across the face. The fans boo and Marcus charges at him, the two men locking up again. Marcus uses his momentum to force Saturn back into the opposite ropes and again the official steps in to break them apart. Marcus takes a step back before aiming a slap of his own, stopping short as Saturn raises an arm to block him and instead kicking him in the gut and hitting a quick DDT. Marcus makes an early cover, 1-no. Saturn kicks out and rushes to his feet.



Marcus grabs him in a waistlock before lifting him, only for Saturn to drop back down and counter with an armdrag. Marcus is quick to stands but he walks into another arm drag, Saturn maintaining his grip this time and locking in an arm bar. Saturn keeps Marcus down for a few moments before Marcus manages to get his feet underneath him and roll through, standing and quickly wringing Saturn’s arm instead. Marcus cranks the arm and Saturn doubles over, only for Marcus to kick him hard in the chest before leaping up and taking him down with a hurricanrana.



MW: It’s a fast paced start to this one.

SD: As you would expect. These are possibly the best two high-flyers in FPW.

MW: Strangely enough, Marcus seems to have the edge with the fans tonight.

SD: They’re finally coming round to my way of thinking! Only two years too late, but it’s better than nothing, right?



Marcus rolls out of the ring and stands on the apron as Saturn gets to his feet. Marcus leaps up as Saturn turns but Saturn quickly drops down and rolls out of the ring. Marcus simply lands in the ring and rolls through before watching as Saturn tells the crowd how intelligent he is. Marcus then hits the ropes and runs towards Saturn, leaping over the top rope with a corkscrew moonsault plancha! Both men lie on the outside but Marcus is first to make it to his feet, aiming a few stomps at Saturn before pulling him up and resting him against the guardrail. Marcus chops him a couple of times before looking to roll him back into the ring. Saturn, however, counters, blocking himself from entering and instead driving Marcus’ head into the ring apron.



The official begins a count:



1..........



Saturn throws Marcus into the guardrail and he slumps down.



2..........



Saturn backs away before running at Marcus and driving his knee into his face, trapping his head between knee and guardrail.



3..........



He looks down at his work and smiles before standing on top of the guardrail and inciting the boos from the fans.



4..........



Saturn then rolls himself back into the ring, telling the official go continue his count.



5..........

6..........

7..........



Marcus stirs and begins to stand.



8..........



Marcus slides back into the ring but he’s met with a barrage of stomps from Saturn, who wrings his arm and pulls him to his feet, cranking it and connecting with a thrust kick to the gut while maintaining a grip on the wrist. Saturn then climbs the turnbuckle, beginning a walk along the top rope before diving down and connecting with a huge chop. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Marcus kicks out.



MW: James Saturn almost had it won there.

SD: He’s been impressive in this match. Marcus started brightly but Saturn looks in complete control now.

MW: He looks in excellent condition. He’s obviously been spending time properly preparing for this Free-1. He’s already won the Young Lions’ Cup. Can he add the Free-1 to his collection?



Saturn stands over Marcus as he pulls himself up, gripping him around the waist and running him face-first into the turnbuckles. Saturn doesn’t allow Marcus to comes out,of the turnbuckles, instead stepping back and delivering a hard clothesline to the back of Marcus’ head. Marcus staggers out this time and Saturn springs up onto the top turnbuckle, leaping down and twisting in mid-air as he hits another clothesline. Saturn makes a cover, 1-2-no. Marcus again manages to kick out. Saturn looks down at Marcus before slapping him across the face again. He stands and takes in more boos as the fans react negatively to his cocky antics.



Marcus, meanwhile, stares up at Saturn. As Saturn bends down to lift Marcus up, Marcus pulls him down into a small-package, but he doesn’t maintain it for a pin attempt. Instead, he rolls through and lifts Saturn into a falcon arrow. Marcus springs up, staggering a little before calling for Saturn to stand. He then unleashes a series of kicks, one to the leg, then a thrust kick to the gut and finally a Pele kick, before connecting with a Canadian destroyer as he picks up the pace. Saturn lies prone as Marcus leaps up to the top rope, coming down with a Phoenix splash and holding for a,cover, 1-2-no! Saturn just gets a shoulder up. A number of fans applaud Marcus as he pulls Saturn up and delivers a wheelbarrow facebuster, rolling Saturn over and making another cover, 1-2-no. Against Saturn manages to kick out.



MW: And just like that the momentum has shifted.

SD: Marcus Allen Jones doing what he does best and unleashing a flurry of fast-paced offence that his opponent simply can not withstand.

MW: What do you make of this crowd reaction for Marcus?

SD: Lets not get carried away on that. I’d still say it’s less than half of this crowd cheering for him. He’s always had a few on his side, but this is the most pro-Marcus crowd I can remember.

MW: Can it spur him on to the first points of this Free-1?



Marcus stands and pulls Saturn up by the back of his tights. He traps the wrist and looks for the Six Stars, but Saturn drops down and crawls backwards through Marcus’ legs, taking the arm with him and he lifts him up to deliver a pump handle slam. Saturn rolls away to catch his breath before pulling himself up and watching as Marcus also stands. Saturn hits the ropes and connects with a hard running clothesline before stepping through the ropes and waiting for Marcus to stand. As Marcus makes it to his feet, Saturn leaps up and hits a hard springboard clothesline before rolling through and standing on the apron again, this time leaping up and connecting with a springboard elbow drop. He makes a cover, 1-2-no! Marcus just lifts his shoulder up.



Saturn holds his head with disappointment but he doesn’t waste too much time. Instead, he pulls Marcus to his feet before whipping him into the corner. He runs at Marcus and drives a knee into Marcus’ face before shoving him down to the mat. Saturn climbs up to the top rope and looks down at his opponent lying prone on the canvas. Saturn then leaps and looks to hit the Saturnsault, but Marcus moves. Saturn, however, adjusts in mid air, landing on his feet. Marcus pulls himself up in the corner only for Saturn to run in and connect with another hard running clothesline. Marcus staggers out of the corner and Saturn waits for him to turn before hitting him with a dropkick. Saturn then climbs up to the top rope again and again looks for the Saturnsault. This time, Marcus waits until the last moment before raising both knees and pulling Saturn into a small package, 1-2-no! Saturn barely kicks out.



SD: Amazing counter by Marcus Allen Jones! I was sure he had it.

MW: And now both men are down. We’re thirteen and a half minutes into our first Free-1 contest of this tournament and it’s already shaping up to be a classic.

SD: Both men nearly back to their feet.



Saturn and Marcus stand and face one another. Saturn aims a forearm that rocks Marcus, but Marcus comes back with a step-up enzeguiri that sends Saturn staggering towards the ropes. Marcus then connects with a dropkick to send Saturn out of the ring before Marcus steps through the ropes and stands on the apron . He looks down at Saturn before taking a breath and leaping off, pulling off a perfect shooting-star DDT! Saturn lies motionless on the outside as Marcus pulls himself up using the guardrail. The official starts another count:



1..........

2..........



Marcus lifts Saturn and looks to send him back into the ring, but Saturn collapses to the floor.



3..........

4..........



Marcus looks up at the official but doesn’t roll back in to take the count-out. Instead he tries to lift Saturn again.



5..........



Saturn, however, uses the momentary distraction to bait Marcus in and pulls him down, throwing him headfirst into the guardrail.



6..........

7..........



Saturn rolls into the ring as Marcus holds his head on the outside.



8..........

9...



Marcus begins to stir.



...



Marcus dives for the ring.



..1-



The official just stops the count as Marcus makes it back in in time.



Saturn stands and stalks Marcus waiting for him to make it to his feet. Saturn, himself fairly unsteady, moves towards Marcus and aims a superkick, but Marcus ducks, kicks Saturn’s leg out and hits the ropes before driving his knee into Saturn’s head as he connects with a shining wizard. Marcus makes a cover, 1-2-no! Saturn barely gets a shoulder up as the crowd releases a loud groan. Marcus stands, adrenaline coursing through his body, and he stalks Saturn. He kicks Saturn in the gut and hits the ropes, running towards him. Saturn, however, moves out of the way as Marcus attempts a running swinging neckbreaker, causing Marcus to hit the opposite ropes. Saturn then connects with a hard clothesline, but Marcus rides it, flipping over the arm and ending in position to deliver another Canadian destroyer! Marcus makes a cover and half the crowd count along with the official, 1-2-no! Somehow Saturn manages to get a shoulder up again.



MW: Oh my God what a counter!

SD: Marcus has always been good... but that was something else!

MW: He’s so focussed on this match. Marcus Allen Jones isn’t spending his time taunting his opponent or the fans. He’s just focusing on winning. And this is what he can pull off when he does focus properly.

SD: And now look what he’s setting up for.



Marcus pulls Saturn to his feet, Saturn’s wrist already trapped. He shoves him away for the Six Stars but Saturn counters, connecting with a hard clothesline. Marcus drops to the mat and Saturn looks to head to the top rope, but Marcus leaps up and connects with a Pele kick to the back of the head. Saturn drops down and Marcus slowly climbs. He begins a slow clap which a large number of fans actually join in with, before leaping off for the Mark Out Moment. Saturn, however, rolls away and Marcus crashes and burns. Quickly, James Saturn climbs up to the top rope and connects with a Saturnsault. He makes the cover, 1-2-no! Marcus just got his shoulder up.



Saturn kneels over Marcus with his hand on his head and his mouth wide open. He takes a moment to process Marcus kicking out of the Saturnsault before looking down at him and viciously slapping him across the face. Saturn then stands and waits for Marcus to pull himself up. It takes him some time but Saturn just waits patiently. As Marcus turns, Saturn steps towards him and aims a superkick at him, but Marcus ducks, somehow catches the wrist and connects with Six Stars!



MW: Six Stars!

SD: It’s over! Marcus just needs to make the cover.

MW: But I’m not sure he can!

SD: Cover him Marcus!

MW: Kicking out of that Saturnsault and then somehow managing to hit the Six Stars has taken all of the energy out of the former FPW Champion. Which man will be first to make it to his feet?

SD: Lets also be mindful that we’re almost at twenty-one minutes in this match. There’s not much time left.



Marcus Allen Jones is first to stir. He looks over at Saturn, who remains flat on his back, before rolling towards him. Slowly getting up himself, he turns Saturn over, clutching the wrist and pulling him up excruciatingly slowly. The fans cheer as Marcus looks to set up Saturn for one final Six Stars. He spins him out, but Saturn suddenly hits a superkick out of nowhere. Marcus collapses and Saturn drops down on top of him, making the cover. 1-2-3.



Winner: James Saturn (21:42).



MW: James Saturn wins it!

SD: That came out of absolutely nowhere!

MW: It looked like Marcus Allen Jones had it won but it’s James Saturn thanks to that vicious superkick who picks up the firs two points of this year’s Free-1. And if anyone was in any doubt as to whether or not James Saturn was a true contender for this tournament, be in no doubt anymore. He just beat a former FPW Champion and truly set down a marker for the rest of the A Block.

SD: The Paragon living up to his name tonight. Marcus maybe had the better of the match overall, but it was James Saturn who did what he had to do and took the points. And he’ll have looked at Marcus Allen Jones as maybe his toughest opponent. A win over Marcus will give him even more confidence as he looks to take what he believes is his rightful place at the very top of FPW.



Graham Baker is shown in the back, pacing back and forward and psyching himself up.



MW: There we see former FPW Champion Graham Baker, ahead of his hotly anticipated rematch with Davey Jones which is set to main event tonight’s show.

SD: It seems odd to be calling Baker the former champion but that’s the truth. Tonight he faces the man who beat- no, who demolished him just two and a half weeks ago. Will Baker regain the title that is so precious to him or will Davey Jones continue to crush everyone and everything in his path?

MW: That match is of course coming up later tonight, but up next is an intriguing match up of former tag team partners as Jace Mason faces Aaron Williams.

SD: Back when he was Freedom Champion Mason offered Williams a title match and he declined. This is the first meeting between the two men and I think it could be very telling.

MW: Many have called Jace Mason the breakout star of this year after his Freedom Title run, but his Free-1 debut will be a big step up and some questions remain as to whether or not he’s ready. As for Aaron Williams, he’s a proven big-match wrestler with a serious pedigree but he hasn’t shown it here yet. Will he get his Free-1 off to a fast start with a big win over his good friend?

SD: I’m taking Williams in this one. Jace Mason doesn’t have the experience of tournament wrestling whereas Aaron Williams does. Williams has main-evented big shows in the past whereas Mason is just starting out. When it comes down to it, I think Williams will be the one to get it done.



Dasha Banks stands in the ring.



“Our next match is an A Block contest and is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit. Introducing first, he is a former Freedom Champion. Hailing from Seattle, Washington and making his Free-1 debut... The Eternal Student... Jace Mason!”



The intro begins for ‘Afterlife’. As it builds, so do the fans, leading to a loud cheer as Jace Mason steps onto the entrance ramp, one foot forward while the pyro explodes behind him. He takes a moment to soak in the crowd with a smile before setting off down the ramp, slapping hand with the fans on his way down. He climbs up onto the apron and stands with one foot on the top turnbuckle, raising his right fist before jumping down into the ring. Once there, he acknowledges the crowd before settling in one corner, crouching down as his music stops.



“And Introducing his opponent. Also making his Free-1 debut, he is a former two-time Ring of Honour World Champion, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he is A Plus, Aaron Williams!”



After a few moments, ‘I Still Believe’ begins to play and Aaron Williams bursts through the curtain, belting out the lyrics and encouraging the fans to do the same. Most sing along with him as he moves from side to side on the ramp rather than staying still as he usually does. Williams then heads down the ramp, slapping hands with the very same fans who held out their arms for Jace Mason to slap moments ago. He circles the ring interacting with the crowd before spotting a young girl wearing a Williams and Mason shirt. Williams points at the shirt and smiles into the camera before handing her a pen to write a message on his knee pad. As she writes the words ‘You’re still a team to me,’ Williams smiles and ruffles her hair before rolling into the ring. He immediately walks up to Mason and offers his hand, which Mason shakes before Williams removes his t-shirt and throws it into the crowd.



Match 2: A Block: Jace Mason (0) v Aaron Williams (0):



The bell rings and the two men lock up immediately, each trying to force the other back. Neither gains an advantage and, after a few moments, each man releases their grip and they take a step back from one another. Williams gets the crowd clapping in rhythm as they circle one another and go again, locking up for a second time. Again neither gains a clear advantage and again the lock-up is broken. They circle each other again, each with a wry smile on their face. This time, Mason drops down as Williams moves in and catches him with a drop-toe hold. Mason transitions quickly into a front face lock and keeps Williams grounded. As Williams begins to fight back, Mason transitions, taking the arm behind the back before transitioning again into a headlock.



The fans applaud Mason’s show of technical skill as he keeps the headlock applied for a few moments before Williams starts to wriggle free. Mason then transitions again, looking for a single leg Boston crab. Williams, however, is quick to dart away from Mason, scrambling to the ropes and turning to look up at his former tag team partner. Williams gives Mason a respectful nod and, in return, Mason gives Williams the space to make it to his feet. After doing so, Williams starts another rhythmic clap before the two move to lock up a third time. This time it’s Williams who makes the first move, ducking the lock up and catching Mason with a waistlock. Mason performs a standing switch but Williams drops down to his hands and knees, ducking through Mason’s legs, and grabs the waistlock again. He lifts Mason and then drops him down to the mat, hitting the ropes and looking for a dropkick that Mason avoids. Both men are quick to get to their feet and again pause, the fans applauding the cafe start to the match.



SD: One of these men is going to realise that showing this much respect is going to cost them the match.

MW: There’s nothing wrong with showing respect, Steven. They’re former partners and current friends.

SD: Respect is a good thing, but excess respect in the ring is not. One of them will make a move in a minute and take advantage of the reluctance of the other. My bet is on Williams. He’s been around the block a lot and he’ll know what comes next.



Mason extends his hand to Williams, who shakes it again. The two men then circle one another again before locking up for a second time. Williams pushes Mason back at first, but Mason manages to turn him and force Williams into the corner. Mason then whips Williams across to the opposite corner and follows him in, but Williams grips the top rope and pushes up and over Mason, who collides with the turnbuckles. Williams then pulls Mason in and connects with a reverse DDT before floating over and pulling Mason up with him into position for a regular DDT. Williams steps up the ropes and kicks off, looking for a tornado DDT, but Mason grips the top rope to block it, instead dropping down and sending Williams face-first into the second turnbuckle.



Mason then steps through the ropes and connects with a wrecking ball dropkick to send Williams to the canvas before running to him and dropping a knee across his forehead. Williams rolls over and Mason doesn’t waste any time, hitting the ropes and running at his former partner, connecting with a dropkick which sends Williams rolling onto the apron. Mason then jumps onto the middle rope and connects with a disaster kick to send Williams to the floor. As Williams drops, Mason looks up to the top rope. He climbs as the fans’ anticipation builds and looks down at Williams. As Williams stands, Mason launches himself onto him with a shooting g star press, taking both men down.



MW: What a start from Jace Mason!

SD: This match went from first gear to fifth in about a minute. That reverse DDT seemed to wake Mason up and he’s in total control now.

MW: And he’s up already and rolling Aaron Williams back into the ring.



Mason follows and makes the first cover of the match, 1-2-no. Williams manages to kick out. Mason doesn’t give his friend time to recover as he catches his arm and looks for a Fujiwara arm bar. Williams, once again, is quick to get to the ropes before the hold can be properly applied and Mason immediately breaks it. Once again he doesn’t give Williams much time to recover, dragging him towards the middle of the ring before looking again for the single leg Boston crab. Williams this time counters by reaching up and pulling Mason down into a small package, 1-2-no! Mason only just manages to escape.



Both men make it to their feet but it’s Williams who’s up first and he takes full advantage by unleashing a hard mid-kick to Mason. Mason staggers backwards and Williams connects with a discus lariat to take Mason down. Williams then pulls him to his feet and whips him into the corner, running at him and connecting with a big splash before turning and running back to the opposite corner, before delivering another splash, and another, and another, and another, the fans descending into a frenzy before Williams delivers one final splash and Mason slumps down. Williams then backs up and calls for the cannonball, which he hits before dragging Mason out of the corner and making a cover, 1-2-no. Mason kicks out.



Williams stands and climbs up to the top rope, but Mason quickly gets to his feet and follows. Williams aims a forearm at Mason but he blocks it and lands several of his own, before catching Williams in position for a top rope Extra Credit. Williams quickly recognises the threat and elbows his way free before delivering a headbutt which staggers Mason. Williams then slips underneath Mason and grabs his legs, pulling him into position for a powerbomb. Mason this time is quick to counter, driving the point of his elbow into Williams’ skull and dropping down. He connects with a spin kick to the gut and then aims a kick to the leg, but Williams catches it. Maskn connects with an enzeguiri and then sets up for a falcon arrow, but Williams, already up in the air, counters with a hard DDT. Both men lie on the canvas.



MW: What a flurry of moves and counters from these two.

SD: They know each other well so they know what they need to avoid. Williams, knew that Mason would go for the leg kick just as Mason knew he needed to avoid that swan-ton.

MW: It makes you wonder how either man will get to a position where they can hit their big moves and win the match.

SD: Maybe they won’t. Last year we saw two draws. We’re only twelve minutes into this one, but like you say, when they have each other this well scouted, will either one be able to put their opponent away?



Williams and Mason both make it back to their feet at the same time. They come together in the centre of the ring and Mason unleashes a hard chop to Williams’ chest. Williams responds with a chop of his own and both men exchange back and forth, the chops becoming slower as their chests begin to sting more and more. Mason gets the upper hand, forcing Williams back into the corner. He delivers another couple,of chops before backing off and running at Williams, connecting with a hard knee but catching Williams and driving him face-first into the canvas with an STO. Mason makes the cover, 1-2-no! Williams just gets a shoulder up.



Mason again looks for the transition into the Fujiwara armbar but Williams again makes it to the ropes. Mason releases the hold immediately before backing away and looking for another low dropkick, only for Williams to move out of the way. Mason follows through and ends up on the floor on the outside. Williams stands and immediately launches himself over the top rope with a somersault plancha to take Mason down. Williams stands, pulling Mason to his feet and rolling him back into the ring. He follows him in and lifts him up into a suplex position, lifting him before dumping him down on the top rope. Mason hangs there as Williams climbs to the top and hits a perfect 450 splash. Mason drops and Williams makes a cover, weakly hooking the far leg, 1-2-no! Mason just gets a shoulder up.



MW: This match is a back and forth pulsating encounter!

SD: The two are certainly trading control. Both are able to put a few moves together but neither can quite gain enough momentum to hit the killer blow.

MW: We are now halfway through our allotted time. There’s a long way to go, but the draw becomes more likely by the second.

SD: I doubt it happens but it’s worth keeping an eye on the clock. If we go past twenty five minutes I think there’s a real chance of this ending with the points shared.



Williams is the first man to get to his feet. He watches as Mason makes it to his knees and then he delivers a hard mid-kick. Mason sways backwards but pulls himself back up, allowing Williams to deliver another hard kick. Mason drops down onto all fours but he pushes himself up again, the fans cheering in disbelief as he calls for Williams to kick him again. Williams unleashes three kicks in a row, the latter sending Mason right onto his back. Williams then climbs up to the top rope and connects with a swan-ton bomb. He holds on to make the cover, 1-2-no! Again Mason gets a shoulder up.



Williams looks down at Mason before standing and pulling him up with him. He sets Mason up for a suplex and slaps his knee to signal for the brainbuster to the knee. He pulls Mason up but Mason blocks it, dropping back down and hitting a desperation DDT. Mason then quickly gets to his feet, staggering, as the fans cheer. He backs away from Williams before running at him and connecting with a penalty kick which causes Williams to roll over onto his front. Mason grips the leg and quickly locks in the single leg Boston crab before Williams has time to block it. Mason sits deep and Williams’ face looks desperate. He begins to crawl to the ropes but Mason drags him back towards the middle of the ring. Williams cries out in pain but Mason just sits even deeper. Williams looks close to tapping but makes one last big effort to get to the ropes. He’s about to grasp the bottom rope but Mason stands and drags him to the middle of the ring one more time. Williams, however, uses this to his advantage, catching Mason’s foot as he steps and tripping him, breaking the hold and allowing Williams to scramble free.



Mason doesn’t give Williams much time as he connects with a dropkick before Williams is even able to get off all-fours. Williams lies prone in the corner and Mason steps between the ropes and climbs to the top rope. He looks down at Williams for a moment before connecting with a shooting star press. Mason rolls away with the pain of the impact but quickly rolls back again and makes the cover, 1-2-no! Williams just manages to get a shoulder up. For a third time, Mason looks for the Fujiwara arm bar after a cover and this time he manages to lock it in. Williams squirms in pain as Mason pulls back further and further on the arm. With a big effort, Williams manages to make it to the ropes, forcing the break. Mason stands and pumps,up the crowd, who give him a big ovation.



MW: Jace Mason looks absolutely fantastic tonight!

SD: He’s certainly showing his intensity right now. But we’ve just passed the twenty minute mark and he hasn’t put Aaron Williams away yet.

MW: Could this be the time? Mason looks like he’s readying himself for the Extra Credit.



Mason throws Williams into the ropes and catches him for the Extra Credit, but Williams blocks it, elbowing away at Mason. Mason staggers away and Williams aims a mid-kick at him, only for Mason to catch it. The two men lock eyes for a moment before Mason delivers a dragon screw leg whip. Williams clutches the knee but Mason immediately goes back to the single leg Boston crab. He locks it in tight and sits even deeper than before. The fans cheer, some chanting for Williams to tap and the others punctuating the silences with a loud ‘no’. Williams writhes in pain as Mason sits further and further back. Slowly, Williams starts to drag himself towards the ropes. Mason continues to sit deeper and deeper and Williams,looks close to tapping, but he manages to grip the bottom rope.



Instead of breaking the hold, Jace Mason drives back towards the middle of the ring, breaking Williams’ grip on the rope. Williams cries out loudly in pain and frustration as Mason wrenches at his knee. He raises his arm to tap, but, at the last moment, stops himself. Pushing himself up with both arms, Williams makes a last big effort and pulls himself over to the ropes. He grips the bottom rope and again Mason tries to pull him away, but Williams holds on with both hands, not allowing Mason to tear him free. Mason breaks the hold and Williams tries to drag himself to the outside, but Mason doesn’t let him. Instead, Mason drags him up, delivers one more loud chop to the chest and whips Williams across the ring for another attempt at Extra Credit.



Williams’ knee buckles half-way to the ropes and he drops to one knee, Mason looking on. Williams holds the knee as Mason moves in, lifting Williams and setting him up in a suplex position. Mason lifts him but Williams drops, catching Mason in a small package, 1-2-no! Mason barely escapes. Both men scramble to their feet and Mason connects with a spinning kick to the gut. He then kicks Williams’ leg out and hits the ropes, connecting hard with a dropkick. Mason goes back to the single leg Boston crab but Williams pulls him in for another small package, only for Mason to drive a forearm into his face and lock the hold in after all! Williams cries out in pain again and tries to drag himself towards the ropes, but he doesn’t have the energy, instead collapsing to the mat.



MW: This is surely it now!

SD: But we’ve just hit twenty five minutes! He only has to survive five more!

MW: I don’t know if he can. Jace Mason is wrenching on that knee. From what I can hear, it sounds like Mason has more than half of these fans behind him now willing Aaron Williams to tap out.

SD: Aaron Williams isn’t known as someone who often taps out. Mason might be better looking for the Extra Credit.



Williams raises his arm but stops himself from tapping again. As Mason sits back, Williams reaches back and hooks an arm around his neck, pulling Mason down. The hold broken, Williams crawls to the ropes to try and pull himself up. Mason comes in again, kicking Williams hard in the leg, but Williams uses the ropes to leap over the kick and he turns, hooking arm arm over Mason’s head. With difficulty, he lifts Mason into the air and then drives him down with a brainbuster.



MW: Brainbuster from Aaron Williams. But he couldn’t manage to hit it onto his knee.

SD: We have just over three minutes left!



Williams doesn’t make a cover, instead using the ropes to pull himself up. He pulls Mason into position for a powerbomb and lifts him, staggering, before connecting with a powerbomb backbreaker! Williams cries out in pain as he hits it, Mason’s weight having been driven into his bad knee, but still he rolls over and makes a cover 1-2-no! Somehow Mason manages to get a shoulder up.



SD: Two and a half minutes to go!



Williams looks down at Mason before pumping himself up. He stands and rains down shots to his own knee, trying to get the blood flowing. As Mason stands, Williams stalks him before whipping him into the corner. He runs at him and connects with a hard splash before hitting a discus lariat.



SD: Two Minutes left!



As Mason staggers out of the corner, Williams again gets the blood flowing in his knee before kicking Mason hard in the gut. He sets him up for the A Triple Plus as the fans get to their feet.



SD: One and a half minutes left!



Williams lifts Mason and holds him in position for a moment before driving him onto his knee for the A Triple Plus. Williams clutches his knee in agony before rolling onto Mason for the cover, 1-2-3.



Winner: Aaron Williams (28:56).



MW: What a match!

SD: When it came down to it, the experienced man knew how to win. Jace Mason couldn’t make Aaron Williams tap out and Williams came through.

MW: All credit to both men. Each of them put up a hell of an effort, but it’s Aaron Williams who gets the two points tonight.



Williams is helped up by the official, who raises his hand. As ‘I Still Believe’ plays again, Jace Mason sits up, his hand on the back of his head, and looks up at his former partner. Williams offers a hand and Mason takes it, allowing Williams to pull him up. The two men embrace before Mason holds up Williams’ arm as the fans cheer. Mason then goes to leave but Williams stops him, raising his arm to another loud cheer. The two former partners then leave the ring together as the fans continue to applaud an excellent match.



MW: A truly amazing spectacle of a match between two men who like and respect one another.

SD: And now for something completely different...

MW: I think it will be. Up next is a Free-1 first for so many reasons. It’s Elizabeth Karlson’s first ever Free-1 match. It’s the first time we’ve had a Women’s Champion compete in the Free-1 and, perhaps most historic of all, its the first time we’ve seen a champion versus champion Free-1 match-up.

SD: The winner will surely want to become the first FPW double champion if they don’t manage to win the Free-1. Winning this match would give either one of them a fast-pass to a title match.

MW: It would indeed. These two this year have seemingly taken quite different paths. Berry Bishop has been on a real hot streak, winning a lot of matches, making it to the final of the All Star Tag Team Classic and going on to win the Freedom Championship. Elizabeth Karlson has won the Women’s Championship after a long feud with Artemis Evans, but since then she’s been very quiet. Is this going to be her coming out party, Steven?

SD: It could be. As you say, the transformation that Berry has undergone from someone who quite frankly didn’t deserve to be in the Free-1 last year to someone many are considering a genuine contender has been stunning. She’s already had her coming out party. Karlson, on the other hand, had her big moment winning the Women’s Title, but questions remain about her ability to compete on equal footing with make roster members as well as whether or not she really deserves to enter such a big tournament such as the Free-1 when the likes of Davey Jones and Jack Sevren are left out in the cold.

MW: What’s your prediction for this one?

SD: It could go either way. Berry will want to land a kick and avoid the grappling game, so if she wins I think it’ll be a quick match. Karlson will want to ground Berry and take a little longer over it. Gun to my head... I’d say Berry catches her, but I’m not putting any money on that.



“Ladies and gentlemen, the rolling contest is an A Block contest which is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit. Introducing first, our current Freedom Champion. She hails from New Haven, Connecticut... the Bombshell, Berry Bishop!”



‘The Entertainer’ begins to play and Berry’s bow is greeted with loud cheers from the fans. She stands and makes a heart symbol with her hands as she takes in such a positive reaction. She then begins her hopscotch down the ramp, Freedom Championship bouncing on her waist with each jump. When she gets down to the ring, she plays the apron before climbing up and then somersaulting over the rope. She lands and bows deeply, standing with a wink and a smile as the crowd begin a loud ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ chant.



“And introducing her opponent... she is the current FPW Women’s Champion. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and making her Free-1 debut, she is now known as The Renegade... Elizabeth Karlson!”



As the lights flicker on and off with Karlson's new theme song, ‘Turn it On’, she enters the arena with the back of her denim vest revealed, revealing the old Renegades design that she and John Grimm used to wear when they were a tag team. She approaches the ring with her FPW Women's Championship on one shoulder, slapping hands with fans before she enters the ring. She posts on all four corners, holding her Women's Championship high before rolling back into the center of the ring and sitting crosslegged, a cocky smile on her face as she looks up at Berry.



Match 3: A Block: Berry Bishop (0) v Elizabeth Karlson (0):



As the bell rings Berry comes forward and extends her hand. Karlson looks at it for a few moments before stepping forward herself and extending hers. She pauses before grasping the hand, but she doesn’t shake it! Instead she pulls Berry in and immediately catches her with a double wristlock, leaping up and grapevining her legs around Berry’s body. The fans gasp in shock as Berry cries out in pain and looks close to submitting. She flails her legs and manages to catch the bottom rope, forcing the break, only for Karlson to tear her foot from the rope and lock in an ankle lock. Berry cries out in pain again and tries to roll onto her back, but Karlson rolls with her and maintains her hold. Berry manages to scramble forward and catch the rope again and Karlson takes a step back, looking down at Berry with a smirk on her face as the crowd boos.



SD: What a start from the Women’s Champion!

MW: Somewhat dishonourable but impressive nonetheless.

SD: Dishonourable? She shook her hand...

MW: Shook it into a Kimura lock?

SD: There’s nothing to say she has to let go after shaking her hand.



Berry climbs to her feet and begins to circle Karlson. They two lock up and Karlson quickly locks in a headlock before taking Berry over. She maintains the headlock for a moment before looking for a cross arm breaker, but Berry manages to scramble free and spring up, aiming a kick to Karlson, who barely drops down and out of the way. Karlson gets to her feet and the two circle again. They go to lock up but Berry ducks low and goes to catch a waistlock, only for Karlson to trap her foot and take her down with a drop toe hold. She traps Berry in a heel hook and Berry again looks somewhat panicked. Karlson wrenches hard on the leg as Berry tries to drag herself to the ropes. Karlson pushes up to force Berry to carry even more weight, and Berry struggles to move closer to the bottom rope. Instead, Berry tries to kick out with her right leg, and she finally manages to catch a Karlson hard enough that she loosens her grip enough for Berry to wriggle free.



Berry tries to get up quickly but her leg is already showing signs of being hurt by Karlson, who darts in and connects with a hard leg kick before lifting Berry by the leg and dropping her knee right onto Karlson’s own knee. Berry drops to all fours as Karlson looks down at her, the same smug smile on her face as before. Berry pulls herself up using the ropes but Karlson comes from behind with a chop block to take her down again before lifting her leg and connecting hard with an inverted dragon screw. Berry winces in pain and clutches at her leg, but Karlson keeps on her, locking in an ankle lock once again. This time, however, she’s too close to the ropes to begin with and Berry manages to reach over to them and force the break.



MW: I haven’t seen Berry Bishop dominated like this since... well, I don’t remember ever seeing it.

SD: Karlson is executing her gameplan to perfection. Take out the knee for the Chronic Illness and also take away the kicks that are Berry’s main weapon. Genius.

MW: Berry Bishop is showing little sign of having an answer thus far. She needs to find some offence soon or this one won’t last for long.



Karlson looks down at Berry and aims short kicks to her head, taunting the Freedom Champion. Berry looks up and takes another kick, standing and aiming a kick of her own, but the damage down to her leg makes it weak. Karlson calls her in for another kick and Berry throws it, but Karlson catches the leg and connects with another dragon screw leg whip. Berry holds her knee as Karlson looks for an ankle lock again. This time Berry manages to roll forwards, forcing Karlson towards the ropes. Karlson catches herself rather than falling to the outside but, as she turns, Berry connects with an exploder suplex. Karlson scrambles to her feet but Berry continues her momentum, connecting with a northern lights suplex and bridging, with some difficulty, for a pin attempt, 1-2-no, Karlson gets a shoulder up.



Both of them scramble to their feet, each getting up at the same time, and Berry aims a roundhouse kick at Karlson, who ducks and connects with a hard kick of her own to Berry’s standing leg. Berry drops to one knee and Karlson grips the leg, lifting it and driving the knee into the mat before lifting it again and twisting, torquing it as she drops down and drives it into the mat a second time. Berry tries to wriggle away but Karlson maintains her grip and she looks to pull Berry into a Texas cloverleaf. Berry struggles, managing to hook her leg around Karlson’s leg and force her to the mat, rolling into an ankle lock of her own, only for Karlson to roll through and transition easily into an ankle lock of her own. Berry cries out in pain again before reaching the bottom rope. Karlson breaks the hold and looks down at her opponent with the same confident smirk before slapping her across the back of the head.



MW: Blatant disrespect by Elizabeth Karlson.

SD: Based on this showing, why should she respect Berry? Karlson is dominating with her ground game. Berry has no answer whatsoever.

MW: Berry Bishop worked hard on her technique towards the end of 2018 and can hold her own with most of the roster, even out-Wrestling several over the past few months, but perhaps Elizabeth Karlson is too much of an expert for Berry to out-wrestle.

SD: Astute observation there, genius.

MW: Even if she can’t out-wrestle Karlson, Berry has to find a way to hold her off so that she can find her own offence. She’s managed two suplexes so far in this match but other than that it’s been all Karlson.



Berry looks up at Karlson after the slap and pushes herself to her feet. She stares Karlson down and motions for her to come at her. Karlson moves in low, looking to take the leg again, but Berry moves quickly and connects with a hard kick to the back. Karlson arches it but Berry keeps the kicks coming, laying three more of them in hard before stopping to flex her knee. Karlson stands and Berry connects with forearms which send Karlson back into the corner. Berry steps away before taking a few steps and leaping up, connecting with a monkey flip which sends Karlson half-way across the ring. Berry then stalks Karlson before leaping onto the rope and connecting with a disaster kick, covering her, 1-2-no. Karlson manages to kick out. Berry stands and the crowd cheer loudly for her. As Karlson starts to get to her feet, Berry runs at her and delivers a shining wizard, making another cover, 1-2-no. Karlson kicks out a moment later this time.



Berry stands again, stalking Karlson, flexing her knee as she stalks her. Karlson stands and turns as Berry uncoils for Checkmate! But Karlson ducks under it, connecting with a code breaker after Berry turns back around. Karlson makes the cover this time, 1-2-no. Berry kicks out. Karlson goes straight back to the leg, lifting it and kicking the knee several times before once again looking for the Texas cloverleaf. This time she manages to lock it in and she sits deep, keeping Berry trapped in the middle of the ring. Berry tries to push herself up to work her way to the ropes, but Karlson holds her at such an angle that she can barely get off the canvas. Karlson maintains her hold and Berry starts to fade, the crowd fading with her.



MW: This doesn’t look good for our Freedom Champion.

SD: Karlson surely has this match won now.

MW: But Berry Bishop is a fighter as you well know. If she can avoid it, she won’t tap out.

SD: It’s the first match of a five- possibly six-match tournament. Give up the points and keep the knee or maybe win the points and give up her knee? There’s only one real choice she should make there.

MW: But in the heat of battle I’m sure these choices get blurred.

SD: They do for some. That’s when she needs someone with her to tell her what she doesn’t want to hear.

MW: Well in the past her brother-



Mike Watson is cut off by a sudden rousing chant of ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ from the fans just as Berry collapses fully. The official raises her arm and is almost drops back onto the canvas, but she manages to hold it up, raising her face and showing the fans a determined reaction as they spur her on with their chant. Berry manages to push herself up, Karlson struggling to maintain such a low base, and drives towards the ropes, finally grasping them to great cheers from the fans. Karlson quickly breaks the hold but grabs Berry’s leg and drags her back to the middle of the ring before looking to lock in another ankle lock. Berry, however, manages to roll to her back and pull Karlson towards her, rolling her up with a small package, 1-2-no! Karlson just manages to escape.



Berry pops up quickly, as does Karlson, but Berry’s leg gives out and she drops to one knee, grasping the ropes. Karlson swiftly comes in and connects with a code breaker again. As Berry’s pops back up, Karlson hits the ropes and connects with a devastating running knee. Berry crumples and Karlson makes a cover, 1-2-no! Berry manages to get her leg onto the bottom rope. Karlson, however, sees the leg and springs up, driving her full body weight into the knee as it hangs in mid-air. Berry screams in pain and clutches the knee once more, but Karlson again doesn’t waste any time, pulling her towards the middle of the ring and hitting another inverted dragon screw. Karlson looks down at Berry for a moment before trying to lock in a knee bar. Berry fights it, kicking hard at Karlson with her other leg and creating just enough separation for her to roll away.



Karlson comes in again but Berry is ready this time. Karlson tries to grip the leg but Berry twists away and sends Karlson into the ropes, Berry rolling her up with a schoolboy as she rebounds, 1-2-no! Karlson just manages to escape again. Both of them scramble to their feet, Karlson slightly quicker, and Karlson aims a kick to Berry’s leg, but Berry catches it and pulls Karlson in for another exploder, this time sending her into the turnbuckles. Berry uses the time she has to recover and to stagger into position. As Karlson stands, Berry connects with a parallel snapmare. She then half-runs, half-limps off the ropes to complete the Touchstone Takedown. Falling, Berry is unable to make the cover straight away. She manages to drag herself over to Karlson after a few moments and drape an arm over her, 1-2-no! Karlson gets a shoulder up at the last possible minute.



MW: Berry Bishop coming so close to pulling off the victory.

SD: She’s somehow still going on one functioning leg. I give her a lot of credit for that but I do question how she’s going to be able to find a way to win this match given her struggles.

MW : If she can find a way to connect with Check ate then I think it will be hers.

SD: On one leg?



Berry stands, still doing so shakily, and waits for Karlson to stand. Instead of looking for Checkmate, Berry lifts her, looking for the Berry Buster. She begins to spin but her knee buckles and Karlson finds herself in perfect position for Chronic Illness. She traps the leg and rolls through, but Berry uses the momentum to roll over, somehow managing to stand and catch Karlson in a scorpion deathlock! Karlson this time is the one crying out in pain as Berry sits down deeper. Karlson starts to drag herself towards the ropes and Berry struggles to stop her momentum as her leg can’t take too much weight. Once Karlson reaches the ropes, Berry breaks the hold but she doesn’t wait too long to plan her next move.



Berry stands behind Karlson, coiling in preparation for Checkmate. The fans stand, having seen Berry in this position so many times before. With the fans cheering, Karlson stands and Berry uncoils, unleashing Checkmate... but Karlson catches it! In one motion. She catches Berry’s foot and leaps up, grapevining the leg and dropping to the canvas, pulling Berry down in perfect position for the Chronic Illness. Berry cries out in pain and spends a few seconds frantically trying to find a way to the ropes, only to finally realise that her only option is to tap out.



Winner: Elizabeth Karlson (22:14)



MW: Berry finally succumbs.

SD: Karlson was looking for the submission victory for the entire match and she found it in the end. A valiant effort given by Berry for sure, but she made the right decision. Karlson takes the points and Berry lives to fight another day.

MW: Of course we don’t know the condition of that knee. Much like after our previous match, we could have a fairly serious injury for Berry moving forward that could jeopardise the rest of her Free-1.

SD: It could. But if she’d have carried on for longer then it could have taken her out of the Free-1 entirely. Besides, once Chronic Illness is properly locked in, there’s no escape but a submission.



Karlson has her arm raised and collects the Women’s Championship, taking a long look at Berry’s Freedom Championship which sat alongside it. She taps the belt and looks up to Berry, who stares down at her from the ring. Berry gives a nod and Karlson turns to head back up the ramp, allowing the official to support Berry to leave the ring and follow her to the back.



MW: This may have been the best night of Free-1 action we’ve ever had but we’re not even finished yet. In just minutes, we will see the FPW Championship defended in a huge rematch as Graham Baker challenges the man who dethroned him, the dominating Davey Jones.

SD: How Will Graham Baker manage to defeat the man who completely destroyed him in their last encounter? Surely this result will be the same.

MW: If anybody can defeat our new champion, it’s Graham Baker. He was as dominant a champion as we’d seen before Davey. He proved himself to be the ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling and one of the best in the world. I guarantee that he’ll be able to find something to attack in Davey.

SD: I’m sure all of the fans would love to see Baker win his title back, but I think they’re going home unhappy tonight.

MW: Whatever the result, I don’t think they’ll go home unhappy. It’s been an incredible night of wrestling and it’s only going to get better with this match.



Gunshots fire out around the arena and the crowd explode. Baker emerges from backstage to another loud roar and he stands a the top of the ramp, head down, for a few moments before exploding forwards, roaring to the crowd and marching down the ramp, aggressively slapping hands with fans. As he gets to the ring, Baker stands on the apron aiming his finger guns into the ring before spring boarding in and dropping to his knees, pointing the finger guns up the ramp. After holding the pose for a few moments, Baker stands and gees up the crowd even more.



‘Bully’ begins to play and Davey Jones emerges at the top of the ramp to a cacophony of boos from the crowd. He raises his arms as Jack Sevren swaggers out behind him before the two of them slowly walk down the ramp, Davey staring down Baker while Sevren trash talks the fans. Davey emerges at ringside- and Baker takes him out with a suicide dive!



Baker then lays into Jack Sevren with closed-fisted-right hands before driving him face first into the ringpost and throwing him over the barricade into the fans. Davey grabs hold of Baker and whirls him round, aiming a right hand at him, but Baker ducks, takes a few steps away and then connects with a shotgun dropkick to send Davey into the guardrail. Baker follows up with a running forearm before driving forearms into Davey’s face over and over again. Davey slumps down as Baker wheels away, the fans fully behind him. The official tries to get Baker back into the ring but Baker simply turns and runs at Davey, connecting with a leaping dropkick to jame Davey’s head into the guardrail.



Baker then pulls Davey up to his feet and drives forearms into his face again before gripping Davey around the waist. The fans gasp as Baker struggles to lift Davey. Davey aims an elbow to break Baker’s grip but Baker ducks and runs Davey forward into the ringpost before maintaining his grip and hitting a German suplex into the barricade! Baker then pulls Davey up again and grips him again around the waist. He picks him up again for a German and connects into the ring apron! Baker then lifts Davey and rolls him into the ring. He follows and aggressively calls for the official to ring the bell.



Match 4: FPW Championship: Davey Jones v Graham Baker:



Baker makes an immediate cover, deeply hooking the leg, 1-2-no! Davey gets a shoulder up at the last minute. Baker drives a fist into the mat before standing up and hitting the ropes, connecting with a running dropkick to a seated Davey. Baker then leaps up onto the ropes and connects with a lionsault, holding for another cover, 1-2-no! Davey again barely kicks out. Baker immediately grips the arm and looks for the Emergency Landing, but Davey drives a huge fist into Baker’s face and allows him to get free of the grip. Davey stands, shaking off the barrage of offence that he’s taken, before turning, only to be hit with another shotgun dropkick. Davey staggers backwards and falls through the ropes to the outside.



Baker stands by the ropes and watches as Davey stands, before leaping up and connecting with Clipped Wings. Baker stands and pumps up the crowd before stalking Davey and looking for another dropkick, sending Davey back into the barricade. Davey crashes into it and then staggers forward as Baker leaps up onto the guardrail and then dives at Davey, connecting with meteora to the back of Davey’s head. Davey staggers forward and leans against the edge of the ring as Baker leaps onto the apron and climbs up to the top rope. He comes down with Landing Gear, connecting perfectly with the back of Davey’s head. Davey slumps down as Baker stands and then pulls Davey back up to roll him into the ring once again. He dives in and makes a quick cover, 1-2-no! Davey again barely manages to kick out.



MW: I was convinced we’d have a title change there!

SD: But Davey Jones will not be beaten.

MW: As I said earlier, if anyone can, it’s Graham Baker! And now it looks like he’s setting up to finish him off.



Baker pulls Davey up again rather than giving him time to recover. He looks to lift him for the Mustang Driver but Davey resists, not allowing Baker to get him up onto his shoulders and then driving an elbow into Baker’s back before transitioning into a powerbomb, hitting a jackknife powerbomb to drive Baker to the canvas. Davey then staggers backwards as Baker lies motionless on the mat. As Davey regains his balance, he moves back over to Baker and pulls him up, throwing him into the corner. Davey runs at him and crushes him with a big splash, before unleashing a barrage of lariats and then allowing Baker to slump down. Davey backs away and slowly signals for a cannonball, which the fans boo loudly.



Davey charges at Baker and connects with a hard cannonball before taking a moment to get to his feet, still shaking off the damage caused by Baker earlier in the match. Davey then lifts Baker and grips him around the throat, lifting him for a chokeslam but Baker counters with a palm strike to the side of the head. Davey drops him an Baker takes full advantage, landing a series of hard kicks to the legs, sending Davey down to one knee before Baker hits the ropes and comes backs with a hard knee strike. He takes a moment to get to his feet before climbing up to the top rope and waiting for Davey to stand. Baker leaps and looks for a missile dropkick, but he just bounces off Davey and crashes hard into the mat!



MW: What the hell?

SD: Davey Jones just absorbed a missile dropkick from none other than Graham Baker... and he’s still standing! He can’t be human.

MW: Whatever he is, its bad news for Graham Baker.



Davey pulls Baker up and grips him around d the throat again, lifting him up and this time delivering a huge chokeslam. Davey makes a cover for the first time in the match, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out. Davey looks down at him before pulling him up by the head and looking for a chicken wing. The fans cry out as they know what Davey is trying to do, locking in the chicken wing and spinning Baker around and around and around, finally hitting the suplex to complete Looney Bin... but Baker rolls through and ends up on his feet! Davey turns around in shock as Baker, groggy but standing, points the double finger guns at the FPW Champion. Davey then runs at him, taking him down with a big time spear before lifting him, whipping him into the ropes and hitting another, completing Black Hole and making the cover, 1-2-no! Baker somehow kicks out and the arena comes unglued as the fans stand and cheer.



Davey looks down in shock at Baker having kicked out of two of his biggest moves. It takes a few moments for Davey to lift the former champion and look for Psychosis, getting him onto his shoulders. Baker, however, resits, driving elbows into Davey’s head over and over again before dropping down. Davey turns and Baker just unleashes a volley of huge palm strikes, slapping Davey over and over and over agin until he drops down to one knee. Baker points the double finger guns at Davey before hitting the ropes and taking him down with a shotgun dropkick. He then stands and stalks Davey, lifting him onto his shoulders and delivering a Mustang Driver! But Baker doesn’t make the cover, knowing that it didn’t put Davey down last time. Instead, he pulls Davey up and sets him up in a powerbomb position. The fans gasp as Baker, letting out a guttural scream, pulls Davey up and delivers a buckle bomb. Davey staggers out and Baker sets him up for the tiger bomb to finish off Ground Zero. With another guttural scream, Baker hits the move, collapsing with the effort of it before leaping over to make the cover, 1-2-3! The official counts the three, but he’s distracted before he can ring the bell. Jack Sevren has recovered and points at the rope. Somehow Davey managed to get his foot on the ropes! Baker raises his arms and the half of the crowd who haven’t seen the foot go wild, but the official explains to him that the match isn’t over.



MW: I don’t believe what I’m seeing!

SD: That was Ground Zero! If that can’t put Davey Jones away, what on Earth can?

MW: I... I don’t know, Steven.

SD: I have to add... Jack Sevren May have pointed out the foot on the ropes, but he didn’t put it there. Davey Jones is legitimately unbeatable,.



Baker turns round and looks down at Davey, who is pulling himself up using the ropes. Baker takes a few deep breaths before charging in and looking for another Mustang Driver. Davey, however, is ready for him, driving a knee into his gut and lifting him swiftly onto his shoulders, not giving Baker the time to block it as he drops him to the mat with Psychosis. Davey takes a moment to recover before pulling Baker up again and delivering a second Psychosis. With the fans almost silenced, Davey lifts Baker a third time, delivering a third Psychosis before finally making the cover, 1-2-3.



Winner and still FPW Champion: Davey Jones.



MW: Davey Jones has done it. Graham Baker gave him everything, and I truly mean everything, that he has, but Davey Jones is still the FPW Champion.

SD: We saw an aggression from Baker the likes of which we have rarely, if ever, seen from him before, but tonight Davey Jones was the better man and Graham Baker is the one left lying in the middle of the ring.

MW: Davey Jones, FPW Champion, a man who-



Mike is cut off as ‘This Means War’ begins to play and Bobby O, lead pipe in hand, charges down to the ring. Davey and Jack Sevren scatter as Bobby waves the pipe in their direction, calling to them that he’ll see them at the Free-1 final. He turns and looks down as Baker struggles to make it to his feet, the fans already standing and applauding. Bobby moves over to help Baker, but Baker instinctively shoves him away before turning and seeing it’s Bobby. Baker looks up at him for a moment before dropping down and rolling out of the ring. Bobby follows, offering him an arm to support him to the back, but Baker looks at him, shakes his head and limps up the ramp, leaving Bobby, and the rest of the crowd, watching as the former champion exits the arena.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:

MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!
MW: What a contest!
SD: Did you see what he just did?
MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!
MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!
MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!
MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!
SD: That man is super-human!
SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!
SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.
SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!
MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.
MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.
SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!
MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!
MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!
SD: What just happened?
SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!
MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.
MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!
SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!
MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!
MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!
SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.
MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.
MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!
MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.
SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.
MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!
SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.
MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.
SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.
MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!
MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.
SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!
SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now
MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!
SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.
MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.

The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.

MW: If what we saw last night is anything to go by, you are in for a treat. Welcome everyone to Night Two of the second Free-1.
SD: Last night was explosive, exciting, edge-of-your-seat entertainment and tonight could well be the same. The A Block was featured last night but tonight the B Block takes centre stage.
MW: It sure does, and what a way to kick things off. In our main event tonight, just one night after a devastating loss in his FPW Championship rematch, Graham Baker looks to get his Free-1 started against Free-1 newcomer and FPW’s newest roster member, Botiatus. We also see two new Free-1 participants going at it as former Women’s Champion Artemis Evans takes on the Japanese destroyer Go Shihei. But up first, Jerry Bishop, the man without a pinfall or submission victory in the entirety of 2019, takes on Clutch McCloud.
SD: Jerry Bishop has been working with MDE and, so I’m hearing, has had the backing of Bobby O going into this tournament, but he’s so low on confidence and his head is in such a mix that Clutch could win this in seconds.
MW: Clutch McCloud has been quiet of late after turning on his friend and former partner Russ Bolt but I believe you’ve spoken to him in the lead-up to this match?
SD: I have. Clutch is as focussed as he’s ever been and he’s ready to take the Free-1 by storm and claim the place that he believes is rightfully his at the top of this company.
MW: Well, let’s find out if Clutch is going to make a fast start or if Jerry will finally manage a victory as we kick off Free-1 II Night Two.

Dash Banks stands in the ring with a microphone.

“The following contest is a B Block contest and it is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit. Introducing first: making his second Free-1 appearance, hailing from The Gateway City, he is known as God’s Gift to Wrestling… Clutch McCloud!”

The boos ring out even before ‘This Fire Burns’ begins to play and the spotlight that herald Clutch’s imminent appearance hits the stage. Clutch walks out onto the stage, followed closely by both Richard Crowley and Danica Jane. Crowley walks ahead of Clutch, pushing the hands away of the fans as they reach out to him. Clutch looks focussed, his eyes not leaving the ring as he walks down the ramp. Once he reaches ringside, he climbs onto the apron and steps through the ropes, running the ropes for a few moments before settling in one corner.

MW: Clutch McCloud looks very focussed tonight.
SD: No playing to the fans or jaw-jacking. He’s ready. He knows that Jerry will be well prepared and he’s not going to take The Joker lightly.

“And his opponent-“

Dasha is cut off by a loud ‘Je-rry Bi-shop’ chant that quickly gathers volume and echoes around the arena.

“H-his opponent… he is a former Free-1 finalist. He hails from Kansas City, Missouri… The Joker! Jerry Bishop!”

The fans continue their chant as there is a pause before Jerry’s music hits. When it does, there is a loud cheer as Jerry walks onto the stage, MDE following close behind and Bobby slightly behind him. Jerry pauses, looking out around the crowd as MDE runs his shoulders, whispering something into his ear. Jerry then begins his walk down the ramp, leaving out his usual theatrics. He reaches the ring quickly, pointedly ignoring several young fans with their hands stretched out to him. MDE orders him into the ring as Bobby slaps hands with the fans and Jerry climbs in, keeping his eyes focussed on Clutch as he stands on the middle turnbuckle and acknowledges the cheers of the crowd.

Match 1: B Block: Jerry Bishop (0) v Clutch McCloud (0):

The match begins with Jerry chants still echoing around the arena. Jerry and Clutch start cagily, circling one another and waiting for the other to make the first move. After a few moments, they lock up, each man trying to take the early advantage. Neither man does, and they release, MDE from the outside calling for Jerry to keep it tight and Crowley telling Clutch to set the pace early on. They lock up again, Clutch making a quick transition into a headlock. Jerry resists, forcing Clutch into the ropes and shoving him across the ring, but Clutch comes back with a hard shoulder tackle, taking Jerry down. Clutch is quick to get on top him and lock in a chinlock, Jerry remaining grounded.

Jerry fights back, forcing himself up to a knee before elbowing his way out. He hits the ropes and then leaps over Clutch as he attempts to trip him, before Clutch then looks to leapfrog over Jerry, but Jerry stops himself and catches Clutch on the way down into a Russian leg sweep. Jerry makes a quick cover, 1-no. Clutch easily kicks out. Jerry springs to his feet and aims a forearm at Clutch, but Clutch catches him and wrings his arm. He wrenches on it and Jerry cries out, but he manages to leap onto the second, then top, rope and take Clutch down with a rebound arm drag.

MW: Impressive athleticism from Jerry there.
SD: As always. But did you see how desperate he was to make that cover earlier? Bishop is nervous, as you’d expect him to be.
MW: I would expect anyone to be nervous going into such a big tournament, but especially in his situation. Let’s see if he can string some offense together now.

Jerry ducks a discus lariat attempt as Clutch gets to his feet and he kicks him in the gut, connecting with a DDT. Jerry makes the cover again, 1-2-no. Clutch kicks out on the stroke of two. Jerry again is quick to make it to his feet, stalking Clutch before whipping him across the ring into the corner. Jerry backs up and looks to connect with a running dropkick, but Clutch drops down and rolls out of the ring before Jerry leaps. Jerry looks down at Clutch as he stands with Danica and Crowley. Jerry starts to climb through the ropes but holds himself back as MDE shouts for him to stay in the ring. Crowley looks across at MDE in displeasure before nodding to Clutch to head back into the ring. Bobby calls across to Crowley that his tricks won’t help Clutch against Jerry.

Jerry stands back as Clutch rolls in, but, as soon as Clutch gets up, Jerry darts in and connects hard with a rolling elbow. Clutch staggers back into the corner and Jerry connects with a second rolling elbow before sending Clutch to the opposite corner. Jerry follows up and connects with the running dropkick before sitting up on the middle rope and waiting for Clutch to get to his feet. The fans cheer as Jerry leaps off and connects with a blockbuster. Jerry makes another quick cover, 1-2-no. Again Clutch kicks out. MDE stands and applauds as Jerry bursts to his feet, starting to call to the fans as Bobby pumps them up too but stopping himself, looking down at MDE for a moment before turning back to Clutch, who strikes him in the gut with a forearm after getting to a knee.

Clutch then stands and connects with several more forearms to send Jerry into the corner. He whips him across the ring and follows him quickly with another leaping forearm, sending Jerry to a seated position. Clutch backs away and runs at Jerry, connecting with a sliding forearm before driving his foot into Jerry’s throat. The official tries to force Clutch away but he keeps his foot jammed into the throat and doesn’t break until the count of four. The fans boo Clutch but he ignores them, pulling Jerry up and setting him up for a fisherman’s suplex, holding the leg for a cover, 1-2-no. Jerry kicks out.

MW: Clutch McCloud taking control now with some vicious offense.
SD: It’s what he does best. And why did he get the chance to take control, Watson?
MW: Jerry allowed himself to get a little distracted-
SD: Just like against Davey Jones on 60 Minutes of Freedom. Jerry must remain completely focussed.

MDE and Bobby bang the mat as Jerry tries to get up, but Clutch connects with a series of stomps each time he pushes up off the canvas. Clutch then mounts Jerry and drives more forearms into his face before pulling him up into a belly to belly suplex. Jerry lies prone as Clutch hits the ropes and connects with a springboard moonsault, holding for the cover, 1-2-no. Jerry gets a shoulder up. Clutch doesn’t seem fazed, lifting Jerry and connecting with a series of European uppercuts to drive him back into the corner. He kicks him several times in the gut before lifting him up onto the top turnbuckle. The fans gasp as Clutch follows. MDE yells to Jerry but Clutch drives more forearms into Jerry’s head before sending him crashing down to the mat with a top rope belly to belly. Clutch rolls over to make a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry manages to kick out, but only just.

This time, Clutch shows a little frustration before resuming his offense. He kicks Jerry over to the side of the ring and under the ropes before pulling him up. Clutch turns and connects with a Pele kick, leaving Jerry hanging precariously, just gripping the top the rope to keep himself on the apron. Clutch then backs away before steadying himself. He charges towards the ropes and leaps over them, catching Jerry with a sunset flip powerbomb to the outside. Both men lie down as the official quickly checks them and begins a count.

1……….
2……….

Danica Jane and Richard Crowley pull Clutch up to his feet while MDE and Bobby move around to check on Jerry.

3……….
4……….

Clutch rolls into the ring and, despite all of MDE and Bobby’s calls for him to get up, Jerry doesn’t move.

5……….
6……….
7……….

MDE looks desperately up into the ring where Clutch is milking the crowd, raising his arms as they boo him.

8……….

He sees the official ready to count to nine and begins to pull Jerry up to his feet.

9……….

MDE rolls Jerry back into the ring, much to the surprise of the fans and Bobby, who aren’t too sure how to respond. Clutch immediately moves over to him and puts the boots to him before making a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets his shoulder off the mat. Clutch looks down and drives another forearm into Jerry’s face before backing away towards the corner. As Jerry sits up, Clutch runs at him and connects with a shining wizard. He makes another cover, 1-2-no! Jerry again just gets a shoulder up. Clutch then stands, pulling the sleeve down from his arm.

MW: I think Clutch has the end in mind here.
SD: If he hits this then Jerry can kiss this match goodbye.
MW: A match he’s barely surviving as it is.
SD: I’m glad he allowed MDE to send him back into the ring earlier. It shows Jerry is hearing the message. Winning is all that matters, especially to him and especially now.
MW: I don’t know if Jerry is fully in with that yet, but it may be moot if Clutch can hit this.

Jerry slowly stands, shakily, and Clutch is about to unleash a Technical Foul. As he aims the forearm into Jerry’s face, Jerry manages to duck, connect with a kick to the gut and trap the arms, hitting a quick Last Laugh. The fans cheer wildly as Clutch lies motionless on his back, but Jerry can’t capitalise. He slowly rolls towards Clutch, MDE urging him on, before draping an arm over his opponent, 1-2-no! Clutch got a shoulder up just in time. Bobby was already halfway into the ring to celebrate and he and Jerry lock eyes, Jerry sitting up with his arms over his head, but MDE yells at him to keep going.

Jerry looks down at Clutch and then raises his thumb to the crowd before dramatically cutting a smile across his lips. He reaches down to lock in the Chelsea Smile, but Clutch manages to push backwards and roll over into a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry barely kicked out before three. MDE on the outside breathes a sigh of relief as Danica and Crowley stand with their hands on their heads. MDE yells at Jerry to focus as he and Clutch each slowly make their way to their feet. Clutch comes and Jerry and goes for a discus lariat, but Jerry ducks, leaping onto the second rope and twisting into a springboard forearm, only for Clutch to connect with a forearm of his own, taking Jerry out of the air!

Clutch looks down at Jerry, who is crumpled in the middle of the ring, before mocking him. He raises his thumb in the air as the fan boo vociferously before he cuts his own lips into a smile. He reaches down to pull Jerry up but Jerry pulls him into a small package, 1-2-3!

Winner: Jerry Bishop (15:37).

The fans explode as the referee counts the three. Jerry breaks his grip and bursts up, his arms raised over his head. MDE slides into the ring and pats him on the back as the official raises Jerry’s arm. Bobby gives Jerry a big hug as Jerry beams with pride. On the outside, Danica and Crowley look shell-shocked, as does Clutch as he rests against the bottom rope.

MW: Jerry Bishop! Jerry Bishop does it!
SD: He’s finally got a pinfall victory! I don’t believe it.
MW: It wasn’t exactly a win after hitting his finish or a submission with the Chelsea Smile, but this moment will be remembered by these people for a long time. Jerry Bishop finally gets his first pinfall victory of 2019 and what a time to do it.
SD: What a time indeed. Jerry Bishop is the first man to gain points in the B Block, and he’s got his Free-1 off to a perfect start.
MW: Clutch McCloud is quite rightly devastated. He’ll have felt that he had this one won, but I hope he learns a lesson from his mistake tonight.
SD: Mistake?
MW: Taunting his opponent. If Clutch had just waited for Jerry to get up and hit TarHEEL or the Technical Foul, or even covered him there and then, he’d probably be walking away with the two points. But he learned the lesson that MDE is trying to internalise within Jerry: focus on your opponent, focus on the match, focus on winning- at all times.

Jerry walks back up the ramp and gleefully slaps hands with fans on both sides of the aisle as Clutch stares back at him from the ring. Jerry turns and gives the fans a big wave before disappearing through the curtain, at the same time that Clutch rolls out of the ring and begins to make his own way up the ramp.

MW: Well up next we have a match which is certainly a clash of styles.
SD: You could call it that. Go Shihei, a man who qualified by virtue of defeating the man we’re just seeing leaving the arena right now. He’s a man who’s brutal strikes can knock anybody out just like that and who’s displays of power amaze anyone who sees them. And then there’s Artemis Evans, a master of the ring and a former Women’s Champion. She’ll have the disadvantage with the power game, but he’s resourceful and I know she’ll have a gameplan to chop down this beast.
MW: I think Go Shihei could be a big factor in this block. He’s one of the most dominant wrestlers we’ve see in FPW and this could be his coming out party. But while Evans may be an underdog in this match, we can’t count her out. She retained her Women’s Title by a combination of her immense in-ring skill and her talent for finding a way, inside or outside of the rules, to win.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this match is a B Block contest and is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit. Introducing first, from Osaka, Japan and making his Free-1 debut, he goes by the name of Holy Fury, and will be accompanied to the ring by his manager Kate Mustang… Go Shihei!”

Darkness falls over the arena as the opening monologue to ‘Fury, Oh Fury’ begins to play. As the lyrics begin, the lights come up red and white and Go Shihei emerges, Kate Mustang following behind. The fans react positively to him, but Shihei largely ignored them, walking down the ramp while beating on his chest and slapping himself on the head. He climbs into the ring, holding the ropes open for Mustang, who receives a more negative reaction as she stands posing for the fans. Shihei settles on one side of the ring for his opponent.

“And his opponent… she is a former FPW Women’s Champion. She hails from Manchester, England and goes by the name of ‘The Glory Huntress’… Artemis Evans!”

The fans boo as the white queen logo appears on the screen and the voice rings out saying ‘Checkmate’. ‘Hammer to Fall’ begins and Evans walks onto the stage, revelling in the boos that she receives. She spreads her arms as pyro explodes on either side of her, holding the pose for longer than the pyro goes off before walking down the ramp. She stops on the way to talk to a girl wearing an Elizabeth Karlson shirt, pretending to offer her hand before pulling it away. A young man tries to reach out to her and she pulls away in disgust before walking to the side of the ring and climbing onto the apron. She jumps over the top rope and walks across the ring, brushing past Mustang on her way to the corner, where she stands on the turnbuckle and poses- tilting her head back and slowly extending her arms.

Match 2: B Block: Go Shihei (0) v Artemis Evans (0):

The bell rings and Evans moves in quickly, going to lock up with Shihei but instead raking his eye at the last minute. As Shihei is temporarily blinded, Evans connects with a leaping spin kick which sends Shihei staggering into the corner. She then moves in quickly again, kicking him hard over and over before grabbing him by the head and choking him over the top rope. The official begins to count and Evans reluctantly lets him go, talking trash as the official tells her not to do that again. As Shihei shakes off the early damage, Evans leaps onto the middle ropes and connects with a springboard dropkick to send Shihei to the outside.

Evans stands and poses as the fans boo her loudly, looking down as Mustang crouches over Shihei. He stands and looks up at Evans before sliding quickly back into the ring, only to be caught by an axe kick as he stands. Evans makes her first cover, 1-2-no. Shihei kicks out so powerfully that Evans is thrown across the ring. He stands and takes aim at her, looking for a lariat, but she ducks, hitting the ropes and connecting with a running calf kick to the back of the head. Shihei staggers forward and lands with his head on the second rope. Evans moves in quickly and chokes him with her leg, the official coming forward and counting again. Once again Evans only relents once the count reaches four.

MW: An impressive, albeit questionable, start from Artemis Evans in this match.
SD: It’s a clinic! She’s proving that she can match anybody she likes in this ring.
MW: I forgot how much fun calling her matches with you is.
SD: Doing anything with me is fun… wait… can you tell her that?
MW: Maybe later.

Evans moves back to Shihei as he rests on all fours and she pulls him up before striking him with a forearm. He simply stares at her and the fans let out an ‘oooooh’ before she strikes him again. Shihei stares once again and Evans connects with another forearm before he sticks out his chin and asks her for another. She continues the barrage of forearms but he doesn’t move. Evans then looks to hit the ropes but Shihei catches her, shakes his head and lays in a huge chop to the chest which sends Evans to the mat and leads to a loud gasp from the fans.

Shihei then pulls Evans up to her feet and whips her into the ropes, catching her when she comes back into an exploder suplex. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out. Shihei stands, allowing Evans to get to her feet by herself. He grabs her arm and whips her into the ropes again, this time aiming a big boot, but she ducks under it and hits the opposite ropes, stopping and suckering Shihei in. He charges at her and she pulls down the top rope, sending him to the outside. This time Evans follows, kicking him in the chest before lifting him and whipping him into the guardrail. She then runs at him, leaps into the air and connects with a discus forearm which sends Shihei back into the guardrail. Evans backs away again and waits for Shihei to steps away from the rail before running at him and connecting with the Silver Bullet knee strike. Shihei hits the floor and Evans quickly rolls into the ring, ordering the official to count.

1……….
2……….
3……….

Shihei doesn’t stir, but Mustang makes her way over to him.

4……….
5……….

Mustang yells for Shihei to get to his feet, and he begins to do so.

6……….
7……….

Shihei stands and slides back into the ring, but Evans is onto him straight away, driving her knee into his gut and connecting with a second axe kick before rolling him over and making the cover, 1-2-no. Shihei powers out and sends Evans across the ring again. She stands, as does he, and she looks for a second running calf kick, but Shihei catches her and drives her into the mat with a powerbomb. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out this time.

MW: Go Shihei showcasing his immense power there.
SD: I hope Arty’s ok.
MW: I’m sure she’ll be fine, Steven.
SD: Maybe I should go and check on her…
MW: Maybe you should close your mouth, wipe the drool off your chin and call the match.
SD: I guess I could…

Shihei stands, shaking off his sore head, and pulls Evans up into a deadlift Saito suplex. He stands and hits the ropes, coming back with a huge running senton to Evans. He makes another cover, 1-2-no! Evans gets a shoulder up. Shihei looks out at Mustang, who signals to finish her off. He pulls her in for another powerbomb, but, after lifting her onto his shoulders, she manages to counter with a hurricanrana. Shihei rolls through and charges at Evans, but she ducks his attempted lariat and then manages to connect with a sky-walker. Evans makes the cover this time, 1-2-no. Shihei gets his shoulder up.

Evans stands, but, as soon as Shihei gets to his knees, she connects with a snap DDT and then looks up to the top rope. She climbs up, posing at the top as the fans boo her once again, before leaping off and going for a moonsault. She connects, and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Shihei just manages to get his shoulder up. Evans stands, looking to pull Shihei up with her and to hit the Guillotine Strike. She pulls him into position but he hooks an arm around her and stands, lifting her into position and delivering a powerslam into the tunbuckles!

Shihei then stands, staggering again, and hits the ropes before delivering a vicious lariat to Evans. He covers her, 1-2-no! Evans this time barely gets a shoulder up. Shihei looks down at Evans as she struggles to the ropes to pull herself up. He grips her by the waist and pulls her up straight into a powerbomb position, keeping her on his shoulders and running across the ring, connecting with a buckle bomb. Evans catches herself in the turnbcukles as Shihei stands before delivering a volley of chops to her in the corner. He allows Evans to stagger out of the corner and then hits the ropes, delivering another vicious lariat. He makes a deep cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no! Evans just gets a shoulder up.

MW: I thought he had her then!
SD: As did most of these fans. But Arty is better than they think!
MW: Go Shihei could be moments away from taking this match now. Evans looks in a bad way.

Shihei pulls Evans away from the ropes and sets her up, looking for the Dead Man’s Bomb. He lifts her onto his shoulders but Evans digs her thumb into his eye once again. The fans boo as she drops down behind him and then rolls him up with a schoolboy, 1-2-no! Shihei just escapes. Both of them get to their feet quickly, Shihei aiming a right hand, but Evans ducks it. She then runs up the turnbuckles and moonsaults towards Shihei, who catches her, but she transitions into a reverse DDT. Instead of making a cover, Evans locks in a dragon sleeper on the mat. Shihei waves his arms frantically as Evans hooks her legs around him, but he quickly begins to fade.

The fans boo and Kate Mustang bangs on the mat to rouse Shihei, but he seems certain to be about to pass out. The official grips his arm and raises it, allowing it to drop, but it doesn’t drop fully. Instead, Shihei raises it again and, with a loud cry, he begins to stand. Evans maintains her grip, but Shihei powers through, lifting her onto his back and then forcing her up onto his shoulders, breaking the grip. All of a sudden, he flips her around and connects with High Intensity. The fans cheer as he makes a cover, 1-2-no! Evans just manages to kick out.

Shihei then slowly makes it to his feet and looks down at Evans. She tries to stand but he grips her head and pulls her into position for the Dead Man’s Bomb again. He lifts her but she wriggles free and lands behind him. Evans connects with a discus forearm to the back of his head before leaping up and hitting a reverse rana. Shihei rolls through to a standing position but is out on his feet as Evans hits the ropes and connects with a blockbuster. She makes the cover, one arm raised to the sky, 1-2-no! Shihei just gets a shoulder up and Evans looks shocked.

MW: He kicked out! Go Shihei kicked out!
SD: What? No way! Slow count. Cheating. Chicanery of the foulest kind!
MW: Not at all. Just great ring awareness and a will to continue in this match.
SD: Arty is so close. She can sense victory now!

Evans staggers backwards before pulling Shihei up and setting him in position for the Guillotine Strike. As she drops the arm, Shihei twists free and connects with a hard chop to the chest. He pulls her in for an exploder suplex and sends her back-first into the turnbuckles. Grabbing the back of his neck, Shihei lifts Evans and places her on top of the turnbuckles. He then climbs and sends her crashing to the mat with High Altitude. Shihei rolls over and drapes an arm over to make the cover, 1-2-no! Evans just gets a shoulder up and it’s Shihei’s turn to look in disbelief. Shihei takes a moment to collect himself, Kate Mustang climbing up onto the apron to yell for the Dead Man’s Bomb.

He pulls Evans up and looks for the Dead Man’s Bomb once more. He lifts her and is about to plant her to the mat when she jams a thumb into his eye again and drops down behind him. The fans boo and Shihei looks enraged as he turns around to face her. He charges at her and looks for a massive lariat, but Evans ducks and Shihei almost runs into Mustang but stops himself at the last minute. There’s a pause as he and Mustang look at each other and this allows Evans to hook an arm over Shihei’s head and drop him with the Guillotine Strike. She makes the cover, 1-2-3!

Winner: Artemis Evans (17:26).

Evans rolls away out of the ring as Mustang enters and charges at her. She orders the official to raise her arm on the outside while she gives Mustang a cocky smile and holds the back of her head. In the ring, Shihei struggles to sit up and Mustang turns to tend to him.

SD: Yes! Yes! Yes! Arty did it! What a victory!
MW: It sure was impressive, but it was somewhat questionable.
SD: It was not!
MW: She jammed her thumb into his eye at least three times in that match.
SD: She earned two points. That’s the only thing that matters.
MW: I’d question whether it’s the only thing that matters but it certainly does matter. Artemis Evans joins Jerry Bishop at the top of the B Block with two points, leaving Go Shihei trailing in her wake.

Evans smirks at the girl in the crowd who she upset earlier before walking back through the curtain, leaving Mustang and Shihei to slowly trudge up the ramp.

MW: And now we come to our main event.
SD: This should be very interesting. Very interesting indeed.
MW: This match is between the self-proclaimed- and who has argued, by the way- ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling and a man who has made his name elsewhere and is now trying to make his way here too.
SD: Botiatus has been fairly brash since coming in and has called out quite a few people. Graham Baker has taken exception to this and has openly called out Botiatus for his attitude since he came to FPW. This match is a chance for Botiatus to put up or shut up.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this next match is a B Block contest and is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit. Introducing first, making his Free-1 debut, he is a former FSB Intercontinental and United States Champion. He hails from The Bay Area, California… Botiatus!”

The lights drop and the screen shows the foot of some wide stone steps. As the opening chords to ‘Famous’ play, the shot pans upwards to show more steps and then Roman pillars in front of an Ancient Roman villa. The song kicks into gear and the lights flash on, coinciding with ‘House of Botiatius’ hitting the screen as Bo emerges from the back. He heads down to the ring but stops to pose with a section of fans who are wearing Botiatus shirts and loudly chanting ‘H.O.B.’ Bo then hops up onto the apron and climbs the turnbuckles, posing with one knee down on the ringpost. He points down to the announce table before the arena goes dark, a sole spotlight coming back up on Bo before he drops down and the lights come back up.

MW: There’s an electric atmosphere in this room right now.
SD: Love him or hate him, Botiatus has an aura. He feels like a big time star every time he comes to the ring.
MW: And he has a very loud cheer section. I was speaking to those fans earlier today who have driven here across the country from San Francisco to be here for Botiatus’ Free-1 debut match.
SD: That’s commitment, Watson.

“And his opponent. He is a former FPW Champion. He is the reigning and defending Free-1 winner. Hailing from London, England, he is the self-proclaimed ace of FPW, The Aviator, Graham Baker!”

Staccato machine gun fire fills the arena as the fans stand. ‘DNA’ begins to play as Baker emerges onto the ramp, taking in the cheers of the FPW fans. He holds his jacket open, revealing the bare flesh which he had hoped would have been covered by the FPW Championship, before making his way down the ramp. He slaps hands with a few fans but keeps his eyes on Botiatus until he reaches the section of fans still chanting ‘H.O.B.’ Baker stops and stares at them for a few moments before running down the ramp and sliding into the ring. He walks right up to Botiatus and the two men stand forehead to forehead before Baker backs away, aiming double finer guns at Bo as the official checks his gear.

Match 3: B Block: Graham Baker (0) v Botiatus (0):

As the bell rings, the two men waste no time in coming forward and very aggressively locking up. They jostle back and forth, Bo forcing Baker back into the ropes but Baker turning him and forcing him back further. They tumble through the ropes, still locked together, and resume their tussle on the outside, the fans cheering loudly. Baker forces Bo back into the guardrail and doesn’t let up, continuing to push him back. Bo manages to counter, forcing Baker back but then quickly transitioning into a drop toe hold, sending Baker face first into the guardrail.

Bo stands and backs up as the camera focusses on Baker, who’s face shows a trickle of blood coming from his mouth. Baker touches the blood and looks at it, turning and storming at Bo, taking him down with a double leg and laying into him with forearms. The official tries to get Baker off Bo but he won’t dismount, leading the official to roll back into the ring and begin to count the two men out.

1……….

Baker continues to rain down forearms on Bo.

2……….

Baker pulls Bo up and whips him towards the guardrail, but Bo counters, sending Baker back-first into them instead.

3……….

Baker arches his back which is still sore from the match last night. Bo charges in and lands a series of strikes of his own.

4……….

Bo then pulls Baker away from the guardrail and tries to throw him back into it, but when Baker hits he shrugs it and comes back to Bo, the two of them going forehead to forehead once again.

5……….

They immediately break into an exchange of forearms, each man connecting with a flurry at a very fast pace.

6……….

Baker and Bo continue to trade hard forearm strikes, the pace continuing.

7……….

The pace begins to slow, but each man continues to strike the other, neither relenting and giving up the advantage.

8……….

The crowd start to get restless as both men continue to strike one another, seemingly unable to notice the official’s count.

9…….

Both men simultaneously stop striking and dive back into the ring to stop the count, but they pop straight back up and continue their onslaught, picking up the pace once again until the crowd is cheering frantically.

MW: I’ve never seen a match start like this before!
SD: We said that Bo had rubbed Graham Baker up the wrong way, but I’ve not seen Baker be this aggressive before, even in some of his hardcore deathmatches.
MW: Losing to Davey Jones last night left its physical scars, but I’ll bet Baker is carrying some mental baggage too that he’s looking to take out on Botiatus tonight.

Baker continues to lay in his forearms at a blistering pace but Bo starts to drop off, Baker forcing him back into the corner and continuing to strike at him. The official has to all but pull Baker off him and Baker only just stops himself from striking the official too. Baker turns back to Bo and pulls him up, whipping him across to the opposite corner and then, after Bo staggers out, hitting him with a shotgun dropkick. Bo rests in a seated position and Baker charges in and connected with a delayed dropkick before rolling Bo towards the middle of the ring and covering him, 1-2-no. Bo kicks out.

Baker then stands, positioning himself behind Bo and looking for a deadlift German, but Bo gets his feet under him and elbows his way out. Baker reels backwards and Bo takes advantage, trapping Baker’s arms and hitting him with a tiger suplex. He doesn’t bridge for the pin, instead getting to his feet and pulling Baker up, whipping him into the ropes and connecting with a scoop powerslam. Only then does he make the cover, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out this time. Bo keeps the tempo high, pulling Baker up immediately and whipping him into the corner. He follows him in with a splash and then pulls Baker in for a twisting vertical suplex, making a second cover, 1-2-no. Baker again kicks out.

Botiatus stands and pulls Baker with him again, hooking his arm under his head for another vertical suplex. But Baker blocks him and connects with right hands to the gut. Baker keeps hold of Bo even as Bo breaks his grasp on Baker and he delivers a series of knee lifts to Bo’s midsection and then to his face as Bo doubles over. Baker then transitions into an exploder suplex before rolling through, maintaining his hold on Bo, and lifting him again, this time hitting an exploder into the turnbuckles. Baker then climbs up to the top rope and points the double finger guns at Bo as he begins to stand, before coming down with a double stomp to the back of Bo’s head. Baker takes a moment to get to his feet, showing some of the fatigue from his match the night before, before pumping up the crowd, most of whom come with him.

MW: Baker back in the ascendency now. I don’t think he wants this match to last much longer.
SD: After his war with Davey Jones last night, I don’t blame him!

Baker pulls Bo up and looks to pull him onto his shoulders for the Mustang Driver, but Bo quickly drops down behind Baker and pulls him in for an inverted headlock backbreaker. Baker staggers forward, holding his back, as Bo dumps him over the top rope and onto the apron. Bo then hits the ropes and connects with a sliding elbow strike to double Baker over before pulling his head through the ropes and connecting with a series of knee strikes. His section of fans count along with the knee strikes and, when they get to nine, he hits the ropes behind him and bounces back with a running knee to send Baker face-first to the mat. Bo then climbs through the ropes, and, after giving his section a look, points three times to himself as they chant ‘H.O.B.’ and he connects with a slingshot leg drop to the back of Baker’s head. Bo rolls Baker over and makes the cover, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out.

Bo wastes no time again, pulling Baker up and hitting him with a hard back suplex. Bo then rolls under the ropes again and waits for Baker to get to his feet before leaping up and connecting with a springboard blockbuster. He lies in the ring for a few seconds before kipping up, leading to cheers from a number of fans, and pulling Baker up once again. He lifts him onto his shoulder and hits him with snake eyes into the corner. Bo then sets up for the House Call, running the ropes and aiming the elbow strike, but Baker reverses with a desperation dropkick. The fans cheer as both men lie on the canvas.

MW: Baker pulled that out of nowhere.
SD: He had to. Botiatus was about to have this one sewn up. Baker needs to find a way to win this match sooner rather than later or he’s in serious trouble.
MW: He already tried the Mustang Driver but Bo countered and has been on the offensive ever since. Will he look for the Emergency Landing or can Bo find a counter for that too?

Baker is the first to his feet, but only just. The two men lock eyes and Baker comes forward, but Bo blocks his attempted forearm and connects with an arm stunner. Baker reels away cradling his arm as Bo lifts him for another back suplex, driving Baker into the mat. Bo then pulls Baker up and drives him into the corner, lifting him so that he’s seating facing away from the ring. Baker sense danger and begins to strike out with elbows, sending Bo back down to the ring. Baker swivels round but Bo remains standing and he connects with a dropkick, sending Baker down to the apron once again.

Bo backs away, looking for another sliding elbow strike, but Baker sees it coming and slingshots into the ring, coming down with a double stomp just as Bo slides into the ropes. Baker then pulls Bo up and connects with a deadlift German suplex before rolling away. Bo gets to his hands and knees and Baker backs up, hitting a sliding dropkick to the arm which causes Bo to cry out in pain. Baker immediately goes in for the kill, looking to lock in Emergency Landing. Bo, however, clasps his hands and won’t allow Baker to lock in the hold. Baker counters by driving the heel of his boot into Bo’s face. Bo involuntarily releases his grip to block the stomps and Baker immediately extends the arm. Bo writhes around, looking to get to the ropes quickly, and managing to hook a foot over the bottom rope. The official calls for the break and reaches the count of three before Baker breaks the hold.

SD: A bit of rule bending there from Graham Baker… interesting.
MW: Baker is a competitor. He’s desperate to win and he wants to teach Botiatus a lesson. Sometimes that can mean someone might get a little carried away.
SD: Or he’s starting to see things my way. The only thing that matters-
MW: Is winning. We know. You’ve said it enough times tonight.

Baker doesn’t give Bo much time to recover, pulling him up quickly and lifting him for another German. This time, however, he doesn’t fully follow through, instead dumping Bo right onto the arm that Baker had in his grasp seconds ago. Bo cries out, cradling the arm as he sits in the ring. Baker follows up with a hesitation dropkick right to the arm. Bo rolls backwards and Baker looks to grip the arm again, but Bo manages to roll out of the ring. Baker follows, driving Bo back-first into the guardrail before trapping the arm through the bars and pulling hard. The official warns Baker and he backs away, pulling Bo with him and sliding him back into the ring. He positions Bo parallel to the ropes and extends his arm before climbing onto the apron. Baker them stomps hard on the arm, causing Bo to cradle it once more.

Baker swiftly climbs through the ropes, looking to lock in the Emergency Landing once again. He dives for the arm and grips it with both hands, but Bo is ready, and he rolls into the hold, pinning Baker’s shoulders to the mat, 1-2-no! Baker just manages to kick out, to the delight of the fans who thought it was all over. Bo frees himself from the grip and stands, creating distance between himself and Baker. Baker quickly fills that distance, looking to take the arm again, but Bo strikes him hard with a back elbow that sends Baker reeling. Bo then kicks Baker in the gut and connects with a snap DDT, making a cover, 1-2-no. Baker again kicks out.

Bo makes a quick transition, trapping the arm and locking his hands in front of Baker’s face for the ADT. He bridges to torque Baker’s back and shoulder even more. A chant of ‘tap, tap, tap’ can be heard from Bo’s fans before a louder one of ‘no, no, no’ comes from Baker’s much larger fanbase. Baker struggles to make it to the ropes, but Bo resists, showing excellent ability to counter Baker’s attempts to move around on the mat. Baker eventually manages to get his knees underneath himself and drag himself towards the ropes, but Bo, seeing this, uses his feet to push off the ropes and reestablish the hold in the middle of the ring. The fans suddenly go quiet, except for the section of fans from California, as Baker looks like he’s about to tap. Before he does, he makes one final effort to get his knees under him again, pushing himself towards the ropes. The volume returns to the arena as the fans cheer him on, only for Bo to again push off the ropes and maintain the hold, but Baker stops him mid roll and pins his shoulders to the mat, 1-2-no! Bo just manages to kick out, breaking his grip as he does.

MW: They were both so close to having this match won!
SD: You can sense both men’s desperation, their desire to win. Neither man feels like this is a match they can afford to lose.
MW: And now both men getting to their feet. We are nearly twenty-one minutes into this one and I’m not sure there’s an end in sight right now.

Bo is the first to make it to his feet and he moves over to Baker, landing a clubbing blow to his back. Baker arches it again and Bo, out of nowhere, hits a stun gun. He covers Baker with a back press, 1-2-no! Baker just manages to get a shoulder up. Bo pulls Baker up with him this time and lifts him up onto his shoulder, looking again for snake eyes. But Baker has it scouter and wriggles free, shoving Bo into the turnbuckles before hitting a snap German. He completes the Anti-Air with the hesitation dropkick and covers Bo, 1-2-no! Bo just kicks out.

With Bo getting his shoulder up, Baker grasps it, and swivels his position to lock in the Emergency Landing once again. Bo tries to clasp his hands but Baker doesn’t let him, kicking out at him to stop the other arm from coming up. Baker fully extends the arm, pushing his own body up off the canvas. Bo look about to tap when Baker drops down, his back too sore to keep the leverage up. This gives Bo a slight respite, and he manages to wriggle his way over to the ropes. Baker is forced to break the hold and Bo slides out of the ring to gain some much needed recovery time. Baker, seeing this, hits the ropes and then leaps up onto the top rope, coming down with Clipped Wings! The fans cheer loudly but both Baker and Bo find themselves down on the outside as the official once again begins his count.

1………
2……….
3……….
4……….
5……….
6……….

Neither man has managed to move.

7……….
8……….

Both stir, Baker getting to his feet but staggering around on wobbly legs while Bo gets to his hands and knees.

9……..

Baker and Bo once again simultaneously manage to dive back into the ring and break the count.

MW: Ladies and gentlemen we have just passed the twenty-five minute mark.
SD: We almost had draws last night. Surely this match can’t have a winner in such short time?

Both men stagger to their feet and towards one another, exchanging forearms once again. They begin with a flurry but the pace soon slows, Bo getting the better of a clearly exhausted Graham Baker. Bo drives Baker back towards the corner before lifting him up onto his shoulder. Bo staggers and Baker almost manages to drop off the back, but Bo succeeds in connecting with snake eyes. Baker staggers out of the corner and Bo cocks his elbow into position. He hits the ropes, hits the opposite ropes and charges at Baker, only for Baker to counter, lifting him onto his shoulders and delivering a desperation Mustang Driver! Baker scrambles for a cover but Bo has managed to roll out of the ring.

SD: We’re approaching the twenty-seven minute mark!
MW: Baker surely has this match won but he can’t make a cover if Bo isn’t in the ring.
SD: He has to get him back in. It’s the only way.

Baker reaches down from inside the ring and drags Bo slowly but surely back into the ring under the bottom rope. Rolling him away from the ropes, he makes a laboured cover, 1-2-no! Bo manages to get a shoulder up as the official’s hand grazes the mat.

SD: Two and a half minutes left in this one!

Baker holds his hands to his head for a moment before nodding to himself and taking several deep breaths to pump himself up. He looks to grasp the arm but Bo is ready, pulling him in for a small package, 1-2-no! Baker this time barely manages to kick out. Both men make it to their knees, resuming their exchange of forearms from earlier in the match, laying into one another until each man drops to the mat. They slowly roll away from one another and make to the ropes, pulling themselves up.

SD: Two and a half minutes!

Baker and Bo stagger towards the middle of the ring. Baker tries to pull Bo up for another Mustang Driver, but Bo blocks it, raining down elbows onto Baker’s back. Baker reels away and Bo pulls him in for another back suplex. He slowly manages to roll over and looks to lock in the ADT again. He traps the arm and locks his hands, bridging as Baker cries out with the pain of the torque that’s on his back.

SD: Less than one minute left!

Bo wrenches as hard as he can but Baker won’t tap. Seeing the time left, Bo realises he won’t win with a submission move, and releases the hold, slowly dragging Baker up to his feet. With Baker swaying in the middle of the ring, Bo cocks his elbow, hitting the ropes and connecting with House Call! Bo looks down at Baker but doesn’t make the cover.

SD: He has thirty seconds!

Instead of covering Baker, he pulls him up by the back of his tights. Baker slowly stands, pushing himself up after being on knee. Bo leaps into the air and hits Baker with House Rules. Bo slowly rolls over to Baker and drapes an arm over his lifeless body, 1-2-3!

Winner: Botiatus (29:42).

MW: Botiatus has done it!
SD: He took the risk of time running out but it paid off. Botiatus has defeated Graham Baker.
MW: And has become the first man to ever beat Baker in the Free-1.

Botiatus lies on the mat with his arm raised, his fans, and a lot more than before, stand and applaud him, with a loud ‘H.O.B.’ chant breaking out. The official checks on both men as Bo starts to shakily climb to his feet. He acknowledges the crowd before the official raises his arm. Bo starts to stagger towards Baker, who rolls slowly beneath the rope and drops to one knee on the outside. As he stands, Bo looks down at Baker and points at him, nodding. Baker looks up at him, gives him the briefest of nods, and walks gingerly up the ramp, leaving Botiatus to take in the cheers of the fans who know they’ve just seen an instant classic.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:







MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!



MW: What a contest!



SD: Did you see what he just did?



MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!



MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!



MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!



MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!



SD: That man is super-human!



SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!



SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.



SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!



MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.



MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.



SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!



MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!



MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!



SD: What just happened?



SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!



MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.



MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!



SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!



MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!



MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!



SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.



MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.



MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!



MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.



SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.



MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!



SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.



MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.



SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.



MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!



MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.



SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!



SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now



MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!



SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.



MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome to Night Three of the second ever Freedom Pro Wrestling Free-1 tournament. We have already had one round of matches from each block and tonight we get into the second round where the standings will really start to sort themselves.

SD: Tonight we have a match-up with the potential to steal the entire tournament. Jace Mason and James Saturn, two talented young wrestlers who are aiming for a big Free-1 to really push themselves into the upper echelons FPW.

MW: James Saturn picked up a big victory in the first Free-1 match of 2019. He defeated Marcus Allen Jones with a superkick that seemed to come out of nowhere. Jace Mason had one of the best matches of the tournament with Aaron Williams but came up short despite doing quite a bit of damage to Williams’ knee. A Saturn win tonight will put him in prime position in the A Block while Mason can surely not afford a loss.

SD: Jace Mason may not be able to afford a loss tonight but I think that is what is going to happen. James Saturn, The Paragon, is an excellent wrestler, as is Jace Mason of course, but I think Saturn is a step ahead of Mason. He picks up a big win tonight and sets himself up as the favourite to win this block.

MW: Well let’s get down to ringside with our announcer, Dasha Banks.



“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first match of our second round of Free-1 matches! The following contest is an A Block contest and is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit. Introducing first… he is a former Freedom Champion. With zero points, he hails from Seattle, Washington, The Eternal Student, Jace Mason!”



The fans begin to cheer as ‘Afterlife’ begins. The cheers build as the intro plays before Jace steps through the curtain at its end. He stands with one foot forward as pyro explodes around him and he looks around at the fans with a smile on his face. He then begins to walk down the ramp, slapping hands with fans and stopping to point at a ‘Mason Forever’ sign held by a young fan. Mason then climbs up onto the ring apron before climbing the turnbuckles, one foot on the top and one on the middle as he raises his right fist and smiles down at the crowd once more. He then drops down into the ring and bounces up and down for a few moments as the song ends.



“And his opponent… he is the current Young Lions’ Cup Winner. With two points, hailing from Portland, Oregon, he is The Paragon, James Saturn!”



The reaction instantly changes, boos filling the arena as ‘White Knuckles’ plays. Saturn comes through the curtain and looks dismissively at the crowd. He walks down the ramp, trash talking with the fans before climbing onto the ring apron and flipping over the top rope into the ring. He walks up to Mason and they two lock eyes for a few moments before Saturn brushes past him and climbs up onto the middle turnbuckle and cups a hand to his ear as the fans continue to throw abuse his way.



A Block: James Saturn (2) v Jace Mason (0):



The match begins with a lock-up, Mason taking the early advantage with a headlock. He takes Saturn over and maintains the headlock, but Saturn gets his legs up and locks him into the head scissors. Mason kicks his legs and escapes and both men get to their feet. Saturn comes forward but Mason hits him with a quick headlock takeover, Saturn again escaping the same way, before Mason repeats the move, Saturn again escaping the same way. Mason gets quickly to his feet but Saturn rolls out of the ring to the outside as the fans boo and Mason stands with his arms held out. Saturn takes a few moments outside as Mason stands back, waiting for him to come back into the ring.



Saturn steps up onto the apron and Mason steps forward, only for Saturn to drop back down, waving a finger at Mason as the fans boo even louder. He tells the official to get Mason back and Mason obliges, standing back on the opposite ropes and beckoning Saturn into the ring. Saturn again climbs onto the apron and this time steps through the ropes, only to move to the near-side and step through the ropes again. Mason again extends his arms as Saturn walks around the outside. Mason gives up on being patient, rolling through the ropes and following Saturn, but Saturn slides back into the ring. Mason follows and Saturn lays into him with stomps.



SD: Excellent from Saturn.

MW: Excellent?

SD: He knew exactly what he was doing. Mason is the better technical wrestler but Saturn is more intelligent for sure.

MW: I don’t think you can give a guy credit for walking around the ring and then stomping on someone as they try to engage in a wrestling match.

SD: I can and I will.



Saturn pulls Mason to his feet and whips him across the ring before connecting with a calf kick as Mason comes back at him. Saturn makes a quick cover, 1-no. Mason immediately kicks out. Mason tries to get to his feet but Saturn drives a knee into his gut and hits the ropes, connecting with a knee lift. Mason drops to the mat and Saturn drops an elbow on him. He holds for another cover, 1-no. Again Mason is quick to kick out. Saturn stands, pulling Mason with him and driving him into a corner. He kicks Mason several times in the gut before backing away and connecting with a running clothesline. Mason staggers out of the corner and Saturn climbs up to the top rope before leaping off and connecting with a diving clothesline. He covers Mason again, 1-2-no. Mason kicks out.



Saturn stands and looks down at Mason as he struggles to get to his feet. He points down at him and cups his hand to his ear as he hears more boos. Saturn pulls Mason up and grabs his wrist, wringing the arm and wrenching on it. Saturn then climbs the turnbuckles and begins his ropewalk before coming down and looking for the chop, but Mason counters with a superkick to the gut. The fans cheer as Saturn drops to the mat and Mason hits the ropes, connecting with a running dropkick. Mason quickly pulls Saturn up to his feet and whips him into the corner. He follows up with a running knee and holds onto Saturn’s head, pulling him out of the corner and taking him down with a snapmare before hitting the ropes and connecting with a penalty kick. Mason then makes his first cover of the match, 1-2-no. Saturn kicks out.



MW: Jace Mason firing back there.

SD: An impressive sequence, but can he keep on top of Saturn like Saturn did in the early stages?

MW: Saturn didn’t give Mason much time to recover and Mason seems to be going to the same.



Mason pulls Saturn up and looks for a vertical suplex, lifting Saturn and then hitting him with a falcon arrow. Mason then climbs up to the top rope and looks down at Saturn before launching himself into a shooting star press. He connects and holds for another cover, 1-2-no. Saturn again kicks out. Mason then stands and grips Saturn’s leg, lifting it before aiming a kick at the inside of the knee. Saturn’s knee buckles and he tries to roll away, but Mason grips him around the waist and blocks him from leaving the ring. He pulls Saturn up and whips him around, aiming a superkick to his gut, but Saturn catches him and drives a hard forearm into Mason’s back, causing him to fall to all fours before Saturn drops an elbow to the small of Mason’s back.



Mason drops to the mat as Saturn aims more stomps at Mason’s back. He pulls Mason up and drives him into the corner, keeping his back facing into the ring. Saturn then unleashes a series of hard forearms and kicks to the small of Mason’s back again. Mason arches his back and Saturn connects with a backstabber, flipping Mason over and then rolling backwards, lifting both legs and trying to lock in Saturn’s Walls. Mason tries to resist but he can’t block the hold, instead pushing up and trying to crawl towards the ropes. He manages to move fairly quickly, but Saturn, seeing him approaching the ropes, breaks the hold and launches a leaping stomp to the back. Mason stops and reaches back to grip the back as Saturn takes a few steps away before stepping in and landing a standing shooting star press right onto Mason’s back.



MW: That has to hurt!

SD: It does hurt, Watson. As soon as Mason started to go after the knee, Saturn decided to go after the back to soften him up for Saturn’s Walls.

MW: And it’s got to slow Mason down too?

SD: A back injury is the worst kind of injury you can have. If Mason’s back is hurt then he’s going to struggle to lock in that half-crab and he’s going to really struggle to hit the Extra Credit.



Saturn stands and watches as Mason struggles towards the ropes, pulling himself up. He watches until he’s almost up before running in and driving a knee into Mason’s back. Mason drops to the mat again and Saturn pulls him up by the wrist, wringing the arm and wrenching it again and again. He climbs up to the top turnbuckle and tries the rope walk again. He walks to the middle of the rope before leaping off and connecting not with a chop, but with a knee strike into Mason’s back. Mason falls and Saturn makes an immediate cover, 1-2-no. Mason gets a shoulder up, wincing as he twists his back.



Saturn then goes quickly back to the legs and looks to lock in Saturn’s Walls again. Mason resists, twisting this way and that before trying to reach up and pull Saturn in for a small package. He grabs Saturn but Saturn drives a forearm into Mason’s face and turns him quickly. Mason cries out in pain as Saturn sits down low. Mason tries to push up and get to the ropes but his back can’t take the strain. Instead, he throws back elbows and drives them into Saturn’s knee. Saturn doesn’t budge at first, but it takes a few strikes for him to start trying to pull his knee away. As he lifts it, Mason manages to wriggle underneath him and reach up, pulling Saturn down for a small package, 1-2-no. Saturn kicks out.



Both men get quickly to their feet, Mason ducking under an attempted clothesline before connecting with a super kick to the gut. He then kicks hard at Saturn’s knee before backing up and connecting with a dropkick. Mason then moves quickly over to Saturn’s leg and aims several kicks at the knee before lifting the foot and driving the point of the knee directly into the canvas. Mason then pulls Saturn to his feet and forces him into the corner, before connecting with a series of hard chops. He then lifts Saturn up onto the top rope and climbs up after him. He hooks an arm over his head and looks to lift him for a superplex, but struggles to lift Saturn. Saturn drives an elbow into Mason’s back before shoving him down to the mat. Saturn looks down and leaps off, connecting with an elbow drop. He hooks the leg, 1-2-no! Mason just kicks out.



MW: Mason barely kicks out!

SD: He made a big mistake trying to go for a superplex. His back is not in a position to try and lift Saturn like that and he paid harshly for it.

MW: And now James Saturn has a chance to take this match home as we hit our halfway point.



Saturn stalks Mason as he struggles to his feet and he connects with an inverted atomic drop before hitting a step-up enzeguiri. Mason staggers and Saturn goes for a double leg, taking him down and looking for Saturn’s Walls again. Mason struggles against being turned, freeing one leg and kicking out at Saturn’s knee, forcing Saturn to release his grip. Mason rolls under the bottom rope and pulls himself up as Saturn turns back towards him. Saturn springs up onto the middle rope and looks for a clothesline, but Mason ducks, Saturn landing on his knees. Mason then connects with a wrecking ball dropkick before pulling Saturn up and into an STO. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Saturn kicks out.



Mason lifts the leg again and aims several kicks to the inside of the knee before looking for the single-leg Boston crab. He turns Saturn and sits as deeply as he can, Saturn calling out with the pain. Saturn tries to drag himself over to the bottom rope but Mason resists. Saturn persists, and Mason can’t maintain his stance as his back starts to give out. Saturn manages to hook an arm over the bottom rope and Mason immediately breaks the hold. He then lifts Saturn and whips him into the ropes, catching him into an Extra Credit. Saturn, however, stands firm, elbowing his way free. Mason reels away and Saturn aims a superkick, but Mason ducks. Mason then leaps up onto the middle rope but Saturn darts in, driving a forearm into Mason’s back before connecting with a snap German suplex.



Saturn then quickly moves over to the legs and looks for Saturn’s Walls again. He turns Mason before he’s able to resists and then he sits deep. Mason struggles, his back torqued at a horrible angle as he raises his arm, almost about to tap. Saturn tries to sit deeper but he can to push himself back up as he knee starts giving out. Mason takes his chance and strikes at the knee, forcing Saturn to drop one of his legs to block the blows, turning the hold into a single-leg Boston crab. Mason, the pressure on his back relieved, drags himself over to the ropes and Saturn breaks the hold.



MW: Both men showing their weaknesses in that exchange.

SD: Saturn has done a lot of damage to the back but I think this match will be won for him via pinfall.

MW: It may well be. He’s already looked for the superkick but what about the Saturnsault.

SD: If he hits that, this match will be over.



Saturn limps away from Mason for a few moments, allowing Mason to pull himself up on the ropes. Saturn stalks him and, as Mason turns, aims another superkick, only for Mason to duck again, hitting the middle rope and connecting with the disaster kick. Mason covers Saturn, 1-2-no! Saturn just kicks out. Mason then stands, arching his back in pain, and calls for Saturn to get to his feet. He whips Saturn into the ropes, looking for Extra Credit again, but Saturn catches the top rope. Mason charges in but Saturn ducks him and drives another forearm into his back. Mason drops to his knees and Saturn connects with a hook kick, Mason falling to the mat. Saturn then climbs up to the top rope and takes a moment before leaping off with a Saturnsault!



But Mason manages to roll out of the way and Saturn crashes and burns, landing hard on his knee. Saturn holds his knee with both hands as Mason pulls himself up on the ropes. Saturn pushes himself up on his knees and Mason aims a superkick which connects hard to the face. Saturn sways and Mason then hits another, sending Saturn to the mat. Mason makes a cover, 1-2-no! Saturn just manages to kick out once again. Mason then calls for the end of the match, pulling Saturn up and shoving him into the ropes. He looks to catch him with Extra Credit once again, but Saturn blocks it again, elbowing his way out and throwing a superkick. But Mason catches it, and quickly transitions into the half-crab.



Mason torques the knee hard as Saturn writhes around in pain. He looks to scramble towards the rope but Mason stands firm, the pain etched on his face as he fights off the damage to his back. Saturn gets closer and closer to the ropes but Mason pushes up and walks him back into the middle of the ring, before sitting down and dropping as far as he can, almost bending Saturn in two. As soon as he drops that low, Saturn taps his hand on the mat and Mason releases the hold.



Winner: Jace Mason (22:32).



MW: A battling victory for The Eternal Student.

SD: I give a lot of credit to Jace Mason for that win. He showed his toughness and his resilience. He avoided Saturn’s major moves and managed to find a way to get the submission victory that he so clearly wanted.

MW: And now Mason joins Saturn, Aaron Williams and Elizabeth Karlson on two points at the top of the A Block.



Mason stands and has his hand raised by the official while Saturn limps away up the ramp. Mason climbs to the second turnbuckle and salutes the crowd who cheer him loudly.



MW: Mason’s next match will take place in ten days’ time against Freedom Champion Berry Bishop, and what a match that could be.

SD: Lots of time for Mason to recover. He’ll need that after the damage he took to his back tonight.

MW: And we’re back tomorrow with B Block action as co-leader Jerry Bishop faces the winless Go Shihei.

SD: That should be fascinating!

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:

MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!
MW: What a contest!
SD: Did you see what he just did?
MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!
MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!
MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!
MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!
SD: That man is super-human!
SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!
SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.
SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!
MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.
MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.
SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!
MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!
MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!
SD: What just happened?
SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!
MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.
MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!
SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!
MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!
MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!
SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.
MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.
MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!
MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.
SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.
MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!
SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.
MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.
SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.
MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!
MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.
SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!
SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now
MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!
SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.
MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.

The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.

MW: Welcome everyone to day four of the Free-1. Last night was all about the A Block but tonight the B Block takes precedence.
SD: It does indeed. Jerry Bishop and Go Shihei may have been going into this mat h expecting that one of them would have two points and the other would have none, but I’m not sure they’d have expected it to be this way round.
MW: Perhaps not, but it is Jerry Bishop coming in with two points and Go Shihei who is still searching for a victory.
SD: And tonight he’ll surely find one. Jerry Bishop managed a roll-up against Clutch McCloud but will he withstand the barrage of violence that Go Shihei is sure to bring him?
MW: If we know one thing about Jerry it’s that he has a lot of heart. Whatever you think of it, he’s also been working with MDE, who I’m sure will have concocted a plan to counter what Shihei will bring to the party.
SD: MDE may have come up with a plan, but will Bobby O keep his nose out and let Jerry execute the plan? Bobby seems to think he’s an angel on Jerry’s shoulder, but if Jerry listens too much he’ll surely discover that Bobby was the devil after all.
MW: I don’t know about that. But l do know that this is a big match for both. A win for Jerry Bishop and he goes top of the block with four points, but a win for Go Shihei and this block mirrors the A Block with four different wrestlers each on two points and only two who remain winless. Let’s head over to Dasha Banks to introduce the two competitors.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Free-1! Tonight’s contest is a B Block match-up and it is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, being accompanied to the ring by both MDE and Bobby O, sitting with two points, a former Free-2 finalist from Kansas City, Missouri: The Joker, Jerry Bishop!”

Loud cheers greet the beginning of ‘The Comedian’s Gallop’ as Jerry emerges from the back with a renewed vigour. Bobby O and MDE walk out behind him, each man having words with Jerry before the set off down the ramp. Once again, Jerry ignores the fans who reach out to him, Bobby being the one to slap their hands as MDE guides Jerry down to the ring. Jerry climbs in and briefly stands up on the turnbuckle, looking around at the crowd as they continue their cheers. He jumps down and MDE leans into the ropes to speak to him before Jerry begins to stretch out in the corner.

“And his opponent, currently with no points, he hails from Osaka, Japan and will be accompanied to the ring by his manager Kate Mustang. This is Holy Fury, Go Shihei!”

The lights drop as the opening monologue to ‘Fury, Oh Fury’ plays. As the lyrics begin, red and white lights come up and Go Shihei steps through the curtain, Mustang just behind him. He receives a mixed reaction, with some cheers, some boos and some fans not making much noise. Shihei surveys the arena and looks down at Jerry as he starts walking down to the ring, slapping himself in the head and beating his chest. At ringside, he climbs quickly into the ring and walks across to where Jerry is standing. Jerry moves aside and allows Shihei to stand on the middle turnbuckle looking down at Bobby and MDE. He points down at both of them and makes a snapping gesture with his hands as Mustang warns them that that’s what will happen if they choose to get involved.

B Block: Jerry Bishop (2) v Go Shihei (0):

As the bell rings, Shihei comes forward, Jerry hanging back. Shihei corners Jerry, who remains on the balls of his feet. Shihei lunges at him, but Jerry rolls away underneath his arm. With Shihei in the corner, Jerry advances, connecting with a forearm to the face before gripping Shihei’s arm and trying to whip him across the ring. Shihei, however, stands firm before driving his own forearm into Jerry’s face, sending Jerry down to all fours. Jerry tries to shake it off but Shihei lands a clubbing blow across his back before lifting him by his chin and laying in a hard chop. Jerry staggers away, wincing with the pain as MDE yells for him to stay alert.

Shihei comes in and pulls Jerry’s chin up again, landing another hard chop which sends Jerry reeling. Shihei then hits the ropes and comes off with a huge lariat which folds Jerry in half, Shihei making an early cover, 1-2-no. Jerry kicks out just after the count of two. Bobby bangs on the mat with a look of concern as Shihei pulls Jerry up again and whips him into the corner, following him in with another hard lariat. Shihei stops Jerry from collapsing to the mat before landing another hard chop. Jerry staggers out of the corner holding onto his chest, which is already looking a little red.

MW: This can’t have been the start that MDE was envisioning for Jerry.
SD: But it’s the perfect start for Go Shihei. A slow pace and a lot of hard hitting.
MW: How does Jerry work his way back into this one, Steven?
SD: He has to avoid these strikes. If he lets Go Shihei chop him and lariat him, he won’t be in the match for very long, and the time that he is in it will hurt like hell. Stick and move; I’m sure that’s what MDE will be telling him.

Shihei moves over to Jerry and looks to set him up for a Saito suplex, but Jerry counters into a quick headlock takedown. He tries to maintain his grip on the headlock but Shihei powers himself free. Jerry is quick to his feet however and he connects with a step-up enzeguiri which sends Shihei staggering a few steps. Jerry then stands and pulls him in for a Russian leg sweep, but Shihei stands firm before swatting Jerry away with a swipe of his arm. Shihei closes the distance quickly and sets Jerry up for a vertical suplex, which he connects with, floating over to make another cover, 1-2-no. Jerry kicks out again.

Shihei then pulls Jerry up again and throws him into the corner. He follows him in and goes for another lariat, but Jerry ducks and rolls away. This time Jerry quickly hits the opposite corner and, taking advantage of a momentary hesitation from Shihei, connecting with a running dropkick. Shihei steps groggily out of the corner and Jerry rolls under the bottom rope, Bobby urging him on. He leaps up onto the top rope and looks for the springboard forearm, but Shihei catches him in mid-air. Sit-out powerbomb! Shihei has the cover after driving Jerry’s back into the canvas with huge force, 1-2-no. Jerry kicks out again, but his kick outs are getting later and later.

SD: That was a great counter from Shihei.
MW: I’d love him and Davey Jones to have a match to see who is more powerful, because I think I’m backing this Japanese beast.
SD: What matters is that he’s more powerful than Bishop, which is beyond all doubt. Jerry is trying to use his speed advantage but it’s no good when your opponent can catch you like that and hit such a devastating move.
MW: And now Shihei is looking to do more damage.

Shihei pulls Jerry up and pulls him in for an overhead belly-to-belly, which he hits, sending Jerry half-way across the ring. MDE bangs hard on the apron next to Jerry, telling him to step it up. Jerry tries to get to his feet but Shihei lands a boot to his face which sends him back down again. Shihei lifts Jerry with ease and ptops him up onto the top turnbuckle. Shihei follows as Bobby calls out to Jerry. Shihei grips Jerry around the waist and looks for the High Altitude, but Jerry tries to block it, connecting with a series of forearms. Shihei loses his grip but a powerful elbow strike stops Jerry dead and Shihei grips him again, delivering High Altitude as Jerry flies to the other side of the ring.

Bobby runs around the ring to get to Jerry and to try and get him back up, but Jerry lies motionless as Shihei moves over, pulling him up into a deadlift exploder suplex! Shihei makes a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just manages to lift a shoulder. Mustang calls to Shihei to finish him off, and Shihei sets Jerry into position for a powerbomb. He pulls him up, but Jerry manages to drop down behind Shihei and connect with a thrust kick to the gut. Shihei doubles over and Jerry hits a standing blockbuster before rolling towards the corner. MDE moves around and gives Jerry some quiet instruction as Jerry looks to head to the second rope. Changing his mind, he drops down and instead stalks Shihei from behind. Shihei stands and Jerry goes for a rolling elbow, which connects, but Shihei doesn’t move. With venom, Shihei aims an elbow strike at Jerry, but Jerry ducks beneath it, making a quick transition to a DDT position. Jerry walks up the ropes and connects with a tornado DDT before making a cover, 1-2-no! Shihei just kicks out.

MW: Impressive move from Jerry.
SD: And very intelligent. He threw the elbow, knowing that it wouldn’t be especially effective and that it would get Shihei to respond to prove his striking dominance, but he was ready with the counter. That’s why Jerry has MDE in his corner.
MW: And it’s got him right back into this one. We’ve just passed the ten minute mark and it’s looking more like a Jerry Bishop victory coming.
SD: He looks like he’s setting up for the Last Laugh. He’ll have to be quick to hit it.

Jerry pulls Shihei in as soon as he gets to one knee, trapping the arms. He glances at Bobby quickly as Bobby lets out a big laugh, only for Shihei to use the hesitation to free his arms and stand, throwing Jerry half-way across the ring once again. MDE glares across the ring at Bobby, who gives him a dismissive look in return. Meanwhile, in the ring Shihei pulls Jerry to his feet and hits a short-arm lariat. Jerry drops to one knee and Shihei pulls him into position for a powerbomb. He lifts Jerry before driving him hard into the mat, but holding on and pulling him back up again. He drives Jerry hard again and again he pulls him back up, this time spinning before hitting a huge sit-out powerbomb and holding for a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry gets a shoulder up at the last possible minute. On the outside, Mustang drops her head while Bobby and MDE catch their breath.

Mustang looks up to Shihei and makes the same snapping motion that he made earlier to Bobby and MDE. He nods, pulling Jerry up and setting up for the Dead Man’s Bomb. He lifts Jerry up but Jerry uses the momentum to force Shihei backwards towards the ropes. Jerry then manages to free himself and he drops to the apron, waiting for Shihei to turn. As he does, Jerry launches himself for a slingshot DDT, but, as he’s about to hit the mat, Shihei resists, leaving Jerry hanging off him. Showing his amazing power, Shihei hooks an arm over Jerry’s head and lifts him for a suplex, driving him hard into the mat. Shihei makes a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry again just gets a shoulder up.

MW: That was such an impressive counter from Go Shihei after another impressive counter from Jerry.
SD: Another plan from Jerry except this one almost backfired and cost him the match.
MW: Shihei now in a strong position. He looks like he wants to set up for that Dead Man’s Bomb again.
SD: If he hits it, Jerry’s winning streak will be over at a grand total of one match!

Shihei sets Jerry up for the Dead Man’s Bomb again, but again Jerry tries to use his momentum to force Shihei to the ropes. Shihei staggers at first before regaining control, and instead running at the opposite ropes and tossing Jerry out of the ring to the floor! The crowd are in a stunned silence as the official darts out of the ring to check on Jerry while Bobby and MDE rush over to him too. Shihei looks down for a few moments before climbing through the ropes and forcing his way through to Jerry, pulling him up and rolling him straight back into the ring. Instead of following, Go Shihei climbs the ropes, standing tall on the top rope as the fans hold their collective breath. He leaps down and looks for the Year of the Toad, but jerry manages to roll out of the way!

A loud cheer comes through the arena as Jerry does everything he can to pull himself to his feet. Using the ropes, he manages to make it, but Shihei is almost up too. Jerry moves over to him, hooking an arm around his neck and connecting with a running bulldog. Jerry then stands and calls for the Last Laugh, watching as Shihei gets to his knees. Jerry pulls him in and tries trapping his arms, but Shihei overpowers him again. Shihei forces Jerry’s own arms apart and manages to transition into a tiger suplex. Shihei takes a moment while Jerry rolls over to the ropes. MDE charges around to him and camera picks up on him saying, ”… won’t work. Go to Plan B. Plan B.”

Shihei stands and moves over to Jerry again. He grabs him by the head and tries to pull him in for a powerbomb, but Jerry grabs him by the waist and forces him through the ropes. Jerry then follows as Shihei is out on the outside. MDE calls to the official to start a count, and, although looking slightly confused, he does:

1……….

Jerry backs away from Shihei before running to him and hitting him with a sliding dropkick.

2……….

Jerry then quickly cuts his finger across his lips before trapping Shihei’s shoulder.

3……….

With MDE looking on, Jerry clasps his hands and locks in the Chelsea Smile on the outside of the ring.

4……….

MW: I don’t understand… this match can’t end via submission outside of the ring.
SD: But it can end with a countout! Oh, this is brilliant.

5……….

MW: Surely Jerry Bishop doesn’t want to-
SD: A countout victory gets him two points. He knows that because MDE knows that. All he has to do is to keep Shihei down and get back into the ring.

6……….

Jerry maintains the hold, Bobby looking on with a puzzled look on his face as MDE closely watches Jerry and the official.

7……….

Kate Mustang tries to come around to them but Bobby turns in time, blocking her way.

8……….

Shihei begins to use his power, trying to stand as Jerry does everything he can to keep the hold locked in.

9…

“Now,” yells MDE as Shihei is on his knees.

…

Jerry breaks the hold and dives under the bottom rope, lying face-down on the canvas.

..

Shihei looks like he’s going to make it back into the ring but he appears to trip, ending up on his knees.

.. 10!

Winner: Jerry Bishop (19:36).

Jerry stands, the official raising his arm as MDE slides in and raises the other. The majority of the fans cheer, although some are left puzzled as Jerry celebrates, albeit with a slight reluctance. Bobby slides into the ring and pats Jerry on the back, but, out of sight, gives MDE a look. MDE shrugs his shoulders and turns back to Jerry, escorting him out of the ring.

MW: Well, Jerry Bishop has won this match and is the first person in either block to four points. But…
SD: But what? He won the match. He had a plan- Plan B in fact as the original plan wasn’t going to work. Shihei wasn’t going to let Jerry get him down for the Last Laugh and MDE would have known that making a man like Go Shihei submit is almost a waste of time.
MW: As I say, Jerry Bishop did win the match, but it may not be a win he’s completely proud of when he looks back at it.
SD: I’d be proud to be the first man to make it to four points; wouldn’t you?
MW: I’m sure he’s proud of that-
SD: Well then.
MW: But I’m also sure he’d have wanted to win in the middle of the ring. Regardless, Jerry Bishop has beaten Go Shihei tonight and does top the B Block with four points. We’ll see in the coming days if either Botiatus or Artemis Evans can join him with four points. Meanwhile, tomorrow we return to A Block action as- and this ought to be very good- Marcus Allen Jones faces Women’s Champion Elizabeth Karlson.
SD: Marcus seems to be having some… issues… at the moment. He’ll need to be focussing to beat Karlson but if he’s focussed on winning then he’s surely got this one. I can’t wait!

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome, everyone to the Free-1. We’re already up to Night Five and we have an intriguing contest tonight.

SD: Intriguing is right. My best friend Marcus Allen Jones gets his first two points against Elizabeth Karlson.

MW: You sound confident going into this one, Steven.

SD: I am confident, Watson. I know how hard Marcus has been training recently and I know how desperate he is to prove himself, once again, in the Free-1 this year.

MW: Let’s not count out Elizabeth Karlson. She’s already got her first points in the bag and is looking to take the top spot in the block tonight.

SD: She does have two points. She got them in an excellent match against Berry Bishop where she really demonstrated her immense skill in the art of grappling and submission wrestling. But, no disrespect to Berry… well, maybe a little disrespect to Berry… but Marcus Allen Jones is a serious step-up from Berry Bishop and will be a totally different test tonight for Karlson.

MW: In what ways will this be a different test?

SD: Berry’s offense is predicated on her striking ability, specifically her dangerous kicks. She has become much better on the mat and she’s becoming more of an all-rounder, but it’s her kicks that worry opponents. And that’s fairly easy to deal with- take out the legs. But Marcus Allen Jones is quicker, more agile and has a far greater range than Berry. Take out his legs and he can still do a lot of damage. It’ll be harder to ground him and harder to keep him there.

MW: Where does Karlson have an advantage tonight?

SD: Well, as much as I hate to say it, Karlson is a better technical wrestler than Marcus. If she can find a way to engage him in a technical exchange, she should be able to come out on top. Also…

MW: What?

SD: Well… Marcus is… he used to be completely focussed on doing whatever he had to do to win the match. Things are different now. He seems to have changed. Karlson I think will not be afraid to hit the killer blow. Marcus… I’m not so sure.

MW: Wow… rare criticism of Marcus Allen Jones from Steven Deville there. We may need to bookmark that. One last thing… I am hearing that Jim Houston has banned TakeOver from ringside for this tournament after Marcus’ request earlier tonight. Thoughts?

SD: Interesting…

MW: Well, we’re ready to join Dasha Banks in the ring.



“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Free-1 II, Night Five! The following contest is an A Block match, scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first: she is the current Freedom Pro Wrestling Women’s Champion. She is sitting join top of the A Block with two points and is known as The Renegade. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania… Elizabeth Karlson!”



‘Turn It On’ begins to play as the lights flicker on and off. Karlson enters the arena, her back turned to the fans who greet her with a mixed reaction as she shows off her denim vest with the deisngo f her old tag team featured prominently. Karlson then turns, revealing a look of focussed intensity as well as her FPW Women’s Championship which sits on her shoulder. She makes her way down the ramp, slapping hands with some of the fans, before entering the ring. She climbs up on each of the four turnbuckles to hold up her championship before dropping back down and sitting cross-legged in the ring, a cocky smile on her face.



“And her opponent… he is a former Young Lions’ Cup winner and a former Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion. He currently sits on zero points. From Chicago, Illinois, he calls himself The Smartest Man in Professional Wrestling… Marcus Allen Jones.”



‘Cult of Personality’ begins and Marcus is met with a similarly mixed reaction as he walks onto the stage. He stands at the top of the ramp and completes his customary backflip, landing in perfect position as ever before making his way down the ramp towards the ring. He pauses by a young fan with a ‘Takeover Sucks!’ sign as the fan yells at Marcus that he’s better off without them. Marcus chuckles, shakes his hair back and pulls out the usual piece of paper to show the camera, this time reading ’0-1. Time to get to work.’ After screwing up the paper and throwing it into the lens of the camera, he slides into the ring and looks down at Karlson, who remains sitting in the middle of the ring, looking doubtfully up at her opponent.



A Block: Elizabeth Karlson (2) v Marcus Allen Jones (0):



As the bell rings, a duelling chant of ‘Let’s go Karlson’ and ‘Let’s go Marcus’ fills the arena. The two of them breathe it in for a moment before moving towards one another. Instead of locking up, Karlson slides in to take the leg, but Marcus quickly evades her, moving to the other side of the ring. Karlson comes back up and moves in a second time, again shooting for the leg and again Marcus avoiding her. He rubs his hands together and stretches out his neck muscles as she cracks her knuckles before they come together again. Karlson extends a hand and Marcus reluctantly links fingers, but Karlson quickly dives in and takes the leg. Marcus is quick to drop to a knee and counter with a headlock.



Karlson tries to force her way out but Marcus keeps his grip strong. After a few attempts, Karlson pushes up into a handstand position and walks her way out of the grasp before flipping forward and locking her legs around Marcus’ neck. She tightens her grasp as the fans applaud her technical mastery. Marcus tries to free himself too, but Karlson positions herself perfectly, not allowing him to escape. Marcus manages to turn so that he can get his feet under him while still in the head scissors, and he pushes up to a handstand this time, floating over Karlson to free himself and giving the fans a cocky look as they applaud his escape.



Karlson, however, doesn’t give him time to celebrate as she quickly takes the leg and takes Marcus down, dragging him away from the ropes and locking in an STF. Marcus manages to force himself over to the ropes to break the hold, and Karlson breaks when she’s told to, only to stomp on the back of the knee after doing so. Marcus quickly pulls the leg away and turns to look up at Karlson, who gives him a cocky grin much like he gave the fans. He slaps his knee before standing up, frustrated at Karlson having got the better of him so far. The two of them come together and lock up, Karlson quickly ducking under and locking in a waistlock. She uses her foot to force Marcus down to one knee before looking for the Full Blown Plague. Marcus is quick to reverse, twisting his body free and stepping up, driving Karlson back-first into the turnbuckles. Her grip broken, Marcus backs away, only for Karlson to come at him with a dropkick to his knee.



MW: Elizabeth Karlson with a big time dropkick.

SD: I’m concerned at the start of this match for Marcus. He’s trying to grapple with Karlson. Now, he’s by no means a bad technician, but she’s out of his league.

MW: Why do you think he’s taken that approach?

SD: Maybe trying to prove that he can match anyone at their own game? I love Marcus’ confidence, but this kind of approach could cost him this tournament before it’s even begun.



Karlson moves in quickly, lifting the knee and landing several kicks to the inside of it before dropping her own knee onto it, forcing it down to the canvas and bending it back in on itself. Marcus tries reaching out for the ropes but he’s spared by Karlson releasing the hold, only to grab the ankle as Marcus tries to roll away. This time he does manage to get to the ropes, Karlson taking a little longer to release her grip this time. Once she releases it, Marcus is quick to his feet, flexing his ankle as Karlson looks on, amused. His frustration growing, Marcus darts it at her, looking to take her leg, but she easily counters, dropping to a knee as he drops down and grabbing his wrist, pulling his arm back with a Fujiwara arm bar.



Marcus again manages to transition to get his feet underneath him and he escapes by means of a front flip, freeing his arm and allowing him to connect with a dropkick soon afterwards which sends Karlson down. Marcus wastes little time in taking Karlson’s leg and trapping it before grabbing the chin to complete the kneeling cross-legged STF that he used so effectively in the last Free-1. Karlson tries to manoeuvre her way free but Marcus keeps a tight grip, not allowing her to move closer to the ropes or to roll over onto her back. She cries out, but this causes Marcus to pull back further. This proves to be a bad move, as it gives Karlson the leverage to drop back, freeing her legs, and pin Marcus’ shoulders to the mat, 1-2-no. Marcus manages to escape, but he maintains his grip on Karlson and forces her back into position, trapping her legs once again.



The fans applaud Marcus for his impressive technical skill once again as Karlson is sent back to square one. She tries to work her way towards the ropes, edging closer as Marcus is trying to keep her in the middle of the ring. As she almost reaches the ropes, Marcus willingly breaks the hold, standing and quickly pulling Karlson into position before hitting a wheelbarrow facebuster. She rolls over and Marcus hits the ropes before hitting a running shooting star press and making his first cover of the match, 1-2-no. Karlson kicks out. Marcus stands again, waiting for Karlson to get to her feet before hitting the ropes and connecting with a running swinging neckbreaker. Marcus then springs up, climbs up to the top rope and connects with a picture-perfect phoenix splash, making another cover, 1-2-no.



SD: So close!

MW: I assume this is more than Marcus you were hoping to see in this match?

SD: It is. He’s in control now and he’s there before of his high-octane offense. He got a good submission hold in for a time but he has to start to wrestle his type of match now.

MW: But will his ego allow him to keep to that approach or will he keep looking back to the submission to try and out-wrestle Karlson?

SD: I’ll be the first to admit that Marcus has a big ego, but I think he can manage to hold it in check for long enough to do the right thing in this match.



Marcus stands, flexing his knee after it landed hard on the mat, before dragging Karlson to her feet. He connects with a thrust kick to her gut and then sets her up for a Canadian destroyer, only for Karlson to grips the leg and block it. Marcus strikes her repeatedly across the back and looks for it again, but, as he jumps, Karlson grips the leg and takes him down onto his back before lifting the leg and going for a figure-four leg-lock. Marcus writhes in pain as she drops down and completes the hold, trying to reverse the pressure, but Karlson is too good at using her own postion to counter his momentum. Finally, he manages to use his weight advantage to drag himself to the ropes and force the break, the official’s count reaching two before Karlson breaks her hold.



Karlson stands, flexing her own knee after Marcus’ STF earlier in the match. As Marcus stands, his hands on the middle rope, Karlson steps through the ropes and runs along the apron, driving her knee into the side of Marcus’ head. He staggers away as Karlson climbs to the top rope, waiting for him to turn her way. When he does, she leaps down and connects with a codebreaker. Marcus rolls onto his back and Karlson makes a cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no! Marcus just gets a shoulder up. Karlson stalks Marcus again, looking for a handspring enzeguiri, but Marcus takes a step back and then catches her around the waist, holds her in mid-air for a moment and delivers a German suplex! He rolls away, taking a moment to regroup, before standing and moving over to Karlson.



Marcus pulls her up and sets her in position for a vertical suplex. He lifts her and drives her down hard with a falcon arrow. He grabs her leg for a cover, 1-2-no. Karlson manages to kick out. Holding his head, Marcus stands and steps outside the ring. He climbs up to the top rope and waits as Karlson gingerly gets to her feet. He leaps, looking for a shooting star DDT, but, as he catches Karlson, she resists, dropping to one knee and not allowing him to drive her head into the canvas. Karlson manages to transition her position to behind Marcus and she looks for the Chronic Illness, rolling Marcus through for the kneebar. She can’t quite grapevine her legs as Marcus keeps wriggling towards the ropes, and she has to break her grip before she can really lock it in.



MW: If that hold had been properly applied, you have to think that Marcus would have tapped out.

SD: I don’t know about that, but Berry Bishop couldn’t withstand it for long. Marcus would have certainly been in big trouble.

MW: Of course, he may still be in big trouble. Karlson is stalking him as he pulls himself up here.



Marcus stands and Karlson moves in, looking to connect with a backstabber, but Marcus grips the rope and she drops to the mat. He hits the ropes and connects with a sliding dropkick before pulling her into position for a Canadian destroyer again, this time connecting. As Karlson rolls away, Marcus grips her wrist. The fans begin to stand as they can see what is coming. Marcus walks Karlson up to her feet and sets her up for Six Stars. As he leaps, however, she catches the knee, sweeps his other knee with her leg and starts a series of hard kicks to the inside of the knee. The fans are whipped up into a frenzy as she keeps the kicks going and going before reeling away, adrenaline clearly coursing through her.



Karlson then lifts Marcus and whips him into the ropes, leaping up and looking for Death Spike, but Marcus holds her up, refusing to be flipped over. He looks down at her for a second before hooking her arms and connecting with a Styles Clash. Marcus rolls her over, 1-2-no! Karlson just gets her shoulder up. Marcus then wastes little time in pulling Karlson up again and trapping the wrist. He spins her out for the Six Stars, but she counters with a codebreaker! Marcus drops to the mat and Karlson makes another cover, 1-2-no! It’s Marcus’ turn to barely kick out. Karlson then rolls away to the apron and climbs to the top rope. She stalks Marcus, but he manages to get quickly to his feet and run at her, knocking her leg from under her and then connecting with a Pele kick.



Seeing Karlson stranded on the top rope, Marcus climbs up after her. He stands with his feet either side of her on the top rope and leaps off to deliver a hurricanrana, but Karlson somehow counters, flipping over in mid-air but maintaining a grip on Marcus’ leg. As they both land, she quickly hooks her legs over his and locks in the Chronic Illness. Marcus writhes with pain, his already weakened knee being torqued to its breaking point.



SD: No!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones may be faced with a decision- save his Free-1 or save these two points. He surely can’t survive in the Chronic Illness for long!

SD: But he’s close to the ropes. He landed that way. He just needs to find one big effort to make it there.

MW: With the shock of that counter, does he know where he is? Can he process what his eyes are relaying to his brain?

SD: I sure hope so.



Marcus writhes in pain and holds his hand in the air, about to submit. However, with one final, big effort, he manages to push himself up and force his body to close the distance needed to hook an arm over the bottom rope. Karlson keeps the hold locked on for as long as she can, forcing the official to count. At the count of four, she relaxes her grip but forces the official to unhook her legs, doing as much damage to Marcus as she can. After breaking the hold, she grabs his ankle and drags him to the middle of the ring, looking to lock in the Chronic Illness again, but Marcus repeatedly kicks out at her with his good leg and forces her to release his foot for just long enough that he can create some distance.



Marcus rolls to the outside, pulling himself up on the apron. Karlson moves towards him and aims a kick at his leg, but Marcus catches it, pulls Karlson towards him and nails her with a hard forearm. She staggers backwards before coming back to Marcus, only for him to drive his shoulder into her gut. Karlson doubles over and Marcus grips her head, driving her down with a DDT through the ropes onto the apron. Karlson hangs there as Marcus rolls back into the ring, holding his knee as he tries to stand. He takes a couple of careful steps, just about able to put weight on it. Karlson stirs, standing very groggily and staggers back to Marcus, who grips her wrist and spins her out, connecting with Six Stars. He collapses as his bad knee connects with Karlson but he manages to drape an arm over her, 1-2-3.



Winner: Marcus Allen Jones (22:33).



SD: Yes!

MW: A battling victory for Marcus Allen Jones. He proved once again that he can fight through the pain and pick up a win despite what must clearly be a very damaged knee.

SD: Marcus did the right thing. He didn’t get embroiled in the technical game and try to stroke his ego by making Karlson submit. He recognised what he had to do and he managed to turn the match into one which would suit him. Marcus joins Karlson, Saturn, Williams and Mason on two points and makes up for his loss to James Saturn.

MW: As you say, this block is extremely close- we have five on two points, one with the chance to move to four very soon, and one on zero with the chance to move to two very soon.

SD: I said that it was possibly the closest block that the Free-1 could have given us and, in the words of Aaron Williams, I still believe it is. We could easily have a six-way tie at the top of the block after Williams faces Berry.



Marcus stands in the ring, stepping gingerly on his left leg as the official raises his arm. He looks down at Karlson as she pulls herself up and, once she’s standing, he looks at her for a moment before nodding and extending a hand. The fans cheer as Karlson shakes it before slinking away up the ramp, leaving Marcus in the ring to celebrate, a larger section of the fans than last time cheering for him.



MW: We leave you with the strange image of Marcus Allen Jones backed by the sound of a- largely- applauding crowd. I can assure you this footage has not been doctored.

SD: These people are starting to see the light.

MW: I’d imagine we won’t have a split crowd tomorrow like we had tonight. Tomorrow night we return to the intriguing B Block, which somewhat surprisingly sees Jerry Bishop at its head with four points, as Clutch McCloud, Jerry’s first victim, takes on the man who shocked Graham Baker, Botiatus. A Botiatus win will see him join Jerry while a Clutch win will be a real momentum-killer for Bo.

SD: I’m going with Clutch, but only barely. That match could be yet another Free-1 classic.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome once again to one and all who are joining us tonight for Night Six of what is already being labelled the most exciting tournament in North American professional wrestling, the Free-1.

SD: Just North America? This tournament has only been going five nights and it’s been incredible. Think of the great matches we’ve already seen- Williams v Mason, Karlson v Berry, Bo v Baker, Marcus v Karlson!

MW: Each one a great match and tonight we could add to those ranks. Tonight we have Clutch McCloud, the man who almost managed to defeat Jerry Bishop on Night Two, facing Botiatus, the man who did manage to defeat Baker. This one will be a very hard-hitting affair.

SD: It certainly will be. Clutch has it right- Jerry just managed to scrape past him, possibly because he didn’t take him as seriously as he should have. Clutch is now entirely focussed on beating Botiatus.

MW: And Botiatus’ victory over Graham Baker has to set him up as one of the favourites for the B Block now?

SD: Yes. That’s the simple answer! Baker says that he’d taken damage in the match against Davey Jones the night before but that didn’t stop him from going for nearly half an hour against Bo and still coming up short. There are a lot of people in this tournament who want to quieten the brash Botiatus, but I don’t know who can.

MW: This ought to be a great match and for a great match we need an equally great ring announcer, so here she is: Dasha Banks.



“Welcome once again to Free-1 II! The following contest is a B Block match-up and it is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, sitting in joint second place with two points, from The Bay Area, California, simply known as Bo… this is Botiatus!”



The lights drop and the now-familiar wide stone steps appear on the screen. The camera pans up as the opening chords play and the steps, pillars and Ancient Roman villa are revealed. As a scream pierces the arena, the villa is replaced by ‘House of Botiatus’ and Bo steps through the curtain, his arm heavily wrapped after his match with Baker. He receives a much more positive reaction than the last time he came out, and looks around the arena, nodding to the crowd. Stepping down the ramp, he blows kisses to the fans and stops to wink and one woman who is particularly cheering for him. When he reaches the ring, he climbs up to the apron and slowly ascends the turnbuckle, kneeling on top and pointing down to the announce table. The lights drop before a spotlight reveals Botiatus standing as a ‘H. O. B.’ chant rings out. The lights come back up and Bo drops down, stretching out as he awaits his opponent.



“And now, introducing his opponent. Sitting currently with zero points and hailing from The Gateway City, he is the man known as ‘The King’ and also as ‘God’s Gift to Wrestling’, being accompanied by both Danica Jane and Richard Crowley… Clutch McCloud!”



The fans boo Clutch as ‘This Fire Burns’ begins to play. Clutch steps out, followed by Danica and Crowley, giving the crowd a dismissive look before he walks down the ramp. He ignores the fans, instead talking in whispers with Danica and Crowley as they point down at Bo, who stands conducting the fans’ boos. Clutch climbs onto the apron and holds the ropes open for Danica and Crowley, who step in and stand between Clutch and Bo as Clutch moves over to the turnbuckle. He climbs it and yells to the crowd that this isn’t the House of Botiatus, it is and always will be Clutch’s house. He climbs down and Danica and Crowley exit the ring, leaving Bo and Clutch staring each other down.



B Block: Botiatus (2) v Clutch McCloud (0):



The official rings the bell and the two men come forward, talking trash to one another about who’s house it is. As they do, a ‘House of Bo’ chant breaks out and Bo motions around the arena. Clutch chuckles for a moment before slapping Bo across the face and talking more trash. Bo stands quickly, and lays into Clutch with forearms before whipping him across the ring and taking him down with a dropkick. He makes a quick cover but doesn’t even get a one count as the two make it to their feet and Bo leads the fans in a one off shout of ‘H. O. B.’ Clutch rolls out of the ring for a quick discussion with Danica and Crowley, but Bo doesn’t give him the time and connects with a slingshot plancha, taking all three of them down.



Bo stands and calls the crowd to get louder before pulling Clutch up and looking to roll him back in the ring. Clutch blocks him and elbows him hard in the stomach before driving his head into the apron. Bo reels away and Clutch grabs him by the back of the neck and trunks and throws him into the guardrail. Clutch points down at Danica and Crowley before laying into Bo with forearms against the guardrail before he lets Bo slide down to a seated position. Clutch backs up before running ay Bo and connecting with a sliding forearm smash which sends Bo to the floor. Clutch then rolls back into the ring and orders the official to begin a count.



1………

2……….

3……….



Crowley and Danica make it back to their feet, both looking disgusted at Botiatus as he lies there holding his head.



4……….

5……….



Bo starts to pull himself up but Clutch distracts the official and Danica lays the boots to him, forcing him back down as the fans boo.



6……….

7……….



Bo starts to pull himself up again but again Clutch goes for the distraction, only for Bo to catch Danica’s attempted stomp. He holds her by the ankle and shakes his head, putting her foot down before looking to head into the ring. She grabs him by the arm and spins him round, slapping him in the face.



8……….



Bo turns to Danica with an angry look on his face and he stalks her, only for Clutch to come from nowhere with a suicide dive and wipe him out.



SD: Clutch McCloud coming to his agent’s rescue!

MW: Rescue? She was about to get what was coming to her.

SD: How can you say that, Watson? How can you say that? Where in the so-called House Rules does it say it’s ok to attack a woman at ringside?

MW: A trained wrestler who is trying to force Bo to be counted out? He tried to be the bigger person but she refused to let him do so. I’d say he was entirely justified.

SD: Why do I always have to be the voice of reason?

MW: The voice of-

SD: Kill him Clutch!



Clutch pulls Bo up and throws him back into the ring before he stands on the apron and stalks him. As Bo stands, Clutch springs up and connects with a springboard forearm. He makes an immediate cover, 1-2-no. Bo manages to kick out. Clutch doesn’t waste time in pulling Bo back up with him and connecting with a series of European uppercuts which send Bo into the corner. With Bo against the turnbuckles, Clutch grips the heavily wrapped arm and wraps it around the top rope, pulling hard as Bo grits his teeth in pain. The official calls for Clutch to let go, but he refuses, only doing so at four in the official’s count. Clutch then aims a hard kick at the arm which sends Bo reeling, grasping it and trying to shake the pain off.



Clutch holds back in the corner, waiting for Bo to turn to him before running at him and delivering a hard lariat. As Bo gets up, Clutch runs at him and punt kicks his arm, which causes Bo to cry out in pain. Clutch quickly pulls Bo up and hooks him in position for a suplex, connecting with a fisherman’s suplex and bridging for the cover, 1-2-no. Bo kicks out. Clutch grips his arm as he pulls him up, wrenching on it a few times before kicking Bo in the gut. He whips him into the ropes and aims a discus lariat, but Bo ducks, pulling Clutch in for a back suplex. Bo takes a moment to recover from the damage to his arm, rolling away and shaking it out as Clutch pulls himself to his feet.



Bo moves in quickly, grabbing the wrist and twisting Clutch’s arm before delivering an arm stunner. Clutch reels away this time as Bo pulls him back in, hooking his arm over him and lifting him as if for a vertical suplex before dropping Clutch onto the top rope. Clutch hangs there for a moment before dropping down to the apron. Bo hits the ropes and comes at Clutch with a sliding elbow, doubling him over. Bo pulls Clutch’s head through the ropes and, the fans counting along, delivers a series of hard knee strikes to the face. After nine, Bo hits the ropes and delivers the tenth as a running knee. Clutch drops down through the ropes and rolls over onto his back. Seeing another opportunity, Bo steps through the ropes onto the apron, leading the fans in another ‘H. O. B.’ call before delivering the H. O. B. Leg Drop. Bo holds for a cover, 1-2-no. Clutch kicks out.



MW: Impressive momentum shift from Botiatus there.

SD: But look at him grabbing his arm. Clutch has done some more damage on top of what Baker already did and that’s going to make the rest of this match much tougher for Botiatus.

MW: But Clutch doesn’t exactly look in good shape himself right now.



Bo pulls Clutch into position for snake eyes, but Clutch drops down as Bo reaches the corner. Cclutch then delivers a discus lariat to the back of Bo’s neck, causing him to fall forwards with his head resting on the second turnbuckle. Clutch, a hand to his own head, backs away before running at Bo and delivering another sliding forearm to the back of Bo’s head. Bo slumps and Clutch pulls him out of the corner, making a cover, 1-2-no. Bo has enough to kicks out. Clutch pulls Bo up and grips him tightly around the waist, connecting with a belly to belly suplex before moving around Bo and stomping on every available body part, focussing especially on the injured arm.



With Bo down, Clutch climbs to the top rope and stalks him. Mocking Bo’s ‘H. O. B.’ chant and turning into ‘H. O. C.’, much to the fans’ displeasure, Clutch leaps off and hits a diving European uppercut. He follows up with a springboard moonsault and makes another cover, 1-2-no! Bo just gets a shoulder up. Clutch stomps on the arm a few more times before backing away and beckoning for Bo to stand. He slowly pulls himself to his feet and, as he turns, Clutch unleashes a Technical Foul, only for Bo to duck underneath, shoving Clutch forward into the ropes and connecting with a scoop powerslam.



MW: A great counter there fro, Botiatus.

SD: But his arm is causing him a lot of trouble right now. That powerslam wasn’t as effective as it could have been because he couldn’t really drive him into the mat.

MW: But it gives Bo some more time to recover from Clutch’s latest onslaught.

SD: Clutch has certainly been focussed tonight. I wonder if this will change his mind about Danica Jane replacing him for the Evans match?

MW: I think it’ll take more than one match to change that man’s mind about facing Artemis Evans.



Bo rolls away to the outside, using the ropes to help him to his feet as he stalks Clutch. As Clutch stands, Bo looks to springboard, but he can’t hold onto the rope with his left arm and has to drop back down, giving Clutch enough time to run at him and connect with a sunset flip powerbomb to the floor! Both men lie crumpled in a heap as the official begins another count.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Clutch begins to roll towards the ring, but Bo remains motionless.



4……….

5……….

6……….



Clutch drags himself back in as Bo starts to move, but he doesn’t seem to know where he is, let alone that he needs to get back into the ring.



7……….



Bo starts to get to his hands and knees and looks back towards the ring.



8……….



He starts crawling towards the ring.



9…



Bo leaps up and dives onto the apron.



…



But Danica Jane, out of sight of the official, grips his leg.



…. 1-



The official stops his count, seeing Bo so obviously struggling against someone. He looks down to see Danica Jane on the outside. She lets go and protests, but, to the crowd’s great joy, she is ordered away from ringside. She protests further as Crowley slides into the ring. He sees Bo getting to his feet and looks for a low blow, but Bo catches him. With Danica still arguing with the official, Bo tries to pull Crowley in towards him but he’s blindsided by a Technical Foul. Clutch drops down for a cover as Crowley slides from the ring, Danica quickly agreeing to walk away up the ramp. The official turns and drops down to make the count, the fans booing with displeasure, 1-2-no! A loud cheer goes up as Bo manages to get a shoulder up at the very last second.



Clutch berates the official and slams his hand down on the mat but the official refuses to change his mind. Clutch then backs up into a corner, calling for Bo to make it to his feet. Bo slowly climbs to his feet and turns right into Tar HEEL, which he ducks. Bo then scoops Clutch up and connects with snake eyes, quickly setting himself into position to deliver House Call. Clutch crumples with the impact and Bo makes a cover, draping an arm across Clutch, 1-2-….. Crowley places Clutch’s foot on the ropes and the official stops the count, not seeing Clutch’s manager interfering.



MW: He had him! That would have been three if not for Richard Crowley.

SD: Who, as always, was looking after the best interests of his client.

MW: Who, as always, was cheating to try and give Clutch a cheap victory, just like he did earlier in the match and just like he does so damn often.

SD: All I know is that this match goes on.



Bo looks down at Crowley, who gives him a smug grin. With a look of rage on his face, Bo moves towards the ropes, only for Clutch to catch him with a schoolboy roll-up, 1-2-no! Bo just manages to kick out. Both men make it to their feet at Clutch aims a second Technical Foul at Bo, only for Bo to duck once again and leap up, connecting with House Rules. Bo makes an immediate cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-3.



Winner: Botiatus (18:49).



MW: Bo overcomes the odds and defeats Clutch McCloud.

SD: Despite Clutch’s valiant efforts, he doesn’t have enough to defeat Botiatus and remains on zero points.

MW: With Clutch refusing to wrestle his next match, his Free-1 could be over very soon.

SD: Danica Jane may surprise us. But then she is facing Artemis Evans… Clutch McCloud’s Free-1 could be over very soon!



Bo stands, cradling his arm as the official waits to raise his other one. He stands up on the top turnbuckle and acknowledges the support he’s received, leading the fans in one more ‘H. O. B.’ call before dropping down and watching as Crowley supports Clutch up the ramp. Bo shows four fingers to show how many points he has and then he shows one to show where he stands in the block. He talks down the lens of the camera for a moment, telling Jerry Bishop that he’s coming for him before leaving the ring and slapping hands with the fans as he walks up the ramp.



MW: Of course that match now is between the two men with four points in this block. Artemis Evans will join them if she can defeat Graham Baker on Thursday, but we know that the winner of Jerry v Bo will go top of the B Block when they face one another in four days’ time. What a match that will be.

SD: A somewhat rejuvenated Jerry Bishop versus a man who is proving he can hang with the very best in Freedom Pro Wrestling? Yes, that match will indeed be excellent. As will tomorrow’s offering.

MW: Tomorrow we will see Berry Bishop face Aaron Williams. Both have been tipped to win the A Block by FPW personnel and both have what it takes to win this tournament. Williams is currently there on two points and will take the outright lead in the A Block with a win, while a win for Berry will ties up all six participants on two points each. We will see you all for that mouth-watering encounter at the same time tomorrow.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome back to the most exciting month of wrestling anywhere on this planet. Tonight the Free-1 rolls on with the final A Block match-up of round two.

SD: It’s a match-up between Freedom Champion Berry Bishop and a man with a very impressive victory in round one, Aaron Williams.

MW: This will be a fascinating and, dare I say, very fast-paced contest. It’s also one which will be a potential game-changer for the A Block standings, Steven.

SD: That’s right, Watson. We currently have- deep breath- Saturn, Williams, Karlson, Mason, Marcus all on two points and Berry sat on zero. A victory for Berry evens everybody up on two while a victory for Williams gives him a clear advantage and leaves Berry’s path to victory very difficult.

MW: All of that plus a potential Freedom Championship match for Aaron Williams if he’s able to pick up the victory.

SD: And it’s a very interesting ‘if’ for Williams. We all know that he’s good, but he’s maybe not been this focussed since arriving here off the back of a few years of coasting in New York. This tournament seems to have lit a fire under Williams and I think Berry may well be caught out tonight if Williams can harness that fire for a second time running.

MW: So you make Williams favourite tonight?

SD: Not necessarily. Berry is a difficult nut to crack. Her kicks are as good as any, including Aaron Williams, but she can go on the mat too. She’s a quick learner and has developed so much since a very poor showing in last year’s tournament. This one is close to call. To borrow from football, the team which has the ball last might well win this one.

MW: We know both of these two are desperate to win this tournament, seeing it as their opportunity to prove themselves as top level stars in FPW. We also know that both have their backers for winning this block, including our very own Jim Houston, who believes Williams will take it, and the lady you’re about to hear from, Dasha Banks, who is backing Berry to win the whole thing.



“Ladies and gentlemen, we are almost at the end of the second round of Free-1 matches, and tonight we have the final match-up in the second round for the A Block. The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, he hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is known as A Plus. He is currently join top of the block with two points… Aaron Williams.”



‘I Still Believe’ starts and Williams emerges quickly, singing along and moving around the stage to engage the fans on both sides to join in. The song rings out through the arena as Williams stands on stage and claps along to the beat before moving down the ramp with a real high energy, slapping hands with fans and continuing to sing along. He moves around the ring and sees a young fan wearing an ‘A Plus’ shirt. Williams pulls out a marker pen and the fan writes ‘Free-1 Winner’ on Williams’ knee-pad before Williams poses for a photo with the fan. He then slides into the ring, directing the crowd with the ‘I Still Believe’ response as he climbs up to the top turnbuckle. He then drops down and shakes hands with the official and the ring announcer before settling into the corner.



“And his opponent. She currently sits with zero points. She is the current Freedom Champion. From New Haven, Conneticut, this is the Bombshell… Berry Bishop!”



Another loud cheer greets Berry Bishop as ‘The Entertainer’ begins. Berry stands at the top of the stage and bows deeply to the fans before commencing her usual hopscotch down the ramp, Freedom Championship bobbing up and down with every step she takes. As she reaches the ring, she plays the ring apron before climbing onto the it and then somersaulting into the ring. Berry moves to the middle of the ring and bows, standing with a wink and a smile into the camera before she looks over at Williams, who nods at her. She moves over to him and the two shake hands warmly before Berry moves into her corner and hands the Freedom Championship to the official, while across the ring Williams glances at it.



A Block: Aaron Williams (2) v Berry Bishop (0):



The bell rings and Berry and Williams circle one another. A ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ chant begins and Berry nods along. Williams looks at her for a moment before stopping and holding up a hand. He calls to the crowd for some support, and an ‘Aa-ron Wil-liams’ chant begins as the two duel. The Berry chant is definitely louder. Berry keeps nodding along to the chant but Williams remains unhappy, climbing up to the top rope and encouraging his section to get louder. They do, but so do the Berry fans, continuing to out-sing the Williams fans. Williams drops down and holds his arms out to Berry, who shrugs and laughs. Williams calls across to her, “Your house tonight, Bishop. But we’ll soon change that!”



He beckons her in and the two lock up, Williams gaining the advantage and forcing Berry back into the ropes. He holds her there for a moment before the official calls for the break. Williams gives the clean break and steps back, the crowd applauding him for it. Berry comes forward and the two lock up again, Williams gaining the advantage a second time before Berry turns him at the last moment, forcing him back into the ropes. The official comes in again and calls for the break, which Berry duly gives, the fans applauding her as she steps back from Williams. Williams comes forward and offers a hand to Berry, who shakes it again.



MW: A respectful start to this one.

SD: We’ve seen this before. Williams and Mason had a respectful start, but it won’t carry on for the whole match.

MW: I don’t see why not.

SD: Because one of them has to win, or they can keep breaking holds and shaking hands for thirty minutes and neither of them will get what they want.



The two of them lock up again, this time more evenly before Berry locks in a headlock. She takes Williams over and keeps the headlock locked in, pushing her hips up to apply more pressure. He reaches out for the ropes but they’re not close, so he starts pushing himself up, reaching a vertical base and then running into the ropes, pushing Berry away, but she manages to keep the hold locked in, dropping down to a knee and forcing Williams to do the same. The fans applaud Berry as she keeps Williams locked in the hold, but he stands again, moving towards the ropes a second time. This time he grips the top rope and the official orders the hold to be broken, which Berry does immediately.



She takes a couple of steps back from Williams and he looks at her, nodding respectfully. The two lock up again, Williams looking for a headlock this time but Berry easily counters into a wristlock. She forces Williams down with a boot in the back of his knee, but he rolls through, standing and wringing Berry’s arm before draping it over his head and lifting her for a snap suplex. He floats over into a cover, 1-no. Berry easily kicks out. The two of them get quickly to their feet and Williams whips Berry into the ropes, taking her down with a dropkick before going for another cover, 1-no. Berry kicks out at one again.



Williams is quicker to his feet this time and he pulls Berry to her feet before sending her into the corner. He steps back before charging at her, but Berry quickly moves aside, sending Williams crashing into the turnbuckles. He staggers out of the corner and Berry takes him down with a mid-kick before making a cover of her own, 1-no. Williams is quick to kick out but Berry is quicker to her feet, looking to send Williams into the ropes, but he counters, sending Berry across the ring. Berry comes back at him with a headscissors takedown and Williams rolls towards the ropes, but Berry stops him, lifting him and then connecting with a running bulldog before making another cover, 1-2-no. Williams kicks out.



MW: This one has just exploded into life.

SD: As it had to. They can play nice for a while but it will never last, not with such high stakes.

MW: Williams took an early control but Berry showed her resilience and seems to have Williams where she wants him at the moment.

SD: These two are both very resilient wrestlers. Don’t count Aaron Williams out of this match just yet.



Berry backs away from Williams as he sits up following the kick out but she quickly runs at him and connects with a shining wizard. Berry then lifts Williams and runs him into the corner, connecting with another hard kick to the mid-section before leaping up and looking for a monkey flip. Williams, however, manages to catch her, and he transitions into a powerbomb position, carrying her out of the corner and delivering a powerbomb backbreaker. He rolls into a cover, 1-2-no. Berry kicks out. Williams stands, a little unsteady on his feet to begin with, before stalking Berry. As she stands, he connects with a hard mid-kick of his own before whipping her into the corner a second time. This time, his splash attempt connects, and he repeats the move again and again before Berry drops down to a seated positon. Williams then backs away before charging at her again, this time connecting hard with a cannonball.



Berry slumps down and rolls under the bottom rope to the outside. Williams takes a moment to notice but he soon sees her and, seeing her getting to her feet, he hits the ropes before completing a perfect tope con hilo to take her down. Williams stands, pumping up the already cheering crowd, before turning back to Berry, who is struggling to stand. He moves over to her and looks to throw her back into the ring, but she elbows him away. As he comes back in, Berry connects with a hard thrust kick to his gut before leaping up and taking him down with a monkey flip. Berry takes a moment to recover before leaping up onto the guardrail and hitting Williams with a disaster kick on the outside!



MW: What a great display of resourcefulness and resilience from Berry Bishop.

SD: Williams may have made a mistake following her out of the ring. Berry isn’t known for her brawling but she’s proving that she can do it all in this one.

MW: But will she go for the count-out or look to send Williams back into the ring?

SD: I don’t think she’s got him down for the count, but one more move might be enough to give her a great chance.



Berry pulls Williams up and hooks an arm over his head. She lifts him before dropping him onto the guardrail. Berry then backs away and points at Williams before running at him and looking for a knee strike. Williams manages to pull his head up at the last minute and he dodges the knee, leaping up onto the guardrail and taking Berry down with a springboard dropkick. He then quickly pulls her up and lifts her into the exact position that she had him in, before signalling that he’s going for the 450 splash. Williams climbs up onto the apron and looks down at Berry, the fans anticipating the big move, but Williams shakes his head. The fans, confused, aren’t sure how to react, but they suck in air in anticipation when Williams points up to the top rope. He climbs the turnbuckle and then looks down at Berry, taking a deep breath and then diving off with a 450 splash as she’s draped over the guardrail!



MW: Oh my God!

SD: Williams took a massive risk there and it might well be enough for victory!

MW: Berry could be very seriously hurt after that move.

SD: But Williams is down as well and the official is in position to start a count.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Williams starts to stir, but Berry lies clutching her stomach just as she was after landing on the floor.



4……….

5……….

6……….



Williams stands and moves towards the ring before looking down at Berry.



7……….



He moves over to her and pulls her up, Berry slipping out of his grasp.



8……….



He lifts her again and sends her back into the ring, quickly following and breaking the count. Williams makes a cover, 1-2-no! Berry just gets a shoulder up. Williams doesn’t waste any time, pulling Berry up and setting her up in a suplex position again, this time lifting her up before dropping her down with a brainbuster to his knee. Berry drops to the mat and Williams climbs up to the top rope, pointing down at her again before looking for a swan-ton bomb, only for Berry to lift her knees at the last possible moment. Williams arches his back and bounces off.



The fans cheering for her, Berry slowly grips the bottom rope and starts to pull herself up to her feet. Williams does the same on the other side of the ring. The two stand and face one another across the ring before moving together. Berry aims a hard mid-kick at Williams, who staggers but doesn’t go down. He replies with one of own, Berry staggering but standing tall. Berry replies, then Williams, then Berry, then Williams. Berry unleashes one more kick and Williams drops to one knee, allowing Berry to land several more before connecting hard with a buzzsaw kick to send Williams down.



Berry then stalks him, coiling herself up as the fans cheer in anticipation. With Williams getting to his feet, Berry uncoils, looking for Checkmate. But Williams ducks under the kick and pulls Berry up onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry position. He pushes her up and drops her down with a gutbuster, leaving Berry coughing and spluttering as he rolls back to his feet but staggers back into the ropes. Williams hurries over to Berry, pulling her up and setting her up for the A Triple Plus, but Berry resists, refusing to let him trap her arms. She takes him down with a double leg and flips over, covering him, 1-2-no! Williams just manages to kick out.



MW: That was so close!

SD: Berry Bishop channelling her inner Bulldog there, but it wasn’t enough.

MW: Both Williams and Berry are looking to end this one. Which one can hit their biggest move to keep the other down?



The two of them make it quickly to their feet, Williams looking for a discus clothesline, which Berry ducks. She then kicks him hard in the gut and pulls him in for the Berry Buster, but he counters with a desperation DDT. Williams then pulls Berry up quickly and looks for the A Triple Plus again, but Berry again counters with a double-leg and bridges over, only for Williams to bridge out himself, turning and keeping her in position, trapping her arms and- Berry manages to free herself from his grip once more, hitting Williams with a backdrop. She then coils up and delivers Checkmate, but he ducks again, looking for another DDT as a counter, only for Berry to counter into a Northern Lights suplex, bridging for a cover, 1-2-no! Williams just escapes. The two lie breathing heavily on the canvas as the fans cheer the quick-fire sequence they’ve just witnessed.



Both of them take a while to get back to their feet, but as soon as they see each other they rush forward to engage once more. Williams aims a mid-kick at Berry but she catches him and pulls him in tight for an exploder suplex. Williams gets back to his knees and Berry delivers a hard running knee right to the head, dropping onto Williams for a cover, 1-2-no! Williams just gets a shoulder up again. Berry pulls Williams up and delivers a parallel snapmare, looking for the Touchstone Takedown. She hits the ropes and comes back hard with the penalty kick, only for Williams to catch it. He stands, her leg in his grasp, before delivering a discus clothesline. Berry hits the mat and Williams grabs both of her legs, yanking her up and into position for a pop-up piledriver. He makes an immediate cover, 1-2-no! Berry barely gets a shoulder up this time, leaving Williams staring out into the crowd in shock as they cheer that the match is not yet over.



MW: I was sure that was it.

SD: Williams is pulling things we’ve not seen from him before in FPW and Berry is still able to kick out.

MW: And now Aaron Williams knows that it will take something extra special to defeat Berry Bishop here. She’s escaped the A Triple Plus so many times and she’s kicked out of the pop-up piledriver. What can he do to keep this woman down?

SD: And what can she do to keep him down? He’s avoided all of her big moves so far too.



Williams stands and beckons for Berry to get to her feet. As she does, he takes her down with a vicious midkick and then connects with a standing double-stomp. He rolls through and leaps onto the second rope, connecting with a moonsault. He then grips both of Berry’s legs again and pulls her up for another pop-up piledriver, but she manages to grip her legs around his neck and trap his arm. Williams drops quickly to one knee as Berry desperately tries to hold onto the triangle choke. Williams drops down again, but Berry doesn’t have the strength to keep the hold locked on, and she releases him, rolling away from him to create some distance.



As the fans chant both of their names, both of them struggle to their feet. Williams, seeing Berry still down on one knee, moves over to her, but, as he does, she springs up and uncoils herself, connecting with a perfect Checkmate. Williams hits the mat and Berry dives onto him to make the cover, 1-2-3.



Winner: Berry Bishop (23:21).



MW: Berry manages to get the win!

SD: An unbelievable effort from both of them ends with Berry picking up her first two points of the Free-1. I didn’t think either would allow themselves to lose this match.

MW: It did seem that way. They both seemed ready to counter the big moves of the other, and it took Berry suckering in an over-eager Williams to finally hit Checkmate and earn the victory. Berry Bishop ties up the A Block in a six-way dead heat for top spot.



Berry is barely able to stand as the official raises her hand. She drops to one knee as he goes to collect the Freedom Championship, but he’s stopped from handing to her by Aaron Williams, who takes it from him. Berry looks across warily for a moment but Williams shakes his head and hands the belt to her, raising her arm again. The two of them embrace and Williams points at her as the crowd cheer for both of them. Williams leaves the ring to allow Berry to celebrate one of her best victories yet.



MW: Well we know that the A Block will enter its third round of matches with everyone tied up on two points.

SD: And some intriguing matches we have. Aaron Williams versus Marcus Allen Jones on Thursday, Elizabeth Karlson v James Saturn on Saturday and Berry Bishop v Jace Mason on Monday.

MW: Great matches they are sure to be. Thursday and Monday are second and fourth respectively in my top ten matches to watch list, but really all three of them could be classics.

SD: And tomorrow we round up the second round of matches in the B Block with Graham Baker and Artemis Evans.

MW: Baker who seems to have developed a very aggressive edge, especially since losing to Davey Jones, and Evans who looks to join Jerry Bishop and Botiatus at the top of the block with four points. If she wins that one, it effectively comes down to just the three of them for the block, especially as none have faced the others yet.

SD: But if Baker wins then he’s right back in the mix. He’ll be absolutely desperate to win this match, especially given his disappointing start and the fact that he’s already lost twice to Davey Jones. I’m not sure how Evans will be able to counter Baker in this one, but I’d love to see what she tries.

MW: And with that, we’re out of time. We’ll see you tomorrow.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Tonight we reach the end of the second round in Free-1 II. The A Block is all even, will the B Block be totally opposite? Tonight: Graham Baker versus Artemis Evans.

SD: You know I always love seeing an Arty match, but… I’m a little worried tonight. Graham Baker has been somewhat unstable ever since losing the FPW Championship and he’s even more angry after losing his first Free-1 match last week.

MW: Baker has certainly not been himself recently. Obviously losing the FPW Championship has had a significant impact on The Aviator.

SD: It has. He was a man defined first by his quest to become the best. When he achieved that at Judgement Day last December, he defined himself as the ace of FPW, the unbeatable champion. He would hand-pick opponents who he felt deserved a chance to face him and he’d beat each and every one of them. He solidified his position by defeating Marcus- again- at the finals of the Tag Classic. And then Davey Jones snuffed that out. Graham Baker is a man right now who doesn’t know who he is without that belt.

MW: And then the loss to Botiatus, a man who Baker seems to have a strong dislike for…

SD: It just rubbed salt in the wound. He’s no longer the FPW Champion; he’s no longer unbeatable. He’s lost his last three big singles matches- two to Davey and now to Bo. When you define yourself by the championship you hold, losing it does strange things to you. We’re witnessing that from Graham Baker right now and I’ll tell you something: I’d hate to get in the ring with this Graham Baker.

MW: So… Artemis Evans. She’s overcome odds before that we didn’t expect her to. Most recently, she defeated Go Shihei in the opening round of this very tournament. How does she beat Graham Baker?

SD: By taking advantage of his desperation. When your opponent is desperate to win, they make mistakes. She needs to force those mistakes and to take advantage when her chance comes. There aren’t many in FPW who do that as well as Artemis Evans does. If she can do that tonight, we might be seeing this block effectively come down to just three possible winners in her, Bo and Jerry Bishop.

MW: For Graham Baker, this match really is must-win. Let’s take you to Dasha Banks to get things started.



“Welcome to the final B Block match-up for the second round of matches. The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first… she is a former FPW Women’s Champion. She sits third in the block with two points and hails from Manchester, England. She is The Glory Huntress… Artemis Evans!”



The fans boo as the anonymous voice proclaims ‘Checkmate’ and the white queen logo appears on the screen. ‘Hammer to Fall’ begins to play and Artemis Evans walks onto the stage, smirking and spreading her arms as pyro explodes around her while the boos continue to ring in her ears. She walks down the ramp and mocks the fans, many clad in Graham Baker shirts, before she reaches the ring. Evans climbs onto the apron and jumps over the top rope before moving to the corner and ascending the turnbuckle. She spreads her arms and tilts back her head as the boos continue to rain down on her, before looking into the crowd and holding up two fingers to show how many points she has.



“And her opponent. He is a former Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion, the current ALPHA Wrestling and Ice Coalition Wrestling Champion and the current reigning Free-1 winner. He currently sits on zero points. From London, England, he is The Aviator… Graham Baker!”



Staccato gun fire echoes around the arena and the fans stand and cheer as the beginning of ‘DNA’ brings Baker onto the stage. He doesn’t waste time, striding down the ramp and absently holding out his hand for the fans to slap. Baker reaches the ring before he normally would, climbing onto the apron and springboarding into the ring, finishing by kneeling and pointing both finger guns at Evans. The cameras pick up him saying, “You’re fucked,” before he stands and takes off his jacket. Evans looks at him slightly warily before backing into the corner.



B Block: Artemis Evans (2) v Graham Baker (0):



The bell rings and Baker runs straight at Evans, aiming a forearm, which she ducks. Evans creates space between them but Baker closes it again, aiming another forearm strike. Evans ducks again, locking in a waistlock which Baker escapes with a hard back elbow. Evans drops down and rolls out of the ring, the fans booing her. Baker stands in the ring beckoning her back in, but Evans takes her time, the official beginning a count.



1……….

2……….



Evans rests against the guardrail while Baker becomes visibly frustrated at the delaying tactics.



3……….

4……….



Evans moves back towards the ring and goes to get in, but Baker moves forward too quickly, giving himself away, and Evans drops back again.



5……….

6……….



Evans orders the official to hold Baker back, which he manages to do after a firm word, and she climbs up onto the apron.



7……….



She slowly steps through the ropes, but Baker charges in again. Evans is ready, connecting with a drop toe hold to send Baker throat-first onto the middle rope. He rests there while Evans drapes a leg over him and chokes him. The official quickly begins a count and Evans breaks at the count of four. The fans boo again as she extends her arms, Baker on his knees holding his throat. Evans then runs at Baker and connects with a sliding dropkick, making a quick cover, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out.



MW: Artemis Evans getting an early near-fall on Baker there.

SD: This is exactly what I had in mind for Arty. Frustrate Baker and then take advantage. Isn’t she brilliant?

MW: It may be an effective approach but I can’t say that it’s a particularly honourable one.

SD: But will it help her to win the match?

MW: It could.

SD: Exactly.



Evans doesn’t give Baker time to recover, stomping on him repeatedly before pulling him up and connecting with a neckbreaker. She makes another cover, her forearm in Baker’s face, 1-2-no. Baker again kicks out. He tries to get quickly to his feet but Evans stomps hard on him again and pulls him up for a butterfly suplex. She connects and then drags Baker over towards the ropes, draping him over the middle rope again. Instead of choking him, this time she hits the opposite side and charges at him, leaping up and connecting with a double stomp to the back of his neck. Baker’s head snaps back and he falls to the mat, Evans quickly climbing to the top rope. She leaps and connects with a moonsault to Baker’s back. Rolling him over, she makes another cover, 1-2-no! Baker just manages to get a shoulder up and quickly grasps the back of his neck.



Evans looks down with a smile as she sees the former FPW Champion in pain. She lands a few kicks to Baker’s neck, but they’re more taunting kicks than anything else. Baker, his face beginning to show fury, stands and faces up to Evans, aiming another forearm shot at her. But again Evans ducks and she rakes Baker’s eye as he turns. The official forces her to break her grip, which she does, but she then connects with a Skywalker, driving the back of Baker’s neck down into the canvas. Evans makes another cover, 1-2-no! Baker just kicks out again.



MW: Say what you like about her approach, and I’m not sure I’m a big fan, but Artemis Evans is bossing this match.

SD: I told you she was brilliant! She frustrated Baker early and now she’s targeting his neck.

MW: Setting up for the Guillotine Strike perhaps?

SD: Beautiful, does anything it takes to get what she wants and intelligent… could she be any more perfect?

MW: Let’s get back to calling the match… I really don’t want to have to say that in every one of her Free-1 matches, Steven.



Evans stands and poses for the fans again as they boo her vociferously. A ‘Gra-ham Ba-ker’ chant breaks out, not quite as loud as ones we’ve heard in the past, and Baker starts to pull himself to his hands and knees, still clutching the back of his neck. Evans turns and, with Baker still on his hands and knees, connects with a snap DDT. He rolls onto his back and she makes another cover, 1-2-no! Again Baker just manages to get his shoulder up. The Baker chant begins again and again he starts to make it to his feet. Evans watches and allows him to make it back to his feet but she delivers a hard knee to the gut to double Baker over and then delivers an axe kick to drop him back down again. She makes another cover, 1-2-no! Baker just gets a shoulder up once more.



Evans smirks to the crowd as they continue to try to get Baker back into the match. She draws a thumb across her throat as she looks down at Baker, who remains down. Evans then lifts him into position for the Guillotine Strike, but Baker twists his way free and delivers a series of brutal forearm strikes to drive Evans into the corner. She tries to cover up but he continues to deliver forearm after forearm as she drops down to a seated position. Baker then backs away before pointing double finger guns at Evans and charging at her, delivering a hesitation dropkick. Both Baker and Evans lie motionless on the canvas.



MW: Graham Baker back into this match with a vicious flurry of strikes.

SD: But he can’t capitalise. Arty has done enough damage to his neck to ensure that she can withstand an assault like that and have some time to recover.

MW: But Baker is starting to get to his feet now.

SD: As is Arty. Getting the advantage in this exchange will be crucial for both of them now.



Baker, one arm holding his neck, moves in on Evans, who rests in the corner. As he advances, she pushes herself up, driving a foot into the point of his chin. Baker backs up a step before coming in again. Evans tries the same thing but Baker catches her, lifting her and dumping her over the top rope to the floor. Baker then hits the ropes and runs towards Evans, diving through the ropes with a suicide dive to send her crashing into the guardrail. He lies motionless for a few moments before grabbing his neck and forcing himself to make it to his feet. He grabs Evans by the hair and pulls her up, driving her head-first into the ring apron and then whipping her into the guardrail. Evans comes off the guardrail a step and Baker connects with a shotgun dropkick to send her into a slumped position against the rail. Baker then backs up, the fans clapping in anticipation, and he charges at Evans, connecting with shotgun knees to crush her head against the rails.



Baker stands and yells to the crowd, most of whom cheer rabidly back at him, and he pulls Evans up again, rolling her back into the ring. Baker stands on the apron and waits for her to make it to her feet before leaping onto the top rope and connecting with Clipped Wings. Baker makes a cover, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out. Baker lunges for her arm as it comes off the canvas, but Evans is ready for it, managing to pull Baker into a small package, 1-2-no! Baker barely manages to escape. He makes it quickly to his feet and, rage once again clouding his features, runs at Evans, levelling her with a vicious knee strike to the side of the head.



Instead of making a cover, Baker pulls Evans to her feet and lifts her for a Mustang Driver. Evans, however, manages to elbow her way free, dropping down and transitioning perfectly into an inverted STO. She rolls away from Baker and takes a moment to recover as he remains down on the canvas. Pulling herself up, Evans stalks Baker for a moment as he makes it back to his feet before delivering a jumping spin kick followed up immediately by hooking Baker’s arm and lifting him, delivering a hard brainbuster. She takes a moment to roll into a cover, 1-2-no! Baker just gets a shoulder up again.



SD: I thought she had him!

MW: With the punishment Baker’s neck has taken it wouldn’t have shocked me to see Evans pick up the win there. And now she looks ready to go for the Guillotine Strike one more time.

SD: And there’s no way Baker can survive that.



Evans pulls Baker into position for the Guillotine Strike again but, as she drops her arm, he catches it. Baker grits his teeth and refuses to allow Evans to drop the arm to complete the move which would win her match. Instead, Baker forces the arm back up, standing as he does, and he twists it, but Evans is ready for the arm work again, rolling Baker up into another small package, 1-2-no! Baker barely escapes again. Both of them make it back to their feet quickly, Evans ducking a forarm shot and aiming a discus forearm which connects, but Baker simply stands there and shrugs it off. Evans stares at him for a moment as the crowd cheers loudly, before aiming another, which is cut off by a brutal palm strike from Baker!



Evans staggers around and Baker pulls her in for a snap German suplex, before rolling under the bottom rope and climbing up to the top. He delivers Landing Gear before pulling Evans up and onto his shoulders. He doesn’t give her any time to resist before driving her down with a Mustang Driver. Baker covers Evans, 1-2-3.



Winner: Graham Baker (16:14).



MW: With that Mustang Driver, Graham Baker avoids disaster and picks up his first points of this year’s Free-1.

SD: Arty did everything right. She frustrated Baker, targeted his neck and almost dropped him with the Guillotine Strike. She completely refused to allow Baker to do damage to her arm and had obviously prepared to take the Emergency Landing out of his arsenal, but the former FPW Champion had enough to get the match won.

MW: It was far from the dominant victory that I’m sure Baker will have been looking for, but it was enough to earn him two points.



Baker stands and allows the official to raise his arm before he grabs the back of his neck again. Evans rolls out of the ring and staggers up the ramp while Baker takes in the applause of the fans, standing on the top rope and staring out at them, his chest going up and down as he catches his breath.



MW: So we’re now 40% of the way through the Free-1. In the A Block, everything is level, but the B Block is different. Our two leaders, undefeated on four points apiece, are Jerry Bishop and Botiatus-

SD: Who meet in just two days’ time!

MW: Who do indeed meet for block supremacy in two days’ time. Then we have Graham Baker and Artemis Evans on two points with Clutch McCloud and Go Shihei yet to get onto the scoreboard. As well as that top-of-the-block clash between Jerry and Bo, Sunday will see Graham Baker in a rematch with Go Shihei and then Tuesday leaves us with Danica Jane, wrestling on behalf of Clutch McCloud, facing Artemis Evans.

SD: Jerry versus Bo to see who is the clear favourite for the block. Baker versus Shihei to see who is more willing to kill the other one. Jane versus Evans to see if Clutch made the right decision or if Arty can keep herself in the race for the block.

MW: But tomorrow we return to A Block action with an absolutely mouth-watering prospect. Marcus Allen Jones faces Aaron Williams. What a match that is sure to be.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome to the Free-1. We’ve hit round three and this is where these blocks are really going to heat up. Over the next six nights we will come much closer to seeing the final picture merge as to who will be our block winners and who will ultimately claim one of the most prestigious tournaments in all of wrestling. Tonight we have A Block action as Marcus Allen Jones and Aaron Williams face off.

SD: My best friend Marcus Allen Jones versus an opponent who is sure to bring out the best in him. Remember the amazing match last year between Marcus and Tommy Storm? I think this match has the potential to be even better than that.

MW: These two men’s styles just mesh perfectly, don’t they, Steven?

SD: They really do. Marcus is a high-flyer who can bust out pretty much any move ever seen in a wrestling ring and, while Williams is more grounded than Marcus, he has the ability to surprise his opponents with almost any manoeuvre as well. Marcus wants to prove that he can win matches without the help of TakeOver and, whatever you think of that approach, he’ll go a long way to proving that tonight if he can pull out this victory.

MW: What are the keys to victory for Marcus tonight?

SD: Marcus needs to know that Aaron Williams will do everything he can to keep Marcus’ shoulders down for a three-count. He’ll know that Williams will work within the rules, so that will mean he doesn’t need to be worried about any shortcuts, but he’ll know he needs to be one hundred percent on his game for the entire match.

MW: And Williams?

SD: He’ll have more to think about. Marcus is trying to prove something that I don’t think he needs to prove, but this is Marcus Allen Jones. He’s got more tricks up his sleeve than an 1800s Mississippi riverboat poker player. He could easily be masking his real intentions and Williams will have half a mind on that. He’ll know to look out for Marcus. I give the psychological edge to Marcus in this one.

MW: An 1800s Mississippi riverboat po-

SD: Yeah! You like that one?

MW: I’m not sure I like it… I’m mildly impressed though. Well, let’s hope that this match is more than mildly impressive. Here’s someone who I know is certainly more than mildly impressive: it’s Dasha Banks.

SD: You’re getting quite good at these segues, Watson.

MW: Why thank you.



“Welcome one and all to the first round-three match of 2019’s Free-1 tournament. The following contest is an A-Block contest and is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Currently sitting in second place in the standings with two points thanks to a total match time of forty-five minutes and fifteen seconds, he is a former Young Lions’ Cup winner and a former Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion. From Chicago, Illinois, he is The Smartest Man in Professional Wrestling… Marcus Allen Jones!”



‘Cult of Personality’ hits and Marcus receives a mixed reaction again, with both cheers and boos competing to be heard. He backflips and lands in position on stage, holding the position for a few moments longer than normal before leaping up and moving down the ramp. He acknowledges the fans who cheer him while still responding cockily to those who boo him, which is probably just over half of them. As ‘I’m the smiling face on your TV’ hits, Marcus grins into the camera and pulls out a piece of paper which reads ‘Momentum: noun. The impetus and driving force gained by the development of a process or course of events.’ He screws up the paper and throws it at the lens before sliding into the ring and climbing onto the turnbuckle, nodding along to the song.



“And his opponent, who sits bottom of the block with two points and a total match time of fifty-two minutes and seventeen seconds. He is a former two-time Ring of Honour World Champion and the former holder of several titles worldwide, from Phildelphia, Pennsylvania, A Plus… Aaron Williams!”



‘I Still Believe’ begins and the fans stand for Aaron Williams, who seems to be gaining popularity as the Free-1 goes on. He leads them in singing along and seems to be in a particularly energetic mood as he does, moving down the ramp and slapping hands with as many people as he possibly can on both sides of the ramp. The camera cuts to Marcus in the ring who is quietly singing along to the lyrics too. Williams reaches the ring and charges around the outside, holding his hand out for all of the fans before finding a young fan to hand his marker pen to. The fan smiles as he writes his message. Williams looks down and smiles before revealing it to the camera: ‘YOU’RE the smiling face on MY TV’. Williams gives the camera a huge grin before sliding into the ring and climbing to the top rope, pumping up the fans some more before dropping down and shaking hands with the official and with Dasha. Marcus watches with a half-smile on his face.



A Block: Marcus Allen Jones (2) v Aaron Williams (2):



The bell rings and the crowd cheers loudly as Marcus and Williams eye one another from across the ring. An ‘Aa-ron Wil-liams’ chant breaks out, accompanied by a quieter but still audible ‘Let’s go Marcus’. Williams milks the fans as Marcus leans against the turnbuckles and watches him, still grinning his half-smile. Williams then stands in the middle of the ring and extends a hand to Marcus, who remains leaning on the turnbuckles. Williams calls him forward and Marcus slowly moves towards him. The fans build up to the handshake, which finally happens, leading to loud cheers and applause from all around the arena.



Williams and Marcus break the handshake and start to circle one another before they lock up. Williams locks Marcus in a headlock and takes him over, but Marcus is quick to lock in a headscissors, which Williams kicks his way out of. Both men spring to their feet, Marcus running into the ropes and leaping over a Williams drop down, Williams then leap-frogging Marcus as he comes back. Marcus springs onto the middle rope and looks for a springboard crossbody, only for Williams to catch him with an arm drag. Marcus quickly springs to his feet and runs at Williams again, but Williams ducks. Marcus runs up the turnbuckles and flips behind Williams, who had charged at him. Marcus goes for a German suplex, but Williams lands on his feet, aims a head kick at Marcus, who ducks, rolls through and goes for a dropkick, but Williams swats him aside. Williams then aims a mid-kick, which Marcus drops back to avoid, rolling backwards before leaping up and looking for a hurricanrana, only for Williams to cartwheel out of it. Williams then leaps up and looks for a hurricanrana of his own, taking Marcus over, only for Marcus to front-flip and land on his feet. Marcus then rolls through and pauses by the ropes as the two men catch their breath, the fans applauding and stomping their feet on the ground.



MW: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like it in an FPW ring!

SD: What a display of athleticism! I told you that these two wouldn’t be taking one another lightly.

MW: We know that both of them are premier athletes but even knowing that I’m not sure I could ever have expected a display like that.

SD: But that isn’t how matches are won and each man knows that. They’ll have to focus on finding a way to keep their opponent down.



As the applause dies down, Williams stands and offers Marcus a fist. He bumps it and the two of them lock up. This time it doesn’t lead to a flurry of fast-paced moves, both of them instead jockeying for position before Marcus drops and takes Williams down with a drop toe-hold. Marcus quickly floats over and locks in a front face-lock, but Williams pushes up to a standing position and takes Marcus down with a fireman’s carry to counter, locking in a chin-lock, only for Marcus to reverse into a hammerlock. He torques the wrist and wrings the arm, but Williams rolls through, walks up the ropes and backflips to reverse the pressure before taking Marcus down with the momentum and locking in an arm-bar. Marcus manages to get his feet underneath him and roll through himself, aiming a head kick at the still-kneeling Williams, who ducks and scrambles to his feet. The two men pause again as the fans cheer a display of technical prowess to match their athletic opening.



Williams and Marcus nod to one another before moving in and locking up again. This time Williams forces Marcus back into the corner and releases his grip, connecting with a hard chop. Marcus holds his chest and staggers out of the corner as Williams moves back to him, looking to hook him for a vertical suplex. Marcus, however, twists away and lands a hard chop of his own. Williams backs up this time, Marcus following him into the corner where he lands a series of chops, Williams beginning to drop down before pulling himself back up and quickly switching positions with Marcus, landing a series of chops of his own. Marcus begins to drop down before pushing up and going head to head with Williams, driving him back towards the middle of the ring as the fans cheer them loudly once again.



MW: Athleticism, technique, striking, toughness. Is there anything these men can’t do?

SD: And is there anything they’re not matching each other with? One of them needs to find an edge and I think I know how one of them can do it.

MW: But Marcus has proclaimed himself a new man, someone who has no desire to cheat his way out of situations and to use TakeOver.

SD: But will he stick to that in a match like this, where he could easily be in the ring with a better wrestler, as much as I hate to admit that.



Marcus and Williams back away from one another before locking up once again. Williams takes the advantage, forcing Marcus towards the ropes and then whipping him to the opposite side before taking him down with a hard mid-kick. Williams doesn’t give Marcus any time to breathe, lifting him and whipping him into the corner. Williams looks to go for a splash but Marcus flips up over the top rope and, as Williams charges in, connects with a springboard DDT. Williams’ head hits the mat hard and Marcus makes the first cover of the match, 1-2-no. Williams kicks out. Marcus then stands, looking to get Williams into a powerbomb position as he looks for a Canadian destroyer, but Williams fights his way out and pushes Marcus away, ducking a superkick and connecting with a kick to the gut followed by a DDT of his own. He makes his first cover of the match, 1-2-no. Marcus kicks out this time.



Williams pulls Marcus up again and whips him into the corner, this time following him closely and delivering his first big splash. He backs away, the crowd already cheering as they know what comes next. Williams delivers another big splash, then another and another and another. The fans cheer loudly but Williams doesn’t stop, crashing hard into Marcus three more times before Marcus slides down the turnbuckles and slumps in a seated position. Williams calls for the cannonball and backs up before charging at Marcus and connecting hard. Marcus rolls into the middle of the ring and Williams climbs through the ropes and up onto the top rope, delivering a swan ton bomb. He holds for a cover, hooking a leg, 1-2-no. Marcus kicks out again.



Williams rolls away, stretching out his neck muscles, before moving back in as Marcus pulls himself up using the ropes. Williams looks to pull him into a suplex position again but Marcus shoves him away and delivers a few forearm strikes before whipping Williams into the ropes and taking him down with a dropkick of his own. Marcus then backs up before delivering a standing shooting star press and making another cover, 1-2-no. Williams kicks out this time. Marcus then quickly moves to Williams’ legs, pulling them up and lifting him for a wheelbarrow facebuster. He rolls Williams over but doesn’t go for a cover, instead climbing up to the top rope and connecting with a phoenix splash. This time he makes another cover, 1-2-no! Williams gets a shoulder up.



MW: Yet more flashy moves from both of these men but they’re not enough- not yet.

SD: They’re trading control in this match back and forth, over and over. Neither man has been able to put together a sustained spell of offense. If I were in that ring, I’d be looking to slow things down, maybe look to some submission wrestling like Marcus did with Karlson.

MW: But Marcus seems to have a problem with that. He’s tried to match Karlson for submission wrestling and tried to match Williams for impactful offense. Will he allow himself to stop trying to prove that he’s better than his opponents are at what they do best and just wrestle a style that gives him a victory?

SD: He managed to against Karlson, but there’s a different dynamic in play here. I really don’t know but I hope he can.



Marcus takes a moment to catch his breath before moving back into Williams, who pulls himself up gingerly. Marcus sets him up in a vertical suplex position, lifting him and readying himself to deliver a falcon arrow, but Williams suddenly drops down and plants Marcus with a DDT. Williams then springs up to his feet and pulls Marcus up. He sets him in position for a vertical suplex once again and this time manages to lift him before dumping him on the top rope. Williams watches for a moment before climbing up to the top turnbuckle, the fans clapping in rhythm before Williams dives, hitting a 450 splash to Marcus as he’s hung on the top rope. Williams makes a cover, 1-2-no! Marcus just gets a shoulder up.



Williams stands quickly and pulls Marcus with him, hooking his arm again and lifting him before delivering a brainbuster to his knee. He pulls Marcus up again, not bothering to make a cover, and sets him position for a powerbomb, lifting him, but Marcus manages to counter with a hurricanrana roll-up, 1-2-no. Williams kicks out. Both men get to their feet but Williams delivers a hard head kick before a discus clothesline sends Marcus to the mat and then rolling out of the ring. Williams looks down at him before whipping the fans up once again, hitting the opposite ropes and then diving with a perfect tope con hilo. Marcus falls to the ground and Williams springs up before slapping hands with several fans.



Williams then pulls Marcus up and sets him up against a guardrail before telling the fans behind him to move. They scatter as Williams runs at Marcus and connects with a running dropkick which sends Marcus over the guardrail and into the fans. Williams stands, looking down at Marcus, before sliding back into the ring. He leads the fans in a rhythmic clap before climbing through the ropes and standing on the apron. Gripping the top rope, he waits for Marcus to stand. As he does, Williams leaps up onto the top, steadies himself for a moment, and then dives off with a perfect moonsault over the guardrail and onto Marcus, sending both of them to the floor and all of the chairs skittering along the ground.



MW: What have we just seen?!

SD: Aaron Williams is a mad-man!

MW: A springboard moonsault over a guardrail onto Marcus Allen Jones. He could have killed himself if he hadn’t pulled that off.

SD: Aaron Williams will do anything to send the fans home happy. But can it translate to a win. What happens if both men are counted out here?

MW: Then both of them lose. It would be zero points apiece.



The official, having checked both men, stands in the ring and begins to count.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Both men hold parts of their body- Marcus his ribs and Williams his head- but neither look close to being able to stand.



4……….

5……….

6……….



Williams is first to look into the ring and see the official counting. He grips the top of the guardrail but struggles to pull himself up.



7……….



Williams finally manages to pull himself up and he flops over the guardrail, landing on the outside of the ring.



8……….



Marcus crawls towards the guardrail as Williams slowly crawls towards the ring.



9…



Williams manages to loft himself into the ring as Marcus follows him over the guardrail.



…



Marcus lands on the floor and begins to head to the ring.



…



At the last possible second, Marcus dives back in and the official waves off the count. Both men lie exhausted on the canvas as the fans continue to cheer loudly.



MW: Somehow both of these men are able to continue this match. But how?

SD: The desire to beat the other man, Watson. It’s driving both of them forward. They have to be the best, both of them.

MW: We’re over twenty-minutes here, folks.

SD: Can you see either of these men lasting another ten minutes after what we’ve already seen?

MW: I wouldn’t put it past either of them, Steven.



Both Marcus and Williams use the ropes to pull themselves up before turning and advancing towards one another. Williams aims another head kick at Marcus, but he ducks, connecting with a thrust kick to the gut before exploding with a Canadian destroyer. Williams bounces half-way across the ring and lands beneath a set of turnbuckles. Marcus looks over there and slowly begins to climb, standing on the top rope and leading the fans in a rhythmic clap. Many fans join him before he screams ‘screw you, Trevor’ and leaps off for the Mark-Out Moment, but Williams rolls away and Marcus crashes and burns. Williams drags himself over to Marcus and rolls him onto his back, making a cover, 1-2-no! Marcus just manages to get his shoulder up.



Williams pulls himself up, looking at Marcus as he too makes it to his feet. Williams kicks Marcus in the gut before setting him in position for a powerbomb, lifting him and then delivering a powerbomb backbreaker. Marcus rolls away and Williams crawls over again, again making a cover by draping his arm over Marcus’ chest, 1-2-no! Again Marcus just manages to get his shoulder up. Williams rolls towards the ropes to pull himself up, calling for the A Triple Plus as he staggers towards Marcus. He grabs him by the head and sets him in position, looking to hook the arms, but Marcus wriggles free and crawls between Williams’ legs, standing and, as Williams turns, connecting with a Pele kick. Williams staggers away towards the ropes and rebounds, somehow delivering a clothesline to leave both men on the mat again.



MW: Neither of these men will allow themselves to lose this match.

SD: We’re at twenty-four minutes. We haven’t seen a draw yet in this competition but we’ve come very close.

MW: This match could end that way, Steven.

SD: I’m still not sure either man will be able to last another two minutes let alone six!



Williams and Marcus get to their knees and face one another, each man delivering forearm strikes which rock the other backwards, but they keep coming back to lay one in of their own. Marcus gets the advantage with the battle, pushing himself up and moving around the back of Williams. He traps his wrist and looks for Six Stars, but Williams hooks a leg around Marcus’ leg and refuses to be spun out. Instead, Marcus leaps up and connects with a reverse rana. Williams rolls through and Marcus goes back to the wrist, pulling him up and spinning him out, only for Williams to respond with a mid-kick. Marcus falls and Williams quickly positions himself behind Marcus, pulling him up and trapping his wrist, spinning him out and connecting with his own version of Six Stars! Marcus collapses to the mat and Williams makes another cover, 1-2-no! Marcus kicks out of his own move!



Williams stands, swaying on his feet, before pulling Marcus up again. He sets him in position for A Triple Plus, but Marcus frees himself again, lands hard forearms to the body of Williams and then stands, kicks Williams in the gut and tries to pull him in for his own version of A Triple Plus. Williams, however, seems to be expecting it, pulling Marcus into a small package, but not holding for a cover, instead rolling through and using it to set up A Triple Plus. He hooks the arms and lifts Marcus before driving him down on the top of his head. Williams drapes an arm over Marcus, 1-2-no! Marcus somehow gets his foot onto the rope. Williams stares down at Marcus in disbelief before rolling away and taking a moment to catch his breath.



SD: Did… did Marcus actually just do that?

MW: I think he did. Marcus Allen Jones managed to survive despite being hit with A Triple Plus.

SD: I’m sure Aaron Williams has told me that nobody has ever…

MW: And now what will Williams be able to do that can possibly keep Marcus down?

SD: He must have something else in his arsenal. My question is can Marcus find a way to recover after having his head rammed into the canvas like that?



Williams pulls himself up and looks down at Marcus with a new look of resolve on his face. He lifts Marcus by his head and carries him over to the corner. Williams then pushes himself up onto the top rope and sits there before pulling Marcus up. Marcus takes a couple of swings at Williams but there is nothing behind either of them and Williams doesn’t even blink an eye. He pulls Marcus up into a suplex position.



MW: He’s… he’s not going to superplex him to the outside?

SD: If he does then Marcus will be out of the entire Free-1!

MW: This is dangerous up here… I don’t like- oh my God! Aaron Williams with the brainbuster to his knee on the top rope.

SD: Marcus just dropped like a sack of potatoes.

MW: And now… Williams… shooting star press!

SD: Kick out Marcus!

MW: One….. two….. three!



Winner: Aaron Williams (29:15).



Williams rolls away from Marcus and lies in the middle of the ring as fans stand, applaud, cheer and stomp their feet to make as much noise as they possibly can in order to recognise what was undoubtedly an amazing spectacle of a match.



MW: Ladies and gentlemen you have witnessed something special here tonight.

SD: Marcus lost… and I’m not even that upset… this is… weird.

MW: Perhaps because this match, and I’m not being hyperbolic here, was one of the most amazing matches I’ve ever witnessed, not just here in FPW but anywhere that I’ve called professional wrestling. Those two men did more than they could have ever been expected to do in this match- they took more damage, delivered more blows and survived much more than we ever would have believed possible. But, after one of the most dangerous moves I’ve seen in all of my years, it’s Aaron Williams who emerges victorious from this classic match.

SD: Classic is right. It was fast-paced and full of risks. It may not have been the type of match that Jim Cornette will be gushing over, but these fans certainly are.

MW: And Aaron Williams takes the lead in the A Block with four points.

SD: With James Saturn and Elizabeth Karlson still to face, I’d say he has a great chance of winning this block now.

MW: But he’s been in action for longer than anyone else in the Free-1. He’s almost had two thirty-minute matches in just over a week, as well as a tough loss to Berry Bishop. Can he sustain this level of performance for two more matches?

SD: That’s the big question hanging over Aaron Williams. If he can, then we have an A Block winner. If not, then it’s still open for anyone.



Williams slowly stands, basking in the cheers of the fans as the official raises his arm. Still very shaky on his feet, he moves to each side of the ring to acknowledge the cheers that are coming his way. He then moves over to Marcus, who is sat in one of the corners. Williams extends a hand and Marcus looks up at him for a few moments with an expression that’s very difficult to read. As a hush comes over the crowd, Marcus raises his hand and allows Williams to pull him up into a half-embrace. The fans cheer as the camera picks up Williams saying, “You can do without them. You came so close tonight and pushed me as far as anybody ever has. Don’t let this take you off the right track. You could easily have won this match.”



Marcus pulls away and gives Williams a look before nodding and patting him on the back. Marcus then drops down and leaves the ring, slowly shuffling his way up the ramp as Williams continues to take the applause of the crowd.



MW: Tonight was not Marcus Allen Jones’ night for a win, but it was his night to put on an amazing spectacle with Aaron Williams. I’m sure this isn’t the last time these two men will meet in the middle of that ring and I for one cannot wait to witness a rematch.

SD: A rematch which Marcus could win, but he needs to… well, let’s leave it at that for tonight.

MW: Round three of matches began in style tonight but it continues with possibly the most important match of the tournament so far. Tomorrow night we see the two undefeated men, Jerry Bishop and Botiatus, in action. By the end of tomorrow, one man will stand tall with six points in the B Block and the other will be two points and a head-to-head tie-breaker behind them. Can Jerry keep finding ways to win or will Botiatus’ magical start to life in FPW continue?

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome back to the Free-1 2019. Tonight we focus on the B Block, but before we do, I’d like to express thanks on behalf of everyone at Freedom Pro Wrestling for the incredible response to last night’s match between Aaron Williams and Marcus Allen Jones. We’ve smashed our record for most views on freedomprowrestling.com and have had so many positive comments on what I believe was one of the best matches we’ve seen in the Free-1 or indeed in FPW history.

SD: It was an incredible match, even though the result wasn’t quite what I was looking for.

MW: But tonight we bring you a match which could potentially be just as good, and certainly as important. Two men stand undefeated with two from two at the top of the B Block: Jerry Bishop and Botiatus. Those two meet in the ring tonight and the winner will become a big favourite to win the Free-1.

SD: After tonight, either Jerry Bishop or Botiatus will go to six points. If it’s Jerry, both Clutch McCloud and Go Shihei will be hanging by a thread on zero points, needing to win out and hope for a multi-way tie at the top of the block. If it’s Bo, Shihei has a better chance as he’s yet to face Bo but Clutch will still be left with a lot to do. Whichever outcome, Graham Baker and Artemis Evans will realistically have to win out from here if either of them wishes to win this block.

MW: This situation is very different from the log-jam we have in the A Block right now. Of course, there is a third possible outcome- a draw.

SD: There is. If there’s a draw then… um… I don’t know!

MW: Let’s talk tactics for this one, Steven. Botiatus has shown great perseverance in defeating Graham Baker and Clutch McCloud. What does he have to do to defeat Jerry Bishop tonight?

SD: Honestly? He has to wrestle the same way as he has. Hard-hitting, gritting his teeth through punishment and keeping eyes in the back of his head. If he performs to the same level as his last two matches, I think he wins this.

MW: And Jerry? Can his resurgence continue tonight?

SD: It can. But let’s look at his two wins. A roll-up over Clutch McCloud and a count-out, which we’ve since learned had a bit of assistance, to defeat Go Shihei. He needs to step up his game if he’s going to win tonight.

MW: Will the fact that Bobby O and MDE are at ringside play into this one?

SD: I hope so! Why have them there if you’re not going to use them to help you win? I know Jerry told Bo yesterday that he didn’t want Bobby or MDE to get involved, but they both haver his best interests at heart and MDE especially knows that in the Free-1, it’s not how you win, it’s simply if you win. A loss for Jerry today puts him at a big disadvantage going forward, especially with Arty and Baker still to face. His toughest matches are arguably ahead of him and he needs this win badly.

MW: Last night was about who was the better man. Tonight will be about taking the lead in the block for two men with a lot to prove. Dasha Banks is in the ring.



“Welcome to the opening round three B Block match. The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, at the top of the B Block with four points and a total match time of thirty-five minutes and thirteen seconds, he is a former Free-1 finalist from Kansas City, Missouri. This is The Joker… Jerry Bishop!”



‘The Comedian’s Gallop’ begins to play and Jerry walks onto the stage, MDE to his left and Bobby to his right. Jerry walks straight down the ramp, Bobby once again the one to slap the hands of the fans as MDE guides Jerry towards the ring. Jerry looks focussed, although he glances back towards the fans who hold their arms out for him. As he passes without acknowledging them, fans begin to boo MDE. One set of fans a few rows back hold up letters which spell out ‘F-U-C-K M-D-E’ while the two next to them hold up a sign that spells out ‘We Want Our Jerry Back’. Bobby nods to them while MDE continues to encourage Jerry into the ring, where he’s allowed to stand briefly on the turnbuckle to acknowledge the crowd.



“And his opponent, sitting second in the block also with four points and a total match-time of forty-eight minutes and thirty-one seconds. He is a multi-time champion in his home promotion and is currently undefeated in FPW competition. Hailing from The Bay Area, California… Botiatus!”



A mixture of loud boos, loud cheers and general noise can be heard as the lights dim and the familiar wide stone steps appear on the screen. The camera pans up the steps and shows the columns and the Roman villa before ‘Famous’ really kicks in and ‘House of Botiatus’ appears on the screen. Bo steps through the curtain and surverys the crowd for a moment before walking down the ramp. He finds his House of Botiatus section who were there for the Baker match, but also finds support from other sections in the crowd, albeit much smaller than Jerry’s support. Bo climbs onto the ring apron and slowly ascends the turnbuckle, a single spotlight shining on him as he stands in his signature pose. The lights come up again and Bo drops down into the ring, looking across at Jerry, who is still flanked by MDE and Bobby.



B Block: Jerry Bishop (4) v Botiatus (4):



After shepherding MDE and Bobby from the ring, the official calls for the bell and Bo steps forward, extending a hand to Jerry. Jerry moves forward, pointedly refusing to look at MDE and Bobby and shakes it, nodding to Bo, who returns his nod in kind. The two back away as the fans applaud their show of sportsmanship before they then lock up. Bo takes the early advantage, forcing Jerry back towards the ropes, before whipping him across the ring, he drops down but Jerry steps over him. Bo then leapfrogs, expecting Jerry to come run back again, but Jerry caught the rope and instead catches Bo with a hip toss before taking the arm, stepping over Bo’s body to keep him down.



Bo tries to escape but Jerry manages to keep on top of him, forcing Bo to aim for the ropes instead. He makes it over to them and Jerry quickly breaks the hold, but he backs up, hits the ropes and comes back with a sliding dropkick to Bo’s arm. Bo rolls under the ring and drops down to the outside, landing in the middle of Bobby and MDE. Bobby holds out his arms to show Bo he means no harm, but MDE simply stands and stares him down, a stare which Bo returns. Jerry, meanwhile, hits the ropes and comes at Bo with a suicide dive, taking him down. MDE applauds while Bobby makes sure Jerry hasn’t taken any damage. Jerry quickly pulls Bo up and rolls him back into the ring, making an early cover, 1-no. Bo easily kicks out.



MW: Jerry Bishop with the early command in this one.

SD: A sound strategy too. If he takes out the arm, it stops Bo from hitting that House Call and it makes a lot of those powerful strikes of his a lot less impactful. It’s also the arm that Graham Baker did a serious number on and Clutch McCloud targeted.

MW: Does Jerry have the technical prowess to match Bo? He himself is a very sound technician.

SD: He is. Before training with MDE I’d have probably said no, but Jerry will have worked on his weaknesses for sure. I think he’ll have trained hard on his technique and he certainly will be prepared to do what needs to be done to get a win in this one.

MW: Well if Jerry is able to take advantage of that injured arm, Bo may be forced to submit in this match.

SD: He has to think of his whole tournament too. A win now is no good if he can’t compete in his other two matches due to an arm injury.



Jerry takes the arm again as Bo pushes up onto one knee. He wrings it and forces Bo down to the mat before dropping a knee on the elbow. Bo tries to pull the arm away but Jerry traps it with his knee and looks for a Fujiwara arm bar, but Bo is too close to the ropes and Jerry is forced to break his grip before he can do any more damage. Bo uses the ropes to help him up, Jerry waiting a moment before coming back in and trying to trap the arm again. Bo, however, is prepared, catching Jerry’s own arm and delivering an arm stunner. Jerry reels away and Bo moves in, connecting with an inverted headlock backbreaker and buying him some time to shake out the damage to his arm.



Bobby bangs the mat for Jerry to get up, but Bo drops a knee to keep him down before taking each of Jerry’s wrists and driving a knee into his back, wrenching the arms back. Jerry grits his teeth with the pain in his shoulders and back as Bo applies more and more pressure to the hold. As Jerry starts to fight out of it, Bo transitions, switching arms and pulling Jerry down for a backslide, 1-2-no. Jerry kicks out. As Jerry scrambles to his feet, Bo pulls him in for a suplex and delivers a twisting vertical, making another cover, 1-2-no. Again Jerry is able to kick out. Bo continues to not give Jerry time to recover, lifting him up before delivering a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Bo makes another cover, 1-2-no. Again Jerry kicks out.



MW: You can see that Bo is anxious to get the win tonight.

SD: It’s a big match and he knows that there are two men- one for sure anyway- who could get involved in this match at any time. MDE has already provided a very useful distraction.

MW: I’m not sure how much Jerry would want them to get involved though.

SD: But they’ll do what they need to do to make sure he wins. Bo knows he needs to get a win as quickly as possible and he’s going to take any chance he gets to get a potential three-count.



Bo pulls Jerry up and hooks an arm over his head before lifting him up into position for a vertical suplex. Instead of dropping him down, Bo looks to dump Jerry on the top rope. Jerry, however, manages to counter, landing instead on the apron and then driving his shoulder into Bo’s midsection before delivering a slingshot DDT. He makes a cover of his own, 1-2-no. Bo kicks out this time. MDE calls over to Jerry who immediately looks to go back to the arm, catching it in an arm bar and stepping over again, putting a bit more torque onto the arm this time than before. Bo reaches out for the ropes with his legs but he can’t quite reach. As Jerry applies more torque to the arm, Bo manages to wriggle his legs towards the ropes and finally forces the break.



MDE tells Jerry not to let up as he breaks the hold, and Jerry grabs Bo by the heads and pulls him up, whipping him into the ropes and then connecting with a rolling elbow. Bo staggers, but doesn’t go down, which surprises Jerry for a moment, allowing Bo to drive a knee into his gut and then deliver a hard back suplex. Bo rolls away, flexing the arm some more, before looking back towards the ropes where he was earlier. He pulls Jerry up and hooks his arm again, lifting him into the same vertical suplex position and trying to dump him onto the top rope again. Jerry again manages to drop onto the apron instead and tries the shoulder to the gut, but Bo catches him, delivering his series of knee strikes as a number of fans, most notably his loud cheering section, count along. After nine, Bo hits the ropes and looks for the running knee for the tenth, but MDE pulls Jerry down off the apron to a chorus of groans and some boos directed towards MDE from the fans.



MW: And there’s MDE getting involved again.

SD: That’s why Bo wanted to win this one as soon as he could.

MW: And Jerry doesn’t look too impressed with MDE.

SD: He should be. MDE stopped him from getting a knee to the side of his head.

MW: But that’s not who Jerry wants to be, as Bobby is telling MDE right now.

SD: Well let’s see who Jerry wants to be when it comes to winning or-

MW: Botiatus with the slingshot plancha taking out all three of them!



The fans cheer as Bo stands over MDE for a moment. He then turns to see Jerry climbing back onto the apron. Bo moves over to him and lands a few shots, turning Jerry so that he’s lying on his belly with his head on the outside of the ring. Bo then runs at Jerry and connects with his tenth knee strike before sliding quickly back into the ring and making a cover, 1-2-no. Jerry kicks out. Bo then lifts Jerry again and pulls him up into position for snake eyes, but Jerry wriggles free, landing on his feet and connecting with a step-up enzeguiri as Bo turns around. Bo staggers towards the corner and Jerry follows him in, connecting with a running dropkick before vaulting over the top rope and landing a springboard forearm. He makes the cover, 1-2-no. Bo kicks out.



Jerry stands and instinctively starts to pump up the fans, only for MDE to yell to him to focus. Jerry turns back to Bo and pulls him into a front face lock, walking him backwards towards the ropes. Jerry pushes himself up onto the top rope and looks for a tornado DDT, but Bo blocks him, instead delivering a Northern Lights suplex. Instead of bridging, he rolls through, lifting Jerry again and hitting a second Northern Lights suplex, this time bridging for the cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets a shoulder up. Bo uses the opportunity to grip the arm and try to set Jerry into position for ADT, but Jerry manages to use the weakness in Bo’s arm to block it and scramble free.



He slides under the bottom rope and pulls himself up, but Bo moves to him and lands a hard forearm before hooking his arm and looking to suplex him back into the ring. As Bo tries to lift Jerry, he manages to drop back down, and then tries to lift Bo for a suplex to the outside. With him fully lifted, Bo drops down onto the apron and the two face one another for a moment. Bo lands a hard forearm to Jerry, who responds, but his strike isn’t as powerful as Bo’s, who connects with two more. Jerry doubles over and Bo connects with a snap DDT onto the apron. Jerry rolls back into the ring as Bo stands and leads his fans in a call of ‘H. O. B.’ before delivering the H. O. B. leg drop. Bo makes the cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets his shoulder off the mat.



MW: I didn’t think he could kick out there!

SD: A DDT on the apron and a hard leg drop and Jerry is somehow still in this one.

MW: But this can’t have been in his gameplan.

SD: I’m sure MDE has a plan for what happens when Bo gets on top in this match. He’ll know that Bo is more than capable of getting his offense in. The important thing is how Jerry can arrest Bo’s momentum and start moving things in his own direction.



Bo stands and flexes his arm a few more times. As Jerry slowly tries to get to his feet, Bo sets himself into position for House Call. He stalks Jerry, his elbow held out ready to strike. Jerry stands and Bo charges at him, but Jerry manages to duck, Bo hitting the opposite ropes and Jerry connecting with a desperation dropkick to take him down. Jerry scrambles back to his feet as Bo climbs to his. Bo aims another forearm at Jerry, but he ducks again, transitioning into a Russian leg sweep. Jerry then climbs up to the second rope and connects with a blockbuster, making the cover, 1-2-no. Bo kicks out.



Jerry stands, breathing hard, but ready to end the match. As Bo turns to him, Jerry connects with a parallel snapmare, running through with the penalty kick to complete the Touchstone Takedown. He drops onto Bo with a back press and hooks a leg, the fans counting along, 1-2-no! Bo just gets a shoulder up as many fans stand with hands on their head, a smaller section cheering that their man kicked out. Jerry looks across at MDE, who signs for the Last Laugh. Jerry nods and reaches down to pull Bo up, but Bo hooks him with a small package, 1-2-no! Jerry just manages to escape.



Both men scramble to their feet and look to gain the advantage. Bo connects with a leaping knee strike, but Jerry twists into a rolling elbow. Both men drops down to the mat as the official checks on each of them. A duelling ‘Je-rry Bi-shop’ and (a somewhat quieter) ‘H. O. B.’ chant fills the arena while both men take their time to recover. After a few moments, Bo manages a kip up, his fans cheering him loudly, before he wearily pulls Jerry up, lifting him onto his shoulder. Bo carries Jerry over to the corner and connects with snake eyes before bouncing off the ropes and looking for House Call, but Jerry somehow connects with a step-up enzeguiri counter straight to the elbow. Bo yells in pain and reels away, clutching at his already-injured arm.



MW: And there’s that arm again.

SD: Jerry not only targeting the arm because it will weaken Bo’s offense. He’s seen footage from this tournament, or at least MDE will have, and he’ll know that it’s Bo’s weak point at the moment.

MW: Bo looks like he’s seriously hurt right now.

SD: The official is checking him over. We’ve never seen a referee’s stoppage in the Free-1 before. Could we be about to see it here?

MW: I don’t know. Bo has a lot of heart and will not want to be the first man to have the match called off due to injury.

SD: But can Bo survive what could be another eight minutes with that arm and an opponent clearly targeting it?



With Bo against the ropes, Jerry takes a moment to steady himself. MDE calls him across and Jerry moves over, listening to what MDE has to say. Bobby, meanwhile moves towards Bo as the official decides to let the match go on. Jerry hangs back, allowing Bo to stand and move in towards him. As Bo comes within range, Jerry immediately looks to grab the arm, only for Bo to look for another small package. Jerry catches the rope to block himself from being pulled down, transitioning into a jackknife cover, 1-2-no! Bo just manages to push Jerry off. As Jerry rolls away, he grabs the arm again and looks to set up for a cross-arm breaker, but Bo blocks it, linking his hands and rolling onto Jerry before transitioning into position to set up a Boston crab, instead slingshotting Jerry into the turnbuckles. Jerry staggers out and Bo, quickly getting to his feet, connects with a stun gun. Bo rolls Jerry over and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets a shoulder up.



Bo pulls himself up to his feet, cradling his injured arm as he stalks Jerry. MDE and Bobby yell to Jerry to look out as he uses the ropes to help him get up. Bo moves in and leaps up for the House Rules, but Jerry somehow manages to counter, hooking Bo’s arms and performing a backslide, but not holding a cover, instead allowing Bo to roll through before trapping his arms and dropping him instantly- no theatrics- for a Last Laugh. Jerry makes a quick cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-3!



Winner: Jerry Bishop (24:50).



MW: Jerry wins!

SD: The gameplan worked to perfection.

MW: And he did it without the need for a roll-up, a count-out or some kind of distraction. These fans are on their feet for what I have to say is Jerry’s first unquestionable singles win of 2019!

SD: First… he’s won his last four matches now, Watson.

MW: But this is different. Last Laugh in the middle of the ring and a three-count. Jerry Bishop is sitting alone at the top of the B Block with six points.



Jerry stands and the official raises his arm before he’s nearly bowled over by a hyped up Bobby O. MDE looks down at Bo as he lies on the canvas before patting Jerry on the back. Jerry climbs up to the top rope and basks in the glow of an arena of cheering fans before dropping down and looking back at Bo as he stirs. MDE guides Jerry towards the ropes and through them as Bobby moves over to Bo and helps him up. Jerry and MDE leave up the ramp while Bobby has a few word with Bo, who also receives generous applause from the fans.



MW: Well Jerry Bishop has now gone three unbeaten in the Free-1 and… what does this mean for others, Steven?

SD: It means that… well, it means that everyone else needs to win a lot of matches. Clutch McCloud and Go Shihei have to win their final three or they’re done. Evans and Baker are now four behind Jerry and each still have to face him. A loss to Jerry and they’re done too. Botiatus… well, he’ll have to win his last two and hope Jerry can’t win either of his.

MW: So Jerry Bishop has just become a big-time favourite to win the B Block?

SD: As amazing as it is, I’d say he has.

MW: We’ll be returning to the B Block on Sunday with Graham Baker facing Go Shihei but tomorrow is A Block action as Elizabeth Karlson and James Saturn face off. That match will send one of them to the top of the A Block as they’re already more than thirty minutes ahead of Aaron Williams. We’ll see you all tomorrow night right here on freedomprowrestling.com.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Tonight the Free-1 hits its half-way point as we have a big time A Block contest between Elizabeth Karlson and James Saturn.

SD: This is a huge match for both of these two. They each have genuine claims for A Block supremacy and a win here will take them one step closer to the Free-1 final they both believe they should be in.

MW: The current state of the A Block is Aaron Williams sitting alone at the top with four points, then we have Saturn, Karlson, Berry Bishop and Jace Mason tied with two points each and Marcus Allen Jones sat in sixth also with two points but with two losses to each of their one.

SD: And tonight’s winner will take top spot from Williams unless there is a draw between these two. Neither have faced him yet and each have wrestled for more than thirty-minutes less than Williams has in this tournament already giving them the tiebreaker due to total match time.

MW: Who do you see as the likely winner tonight?

SD: Whoever manages to best execute their style. Elizabeth Karlson is a technical wizard and a submission expert. If she can manage to tie up Saturn and avoid his high impact offense, she’ll walk away top of the block. Saturn, however, is a high flyer. He has some technical skill and of course he has Saturn’s Walls, but he needs avoid getting into a submission battle and keep the match moving at a fast pace. If he can keep Karlson at arm’s length, she won’t have an answer for him.
Mason did a number on Saturn's knee in his last match so he has to avoid the Chronic Illness at all costs.
MW: They say clashes of styles make for great matches and these two certainly clash. Let’s get to it right now with Dasha Banks.



“Welcome back to the Free-1 and to the A Block. Tonight’s contest is scheduled for one fall and has a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, in second place in the block with two points and a total match time of forty-four minutes and fourteen seconds, the current Young Lions’ Cup winner, from Portland, Oregon. He is The Paragon… James Saturn!”



‘White Knuckles’ begins to play and Saturn walks confidently through the curtain. He’s booed immediately, responding to the boos with a smirk and a slow swagger down the ramp. He ignores several fans who hold out their arms and a lot more who shout abuse to him, but he stops at one young fan who wears an old James Saturn shirt. He looks the fan in the eyes for a moment and moves towards him before giving him the middle finger to a volley of boos from those around him. Saturn laughs as he climbs up onto the apron and somersaults into the ring before leaning back on the ropes and waiting for his opponent.



“And his opponent, sitting third in the block and also with two points. She is the current FPW Women’s Champion and hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ladies and gentlemen, this is The Renegade, Elizabeth Karlson.”



The lights flicker on and off as ‘Turn It On’ plays. Karlson enters the arena backwards, the back of her jacket proudly displaying her former team’s logo before she turns and approaches the ring, the Women’s Championship slung over her shoulder. Receiving a positive reaction, she slaps hands with fans as she walks down the ramp before sliding into the ring and climbing onto three of the turnbuckles and holding up her Women’s Championship. She tries to climb onto the fourth but Saturn refuses to move, leading Karlson instead to hold up the belt and get right into his face. He just stands and smirks, shrugging his shoulders at a belt he can’t win.



A Block: James Saturn (2) v Elizabeth Karlson (2):



The bell rings and the two of them are quick to move forward, Karlson staying low and looking for the leg while Saturn tries to keep a gap between them. As Karlson sees her opportunity and darts in, Saturn leaps over her and rolls away, springing back up as she turns and tries to come in for the leg again. Karlson backs Saturn into the corner and smiles as she advances, only for him to step between the ropes and drop down from the apron, waving dismissively at Karlson. Frowning, she follows him, only for Saturn to quickly turn and yank her leg from underneath her, sending her face-first into the apron. Karlson rolls down onto the floor and Saturn puts the boots to her, the fans booing him.



Saturn pulls Karlson up and whips her across into the guardrail, where she hits hard. He follows her in and clotheslines her over it and into the fans. Saturn follows, fans scattering as he lifts her head and drives it down into one of the fans’ chairs. The official stands in the ring and begins to count, trying to force them back into the ring.



1……….



Saturn sits Karlson on one of the chairs and lands a couple of big chops.



2……….



He then takes a couple of steps and connects with a big boot to send her over the back of the chair as it topples to the floor.



3…………



Saturn moves over to Karlson and pulls her up, gripping her arm and twisting it, wrenching it a couple of times and landing a kick to the chest.



4……….



He then steps up onto the guardrail and walks a few steps before leaping down and hitting a hard chop to send Karlson to the floor.



5……….



Saturn lands a couple more stomps on Karlson before climbing back over the guardrail and sliding back into the ring, standing and leaning on the ropes as he watches her on the outside.



6……….

7……….



Karlson starts to get herself up to her feet and staggers over to the guardrail.



8……….



She vaults over it and lunges into the ring to break the count, but Saturn meets her with more stomps before pulling her up and whipping her into the corner. He runs at her and delivers a hard clothesline. Karlson staggers out of the corner and Saturn climbs up to the top rope. He crouches while she turns before leaping down and connecting with a diving clothesline. He makes a cover, not bothering to hook a leg, 1-2-no. Karlson kicks out.



MW: Karlson still in this match.

SD: But only just. James Saturn has had the perfect start to this one. He knew he needed to stay out of her grasp after the damage already done to his nee by Jace Mason and he has done so far.

MW: And these fans are not liking what they’re seeing.

SD: Do you think James Saturn cares what these fans think?

MW: No. No I do not.



Saturn stands and drives his boot into Karlson’s back a few more times before pulling her to her feet. He lifts her and plants her on the mat with a scoop slam before climbing up to the top rope again. He points down at her before cupping his hand to his ear as the boos of the fans continue. Saturn dives with an elbow drop, but Karlson catches him into a cross-arm breaker! Saturn kicks his feet in desperation and manages to force his way over to the ropes, but Karlson has rocked him. Saturn quickly pulls himself to his feet but he’s met by a spin kick to the gut and then several leg kicks from Karlson. She forces him back into the corner and unleashes a volley of chops as the fan urge her on, only blocked once Saturn manages to get a thumb into her eye.



Karlson staggers backwards and turns just as Saturn connects with a dropkick. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Karlson kicks out on the stroke of two. Saturn locks in a chin lock and drives a knee into Karlson’s back, pushing himself up and delivering the knee a few times before releasing the hold and flexing his arm. He looks down as Karlson holds her back before he delivers another series of stomps to the back. He then grips her legs and a wrist, which he pulls around her throat before trying to lift her up while driving his knees into her back, but Karlson quickly flips over into a cover, 1-no. Saturn kicks out. They both spring to their feet but Karlson connects with a superkick and then a neckbreaker before holding her back as Saturn lies on the canvas.



MW: The Women’s Champion fighting back into this match.

SD: She is. Saturn needed to be a bit more careful. He was so dominant that he felt he could soften up her back for Saturn’s Walls, but he still needs to make sure that he doesn’t get caught out by Karlson. She’s as good a technician as we have here in FPW.

MW: And now she’s back in this match, what do you think she’ll look to do?

SD: I think she’ll be looking to go after the leg to set up the Chronic Illness. It has the added benefit of course of taking away Saturn’s high flying capabilities, so she’ll get a big advantage there too.



Karlson stands and stalks Saturn as he pulls himself up. She aims several hard kicks to his leg again before gripping his wrist and taking him down with a short-arm lariat. Karlson then moves to the leg, gripping the leg she’s been aiming at and connecting with an inverted dragonscrew on the mat. Saturn grabs at his knee but Karlson aims a kick art his arm to keep it away as she pins the leg down and does a handstand before dropping down and driving both knees into Saturn’s leg. He sits up and cries out in pain as Karlson holds her knees there and wrenches the knee at a horrible angle. Karlson then looks to lock in a figure-four, but Karlson reaches up and grips her hair, pulling her down and delivering a series of forearms that send her staggering backwards.



He rolls away under the bottom rope and heads to the outside, limping on that leg as he takes some time to recover. Karlson watches him from inside the ring before running at the ropes. She leaps onto the top rope, steadies herself, and then comes down with a codebreaker! Saturn drops motionless and Karlson clutches at her back as she lands hard too. The official checks both of them again before beginning a second count.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Karlson rolls into a seated position but Saturn hasn’t managed to move an inch.



4……….

5……….

6……….



Karlson pulls herself to her feet and moves over to Saturn as the fans tell her to get back into the ring. She pulls him up before connecting with another leg kick which sends him to one knee.



7……….



She pulls him again and drags him towards the ring, lifting him and rolling him back in before sliding in herself. She makes a cover, 1-2-no. Saturn kicks out. Karlson stands and drags Saturn up with her. She lands another kick to the leg before lifting it and connecting with another dragon screw. Saturn drops to the mat and Karlson stalks him. She waits for him to begin to stand, very gingerly, before moving in for Chronic Illness. She manages to roll into position, but Saturn pushes himself towards the ropes as he goes down and the hold has to be broken straight away. Karlson breaks her grip and then moves back to Saturn as he looks to be rolling out of the ring again.



Saturn, however, pulls her down onto the middle rope and Karlson holds her throat. Saturn stands, holding the ropes to help him balance as he delivers a few kicks to Karlson’s back. She drops down onto the canvas as he lays the boots in again before taking a few steps and flexing his knee, which is clearly causing him trouble. Saturn moves back to Karlson and pulls her to her feet, landing an inverted atomic drop before taking her down with an enzeguiri. He looks as she hits the mat hard before climbing up to the top rope, looking for the Saturnsault. Karlson, however, springs to her feet and climbs the ropes too, looking for a backstabber from the top.



Before she can force Saturn down to the mat with the backstabber, he grabs hold of her and refuses to let her hit it. He grips her head before throwing some hard back elbows. Karlson drops down into position and, after Saturn slowly balances on the top rope with his bad knee, he leaps down for the Saturnsault but Karlson gets her knees up. Saturn rolls off as Karlson grips her back again, trying to get to her feet to take the advantage but unable to do so quickly.



MW: This is a big point now in this match.

SD: Whoever can overcome the damage done by the other most quickly might be in a great position now.

MW: Karlson’s back is stopping her from recovering too quickly but the damage done to Saturn’s knee gave her enough time to block that Saturnsault. Both of them have got the other set up nicely but one of them needs to finish it off to claim these two points.

SD: We’re over half-way through this match now.



Both Karlson and Saturn manage to make it to their feet and they stare each other down across the ring. They come forward, Saturn trying to shield the bad leg behind him while Karlson looks to dart in and grab it without letting her back be open for a strike. Just like earlier in the match, Karlson dives in and Saturn tries to leap over her, managing the leap but unable to roll through after landing on the bad leg. Karlson sees and taking his knee out with a chop block before locking in a quick version of Chronic Illness. Saturn writhes in pain but still has the strength in his upper body and his other leg to drag himself to the ropes.



Karlson breaks the hold and Saturn tries dragging himself out of the ring again. Karlson, however, catches him, pulling him up on the apron. She lands a couple of forearms before looking to suplex Saturn back into the ring. He manages to block in, landing his own forearm strikes which stagger Karlson. Saturn then leaps up onto the top rope to look for a springboard clothesline, but Karlson catches him into Death Spike! However, as she reaches back to grab his legs to hold for the cover, she arches her back in pain and is forced to roll away from Saturn.



MW: Karlson can’t quite get the cover.

SD: Just as Saturn lost the advantage on the Saturnsault because of his damaged knee, the damage he inflicted on Karlson’s back earlier in the match saves him here.

MW: But surely Saturn is at a big disadvantage now?

SD: I’d say so. That Death Spike looks absolutely deadly. But Karlson is struggling.



Karlson pulls herself to her feet on the ropes and looks down at Saturn. She moves over to his legs again and lifts his injured one, aiming a series of hard kicks to the inside of the knee. He struggles to resist and she pulls him into position for a Texas cloverleaf. She struggles to force him into position where she can sit down, but finally manages and she sits down to really build the pressure. Saturn reaches out for the ropes, but they’re too far away. All of his strength gone after the Death Spike, Saturn finally taps out, Karlson releasing her hold and dropping to the mat.



Winner: Elizabeth Karlson (19:52).



MW: After a tough match for both competitors, it’s Elizabeth Karlson who now sits top of the A Block.

SD: James Saturn put up a great fight but ultimately couldn’t match Elizabeth Karlson’s technical prowess.

MW: Who can? She still has to face Jace Mason and Aaron Williams. Mason will give her a good technical challenge, but if she catches either of them in a hold, she could well have two more victories and be on her way to the final.

SD: Women’s Champion versus FPW Champion to headline Judgement Day? Boy, I’m all in on that!



Karlson gets to her feet and has her arm raised and her belt handed to her. Still clutching at her back, she watches Saturn limp away up the ramp and then climbs to the top turnbuckle, acknowledging the cheers from the fans. She holds up four fingers and then two more, drawing them both across her throat before she drops down and rolls out of the ring.



MW: We are now officially half-way through Free-1 II. Steven, can the second half even come close to matching this first half?

SD: It won’t be easy but I really think it can. Look at the matches we’ve still got to come: Baker v Shihei, Berry v Mason, the debut of Danica Jane, Berry v Marcus, Botiatus v Shihei, Saturn v Williams, Jerry v Arty, Mason v Karlson, Baker v Clutch and all of the matches on the final two nights, including Baker v Jerry! Not a bad match among them.

MW: And of course the race to win each block. Tomorrow we return to that race in the B Block. Graham Baker v Go Shihei. As well as being a rematch of what was a brutal encounter a few weeks ago, what are the implications for this one?

SD: Well if Shihei loses, he’s eliminated. That’s simple. For Baker, he can still win the block with a loss but he can’t win it outright. He would need Jerry to lose to Evans and for himself to win both of his remaining matches. He would need Bo to lose at least one and then for Baker to have the shortest total match time or for Bo to lose both and for Evans to tie him and Jerry on six points and get the tie-breaker from two wins.

MW: I’m sure Baker will only have one thing on his mind tomorrow- victory. That’s it. Shihei will think exactly the same way, I’m sure. It’s bound to be a hard-hitting affair and I can’t wait to see it and for you to join us. We’ll see you tomorrow!

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome Freedom Fighters to the second half of the Free-1!

SD: Oh boy, I cannot wait for this match tonight.

MW: Tonight we return to the B Block with a rematch of what was an explosive match-up on our final Road to Free-1 II show as Graham Baker faces Go Shihei.

SD: Baker managed to tap Shihei out last time with the Fujiwara arm bar but Shihei gave as good as he got and I think he will be very much feeling like he can win this match-up.

MW: And of course it’s a match-up he has to win, right, Steven?

SD: It is. For Shihei, he has to win three in a row to have any hope of winning this block now that Jerry has made it to six points. Baker won’t be eliminated with a loss tonight but it will make his path to victory much harder. This match-up is essentially a must-win wrestling match for both men.

MW: And how does Go Shihei turn around his run of recent defeats?

SD: Go Shihei must come out firing on all cylinders. Get on top early and finish this match quickly. He needs to use his highest impact moves as soon as he can to put Baker down and to keep him down. It won’t be easy to do, but with Baker so desperate at the moment to get back to prominence after high-profile losses twice to Davey Jones and then to Botiatus, Shihei may be able to capitalise on some mistakes early on.

MW: And Baker? Is it a case of doing what he did in their last match?

SD: In a way yes. Obviously that last match was a deathmatch, so this will be a lot different, but we hear at the beginning of each of these shows me saying that Graham Baker’s definition of hardcore is a mindset, not just swinging a kendo stick. He will be in that mindset and will be ready to take and to dole out some serious punishment. Don’t expect this match to go the distance tonight because I fully expect both men to come out swinging.

MW: You’re giving them a lot to live up to there, Steven. But here’s someone who always lives up to the hype- Dasha Banks.



“Welcome one and all to the Free-1! Tonight contest is a B Block contest scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, currently in sixth place with zero points and a total match time of thirty-seven minutes and two seconds, hailing from Osaka Japan and accompanies by Kate Mustang, this is Holy Fury… Go Shihei!”



The opening monologue to ‘Fury, Oh Fury’ plays to a mixed reaction as the lights go down. As the lyrics kick in, red and white light fills the arena and Go Shihei steps out through the curtain, Kate Mustang following just behind. He walks straight down the ramp, ignoring the fans, some of whom reach out to him. Shihei beats his chest and slaps himself in the face as he walks down to ringside before climbing straight into the ring and standing in wait for Baker with a very determined look on his face. Mustang stands outside the ring, a thoughtful look in her eyes as she looks back up the ramp.



“And his opponent, currently sitting in third place in the block with two points and a total match time of forty-five minutes and fifty-six seconds, a former FPW Champion and the defending Free-1 winner, as well as the current holder of both the ALPHA and Ice Coalition Wrestling Heavyweight Championships, he hails from London, England and is known as ‘The Aviator’… Graham Baker!”



Machine gun fire fills the arena and the fans bristle with anticipation before ‘DNA’ begins and Baker steps onto the ramp. His eyes stare a hole in Go Shihei as he too marches straight down the ramp, ignoring everyone who reaches out hands. Pulling his jacket off as he reaches the ring, Baker slides in and makes straight for Go Shihei, the official calling for the bell immediately.



B Block: Graham Baker (2) v Go Shihei (0):



Baker immediately strikes with a hard forearm and Shihei responds, the two men getting in each other’s faces as they begin an opening exchange, each strike coming quicker and harder than the last. Shihei begins to get an advantage as Baker switches up his strike, connecting with a chop that echoes around the arena. Shihei bristles and grimaces with pain before landing one of his own, arguably slightly louder than Baker’s. The two then begin to exchange chops, each one of them greeted with a loud ‘oooooh’ from the crowd as they can sense the two men’s pain. As Shihei starts to get an advantage, Baker lands a straight right hand, causing Shihei to turn his head. When he returns his gaze to Baker, there is fury in his eyes as the two men begin a vicious flurry of straight right hands that the official is powerless to stop. The crowd cheer themselves into a frenzy as Shihei forces Baker back towards the ropes before grabbing him and whipping him across the ring.



Baker ducks an attempted clothesline and connects with a shoulder tackle which barely moves Shihei. Shihei looks dismissively at Baker, who hits the ropes and tries again, only to be floored by a tackle from Shihei. Shihei pulls Baker immediately into position for a powerbomb, lifting him onto his shoulders only for Baker to strike with more closed fists, dropping down and sending Shihei rocketing back into the corner with a dropkick. Baker follows him in and connects with a hard knee strike, but Shihei pushes forward and Baker looks at him with shock on his face. Shihei then grabs Baker and tosses him into the corner, connecting with a hard lariat. Shihei throws Baker into the opposite corner and then charges in again, connecting with an even harder lariat. Baker drops to the mat and Shihei lands a running senton, making the first cover of the match, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out.



MW: You weren’t wrong about a fast start Steven!

SD: And this could be the downfall for Graham Baker. He’s come into this one determined to beat Go Shihei at his own game. He’s trying to out-strike him. Baker can’t win that way.

MW: Should he be looking at how Evans and Jerry managed to score wins over Go Shihei?

SD: I think so. Look, Graham Baker is one of the best wrestlers here and quite possibly the best FPW Champion we’ve ever had, but his cockiness and his determination to be the Ace of FPW could cost him a realistic chance at the Free-1 in this match.



Shihei pulls Baker up again and again looks for a powerbomb. He lifts Baker but Baker forces him to stagger backwards towards the ropes, and the two men topple to the outside of the ring. Both scramble to their feet, each man charging at the other and looking for a shoulder tackle, Shihei flooring Baker again. Shihei then pulls Baker up and throws him hard into the guardrail before delivering another vicious lariat that would have sent Baker into the crowd had Shihei not grabbed hold of him and kept him from doing so. Shihei then throws Baker into the edge of the ring and looks to deliver another lariat, but Baker manages to duck and roll, sending Shihei into the edge of the ring instead.



As Shihei staggers backwards, Baker lands a dropkick which causes Shihei to crash shoulder first into the ringpost. Shihei tries to shrug it off and turn but Baker sees the damage and moves in quickly gripping the arm and wringing it it before driving it into the ring apron and then the ringpost once again. Shihei moves away to create some distance and shake out the arm, but Baker comes charging in with a shotgun dropkick to send Shihei back-first into the guardrail. Baker then charges at him and connects with a hesitation dropkick right to the arm and shoulder. Pulling Shihei up, Baker looks to roll him back into the ring, but he stops him short and leaves the arm hanging to the outside. Baker climbs up onto the apron and stomps hard on the arm, causing Shihei to rolls back into the ring and grunt in agony.



MW: This will be more of what Baker needs to go for this one.

SD: He’s got the arm- his trademark body part to go for- and now he needs to be relentless. Leave the attempt to out-strong-style Go Shihei and go after that arm. If he lets Shihei fight through the pain and lets the adrenaline kick in, Baker won’t win.

MW: It looks like that arm is Baker’s sole target now.



Baker lands a series of hard stomps to the arm before dragging Shihei over to the ropes and placing the arm on the bottom rope. Baker then backs away and charges at Shihei, landing a hard running kick to the arm. He then grabs it and looks to lock in the Emergency Landing, but Shihei resists, clasping his hands together to block the extension. Baker fights against him, gritting his teeth with the strain and the effort, but Shihei is too strong. He manages to roll towards Baker and get his feet under him, standing and lifting Baker, who still tries to get the arm extended. Shihei pulls him up and then drops him down hard with a powerbomb to break the grip. Shihei shakes out his arm, beating at it to try and get the blood flowing properly again, before turning back to Baker, who pulls himself up in the ropes.



Shihei runs at him and looks for a lariat with his left arm, but Baker ducks and gets out of the corner. He comes in at Shihei and looks to kick away at his right arm, but Shihei catches his leg and lifts him up into a powerbomb position again, only for Baker to steps onto the top turnbuckle and catch his balance. Shihei turns as Baker aims for Landing Gear to the shoulder, but Shihei catches him and counters into another powerbomb! Shihei makes the cover, 1-2-no. Baker manages to kick out. Shihei wastes little time in pulling Baker up and landing a short-arm lariat, staggering Baker, before pulling him into an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles.



Baker crumples on impact and Shihei moves to him and pulls him up, sitting him up on the top rope. Shihei climbs after Baker and lands a hard chop, only for Baker to counter with several hard chops of him own. Shihei takes a step down before delivering a huge lariat which almost knocks Baker off the top. Shihei, however, catches him and pulls him back up before climbing up again and setting him up for High Altitude, which sends Baker crashing hard into the mat. Shihei takes a moment to recover, shaking out his left arm once again, before connecting with a sliding lariat as Baker sits up. Shihei makes the cover, 1-2-no! Baker just gets a shoulder up, but manages to transfer that shoulder-up into a crucifix pin, 1-2-no! Shihei kicks out, but Baker switches his grip and snaps back for the Emergency Landing with the full extension.



MW: Shihei has to tap now!

SD: He’s close to the ropes but I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Baker extend like this before.

MW: His arm must be in absolute agony. How is Go Shihei still fighting?

SD: Japanese spirit. Anybody else and this one would have been over already.



Shihei lets out a loud grunt as he rolls over to alleviate the pressure, and looks to lift Baker again. Once again he pulls him up into position for a powerbomb to counter the Emergency Landing, and once again he manages to connect, but Baker doesn’t break his grip! Baker forces Shihei back down to the mat and snaps back for the full extension again, suddenly transitioning into a Fujiwara arm bar. Shihei resists for a few moments but finally has to tap out.



Winner: Graham Baker (12:58).



The official calls for the bell but Baker seems unable to hear, keeping the hold locked in until Mustang enters the ring and grabs hold of Baker. He suddenly lets go of Shihei and gives her an intense look. She backs up, but Baker shakes his head and snaps out of whatever has hold of him. The official raises his arm before Baker watches Shihei roll from the ring and then climbs up to the top rope and beats his chest. He yells out to the crowd: “This is my fucking tournament! Clutch McCloud… Jerry Bishop… you’re both fucked!” Most of the fans cheer Baker while some look at him with some hesitation as he climbs down and rolls out of the ring.



SD: I said this one wouldn’t go the distance.

MW: But for both of these men it may as well have done. They’ll be very sore in the morning.

SD: They certainly will. A thirteen-minute match with enough damage done to each to count as a thirty-minute match. Graham Baker tried to match Go Shihei with toughness and strikes but quickly managed to get to work on his arm and Go Shihei, as much as he tried to power through, couldn’t match the determination of Graham Baker at the end to hold onto that Emergency Landing.

MW: How hard is it to keep hold of a move like that when you’ve just been powerbombed into the mat?

SD: When it’s a normal man powerbombing you? Almost impossible. When it’s Go Shihei? Remember when Baker snapped that Emergency Landing back against Azazel last year when Azazel did his inhuman thing?

MW: Remember it? The goosebumps have only just gone down.

SD: Well consider it to be this year’s version.

MW: And of course we have to remember that this defeat means Go Shihei can only get to four points and is now the first competitor to be officially eliminated.

SD: An obvious disappointment for someone who some would have considered as a strong possibility to win this block. But Shihei can hold his head high. It’s taken something special to beat him each time- somewhat of a distraction for Evans, a highly-tactical count-out from Jerry and some inhuman determination from Baker, who now draws level with Botiatus on four points.

MW: Bo of course has the tie-breaker between the two but Baker is only two points behind Jerry Bishop, who still controls this block as it’s undefeated leader.

SD: And the final match in this round for the B Block is Clutch McCloud versus Artemis Evans. With Danica Jane representing Clutch, Evans could easily join Baker and Bo on four points too. She still has Jerry to face, so Arty is a major contender for this block at this stage too.

MW: The B Block looking like going down to the wire just as the A Block is. Tomorrow we complete the third round of A Block matches with a highly-anticipated rematch between Berry Bishop and Jace Mason, with the winner joining Williams and Karlson on four points and the loser remaining on two alongside Saturn and Marcus. I think this match could be a low-key contender for match of the tournament when all is said and done, so be sure to join us tomorrow right here live.

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Tonight we return to the A Block to complete our third round of matches.

SD: It feels like the Free-1 is bubbling to a nice little climax right now.

MW: After this match each of the A Block competitors will only have two matches left and, with two points separating top from bottom, there is everything to play for tonight.

SD: Jace Mason said it yesterday- this match is a must-win for both of these two if they want to remain in contention for this block. The winners joins Karlson and Williams on four points while the loser remains with Marcus and Saturn on two. After this, Mason has Karlson and Marcus to face while Berry goes up against Marcus and Saturn. Neither have easy run-ins and both need these two points for sure.

MW: Of course this is a rematch of what I think of as one of our best non-main-event matches of the year this year. These two met over what was then Jace Mason’s Freedom Championship on our first Road to Free-1 II event and Berry walked away with the victory. Can she do the same today, Steven?

SD: We all know that she can, Mason more than anyone. She has two pinfall victories over Jace Mason this year, each of them with Checkmate. Berry needs only to hit Checkmate and Mason is out. I don’t believe anybody has ever kicked out of Checkmate before in FPW and I don’t think that will start tonight.

MW: So Mason simply has to avoid Checkmate?

SD: That’s one thing he’ll have to do. He’ll also have to make sure that he finds a way to keep Berry down. In their last meeting he didn’t manage to hit Extra Credit nor did he manage to keep that half-crab locked in for long. He can out-wrestle Berry, but he needs to take control early on or she’s going to get him again.

MW: Let’s go to someone who’s always in control: Dasha Banks.



“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final A Block contest of round three. The following match-up is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, currently sitting in third place in the A Block with two points and a total match time of forty-five minutes and thirty-five seconds, the current Freedom Champion, from New Haven, Conneticut, she is The Bombshell… Berry Bishop!”



The fans cheer for Berry as ‘The Entertainer’ begins to play and she emerges through the curtain. She bows deeply to the fans and then straightens up with a smile, the Freedom Championship bouncing on her waist as she takes her usual hopscotching path to the ring. She reaches ringside and plays the ring apron as she climbs onto the apron and into the ring via somersault. Berry then stands and bows to the fans before giving them a wink and a smile as she settles into the corner, both hands holding her Freedom Championship.



“And her opponent, sitting fourth in the A Block with two points and a total match time of fifty-one minutes and twenty-eight seconds, he is a former Freedom Champion, hailing from Seattle, Washington. He is The Eternal Student… Jace Mason!”



The intro to ‘Afterlife’ plays before Mason emerges through the curtain to a loud cheer from the fans. He holds a pose for a moment as pyro goes off around him before looking out at the crowd and smiling before making his way down the ramp, slapping hands and actively trying to get the crowd behind him. Mason climbs up onto the ring apron and climbs the turnbuckles, standing with one foot on the top and one of the middle before raising his right fist and dropping into the ring. He looks across at Berry and focusses on the Freedom Championship for a moment as the official takes it from her and hands it to the timekeeper.



A Block: Berry Bishop (2) v Jace Mason (2):



As the bell rings, Mason quickly moves forward and offers a hand to Berry, who shakes it straight away. As she goes to pull away, Mason maintains his grip on her hand and tells her that it won’t be the same this time before letting go. Berry backs away before the two begin to circle one another, a duelling ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ and ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant breaking out. As the chant goes on, they lock up, Berry taking Mason’s arm immediately and wringing it before kicking his left hamstring out, forcing him to drop to a knee. Berry then lands a hard kick to the chest before letting go of the arm and grabbing a headlock, taking Mason over and holding him there for a few moments.



Mason resists, managing to hook his legs up into a head scissors, which Berry tries to kick her way out of, but Mason doesn’t let her. Instead, he pushes up and cranks her neck, forcing her to stretch out a leg and find the bottom rope. Mason stands quickly and whips Berry into the ropes, looking for an early Extra Credit, but Berry elbows her way free and aims a roundhouse kick, which Mason catches and forces her down, trying to set her up in a half-crab. Berry manages to scramble to the ropes and Mason breaks the hold, the two of them locking eyes as Berry gets up with her back to the ropes.



MW: Jace Mason looking for that early control as you suggested Steven.

SD: Berry got on top of him for a while, but one thing about Jace is that he finds a way to break up periods of control. You won’t find someone dominating him for long in a match.

MW: And the early attempts at Extra Credit and the half-crab signs that he’s concerned about Berry?

SD: Perhaps. I think they’re signs that he wants to lower his total match time. It’s already high after the match with Aaron Williams and he won’t want another long match with the significant chance that it may come into play later in this tournament.



Berry and Mason circle one another again and lock up for a second time. Berry tries to take the arm again, but Mason rolls through into a drop toe-hold, taking Berry down and looking for the half-crab again. Berry, however rolls onto her back and kicks Mason away. He hits the ropes and looks for a penalty kick, but Berry drops down and takes him down with a drop toe-hold of her own. She takes the ankle and looks for an ankle lock, which Mason is able to counter by standing and connecting with a big enzeguiri. Mason then lifts Berry and connects with a spinning kick to the gut. He kicks out her knee and looks for a low dropkick, but Berry dodges. She connects with a spinning kick to the gut of her own as Mason stands and then she kicks out his knee before looking for a shining wizard, but Mason drops back and then catches her in a schoolboy roll-up, 1-2-no. Berry escapes.



MW: Mason close to having this one there and then.

SD: I remember a very similar exchange between these two in their first match. Mason said that he’s been scouting Berry and he may well have been looking for that shining wizard and have been ready with that roll-up in the bag.

MW: Mason living up to his moniker of ‘The Eternal Student’.



Both of them make it up to their feet and Mason maintains control, forcing Berry into the corner and connecting with a series of knife-edged chops before pulling her out of the corner and setting her up for a vertical suplex. He lifts her and looks for the falcon arrow, but Berry reverses, dropping down and looking for a running bulldog, only for Mason to catch himself and shoves Berry off into the corner. As she staggers backwards towards him, Mason connects with a dropkick which sends Berry into the corner. As she lies with her head slumped against the bottom turnbuckle, Mason runs at her and drives a knee into the back of her head. He pulls her out of the corner and makes a cover, 1-2-no. Berry kicks out.



Mason stands, pulling Berry up with him, and he takes her leg, looking for a dragon screw, only to be countered by an enzeguiri. Berry quickly pulls herself up and hits the ropes, managing to connect this time with the shining wizard as Mason tries to get to his feet. Berry makes a deep cover, 1-2-no. Mason manages to kick out this time. Berry is quick to stand, waiting for Mason to sit up, and she delivers a buzzsaw kick before making another cover, 1-2-no. Mason again manages to kick out. Once again Berry is quick to get to her feet, but she doesn’t wait for Mason, instead pulling him up and connecting with an exploder suplex which sends Mason over towards the corner. Berry looks up at the turnbuckles for a moment before stepping through the ropes and climbing them, waiting for Mason to stand.



MW: We don’t see this very often from Berry Bishop.

SD: I’m not sure what exactly she has in mind here, but I doubt Jace Mason will be prepared for it.

MW: Perhaps that’s what she’s thinking- change it up as she knows that he’s been spending time coming up with counters for what he’s seen before.



As Mason turns, Berry leaps down from the turnbuckle, catching herself on his front, spinning and connecting with a big time monkey flip which sends him half-way across the ring. Berry scrambles over to make the cover, 1-2-no! Jace gets a shoulder up. Berry stands again, calling for Jace to get up. As he stands, she hits the ropes and looks for a headscissors takedown, but Jace catches her, holding her up by the legs for a moment before dropping one and snapping in the half-crab. Berry cries out as Jace wrenches her knee, but she manages to wriggle her way out from under him and then tries to reach up and pull him down into a small package.



Mason manages to roll through, pulling Berry up with him and delivering a hard falcon arrow. He then shakes off the damage that’s been done so far and looks towards the turnbuckles, climbing up to the top and delivering a big shooting star press. He holds for the cover as he lands, 1-2-no! Berry manages to get her shoulder up. Mason then stands, pulling Berry up with him before taking her down with a snapmare. He backs up into the ropes and looks for a penalty kick, only for Berry to duck down. As Mason comes back on the ropes, she stands and connects with a Spanish fly out of nowhere! Berry makes a cover, 1-2-no! Mason kicks out of his own move.



MW: Berry Bishop using some Extra Credit to almost score the victory.

SD: She’ll have seen Jace using the Touchstone Takedown and looked to give him some of his own medicine.

MW: It’s a move that she and Jerry have made famous but it’s something Jace Mason has been doing for some time in FPW.

SD: But it’s perhaps a little disrespectful to use someone else’s move against them, Watson.



Berry stands, a little shaky on her feet, and Mason pulls himself up on the ropes. She moves over to him quickly and whips him across the ring, catching him in position for a Northern Lights suplex, only for Jace to counter with a DDT. He stands and stalks Berry before leaping onto the middle rope and connecting with a disaster kick. Berry staggers away and Mason stands, stalking her. As she turns, she aims a half-hearted kick at him and catches her leg and immediately connects with a dragon-screw. He lifts her leg and looks to lock in the half-crab again. Berry resists, trying to kick her way out of his grip, but Mason turns her anyway, sitting deep as Berry struggles to escape the hold. Half of the fans chant for her to tap while the other chant for her to keep fighting, but Berry seems to be struggling, Mason sitting so deep that she can barely move from the middle of the ring.



Berry tries to hook an arm around Mason’s leg, but he keeps checking to avoid her grip, making sure he doesn’t allow her to find a way to escape. With a big effort, she manages to push herself up, possibly capitalising on some Free-1 fatigue from Mason, and start to slowly crawl to the ropes. Mason senses that she’s getting close, but, instead of transitioning to a new hold like he did in their previous match, he stands up straighter and drags Berry back across the ring towards the middle. The Berry fans in the crowd go quiet while the Mason supporters cheer the move. Berry drops back down and seems to have little fight left, but she manages to feign a grab at his right leg and, while he’s distracted, catch his left one, pulling it out from under him and freeing her leg.



MW: Genius escape from Berry Bishop there.

SD: As we’ve come to expect. Ever since taking up training in grappling from the man who’s working with her brother at the moment, she’s shown a massive uptick in her technical prowess.

MW: But Jace Mason must have done a fair amount of damage to her knee with that hold. She might not be able to connect with those dangerous kicks.

SD: That’s surely one of Mason’s aims, alongside the submission of course.



Mason turns to Berry, who’s pulling herself up on the ropes, and moves in. He turns her around and looks to set up an STO, but Berry manages to lift her legs up and catch Mason into a crucifix bomb, holding for a cover, 1-2-no! Mason just gets free. Both of them scramble to their feet and aim roundhouse kicks at one another, each connecting at the same time, sending the other staggering. Both then come back in, Berry aiming a forearm only for Mason to duck under it and connect with a spin kick to the gut. He kicks Berry’s leg out and comes back to her with a low dropkick to the head, connecting this time. He then pulls her up and sends her into the ropes, looking for Extra credit, but Berry uses her elbows to escape once more.



Mason reels away and Berry coils, aiming for Checkmate. Mason turns and she unleashes Checkmate, but he manages to catch it and make a quick transition into another half-crab attempt! Berry cries out with the pain as Mason torques her knee, but he simply sits deeper and deeper into the hold. Just as Berry looks like she’s about to tap, she manages to find a bit of extra effort, pushing up and scrambling towards the ropes. Mason sees this and tries again to walk her back into the middle of the ring, only for Berry to use him standing up as a chance to wriggle free and connect with a hard forearm strike to free her leg.



She makes it up to her feet only for Mason to strike with a gamengiri. Berry staggers off towards the ropes and Mason leaps up, looking for the disaster kick, but Berry connects with a high kick to his back as he rests on the middle rope. Mason begins to drop but Berry catches him into a snap German suplex, bridging for the cover, 1-2-no! Mason just escapes. Berry stands, coiling herself up again. As Mason stands and turns, she uncoils for Checkmate, but Mason tries to catch it again and transition again into the half-crab. Berry, however, manages to block the transition, moving in close and pulling Mason in for a Northern Lights suplex, bridging again for the cover, but only on one leg, 1-2-no! Mason barely escapes again.



MW: These two providing a masterclass in counter- and counter-counter-wrestling.

SD: This is their third meeting in the last couple of months. They know each other’s styles very well.

MW: Berry is adapting in the ring to Mason’s counters. She’s impressing a lot here.

SD: I agree. The improvement in Berry Bishop even since their last encounter is palpable. She’s one of the fastest learners I’ve come across in wrestling.



Berry and Mason stand, eyeing one another across the ring for a moment before Berry leaps up onto the middle rope and looks to catch Mason with a disaster kick. Mason ducks, Berry lands hard on the mat, and Mason stalks her, before leaping up onto the middle rope and delivering his own disaster kick. Berry staggers and Mason sends her into the ropes before delivering Extra Credit. Berry rolls away and Mason scrambles to make the cover, catching her and hooking the leg, 1-2-no! Berry manages to get her foot on the bottom rope. Mason stares at the official in disbelief as the Berry fans cheer loudly.



Mason stands, a new look of determination coming over his face. He reaches down to take the leg but Berry grips the bottom rope and climbs to her feet. She looks for an enzeguiri, but Mason ducks, only for Berry to land on her feet and hook her foot over her knee to free herself. She aims a roundhouse kick at Mason which sends him staggering before pulling him in and spinning for the Berry Buster, making a quick cover, 1-2-3.



Winner: Berry Bishop (22:42).



MW: And it’s Berry Bishop who emerges victorious!

SD: She had to pull a lot out to beat Jace Mason. He gave her as good a fight as anyone has, but Berry proved herself once again to have enough to defeat Mason.

MW: This mini-rivalry between the two is turning out a little one-sided.

SD: I don’t know about that. Berry has picked up three victories now, but none have been dominant. Mason easily could have won this match if a couple of little things had gone his way and not hers.

MW: Either way, Berry Bishop, the Freedom Champion, is your winner and she advances to four points.



Berry stands and has her arm raised. She grips the Freedom Championship as she flexes her knee while Mason looks on from the turnbuckles. Berry limps over to him and extends a hand, which he grasps, lifting himself out of the corner. The two of them shake hands as Mason tells Berry that he’ll get her one day before leaving the ring. Berry stands and celebrates as the fans applaud her warmly.



MW: So with three matches each, we have… has Berry gone second now?

SD: Berry Bishop is in second place due to having the tie-breaker over Aaron Williams. She sits behind Elizabeth Karlson as the only person to have beaten her in this Free-1.

MW: And Mason remains in fourth?

SD: He does. He has the tie-breaker over Saturn who has it over Marcus.

MW: With Berry v Marcus, Saturn v Williams and Mason v Karlson as our next round, who do you see taking control in the A Block?

SD: I honestly don’t know. I could see everyone being locked up at 4 but I could see us having three on six and three on two. If I have to call it now, I’d say Marcus beats Berry to tie them up at 4, Saturn beats Williams to tie them up at 4 and Karlson beats Mason to go to 6.

MW: Well this A Block is truly anybody’s still. The B Block not so much. Tomorrow we will see a Free-1 first as Danica Jane substitutes for Clutch McCloud who, for whatever reason, refuses to face Artemis Evans.

SD: And this is a big match for both. Evans can really stay in the mix with a win while Clutch has to get two points or be eliminated.

MW: We look forward to having you with us for such a big match tomorrow night!

[Jim Houston]

A video package plays to start the show, featuring some of the biggest moments from last year’s Free-1:



MW: This could be very bad news for Tommy Storm!

MW: What a contest!

SD: Did you see what he just did?

MW: That’s sickening! That’s absolutely sickening!

MW: What a move from Marcus Allen Jones!

MW: Jerry Bishop overcoming the odds still in this match!

MW: Jerry Bishop did it! Jerry Bishop, the man written off as a joker, a clown, by so many, has managed to beat the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion! This match goes to show that you can have fun and still be a good wrestler, that you can be a little light hearted sometimes, that maybe you don't have to always take life so seriously. Jerry Bishop just overcame the odds and showed everyone just how talented he truly is!

SD: That man is super-human!

SD: He’s dead! He’s got to be dead!

SD: Dessius is about to completely ruin Azazel’s back.

SD: That’s why he’s our champion, Watson! He can’t be beaten!

MW: Well that for me has to be the best match I've seen in the Free-1, possibly in the entirety of Freedom Pro Wrestling this year.

MW: Graham Baker is bleeding. He’s bleeding here.

SD: Azazel tried to use his… whatever it is… to escape but he couldn't do it. Baker still has the Emergency Landing locked in!

MW: Graham Baker has taken Azazel all the way to a draw!

MW: What a sequence of moves and counters this is!

SD: What just happened?

SD: I don’t believe what I’m hearing!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones now controls his fate going into the final round of A Block matches.

MW: What a reversal from Adam Thompson!

SD: They have eight minutes left to break each other’s arms or die trying!

MW: Excalibur! Excalibuuuuuuuuuuuuuur! One………. Two………. Thre- oh my God Graham Baker kicked out!

MW: And what a mirror image it is. Confirmation has come through that time has indeed run out. Graham Baker and Adam Thompson have drawn!

SD: Last time, Baker resisted Azazel enough for the three count after The Night to be a second too late. Now it's Adam Thompson who holds off Graham Baker.

MW: What an effort from both of these men. Neither held back. Neither man wanted the draw as it guaranteed nothing but elimination for Adam Thompson and an agonising wait for Graham Baker. I thought both men had it won at different times today but it wasn't to be for either man.

MW: I don’t believe it! Clutch has pinned the FPW Champion! Marcus is eliminated!

MW: Jerry is about to lose his arm.

SD: But he's not giving up. MDE either needs to force the submission or survive another three minutes.

MW: He did it! Jerry Bishop did it!

SD: No he didn't! The bell rang. It was a draw.

MW: I'm sure he counted to three before the bell was rung.

SD: I heard the bell ring before the count.

MW: The official and the time keeper are having a conversation here. I think… they've ordered a replay. Here's the official’s hand coming down for the three count. Yes! There's the three count just before the bell rings!

MW: These men could not be more evenly matched.

SD: Genius from Jerry Bishop!

SD: For Graham Baker, hardcore doesn't mean using weapons. For Graham Baker, hardcore is a state of mind. A state of mind I think he's getting into now

MW: An Ejection Seat! Off a ladder! Through a table!

SD: Somehow. Some way. Jerry Bishop lives. And this match goes on.

MW: I couldn't have put it better myself. Both men thoroughly deserve this standing ovation they're getting here. But only Graham Baker can hoist up that trophy which says he is the Free-1 winner.



The video ends with a shot of Graham Baker holding the Free-1 trophy high before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome back to freedomprowrestling.com and the Free-1. Yesterday we completed the A Block third round of matches and now we get to the B Block.

SD: And a very interesting match-up we have tonight.

MW: When this block was first announced, one of the first things we heard was Clutch McCloud’s refusal to wrestle Artemis Evans on gender grounds. Since then, he’s announced Danica Jane as a replacement who will wrestle her very first match in a must-win match for Clutch.

SD: It’s an interesting strategy. He’s facing one of the best in the company and he’s sending in someone who’s wrestling her very first match. I know that Danica Jane has been training hard for this match with Clutch himself, but he can’t be confident of getting a win tonight.

MW: And as I said, this is must-win for Clutch, isn’t it?

SD: It is. He’s on zero points right now and must win all of his remaining matches to be in with a chance- albeit a slim one- of winning the B Block.

MW: Can Evans afford a defeat tonight or is it must-win for her too?

SD: Now this is where it gets complex. If Evans loses tonight she’s on two points still, which means she’s four behind Jerry with two to go. She needs to win both of those matches and then she’d need some help from draws down the line as she couldn’t win in a three- or four-way tie involving Baker and Botiatus, which is what she’d end up with if she got to six points alongside Jerry. Let’s call this a must-win match for Arty.

MW: With the stakes so high, is she at an advantage facing Danica Jane over Clutch McCloud?

SD: Of course! This is Jane’s first match. She’ll be a breeze for Arty.

MW: But she’ll also be a mystery. How can Artemis Evans prepare for someone she’s never seen wrestle- nobody has ever seen wrestle, in fact.

SD: That’s the only downside. But Artemis Evans is too good to lose to an untested rookie in her first match. Evans wins and that’s all there is to it. Clutch has cost himself a possible block win with this decision.

MW: It sounds like we’ll have an easy night tonight then, but let’s see. Here’s someone who always makes it look easy: Dasha Banks.



“Welcome to the final third-round match in the B Block. Tonight’s contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, currently sat in fourth place in the B Block with two points and a total match time of thirty-three minutes and forty seconds, from Manchester, England, The Glory Huntres… Artemis Evans!”



The white queen logo appears on the tron and the word ‘Checkmate’ rings out around the arena. ‘Hammer to Fall’ begins to play and Artemis Evans steps through the curtain to a chorus of boos. She smirks as the boos get louder and then holds her arms out as pyro goes off on either side of her. As the last of the pyro burns out, Evans begins to swagger down the ramp, talking trash into the camera about having a night off. She walks to ringside and climbs up onto the apron before jumping over the top rope and moving over to the corner, stepping up on the turnbuckles and posing with her arms out and her head held back as the fans continue to boo her loudly.



“And her opponent… representing Clutch McCloud, who sits in fifth position in the B Block with zero points and a total match time of thirty-four minutes and twenty-six seconds, she is making her Freedom Pro Wrestling debut, hailing from Los Angeles, California. Accompanied to the ring by Clutch McCloud and Richard Crowley; this is… Danica Jane!”



‘This Fire Burns’ begins and the fans boo as Clutch and Crowley step through the curtain. After a slight pause, Dania Jane steps through wearing wrestling gear with a similar colour scheme and theme to Clutch. She makes her way down the ramp stretching out her neck and then bounces at the end of the ramp for a few moments before sliding into the ring. She looks across at Evans who raises an eyebrow dismissively and smirks at her. Clutch and Crowley climb into the ring and stand with Danica, Clutch massaging her shoulders as the official checks her over.



B Block: Artemis Evans (2) v Danica Jane (representing Clutch McCloud- 0):



The bell rings and Danica comes out of the corner ready to tie up with Evans, but Evans stays resting in the corner and giving her a dismissive look. Danica beckons Evans forward but Evans doesn’t move, asking the official if Dania is really who she has to face. The official signals for her to come forward and Evans sighs as she steps up to Danica. She maintains her dismissive look and turns away, only for Danica to grab her by the arm and whirl her around, striking her with a forearm. Evans turns her head and touches her fingers to her mouth before turning back to Danica. Danica strikes her again but Evans drives a hand into her face and shoves her down to the mat to a chorus of boos.



“You sent her in for you? Come and face me like a man,” Evans calls to Clutch on the outside. Danica stands and calls for Evans to come and lock up. Evans sighs again as she moves across to the middle of the ring and the two of them do lock up, Evans driving Danica back into the corner straight away. She continues pushing, Danica arching her back with the pressure as the official counts and forces Evans to break her grip. Evans breaks the grip but slaps Danica across the face, leading to more boos for the former Women’s Champion. She backs up and comes to rest in her corner again, extending her arms to Clutch before sitting on the middle rope and holding the ropes open for him to get into the ring, telling him that it’s not too late.



MW: Artemis Evans not too impressed with her opponent tonight.

SD: And she’s right not to be. Clutch McCloud should be in that ring with Arty right now.

MW: He doesn’t seem to have any interest in possibly getting beaten by a woman. But it doesn’t look like Danica Jane- in her first ever match remember- is likely to get much from Evans.

SD: Arty can beat her whenever she wants to. She just doesn’t think she should have to. And, once again, I agree with Arty.



Danica comes forward to the middle of the ring and calls Evans forward again for another lock-up. Evans sighs again and goes to lock up, but Danica ducks under a fairly lazy lock-up attempt and looks to lock in a headlock. Evans quickly takes the wrist and transitions into a hammerlock. “You think you can wrestle with me?” she calls as she takes the wrist further up Danica’s back. Danica cries out and Evans releases the hold, shoving her forward, Danica landing on her knees. Evans backs away again and points to Danica while looking at Clutch. Clutch stands passively while Crowley looks more than a little concerned.



Danica stands and turns, walking straight up to Evans and getting in her face, Evans shoving her away again, only for Danica to come back with a shove of her own, sending Evans back a step. Evans looks at Danica with a look of anger and floors her with a discus forearm. Evans stands over Danica and places a foot on her chest for a cover, 1-2-no. Danica gets a shoulder up. “Big mistake, Dani,” Evans calls down to her before leaning down and lifting her up. Evans pulls Danica into a butterfly suplex before pulling her up again into a neckbreaker. She makes another cover, not hooking a leg, 1-2-no. Danica again kicks out.



MW: Danica Jane at least showing some fight here.

SD: She’s delaying the inevitable. Arty is playing with her.

MW: Maybe so, but she shouldn’t be too cocky. We’ve not seen anything from Danica yet to suggest she could win this match, but who knows what Clutch has taught her.

SD: Whatever he’s taught her, it’s no use when she’s in the ring with someone so much better and more experienced than she is. Arty can win this match whenever she chooses.



Evans pulls Danica up by the hair this time, the fans continuing to boo, and hooks her arm, lifting her into a vertical suplex position and then dropping her with a brainbuster. Evans rolls away and stands, looking down again at Clutch and asking if he wants to tag himself in. She then turns back to Danica, who is trying to pull herself up using the ropes. Evans helps her up to her feet before driving a knee in her gut and then connecting with an axe kick. Evans rolls Danica over and looks for another cover, 1-2-no. Evans lifts Danica’s shoulders off the mat with a smile on her face as the crowd continue to boo her.



“I’m not going to make it that easy,” she tells Danica. “After I’m done, you’ll never want to get back into a ring again.” Evans lifts Danica up and connects with a Sky-Walker. Danica lands limp on the canvas and Evans smirks down at her before turning to Clutch. “I’m up for a swap whenever you like. You might want to jump in sooner rather than later,” she tells him before climbing the turnbuckles. The fans go quiet in anticipation as Evans leaps down for a moonsault, but a loud cheer breaks out as Danica Jane rolls out of the way!



MW: She’s got some life left in her. And now Evans is down.

SD: Oh Danica Jane is going to regret that!

MW: Maybe not. She’s up on her feet and she has this crowd behind her.



Danica stands and, as Evans gets to her feet, she runs at her and takes her down with a running clothesline. Danica hits another before taking Evans down with a swinging neckbreaker. The fans cheer as Danica makes the cover, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out. Danica stands and moves in again, but Evans drives a hard knee into her gut and Danica drops to her knees. Evans hits a hard kick to the chest and Danica drops down. When she pushes herself up again, Evans drives her head into the mat with a snap DDT. Evans makes a cover, hooking the leg this time, 1-2-no! Danica barely gets a shoulder up, much to the delight of the fans.



Evans looks down, taking the match seriously at this point. She pulls Danica up and sets her in position for a Guillotine Strike, but Danica, showing impressive athleticism, flips over to her feet behind Evans and then connects with a kick to the back. Evans turns right into a belly to belly suplex and Danica makes another cover, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out. Danica scrambles to her feet and ducks an attempted lariat from Evans, connecting with a Pele kick to stagger Evans. She then looks for an enzeguiri, but Evans ducks and then catches her head, delivering a quick Guillotine Strike. Evans makes the cover, 1-2-……….. Crowley pulls the official out of the ring and, as he does, Clutch slides in, connecting with a Technical Foul on Evans. The fans aren’t sure how to react as Danica makes a cover, hooking both legs as the official slides back into the ring, 1-2-3.



Winner: Danica Jane (11:55).



MW: I don’t… Danica Jane wins it.

SD: She cheated!

MW: And these fans really don’t know whether to cheer the fact that Artemis Evans lost or boo the fact that Clutch McCloud cheated to earn two points.

SD: Evans had this match won.

MW: Well that nobody can deny. But Richard Crowley pulled out the official and allowed Clutch to get the cheap shot on Evans. She didn’t even see that Technical Foul coming.

SD: She cheated! Damn it she cheated!

MW: That’s the first time you’ve been angry about cheating, Steven. Just win the match… that’s your motto isn’t it?

SD: But… but… Arty…



Clutch and Crowley raise Danica’s hands as she stands, looking quite a lot worse for wear. Evans sits up, holding her head and staring a hole in Clutch as he, Danica and Crowley leave the ring and back away up the ramp to an eerily quiet sound from the crowd.



MW: Danica Jane picks up the two points tonight. While she did have her moments in that match, Artemis Evans will feel truly robbed, perhaps robbed of her chance to win this tournament.

SD: I’d better… ok… I’m ready to do this now. So Evans and Clutch both have two. For Clutch, he has to beat Baker and then beat Shihei. He also needs Baker and Evans to beat Jerry and Shihei and Evans to beat Botiatus. That would leave Clutch, Baker, Evans and Jerry tied on six points, and Clutch and Baker would be 2-1 against the others with Clutch having the tie-breaker by defeating Baker.

MW: That’s a lot of ifs and buts for Clutch to win this thing.

SD: It is. Evans… well she needs to win her two remaining matches and get a lot of help. It’s a travesty that she’s not on four points right now, but that’s by the by.

MW: With our next set of B Block matches being Botiatus versus Go Shihei, Jerry Bishop versus Artemis Evans and Clutch McCloud versus Graham Baker, how do you see the B Block looking going into the final round?

SD: I’d say Baker beats Clutch- I hope he does after tonight- and Botiatus beats Shihei with Evans beating Jerry. That leaves Baker, Bo and Jerry with six points and a straight shoot-out between the three for the block.

MW: Well that’s for the future. As for tomorrow, we return to the A Block with Berry Bishop and Marcus Allen Jones, a match which I’m sure will have a lot of people salivating.

SD: A chance for Marcus at least to keep his half of the dream final alive.

MW: And the other half?

SD: Just effectively lost her chance tonight. Thanks for rubbing it in!

MW: Alright, I’m sorry, Steven… join us tomorrow as the Free-1 rounds the final bend towards the home straight.