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.



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: We are down to our final eight nights of the Free-1 and things are truly about to set themselves into place now. Welcome back to the Free-1!

SD: A return to the A Block and a chance for Marcus Allen Jones to start to rise to the top for his eventual victory.

MW: Of course tonight we have Marcus Allen Jones facing Berry Bishop. Marcus sits on two points and the bottom of the block and Berry is sat with four points in second place. This is a very important match for both of them.

SD: For Marcus, it’s win or go home. A loss today means he cannot win this block. For Berry, a win means that she is in pole position for this block and a potential Free-1 final with her brother.

MW: I’m sure you’re calling a Marcus victory tonight, but what does he need to do to get that victory?

SD: Ummmm… I’m hoping for a Marcus victory. He lost to James Saturn and he lost to Aaron Williams. On both occasions he tried to prove to everyone that he can win without needing anyone else’s help. Marcus is a very, very good wrestler but he needs a change in attitude. He knows he has to win this match and he has to win it at all costs. He must approach this match in this way. A win is the most important thing. If he can win it by playing fair, great, but if finds himself struggling, he has to find a way- whatever way- to win.

MW: I don’t know if Marcus wants to do things that way anymore, but we will see. How about Berry Bishop? She has two wins- both impressive- but how will she go about getting her third, and possibly biggest ever, win tonight?

SD: Berry has an advantage in this match I think. Marcus is a high-flier. When he flies, there is a great way Berry can counter him- kick him out of the air. If she does that, she will do a lot of damage to someone who will already have some self-doubt. I honestly think that Berry might win this match.

MW: A surprise call from you, Steven. Let’s get to the ring for someone who always gives us a surprise- in a good way- Dasha Banks.



“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to round four of the Free-1! The following contest is an A Block match-up and is scheduled for one fall, with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, sitting in second place in the A Block with four points and a total match time of sixty-eight minutes and seventeen seconds, the current Freedom Champion from New Haven, Connecticut, The Bombshell… Berry Bishop!”



‘The Entertainer’ plays and the fans cheer loudly for Berry Bishop. She steps through the curtain and bows deeply before hopscotching down the ramp, Freedom Belt bouncing with every jump. As Berry gets down to the ring, she plays the ring apron before somersaulting over the top rope. She lands in the ring and then turns to the fans, giving them one more deep bow and standing with a wink and a smile, then settling into the corner and taking off the Freedom Championship, holding it over her shoulder as she waits for her opponent.



“And her opponent, a former Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion sitting in sixth place in the block with two points and a total match time of seventy-three minutes and thirty seconds from Chicago, Illinois. He is the Smartest Man in Professional Wrestling… Marcus Allen Jones!”



‘Cult of Personality’ begins to play and Marcus is greeted with a mixed reaction, but his most positive yet. He stands at the top of the ramp before performing his usual backflip and landing in his trademark pose. As he stands, he leaps up into the air and makes his way down the ramp with a bit more energy than normal. As ‘I’m the smiling face on your TV…’ hits, Marcus pulls out the usual piece of paper, which reads: ‘2 matches. 2 wins. 4 points.’ He screws it up and throws it at the camera lens and then slides into the ring, climbing to the top rope and looking out at the crowd for a moment before backflipping back into the ring and giving Berry a smirk.



A Block: Berry Bishop (4) v Marcus Allen Jones (2):



The bell rings and Berry comes forward to offer a hand. Marcus looks at it for a moment before giving a slight nod and briefly shaking it. The two then lock up, Marcus gaining the advantage and driving Berry back towards the corner. As they reach the corner, she turns him and holds him against the turnbuckles. The official comes in and calls for a break, Berry backing away carefully. The fans applaud the clean break and then Marcus comes out of the corner, looking to lock-up again, but Berry ducks the lock up and connects with a roundhouse kick, sending Marcus down to one knee with a cry of pain.



The official comes to check on Marcus who kneels with a hand over his eye, and the crowd suddenly become restless. The camera picks up a figure climbing the guardrail and grabbing the Freedom Championship. They murmur in shock as the hooded figure climbs onto the apron and strikes Berry with the belt before dropping it and disappearing through the crowd again. Berry staggers and Marcus, who doesn’t appear to have seen anything, stands, looking at Berry and darting into trap her wrist and connect with Six Stars. He makes a cover, 1-2-3.



Winner: Marcus Allen Jones (2:02)



Marcus stands and celebrates but the crowd boo loudly. He looks out at them and then to the official, holding his arms out with a look of genuine confusion on his face. On the screen, the hooded figure appears half-way back in the crowd and Marcus finds him in the arena, staring out at him and holding out his arms again. The hooded figure pulls down his hood to reveal Dario with a big grin on his face. He pounds his chest and points at Marcus. “I got you, boss,” he calls as Marcus looks incensed. Marcus moves over to Berry and reaches down to help her up, but she pushes his hand away and looks up at him in disgust before rolling out of the ring. The fans boo some more as Marcus holds his head in his hands before climbing through the ropes and quickly heading up the ramp.



MW: This… this is very suspicious.

SD: Marcus took my advice! He knew he had to win by any means necessary and Dario did it. TakeOver is back!

MW: I… I’m not so sure. Marcus really didn’t seem to know what had happened and looks genuinely appalled at what has happened tonight.

SD: He’s always been a good actor.

MW: Well you know him better than I do but I don’t think that was a performance. I think Marcus is genuinely unhappy with this. Either way, he advances to four points with this win and Berry remains on four as the top of the A Block becomes even more clogged up.

SD: And just as importantly, Marcus’ total match time takes a big leap forward. This block is almost certain to have a tie at the top by the end and that total match time could come in very handy. More clever tactics from the master.

MW: Hmmmmmm… tactics or something else, Marcus has won this match. I guess there’s nothing left for us to do than to talk about tomorrow where we have Botiatus and Go Shihei facing off in the B Block.

SD: Indeed we do. There’s nothing to play for for Shihei, but for Botiatus, he can go level with Jerry and keep the pressure right on him with a win.

MW: I apologise for such a short show tonight, folks. I’m sure we’ll have something a bit more substantial and a lot more satisfying 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 Free-1 and a return to the B Block.
SD: People may often tell you that B Block stands for best block and that may not be true of this whole tournament but tonight I think it just might. This match ought to be excellent.
MW: Tonight we have Botiatus and Go Shihei in what I’m sure will be a very hard-hitting affair. Shihei may not have any points yet in this tournament but he’s impressed you, I believe, Steven?
SD: He has. He lost in interesting circumstances twice and on both occasions seemed to have the better of his opponents. He’s a true beast, an old-school Japanese destroyer in the vein of a Shinya Hashimoto and I think Botiatus will have to take him very seriously tonight.
MW: Bo started well in this tournament with a huge win over Graham Baker and then a victory over Clutch McCloud but a combination of an inspired Jerry Bishop and an arm injury caused by Baker and aggravated in his other matches led to his first defeat in the last round.
SD: And I’m sure Bo will be extra motivated to get his tournament back on track tonight but he’s got to be careful. Kate Mustang will surely know all about his arm injury and therefore Go Shihei will know about it. A man with his power could do a lot of damage to a bad arm.
MW: Will that be Shihei’s approach tonight, do you think?
SD: Possibly. Go Shihei is a one-note kind of wrestler. He’s a powerful beast who can lariat you out of your boots. That will always be his primary approach but he may well target the arm if he feels he needs to.
MW: And how will Bo manage to overcome such an injury?
SD: It won’t be easy for him. It will cause him to possibly struggle with some of his offense, especially that House Call elbow. But Botiatus seems the type to have a lot of different plans for a match and I’m sure he’ll feel fully prepared for this one.
MW: As we mentioned, Go Shihei has no points and is officially out of the running to win the block, but what about Bo? What does this match mean for his chances?
SD: He’s on four points, two behind Jerry. If he loses tonight, he’ll be eliminated with a Jerry victory over either Artemis Evans or Graham Baker, and two Baker wins will be enough to eliminate Bo too. He can still win with a loss tonight but there would need to be a lot of things which go his way for that to happen. He’d need to beat Evans to end up with six. He’d need two Jerry losses so he ended with six. He’d need Baker to lose to Clutch and beat Jerry so he’d end with six. That would mean total match time becomes the tie-breaker. However, if Clutch beats Shihei on the final night and ties them with six, then Baker would make it through due to having wins over Bo and Clutch. It’s a very specific set of circumstances for Bo to win the block with a loss and I don’t think he’ll have any intention of it coming down to that.
MW: I’m glad you’re on top of this.
SD: I’m kind of surprising myself with how on top of it I am.
MW: Me too. But here’s someone who’s always on top of things here in FPW, Dasha Banks.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Free-1 and to the B Block’s fourth round! The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, sitting in third place with fourth points and a total match time of seventy-three minutes and twenty-one seconds, from The Bay Area, California, this is… Botiatus!”

‘Famous’ begins to play as the foot of the familiar wide stone steps appears on the screen. The camera pans up to show the rest of the steps and then a set of columns in front of an Ancient Roman villa. The lights come back up as the song kicks into gear and ‘House of Botiatus’ appears on the screen. Bo emerges from the curtain with noticeably heavy strapping on his left arm and looks around the crowd who are mostly cheering for him. He walks down the ramp, holding out both of his hands to slap hands with the fans, before reaching the ring and climbing up onto the apron. He climbs onto the turnbuckle and kneels on the top, pointing down at the announce table as the lights drop. When a single spotlight hits him, he is standing and soaking in the cheers of a mostly pro-Bo crowd. The lights come back up properly and he drops back down into the ring, stretching himself out as he waits for his opponent.

“And his opponent, currently sitting in sixth place with zero points and a total match time of exactly fifty minutes. He is fighting out of Osaka, Japan and is accompanied to the ring by Kate Mustang: Holy Fury… Go Shihei!”

‘Fury, Oh Fury’ begins with the usual opening monologue and the lights go down. As the lyrics begin, the now-familiar red and white light bathes the arena and Go Shihei emerges alongside Kate Mustang. He surveys the crowd for a moment, some of whom are cheering while others are not so positive, before walking down the ramp with a purpose. Shihei beats his chest and slaps himself in the head as he approaches the ring before climbing straight in and staring down Bo, who returns his stare with equal intensity.

B Block: Botiatus (4) v Go Shihei (0):

The bell rings and the two men slowly come forward until they stand eye to eye. Bo gives Shihei a nod before pushing him in the chest. Shihei takes a step back and then steps up to Bo, pushing him in the chest and sending him a few steps backwards. Bo then runs to Shihei and looks for a shoulder tackle, but Shihei simply stands his ground. Bo calls for Shihei to try a shoulder tackle on him and Shihei hits the ropes and steamrolls Bo, taking him straight down. Bo gets straight back up again and begins to lay into Shihei with forearms, forcing Shihei back towards the corner, where he continues to drive forearms at Shihei and then drives knees into his midsection.

Bo wheels away with a roar to the crowd before running back at Shihei and connecting with a running forearm. Shihei staggers out of the corner and Bo pulls himself up to the top rope. He waits for Shihei to turn and then delivers a missile dropkick. Shihei hits the mat and Bo makes a cover, 1-2-no. Shihei kicks out. Bo, checking that Shihei doesn’t see, flexes his left arm before pulling Shihei up to his feet and whipping him into the ropes. As Shihei comes back to him, Bo looks for an snap back suplex, but Shihei stands his ground, instead turning a delivering a huge clubbing blow to the back.

MW: Botiatus may regret that.
SD: He started this match well. He needed to be intense and he certainly was. But he has to keep Shihei down. Whipping into ropes and the like creates separation and allows Shihei to build up speed. Botiatus doesn’t want him to do that.
MW: And now Shihei has Bo just where he wants him.

Shihei pulls Bo to his feet and tosses him into the corner, following up with a hard running lariat. Bo staggers out of the corner and then is floored by a lariat to the back of the head. Shihei rolls him over and makes cover, 1-2-no. Bo manages to kick out. Shihei pulls Bo up once again and lifts him for a vertical suplex, but Bo drives his knee into the top of Shihei’s head and drops down. He hits Shihei with an inverted headlock backbreaker and, with Shihei staggering, follows up with a stun gun. He makes a cover, 1-2-no, Shihei powers out at two.

Bo stands, waiting for Shihei to get to his feet and again flexing his left arm. As Shihei stands, Bo pulls him in for a vertical suplex but Shihei resists, widening his base and sinking lower so that Bo can’t lift him. Shihei reverses into a vertical suplex of his own, driving Bo down into the mat. Shihei then stands, pulling Bo up with him and throwing him across the ring with an exploder suplex. Bo tries to get to his feet straight away but he’s floored by a running lariat from Shihei. Shihei then pulls Bo up once again and clubs him across the back before setting up and lifting him for High Velocity. He bridges for a cover, 1-2-no. Bo kicks out again.

MW: Go Shihei is starting to take control of this one.
SD: He is. His superior power and, let’s be honest, superior physical condition right now, is really showing.
MW: How can Bo get back into this one?
SD: He needs to find a counter from somewhere and find something high impact. With one arm it’s not going to be easy for him.

Shihei stands and, with Bo still on the mat, hits the ropes before connecting with a huge running senton. He rolls Bo over again and makes another cover, 1-2-no. Bo kicks out once again. Shihei, a little frustrated, pulls Bo up and sends him into the corner again. He pauses for a moment before running at him and looking for a lariat, but Bo manages to move out of the way and Shihei crashes into the turnbuckles. Bo, an intense look on his face, lifts Shihei for a vertical suplex and dumps him on the top rope before hitting the opposite side and connecting with a sliding elbow. Bo pulls Shihei’s head through the ropes and drives his knee into his face as the crowd counts. As usual, Bo backs away after the ninth knee and then delivers a running knee strike for the tenth.

Shihei drops into the ring and Bo climbs through the ropes, standing on the apron. He leads the fans in a call of ‘H. O. B.’ and then goes to springboard, but has to pull out, grasping his bad arm which can’t help him to launch over the rope. Shihei takes advantage, standing and pulling Bo into an exploder to bring him back into the ring. Bo rolls over to the ropes and tries to pull himself up using his right arm, but Shihei charges at him and connects with a knee to the head. Bo drops down and Shihei draws a thumb across his throat. He sets Bo up for a powerbomb and pulls him up onto his shoulders before driving him down hard into the mat, stacking him up for a cover, 1-2-no! Bo just manages to get a shoulder up.

MW: Go Shihei seems to want to end this match.
SD: And we’re only nine minutes in. These Shihei matches are certainly intense.
MW: He’s an intense competitor. As we said with the Baker match, thirteen minutes will have felt like thirty, and I’m sure Botiatus is feeling it right now.

Shihei pulls Bo into position for another powerbomb, this time looking for the Dead Man’s Bomb. He pulls Bo up but Bo manages to fight him off, dropping down behind Shihei and rolling away. He pulls himself up on the ropes and, with Shihei coming towards him, manages to connect with a dropkick which sends Shihei down to the mat. Bo takes a moment to recover, still flexing his arm, before pushing himself up onto the top turnbuckle. Shihei turns and Bo leaps off at him, connecting with a blockbuster. He makes a quick cover, 1-2-no. Shihei powers out again.

Bo then transitions, looking to set Shihei into position for ADT. He traps the arms and bridges, Shihei grunting with the pain, but Bo loses his grip quickly, his arm not able to take the pressure of maintaining the hold. He stands, kicks out at the bottom rope in frustration, and instead waits for Shihei to stand. Bo then pulls him up, with difficulty, onto his shoulder, looking for snake eyes. He drops him on the top turnbuckle and then hits the ropes, looking for House Call, only for Shihei to use a double axe handle to block it. Bo reels away with pain shooting up and down his left arm. Shihei stalks Bo and connects with another huge lariat, making a cover, 1-2-no! Bo just gets his shoulder up.

MW: I don’t think this is looking good for Botiatus at the moment.
SD: His arm is clearly causing him a lot of trouble.
MW: Well he was cleared medically for this match, but he can’t perform some of his most important moves.
SD: Shihei needs to put him away before the adrenaline pumps enough that he finds one of them.

Shihei pulls Bo up into position for a powerbomb again, lifting him and driving him down into the mat. Shihei then holds on, pulling Bo up again and delivering another powerbomb, before pulling him a third time and delivering a spinning sit-out powerbomb. He holds for the cover, his powerful legs over Bo’s shoulders, 1-2-no! Bo barely gets a shoulder up. Shihei looks down at Mustang who signals for another, and Shihei pulls Bo up into position for yet another powerbomb. Bo, however, drops down to one knee and grabs hold of Shihei’s leg, refusing to be pulled up. Shihei responds with a series of clubbing blows to the back, striking over and over and over again until Bo is powerless to resist. Shihei then lifts him and drives him down with yet another powerbomb before stepping through the ropes and climbing up to the top. He looks down at Bo for a moment before delivering Year of the Toad. Shihei makes the cover, 1-2-3.

Winner: Go Shihei (13:52).

MW: Go Shihei wins his first points in this year’s Free-1.
SD: I don’t think there’s anyone in the world who could get up after that Year of the Toad. Bo must be a 2D shape now.
MW: Shihei was certainly impressive tonight, but Botiatus was far from one hundred percent. He’s feeling the pain from this Free-1 and I’m not sure he’ll be able to continue with that arm hindering him so much.
SD: He’s a fighter, Watson. He won’t want to give up. Bo will be here for his match with Arty, don’t you worry.

Shihei has his arm raised in the ring by the official and by Kate Mustang, who looks at the camera and calls out: “There’s a favour from me to you.” As Bo rolls under the bottom rope and staggers up the ramp, Mustang leads Shihei out of the ring as a number of fans applaud him.

MW: With that, Go Shihei earns his first points but he remains in sixth position.
SD: And Bo is now in the horrible position of relying on others. If Jerry Bishop wins in two days’ time, Botiatus will be eliminated from the Free-1, along, in fact, with everyone else in the block not named Graham Baker.
MW: And tomorrow we return to the A Block. After considerable controversy last night, we have a match which could be one of the best of this tournament as James Saturn faces Aaron Williams.
SD: A win for Williams puts him back at the top of the block but a win for Saturn means we have five people with four points going into the last round four match.
MW: I’m sure it will be an absolute barn-burner of a match as this A Block is really heating up. We’ll see you tomorrow 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 we’re here for the A Block and the penultimate A Block match before our final round: James Saturn versus Aaron Williams.
SD: The last few nights have been fascinating, but I’m looking forward to this. Two damn good wrestlers who I’m sure will have a damn good match.
MW: After what happened two nights’ ago, how do you think these two will react?
SD: With Marcus doing the right thing? I think both of these guys will be especially happy. Marcus is up to four points and surely a lock to get to six with TakeOver back behind him-
MW: I really don’t think they-
SD: With TakeOver back behind him, Watson. If Saturn and Williams also get six points, the winner of this match will make it to the block final. This match is huge!
MW: Well we don’t know if Marcus will get to six yet, so let’s not predicate this match on that happening. What are the possible permutations tonight- without thinking about what Marcus will do.
SD: Fine… if Aaron Williams wins, he goes to six and James Saturn is eliminated. Williams then would be guaranteed to win the block with a win over Karlson as nobody else would be able to hit eight points. For Saturn, a win means he joins the four others on four points and then… well, even I don’t know that.
MW: So this is a vital match for both men. How will they be approaching it?
SD: Aaron Williams has to go after Saturn’s knee. It’s damaged from his matches with Karlson and Mason and he’s already submitted twice. Williams isn’t much of a submission wrestler, but even if he targets it with strikes to limit Saturn’s offense, it’ll be the right thing to do. Saturn has to avoid his knee being targeted. Apart from that, I’d be looking to bait Williams into taking risks. We know that Aaron Williams will try things a lot of people wouldn’t, and Saturn needs to get him taking unnecessary risks and then capitalising when they go wrong.
MW: Well, I can’t wait to see this match unfold. But for someone who never goes wrong, here’s Dasha Banks.

“Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Night Seventeen of the Free-1! The following contest is an A Block contest and it is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, sitting currently in second place in the block with four points and a total match time of eighty-one minutes and thirty-two seconds, he is a two-time former Ring of Honour Champion and the former holder of championships all over the world. He hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, A Plus… Aaron Williams!”

‘I Still Believe’ begins and Williams steps through the curtains, leading the fans in singing along to the now-familiar music. He makes his way down the ramp still singing his heart out, slapping hands and pumping up the crowd, who respond very positively to him. He reaches the ring and moves all the way around it, slapping hands with every single person before stopping to pull out a Sharpie and hand it to a child to sign his knee pad. The camera pans in on the child writing ‘MAJ v AW = 5*’. Williams laughs and tousles the hair of the child that he calls ‘Mini Meltzer’ before climbing into the ring. He stands up on the top turnbuckle geeing up the fans and continuing to sing along to the music, before dropping down and shaking hands with Dasha Banks and the referee.

“And his opponent, sitting in sixth place with two points and a total match time of sixty-four minutes and six seconds, the current Young Lions’ Cup winner, from Portland, Oregon. The Paragon… James Saturn!”

‘White Knuckles’ begins to play and James Saturn swaggers out through the curtain to immediate boos from the fans. He watches the crowd for a moment with his typical smirk before mocking Williams by encouraging them to sing along to the song. This makes the crowd boo even more and a shot of Williams in the ring has him regarding Saturn with a bit of a frown. Saturn continues to mock Williams as he reaches ringside, running around the fans and offering his hand to them, but most don’t hold their out to him. When he reaches the same child who signed Williams’ knee pad, he pulls out a Sharpie of his own and offers it to the kid. The child is reluctant but goes to accept it as Saturn pulls it away and then throws it at him. The fans boo Saturn mercilessly before he slides into the ring to find Williams squaring up to him straight away. Saturn brushes past him and climbs up one turnbuckle to soak in the boos even more before dropping down and letting the official check him over.

A Block: Aaron Williams (4) v James Saturn (2):

The official calls for the bell and Williams steps into the centre of the ring, calling Saturn forward, unusually aggressively for Williams. Saturn stands back in the corner and regards Williams with disdain. Williams calls him forward again but Saturn continues to hold back, waiting for Williams to come to him. As Williams does come forward, Saturn steps through the ropes and drops down to the outside, a cocky smile appearing on his face as the fans loudly boo him. Williams stands in the ring and beckons him back in, but Saturn slowly walks around the ring. Williams appeals to the official, but Saturn doesn’t seem in any hurry to start the match. Finally, the official warns Saturn that he’s about to start a count, and Saturn steps back up the steps and into the ring.

Williams beckons him forward again, and Saturn moves in. However, as Williams goes to lock up, Saturn kicks him in the gut and clubs him across the back. With Williams down, Saturn hits the ropes and goes for a low dropkick before making a very early cover, 1-no. Williams kicks out with ease and gets quickly to his feet. As he stands, he’s met with a forearm by Saturn, who whips him into the ropes and then takes him down with a dropkick, slightly favouring his knee as he stands. Williams tries to get quickly to his feet but Saturn comes in again and cuts him off, driving his knee into Williams’ gut and then wringing his arm. He wrings it again and jerks on it a few times before driving a knee up into the shoulder and releasing Williams, who staggers towards the ropes. Saturn follows him up and dumps him to the outside.

MW: James Saturn with a strong start in this one.
SD: Excellent approach. The usually relaxed Aaron Williams was rattled by Saturn’s mind games and now Saturn has control of the match.
MW: Wouldn’t it be great if Saturn could just wrestle? He’s good enough to win matches without this kind of crap.
SD: To win some yes, but why win some when he can get an extra edge and win more?
Saturn steps through the ropes and drops down to the floor, landing a kick to Williams’ ribs. Williams rolls over and Saturn mounts him, driving forearms into his face. The official calls for Saturn to get it back into the ring but he ignores him and official begins his count.

1……….
Saturn pulls Williams up and drives him back-first into the edge of the ring.
2……….
Saturn then turns him and drives Williams back-first into the guardrail.
3……….
Saturn grabs Williams and whips him into the guardrail by the timekeeper, following up with a running clothesline which sends Williams into a seated position.
4……….
Saturn then puts the boots to Williams before turning away and talking trash to some of the fans.
5……….
Seeing Williams lying motionless, Saturn slides back into the ring and rests in one of the corners.
6……….
7……….
8……….

Williams pulls himself up and heads towards the ring, but Saturn sees him about to break the count and grabs the top rope, leaping over for a pescado, only for Williams to slide into the ring and Saturn to crash and burn to the floor. The fans cheer as Williams stands and looks down at Saturn before hitting the ropes and cartwheeling as he connects with a Sasuke Special to take Saturn down. Williams staggers and catches the guardrail to hold himself up before rallying the fans and dragging Saturn up to his feet. He whips Saturn into the guardrail and follows up with a big splash. Saturn remains standing so Williams backs away and follows up with another and then another. The official begins a second count as Williams is backing away again.

1……….
Williams lands another splash and Saturn drops down to the floor in a seated position.
2……….
Williams backs away, all the way over to the other side of the ring.
3……….
He then charges at Saturn and connects with a huge cannonball which leaves both of them down.
4……….
Saturn rolls away from the guardrail onto the floor and Williams pulls himself up, looking up to the ring. He stands up on the apron and readies himself, before deciding against it and instead looking up to the top turnbuckle.
5……….
Williams climbs up and looks down at Saturn, the fans gasping in anticipation.
6……….
Williams then launches himself off the top with a shooting star press to Saturn on the outside. After landing perfectly, Williams rolls away clutching his midsection.
7……….
MW: How on Earth are either of these men going to get back into that ring before the ten-count?
SD: We might be about to see our first ever double count out here in the Free-1!
8……….
Williams stirs, using the guardrail to pull himself up. He moves over to Saturn and drags him up as well.
9...
Williams drags Saturn over to the ring.
…
He shoves Saturn inside.
…
And Williams just makes it in in time. He makes a cover on Saturn, 1-2-no. Saturn manages to kick out. Williams stands, a little shakily, a then pulls Saturn up with him. He hooks an arm over him and pulls him up for a suplex, but Saturn drops down behind him, taking a few steps as his knee braces on impact. Williams turns as Saturn takes him down with a hard clothesline. Saturn takes a few moments to recover and Williams gets himself to his feet, moving over to Saturn but being hit with an inverted atomic drop before Saturn connects with an enzeguiri to send Williams to the mat. Saturn then leaves Williams on his back as he climbs up to the top rope, coming down with a hard elbow drop right to the small of the back.

Williams rolls away but Saturn quickly grabs him and looks to lock in Saturn’s Walls. Williams, however, kicks his way free and rolls over to the ropes. He slides under them and stands, striking at Saturn with a forearm. Saturn strikes back with one of his own but Williams quickly connects with a roundhouse kick and then pulls Saturn in for a suplex. He lifts him but Saturn drops down, both men on the apron. They exchange forearms once again and Saturn gets the better of the exchange. He then looks to go low and sweep Williams’ leg, but Williams jumps up and backflips to avoid the contact, landing on one knee. Saturn transitions into a shotgun dropkick to send Williams crashing into the ring post and then follows up with a double knee strike to crush Williams’ head.

MW: The official needs to check Aaron Williams after that knee strike!
SD: James Saturn with some lovely innovation there. Williams won’t be able to continue for long after that impact.
MW: Saturn should get him into the ring to make a cover.
SD: But he seems to have something else in mind here.
MW: I don’t like the look of this.

Saturn pulls Williams up. Williams can barely stand and he drops against Saturn, who holds him before shoving his head down and trying to trap his arms. The fans boo as they realise that Saturn seems to be going for a version of A Triple Plus. He lifts Williams but Williams manages to resist, dropping back down and freeing his arms. He threatens a backdrop but Saturn manages to block it, Williams then pushing himself free and standing opposite Saturn. Saturn aims a calf kick at Williams but he ducks and then kicks Saturn’s knee several times, causing Saturn to drop to one knee. Williams takes a moment to steady himself before springing into action, connecting with a destroyer to Saturn on the apron!

Saturn rolls limply into the ring as Williams rests on the apron. The fans stand and applaud the flurry of high-impact moves as Williams tries to make it to his feet. Seeing Saturn lying prone in the ring, Williams forces himself up and he stands facing Saturn. He leaps up onto the top rope and connects with a springboard swan-ton bomb, holding for a cover, 1-2-no! Saturn just manages to get a shoulder off the mat. Williams rolls away and takes a few moments, still holding the back of his head after it was crushed against the ringpost. The fans chant Williams’ name as he slowly stands, stalking Saturn. Saturn pulls himself up on the ropes and Williams moves in, hooking his arm and looking for a suplex again, looking to dump him down on the top rope. He lifts Saturn, but Saturn corkscrews down and turns it into a stunner. Both men drop down to the canvas as the fans continue to chant for Williams.

MW: This is a breath-taking match!
SD: Both men seem to want to out-do the other. Saturn has a cocky streak for sure and he’ll be desperate to prove that he can out-do Aaron Williams, but Williams seems desperate to match Saturn. It looks like Saturn’s antics before the match have got to Williams, and that could prove fatal.
MW: We say this a lot, but the first man to their feet here will have a big advantage.
SD: And this usually happens after about twenty minutes. This match has been going for just over fifteen!
MW: Williams has wrestled a lot of minutes in this tournament, the most of anybody by a long way at this point. Will that come into play as this match goes on?
SD: It has to. He’s been going for almost one hundred minutes over his four matches. That’s a huge amount of time compared to Saturn who’s about to hit eighty, let alone some of the B Block like Arty with just forty-five minutes.

Both of them struggle to their feet and stagger towards one another, Saturn connecting with a forearm much to the chagrin of the crowd, but Williams connecting with one of own, much to their pleasure. They continue to exchange forearms before progressing to chops, Saturn reeling away after one particularly hard chop. Williams moves quickly in and looks for that suplex again, but Saturn drives a knee into his gut and lifts Williams, dumping him onto the top rope instead. Saturn then looks at Williams and gives the crowd a cocky smirk before climbing up to the top rope. The crowd boo Saturn as he looks down at Williams and then leaps off with another elbow drop to the back. Williams drops back down into the ring and Saturn quickly locks in Saturn’s Walls.

Williams cries out in pain, his back obviously damaged from those elbows as well as general wear and tear. Saturn sits deep and Williams struggles against him, but he can’t push up. With the hold taking its toll, Williams looks to Saturn’s weakness and grabs at his knee, jamming his fingers into it as Saturn grimaces in pain. Saturn briefly steps off the knee and Williams seizes his moment, dragging himself quickly to the ropes and forcing the break. Saturn reluctantly drops the legs only to lift Williams instantaneously and wring his arm again, jerking it and driving his own shoulder into it repeatedly. Williams drops to a knee and Saturn lands a hard kick to his chest before delivering one to his back and then pulling him up.

Saturn climbs to the top rope, walking across it and looking to leap off for his chop when Williams darts forward and shoves his leg off the ropes. Saturn drops down and remains draped over the top rope as Williams frantically climbs the turnbuckles, stepping out onto the top rope before delivering a 450 splash to Saturn, sending him crashing down into the ring. Both men lie for a moment before Williams crawls over to Saturn and drapes an arm over him, 1-2-no! Saturn just gets a shoulder up again.

MW: I thought Williams had that one!
SD: But his propensity for high-risk offense that damages himself as well as his opponent meant that he couldn’t make the cover quickly enough.
MW: But now he’s up and he looks ready to put Saturn away.
SD: I’m sure Saturn will have something to say about that!

Williams pulls Saturn up and sets him position for a powerbomb. He lifts him and immediately drops him down with a powerbomb backbreaker. Saturn arches his back and then rolls towards the ropes. Williams moves in again and pulls him up, setting him in position for a suplex. He lifts him and pauses, giving Saturn time to twist and drop behind Williams. Saturn, however, lands on his knees. Williams turns and aims a buzzsaw kick at his head, but Saturn ducks it and pulls Williams in for a schoolboy, 1-2-no! Williams barely escapes. Saturn scrambles to his feet and cuts Williams’ off from standing with a thrust kick as he kneels. Williams sways backwards and backs up, hitting a running knee and then quickly climbing up to the top rope. He comes down with a Saturnsault, but Williams gets his knees up!

Saturn grabs his gut and rolls away as Williams rolls towards the ropes and pulls himself up. He stalks Saturn and then pulls him in, lifting him and quickly dropping down with a brainbuster to the knee. Williams makes a cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no! Saturn just gets his shoulder up. Williams looks down in surprise but he doesn’t wait for long. He pulls Saturn up and looks for the A Triple Plus, trapping one arm but not quite getting the other. Saturn manages to pulls away and he ducks a kick from Williams, replying with a superkick of his own! He makes a cover, 1-2-3.

Winner: James Saturn (23:00).

MW: Saturn finds the victory!
SD: That superkick is deadly. Absolutely deadly. He hit it out of nowhere against Marcus to beat him and did the same here. Saturn joins the other four in the block on four points.
MW: A huge victory for James Saturn and a huge defeat for Aaron Williams.

Saturn stands and has his arm raised. He looks a lot worse for wear as he looks down at Williams and smirks, seeing Williams still lying flat on the mat. Saturn then steps through the ropes and drops down, slowly walking up the ramp with a limp but still a cocky swagger.

MW: Saturn picks up a big victory tonight and now we only have Jace Mason versus Elizabeth Karlson to come in this round of A Block matches.
SD: And if they tie things up with everyone on four points, I have no idea what is going to happen in this block.
MW: It’ll be a big opportunity for Karlson of course.
SD: It absolutely will. She has the chance to go top of the block and face Aaron Williams, who surely won’t have much left in the tank.
MW: But tomorrow we have a big B Block match. Jerry Bishop faces Artemis Evans in a match which could eliminate everyone except for Graham Baker and Jerry Bishop.
SD: That’s if Jerry wins of course. If Arty wins then it’s all to play for in the final round of matches.
MW: We will see you all tomorrow for what will be one of the biggest matches of the Free-1 so far.

[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 one and all to the business end of the Free-1.

SD: Tonight we’re with the B Block and things might well really come clear at the conclusion of this match between Jerry Bishop and Artemis Evans.

MW: Indeed they might. For Jerry, a win makes it very simple. It’s him or Baker. Graham Baker needs two wins. Jerry needs Baker to lose or draw one, quite possibly against Jerry himself. For Evans, a win keeps her two behind Jerry but doesn’t make things easier for her. A win for Evans tonight will make it easier for Graham Baker and will keep Botiatus slightly alive.

SD: Artemis Evans is playing for pride tonight. She’s already said that she’s extremely pissed off with Clutch McCloud and Danica Jane, and will be looking to gain revenge for the way that he eliminated her from the Free-1. She’s looking to take out her anger on Jerry Bishop tonight.

MW: I’m sure MDE, Jerry and Bobby will have seen that and will have come up with a plan to exploit it. How would you expect Jerry to approach this match tonight?

SD: I’d expect him to be nervous. Let’s remember that his win over Botiatus was really his only clear-cut win of the year so far. Yes, he’s three from three but the possible rewards he could get from winning this match- a Baker loss in two days’ time to Clutch would mean Jerry wins the block without needing to enter the ring for his final match- those rewards will put pressure on Jerry and I don’t know how he’ll handle that.

MW: And Evans? She said she wanted to take out all of her anger on Jerry. Was that for real or was it designed to get in Jerry’s head?

SD: At the time I’m sure it was very much real. Now? I’m not so sure. Arty is good at getting in people’s heads and maybe she’s playing some mind games with Jerry.

MW: Well, let’s go down to someone who’s always in people’s heads: Dasha Banks.



“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Free-1. The following contest is a B Block match-up which is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, sitting top of the block with a perfect record of six points and a total match time of sixty minutes and three seconds, he hails from Kansas City, Missouri and is known as The Joker… Jerry Bishop!”



‘The Comedian’s Gallop’ begins to play and Jerry walks out side by side with MDE on his left and Bobby O on his right. He has a focussed look on his face as he walks down the aisle, Bobby as usual slapping hands with the fans while MDE whispers in Jerry’s ear. Several young fans call to Jerry as he walks past but MDE gives them dismissive looks and they shrink back into their seats looking unhappy. Jerry climbs into the ring and briefly goes up to the top rope to acknowledge the fans before dropping back down and bouncing up and down for a moment. MDE throws some jabs at him and Jerry ducks and weaves while Bobby talks him up.



“Checkate,” comes over the speakers as the usual white queen logo appears. ‘Hammer to Fall’ begins to play and the fans boo loudly as soon as Evans steps through the curtain. She surveys the crowd dismissively and grins as she spreads her arms and pyro explodes. She walks down the ramp and gets in the faces of several fans before she comes to one who seems to be a Jerry Bishop superfan. He’s roughly eight years old and is wearing a Jester t-shirt, a homemade Jerry mask and is holding what looks to be a Jerry Bishop action figure. Evans looks at him and holds out a hand. He looks at her for a moment before holding out his own but Evans simply grabs the action figure and snaps its head. The fan looks devastated and starts to cry and Bobby dashes out of the ring to confront Evans. He looks for Jerry, but finds that MDE is telling him to hold back. He stands in the ring as Bobby tries to comfort the crying young fan. Evans continues to smirk and climbs onto the apron before vaulting into the ring and climbing the turnbuckle, holding out her arms as the fans boo her more loudly than ever.



B Block: Jerry Bishop (6) v Artemis Evans (2):



The bell rings and Evans calls across to Jerry, reminding him of her offer to leave the ring and take the count out. He looks briefly down at MDE and Evans then darts in, catching him with knee strikes to the gut which drive him back into the corner and then driving her forearm repeatedly into his face before he slides down to a seated position. Evans backs away and holds out her arms again, trash talking the fans who boo her loudly. As Jerry turns, Evans comes back over to him and drives a knee into his gut again, pulling him into the middle of the ring and then looking for an axe kick, only for Jerry to pull back and then roll her up with a schoolboy, 1-2-no. Evans escapes.



Both get to their feet and Evans moves quickly to Jerry, who ducks under her arms and grabs her in a waistlock, running her into the ropes and rolling back with an O’Connor roll, 1-2-no. Evans escapes again, but Jerry doesn’t release her, instead maintaining his grip on her waist as she stands, transitioning into an attempted running bulldog, which Evans counters herself by running Jerry into the corner. Jerry, however, steps up onto the turnbuckles and flips backwards over Evans, landing on his feet. She turns and he hooks her head under his arm and steps up on the ropes, connecting with a tornado DDT. He makes a deep cover, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out again.



MW: Jerry Bishop with a strong start in this one.

SD: Arty may still be a little angry from her loss to Danica Jane. She needs to find her cool head quickly as the gameplan from the Bishop camp is clearly to get under her skin.

MW: I’m amazed that Jerry has kept his cool after Evans’ vile act towards that young fan earlier.

SD: Arty obviously wanted to provoke Jerry but MDE kept him calm. This is the version of Jerry who could genuinely win this tournament.



Jerry pulls Evans up and whips her into the corner. He stands back and then runs at her, connecting with a running dropkick and then pulling a staggering Evans in for a running bulldog. He makes another cover, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out again. Jerry then stands and stalks Evans as she pulls herself to her feet. She turns and he looks for a rolling elbow, but Evans catches it and makes a quick transition into a hammerlock before transitioning again into position for a butterfly suplex, which she delivers. Jerry rolls away from her and she kicks him further, rolling him under the ropes to the outside, where she follows. MDE and Bobby quickly move over to Jerry but the official warns them to stay back or risk disqualification.



Evans pulls Jerry up and drives his head into the edge of the ring before grabbing his mask and the back of his tights and throwing him head-first into the guardrail as well. Jerry lies on the floor holding his head as Evans puts the boots to him. She backs away to taunt the crowd and to get into Bobby’s face before turning back to Jerry. He’s risen to his hands and knees and Evans moves in to set up a Code Red. MDE yells to Jerry, who manages to crawl through her legs, only to stand and turn right into a discus forearm. Jerry staggers and then turns into a jumping spin kick which sends him sprawling against the guardrail. Evans turns to the official, who has been keeping a close eye on Bobby and MDE, and orders him into the ring to count. She follows closely behind.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Bobby stands over Jerry and encourages him to get to his feet. MDE tries to pull him up but Bobby holds out an arm to stop him, wanting Jerry to do it by himself.



4……….

5……….



Jerry stands but, just as he turns towards the ring, Evans dives over the top rope with a spaceman plancha to take out Jerry, Bobby and MDE. A number of fans cheer the move as the official quickly slides from the ring to check on all four of them, but Evans shoves him away and pulls Jerry to his feet, rolling him back into the ring and sliding after him, making a quick cover, 1-2-no. Jerry manages to kick out.



MW: She could easily have had him after that!

SD: I haven’t seen Artemis Evans pull that one out before. If it’s even possible, I think I like her more now than I did before!

MW: I doubt that’s possible.

SD: But it’s possible for her to have this match won very soon.

MW: I won’t disagree with that.



Evans watches with a smirk as Jerry struggles to pulls himself up using the ropes. She moves back in and drives a knee into his gut again, setting up the Code Red again and this time hitting it, holding on for another cover, 1-2-no. Jerry again manages to kick out. Evans stands and pulls Jerry up with her. Smirking again, she connects with a parallel snapmare before hitting the ropes. The fans boo as they know what is coming- a penalty kick. Evans makes another cover on Jerry, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets his shoulder up. Evans looks down at him for a moment before half-lifting his head and driving a hard forearm into it. She then looks up to the top rope and climbs the turnbuckles, coming down with a moonsault… but Jerry, after a call from outside the ring, managed to roll out of the way and Evans crashes hard onto the mat.



The fans cheer the near miss and Jerry tries to take his chance, getting to his fee-t but staggering a few steps as Evans gets to her hands and knees. Jerry pulls her up and connects with a Russian leg sweep before rolling under the bottom rope. The fans make noise in anticipation as Jerry springboards and strikes Evans with a forearm. Jerry makes a cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out again. Jerry stands, pulling Evans with him, and looks for the parallel snapmare, but Evans counters, flipping onto her feet and connecting with a Sky Walker! She drops down and makes a quick cover as the fans hold their breath, 1-2-no! Jerry gets a shoulder up again.



MW: What a great counter from Evans!

SD: She gets even more brilliant every single day!

MW: But now she needs to find the killer blow. We know that you can’t keep Jerry Bishop down for too long.

SD: The problem for Arty is that she knows Jerry will have a counter for most of her big moves. That’s why she’s been pulling different things out in this match. But can she sustain the surprises on offense enough to get Jerry in position for a Guillotine Strike?



Evans stands, shaking off the damage she’s sustained. She watches as Jerry gets to his feet before aiming another discus forearm. Jerry ducks and aims a rolling elbow of his own, only for Evans to duck and catch him for an inverted STO. Jerry, however, shoves Evans away and looks for a step-up enzeguiri, but Evans ducks, and goes for a snap DDT, only for Jerry to roll free and look for a schoolboy, which Evans rolls through, this time managing to connect with the snap DDT. She makes a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets a shoulder up again. Evans bangs the mat with frustration as she yells for Jerry to stay down.



She then stands, pulls Jerry up with her and hooks an arm over his head for a vertical suplex. She lifts him, but Jerry manages to drop down, dropping behind her onto the apron. As Evans turns, Jerry drives his shoulder into her gut and delivers a slingshot DDT. He collapses on the canvas next to her and, while MDE yells at him to make the cover, he struggles to move. When Jerry finally does manage to roll towards Evans, she rolls away onto the apron and he’s left clutching at thin air. Jerry pulls himself up using the ropes and reaches over to Evans to pulls her up, but she jams a thumb into his eye and he reels away. Evans quickly climbs through the ropes and delivers a running calf kick before springing to her feet while holding the top of her head. She climbs up the turnbuckles again and delivers a moonsault, holding for a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry somehow manages to get a shoulder up again.



SD: Come on referee!

MW: His hand didn’t come down for the three-

SD: That’s because it was a slow count.

MW: I’m not sure-

SD: It was slow. But surely Arty has this won now? One Guillotine Strike and it’s over!



Evans pulls Jerry up and looks to set him up for a Guillotine Strike. Jerry is quick to struggle and pull free of her grasp, connecting this time with a step-up enzeguiri to send Evans staggering across the ring. Jerry runs at her and connects with a running blockbuster before rolling through and pushing up onto the middle rope. As Evans turns, he leaps and connects with a middle-rope blockbuster, floating over quickly to make the cover, 1-2-no! Evans just gets her shoulder up and the fans are left gasping at how close Jerry was to having the match won.



He stands and staggers a few steps, looking out to the fans with a determined look in his eyes. He pulls Evans up and connects with a parallel snapmare. He the hits the ropes and completes the Touchstone Takedown with a hellacious penalty kick, falling onto Evans for the cover, 1-2-no! Evans barely gets a shoulder up again. The fans gasp again and Jerry holds his hands to his mouth before looking down to MDE and Bobby. They both call for the Last Laugh, and Jerry stands, stalking Evans. As she turns, he looks for a kick to the gut but she catches it and drives her forearm into his face again. Dropping the leg, Evans pulls Jerry into a vertical suplex position before dropping him with a brainbuster. She rolls onto him for a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just manages to get his shoulder up.



MW: Was that?!

SD: No! It was two again!

MW: I haven’t seen so many close counts in one match for some time.

SD: And Arty is back in control. She just needs to get Jerry into position.



Evans stands, staggering, before pulling Jerry up. She looks to set him up for the Guillotine Strike again, but he manages to twist free of her grip. He connects with a rolling elbow which sends Evans into the corner. Jerry follows up with a running dropkick and Evans staggers into the middle of the ring. Jerry then looks at her before quickly rushing in and connecting with a kick to the gut, then trapping her arms. As he does, Bobby leads the crowd in a big, booming laugh, causing Jerry to pause for just a second. The pause is just enough for Evans to free her arms and twist free, into position to deliver a Guillotine Strike. She brings her arm down but Jerry twists free at the very last second and manages to deliver a snap Last Laugh. He makes a deep cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-3.



Winner: Jerry Bishop (19:05).



Jerry springs up and raises his arms as Bobby slides in and envelops him in a big hug. MDE isn’t so delighted, following behind and giving Bobby an icy stare.



MW: Jerry Bishop moves onto eight points!

SD: And now he’s one Graham Baker slip-up from having this block won.

MW: If Baker loses on Tuesday to Clutch McCloud, Jerry has it. But Jerry knows that his fate is in his own hands now. Even if Baker beats Clutch in an instant, Jerry will need a draw or a win against Baker to win the block.

SD: You’re one hundred percent correct, Watson. There are now only two possible B Block winners and you’re looking at one of them.



Bobby and the official raise Jerry’s arms in the ring as Evans rolls away, struggling to walk back up the ramp. Bobby tells Jerry to wait in the ring while he rolls out and goes to the young fan who was upset earlier. The fan is now cheering for his hero and Bobby lifts him up and over the guardrail to more cheers from those around them. Bobby leads the young fan into the ring and over to Jerry, who lifts the kid up and celebrates with him. Meanwhile, MDE stands just over Jerry’s shoulder, regarding the whole scene with a very unhappy look on his face. Bobby glances back and gives MDE a smirk for a moment.



MW: Jubilant scenes for Jerry Bishop after a big win tonight.

SD: And tomorrow we could see more big celebrations in the A Block.

MW: We sure could. Tomorrow we have Elizabeth Karlson, four points to her name and looking to go two clear at the top, taking on Jace Mason, two to his name looking to tie the entire block up at four points apiece. That match-up has incredible potential and I would not want to miss it.

SD: If Karlson wins then the permutations for the final night become much easier. But a Mason win… I don’t want to think about it!

MW: We will see you all tomorrow, folks!

[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 very last A Block match-up before our final A Block night in five days’ time. We have Elizabeth Karlson versus Jace Mason in a crucial match-up tonight.

SD: Crucial is absolutely right. Elizabeth Karlson is currently sat at the top of the block with four points, but there are four behind her on the same number. Jace Mason sits last with two, but he can level is all up tonight and give us a very interesting final A Block night where any of these six could still come out victorious.

MW: We won’t go into all of the permutations right now, but suffice to say that this match is one of the most important of the tournament. Karlson has won both of her victories via submission so far, submitting Berry Bishop in her first match and then James Saturn in her third. Can she make Jace Mason tap out tonight?

SD: She can. But it will be harder work that it was for her against Saturn last time out. He already had a knee that had been softened up by Mason himself whereas Mason comes in with as clean a bill of health as he can at this stage in the tournament. Karlson will have to work hard to get Mason into a position where he’ll tap out.

MW: And how about Jace Mason? He managed to tap out James Saturn but hasn’t got it done against Aaron Williams or Berry Bishop. Will he stick to the technical style he’s been going with in this tournament or will he adapt given his opponent?

SD: I think he needs to adapt. Karlson is a very good technician, probably the best in FPW. Mason is good, but I think he’s the next tier down. He can beat Elizabeth Karlson, but if he goes heavy on the technical wrestling to look for the submission then I think he’ll be out-gunned.

MW: Well let’s get straight to the ring and someone who is never out-gunned: Dasha Banks.



“Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the closing A Block match of the fourth round. Ths following contest is scheduled for one fall with a time-limit of thirty-minutes. Introducing first, currently sitting on top of the A Block with four points and a total match time of sixty-four minutes and thirty-nine seconds, she is the current FPW Women’s Champion and she hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is The Renegade… Elizabeth Karlson!”



‘Turn It On’ begins and the lights flicker on and off as Karlson enters the arena. She shows her Renegade logo on the back of her jacket before turning and moving down the ramp, her title slung over her shoulder as she slaps hands with the relatively small number of fans who hold their hands out. Karlson climbs into the ring and stands on the top rope, only to be met with a largely negative reaction from the fans. She looks around with a bit of a surprised look on her face before climbing the next turnbuckle. She gets a similar reaction before shrugging her shoulders and dropping down. She puts her title under the turnbuckles and stretches out, not climbing the other two turnbuckles as a loud ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant breaks out.



MW: These fans seem to have chosen their favourite for tonight.

SD: Jace Mason is a very popular wrestler in FPW. Plus a Mason win tonight makes for an incredibly exciting night of action on the final night. I think that’s playing into this.

MW: It may well be.



“And her opponent, the longest-reigning former Freedom Champion in FPW history. He sits in sixth place in the A Block with two points and a total match time of seventy-four minutes and ten seconds. From Seattle, Washington, this is The Eternal Student… Jace Mason!”



‘Afterlife’ begins to a loud cheer from the crowd. As the intro ends, Mason steps through the curtain, pyro exploding on either side as he stands with one foot forward. He takes a look around the crowd and can’t resist a smile as he heard their loud reaction for him. He slaps hands with fans on his way down the ramp and keeps his eyes on Karlson as she watches him on his way to the ring. Mason climbs onto the apron and then up onto the turnbuckle, standing with feet on the top and middle ropes and raising his right fist before dropping into the ring. Karlson watches him and nods as he gets checked over by the official.



A Block: Elizabeth Karlson (4) v Jace Mason (2):



The official calls for the bell and ‘Let’s Go Mason’ rings out around the arena. Mason nods in approval while Karlson looks around and then at her opponent, who shrugs and comes forward, offering his hand. Karlson looks down at it and moves forward to shake it, but stops short, grabbing the wrist and wringing the arm, bringing it up Mason’s back and then transitioning into a headlock. She takes Mason over before rolling into a cross-arm breaker. Mason scrambles to the ropes and Karlson breaks the hold, standing over him for a moment as he looks up, cradling his arm.



MW: Elizabeth Karlson seems to think she has something to prove to Mason.

SD: And to these fans. They want to get behind Mason and she’s going to take that as an insult given her strong performance so far in this tournament.



Mason stands and the two circle one another for a moment before locking up. Mason takes the advantage this time, locking in a headlock and taking Karlson over, but she gets her legs up and locks in a headscissors. Mason tries to kick his way free but Karlson holds on and then pushes up, cranking on Mason’s neck. She quickly releases her grip and transitions into a rear naked choke. Mason struggles before dropping down as Karlson cranks the hold further. As Karlson sits further back, Mason pushes himself up and flips over her, looking to make a cover, but Karlson continues to roll, sending them both into the ropes and forcing the break.



Karlson stands and looks down again at Mason, who rests in the ropes and looks up with a determined look. She beckons him forward and he stands, circling her again. Karlson tries to dart in and take his leg a couple of times but Mason manages to keep himself out of her grasp. Karlson darts in again and manages to wrap an arm around his left leg, but Mason drives his right knee into her and counters with a single underhook suplex. He stands and looks down at Karlson as she rests against the ropes. Mason then calls her forward and Karlson stands, the two of them staring each other down for a few moments as the fans cheer loudly.



MW: Mason showing some of his skills to Karlson there.

SD: But she’s already demonstrated her technical advantages. Mason can’t get embroiled in a battle of technique.

MW: I’m sure he realises that. He’ll know how good Karlson is and I’m sure he’ll be prepared with his own gameplan.



The two of them lock up again and Mason looks for a headlock, only for Karlson to slip out and into a hammerlock again. Karlson releases the arm and whips Mason into the ropes, dropping down to trip him but he steps over her. As he comes back to her, Karlson leapfrogs him and Mason hits the opposite ropes, holding on as Karlson leaps up. She pulls out of whatever she was going to try but Mason takes the advantage, coming in with a spinning gut kick. He then kicks out Karlson’s leg and hits the ropes before delivering a low dropkick to her head. He makes a quick cover, 1-no. Karlson easily kicks out.



As Karlson tries to get to her feet, Mason stands close by and aims a kick at her left knee, but she catches it. Karlson then hits a dragon screw leg whip and Mason drops to the mat, Karlson following up with a hard kick to the back. Mason arches his back and Karlson cocmes swiftly into his knee, stomping on it and then lifting it up before dropping her own knee on it and wrenching it hard. Mason cries out with the pain as he knee gets more and more twisted. Karlson releases her grip but she holds his ankle down with her right foot before jumping up and stomping her left foot down onto the knee. Mason rolls away and Karlson lands another hard kick to his ribs.



Mason grabs the middle rope for support as Karlson backs away and hits the ropes. She aims a low dropkick, but Mason moves and Karlson goes straight through the ropes, landing on the outside. Mason stands and watches Karlson stand, before delivering a wrecking ball dropkick through the ropes and landing on his feet. He takes a couple of tender steps on his left leg for a moment before pulling Karlson up and whipping her into the far guardrail. She hits it with a loud crash as Mason follows up with a running high knee. He holds on to Karlson and stands on top of the guardrail before pushing off and connecting with a tornado DDT.



MW: Mason with some great innovation there!

SD: That has to hurt!

MW: And now he wants to get Karlson back into the ring. This could be it here.



Mason pulls Karlson to her feet and rolls her back into the ring. He follows up and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Karlson just gets her shoulder up. Mason stands, again taking a couple of steps on his left leg, before pulling Karlson up with him. He connects with a snapmare and then runs at Karlson, looking for a penalty kick. However, in one movement, Karlson catches the leg and rolls through into the Chronic Illness! Mason cries out in pain and writhes as he tries to find his way to the ropes. Karlson wrenches the knee as much as she can but Mason manages to use his strength advantage to reach the bottom rope. Karlson takes a few extra seconds before breaking the hold and then rolls away, taking a moment before continuing.



Karlson stands and stalks Mason as he pulls himself up, flexing his knee as he does so. Karlson comes in with a hard leg kick, sending Mason staggering into the middle of the ring, before delivering another and then another. Mason drops down to one knee and Karlson hits the ropes before connecting with a spike hurricanrana. She makes a cover, 1-2-no! Mason gets a shoulder up. Karlson doesn’t waste any time, grabbing the arm and looking for an arm bar before reaching back and grabbing the left leg as well. She drives her knees into Mason’s back as she pulls back on both the leg and arm. He grimaces with the pain again before using his right leg to reach the ropes again.



MW: This isn’t looking great for Jace Mason here. Ten minutes in and he’s close to being on one leg already.

SD: I told you that Karlson was superior in this department.

MW: And she’s proving that to any doubters tonight.

SD: Mason needs to break up her attacks and find a way to take advantage of the damage from that DDT earlier in the match.



Karlson breaks the hold and stands, stomping on the left leg before lifting Mason to his feet. She connects with a pin kick to the gut before hitting the ropes and aiming for a chop block. Mason, however, senses it coming and leaps up, coming down with a double stomp on the back of Karlson’s neck. He rolls away and clutches his knee but the fans urge him on as they see Karlson is hurt. Mason crawls over to the ropes and pulls himself up before turning towards Karlson, who is also just getting to her feet. Mason connects with a superkick to the gut before dropping Karlson with another DDT. Mason then looks up at the top rope and points to it, fans cheering him on once again.



He climbs slowly through the ropes before pushing himself up to the top, using his right leg as much as he can. The time it takes him to get to the top gives Karlson enough time to follow, and she drives a shoulder into his left leg to drop him down to a seated position. She climbs up and lays in a couple of forearms before pushing her way up to the top rope. She leaps up, looking for a frankensteiner, and sends Mason hard into the ring. Karlson rolls over to make a cover, 1-2-no. Mason manages to kick out and Karlson goes right back to his knee. She looks for a knee bar but Mason fights against it, kicking out with his right leg to stop her from completing her grip. Karlson then grips his other leg and looks for a knee bar on that leg instead. Mason tries to kick out with his left leg and this allows Karlson to grip it and quickly lock the knee bar on.



SD: Amazing intelligent wrestling from Elizabeth Karlson.

MW: And now Mason is in serious trouble.

SD: She baited him in perfectly and now his knee is going to be causing him a lot of pain and doing a lot of damage.

MW: Can Mason find a way to the ropes this time?

SD: He’s struggling. I think we may be about to see Mason tap out.



Mason tries to roll over but Karlson shifts her weight perfectly each time and doesn’t let him get away. He keeps trying to drag himself over to the ropes but Karlson continues to shift her weight to resist each of his attempts. Mason then sits up and tries to force Karlson’s legs apart, but she maintains her strong grip. Finally he reaches forward and flails his right fist, catching Karlson in the head and forcing her to release her grip for a moment. It’s just enough for Mason to wriggle free and he pulls himself under the bottom rope and drop to the outside.



Karlson looks down at Mason as he holds his left knee. She smirks before leaving the ring and grabbing the knee. Mason tries to free himself but Karlson wraps his leg around the ring post and pulls back. Mason cries out and Karlson releases her grip, taking a few steps back. With Mason’s leg still in position, Karlson steps towards him and aims a hard stomp to his knee, but Mason manages to pull his leg away and Karlson stomps the ringpost, her leg bracing for a moment. She reels away and cries out in pain, limping off to the other side of the ring as she holds her own knee.



MW: That was costly for Karlson.

SD: It was. And Jace Mason will have seen that. Can he find a way to lock in that half-crab?

MW: Now he has an opening.

SD: But does he have the strength left in that leg to take it?



Mason pulls himself up using the ring apron and he looks across the ring to Karlson, who looks back at him. They each slowly pull themselves into the ring and regard one another, each looking down at the other’s knee. Karlson tries to dart in but Mason spins away and aims a kick at Karlson’s knee that she avoids by millimetres. They circle one another, injured legs kept as far back as possible. Mason tries to come in for the leg this time and gets a brief grip on it, but Karlson rolls free and looks to dive in for the knee bar, but Mason avoids the grip, standing and gripping her leg himself. He looks to turn her for a half-crab, but Karlson quickly makes it to the ropes.



Mason drops her leg and then leaps onto the middle rope, steadying himself for a moment before connecting with a disaster kick. Karlson hits the mat as Mason grabs his knee after the effort of the springboard. He drags himself up and moves over to Karlson, looking for the half-crab again, only for Karlson to kick him away with her free leg, landing one of her kick to the point of his knee. Mason drops down to one knee and Karlson leaps up, connecting with a codebreaker and then rolling away and holding her knee. She forces herself up to her feet and moves back to Mason, looking to trap his legs and lock in the Texas cloverleaf that won her the match against Saturn. Mason resists, pushing himself up and forcing his legs between hers to get to the ropes. He pulls himself up and Karlson aims a vicious kick to his leg which he manages to leap over. He lands with a grunt of pain before pulling Karlson in for an STO.



MW: Jace Mason with a big time STO!

SD: He needs to make a cover after that.

MW: But wait… surely he’s not… he’s climbing to the top rope.

SD: Oh this really is high risk for Mason. I’m not sure this is wise.

MW: But Mason… shooting star press! Connects. Cover… one… two… thre- no!

SD: Shoulder up!

MW: Elizabeth Karlson gets her shoulder up and this match is still going on.



Mason holds his hands to his head before rolling away from Karlson. He pounds on his knee and pulls himself up to his feet. He stalks Karlson as she too tries to stand. Mason pumps up the crowd and they cheer loudly as he whips Karlson across the ring, setting himself for Extra Credit. Karlson hits the ropes and then comes back towards Mason but her knee gives out before she reaches him. Mason moves in quickly and grabs the leg for the half-crab, but Karlson quickly sweeps his legs with her free leg and stands, pulling Mason in to lock in the Texas cloverleaf.



MW: How did Karlson-

SD: She was baiting him in. Brilliant from our Women’s Champion!

MW: And now that cloverleaf is locked in deep.

SD: There’s no escape for Mason. He’s got to tap.

MW: If he taps out here his Free-1 is over.

SD: He has no choice!



Mason cries out in pain and tries to push himself up to get to the ropes, but Karlson sits so deep that he can’t push up. Instead, he reaches back and drives an elbow into her bad knee, causing Karlson to lose her grip for a second. Mason drops his legs and then hooks an arm around her ankle, making a transition into his own half-crab! Mason wrenches hard on the knee and sits down deep, Karlson this time crying out in pain.



MW: And now it’s Karlson trapped with nowhere to go.

SD: But Mason can’t hold on to this for long, surely? His knee is shot.

MW: He doesn’t need to hold for long. Just for long enough to make Karlson tap. Remember that she still has something to fight for in this tournament.

SD: Maybe that will be on her mind.



Mason sits down deep but Karlson looks for the same counter as he made. She reaches for his knee but Mason lifts his leg, releasing some of the pressure but not allowing Karlson to break out. She tries to use that to get to the ropes herself, but Mason plants his foot again and sits even deeper, Karlson no longer in position to reach back to attack the leg. Mason sits deeper and deeper, arching his back to really torque the knee, just like he did against Saturn. Karlson reaches out for the ropes one more time before finally succumbing and tapping out.



Winner: Jace Mason (25:36).



MW: She taps out! Jace Mason wins!

SD: And now we’re all tied up going into the final round of matches in the A Block.

MW: Before considering that, let’s take a moment to reflect on this match. Jace Mason took a ton of punishment and managed to come through, very cleverly keeping that hold locked in against Karlson’s resistance at the end.

SD: It was a great performance from a very good wrestler. Jace Mason levels up the block and comes through when he really needs to.



Mason rests against the ropes as the official raises his arm. He accepts the applause from the fans before looking down at Karlson, who is pulling herself up on the ropes too. He moves towards her and extends a hand. She looks down for a second before shaking it and leaving the ring to Mason.



MW: Elizabeth Karlson gracious in defeat today.

SD: She still has a great chance to win this block in five days’ time, but her chances have taken a hit today.

MW: Well talking of winning blocks, we could have a B Block winner this time tomorrow.

SD: We could. If Graham Baker doesn’t manage to defeat Clutch McCloud, Jerry Bishop will have the B Block locked up. Only a Baker win can keep him in with a chance, and he also needs to defeat Jerry to win the block.

MW: Clutch seems eager to demonstrate that he’s a man to be taken seriously despite already being eliminated, so Baker won’t have an easy time of it tomorrow.

SD: Graham Baker has been getting increasingly desperate for victories and I think Clutch could play to that tomorrow. Baker will need to be very careful not to get caught and not get disqualified tomorrow.

MW: Well I’m sure you’ll be as excited for that one as we are. We’ll see you for it 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 to the final night of the penultimate round of Free-1 matches. Tonight is our final single-match night before the two block finales on Saturday and Sunday and for Graham Baker the stakes could not be higher.

SD: They certainly couldn’t. This is very simple. A win for Baker means that he goes into his final block match with Jerry Bishop needing a win to secure the block. A loss tonight and Jerry Bishop takes the unprecedented achievement of winning this block before the final night.

MW: And Baker had strong words about this match last night after Elizabeth Karlson’s defeat by Jace Mason.

SD: He certainly did. Baker is driven by getting another match against Davey Jones and he seems to think that winning the Free-1 is the only. I’m inclined to agree. He’s a man with everything to lose.

MW: He also talked about getting respect.

SD: He did. Baker seems to be doing everything he can to motivate himself at the moment. I don’t know if he genuinely feels a lack of respect as I know that I respect him and so do these fans, but if it helps him to get to where he needs to go, all power to him.

MW: But is there a chance that he’s going to go too far in pursuit of victory? Clutch also had some strong words for Baker. Could Graham Baker let all of this aggression that seems to be building up get to him and cost him this match in some way?

SD: Baker has to remain in control. If he does, I’m pretty sure that he can beat Clutch McCloud. I think Clutch is a great athlete with a lot of wrestling ability, but his track record here isn’t half of Baker’s. But a Graham Baker not in total control of himself is exploitable, and I know for sure that Clutch McCloud will be playing to that.

MW: Does Clutch go all out to try and get Baker disqualified or to get him to lose control enough to be blindsided?

SD: All out? Maybe. Clutch will believe he can beat Baker anyway, but I’m sure he, Crowley and Danica Jane will have a few things up their sleeves.

MW: Well, it’s time to find out. A match that Graham Baker simply can’t afford to lose, and a person to introduce him that we simply can’t afford to lose: Dasha Banks.



“Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the final night of round for of the B Block for Free-1 II! The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, a former Free-1 winner, a former FPW Champion and the current ALPHA and ICW Heavyweight Champion, sitting in second place in the block with six points and a total match time of fifty-eight minutes and fifty-four seconds, from London, England, The Aviator… Graham Baker!”



Staccato machine gun fire echoes around the arena and the fans stand as ‘DNA’ begins to play and Baker emerges. With him, he carries his two championship belts and a cricket bat with thumbtacks sticking out of it. The fans gasp as he holds it up and a murmur of confusion spreads around the arena.



MW: Graham Baker carrying one of his trademark weapons to the ring… This is… odd.

SD: He knows this isn’t a match where he can use that. He’s possibly going for intimidation, but I have to admit this is a big risk and a serious concern for anyone backing Baker for this block tonight.



Baker walks down to the ring and slides in, dropping the titles and climbing up to the top rope still brandishing the bat. He drops down and removes his jacket before beckoning for Clutch to get down to the ring.



“And his opponent, sitting fifth in the block with two points and a total match time of forty-six minutes and twenty-one seconds, being accompanied to ring by Richard Crowley and Danica Jane, from The Gateway City, God’s Gift to Wrestling… Clutch McCloud!”



‘This Fire Burns’ begins to play and Clutch walks through the curtain with Crowley and Danica Jane following behind. He stands on the ramp for a moment and the two of them overtake him on their way to the ring, Clutch jaw-jacking with a group of fans.



Baker immediately slides out of the ring and charges at Danica and Crowley. He swings the bat and takes out Crowley before staring down Danica Jane. She makes one step forward and Baker jams the end of the bat into her gut before bringing it down on her back. The fans gasp and then go quiet.



MW: I… I’m not sure I can condone that.

SD: It’s brilliant from Baker. Take out Crowley and Danica Jane and leave it a one-on-one match. He’s made the right decision and doesn’t care what other people think of it.

MW: But he’s just struck two people not involved-

SD: Danica Jane is a trained wrestler and Richard Crowley has been getting involved physically in previous matches. It’s the right move.



Clutch turns and sees what Baker has just done. He charges at Baker, who drops the bat and moves towards Clutch. The two of them exchange hard forearms, Baker getting the advantage and throws Clutch head-first into the guardrail. He stomps down on Clutch’s left arm repeatedly before ramming it through the bars and wrenching on it. The official tries to pull Baker away but he shoves him backwards and continues his assault. He then pulls Clutch free and pulls him in for a German suplex, which he executes perfectly, sending Clutch into the guardrail. The official pulls Baker away and Baker almost strikes him before pulling back and pausing for a moment. He then lifts Clutch up and drags him down to the ring, rolling him in. The official calls for the bell as Baker follows.



B Block: Graham Baker (4) v Clutch McCloud (2):



Clutch gets to his hands and knees before Baker runs at him and connects with a hard kick to the left arm. Clutch rolls away and Baker dives in at him, wringing the arm and yanking hard on it before wrapping it around the middle rope and stomping at it again and again. The official has to use his count to make Baker back away and Clutch drops down, rolling to the outside. Baker stands by the ropes and, as Clutch stands, dives off with a springboard lariat. He rolls through and stands, banging the guardrail onto the floor to get the fans with him, and a lot of them cheer loudly while some look on in a concerned manner.



Baker pulls Clutch up and rolls him partway into the ring. He then climbs up onto the apron and, with Clutch’s arm dangling over the edge of the ring, lands a hard stomp just below the elbow. Clutch screams in pain and rolls away into the ring, Baker following. He moves quickly over to Clutch and grabs his wrist, stomping down on him before dropping down and looking for the Emergency Landing. Clutch tries to grip his other hand but his arm is already too weak and he can’t prevent Baker from getting the full extension. Clutch screams in pain but manages to flail his legs just enough to make it to the bottom rope. Baker pushes his hips up for an even deeper hold as the official counts; the break comes at the count of four.



MW: This is a very different Graham Baker tonight.

SD: This is a Graham Baker who has no option but to win. When a man’s back is against the wall, you see his true colours. This isn’t the brave, battling underdog we saw last year. This is the dominant Ace of FPW.

MW: To me he looks like a man who doesn’t have any boundaries. He’s dangerous.

SD: He’s what he needs to be.



Baker stands and reels away from Clutch, eyeing him up as he uses the ropes to pulls himself up. Baker takes a short run-up and aims another kick at Clutch’s arm, but Clutch manages to pull away and get to his feet. He aims a Technical Foul at Baker out of desperation, but Baker ducks it and pulls Clutch in for a German suplex. Clutch manages to flip out and land on his feet, steadying himself as Baker quickly turns into a Tar HEEL! Clutch makes a cover, 1-2-no! Baker barely gets a shoulder up.



Clutch holds his hands to his head as he looks down at Baker and readies himself. He stalks Baker and waits for him to stand. As Baker turns, he looks for another Technical Foul, but Baker manages to block it with a double axe handle. Baker then goes for the arm straight away, but Clutch catches him and turns, looking for a backslide, 1-2-no! Baker again barely escapes. They both get to their feet and Baker swings a wild right hand, which Clutch ducks, looking for a Pele kick which connects, sending Baker towards the corner. Clutch then springboards onto the middle rope and lands a quebrada, holding onto Baker and locking in a dragon sleeper. Baker flails his arms trying to escape but Clutch manages to hold it well with his good arm. Baker drops to his knees and Clutch hooks his legs around the defending Free-1 champion.



MW: This could be it for Graham Baker!

SD: He has to separate those legs of Clutch McCloud. If he doesn’t then he’ll be out very soon.

MW: And if he passes out, he’s done in the Free-1 and he’s done in his pursuit of the FPW Championship.



Baker wrenches at the feet of Clutch and manages to force them apart. He then drives his elbow back into Clutch’s ribs and finally forces Clutch to release his grip on Baker. Baker rolls away but Clutch makes it quickly to his feet. He stalks Baker again and signals for the Technical Foul. Baker pulls himself up on the ropes and turns into a Technical Foul from Clutch! Clutch quickly drops and makes the cover, hooking the near leg, 1-2-no! Baker somehow gets his foot on the ropes. Clutch once again can’t believe it, and the fans are stunned.



Clutch then stands and looks down at Baker, who still lies there on his back with a foot on the rope. An odd look comes over Clutch’s face and he brings his foot down on Baker’s head, once, twice, three times, four times before the official can hold him back. He moves away as Baker stirs, holding his head while the official checks him over. Clutch rests in the corner and stares unblinkingly at Baker. As Baker pushes up to his hands and knees, Clutch charges at him and looks to unleash a vicious punt kick, but Baker pushes out of the way and stares up at Clutch with a look of rage in his eyes.



Baker stands and drives Clutch back into the corner, driving a volley of forearms into his face while yelling at him, “What the fuck are you trying to do?” The official has to pull Baker away from Clutch but he looks like he’s snapped. Baker turns and marches around the ring, breathing heavily. As soon as Clutch pulls himself back up using his right arm, Baker comes at him again, unleashing vicious palm strikes. Clutch drops down to the mat and Baker mounts him, striking him over and over and over and over and over again. The official comes in and tries to pull Baker off Clutch while signalling for the bell.



MW: This… this match is over.

SD: But what is the decision?

MW: Has Baker been disqualified?

SD: I think he has. He didn’t listen as the official told him to get away from Clutch. Just like we said, Baker’s desperation may have cost him the Free-1 here.



“Ladies and gentlemen, the official has determined that the winner of this match… via referee’s stoppage in nine minutes and thirty seconds is… Graham Baker.”



Winner: Graham Baker (9:30).



MW: He stopped it.

SD: Baker had Clutch in a mount position and was raining down those heavy palm strikes. I’m not sure the official had any other choice.

MW: Well there it is. On Sunday 25th August the B Block will be fought for between Graham Baker and Jerry Bishop.

SD: Baker seemed to lose it when Clutch attempted that punt kick. All of his aggression came pouring out and he really put Clutch in serious danger. Jerry… All I’ll say is that MDE better have a damn good gameplan.



Baker climbs the turnbuckle and holds up his arms. Some of the fans cheer for him but many are just left stunned by the vicious ending to this match. Baker yells for them to cheer and many do, but there’s a large section of the crowd that are eyeing him warily. He drops down and shakes his head, rolling out of the ring without picking up either of his titles and walking quickly back up the ramp, not acknowledging those fans who hold their arms out for him.



MW: It wasn’t pretty, but it will go down as a win for Graham Baker. And now in just a few days’ time he faces Jerry Bishop in a rematch of last year’s Free-1 final to determine the B Block winner. Early thoughts for that one?

SD: I really don’t know. Baker seems to be in a very dark place right now. He’s almost obsessing over winning back that FPW Championship and he’ll stop at nothing to do it. I know that MDE will be able to come up with a plan to exploit that but I don’t know if Jerry will be able to execute against someone as desperate and violent as Graham Baker.

MW: Well I just hope that it doesn’t end up starting out like this match with an unprovoked attack from Baker to MDE or Bobby O. I hope Graham Baker manages to calm down and wrestle as the real Graham Baker who we’ve seen so many times here in FPW before because that would give us a classic match on Sunday.

SD: Before that though we go to the A Block finals. I really don’t know what will happen there.

MW: Three matches, all featuring two competitors on four points. Have you crunched the scenarios yet?

SD: As far as I can tell, they all have a roughly even chance of winning. There are twenty possible scenarios and sixteen of them give a clear winner. The other four will come down to a match-time tie-breaker. We’ll fill you in in full on the night, but I don’t think there’s any way of predicting a winner from that block until the bell rings in the final match.

MW: As exciting as the Free-1 can possibly get. We’ll be back on Saturday 24th August with three matches which you really do not want to miss. We’ll see you then.

[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 we see a shot of Dasha Banks alongside Mike Watson, Steven Deville and Jim Houston.

DB: Welcome to our A Block finals preview show. I'm joined by our FPW announce team- Steven Deville and Mike Watson- as well as FPW General Manager Jim Houston. Fellas, I can't believe we're here doing previews of the final night already.
MW: It feels like only yesterday that we were previewing the entire tournament and what a tournament it has been!
JH: It's been absolutely fantastic. I couldn't be happier with how the tournament has gone, especially the A Block as we will discuss tonight.
SD: I've watched a lot of wrestling and there are very few occasions I've seen a tournament block where literally every single participant could come out on top after their final match. We're going to have a very exciting time on Saturday.

DB: Let's quickly look at the standings so far. Everybody has four points, but we have Berry Bishop on top. She's five minutes and thirteen seconds ahead of Marcus Allen Jones, who is four minutes and forty-three seconds ahead of Elizabeth Karlson. Karlson leads James Saturn by six minutes and fifty-one seconds and he's two minutes and forty seconds ahead of Jace Mason with Aaron Williams a further thirteen minutes and fifty-seven seconds back. Does that make Berry Bishop the favourite going into the final matches?
SD: I wouldn't say favourite, no. She's ahead on time but she still needs to beat James Saturn. That won't be easy. A win over Saturn of course and then I think she'll be favourite, especially if it's a quick win, but I think she has a lot of work to do.
DB: Mike, do you think she's favourite or would you be looking to someone else?
MW: I'm not sure there is a favourite. If we look at how each competitor comes into this round of matches, we have momentum with Marcus, Saturn and Mason as each won their previous matches but then Marcus did so thanks to some help and he has serious questions over him with the issue with TakeOver. Saturn comes in with a leg which seems barely able to hold his weight. Maybe that means Mason is a slight favourite, but he'll be facing Marcus Allen Jones who appears to be as determined as I've ever seen him to succeed.
DB: Let's address the issue of Marcus with TakeOver. Mr. Houston, you agreed to allow Marcus to forfeit the Free-1 if TakeOver interfere in his match. Do you sense any kind of hidden agenda there?
JH: Well, you know that I have some trust issues with Marcus. He's been a thorn in my side here for some time. But I don't see how he can turn this to his advantage, supposing of course that he genuinely wants to win the Free-1.
SD: Of course he wants to win it. Marcus is making a mistake. I'm not entirely sure what this situation really is, but he's making a mistake by ruling out accepting help.
JH: If he really wants to do it on his own, it's not a mistake. He's showing some genuine honour, and I respect him for that. I think he may be turning over a new leaf and I want to give him every chance to do so.

DB: Before we look at each of the matches and give our predictions, let's quickly review each competitor's tournament so far. Let's go down the standings and begin with my pick to win it all, Berry Bishop. She has wins over Aaron Williams and Jace Mason and losses to Elizabeth Karlson and Marcus Allen Jones. Mike, how do you rate Berry's performance so far?
MW: I think she's been excellent. She gave Karlson a great match but just couldn't quite out-grapple her. Maybe tapping out when she did saved her chances in this tournament because the victories over Williams and Mason were very good. The loss to Marcus obvious came in dubious circumstances and I'd imagine Berry will be a little unhappy about that. Overall I think she can be proud of her performance and, even if she doesn't manage to win it, she'll have set up some very interesting Freedom Championship defenses.
DB: Let's move to you, Steven. In second place is Marcus Allen Jones with wins over Elizabeth Karlson and Berry Bishop and losses to James Saturn and Aaron Williams. Do you think that Marcus has done what he's looked to do and proved that he can do this by himself?
SD: In a word: no. No, I don't. He had a good win over Karlson, who by the way I think has really had a break-out tournament this year. But his win over Berry wasn't by himself. It was brilliant, and put him in a good position time-wise with the tie-breaker over the only person with a better match time than him, but it wasn't by himself. He has two clean losses, albeit one against James Saturn in a match I think he had the better of before being caught by a superkick, but he has a few questions to answer for me.
DB: Mr. Houston. You gave Elizabeth Karlson her debut in this tournament. She has wins over Berry Bishop and James Saturn with losses to Marcus and Jace Mason. Good debut?
JH: Excellent. As Steven said, I think she's broken out in this tournament. She was of course already our Women's Champion but I think she's proved that she can compete with everyone. Her two wins were both by submission but the losses she took were when she couldn't get the submission. I'd be interested to see if she can find a way to win via pinfall, but I think she's shown that there's a really big future here for The Renegade.
DB: Into the bottom half and we reach the fourth-placed James Saturn. He's seventeen points behind Berry, but that shouldn't be a concern as they face one another, but his twelve points behind Marcus could cost him a three-way tie. He has wins over Marcus and Williams with losses to Mason and Karlson. What do you make of Saturn's efforts, Steven?
SD: He's picked up two good victories. His knee was worked over pretty heavily by Jace Mason and then Elizabeth Karlson and I'm not sure that he'll be able to overcome that in his final match, but he's proved that he can compete with anybody here. I think James Saturn is a future FPW Champion and, if he can overcome the pain that he'll feel in his knee and get a victory on Saturday, he could be advancing into a final which I think he'd have a good chance to win.
DB: We come to the fifth-placed Jace Mason, who's match time does start to be a concern. He has wins over Saturn and Karlson with defeats against Williams and Berry. Mr. Houston, you granted Jace a place in this tournament after he missed out last year. Are you happy with what he's done?
JH: I am. I like Jace Mason. He's a hard-working, talented individual with an excellent attitude. I think he has a big future and I think his match with Marcus will be something special on Saturday. His wins have been impressive in this tournament but I know he'll be disappointed especially with the loss to Berry Bishop, making him 0 for 3 against her this year. Overall though Jace showed me enough to make me confidently predict that he'll be an FPW Champion one day.
DB: And then we come to the man that a lot of people have been saying great things about. Aaron Williams has had excellent matches in this tournament, with wins over Jace Mason and Marcus Allen Jones and losses to Berry Bishop and James Saturn. Mike, you've been singing the praises of Aaron Williams. Is this his breakout tournament?
MW: Absolutely. Aaron has been fantastic in this tournament. He's put on an amazing show every time he's gone out there. Really he ought to be on more points, but he does insist on taking risks that maybe he doesn't need to take rather than making the pragamatic choices. He'd have been better served against Saturn for example by going for the leg rather than wrestling in his usual style. Him and Karlson should be a very interesting match, and the winner of that could well be the block winner.

DB: Well you mention the block winner. I'm about to show a graphic with all of the possible outcomes and how they play out. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this.

Block Winner	Scenario 1	Scenario 2	Scenario 3	Scenario 4	Scenario 5
Berry Bishop	Berry, Williams, Mason	Berry, Draw, Mason	Berry, Williams, Draw	Berry, Draw, Draw	Draw, Draw, Draw
Marcus Allen Jones	Marcus, Berry, Karlson	Marcus, Berry, Draw	Marcus, Karlson, Draw	Marcus, Draw, Draw
Elizabeth Karlson	Karlson, Saturn, Draw	Karlson, Berry, Draw	Karlson, Draw, Draw
James Saturn	Saturn, Marcus, Williams	Saturn, Marcus, Draw	Saturn, Williams, Draw	Saturn, Draw, Draw
Jace Mason	Mason, Saturn, Karlson	Mason, Saturn, Draw	Mason, Karlson, Draw	Mason, Draw, Draw
Aaron Williams	Williams, Mason, Draw	Williams, Marcus, Draw	Williams, Draw, Draw
Total Match Time Tie-Breaker	Berry, Mason, Karlson	Marcus, Karlson, Saturn	Williams, Saturn, Mason

SD: Wow! That's fairly complicated.
DB: It certainly is. Is there anything that jumps out?
SD: Well to me, I'd say the fact that Elizabeth Karlson and Aaron Williams can only win the block if they win their match and there is a draw in one of the other matches. That's going to put them at a disadvantage, I'd say.
MW: Perhaps, but consider that the other match doesn't affect them. You see with Karlson, she can win with either a Saturn or Berry win and Williams is the same with Marcus or Mason. The draw is least likely but taking one whole match out of it could be seen as an advantage.
DB: Of course Berry Bishop has the added chance of three draws taking her through. Do you see there being any chance whatsoever of that happening?
JH: I'd be surprised. At the end of a tough month maybe we see a draw or two, but I doubt all of them would be in the condition to go thirty minutes.

DB: Well let's look at the matches and make our predictions then we can see who wins the block using the table we've looked at. We don't know the order of matches yet-
JH: They will be randomly determined as the show goes on the air.
DB: So let's go in order of standings. Quick predictions for Berry v Saturn.
MW: I'd go with Berry. I think Saturn's knee will still be bothering him and I think Berry's leg kicks will be enough to hamper him to the extent that she can take advantage.
SD: I agree. Berry wins that one. Saturn has a chance and can always catch his opponent with that superkick, but I think Berry is in better condition.
JH: Well I'd make it three from three but with the caveat that Saturn certainly could win that one.
DB: So Berry picks up a win for all three of you there. How about Marcus v Mason?
JH: I can't wait for that one. All of these matches will be great but this will be a great test for Mason who really struggled against Marcus the last time they met. I think Marcus does just enough but I think it'll run close and possibly even hit the time limit.
SD: I have two words... TakeOver. Their specter will haunt this match. Marcus wins.
MW: I'm going with the surprise. Mason takes Marcus. He's going to be distracted and possibly a little too desperate. I think Mason takes advantage.
DB: And finally that leaves us Elizabeth Karlson and Aaron Williams.
SD: Will Karlson be able to submit Aaron Williams? If she can, she wins, but I don't know if she can. I think Williams takes this one.
MW: I'm going Karlson. She manages to find a way when Williams maybe goes a little too far to do something spectacular. Against Karlson I don't think that's the way to go.
JH: I'm going with a draw. Williams won't tap out. Karlson will keep trying. I can see the bell ringing with Williams trapped in the cloverleaf or the knee bar.
DB: Well, with that-
SD: You know what we're going to ask, Dasha.
DB: Fine. I'm going with my girl Berry B, Marcus and Liz. So, your predictions... um... Mike, you had Berry, Mason and Karlson, meaning we'd have... oh, a total match time tie-breaker. Steven you've got Berry, Marcus and Williams, giving the block to... oh, another tie-breaker. Mr. Houston, Berry, Marcus and a draw would mean Marcus wins the block. And for me, Berry, Marcus and Liz also gives Marcus the block. So it looks like the pick for the show is Marcus winning the block.
SD: But look at what else we've got. Two tie-breakers. One between Berry, Mason and Karlson, which probably comes down to who wins quickest out of Berry and Karlson, and another between Berry, Marcus and Williams, which will be between Berry and Marcus. We need to keep an eye on the match time on Saturn as it could be absolutely vital.
DB: And with that we're going to sign off. Join us live on freedomprowrestling.com on Saturday 24th August to find out who will end up taking the A Block crown.

[Jim Houston]

@fpwdashabanks
Thank you to those of you who pointed out the mistake. Karlson actually in fifth place with ninety minutes and fifteen seconds. Not eighty minutes! Sorry Freedom Fighters.

[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 we see a shot of Dasha Banks alongside Mike Watson, Steven Deville and Jim Houston.

DB: Welcome to our B Block final preview for the Free-1. I'm joined as I was yesterday but our FPW announce team of Mike Watson and steven Deville as well as our General Manager Jim Houston. Gentlemen, this ought to be a little easier than our conversation yesterday!
SD: Yep. Baker v Jerry. Winner goes to the final. Done.
MW: I guess we can go home.
JH: Look, as much as we're going to focus on Jerry and on Graham today, I'd like to recognise the efforts everyone in this block has put in. It's been very different to the A Block. The matches have typically been shorter, perhaps more hard-hitting and I've been fascinated by all of them, from Botiatus' great start to Baker's vicious demolition of Clutch McCloud at the end of their match.
MW: That seems to have been a theme of this block. Baker has been very violent, but so has Go Shihei, so has Clutch McCloud and so, at times, has Botiatus. I don't know what to expect from Baker versus Jerry, but if it follows the pattern we've seen so far, I doubt we'll be seeing them go at it for thirty minutes.

DB: Well before we get to them, let's look at the other matches and let's discuss each competitor. We have Artemis Evans facing Botiatus. Steven, Artemis had a great start but doesn't seem to have followed it up. She's on two points at the moment. How will her Free-1 be viewed?
SD: We all know that I think Arty is an insanely talented young lady. She had a great win over Go Shihei before a battling loss to Baker. Maybe it was the Danica Jane match that turned things around for her as Clutch got involved when he shouldn't have. Had Arty won that match, maybe she'd have found a way to beat Jerry and be looking to get eight points. Overall I think she'll be disappointed, but she's proved that she can compete with anybody and I think she has a big future both here in FPW and in the wrestling world in general.
DB: She faces Botiatus. Mr. Houston, you granted Bo a qualifying match when a lot of people wouldn't have. How do you rate his performance and will we see him continuing in FPW in the future?
JH: We absolutely will. Bo has been a revelation here in my opinion. He brings a certain energy with him and he also brings some fans with him from the West Coast. His win over Baker seriously impressed me and that match with Jerry was one of the best of the tournament so far in my opinion. The issue with his arm has hampered him from keeping up with the quick pace that he set out of the gate, but I think he can do well here. There should be big things to come from Botiatus.
DB: Mike, what do you expect to see from this match?
MW: I'd expect Bo to be looking for a quick win and to be trying to avoid too much damage to his arm. It seems like he'll be cleared, although we're not sure yet. If he is, then we could see another quick match. Evans may be trying to take it longer and targeting the arm, but she's a little frustrated at the moment and she might be quite happy with a quick match to get it over with.

DB: The second match of the night will be Clutch McCloud and Go Shihei. I'm obviously unbiased but I'm looking forward to that one. Mike, tell us about what you've seen from Go Shihei in this tournament?
MW: I think Go Shihei is a dangerous man. He lost his first match because Evans took advantage of a distraction. He lost to Jerry after MDE formulated a clever plan and then seemed to trip Shihei to force the count-out. His match with Baker was one of the most hard-hitting matches I've seen in FPW. He then finally picked up a win over Botiatus and I'm sure he'll be desperate to get up to four points and keep up the momentum going into the fall and winter.
DB: And his opponent is Clutch McCloud. Steven, will Clutch be pleased going into this match with the record he has?
SD: Two points gained by someone wrestling on his behalf? No. Of course he won't be pleased. Clutch McCloud is a superstar athlete who should be taking thw wrestling world by storm. Instead he's sitting towards the bottom of the B Block and isn't being talked about. Baker beat him in ten minutes. Clutch got some shots in for sure but Baker forced a stoppage. Clutch will come out with something to prove and if he wins this match I think he might go on a bit of a roll. He developed this new attitude towards the middle of this year and now he seems to be coming out with an even harder edge. He needs to continue on that path if he wants to make something of himself here.
DB: Mr. Houston, how do you expect this match to go.
JH: I'd expect lot of hard-hitting and lots of bruising at the end! Both will be going hard to end with a win and I doubt they'll be going for too long. I'd edge towards Clutch because of his experience but Kate Mustang on the outside can never be discounted.

DB: So let's get to the final two. Graham Baker lost to Botiatus in his first match and then won his next three, but there are some questions around the manner of his wins. Mr. Houston, is this the type of thing you want from a man who many consider to still be the face of Freedom Pro Wrestling.
JH: That's a tough question. I want to see Graham Baker the competitor. I want to see Graham Baker the hard-nosed wrestler who did a lot to put this company on the map. There's a line that Graham Baker walks and, if I'm honest, I think he has over-stepped it at times, but I understand why. His identity came from being the FPW Champion. This was the first place where he could really claim to be the best. I know Graham fairly well and I know how important that was to him. Now that he isn't a champion, he believes that other people don't see him as best in the company. He wants to get back that title, so he needs to win this tournament to guarantee a chance of that. Again Clutch, he was extremely fired up. I don't for a moment condone the attack on either Danica Jane or Richard Crowley, but I don't condemn Baker's actions in the ring. Against Shihei he went hard but again didn't do anything wrong. I want Baker to respect the rules, respect his opponent, but give everything he possibly can. As long as he does that, I'll be happy to have him at the top of our cards.
DB: Steven, you've been quite positive about Baker's attitude. How would you advise him to approach the final?
SD: Do the same as he has been doing. He's out-slugged Go Shihei and Clutch McCloud. Do you really think that Jerry Bishop will be able to take that kind of intensity? I'm sure Jerry will have a good gameplan, but I don't see him being able to fight against a Graham Baker who is this focussed and this determined. It's as simple as that. If MDE wants to get involved, Baker knows he can beat him. If Bobby wants to get involved, Baker won't be afraid to go after him too. Baker needs to make sure the numbers game doesn't get the better of him but he needs to believe that he can overcome whatever it thrown at him. If Baker wrestles the way he has all month, he beats Jerry in ten minutes.
DB: Mike, you've been suggesting that Baker may let his emotions get the better of him. Will that be an issue for him in this block final?
MW: I don't honestly expect them to. I think Graham Baker will have time to reflect and I think he'll get his head straight. He had one day in between Jerry beating Evans and him going out to face Clutch knowing he had to win. Baker will have been building that up in his mind for all of that time. He'll have been watching every single match and he'll have been desperate- just like Jim said- desperate to win this block. With a few days away from watching the matches, I think he'll be ready and focussed. He'll be intense for sure, but I think he'll have the right approach to see him through the match without going too far.

DB: Of course, the man with the advantage is Jerry Bishop. Four wins out of four, perhaps not entirely clean wins, but wins nonetheless. He only needs a draw. He has the backing of MDE and Bobby O, although the combination may not be advantageous to him in the end, but he'll have a clear plan from them. Steven, if you were putting the plan together, what would it be?
SD: Jerry needs to not lose. So that's the simple plan. One of Jerry's greatest strengths is that it's hard to keep him down for long. He doesn't let opponents get on top of him for long periods of time. He won't let Baker spend five minutes working over his arm. There may be short times in the match that see Baker on top, but Jerry will be able to break those up. Jerry needs to avoid taking too much damage to the arm and to take as much time out of the match as possible. He can go through with a draw, so spend as much time as possible out of the ring, stick and move. Whatever Jerry can do to get the time ticking away will help him and will also make Baker get more and more frustrated. That means that either Jerry gets the draw or he takes advantage of Baker diving in when he shouldn't and gets the win to go five for five.
DB: Of course that might well work for someone else, but, Mike, can you see Jerry Bishop settling for a draw?
MW: That's a tough one. Without MDE backing him, not a chance. He'd rather lose in twenty-nine minutes going for a win than spend the last few seconds running away to get the draw. But with MDE whispering in his ear, I can see that forming a key part of the plan. Maybe not running away and taking powders, but keeping Baker grounded and using the technical skills that he has been developing. I still don't know if Jerry will be happy to do it, but I'm sure MDE will encouraging that line of thinking.
DB: The relationships with MDE and Bobby have been fascinating to see from Jerry in this tournament. Mr. Houston, how do you view that little triangle?
JH: I view it with some surprise. When I booked MDE versus Jerry at Judgement Day last year I saw two men who were driven not just by wanting to be the best they could be and wanting to prove themselves, but two entirely opposite ideologies. That's one reason why I think Jerry has seen such an upturn. He's a master of getting people on his side. Not just in the ring, but in life in general, Jerry is someone that people love to love and love to root for. I love the guy myself and can't thank him enough for all he has done for FPW. MDE can focus Jerry's energy and can support him with the mental side of wrestling that maybe Jerry isn't great with and then he can leave Jerry to find that boost from the crowd. I know for sure that Jerry doesn't necessarily enjoy working with MDE- he can barely even say his name- and I know that Bobby has become involved as he feels he needs to try and counter-balance what MDE is trying to bring. I think you can see that it's a relationship that isn't going to last for too long. MDE and Bobby can't coexist when they're pulling Jerry in two different directions. Jerry needs to make a choice between them. I think this match will be an indicator of what Jerry really wants. MDE will give him a method that can lead to him winning the block while Bobby will be encouraging Jerry to be the old Jerry who, if I'm honest, probably wouldn't be able to get past this hurdle. We'll find out a lot on Sunday.

DB: So let's get to predictions. Who do we see making it through the block?
MW: I'm going to say that Jerry manages to do it. Baker will be desperate to win, but I think MDE will have a perfect gameplan to counter a desperate Baker and Jerry will have the ability to execute it. I'd say he wins after Baker tries a little too hard to get the win while the time is ticking away.
SD: I don't say this often but I agree with Watson. Baker makes a mistake and Jerry capitalises.
JH: I'll be the contrarian. I think Baker brings too much for Jerry. I don't think it'll be easy and I can certainly see what you're both saying, but I think Baker keeps control and overcomes what will undoubtedly be a very tough challenge. Dasha?
DB: Fine... I have to go with... I... Baker.

DB: Well you'll find the B Block finals on Sunday 25th August live on freedomprowresltling.com, but you'll next see us on Saturday 24th August live for the A Block finals. We'll be sure to see you there!

[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 one of the most enticing shows I can remember in my time here at Freedom Pro Wrestling. Tonight we have three matches in the A Block with every single one of them affecting the ultimate winner of the A Block. This is the Free-1, and this is going to be fascinating.

SD: And we’ll be right back after this!


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Jim Houston stands in his office surrounded by the six A Block participants. There is a small box on his desk and they are all looking down at it before Houston begins to speak.



JH: Thank you all for coming in. I’d also like to thank you all for your efforts in this tournament so far. This block has seen some of the best matches of the year so far and I’m sure tonight’s three matches will be just as good if not better. You’ve sacrificed a lot, each of you, and I’m sure you’ll all be looking forward to resting up your injuries. After tonight, one of you will have eight days to rest up before representing the A Block in one of the biggest matches on the FPW calendar: the Free-1 final. I will now draw out the order for tonight’s matches, after which our first match will commence. I appreciate your cooperation.



Houston reaches down into the box and pulls out a ball which he pops open and reads the match, smiling.



JH: Liz, Aaron. You’re up first. The rest… let’s do these in private.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The camera cuts off and we return to the announcers.



MW: First up is a match which could well decide our block winner. Aaron Williams facing Elizabeth Karlson. This could be a very special match.

SD: It could. Both of them need a win and then a draw in one of the other matches, so they have possibly the toughest route to victory tonight, but don’t doubt that they’ll be giving their all to end up on six points after this match.

MW: This is a real clash of styles too. Ezliabeth Karlson the technical master, mat-based grappler, submission expert. Aaron Williams the high-impact, high-intensity showman. Does one of them have a big advantage over the other tonight?

SD: No. I don’t think so. They’ll both know what they need to do. Karlson needs to ground Williams and work the legs to get to her submissions and to also limit what he can do. Williams needs to avoid being kept down and keep the match at his high pace. The winner of that battle will win this match.

MW: Do you think being on first will be an advantage to these two?

SD: Perhaps. They won’t be focussing on anything else except this match. The winner will have a nervy night watching the other matches but they know they’ll have done their bit. I’d rather be in this position than going on last without a hope because other results haven’t gone my way.

MW: Well here’s someone always focussed: Dasha Banks.



“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Free-1 A Block finals night! The following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, with four points and a total match time of ninety minutes and fifteen seconds, the current FPW Women’s Champion, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Renegade… Elizabeth Karlson!”



‘Turn It On’ begins to play as the lights flicker on and off. Karlson enters the arena showing off her ‘Renegades’ logo on the back of her jacket. She then turns, the Women’s Championship over her shoulder, before walking down the ramp. The fans don’t react negatively, but not many of them extend their arms for her. She continues walking, looking very focussed, before sliding into the ring and climbing up onto the top rope, holding up her title. The fans again don’t cheer her especially loudly but don’t particularly boo her either. She stands on all four turnbuckles before dropping down sit cross-legged facing the ramp, a cocky smile on her face. As her music stops, a loud ‘Aa-ron Wil-liams’ chant begins and picks up momentum very quickly.



“And her opponent, with four points and a total match time of one hundred and three minutes and forty-three seconds, a former two-time Ring of Honour World Champion and a former champion in promotions all over the world, hailing also from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this is A Plus… Aaron Williams!”



Loud cheers greet the announcement and the fans immediately begin to sing along to ‘I Still Believe’. Williams bursts through the curtain with real intensity as he leads the chorus. He springs up into the air before heading down the ramp, slapping hands with almost every fan in the front row. He then moves all the way around the ring and slaps more hands before passing a Sharpie over to a young fan in the front row. The fan simply writes ‘Please win.’ Williams smiles and slides into the ring, leaping up onto the top rope and pumping up the crowd, who really come with him. He then drops down and shakes hands with Dasha Banks and the official as Karlson stands and nods at him.



MW: Aaron Williams looks truly fired up tonight.

SD: And Karlson is quietly focussed. Williams may be ready for an intense, high-paced match, but Karlson looks ready for a battle of minds.

MW: The fans certainly know who they want to win this one, but let’s find out who our first person will be to reach six points in this year’s A Block.



Match 1: A Block: Elizabeth Karlson (4) v Aaron Williams (4):



The bell rings and Williams steps forward, extending a hand. Karlson moves in and shakes it quickly before locking up, taking Williams a little by surprise and forcing him backwards. Williams gains some ground and forces Karlson back to the middle of the ring but Karlson drops down and pulls Williams with her, rolling him down to the ground and then transitioning inti a headlock. Williams locks in a headscissors and Karlson pushes him away, each of them getting to their feet. Karlson moves back into Williams but he takes her down with an arm drag before taking her down with another. Williams gets to his feet again and stalks Karlson, delivering a series of kicks to her back before whipping her into the ropes and then taking her down with a dropkick. He makes the first cover of the match, 1-no. Karlson easily kicks out.



Williams stands and hits the ropes himself, looking for a penalty kick, but Karlson catches the leg and rolls backwards, taking Williams down and rolling into a half-crab. He starts to drag himself towards the ropes but Karlson drops down and transitions into an STF, keeping Williams away from the ropes. He struggles, pushing his free leg beneath him and springing forward to the ropes. Karlson breaks her grip and then lands a kick of her own to Williams’ back as he turns and two face off for a moment, the crowd applauding.



MW: Both of them showcasing their strength so far in this one.

SD: Karlson shouldn’t be pausing here, though. She needs to keep Aaron Williams on the mat and not let him get his breath.

MW: She’s already obviously done some damage but I agree. Keep him down and damage that knee so that he can’t hit so many of his big moves.



The two of them move forward and Karlson darts in for the leg, but Williams rolls through to avoid her. They circle one another again, Karlson still looking to come in for the knee and Williams rolling through again. This time, Karlson rolls with him and then takes the knee before he can get back to his feet, only for Williams to push up on his hands and use his other leg to release his knee from Karlson’s grip. Williams then springboards off the middle rope and takes Karlson down with a cross-body, holding for a cover again, 1-no. Again Karlson is able to kick out quickly.



Williams pulls Karlson up and whips her into the corner, following her in and looking for a big splash, but Karlson manages to roll underneath him. As Williams staggers backwards out of the corner, Karlson kicks his leg several times and then connects with a running knee as he kneels in the ring. Williams hits the mat and Karlson takes his knee, stepping through and then driving it into the mat, keeping her knee on top of his and wrenching it hard. Williams grunts with the pain and Karlson continues to tweak it before standing and dropping her own knee into it. Karlson then looks to hand the leg on the middle rope and stomp on the knee, but Williams frees himself in perfect time and rolls away onto the apron.



Karlson aims a leg kick at Williams but he manages to catch her before catching her in position for an exploder suplex, delivering one from the apron to the floor! Karlson lands hard and Williams flexes his leg, standing and pumping up the crowd. The official begins his count inside the ring.



1……….



Karlson crawls over to the guardrail and Williams grabs her, looking to whip her into the opposite guardrail.



2……….



She hits it hard back-first and arches her back before Williams follows up with a mid-kick to send her back against the rail.



3……….



He continues to connect with mid-kicks until Karlson slides down to the floor.



4………..



Williams then backs off and calls for a cannomball as the fans cheer. He charges at Karlson and connects with a huge cannonball as the fans explode with cheers.



5……….

6……….



MW: That could end this match right there!

SD: But it’s going to damage Williams as well. He’s a real risk-taker and he needs to manage that more effectively.

MW: I’m not sure you’re ever going to change him. Many have tried but Aaron Williams is a law unto himself.

SD: He may well be, but if it costs him the Free-1 then I think he’ll need review that law.



7……….



Williams pulls himself up and shakes out his leg before pulling Karlson up and rolling her back into the ring. He climbs up to the top rope and then connects with a swan-ton bomb before making the cover, 1-2-no. Karlson kicks out. Williams then pulls her up and looks to whip her into the corner again, but Karlson manages to stop herself and maintain a grip on Williams’ wrist, connecting with a wristlock lariat which sends Williams down to his knees. Karlson maintains her control on his wrist and then drives her knee into his face before making a cover, 1-2-no. Williams kick out.



Karlson stalks Williams and then lays in some more kicks to the knee. She doesn’t look completely steady, but manages to send him reeling across the ring with each kick. After four, he drops to a knee again as Karlson connects with a running codebreaker. Karlson then grips Williams’ leg and connects with an inverted dragon screw, which causes him to grab his knee with the pain. Karlson stomps on his hands to free the knee and then stamps on it again before dropping down and looking to lock in a knee bar. Williams resists, kicking away at Karlson with enough power so that she can’t lock in her hold. Williams rolls away from Karlson but doesn’t escape her for too long, Karlson coming in with a low dropkick which sends Williams rolling out of the ring again.



SD: I don’t think Karlson should be following Aaron Williams here. This an area of the arena where he can be really dangerous.

MW: I’d agree with that. But she seems to be looking to head to the outside.

SD: This is a mistake.



Karlson steps through the ropes and follows Williams to the outside. As he begins to stand, Karlson pulls him up and lands a hard chop to his chest, Williams reeling away. The official begins his count again.



1……….



She connects with another chop and then another as she traps him against the edge of the ring.



2……….



She then allows Williams to reel away again before connecting with a backstabber. Williams drops to the floor and Karlson stands, quickly grabbing his leg and connecting with another inverted dragon screw to the floor.



3……….



The fans gasp and Karlson drags Williams over towards the guardrail. She sets up his leg between the rails and backs away, pointing two finger guns at the knee.



4……….



Karlson runs and aims a boot at the knee but Williams manages to free it and Karlson connects hard with the rail. Williams uses his good leg to kick her over the rail into the fans, who begin to scatter.



5……….



Williams rolls into the ring and breaks the count, but he pulls himself up on the ropes and flexes his knee. As Karlson stands, Williams leaps up onto the top rope, almost falling due to his knee but just managing to keep his balance, before diving off the top rope with a huge crossbody over the guardrail sending chairs sliding all over the floor. The official slides out of the ring and immediately checks on the two of them as they lie in the wreckage.



MW: I don’t believe what I’ve seen from Aaron Williams!

SD: It’s that risk-taking again. He must have damaged that knee in the process of that dive. He almost fell from the top rope and he surely landed with the knee at best on the floor and at worst on one of those chairs.

MW: But Karlson landed hard too. These two could easily be counted out.

SD: We didn’t factor a double count-out into our scenarios!

MW: I guess if they are then it comes down to direct tie-breakers.



The official, happy that both Williams and Karlson are okay to continue, comes back into the ring and begins to count.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Neither Williams nor Karlson moves.



4……….

5……….



Williams begins to stir, crawling hands and knees to the guardrail, unable to stand without help.



6……….



Williams pulls himself up and flops over the top of the rail as Karlson also begins to stand.



7……….



Karlson moves over the rail but Williams continues to crawl, still unable to stand.



8……….



Karlson stomps down hard on Williams’ knee before sliding back into the ring.



9…



Williams struggles to continue on to the ring.



…



Williams manages to reach the edge of the ring and dives in just before the ten count. Karlson moves to him quickly and launches a hard attack to the knee, stomping on it before pulling the leg up and driving the knee down into the canvas. She then drops down and looks for the knee bar, but Williams manages to quickly crawl over to the ropes and she is forced to break her grip. Karlson then stands, staggering for a few steps, before moving back over to Aaron Williams. Karlson tries to pull him up but Williams pushes her away and, using the ropes, springs up and connects with a rope-assisted Pele kick. Karlson staggers backwards and Williams moves in, hooking an arm over her head and lifting her into position for a vertical suplex before dropping her down for a brainbuster to the knee. Karlson drops onto the mat and Williams rolls onto her for a cover, 1-2-no! Karlson just gets a shoulder up.



MW: I thought he had it there!

SD: He needed to have it there. His knee doesn’t seem able to hold his weight. I think that was Aaron Williams’ last big shot at winning this match.

MW: Never count out A Plus. He could find a burst of adrenaline that allows him another flurry of offense.

SD: But Karlson can still do more damage.



Both of them use the ropes to pull themselves up before moving towards the middle of the ring. Karlson aims a kick to the knee but Williams catches it and holds the leg while driving forearms into Karlson’s face. Williams then whips Karlson into the corner and follows up, with a limp, with a big splash. Williams then limps over to the opposite corner and comes in with another big splash. He limps back again but Karlson is able to follow, taking advantage of the limp as she connects with a running lariat to trap Williams in the corner. Karlson then chops Williams repeatedly before hooking his leg over the middle rope and wrenching it as the official counts for her to release her grip.



She does before coming back with a final kick to the knee which sends Williams down to the mat. Karlson stalks Williams as he pulls himself up and then show looks for a handspring enzeguiri, but Williams manages to catch her, connecting with a snap German suplex before pulling Karlson up and into a suplex position. He lifts her and then dumps her on the middle rope before looking up to the top rope. The fans cheer loudly as Williams very slowly climbs up to the top, struggling to maintain his balance as he looks down at Karlson. He takes a moment and then looks for a 450 splash, but his hesitation in gaining his balance gives Karlson time to drop to the apron. Williams crashes to the mat as Karlson springboards over the top rope and lands a double stomp directly to the knee!



MW: Oh!

SD: My God that has to hurt.

MW: And surely this match is about to belong to Elizabeth Karlson?

SD: I think so. She has to lock in the Chronic Illness or the Texas cloverleaf.

MW: Williams probably has counters in mind but I don’t think he’ll be able to execute them.



Karlson pulls up Williams’ legs and sets him in position for a Texas cloverleaf, but Williams reaches up to pulls Karlson into a small package. Karlson, however, rolls through it, maintaining her hold on the legs and trapping Williams in the hold. He groans in pain again as Karlson sits as deeply as she possibly can. Williams looks about to tap before pushing himself up, the fans urging him on to get to the ropes. He slowly drives towards the ropes before making a big effort and gripping the bottom rope, forcing Karlson to break the hold. She does break it before pulling Williams back into the middle of the ring. She doesn’t, however, look to lock the hold in again, instead stepping through the ropes and climbing to the top rope. As Williams very slowly gets to his feet, Karlson leaps off and connects with Death Spike, holding both legs for the cover, 1-2-3.



Winner: Elizabeth Karlson (21:54).



MW: Elizabeth Karlson retakes top spot in the A Block.

SD: But how long will she hold it for? She now needs a draw from Jace Mason and Marcus Allen Jones to progress. The other result will not matter to Karlson now.

MW: An unlikely result but she could well be our A Block representative in the final of the Free-1 after this fantastic victory.



Karlson stands and has her arm raised before looking down at Williams and nodding. Williams returns her nod as Karlson climbs through the ropes and makes her way up the ramp. In the ring, Williams pulls himself up and receives a standing ovation form the fans as he raises a hand to acknowledge their support.



MW: These fans showing great respect to Aaron Williams.

SD: He’s wrestled for over two hours in this Free-1. In total, it’s been a hundred and twenty-five minutes and thirty-seven seconds. He’s given everything to these fans and they respect that, even though he’s now eliminated from the Free-1.

MW: And how does that impact others’ chances? There will be some who needed Karlson to lose this one.

SD: Well, we now have just one way for Berry Bishop to win- that’s for her to win, Mason to win and to have wrestled for the least time. James Saturn needs to do the same thing but with a Marcus win. Jace Mason can win with a win and a Saturn win or draw and Marcus can win with a win and a Berry win or draw. Marcus could still win if Saturn wins and he has the best time of him, Saturn and Karlson and Mason needs the same if Berry wins but out of himself, Berry and Karlson.

MW: So Berry and Saturn will both be looking to win as quickly as they can. I’m hearing that theirs will be the next match.

SD: And that will be a big disadvantage. If Marcus and Mason went on next they’d know how much time they needed to win in. Now they need to simply win as quickly as they can. For Saturn, he’s eleven and a half minutes ahead of Marcus. He needs to win in eighteen and a half minutes or less or he won’t be able to have more minutes than Marcus and will be out of this tournament. Berry can win in twenty-nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds and still be in with a chance, but the quicker she wins, the quicker Jace Mason will need to win, so she won’t want this match to last too long.

MW: There’s a lot of pressure on both of these two not just to win but also to win in good time. Let’s go to someone who never feels the pressure: Dasha Banks.



“Our next match is an A Block contest scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, with four points and a total match time of seventy minutes and nineteen seconds, she is the current Freedom Champion, hailing from New Haven, Connecticut, The Bombshell… Berry Bishop!”



The fans cheer loudly as ‘The Entertainer’ begins to play. Berry emerges and bows deeply to the crowd before hopscotching down to the bottom of the ramp. When she reaches the bottom, she takes a moment to high five a few of the fans and allow some of her young fans to touch the Freedom Championship. She then climbs onto the apron and somersaults into the ring, bowing deeply once again and standing with a wink and a smile as a ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ chant fills the arena.



“And her opponent, also sitting on four points and with a total match time of eighty-seven minutes and six seconds, hailing from Portland, Oregon, The Paragon… James Saturn!”



Boos fill the arena as ‘White Knuckles’ begins to play. James Saturn takes a few moments before he bursts through the curtain and swaggers around at the top of the ramp before slowly walking down the ramp, taking care not to touch any of the fans who reach out to him. He looks dismissively at the young girls who were so eagerly cheering as Berry came down the ramp before walking up the stairs and stepping through the ropes. He climbs the ropes and takes a moment to soak in the boos of the fans before dropping down and resting on the turnbuckle, looking at Berry with a smirk as she limbers up.



Match 2: A Block: Berry Bishop (4) v James Saturn (4):



The official calls for the bell and both Saturn and Berry quickly come forward, Berry aiming a roundhouse kick at Saturn, who ducks and throws a superkick, which Berry ducks. She leaps up and goes for a monkey flip but Saturn overrotates and lands on his feet, turning and aiming a buzzsaw kick which Berry avoids by rolling backwards and pushing herself to her feet. She runs at Saturn again, ducking an attempted clothesline and leaping up onto the middle rope and connecting with a disaster kick. Berry makes a cover, the first of the match, 1-2-no. Saturn kicks out.



Both Berry and Saturn quickly get to their feet, Berry looking for another head kick and Saturn ducking, connecting with a back elbow before taking Berry down with a hard clothesline. Saturn pulls Berry up and wrings her arm, driving a shoulder into her shoulder and continuing to wring it before stepping up the ropes in the corner. He walks across the top rope before coming down with a chop, which Berry counters into an arm drag. Saturn scrambles up to his feet and runs at Berry but she leaps up and takes him down with a headscissors. Saturn rolls away and out of the ring, taking a moment to recover.



MW: A very fast start here.

SD: We talked about how important these seconds are for these two and they’ve both looked to get the match done fairly quickly.

MW: But an attempt at a quick victory could easily cost them a quick defeat.

SD: It’s a risk they have to take. Saturn winning in twenty-five minutes is no good for him at all.



Berry looks down at Saturn on the outside and aims a pescado, but Saturn moves out of the way and Berry lands on her feet. Saturn aims a thrust kick into her stomach and she doubles over as Saturn drives her head into the edge of the ring. Berry reels away and Saturn connects with a clothesline to the back of her head before throwing her head-first into the guardrail. Saturn then slides back into the ring and orders the official to count.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Berry begins to stir and looks up to see the official counting.



4……….



She quickly heads back to the ring and climbs in, only for Saturn to drops an elbow onto her and then lift her up, whipping her into the ropes and taking her down with a calf kick. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Berry manages to get her shoulder up. Saturn lifts her up again and whips her into the corner. He follows in with a hard clothesline and then drives his knee into her gut, lifting her up onto the top turnbuckle. Berry rests there as Saturn climbs after her, clubbing her across the back and then hooking his arm over her head and looking for a superplex. Berry resists, driving forearms into his gut and then into his face as he releases his arm. Saturn pauses for a moment and Berry manages to get a foot up and kick him hard in the back of the head. Saturn drops down and Berry jumps, connecting with a knee to his face and making a cover as soon as he hits the mat, 1-2-no. Saturn kicks out.



MW: Resourceful from Berry to avoid that superplex and turn the situation to her advantage.

SD: It certainly was. But the time is beginning to tick away here. We’ve been going for nearly seven minutes. Saturn in particular is going to be getting a little antsy at this point.

MW: But it’s Berry in control at the moment and she can afford to take a little more time.



Berry stands and takes a moment to shake off the damage done with the head-shots from earlier. She waits for Saturn to stand and then aims some kicks at his knee. He tries to pull the knee away but even glancing blows are visibly hurting him and doing damage. After getting him down to one knee, Berry hits the ropes and connects with a shining wizard before she makes a cover, 1-2-no. Saturn again manages to kick out as another Berry chant rings around the arena. Berry stands and stalks Saturn, coiling herself up in preparation for Checkmate. Saturn stands and turns, Berry uncoiling and unleashing, but Saturn catching the kick.



Saturn forces Berry’s foot down and follows in with a clothesline to take her off her feet. He then quickly climbs up to the top rope, looking for the Saturnsault, only for Berry to roll away. Saturn, however, sees it and lands on his feet, transitioning to a standing shooting star press and holding for a cover, 1-2-no! Berry just gets her shoulder up. As soon as she kicks out, Saturn transitions again, this time grabbing both legs and looking for Saturn’s Walls. Berry twists and turns, trying to avoid Saturn turning her. Just as he seems to have her in position, she jams an elbow into his bad knee and he’s forced to loosen his grip. Berry slides her legs free and then reaches up to pull Saturn down into a small package, 1-2-no! Saturn just escapes.



MW: So close!

SD: Both of them still trying to get the win as soon as they can here. I can see one of them slipping up and allowing the other to blindside them with a roll up just like that.

MW: But will it be Berry or will it be Saturn?



Both of them make it to their feet again and Saturn throws a wild clothesline which Berry ducks. She aims a roundhouse kick which this time connects, sending Saturn staggering. Berry then pulls him in for a Northern Lights suplex, bridging for the cover, 1-2-no. Saturn manages to kick out. He tries to get quickly to his feet but he can’t beat Berry to hers as she grabs him in a headlock and connects with a running bulldog. Berry then lifts Saturn up and looks to begin the Touchstone Takedown, but he elbows her in the gut and frees himself from her grip. She turns back to him but he leaps up onto the middle rope and comes back with a springboard clothesline which takes Berry down.



Saturn rolls to the ropes and pulls himself up. Berry stands and Saturn moves in, whipping her into the corner before running at her and hitting a running high knee. He rolls Berry out of the corner and then takes a couple of steps before delivering a hard kick to her back. She arches it in pain and Saturn then moves around her and delivers a vicious superkick to the head as she sits on the canvas. He makes a cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no! Berry just manages to get her shoulder up. Saturn bangs the mat in frustration and then pulls Berry up. He connects with an inverted atomic drop and then hits an enzeguiri before connecting with a scoop slam to set Berry up on the canvas.



MW: James Saturn looking to up top.

SD: He needs to do this fairly quickly now. We’re eleven and a half minutes into this match. That puts him roughly twenty-three minutes ahead of Marcus Allen Jones. We’re getting towards territory where this isn’t going to be enough pressure on Marcus.

MW: Saturn up top. Berry is still down on the mat. Saturnsault!

SD: Knees up!

MW: Berry Bishop got her knees up at the last moment and James Saturn is rolling away in pain.



Berry pulls herself up on the ropes and moves over to Saturn, lifting him and whipping him into the ropes. As he comes back to her, she lifts him for a Berry Buster, but Saturn grabs a handful of her hair and she has to release him. He lets go and unleashes a superkick, but Berry ducks and the crowd cheers again. She unleashes Checkmate, but Saturn ducks, unleashing another superkick, Berry rolling under it this time and then leaping up onto the middle rope and connecting with another disaster kick. Saturn reels over towards the ropes and Berry follows, pulling him in for the parallel snapmare. She then hits the ropes and completes the Touchstone Takedown, covering Saturn, 1-2-no! He manages to barely get a shoulder up.



Berry holds her hands to her head, as do many of the fans in the arena. They begin to chant her name again to get her back into it, and she stands, buoyed by their support. She coils up as Saturn pulls himself up on the ropes, again looking to connect with Checkmate. As she begins to uncoil, Saturn ducks. Berry pulls out of her attempt and instead hits a low dropkick to the bad knee, sending Saturn down onto all fours. Berry picks him up and looks to whip him into the ropes for another attempt at the Berry Buster, but he catches the top rope and holds on. Berry runs at him and Saturn drops the rope, sending Berry to the outside.



MW: Saturn with the reprieve there.

SD: But does he want Berry out of the ring? We’re almost at fifteen minutes. He’s closing in on twenty-six and a half minutes ahead of Marcus. Expecting Marcus to be unable to win in what? Twenty-seven? Twenty-eight minutes? It’s leaving his chances hanging by a thread. He has to win this match right now.

MW: But how can he? His knee is torn to pieces. He surely won’t risk a dive right now. If that misses he’s done.



Saturn waits in the ring on one knee as Berry stands. She looks at him struggling in the ring and slides in, getting quickly to her feet and then being struck from nowhere by a superkick! Saturn drops into a cover, 1-2-3.



Winner: James Saturn (16:23).



MW: Saturn beats Berry!

SD: Brilliant from James Saturn. He suckered her in perfectly and used her desperation against her. What a great tactic.

MW: But has he let the match go for too long?

SD: Maybe. I don’t know. He’s now been in the ring for a hundred and three minutes and twenty-nine seconds, so he’s about twenty-eight minutes ahead of Marcus Allen Jones. If Marcus wins but not inside that time, Saturn wins the block.

MW: And now he seems to be calling for a mic.



Saturn stands with Dasha’s microphone in his hand.



“Berry… you’re the Freedom Champion. After I win the block and then win the Free-1 altogether, I’m laying down a challenge for that t-



But Saturn is cut off by ‘Turn It On’.



SD: What is she doing here?

MW: Elizabeth Karlson clearly has issues with Saturn making this challenge.



Karlson marches down to the ring with her own microphone in hand. She gets in and gets in James Saturn’s face.



“The way I see it… I beat her. You beat her. We both get a shot. But I beat you too, remember? So why don’t you get to the back of the line as I’m the first to challenge for that title.”



Saturn and Karlson stare each other down for a few moments before Berry stands and pulls a mic away from Saturn.



“You don’t need to fight over me. You just need to fight me. Why don’t we make this nice and easy? Freedom Champion Berry Bishop versus Women’s Champion Elizabeth Karlson versus James Saturn: winner take all? Whoever wins unifies the two belts and is a true Freedom Champion- men, women, whoever- no… whomever… definitely whomever. How about it?”



Karlson lifts the mic to her mouth.



“I beat you both already. You don’t deserve a shot at my title. I’ll put it on the line… but I only lose it if one of you can beat me not if you beat each other.”



Berry nods and Saturn gives a smug shrug before they stare each other down in the ring as the camera cuts backstage.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Jim Houston stands with Jerry Bishop and Graham Baker in his office.



JH: Thank you both for coming in. Tomorrow night the two of you will face off in the main event for the right to be in the Free-1 final for the second year in a row. Now, both of your tournaments have had some controversy shall we say. So here’s what’s going to happen. Have whoever you like down at ringside- I don’t mind. But any outside interference in the match or any pre-match attacks like that stunt you pulled on Danica Jane and Crowley and it’s instant disqualification, even before the match. I’ll be watching very closely. Do you both understand?

GB: Jerry knows I don’t need help to beat him. If MDE and Bobby stay out of the match, I can keep it clean.

JB: They won’t get involved.

JH: Good. The eyes of the wrestling world will be on this match and I’m not letting FPW get a negative reputation. Now go and watch the last match. You could well be facing one of these guys a week tomorrow.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Back at ringside, the camera shows the announcers.



MW: What a night this has been. Two excellent matches, a potential match that I think could be incredible if we get to see it, and now it all comes down to one match.

SD: The situation is this. For Jace Mason, it’s simple: win the match, win the block. For Marcus Allen Jones, he needs to win the match in less than twenty-seven minutes and fifty-seven seconds to win the block. If Marcus wins in twenty-seven minutes and fifty-eight seconds or more, James Saturn wins the block. If these two draw, Elizabeth Karlson wins the block.

MW: What if Marcus wins in exactly twenty-seven minutes and fifty-seven seconds?

SD: Then… I don’t actually know. But let’s assume that won’t happen and deal with it if it ever does.

MW: Keys to victory tonight?

SD: For Mason… I think he needs to take it slow. Soften up the knee for the half-crab but if he gets the chance to hit Extra Credit, take it. The longer the match goes, the more Marcus will be worrying about the time. In the ring, they don’t always know the time so his mind may not be one hundred percent focussed on just winning the match. If Mason can play on that, Marcus could get rattled and Mason could pick up what would be quite a surprise A Block victory.

MW: How about Marcus?

SD: He needs to be the Marcus Allen Jones that was FPW Champion for so long. He needs to win in whatever way he can. He won’t have the help of TakeOver tonight, but he can still be that person. He needs to get on top of the match fairly early on but he also needs to not panic and start rushing. He still has just under twenty-eight minutes. Very few matches in the Free-1 have even come close to that, and there’s nothing to say that this one has to. Marcus can beat Jace Mason in less than twenty-seven minutes and fifty-seven seconds and he has to go into this match with that as a certainty in his mind.

MW: Well the one certainty is that at the end of this match, one of four competitors will be the A Block representative in the Free-1 final. To find out who it will be, let’s start with another certainty in FPW: Dasha Banks.



“The following contest is the final A Block match-up of Free-1 II and is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time limit. Introducing first, currently with four points and a total match time of seventy-five minutes and thirty-two seconds, he needs to win this match in fewer than twenty-seven minutes and fifty-seven seconds to win the A Block. He is a former FPW Champion and Young Lions’ Cup winner, from Chicago, Illinois, The Smartest Man in Professional Wrestling… Marcus Allen Jones!”



Marcus receives a mixed reaction as ‘Cult of Personality’ hits. He backflips on the stage and lands in his trademark pose, holding it for longer than normal as the camera zooms in to see his lip moving. Marcus stands and stares out with a very intense look on his face before walking down the ramp, aggressively slapping a couple of hands before pulling out his usual piece of paper which simply says ’27:56’. He screws it up and throws it at the camera lens before sliding into the ring and climbing up to the top turnbuckle, a section of the crowd cheering loudly for him while others dismiss him. He drops down and the music stops, Marcus resting in one corner as a loud ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant spreads.



“And his opponent, currently sitting with four points and a total match time of eighty-six minutes and forty-six seconds, needing a win to become the A Block winner. He hails from Seattle, Washington and is a former Freedom Champion, The Eternal Student… Jace Mason!”



‘Afterlife’ begins and the cheers build for Mason before he steps out, one foot in front of the other, as pyro explodes on either side of him. After the pyro comes to an end, Mason looks out around the crowd with a smile, pointing to all sections of the arena before making his way down the ramp. He slaps hands with fans and gives a confused look to a couple of fans with home-made Marcus Allen Jones t-shirts. Mason climbs onto the ring apron and then climbs the turnbuckle, one foot on top and the other on the middle rope as he raises his right fist. Mason then drops down into the ring and eyes Marcus with suspicion.



MW: The atmosphere here is absolutely electric.

SD: This match has a massive feel. This is the A Block final, albeit with a couple of caveats for the draw and the time, but until we hit the twenty-eight minute mark, this match is for all the marbles.



Match 3: A Block: Marcus Allen Jones (4) v Jace Mason (4):



The official calls for the bell and Marcus and Mason stand in place for a few moments, absorbing the loud cheers from the fans. A duelling chant of ‘Let’s Go Mason’ and ‘Let’s Go Marcus’ rings around the arena, Mason’s chants louder but Marcus’ clear and audible. Both of them look around the arena and nod before circling one another. They lock up, neither man able to gain much ground. They hold the lock-up as each of them tries to force the other back, but, with no clear advantage for either of them, they soon break it. They circle one another again and lock up a second time, the same thing happening before both of them break apart once again.



They circle each other again and move together once more, Marcus ducking underneath the lock-up and locking in a waistlock. He lifts Mason, but Mason catches him with a headlock and rolls him through. Marcus gets his legs up for a headscissors and Mason pushes him off. Both men rush to their feet and Mason darts in, Marcus catching him first with one arm drag and then with another. As Mason gets up a third time, Marcus throws a superkick, but Mason ducks, throwing his own superkick to the gut before looking for a DDT. Marcus twists free and grabs the wrist before connecting with a superkick. Mason drops to the mat and Marcus makes a quick cover, 1-no. Mason easily kicks out.



MW: Did we see some nerves there from Marcus Allen Jones?

SD: Perhaps. He knows there’s time pressure on him, but I doubt that’ll play in just yet.

MW: Either way, it’s a fascinatingly even start to this one.



Both men make it quickly to their feet and Mason catches Marcus with a headlock and quickly takes him over. As Marcus lifts his legs for the headscissors again, Mason catches his left leg and transitions fluidly into position for the half-crab. Marcus kicks his way free and quickly gets to his feet, leap-frogging Mason as he comes back at him. Mason hits the ropes and Marcus drops down, looking for a version of a monkey flip, but Mason evades him and rolls through. Both men make it to their feet again and eye one another from across the ring as the fans cheer them loudly.



They come together again and lock up, Marcus taking Mason’s wrist and wringing the arm, laying in a kick to the chest and then kicking Mason’s leg out. He hits the ropes and connects with a low dropkick before making another cover, 1-no. Mason again kicks out. As Mason moves to get to his feet, Marcus catches his leg and holds it with Mason standing on one foot. Marcus drives an elbow down into the knee and then shoves Mason to the mat before taking the ankle and twisting the leg. Mason manages to roll with the direction of the torque and use his other leg to free his foot before pulling himself to his feet, only for Marcus to catch his legs and lift him before driving him down with a wheelbarrow facebuster.



MW: That was a good opportunistic counter from Marcus.

SD: Interesting to see Marcus looking to work the leg, but I think Mason’s technical skills will make that difficult. That’s not the way I’d be looking to go in this match.

MW: Are you saying someone is better than Marcus Allen Jones at something?

SD: At one element of wrestling perhaps but not yet overall.



Marcus rolls backwards and then hits the ropes as Mason rolls onto his back. Marcus connects with a running shooting star press before rolling through and climbing up to the top rope. He pauses for a second before coming down with a phoenix splash. He makes another cover, 1-2-no! Mason just gets a shoulder up as the fans gasp. Marcus then pulls Mason to his feet and sends him into the corner, following him in with a high knee. Marcus lifts Mason and sits him on the top turnbuckle before connecting with a Pele kick. Mason almost drops to the outside but Marcus catches him and holds him in place before climbing up and standing on the top rope before taking Mason back into the ring with a frankensteiner. Marcus then hits the ropes and connects with a shining wizard before making a deep cover, 1-2-no. Mason manages to kick out.



Marcus stands again and pulls Mason up, whipping him once again into the corner. He runs at him and looks for another high knee, but Mason moves out of the way and Marcus manages to catch himself on the top rope. He takes advantage, looking for a moonsault, but Mason connects with a superkick to Marcus’ gut, causing him to fold in mid-air and roll in the ring, gasping for breath. Mason takes a moment to recover before lifting Marcus and hooking an arm over his head. He pulls Marcus up for a vertical suplex and then drives him down with a falcon arrow, hooking a leg for a cover, 1-2-no. Marcus kicks out.



MW: Mason working back into this match.

SD: Marcus doesn’t often go back to the well in the same match. It’s not something that works against a lot of people but especially not against someone like Jace Mason.

MW: And now Mason needs to keep on top here. Can he keep Marcus down?

SD: I’m not sure many people can keep Marcus Allen Jones down. We’re approaching the ten-minute mark by the way.



Mason stands, stalking Marcus before delivering a spin kick to the gut and then kicking out his leg. He hits the ropes and comes back with a low dropkick. Marcus rolls towards the outside but Mason stops him from dropping down to the outside. Mason pulls Marcus up and looks to suplex him back into the ring, but Marcus resists, hooking a leg over the bottom rope before delivering right hands to the gut. Marcus then drops Mason’s neck down onto the top rope and Mason reels away. Marcus watches and then leaps onto the top rope, connecting with a springboard shooting-star DDT! The fans applaud as Marcus makes the cover, 1-2-no! Mason just gets a shoulder up.



Marcus rolls away and holds his gut, still sore after that superkick. He pulls himself up and then stalks Mason as he too pulls himself to his feet. Marcus then hits the ropes and connects with a running swinging neckbreaker before covering Mason again, 1-2-no. Mason kicks out. As Mason kicks out, Marcus grabs his wrist and looks to pull him to his feet. The fans stand in anticipation of Marcus’ attempt at Six Stars. He shoves Mason away and looks to pull him back in, but Mason counters with a superkick to the gut. Marcus doubles over and Mason connects with a DDT and then rolls away. With both men down, the fans stand and applaud once again.



MW: This match has only been going for twelve minutes and yet both men are catching their breath here.

SD: They’ve both gone hard at the other. They’ve also had four tough matches and have been in the ring for a lot of time under a lot of pressure this month. I don’t think you can blame them for being gassed right now.

MW: Both men looking to get to their feet. One could take a big advantage now.



Marcus manages to get to his feet just before Mason, stalking him and aiming a superkick. Mason manages to duck, landing a few elbows to the face and then whipping Marcus across the ring. As Marcus comes back to him, Mason lifts him onto his shoulders and connects with a fireman’s carry neckbreaker. He then sits Marcus up and connects with a low dropkick. Marcus rolls through and ends up on his knees. Mason then runs at him and drives a knee into his head. He then climbs to the top rope and looks down for a moment before leaping off and connecting with a shooting star press. Mason makes the cover, 1-2-no! Marcus just gets a shoulder up.



Mason holds his head with how close he was to having the match won before pulling Marcus up and then setting him into position with a snapmare. He hits the ropes and connects with a hard penalty kick before making another cover, 1-2-no. Again Marcus kicks out. Mason hits the ropes and comes back with a knee drop to the head before lifting Marcus’ leg and dropping a knee onto his knee. He tries to wrench it but Marcus sits up and hooks Mason in for a small package, 1-2-no. Mason just manages to escape. The two men get to their feet quickly and Mason aims a kick at Marcus’ knee, but Marcus catches it, spinning Mason around and then connecting with a snapmare driver. Marcus makes another cover, 1-2-no! Mason just gets a shoulder up once again.



MW: Every time Jace Mason tries to go for Marcus’ knee he seems to get punished.

SD: Marcus knows what Jace wants to do. He’s not letting him do it. It’s pro-wrestling 101.

MW: Does Mason have enough in the tank to manage to win the match without doing damage to the knee?

SD: Perhaps. But he will need to adjust quickly on the fly. We’re approaching sixteen minutes.



Marcus stands and watches as Mason looks to get to his feet. Marcus stands behind Mason and then leaps up for a reverse ‘rana before turning and following immediately up with a Canadian destroyer. Marcus makes a cover, 1-2-no! Mason again barely manages to get a shoulder up. Marcus shakes his head in frustration before pulling Mason up from behind. He traps the wrist and looks to ripcord him again, but Mason again looks for that superkick. Marcus, however, catches it, dropping Mason to the mat and stomping hard on the back of the knee. He then traps the knee and reaches forward to pull back Mason’s head in a kneeling cross-legged STF.



Mason grimaces with the pain but doesn’t panic. He manages to push up onto a knee and force his way to the ropes, breaking the hold before it can do too much damage. Marcus breaks quickly and then pulls Mason up, connecting with a spinning kick to the gut and then a Pele kick before taking Mason down with a step-up enzeguiri. Marcus looks at Mason lying prone on the mat and then looks up to the top rope. The fans build their anticipation as Marcus climbs and begins the rhythmic clap. Many clap along with him but no more than half the arena. He then leaps down with a yell of ‘Screw you, Trevor’, only for Mason to scramble out of the way as Marcus crashes and burns.



MW: Could the delay have cost Marcus Allen Jones’ a three-count?

SD: He always does it and it doesn’t tend to be a problem, but Mason is a real scout. He knows what Marcus likes to do and he’s making sure he can counter it.

MW: And now it’s a great chance for Mason to work his way back into the match again. What is the time looking like?

SD: Nineteen minutes… Marcus will start to get a little jumpy right now.



Mason pulls himself up on the ropes as he sees Marcus pulling himself up in the corner. He runs at him and connects with a high knee. Marcus staggers out of the corner and Mason leaps up onto the middle rope, taking Marcus down with a well-aimed disaster kick. Mason makes a cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no! Marcus just gets his shoulder up. Mason again holds his hands to his head but he doesn’t waste too much time. He pulls Marcus up and connects with a knife-edged chop, driving Marcus back into the corner as he continues to chop him hard. Mason then lifts Marcus up onto the top rope and climbs after him.



Marcus is quick to resist whatever Mason is looking for, driving his forearm into his head. Mason staggers, almost falling before coming back to Marcus with a forearm of his own. The two continue to exchange forearms on the top rope before Marcus kicks out Mason’s knee and causes him to drop down. Marcus then hooks an arm over Mason’s head and pushes off, connecting with a tornado DDT. Marcus rolls over into a cover, 1-2-no! Mason again manages to roll a shoulder up. Marcus pulls himself up to his feet and asks the official for the time. He’s told they’ve been going for twenty-one minutes and five seconds. Marcus nods and looks down at Mason, stalking him as he gets to his feet. As Mason turns, Marcus unleashes a vicious superkick and then quickly locks him into the sharpshooter.



MW: Mark-treal Screwjob!

SD: He hasn’t used this for a very long time and it doesn’t bode well for Jace Mason.

MW: Mason is in the middle of the ring. He may have to tap out here. Could Marcus Allen Jones be about to win the A Block?



Mason tries to push himself up, but Marcus sits down as low as he possibly can. Mason raises a hand, looking ready to tap out, but he continues to fight. He manages to push a few inches towards the ropes but Marcus sits down even further to stop the progress. Mason drops down as the official darts in to check if he’s still conscious. The official raises Mason’s hand but it doesn’t drop, Mason keeping his hand from hitting the mat. He pushes up again and makes another effort to make it to the ropes, Marcus seemingly unable to stop him. Mason reaches out for the bottom rope but Marcus makes another effort to drag him back towards the middle. He manages a couple of steps before Mason catches his leg in the air, trying to trip him. Marcus drops to a knee for a moment but doesn’t release the hold. As he stands again, Mason uses the brief respite to charge to the ropes and grab the bottom rope.



Marcus releases the hold and drops down after having exerted so much energy in keeping the hold locked in. He looks up to the official again and asks for the time, and is told the match is twenty-four minutes old exactly. Marcus stands and desperately lifts Mason, who comes at him with a forearm strike. Marcus staggers back a little before coming back towards Mason, who manages to catch him with Extra Credit from nowhere! Mason rolls over and drapes an arm over Marcus, 1-2-no! Marcus gets his shoulder up just as the official’s arm is coming down for a three. A wave of shocked sounds echoes around the arena as Mason breathes heavily with another look of shock on his face.



MW: I don’t believe that!

SD: Marcus is single-minded. When he wants something, he gets it. He’s not going to let Jace Mason defeat him.

MW: But time might defeat him. We’re up to…

SD: Twenty-five twelve.

MW: He has fewer than two minutes to win this one if he wants to win the block.



Mason stands and looks at Marcus as he also gets to his feet. Mason moves over to Marcus and whips him into the ropes, looking for another Extra Credit. Marcus blocks it, elbowing his way free and sending Mason reeling. Marcus then traps the wrist and quickly ripcords Mason, looking for the Six Stars. Mason goes for the superkick to the gut counter, but Marcus catches it again. Mason then counters with an enzeguiri and breaks Marcus’ grip. Marcus staggers back into the ropes and staggers back towards Mason, who looks for Extra Credit again. Again Marcus manages to elbow his way out and again Mason reels away.



SD: One and a half minutes for Marcus to win this match!



Marcus moves in again, trapping the wrist and then driving a forearm into the back of Mason’s head before ripcording him and connecting with Six Stars! Marcus drops down and makes a cover with a back press, one arm in the air, 1-2-no! Mason gets a foot on the ropes. Marcus looks with desperation at the official as he confirms that it was only a two count. Marcus looks down at Mason, who hasn’t moved since getting his foot onto the rope.



SD: Thirty-two seconds!



Marcus tries to pull Mason up but he’s dead weight. He finally manages to heave him into position and traps his wrist again. He ripcords him and leaps up with the knee, but Mason drops with exhaustion.



SD: That’s… that’s it!

MW: Is it over the time?

SD: Yes. Marcus Allen Jones couldn’t do it. We’re over twenty-eight minutes.

MW: And now Elizabeth Karlson and James Saturn are very much in this race.



Marcus drops the wrist and holds his hands to his head, looking around the crowd. He shakes his head and then looks down at Mason, a look of frustration coming over him. He pulls him up again, trapping the wrist and ripcording him. He leaps up, but Mason catches the knee. He and Marcus lock eyes as Mason pushes the knee down and then pulls Marcus into a second Extra Credit! Mason holds on for a cover, 1-2-3!



Winner: Jace Mason (28:58).



MW: Jace Mason is into the Free-1 final!

SD: What a victory. Marcus looked like he had him beaten but the time expiring on his chances meant he didn’t manage to get it done. And Jace Mason took advantage perfectly.

MW: But let’s not take away from what Jace Mason did tonight. He didn’t just take advantage of Marcus Allen Jones being distracted. He beat him absolutely fairly and squarely. He matches one of the most talented wrestlers in the world, survived a Six Stars and managed to come through to pin Marcus one-two-three.

SD: And Marcus Allen Jones has proved that he can’t do it without TakeOver!

MW: I’m not sure I would agree with that. He’s had great matches with the likes of Aaron Williams and especially tonight. He’s earned the respect of these fans. They’re still standing and applauding both of these men.



Mason pulls himself up, a look of disbelief in his eyes as he confirms with the official that he has indeed won the block. The official raises his arm and Mason stares out at the fans with a huge smile on his face. He looks down at Marcus, who sits against the bottom rope with his head hung. Mason walks over to Marcus and offers him a hand. Marcus stares up at him for a few moments before sighing and accepting the hand, allowing Mason to hold him up. Marcus pats Mason on the back and nods at him before leaving the ring and allowing Jace Mason to celebrate with the fans.



MW: Well the A Block is finished and I can confirm Jace Mason has the victory. He, Elizabeth Karlson and James Saturn end on six points, Mason with the tie-breakers on both of them due to holding victories over them both. Karlson ends in second, Saturn in third, Berry Bishop in fourth due to time and then Marcus and Williams in fifth and sixth.

SD: And now Jace Mason will face either Graham Baker or Jerry Bishop in the Free-1 final on Sunday 1st September.

MW: What a match I’m sure that will be. Tomorrow we present the B Block’s final-

SD: Wait.

MW: What?

SD: I’m getting word… let’s get cameras backstage.



Backstage, Haych and Dario have jumped Marcus and are beating him down against a wall. They lay into him with boots as they abuse him for failing to do anything without them. Aaron Williams charges up to them and forces them to back off, checking on Marcus as he lies in the foetal position. Haych and Dario back-up, Dario shouting that Marcus can’t live without TakeOver, but TakeOver will thrive without Marcus.



MW: I think we’ve finally got our answer.

SD: TakeOver have kicked Marcus Allen Jones to the kerb.

MW: Thank God for Aaron Williams coming to the rescue. That will be a very interesting thread to follow I’m sure, but let’s not let it distract from that amazing achievement of that man in the ring. Jace Mason wins the A Block and tomorrow night we find out his Free-1 final opponent. See you then.

[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 complete our Free-1 line-up after an incredible night of action last night saw it come down to Marcus Allen Jones versus Jace Mason for the A Block crown.

SD: After Marcus’ time expired, Mason took full advantage, striking Marcus with an Extra Credit counter to Six Stars and pinning the former FPW Champion’s shoulders to the mat for the three count, giving him the A Block title. Tonight we find out who will join him. Will it be Jerry Bishop or will it be Graham Baker?

MW: In our predictions preview, we couldn’t find a consensus. We were split right down the middle. There’s a good case to be made for each of them.

SD: Graham Baker is arguably the best wrestler we’ve seen here in FPW. He’s widely considered to be the best FPW Champion of all time and he’s won the Free-1 before, defeating Jerry Bishop in the final last year. Jerry Bishop is on the roll to end all rolls- four from four- and he has a pro wrestling mastermind guiding him. He only needs a draw and I think there’s a chance that’s what he gets. But I really don’t know what to expect from that match and I cannot wait to watch it unfold from the best seat in the house.

MW: Of course, Baker v Bishop isn’t the only match of the show. We start with two wrestlers already eliminated in Artemis Evans and Botiatus. Bo had a great start to this tournament but an arm injury has led to two consecutive losses. We’re hearing he’s been cleared to compete tonight, but only barely. Can he defeat an Artemis Evans who’s on the war path after just one win from her four matches so far?

SD: I won’t sit on the fence with this one. Evans is going to win this match. Bo’s arm will come into play and Evans will use it to her advantage. I don’t see why Bo is competing tonight when he has nothing to play for. If he wants to beat Evans, let her have this one and then challenge her when she’s healthy.

MW: What can Bo do to try and pick up a win tonight?

SD: He needs to win quickly. The longer he wrestles, the more chance of his arm being affected. A quick win is the only way he beats Evans tonight.

MW: Well here’s someone who always has an effect on people: Dasha Banks.



“Welcome to the final night of B Block action. The following contest is scheduled for one fall and has a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, with four points and a total match time of eighty-seven minutes and thirteen seconds, from The Bay Area, California… Botiatus!”



The lights drop and the screen shows the familiar sight of the wide stone steps, panning up the steps to reveal columns and then the Ancient Roman villa. As ‘Famous’ really kicks in, the words ‘House of Botiatus’ replace the image on the screen and Bo bursts through the curtain, his left arm in a heavy protective sleeve. He surveys the crowd for a few moments before making his way down the ramp, holding out his right hand to slap hands but keeping his left close to his side. Bo climbs onto the apron and then onto the turnbuckle, kneeling on the top and pointing down to the announce table. The lights drop to a single spotlight on Bo, standing in his signature pose. As the lights return, Bo drops back down into the ring and nods, already flexing his left arm.



“And his opponent, sitting on two points and with a total match time of sixty-four minutes and forty seconds, from Manchester, England, a former FPW Women’s Champion, The Glory Huntress… Artemis Evans!”



‘Checkmate’ rings out around the arena along with the image of the white queen before ‘Hammer to Fall’ begins to play and Evans enters the arena. The crowd boo her loudly but she just smirks, extending her arms and standing as pyro explodes on either side of her. She then walks down to the ring, trash talking the crowd and mocking Botiatus as she flexes her arm and grimaces in mock pain. She then climbs onto the apron and jumps over the top rope, surveying Bo for a moment before dismissing him and moving over to the corner, standing on the top turnbuckle and extending her arms again as she soaks in the boos from the crowd.



Match 1: B Block: Botiatus (4) v Artemis Evans (2):



The bell rings and the two of them circle one another. Evans tries to find a position from which she can take the arm, but Bo positions himself with his right shoulder forward, hiding the injured left arm behind his back. Evans darts in and looks for a leg, but Bo avoids her and hits the ropes, looking for a quick House Call. Evans manages to duck and rolls out of the ring, regrouping after coming so close to a quick loss. Bo taunts her by holding his finger and thumb close together as she looks up at him. Evans smirks and calls him to the outside, but Bo holds his position in the ring, the official telling Evans to get back in.



After a few protestations, Evans climbs back up onto the apron and, after ordering the official to keep Bo back, steps through the ropes. As soon as she gets into the ring, she comes at Bo, who still has the official in front of him. Bo shoves the official aside but Evans catches him with a running knee to the gut. Bo drops to his knees and Evans connects with a snap DDT, making a cover, 1-2-no. Bo kicks out. As soon as he gets his shoulders off the mat, Evans goes for the arm, trying to grab the wrist. Bo manages to wriggle his arm free and he delivers a forearm from the mat to create some separation. He quickly gets to his feet and, as Evans comes back at him, he ducks a clothesline attempt and connects with an inverted headlock backbreaker. Evans drops to the mat but Bo can’t make the cover as he flexes his arm after using it to break his fall to the mat.



MW: Bo is doing what he can but he really doesn’t look right with that arm.

SD: Like I said, the intelligent thing for him to have done is to have forfeited this meaningless match for him. He can challenge Evans once his arm is healthy and he won’t have any excuses then when he loses.

MW: Botiatus is a competitor, as you well know. He wouldn’t forfeit a match unless his arm had fallen off.

SD: And that may happen with it clearly so injured!



Bo turns as Evans is getting to her feet. He grips her and whips her into the ropes, pulling her in for a Northern Lights suplex as she comes back. He then pushes up and looks to pull Evans up for another, but he can’t maintain his grip and is forced to reel away and flex his arm. The official moves to check on him but Evans tries to take advantage, rolling him up with a schoolboy pin, 1-2-no. Bo manages to kick out. Evans is quicker to her feet and she lands a kick to the arm as Bo tries to get up. He rolls away in pain and she darts in quickly, stomping hard on the arm and forcing Bo to roll to the outside.



Evans follows, grabbing the arm and wrenching it before whipping Bo shoulder first into the ringpost. He spins away and grabs at his arm, only for Evans to drives his head into the edge of the ring and then shoving him chest-first into the guardrail. Evans then grabs his wrist and tries to thread it through the rail, only for Bo to land a kick to her gut to break her grip. He then grabs her head and shoves it into the guardrail before rolling her back into the ring. Bo climbs up onto the apron and stalks Evans, waiting for her to get to her feet. Using just his right arm, he springboards up onto the top rope and connects with a springboard blockbuster. This time he manages to make the cover, 1-2-no. Evans kicks out and Bo rolls away, flexing his arm again.



MW: Better from Botiatus.

SD: The adrenaline seems to be kicking in. It’s amazing how hitting a few moves can make a body part that was in agony feel like it’s only in a small amount of pain.

MW: And now Bo needs to take advantage while that adrenaline is still coursing through his veins.

SD: If he keeps his momentum, he’ll keep the adrenaline. Let Evans back into the match and the arm will go back to how it was.



Bo pulls Evans up and lifts her onto his shoulder. He delivers snake eyes and then hits the ropes, looking again for House Call, but Evans ducks again. Bo hits the ropes chest-first and Evans connects with a discus forearm as he bounces back, sending him back into the ropes, Evans then pulling him down with a neckbreaker and making a cover of her own, 1-2-no. Bo manages to kick out. Evans then pulls Bo to his feet and drives a knee into his gut before hitting the ropes and taking him down with an axe kick. She then sets Bo into position and delivers a code red, holding on for a cover, 1-2-no! Bo gets a shoulder up. Evans then takes the shoulder and tries to lock in an arm bar, but somehow Bo manages to scramble away to the ropes. Evans keeps her loose hold on for as long as the official will allow before breaking it and scrambling quickly to her feet.



She stalks Bo and, after he manages to stand, she takes him back down with an inverted STO. Evans then looks up to the top rope and down at the arm. She nods to herself and climbs up, pointing down at the arm as the fans boo. She leaps down for a double stomp to the arm, but Bo manages to roll away. Evans lands on both feet and then rolls backwards, but Bo springs up and charges at her, delivering a running dropkick which sends her back-first into the turnbuckles. Bo then stands, roaring with an intensity that the crowd match, pulls Evans up and into a vertical suplex position before dumping her on the top rope. He then hits the ropes and connects with a running elbow to her mid-section before pulling her head through the ropes. He drives a knee into her face and the fans count with him. After nine knee strikes, he hits the ropes and aims a running knee, but Evans pulls her head away and catches the arm, dropping down and wrapping it painfully around the middle rope. Bo screams with the pain and the official has to wrestle Evans off him.



MW: You can feel Botiatus’ pain right there.

SD: Excellent from Evans. She had that move scouted and he gave her just enough time to avoid the knee and to cause a lot of damage.

MW: Bo might be in serious trouble now.



Bo lies in the ring clutching the left arm as Evans steps through the ropes. She lays in a hard stomp to the arm, and then another and another. After a fourth, Bo lets out a cry and pushes up to his knees. Evans kicks at his arm again but Bo cries out again and stands, calling Evans to kick him again. She does, but he catches the kick and explodes with a massive forearm to send Evans to the mat. Bo flexes his arm over and over as he stalks Evans and then crouches behind her. As Evans stands, Bo leaps up for House Rules, but Evans catches him, hooking her arms under his and performing a backslide. She lets Bo roll all the way through before pulling him up and laying in a vicious kick to his left shoulder. As he cries in pain, she moves swiftly behind him and pulls him into position before delivering a Guillotine Strike. Evans wastes no time in making a cover, 1-2-3.



Winner: Artemis Evans (13:05).



MW: Well we now have the answer to our question: Botiatus couldn’t overcome an injury and a very dangerous opponent in Artemis Evans tonight.

SD: There’s no shame in losing to Arty. She ends with four points but it easily could have been at least six.

MW: If not for the interference in her match with Danica Jane, she would almost certainly have ended with six points, which would have been an impressive debut and as many points as Jace Mason needed to win the A Block.

SD: I have a feeling that Artemis Evans is just beginning her big push towards the top here in FPW. She won the Women’s Championship and cleared out the division. She’s got her sights set very high and I think we’re going to see more gold around that waist fairly soon.



Evans has her arm raised by the official but doesn’t stand there for long. She uses her boot to encourage Bo out of the ring and then talks some trash with the fans, ending with “You haven’t seen the last of me,” before she leaves the ring.



MW: Whatever Artemis Evans says, we have seen the last of her in the Free-1 and, depending on the next match, she may yet finish an impressive third.

SD: If Shihei beats Clutch she will. A Clutch win takes it to our old friend the match times between Clutch, Bo and Arty.

MW: Well speaking of old friends, let’s take a look at this backstage footage from after Marcus Allen Jones’ fantastic match with Jace Mason last night. As you can see, Haych and Dario finally revealed their true colours, jumping Marcus after the match. It’s only due to Aaron Williams happening to be nearby at the time that Marcus didn’t suffer major damage. Here’s what Jim Houston had to say to Haych and Dario after the attack.



Haych and Dario stand in Jim Houston’s office, smirks on their faces.



JH: Quite frankly, I don’t know why I shouldn’t just fire you two right here and now.

D: Go on then.

JH: What?

D: Go on then. Do it.

H: You know if you fire us, we’re going to keep coming back and wrecking your shows. Either fire us and we wreak havoc here or start treating us properly. We’re a fucking good tag team-

D: A fucking great tag team.

H: You know it. But when did we last have a match?

JH: Oh, you want a match?

D: Yeah. We want a match.

JH: How about this for a match? At the Free-1 final next Sunday, we’ll have The Invaders taking on Marcus Allen Jones and Aaron Williams. How does that sound?

D (smirking): That sounds fucking perfect.

H: You thought TakeOver was done, Houston. We’re only just beginning.

D (getting very close to Houston): So you’d better watch your back.



Haych and Dario leave the office, still smirking, as Houston stares at them as they leave.



MW: So our current card for the Free-1 final look like this: Jace Mason versus either Graham Baker or Jerry Bishop for the Free-1, Davey Jones defending the FPW Championship in a triple threat with Bobby O and Jack Sevren, Death Squad defending the Tag Team Championships in a death match against The Guardians of Strong Style and now Marcus Allen Jones teaming with Aaron Williams to take on The Invaders.

SD: I’m not sure that was wise by Jim Houston to make that match. You know TakeOver always have something their sleeves. They have people all over the place who haven’t yet revealed themselves and I hear they’ve had people in lots of different companies too…

MW: What are you implying?

SD: Nothing… yet.

MW: I’m not even going to try to talk TakeOver with you. Let’s focus on our next match. Next up Clutch McCloud, a man seemingly very angry with how this Free-1 has panned out, will face Go Shihei, a man seemingly… well, very angry permanently.

SD: This one will be very interesting. I don’t see it lasting long and I don’t see either man leaving without some major aches and pains when they get out of bed tomorrow.

MW: Keys to victory?

SD: Shihei needs to be able to absorb Clutch’s strikes and come back harder. If Clutch realises that his forearms and his kicks aren’t effective, then I think he struggles to find a way to win. For Clutch, he needs to hit hard, hit often and not let up. I can’t wait for this one.

MW: And nobody can wait-

SD: Do you have to do this every match?

MW: Why not? It’s fun. Here’s someone who’s always fun-

SD: You’re even changing your segue?

MW: Someone who’s always fun… Dasha Banks.



“And now our second match is a B Block contest scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. Introducing first, with two points and a total match time of fifty-five minutes and fifty-one seconds, from The Gateway City and accompanied to the ring by Danica Jane and Richard Crowley, God’s Gift to Wrestling… Clutch McCloud!”



‘This Fire Burns’ plays and Clutch is booed as he walks out onto the stage. Danica Jane and Richard Crowley follow him, Crowley with a bandage on his head from Graham Baker’s attack. Clutch stays in front of them as he walks down to the ring, aggressively moving towards any fans who shout abuse and having a momentary stare-down with a well-built fan in a Go Shihei shirt before laughing him off and moving on. Clutch then slides into the ring and holds the ropes open for Jane and Crowley, who climb in after him. They come to rest in a corner, Crowley whispering words of advice to Clutch while Danica looks in disgust at the crowd, who are still booing him.



“And his opponent, with two points and a total match time of sixty-three minutes and fifty-two seconds, accompanied to the ring by Kate Mustang, from Osaka, Japan, Holy Fury… Go Shihei!”



Darkness falls over the arena as the opening monologue to ‘Fury, Oh Fury’ plays. As the lyrics and heavy guitar begin, red and white light fills the arena and Go Shihei emerges through the curtain with Kate Mustang following behind. The crowd cheers for him and a chant of ‘Go’s Gonna Kill You’ can be heard over his music. Shihei nods and then makes his way down the ramp, beating his chest and slapping himself in the head before climbing the steps and wiping his feet before entering the ring. He steps up to Clutch and the two have an aggressive staredown before the official separates them.



Match 2: B Block: Clutch McCloud (2) v Go Shihei (2):



As soon as the bell rings, Clutch darts forward and connects with forearms to Shihei, forcing him backwards into the turnbuckles. He strikes him with another forearm but Shihei moves forward and roars at Clutch, switching their positions and laying into him with a huge chop. Clutch quickly moves out of the corner, holding his chest with his face contorted in pain as the fans cheer. Shihei grabs him and thrown him back into the corner, chopping him hard again. Clutch again reels away and Shihei hits the ropes, coming back hard with a lariat that folds Clutch in half on the mat. Shihei drops and makes a cover, 1-2-no. Clutch kicks out.



Shihei then pulls Clutch to his feet and lands a hard forearm which causes Clutch to stagger back a few steps. Shihei hits the ropes again and looks again for a hard lariat, but Clutch ducks, hitting the ropes himself and coming back at Shihei with a running European uppercut. Shihei shrugs it off, Clutch staring at him in shock, as Shihei beckons for Clutch to try it again. Clutch backs away and charges at Shihei with another running European uppercut but Shihei just grunts and calls for Clutch to do it again. Clutch hits the ropes and feigns an uppercut but stop short, digging a thumb into Shihei’s eye.



MW: Oh… that’s disgusting from Clutch McCloud.

SD: That’s called taking an opportunity. He can’t out-strike Go Shihei. So he’s getting an advantage some other way.

MW: By jamming a thumb into his eye?

SD: Yes.



Clutch then connects with a step-up enzeguiri and pulls Shihei in for an overhead belly to belly. He takes a moment to get his strength back after the big explosion needed for the suplex before hitting the ropes and connecting with a shining wizard as Shihei sits up. Clutch makes a cover, 1-2-no. Shihei powers out. Clutch gets to his feet and then positions himself behind Shihei before whipping him round and hooking his arm for a suplex. He tries to lift Shihei, but Shihei blocks him. Clutch tries again but he can’t lift Shihei a second time. Shihei lifts Clutch and then dumps him back down onto his belly before shrugging off the fogginess from Clutch’s offense.



As Clutch stands, Shihei pulls him in for an exploder suplex and then pulls Clutch up into a deadlift Saito suplex. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Clutch kicks out. Shihei then pulls Clutch to his feet and drives him into the corner before landing another big chop. He lifts Clutch up and sets him up on the top turnbuckle. Shihei climbs after him and hooks his arms around Clutch, looking for High Altitude. Clutch tries to counter with a headbutt but Shihei isn’t fazed, delivering one of his own before connecting with High Altitude. Shihei then stands and pulls Clutch up into powerbomb position. He pulls Clutch up onto his shoulders and then drives him down hard before making a deep cover, 1-2-no. Clutch kicks out.



MW: Clutch not looking in such good shape now.

SD: He needed to keep the momentum with him but Shihei is a beast.

MW: Shihei is hard to beat for sure, but is Clutch helping himself with the style he’s trying to wrestle?

SD: No. Quite simply no. Clutch needs to look to his technical skills rather than his striking. He’s a good striker but he’s also a good technician. Use that and he can find a way to beat this monster.



Shihei stands and waits for Clutch to get to his feet before dropping him with a running big boot. Clutch hits the mat hard and Shihei looks up to the top rope. He steps through the ropes and climbs up to the top, only for Danica Jane to get onto the apron and grab hold of his leg. Kate Mustang pulls Danica down and the official is distracted as Crowley grabs Shihei’s other leg. As he tries to shake Crowley off, Clutch connects with a Pele kick. Shihei falls down to the mat and Clutch connects with a springboard moonsault, holding for a cover, 1-2-no! Shihei just gets a shoulder up.



Clutch then stands and shakes off the damage from Shihei. He stalks him and, as Shihei stands, he unleashes a discus lariat, but Shihei only staggers. Clutch looks at him in shock before unleashing another. Shihei staggers again and Clutch charges at him, sending him over the top rope with a clothesline. Shihei catches himself on the apron and holds the top rope. Clutch sees this and charges at him, diving over him and looking for a sunset flip powerbomb to the outside. But Shihei holds on! Clutch tries to wrestle him off the ropes but Shihei won’t budge, and instead he reaches down and grabs Shihei by the neck, pulling him up between himself and the ring and powering him up onto his shoulders, delivering a hard powerbomb into the ring! Shihei climbs between the ropes and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Clutch just gets a shoulder up.



MW: What an amazing display of strength from Go Shihei!

SD: But it didn’t get it done. Clutch is still in this one.

MW: But for how long, I wonder? Go Shihei looks set to end this one.



Shihei pulls Clutch up and looks to set him in position for the Dead Man’s Bomb. He pulls Clutch up but Clutch manages to free himself and connects out of nowhere with a Technical Foul. Shihei drops to one knee but no further. Clutch stares at him before delivering another Technical Foul, but Shihei doesn’t fall on that one either! Clutch stares at him again and this time delivers TarHEEL to a kneeling Shihei. Shihei rocks back and then drops down to all fours, nearly out of it but refusing to go all the way down. Clutch stares at him and then backs away, the fans wary as they can see what is about to happen. Clutch takes a couple of fast steps towards Shihei and connect with a vicious punt kick, covering him as he drops to the mat, unmoving, 1-2-3.



Winner: Clutch McCloud (10:14).



Danica Jane and Richard Crowley head into the ring to raise Clutch’s arms. Clutch struggles to stand still after Shihei’s battering onslaught, but he smiles with an intense look as his arms are raised. Kate Mustang carefully comes in and helps Shihei out of the ring as Clutch stands and celebrates, the fans booing him as he gloats in his victory.



MW: So Clutch McCloud violently overcomes Go Shihei.

SD: And with that win, Clutch claims third place due to having the least match time out of himself, Botiatus and Artemis Evans, all of whom finish on four points with wins over one another.

MW: And Clutch- wait! What’s this?



Artemis Evans jumps the guardrail and slides into the ring, jumping the three of them from behind. Thea Donovan and Myra Lopez follow. The two of them hold Danica Jane and Richard Crowley back as Evans puts the boots to Clutch. She kicks him out of the ring and the rest of The Queendom throw Jane and Crowley out too as Evans grabs a mic.



“I told you I was coming for you. I want you one on one- not Danica Jane or any other bullshit excuse for a wrestler you want to avoid me with- me and you, one on one at the Free-1 final.”



Evans throws down the mic and she and the rest of The Queendom leave the ring, marching up the ramp as the camera returns to Watson and Deville.



MW: Artemis Evans felt she was screwed by Clutch McCloud-

SD: Felt like? She was!

MW: Fine. Artemis Evans was screwed by Clutch McCloud and now she wants her revenge. But this next match… it isn’t about revenge. The last time Jerry Bishop and Graham Baker faced one another was just under a year ago in their first and so-far only encounter. They wrestled in the Free-1 final with the right to call themselves the first ever Free-1 winner on the line. And now they meet in what is essentially the B Block final. It’s a very simple scenario. If Baker wins, he takes the block on the tie-breaker. A Jerry win or a draw and Jerry is the clear winner.

SD: And Jim Houston had words with both of them last night: no bullshit. No interference before or during the match. Baker jumped Crowley and Danica Jane in his last match and MDE has been involved in two of Jerry’s matches. Houston has warned of a strict no-interference policy and has said that he will be watching closely and won’t be afraid to disqualify either man if necessary.

MW: With the news coming down tonight that Kate Mustang will be in Graham Baker’s corner tonight, does that change anything for you? Go Shihei by the way not coming down as I’m hearing he’s being tested out for concussion backstage. More on that when we get it.

SD: I don’t think it changes things for me, but I think it does for Baker. He’s letting someone back into his life that he doesn’t necessarily want to be there. It’s a reflection of his desperation: he’ll do anything to win this tournament and finally get back at Davey Jones for that title.

MW: Can he win tonight given how desperate he is?

SD: Of course he can. I think he’s better than Jerry Bishop. If he keeps his head and keeps his focus, which I think he will, he’ll win the match. But if Jerry gets under his skin, and you have to think that MDE is setting him up to do so, then Jerry is more than capable of capitalising on a mistake as this match comes closer to the thirty-minute mark and Baker gets more and more desperate in his search for the victory.

SD: For the winner, a Free-1 final beckons and they are one match away from living in immortality as a Free-1 winner and having a Judgement Day main event spot waiting. The loser will regard their tournament as a failure no matter what they’ve done so far. Let’s get to ringside to someone who is never a failure: Dasha Banks.



“The next match is our final B Block match in this year’s Free-1 and it is scheduled for one fall with a thirty-minute time-limit. If Jerry Bishop wins the match or the match is a draw or double count-out or disqualification, he wins the block. If Graham Baker wins the match, he wins the block. Introducing first, a former Free-1 finalist, sitting on top of the block with eight points from four matches and a total match time of seventy-nine minutes and eight seconds, from Kansas City, Missouri, The Joker… Jerry Bishop!”



‘Comedian’s Gallop’ begins to play and the fans cheer loudly as MDE and Bobby walk through the curtain with Jerry following behind them. A ‘Je-rry Bi-shop’ chant echoes around the arena, drowning out the music. Jerry walks determinedly behind MDE while Bobby slaps hands with the fans. Once they reach the ring, Jerry climbs in and MDE follows, waiting while Jerry climbs to the top turnbuckle and soaks in the adulation of a crowd who can sense that this is Jerry’s time to finally shine. He jumps down as Bobby climbs into the ring. MDE whispers into Jerry’s ear and Jerry nods, looking serious, while Bobby whispers in his other ear.



“And his opponent, a former Free-1 winner, a former FPW Champion and the current ICW and ALPHA Heavyweight Champion, with six points and a total match time of sixty-eight minutes and twenty-four seconds, from London, England and being accompanied to the ring by Kate Mustang, he is The Aviator and he is known as The Ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling… Graham Baker.”



Machine gun fire explodes around the arena as the crowd responds mostly with cheers. ‘DNA’ begins to play and Baker emerges from backstage, pointing a finger gun directly at Jerry, who just stares back at him. He then holds open his jacket to show off both of his titles before coming down the ramp, Kate Mustang walking behind him, holding hands out and slapping hands with some of the older fans while the younger fans recoil from him. Baker keeps his eyes on Jerry as he climbs up onto the ring apron before springboarding into the ring and dropping to both knees, finger guns pointed at MDE and Bobby before moving both of them to point directly at Jerry. Baker stands and rips off his jacket, roaring to the crowd, many of whom respond but the majority begin another loud ‘Je-rry Bi-shop’ chant. Baker nods and looks to Jerry before limbering up while Dasha Banks and the timekeeper leave the ring.



B Block: Jerry Bishop (8) v Graham Baker (6):



The bell rings and the fans begin to cheer, but they’re cut off by Baker moving quickly forward looking to engage Jerry. He stands in the middle of the ring and calls Jerry forward to lock up, but Jerry hesitates. Baker moves in towards Jerry in the corner, but Jerry rolls under his arm and creates some space. Baker moves in again but again Jerry rolls away, avoiding the lock-up. Baker looks at Jerry and then points down to MDE, asking Jerry is this is really who is he is now. Jerry doesn’t respond. Baker moves forward again and Jerry looks to roll away again, but Baker drops low and is quick to grab the wrist. Jerry immediately hooks his legs over the ropes before Baker can do any damage and Baker reluctantly breaks his grip.



MW: Jerry Bishop wary of that arm being damaged.

SD: As he should be. MDE knows how much damage Baker can do to an arm, as does Jerry, so he’ll be sure to have Jerry avoid the arm being worked over.

MW: A cagy start too from Jerry.

SD: Like I said, he’ll be wanting to frustrate Graham Baker. Get him worked up and worried about time expiring. More mistakes equal more opportunities for Jerry Bishop.



Jerry gets quickly to his feet and Baker advances, trapping him against the ropes. Jerry then comes forward and engages with Baker in a lock up, but Baker drives him back into the ropes. He continues to push, Jerry’s back arching, as the official steps in for the break. Baker slowly breaks his grip and begins to back up, but he then kicks Jerry on the gut and pulls him out of the corner. A number of fans boo as Baker then clubs Jerry across the back before hitting the ropes and connecting with a low dropkick. Jerry rolls away and Baker moves to the arm, stomping on it before looking to an early Emergency Landing again, which Jerry again fights off, locking his legs around the rope. Mustang bangs the mat for Baker and tells him to keep on top of him.



Baker releases him but quickly comes back in, pulling Jerry up and then whipping him into the corner. Baker follows up with a running forearm and then begins to chop Jerry. He unleashes several chops before allowing Jerry to stagger free of the corner, but he soon follows up with a forearm strike to the back of the head. Jerry drops to the mat and Baker rolls him over and makes the cover, 1-2-no. Jerry kicks out of the early pin attempt. Baker doesn’t relent, lifting Jerry and pulling him in for a German suplex. Jerry, however, manages to overrotate and land on his feet, taking advantage of Baker being down by performing a kind of European clutch cover, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out.



SD: I think we know where Jerry got that one from.

MW: And there is a perfect example of what we’ve talked about. Jerry doesn’t let someone stay on top of him for long periods.

SD: He doesn’t. Jerry is a good counter wrestler and we saw it there with that German. Baker is known for his German suplexes among other things, so Jerry will certainly be prepared with counters. I’m willing to bet that was just one of them.

MW: But it’s all well and good not letting Baker get on top of him. We haven’t seen much offense from Jerry so far. He can’t expect to take half an hour of punishment from Graham Baker and not lose this match.

SD: I’m sure there’s a plan.



Jerry gets quickly to his feet and hits the ropes as Baker sits up. He looks for a penalty kick but Baker drops down and pulls Jerry in for a schoolboy, 1-2-no. Jerry escapes. Both of them scramble to their feet and Baker moves in a little too quickly, Jerry taking him down with an arm drag and then maintaining a grip on Baker’s arm, turning it into an arm bar. Baker tries to wriggle free but Jerry steps over him and forces him to remain in the middle of the ring. Jerry then places a knee on the back of Baker’s neck, wrenching harder on the arm. As Baker frees himself from the knee, Jerry, with a nod from MDE on the outside, moves to the leg, grabbing an ankle lock. Baker pushes up and looks to make it to the ropes but Jerry drops down on the knee and locks in an STF. The fans applaud this display of technique from an unlikely source. Mustang bangs the mat some more and tries to get Baker moving.



Baker grunts in pain and frustration at being kept down by Jerry, slowly dragging himself towards the ropes. Jerry releases his grip on the leg and looks to trap the shoulder to transition to the Chelsea Smile, but Baker uses the momentary freedom to push to the rope and force the break. MDE applauds Jerry as Bobby smiles on the outside, but Jerry doesn’t continue to punish Baker. Instead he hangs back, allowing Baker to get to his feet. Jerry backs off towards the ropes and Baker comes at him, Jerry pulling down the top rope and sending Baker to the outside- but Baker catches himself and lands on the apron. Jerry turns and eats a forearm from Baker which causes him to turn away. Baker seizes his chance, reaching over the top rope and grabbing a wasitlock on Jerry.



MW: He isn’t…

SD: If Baker can do this we might not have any worries about a draw.

MW: He surely can’t be looking to hit a German suplex to the outside!



He lifts Jerry, who dangles for a moment before launching elbow strikes at Baker. Baker loosens his grip and Jerry drops before connecting with a step-up enzeguiri which sends Baker back over the top rope and into the ring. Jerry then steps through the ropes himself and stands on the apron, stalking Baker. As Baker stands, Jerry leaps up and aims a springboard forearm, but Baker catches the arm and forces Jerry down into a Fujiwara arm bar. Jerry cries out in pain and MDE and Bobby suddenly look concerned on the outside. Jerry desperately scrambles over to the ropes and manages to get there, only having been trapped in the hold for a few moments but still having taken some damage.



Baker stands, feeling a new lease of life as he pulls Jerry up and grasps the arm, wringing it and then hitting a Pele kick. Jerry spins away as Baker stalks him, connecting with a shotgun dropkick to send Jerry into the corner. He then charges at him and lands a leaping double knee strike which sends Jerry sliding down into a seated position. Baker backs away and then runs at Jerry, connecting with a hesitation dropkick. He backs away again and charges again, this time connecting with a double knee strike which sends Jerry down to the mat. Baker pulls away from the corner and roars to the crowd, some of whom roar back but some of whom look concerned for Jerry. Baker pulls Jerry up and sits him up on the top rope before leaping up and connecting with a dropkick. Jerry droops but Baker holds him up, climbing up with him. He stands on the top rope before leaping up and connecting with an Ejection Seat. Baker holds for a cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets a shoulder up.



MW: These fans were worried for a moment there.

SD: What a flurry from Graham Baker! That’s how he can win this tournament. He’s using that anger but he’s in control of it and he’s using it to hurt his opponent. Excellent wrestling.

MW: And now he’s looking back to that arm of Jerry.



Baker holds the arm down and pushes up into a handstand, dropping and driving both knees into the arm. Jerry rolls away in pain, holding the arm as MDE moves around to that side of the ring. He whispers something to Jerry and, as Baker tries to grip the arm again, Jerry kicks him off and rolls to the outside. Baker looks down at Jerry as he stands doubled over before hitting the ropes and charging towards Jerry’s side of the ring. He leaps over the ropes with a somersault senton, but Jerry and MDE both move out of the way and Baker crashes hard on the floor. Jerry rolls back into the ring and MDE yells to the official to count. Mustang moves over to Baker and tries to encourage him to get to his feet. MDE keeps a close watch on her.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Bobby moves over to MDE and questions him, saying Jerry needs to win via pinfall, but MDE brushes him off.



4……….



Baker still lies in on the floor while Jerry rests in the ring, looking down at MDE and Bobby as Bobby keeps pressing his case.



5……….

6……….



Baker starts to stir, holding his back with the pain of the impact. Mustang crouches over him and yells for him to get back to the ring.



7……….



Baker pushes up to all fours and begins to turn himself towards the ring.



8……….



Baker moves to the ring apron and pulls himself up.



9…….



He rolls into the ring but still looks to be in serious pain. Jerry quickly makes the cover, 1-2-no! Baker rolls his shoulder up.



MW: So close to a three count!

SD: Genius from MDE and Jerry there. Bait Baker into a dive and leave him to crash and burn. He almost had the win via count-out and via pinfall.

MW: But Baker remains alive in this match.

SD: He does, although we’re already halfway through. The time pressure will start to get to him in a minute.



Jerry stands and looks down at Baker as he rolls towards the bottom rope. Jerry waits, giving Baker time to pull himself up, only moving in once Baker is standing. He then comes in with a side Russian leg sweep before rolling backwards and sitting up on the turnbuckles. As Baker stands, Jerry dives off the middle rope, connecting with a blockbuster before making a cover, 1-2-no! Baker again just gets his shoulder up. Jerry grabs the arm as it comes up and turns Baker, looking for the Chelsea Smile again, but again Baker is able to counter, this time pushing up with his knees and rolling Jerry onto his back, where he pins his shoulders to the mat, 1-2-no. Jerry escapes.



Both men get to their feet and Jerry aims a rolling elbow at Baker, but he’s met with a vicious palm strike which staggers him. Baker aims another and another at Jerry, who drops down to the mat. Baker mounts Jerry and looks to lay in another, but Jerry has a counter prepared, gripping the wrist and then delivering a forearm to the face and pulling Baker down for a version of a DDT. Baker rolls off Jerry, who rolls away, shaking off the pain in his head. Jerry pulls himself up and grips Baker in a front face lock before sitting up onto the top turnbuckle. He pushes off and looks for the tornado DDT, but Baker holds him in mid-air, rearranging his arms and setting Jerry up for a Mustang Driver. Jerry elbows his way out of Baker’s grip and drops down, only to be met with a vicious knee strike from Baker.



Jerry reels away and Baker drives an elbow into his arm. Jerry grips the top rope and Baker takes his chance to dump Jerry over it and to the outside. Baker quickly follows, Mustang, MDE and Bobby coming around to have their presences felt. Baker grabs the arm and rams it into the side of the ring before wrapping it around the top of the guardrail and wrenching as hard as he can. MDE moves in but Mustang comes over to block him. Bobby moves in and Baker releases his grip and lands a palm strike to Bobby. Bobby looks to retaliate but the official is outside and holds Bobby back as MDE and Mustang look close to blows too.



MW: This is starting to break down now.

SD: And it’s exactly what Jim Houston talked about. This could be a big problem for Jerry or Bakder if it gets physical.

MW: The official is busy with Bobby here… wait… Baker… he’s not…



Baker looks up at the official and quickly grabs a chair from under the ring. The fans begin to boo as they realise what is happening. Baker quickly drives the chair down on Jerry’s arm, sandwiching it between the guardrail and the chair, before discarding the chair as the official looks around. He quickly throws Jerry back into the ring but leaves his arm exposed and hanging on the outside. Baker climbs up onto the apron and leaps up, coming down hard with a stomp to the arm which causes Jerry to yank it back into the ring, crying out in pain. Baker then slides back in and looks straight away to the Emergency Landing.



MDE and Bobby bang the mat for Jerry, but he can’t block the hold. With pain coursing through his arm, he looks to get over to the ropes, but they’re a distance away across the ring. Baker pulls back as hard as he can, bridging up on his neck for greater leverage. As soon as he does, MDE yells, “Bridge,” to Jerry, and Jerry swings a foot around and kicks at the back of Baker’s neck. Baker instinctively breaks the hold to grab his neck and Jerry rolls away as quickly as he can. Baker stares down at MDE for a moment but quickly stands and moves over to Jerry, who cradles his arm against the ropes. Baker pulls him up and hands his arm over the top rope before charging and aiming a kick. Jerry, however, pulls the arm away and connects with a rolling elbow which sends Baker down to the mat.



SD: This is the kind of time that Baker will be getting frustrated. We’ve got just over six minutes left in this one.

MW: Surely one more Emergency Landing and it’ll be the end of the match?

SD: You’d think. But I’m certain Jerry will know that too and he’ll be looking to avoid it at all costs.

MW: Can he keep away from the move for that long though?

SD: I think he can. He needs to keep distance between himself and Graham Baker.



MDE yells the number six to Jerry and he looks up, nodding. Jerry allows Baker to get to his feet and hangs back by the ropes again. Baker runs at him and Jerry pulls down the rope, just like he did before. Baker, however, stops himself and lands another hard palm strike to Jerry. Jerry staggers and Baker grabs the arm, trying to force Jerry down. Jerry reaches out and grabs the top rope and the official forces Baker to break his grip. Baker releases Jerry but he pulls him up onto his shoulders again, looking again for the Mustang Driver. Jerry, however, elbows his way free again, dropping to the apron. As Baker turns, Jerry looks for a slingshot DDT, but Baker catches him on his shoulders again and this time manages to deliver the Mustang Driver. He makes the cover straight away, 1-2-no! Jerry just manages to get his shoulder up and the fans go wild.



Baker looks to the official and Mustang screams at him from the outside. Baker looks down at Jerry and grips the arm again, but Jerry is prepared for it, pulling Baker down into a small package, 1-2-no! Baker barely escapes this time. MDE yells, “Three and a half,” to Jerry and points to the outside. Jerry rolls out of the ring and drops to all fours as MDE crouches near him. Bobby comes over and holds his arms out, asking what on Earth is going on. MDE pushes him away but Bobby tells Jerry this isn’t the right thing to do. Jerry looks up at him and then looks to MDE, who whispers something in Jerry’s ear. Jerry nods and climbs back into the ring as Bobby asks MDE what is going on.



Baker moves over to Jerry and pulls him up, looking for a palm strike, but Jerry catches the arm and forces Baker down. He wastes no time in locking in the Chelsea Smile! Jerry wrenches back as Mustang bangs on the apron for Baker to escape. Baker tries to move towards the ropes but Jerry has the hold locked in so well that he can barely move. MDE yells to Jerry, “less than two.” Jerry maintains his grip and most of the arena chant for Baker to tap out. Baker refuses, forcing himself to come closer and closer to the ropes. As he gets towards them and makes one final effort to reach the bottom rope, Jerry rolls backwards, keeping the hold locked in. The fans cheer louder and the ‘tap’ chants get louder.



MDE yells to Jerry, “One more minute,” and Jerry nods, keeping the hold locked in. Baker struggles to move but he refuses to give in. Bobby yells to Jerry, “He’s not going to tap,” and Jerry looks at Bobby for a few long seconds. He looks back to MDE, whose eyes glimmer with certain victory, and then back to Bobby, who is shaking his head. Jerry suddenly releases the hold and, as the fans begin to cheer loudly, pulls Baker in, trapping his arms. He lets out a big, booming laugh which the fans join in with and… Baker reverses, lifting Jerry onto his shoulders and delivering a Mustang Driver, covering him, 1-2-3.



Winner: Graham Baker (29:58).



The fans stand in stunned silence as the bell rings. Bobby holds his hands to his head as MDE stares at him, realising what has just happened. Kate Mustang climbs into the ring and pulls Baker to his feet, where he staggers as the official holds his arm in the air. Baker then looks around to the crowd, none of whom are cheering for him as they remain in a stunned stupor. Baker yells out to them: “I fucking did it! The Ace fucking did it!” But still the fans stand in silence. Baker’s face becomes angry as he shakes his head and holds up a middle finger to the crowd before leaving the ring.



MW: Well… I have to say I’m as stunned as this crowd. Graham Baker has won the B Block.

SD: What a mistake by Jerry Bishop. He just cost himself this block. All he had to do was to hold on for another twenty seconds and he had the match won.

MW: But Bobby O gave him a stark reminder of who he is. Like MDE said, go for the draw and win the block or go for the win and risk the loss. The Jerry that Bobby knows always goes for the win. Tonight that risk didn’t pay off, but what a tournament Jerry Bishop has had. He’s back to being the Jerry Bishop that we all know and love. He came so close to winning-

SD: But that’s the problem, isn’t it? He doesn’t want to come so close to winning. These people don’t want to keep applauding Jerry Bishop the gallant loser. They want to cheer Jerry as he holds up the trophy and as he holds up the title. What he did tonight… that was the old, loser Jerry.



Jerry pushes up onto his knees as Bobby slides into the ring. He puts an arm around him and pulls him up, raising his hand to the crowd. Some of the fans applaud him but others remain in stunned silence. MDE comes in.



“What the hell was that?” he asks Jerry, moving close to him.



Bobby cuts him off, pulling MDE away. “That was Jerry putting in a hell of an effort and almost winning the block. Cut the guy some slack.”



MDE stares at Bobby and shakes his head. “All you’ve done is try to thwart us. We had the block sewn up and then-“



“You mean you had Jerry holding on for a draw?” Bobby responds. “He’s better than that. If he’d hit that Last Laugh he’d have won the match.”



“And if he’d kept his hold locked in, he’d have won the block. We don’t deal in risk. We deal in certainty. You just ruined-“



Bobby cuts off MDE with a right hand, and, all of a sudden, the two are unloading on one another in the middle of the ring. Jerry stands and tries to separate them but he gets pushed away as the two of them continue to unload on each other. Jerry comes back and tries to pull MDE away, only for MDE to instinctively land a right hand to Jerry. MDE stops immediately and looks down at Jerry before turning back to Bobby, who connects with an RKO. He looks down at Jerry, who looks up at him in shock, and then at MDE, who lies face-down on the mat, before shaking his head and leaving the ring.



MW: Well, folks, I don’t quite believe what we’ve seen tonight, but what I do know is that in seven days’ time, we will return here for the Free-1 final. Jace Mason faces Graham Baker for the right to be called Free-1 winner. You do not want to miss that.