Free-1 Final Show

[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, but it then melts away into the match graphic showing Jace Mason and Graham Baker with the Free-1 trophy between them before Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce us to the show.



MW: Welcome to the finals of Free-1 II. Tonight is the culmination of a month of work for our A Block winner Jace Mason and our B Block winner Graham Baker. One man will walk away the Free-1 winner while the other will fade into historical obscurity as a man who came so close and yet so far.

SD: Tonight is without doubt the biggest night in Jace Mason’s career, but for Graham Baker it’s just another big match in Freedom Pro Wrestling.

MW: But this is about more than just that mouth-watering main event. Tonight we will also see three title matches, as Death Squad and Guardians of Strong Style meet for what is likely to be the final time in a death match for the Tag Team Championships, Elizabeth Karlson and Berry Bishop put both Freedom and Women’s Championships on the line in a triple threat between the two of them and James Saturn and the FPW Championship is defended in another triple threat, Davey Jones facing both Bobby O and Jack Sevren.

SD: We also bring you a match between Clutch McCloud and Artemis Evans that we were robbed of during the Free-1, and our opening contest, a tag team match featuring The Invaders against the team of Marcus Allen Jones and Aaron Williams.

MW: Marcus Allen Jones and Aaron Williams will attempt to repay The Invaders for all the damage they’ve done to his reputation and his person following the end of the Free-1! I heard these men are ready to bring an end to Takeover permanently-what do you think, Steven?

SD: TakeOver, much like any other ideology, can’t just be broken down by beating two men! Marcus needs to shape up sooner or later, and I think he’ll find that after he loses this match, he’ll have no choice!



As soon as Deville finishes speaking, ‘Killing in the Name Of’ plays out through the arena as The Invaders appear on the entrance ramp, looking furious. They approach the ring, climbing up onto the apron and sliding into the ring before mounting on both turnbuckles and holding their arms up in their signature ‘X-shape’. They look toward the entrance ramp, Haych making clear that he’s going to be the first man in. They settle as ‘I Still Believe’ plays out through the arena as Aaron Williams appears on the ramp, followed shortly after by Marcus Allen Jones as ‘Cult of Personality’ plays out. The two share a glance and a look of determination as they approach the ring, entering it as Marcus has a brief confrontation with Haych, who wears a sinister glare. MAJ tags Williams in first, and settles on the apron as the bell rings to signal the start of the match.



Match 1: The Invaders vs. Marcus Allen Jones and Aaron Williams (written by Baker):



Haych and Williams observe one another for a moment before Williams invites Haych in for a lockup, but Haych shakes his head, chuckling. The two suddenly push forward and lock-up, with Haych trying to gain an advantage, but Williams is able to use his veteran skills to force Haych down to a knee! He kicks Haych hard in the ribs a few times, trying to shove him down to the ground so that he can do more and more wear-down damage to him, but Haych is able to power back to his feet, chopping Williams hard across the chest and warding him off, but Williams responds with a superkick to the jaw of Haych! He tries to get him up for a Powerbomb Backbreaker, but Haych is able to drill Williams with a series of blows to the head, forcing Williams to drop him! He manages to get behind Williams, beaming him in the skull with a sharp forearm before he pulls him up in a half-nelson-AND DRILLS HIM ONTO HIS KNEE WITH A HALF NELSON BACKBREAKER!



Williams looks to be in agony as Haych pulls him up for another, dropping him hard onto his knee and targeting his already-aggravated back from the Free-1! He drags Williams back to his feet and locks in a Rear Naked Choke, driving him down to the canvas as Jones tries to beg Williams to stay in it, but Dario jaws at Jones from the opposing corner! Williams looks to be taking an incredible amount of punishment so early in the match, but he’s not nearly done yet, beginning to summon a great deal of strength to crawl toward the ropes! Haych tries to adjust his hold, but Williams is able to get up to a knee and a foot, before he somehow manages to force Haych to break the hold and SWINGS AROUND WITH A DISCUS ELBOW TO THE SKULL OF HAYCH! Haych stumbles back, and Williams claps him with a close-range knee strike before going for a tag to Marcus, but Haych powers through his dizziness to trap Williams with an Exploder to prevent him from getting to Marcus! Haych tries to get Williams up for a Terminator, but Williams fights against it, landing on his feet and hitting the ropes! Haych ducks the first impact, but Williams rebounds-DISCUS CLOTHESLINE TO HAYCH! Williams goes for a pin!



ONE!



TW-NO! HAYCH KICKS OUT!



Jones extends his arm for a tag, and Williams looks to go for it, but as they’re about to make contact Dario drags Jones off of the apron and begins beating him around the ring! The referee’s distracted, so Haych goes for a low-blow on Williams, but Williams stomps his arm down and beams him in the side of the head with a stiff punch! He throws Haych into the ropes and looks to catch him with a leaping dropkick, but Haych ducks it and catches Williams in a powerbomb position, going for a running powerbomb to the outside AND DUMPING HIM HARD ONTO MARCUS AS MARCUS TAKES DARIO DOWN! Haych makes a rare ascent to the top rope as Wiliams and Marcus struggle to get back to their feet-AND HE FLATTENS BOTH MEN WITH A RIDICULOUS FROG SPLASH! He rolls off of both and gets back to his feet, roaring into the booing crowd before he grabs Williams around the throat and rolls him back into the ring, going after him for a pin attempt!



ONE!



TWO!!



TH-NO! WILLIAMS KICKS OUT!



Aaron Williams looks like he’s heated up as he gets back to his feet before Haych can lay in more punishment, but Haych rolls back to his corner and tags in Dario, allowing the smaller-and faster-man to try his hand against the veteran! Dario ducks a clothesline from Williams and nails him with a roundhouse, staggering him long enough for Dario to go for a running Dragonrana, but Williams catches him and throws him into the turnbuckles with an improvised powerbomb, only for Dario to catch himself and take Williams out with a double jump moonsault! He rolls to his feet, begging Williams back to his feet and drilling him in the jaw with a superkick! He leaps over Williams as he slumps on his knees to go for a Flying Senton Bomb, but somehow Williams gets back to his feet and catches Dario in midair, showing immense strength as he tries to get him up for a fallaway slam-BUT HAYCH INTERFERES WITH A BIG BOOT TO THE JAW OF WILLIAMS, CAUSING HIM TO DROP DARIO!



Haych rushes to the opposing corner and nails MAJ with a forearm shot to the jaw, causing him to fall off of the apron before he nods to Dario so that they can set-up for Wargame! He throws Williams into the ropes, but as he goes to pop Williams up while Dario goes to the top-WILLIAMS COUNTERS INTO A FALLING DROPKICK TO HAYCH! Dario looks stunned, and Marcus is able to take advantage by scrambling to the top rope and shoving Dario off! He drops back down, and Williams tags him in, before looking to Haych recovering on the outside! Haych scrambles to the barricade to balance himself as Williams rushes toward the ropes, springboarding-SWANTON BOMB TO HAYCH! BOTH MEN ARE DOWN OUTSIDE AS MARCUS PROWLS AFTER DARIO!



Dario looks for a superkick to MAJ, but MAJ ducks his and snaps one up into his jaw, stunning him before he grabs him with a German Suplex and dumps him on his neck! He catches Dario with an Enziguri to the side of the head, and as Dario stumbles into his grasp, he PLANTS HIM WITH A CANADIAN DESTROYER! This one might be over, but Marcus isn’t satisfied ending it there, heading to the top rope-MARK OUT MOMENT! Marcus hits the 630 onto Dario as Williams rolls back in to guard!



ONE!



TWO!!



THREE!!!



Winners: Marcus Allen Jones and Aaron Williams! (pinfall, 10:05).



Marcus Allen Jones stands and Aaron Williams grabs his arm and raises it, a smile spreading on Marcus’ face.



MW: Marcus Allen Jones finally dispatches The Invaders. Has hid rid himself of the yoke of TakeOver once and for all?

SD: There’s-

MW: Wait, Williams is giving Marcus the ring here and it looks like he’s got something to say.



Marcus stands with a mic in his hand as Williams walks back up the ramp, slapping hands with fans.



“First of all, Aaron Williams, I didn’t ask for your help but you gave it to me anyway and I appreciate it. Thank you. With this win I can finally say I can move on from TakeOver. I used to rely on these two men to help me stay at the top- a place I want, no, a place I need, to prove that I can reach- and remain at- by myself. Now that I’ve vanquished The Invaders, I can finally move on, and I can see the next step in the road. I want to officially-“



Dario hoods up a hand to stop Marcus. He and Haych shake their heads as Marcus stares at them both. Haych then snatches the mic from Marcus.



“Rely on us two? No, no, no Marcus. You didn’t rely on us two…”



Marcus looks at them, confused, as Haych and Dario both extend four fingers. Marcus suddenly realises what they mean as he turns to see George Jackson and Sara Daniels leaping the barricade. Haych and Dario then jump Marcus as HunterKiller slide into the ring and the four of them put the boots to Marcus. Jackson and Daniels continue to lay into him as Dario climbs to the top rope. Daniel and Jackson then lift Marcus and throw him into the ropes before popping him up for Haych to connect with a pop-up powerbomb as Dario comes off the top with a senton bomb. Dario then picks up the mic.



“You are never finished with TakeOver. Never! This is just the beginning. By the end of this night, TakeOver will be reborn stronger than ever.”



Dario then throws the mic down onto Marcus and TakeOver leave the ring, hopping over the barricade and leaving through the crowd.



MW: I don’t believe it! HunterKiller are back in FPW and TakeOver is almost back to full strength.

SD: By the end of the night, TakeOver will be, but not quite yet.

MW: What is that supposed to mean?

SD: Oh, I don’t want to ruin the surprise.

MW: Whatever it is, I don’t even want to know. Marcus Allen Jones picked up a big win for himself tonight, with Aaron Williams alongside him of course, but he ended up looking up at the lights anyway after that disgraceful attack.

SD: As Dario said, you don’t finish with TakeOver until… they… say you finish with them. Marcus discovered that tonight.

MW: So much for ‘my best friend Marcus’.

SD: Things change. When Marcus decides to be the man I know he really is, then he can come and see me.



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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Bobby O.



DB: Bobby, tonight you finally get the chance to face both Davey Jones and Jack Sevren for the FPW Championship, but before that, do you care to comment on events following the conclusion of the B Block final last week?

BO: I was trying to help my friend. I’ve known Jerry for a long time, longer than almost anyone here in fact. We’ve been friends and we’ve been foes, but I’ve always respect Jerry’s approach. He’s a man who isn’t swayed by other people. He aims to entertain and he does it every night he steps into a ring. But he’s been down lately and he’s started going to a place- to a person- who isn’t good for him. I just want to remind Jerry of who he is.

DB: Your encouragement cost him a spot in the B Block final.

BO: Maybe, maybe not. Who’s to say what would have happened in those twenty minutes. My encouragement got him to make the choice that Jerry ‘The Jester’ Bishop would have made. MDE can spin that however he likes, but Jerry would have done that if he hadn’t worked with MDE.

DB: You and MDE then came to blows. MDE hasn’t wrestled for quite some time but he seemed very angry after the match Sunday. Would you accept a challenge if he laid one out?

BO: Let’s see what happens tonight. If I win, he’s not even in the line to face the champion. But if not, maybe I’ll give him what he wants, if he really wants me to prove to Jerry that my way is better than his.

DB: Let’s shift focus to tonight’s match then. A chance to finally get your hands on Jack Sevren and Davey Jones in a match. Are you ready for this?

BO: Dasha, I’ve been ready for it ever since Sevren screwed me out of the Dead Man’s Chest and the Tag Team Titles. I’ve been ready ever since Jones screwed me out of a match with Sevren. I don’t care that this is a handicap match in all but name. I’m going out there to take the thing Davey values most and to rearrange Jack Sevren’s face as much as I can.

DB: Can you win what is, as you say, essentially a handicap match against a man who has been on a rampage since he returned here and a man who always puts himself one step ahead?

BO: I don’t know. It won’t be easy but I’ve been put through hell by these two. Tonight I get the chance to show them a bit of what that looks like.



Bobby walks away, an intense look on his face.



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I did not receive the Artemis Evans v Clutch McCloud match. I'm very sorry to everyone that the match will not appear in full on the show. Artemis Evans won a very closely contested match which could easily have gone either way. She reversed an attempt at Tar HEEL into the Guillotine Strike for a pinfall victory. There remained tension between her and Danica Jane after the match.

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Backstage, Jim Houston is on the phone in his office.



JH: Yes…….. look, I thought they were too………… I know the contract says-……….. I’ve checked it over and there’s nothing I can do…………. We’ll just have to go with it and respond as and when we need to…………… ok……..



Kate Mustang enters the room, walks over to Houston’s desk and presses the ‘disconnect’ button.



JH: What do you-

KM: Houston, I want something very simple and I don’t want to spend too much time getting it. The next big show is Dead Man’s Chest, am I right?

JH: Yes, October sixth.

KM: Well, I’ve looked back at FPW history and I’ve noticed that the Dead Man’s Chest wasn’t exactly used to its full potential last time. Tag Team Championships? For something so valuable? Hah. Not exactly the kind of use that would attract the publicity you’d be hoping for.

JH: What’s your point?

KM: How about this year, we make sure that the person in control of how that chest is used is a little more… considerate of your situation than the previous holder.

JH: Again, what’s your point?

KM: Bobby O didn’t care about your needs. He just made a knee-jerk decision to make up for a mistake that he made. If Go Shihei were to win the Dead Man’s Chest, I’d be the one deciding how and when it was used. As you know, I have a lot of sway over Shihei San. And I’d be… flexible… in how we use the chest. All you’d need to do is nudge me in the right direction and I’m sure we could come to some kind of mutually beneficial arrangement.

JH: You want Go Shihei to be in the match? He got two points in the Free-1. What makes you think he’s qualified?

KM: You’re not listening-

JH: I most certainly am-

KM: Then you’re not hearing. You’ve just had a very successful tournament and have a spike in viewers. A man like Go Shihei with the Dead Man’s Chest would give people another reason to tune in to every show. If you make sure that happens, I’ll make sure that he uses the chest at the opportune moment to hold as many of those viewers as you can. What do you say?

JH: Ms Mustang, I’m not in the habit of making anyone win a certain match. If you want Go Shihei to win the Dead Man’s Chest, he’ll have to win it on ability alone. But first he’ll have to come through a qualifying match, because I can’t say he’s earned his way in yet. How about Go Shihei faces someone who did impress me in the Free-1? Let’s see Go Shihei versus Aaron Williams on Road To Dead Man’s Chest with the winner qualifying for the match.

KM: You don’t want to get me working against you too. Not with what happened earlier tonight… they have people everywhere you know.



Mustang walks out of the room and Houston sighs, makes a note in a notebook and then picks up the phone again to make another call.



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MW: “Our next match is a very intriguing one. Our Freedom Champion, Berry Bishop, had as strong of a Free-1 as anyone could ask for, but came up short against three opponents. One of these losses came about through dubious means, but the other two, against Elizabeth Karlson and James Saturn, were fair defeats. Therefore, she now finds herself defending her title against both of them here tonight.”



SD: “And with Elizabeth Karlson being the current Women’s champion, this match becomes even more interesting. If Karlson is at all involved in the decision, whether she gets pinned or gets the pin, the two titles will be unified into one Undisputed Freedom Championship. Is that what we’re calling it?”



MW: “I’ve heard nothing about what the unified title will be called. I assume FPW management has some sort of plan in place, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”



SD: “But that’s enough talking, let’s take this to Dasha Banks so we can get this match started.”



“The following contest is a triple threat match scheduled for one fall,” Dasha announced. “And it is for the FPW Freedom Championship!”



‘White Knuckles’ came over the speakers as James Saturn swaggered onto the top of the stage, greeted by a chorus of boos. “Introducing first,” Dasha announced as he walked down the ramp. “From Portland Oregon; he is known as the Paragon, James Saturn!” Saturn climbed onto the apron, leaped over the ropes and landed in the center of the ring, settling into a pose as the crowd continued to boo.



Saturn settled into the corner as ‘Turn it On’’ began to play and Elizabeth Karlson emerged among the flickering lights. She began walking down the ramp, holding the Women’s Championship over her shoulder as Dasha Banks gave her introduction. “And introducing his opponents, first, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she is the FPW Women’s Champion, the Renegade, Elizabeth Karlson!” The fans cheered as Karlson stood posed on the turnbuckles as the introduction ended. She looked over her shoulder at Saturn in the opposite corner before turning and dropping into the ring, leaning back in the corner as she waited for the third and final participant of the match.



The sound of ‘The Entertainer’ filled the arena, followed by cheers as the crowd prepared for the arrival of Berry Bishop. And somehow, the cheers got louder when Berry walked into view at the top of the stage, the Freedom Championship slung over her shoulder. She dropped into a deep bow as Dasha began her introduction. “And introducing the champion, from New Haven, Connecticut , she is the reigning and defending FPW Freedom Champion, the Bombshell, Berry Bishop!” Berry finished ‘playing’ the ring apron with a triumphant flourish as the introduction ended, then slid into the ring. She raised her title over her head before handing it to the official and backing into the corner. The ref handed the belt to the timekeeper before calling for the bell.



Match 3: Freedom Championship: Berry Bishop v James Saturn v Elizabeth Karlson (written by Mason):



All three competitors advanced forward, and then stopped, their gazes alternating between their two opponents. None of them wanted to make the first move and risk being double-teamed. The stalemate was broken when Saturn backed away, stepping through the ropes and dropping to the floor, motioning for Kalrson and Berry to go at it. Berry turned to face him, arms spread in disbelief, and Karlson took advantage, pulling Berry into a quick schoolboy roll-up!



...1!...2!.Kick-out!



Berry rolled to her feet and looked at Karlson with an upset expression before Karlson leveled her with a forearm. Berry dropped to the mat, and Karlson began laying in stomps to her grounded form. Behind Karlson, Saturn slid back into the ring and turned her around, whipping her into the ropes. Saturn connected with a mid kick as she rebounded, dropping her onto her back, and Saturn looked to capitalize with a standing moonsault. But Karlson rolled out of the way and before Saturn could stand back up, she quickly applied a dragon sleeper. Saturn struggled against the hold, trying to escape, but to no avail. But his freedom soon came when Berry Bishop recovered and ran in, connecting with a single leg dropkick to Karlson and forcing her to release the submission. Karlson fell back, and Berry wasted little time in pulling her to a sitting position, then running to the ropes for a penalty kick. Karlson caught the kick as she got close and began to transition into a knee bar. But before she could finish the submission, Saturn grabbed her from behind and pulled her into a back suplex, driving her to the ground. He went to grab Berry for an attempt at Saturn's Walls, but she kicked him away and stood up. Karlson stood up as well, and the three of them resumed exchanging glances with each other.



This time, both Saturn and Berry rushed Karlson, overwhelming her and then clotheslining her over the top rope and to the outside. Berry then turned to face Saturn, but he was just a step faster, connecting with a kick to the midsection before whipping her into the corner. He ran in after her and landed a kick to her head as he launched himself over the ropes, landing on the apron, then springing off and connecting with a flying forearm smash on Karlson as she stood up. He taunted the crowd as they booed him, then turned his back on them and climbed back into the ring. He ran and attempted a clothesline into the corner, but Berry sidestepped out of the way, and Saturn crashed into the turnbuckles. He turned around quickly, and Berry was right there, grabbing him by the wrist and whipping him into the opposite corner. She followed him in, but Saturn climbed the turnbuckles and backflipped over her, then hit an enzuigiri when she turned around. Berry fell back, and Saturn dropped into a cover.



...1!..Kick-out!



Berry attempted to roll to the outside following the kick-out, but Saturn grabbed her by the leg and pulled her back into the center of the ring. He quickly threaded his legs through hers and locked in a Romero Special, rocking her back and lifting her into the air.



SD: “Smart move from James Saturn here, softening up Berry’s legs for Saturn’s Walls.”



MW: “But on the outside of the ring, Elizabeth Karlson is getting to her feet, and in a triple threat match like this, aren’t you worried about leaving yourself open to the third person in the match?”



SD: “That’s a fair point, but it looks like Saturn’s realized the danger he’s in, and we’ll see how he reacts.”



Saturn released his grip on Berry and set her back down. He rose to his feet and ran to the edge of the ring, catching Karlson with a boot to the face as she stood up on the apron. He taunted her as she fell to the floor, unaware that Berry was standing up behind him. But he found out when he turned around and Berry caught him with a roundhouse kick. Saturn was stunned, and Berry wasted no time pulling him into a northern lights suplex, bridging for a cover.



...1!..Kick-out!



Berry pulled Saturn into a seated position, then ran to the ropes. But as she rebounded, Karlson grabbed her ankles and pulled her from the ring, throwing her into the barricade. Berry bounced back, right into a step-up enzuigiri from Karlson. Berry fell to the floor, and Karlson turned her gaze to James Saturn, who was recovering in the ring. She slid into the ring and charged at the rising Saturn. Saturn managed to get his forearms up to block the clothesline, but lowered his guard too quickly, leaving himself open for the vicious left hand Karlson landed. She followed up with a shot to the midsection, then pulled him down with a snapmare. She applied a chinlock for just a moment before grabbing both of Saturn's wrists, pulling his arms back as she drove her knee between his shoulder blades. Saturn cried out and struggled to escape the hold, but Karlson’s grip was unbreakable. At least until she broke it herself a few moments later, abandoning her attack on both arms and instead focusing on one, pulling James’ right arm into a kimura. But with one arm freed, Saturn was able to shift his weight and drape a foot over the bottom rope. The ref went to call for the break, before Karlson shouted at him, reminding him that this was a triple threat match, with no rope breaks. The referee backed off, but the slight decrease in pressure as Karlson admonished the ref allowed Saturn to use his leg to pull himself almost entirely out of the ring. Karlson let go of her submission and went to pull Saturn back in the ring, but he broke her grip and slid to his feet on the outside, shaking his head with a cocky smile on his face. He faked getting into the ring, then slid back to the outside. He did this once more, but this time Karlson had had enough and ran to the far ropes, preparing for a big dive. But right when Karlson turned around, Saturn slid into the ring properly and scrambled to meet her. Karlson rebounded off the ropes and Saturn launched himself into a backflip by kicking off her chest. He landed on his feet and prepared to follow up, but Karlson blasted him with a forearm, dropping him onto his back. She grabbed his leg as he fell and connected with several kicks to the back of his knee, causing him to wince with each strike. She looked out to the crowd, who were cheering as each kick connected, then attacked Saturn’s leg with an inverted dragon screw. Saturn cried out and sat up, allowing Karlson to punish him with a sharp elbow to the side of the head. Saturn went limp, and Karlson slid into a cover, a smile on her face.



...1!..Kick-out!



Karlson’s smile faded slightly, and she pulled Saturn to his feet and whipped him into the corner. She followed him in and connected with a knife-edge chop. Saturn clutched his chest, but Karlson didn’t give him a moment to rest, lifting him up and turning him over, hanging him from the corner by his legs. She smiled again and nodded to the audience as she climbed onto the apron and began tying his arms up in the ropes.



MW: “Elizabeth Karlson leaving James Saturn utterly defenseless in the Tree of Woe here.”



SD: “I don’t like where this is going.”



Karlson dropped off the apron and took a moment to line up her shot, then superkicked Saturn’s head against the ring post!



MW: “Jesus!”



Saturn’s body went limp and he fell from the turnbuckles. Karlson slithered back into the ring and made a cover.



...1!...2!..Kick-out!



SD: “How did Saturn kick out from that!?”



MW: “I don’t know how, but he’s somehow still alive in this match.”



Karlson’s smile finally faded as she picked up Saturn’s limp body and carried him back to the corner, seating him on the top turnbuckles. She paused for a moment to catch her breath then began climbing the turnbuckles. She paused atop the top rope, then leaped up and launched Saturn with an avalanche hurricanrana. But miraculously, Saturn flipped out and landed on his feet!



MW: “Oh my god!”



SD: “Saturn’s more than still alive, he’s still fighting!”



Karlson, unaware of Saturn’s reversal, slowly rose to her feet behind him. And when she turned around, Saturn met her with a step-up enzuigiri. Karlson was stunned and went down, but was already rising to her feet as Saturn began to climb the turnbuckles. As she straightened up, Saturn launched from the top and brought her down with a diving clothesline. With Karlson down, Saturn went for broke, standing up and connecting with a standing moonsault that he held for a cover.



...1!...2!.Kick-out!



Saturn didn’t waste a moment, pulling Karlson up and onto his shoulders, then delivering a cartwheel death valley driver and running to the ropes as Karlson sat up from the impact. He rebounded off the ropes and connected with a meteora that he quickly transitioned into a cover.



...1!...2!.Berry dove in from outside the ring and broke up the pinfall!



Berry stood up and pumped her arms, bringing the crowd to their feet as she waited for her opponents to rise. When both Saturn and Karlson were on their knees, Berry struck, connecting with a roundhouse kick to Saturn’s chest before bringing her leg back down and driving a knife-edge chop into Karlson’s chest. She continued this way for several moments, alternating strikes between her two opponents and whipping the crowd into a frenzy as each strike landed.



Finally, Saturn collapsed from one of the kicks, and Berry focused all her attention on Karlson. She delivered one final chop, then applied a front facelock as she pulled her to her feet. Berry grabbed one of Karlson’s legs and lifted her up, bringing her back to the mat with a fisherman’s driver, maintaining her grip on the leg for a cover.



...1!...2!..Kick-out!



Berry nodded as Karlson kicked out, psyching herself up for what had to be done next. She eyed the top turnbuckle and rose to her feet, stepping through the ropes and beginning to climb. She glanced down at her target and leaped, driving her elbow in Karlson’s chest. But Berry’s momentum caused her to slide just a little out of position for a cover, and Karlson was already stirring as Berry stood up. So Berry turned her attention to Saturn instead, lifting him up and dumping him out of the ring. She turned back to Karlson who was unsteadily standing up. Berry took a breath, then ran past her and sprang onto the middle rope, launching herself into a disaster kick. But Berry didn’t go for a cover, instead dragging Karlson towards the corner. She pulled her up and placed her on the top turnbuckle, then climbed up after her and locked in a front facelock. She draped Karlson’s arm over her head and attempted to connect with a superplex. But she just couldn’t quite lift her. She tried again, but still had no success. And when she made a third attempt, Saturn slid back into the ring and ran to the corner. He quickly got into position underneath Berry and wrapped his arms around her legs, driving her away from the turnbuckles with a powerbomb. But Karlson was able to hold on, and Saturn seemed surprised to find that she wasn’t brought to the mat at the same time. He turned around, and Karlson launched into a crossbody that drove Saturn’s shoulders to the mat.



...1!...2!..Kick-out!



Saturn pushed Karlson off of him as he kicked out and they both began to rise to their feet. Karlson stood up first and tried to capitalize, but when she went to grab Saturn, he connected with a back elbow that sent her staggering back. Saturn stood up and turned around, grabbing her wrist and whipping her into the ropes. He caught her as she rebounded and lifted her for a pop-up powerbomb, but Karlson dropped down to her feet behind Saturn.



MW: “Karlson avoids is! But Berry’s up!”



Berry ran over to Saturn as Karlson dropped and connected with Checkmate on Saturn. As she went to make the cover, Karlson grabbed her and connected with a codebreaker, rolling her out of the ring. Karlson turned to find Saturn getting to his feet. She lept up and connected with Death Spike, hooking both legs for a cover.



...1!...2!...3!



Winner and New Freedom and Women’s Champion: Elizabeth Karlson (21:10)
.


A wicked smile spreads across Karlson’s face as Dasha Banks announces her as the winner. She staggered to her feet and accepted her belts from the referee, holding the Freedom Championship in the air as the ref raised her arm.



MW: “That was incredible.”



SD: “That’s putting it mildly. All three wrestlers put their heart and soul into this match, throwing everything they had at each other. There were moments when I thought either of the other two would win, and there’s no shame in losing after a performance like that.”



MW: “And since Karlson didn’t pin the reigning champion, there’s grounds for a rematch between Elizabeth and Berry, a match that I would be very interested to see again after this and their Free-1 clash.”



SD: “More of this kind of action? Sign me up!”



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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Artemis Evans.



DB: Artemis, tonight you managed to overcome Clutch McCloud and gain revenge for an attack you felt ruined your Free-1. What next?

AE: Correction: his attack did ruin my Free-1. The block would have been mine if not for Clutch McCloud, so yes, it did feel good to get my revenge for that. What’s next? With Dead Man’s Chest coming up, I expect to be entered into the match and-



A smile comes over Evans’ face.



AE: Actually, seeing as Houston is giving out qualifying matches, how about another Free-1 rematch? Artemis Evans versus Danica Jane. Let’s see if she can really handle me in the ring- no Crowley or Clutch at ringside. Winners qualifies for the Dead Man’s Chest match. Make the match, Houston.



Evans walks away, her gait showing some signs of the damage she took against Clutch.



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MW: And we have our tag title match for the night, where the Guardians of Strong Style try once more to reclaim the Tag Team Championships from the clutches of Death Squad! As we have seen before, this ring has been prepared for a deathmatch- no turnbuckle covers, barbed wire ropes and no protective padding, making it a very punishing arena, as chosen by our challengers. What do you think about their chances here tonight, Deville?

SD: I’ve gotta say, I think I’m siding with the champions-and All Star Tag Team Classic Winners-for the win here! The Guardians have had their chances, but they’ve always fallen short. What’s gonna make this time any different-especially with no disqualifications! They have no cha-



Before Deville can finish, The Guardians of Strong Style emerge from the backstage, both men wearing white tanktops and what appear to be long, reinforced trunks accustomed to Deathmatch performers. Sato appears on the entrance ramp with a microphone as the Guardians grab trash cans filled with weaponry and arm themselves, looking to the entrance ramp. Fury in his eyes, he screams “Death Squad! Face us! Come NOW!”



There’s little hesitation as Death Squad rush out from backstage, and immediately rush into blows with the Guardians of Strong Style!



FPW Tag Team Championship Match: Deathmatch: Death Squad(c) vs. The Guardians of Strong Style (written by Baker):



The Guardians throw Death Squad into the apron and go for stereo forearms, but the Death Squad duck and Balmer takes Sato out with a brutal lariat that nearly sends him ass over head! Ava Knight screams for Balmer to take Sato out for good, but before she can command him-TAKAHARA CUTS HER DOWN WITH A VIOLENT BIG BOOT! Balmer looks furious, but Tchyukiro cuts him down with a discus elbow before cutting Rorsche down with a brutal chop! Both Guardians grab Knight and throw her onto the ramp before grabbing the FPW Tag Team Championships-AND THEY CLAP KNIGHT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HEAD! They throw her into the crowd before turning back toward Death Squad, who slowly get back to their feet! Once again, they rush forward into blows, with Rorsche throwing himself into Takahara and taking him into the crowd while Tchyukiro drags Balmer into the ring! Tchyukiro grabs Balmer and sets him up in the corner, chopping him repeatedly before he hauls Balmer into the opposing corner, but Balmer reverses it and throws Tchyukiro into the exposed turnbuckle! He grabs Tchyukiro with an Exploder and plants him on the hard canvas, before rolling through into his Tailspin, only for Tchyukiro to plant himself!



Tchyukiro blasts Balmer with a series of three hard forearm strikes, sending him into the barbed wire ropes, which causes Balmer to scream out in pain! He goes for a crossbody to send Balmer further into the barbed wire, but Balmer rips off somehow and catches Tchyukiro with a scoop slam, running forward-FALLAWAY SLAM INTO THE BARBED WIRE ROPES! Tchyukiro slumps down against the barbed wire, screaming out in pain before Balmer goes to blast him with a knee strike to the face, but he’s intercepted by a vicious diving dropkick from Takahara! Balmer slams HARD into the plywood, and both Guardians seem to regroup for a moment as they grab two steel chairs from outside the ring, arming themselves. They aim to take out Balmer with a well-timed double strike to the head, but Balmer manages to duck, sending both chairs clashing with one another! Balmer hops back up to his feet and takes out Takahara with a vicious lariat, but Tchyukiro manages to catch him in the face with the steel chair! He looks about ready to end the match as he rushes forward and nails Balmer’s stumbling form with an absolutely brutal discus elbow, before pulling Balmer in-HEADBUTT to the skull of Aiden Balmer! Balmer stumbles into the corner, and Tchyukiro looks primed to end the match with a running headbutt, but Balmer manages to roll out of the way at the last minute, causing Tchyukiro to bust himself open on the corner turnbuckle! He holds his bloodied face as Evan Rorsche stumbles onto the apron and makes his way to the top rope, diving-MASSIVE DIVING CUTTER INTO PLYWOOD FROM RORSCHE! He goes for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



TH-NO! Takahara breaks the pin!



Rorsche rolls to his feet and tries to take Takahara out with shotgun knees, but Takahara catches him and hauls him into the corner with a vicious snap suplex! He targets Balmer with an Enziguri that sends Balmer stumbling back into the opposing corner, before running and delivering a brutal sliding knee to the skull of Rorsche! He hits a running dropkick to Balmer on the return, and a sprinting European Uppercut to Rorsche on the third run-around! He contemplates doing more damage, but Tchyukiro’s managed to recover enough to drag a table into the ring! He sets it up, and goes to grab Rorsche, pulling him up for a running powerslam-but somehow, Rorsche manages to drop down and prevent himself from being slammed! He hits Takahara with a cutter as Takahara looks to interfere, but Tchyukiro’s quick to put him back down with repeated forearm strikes before he can do any more damage! Tchyukiro pulls him back up for the powerslam and turns back toward the table-AND INTO A BIG BOOT FROM AIDEN BALMER! Tchyukiro drops Rorsche backwards and stumbles as Balmer grabs him and pulls him in close-AND NAILS HIM THROUGH THE TABLE WITH A BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX! He goes for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



TH-NO! TCHYUKIRO KICKS OUT!



Balmer looks frustrated, and he motions to Rorsche to go high as he pulls Tchyukiro up onto his shoulders and sets him up on the top turnbuckle. He points to Rorsche, and Rorsche nods, diving for One Great Leap, but a returning Takahara catches him AND DRIVES HIM INTO THE PLYWOOD WITH A RIDICULOUS GERMAN SUPLEX THAT NEARLY SPIKES HIM ON HIS NECK! Balmer looks stunned and goes for a lariat, but Takahara drills him with a chop and a forearm strike that stun him, only for Balmer to return with a brutal chop of his own that claps out through the entire arena! Takahara stumbles, and Balmer hits him with a bicycle knee, but somehow, Takahara remains standing! The two men get in a vicious striking exchange as each matches the power of the other, but it’s not enough to keep Takahara down as his hits get faster, more and more fierce, and eventually he forces Balmer into the corner once more! He heads to the outside and grabs a bundle of light tubes, before rushing in and IMMEDIATELY BREAKING THEM ALL OVER THE SKULL OF AIDEN BALMER! Balmer falls to his knees, and Takahara goes for a running forearm shot to the bloodied face of Balmer, sending Balmer down. He goes for a pin!



ONE!



TWO!!



THRE-NO! Rorsche breaks the pin!



Takahara seems to have had enough of Evan Rorsche, and the returning Tchyukiro seems to agree, with Takahara throwing Rorsche into the barbed wire while Tchyukiro throws himself at him and sends both men to the outside with a vicious crossbody, absolutely shredding Rorsche’s back in the process! Tchyukiro begins beating the brakes off of Rorsche, slapping him and striking him around the ring, sending him into the barricades and, with a running start, spearing him through the barricade! He lays in the wreckage for a moment to recover, noting that Rorsche hasn’t moved either.



Aiden Balmer, on the other hand, has looked to take advantage of Takahara’s distraction and grabs hold of the other man’s torso, going to pull him in for a German, but Takahara fights against it and lands on his feet! He goes for a forearm strike, but Balmer ducks it again, going for another German, but Takahara fights out of it with brutal back-elbow shots to the skull of Aiden Balmer! Balmer drops him, holding his bloodied face, and Takahara hits him with a step-up enziguri followed up by a kick to the leg and a step-up knee strike-but the larger member of Death Squad shows his resilience and stays up!



Incredulous, Takahara roars and begins chopping Balmer hard, leaving massive bruises and welts on his chest after he continues his machine gun onslaught for a series of strikes, but Balmer’s having none of it, wearily grabbing Takahara’s hand and spitting in his face before BLASTING him with a forearm shot across the face! The bloodied Balmer rushes forward with a series of woozy forearms, seeming propelled only by his hatred and desire to retain the tag team titles that he fights for, sending Takahara into the opposing corner! Instead of going for a chop, he blasts Takahara with a series of three increasingly strong forearms, and looks behind him for a weapon-only for a bloodied, recovering Ava Knight to slide in a bag of thumb tacks. She smiles wickedly, and Balmer nods, dumping the tacks out onto the plywood. He grabs Takahara and shoves him face-first into the turnbuckle before hauling him up AND PLANTING HIM ON THE TACKS WITH A BACKDROP SUPLEX! Takahara’s neck crumples as his neck and back are lit up with tacks, and Balmer goes for a pin!



ONE!



TWO!!



THRE-NO! TAKAHARA KICKS OUT!



Both Balmer and Knight look furious as somehow, someway, Takahara kicks out, but Balmer’s not finished yet! He has Knight hand him a series of chairs and a table, and begins setting them up in the ring. He grabs Takahara, beating him across the face with a series of stiff forearms before hauling him up to the top rope and climbing after him! He tries to get Takahara in position for the High Impact Ending, but Takahara fights against it, managing to grab hold of the ropes and preventing Balmer from nailing him into the plywood! He roars, and tries to adjust his hold, but Takahara manages to drop down and nail Balmer with a brutal forearm shot to the face! Balmer looks stunned, and Tchyukiro rolls under the bottom rope, climbing up to the middle rope and pulling Balmer up onto his shoulders for a powerslam from the middle rope! He hefts Balmer high-AND POWERSLAMS HIM THROUGH THE TABLES AND CHAIRS IN THE CENTER OF THE RING! He goes for a pin while Takahara watches!



ONE!



TWO!!



THRE-NO!!! AVA KNIGHT BREAKS THE PIN WITH A CHAIR TO THE BACK OF TCHYUKIRO!



Knight throws the chair at Takahara’s head, and sends him stumbling back into an improvised diving cutter from a wounded Rorsche! Death Squad stand tall for a moment, and it looks as though they’re going to power through and retain the belts, with Knight directing traffic as she grabs a ladder from under the ring! She sets it up, and commands Balmer to drag Tchyukiro to the top of the ladder while Rorsche climbs to the top rope! Rorsche lines up to catch Tchyukiro on the way down as Balmer pulls him up for a powerbomb-AND HE POWERBOMBS TCHYUKIRO TO THE OUTSIDE AS RORSCHE CATCHES HIM WITH A DIVING CUTTER THORUGH A TABLE ON THE OUTSIDE!



Both Rorsche and Tchyukiro look to be severely injured on the outside, but Knight rolls out to pull Tchyukiro back in-ONLY FOR SATO TO RETURN AND NAIL HER WITH A CHAIR SHOT TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD! She falls to her knees, and Sato SHATTERS the chair over her head before pulling Tchyukiro out of the way! He grabs the injured Rorsche and pulls him over to the barricade, before smashing him with the broken chair three times in the head!



Balmer climbs down from the ladder, and finds himself, for the final time, face to face with Takahara, who gets back to his feet. Both men are bloody as all hell, and Balmer grabs the ladder, throwing it out behind him and leaving it suspended on the apron and the barricade. Both men circle one another before Balmer begs Takahara on with a chop to the chest! Takahara returns the chop, and the two go chop for chop, Takahara starting to get an advantage before Balmer begins blasting Takahara with forearm and elbow shots to the head!



He forces Takahara into the corner and begins drilling him with shots to the head, causing blood to spray all over his head and chest, but Takahara roars forward and begins alternating chops and strikes to the head of Balmer! Takahara slaps Balmer across the face three times, spraying blood and sweat through the air before he grabs Balmer around the wrist and goes to whip him into the barbed wire one final time, but Balmer manages to reverse the whip and catch Takahara with a Belly-to-Belly, only for Takahara to land on his feet! Takahara goes for a lariat, but Balmer eats the lariat and returns with one of his own, only for Takahara to take it! Takahara and Balmer exchange vicious shots back and forth, only this time, each man appears to be slowing down! Balmer hits a brutal three-strike combo and goes for a big boot, but Takahara catches it and somehow manages to haul the big man up-AND HE THROWS HIM DOWN ONTO THE TACKS THAT BALMER HAD PREVIOUSLY POURED OUT! Balmer writhes in pain and rolls out of the ring as Tchyukiro rolls the battered Evan Rorsche back in.



Both Tchyukiro and Takahara set Rorsche up in the middle, and Takahara sets up a chair on his head as both men go to opposing corners, lining up-AND BOTH HIT MASSIVE RUNNING FOREARMS TO THE SKULL OF RORSCHE THROUGH THE CHAIR! RORSCHE DROPS FLAT! TAKAHARA GOES FOR A COVER!



ONE!



TWO!!



THREE!!!



Winners, and New FPW Tag Team Champions: The Guardians of Strong Style (23:43)



MW: The Guardians of Strong Style have just become the first ever two-time champions here in FPW.

SD: I’m speechless! That was absolutely brutal.

MW: It certainly was. And both men- sorry, I should say all three of them- seemed to enjoy it. Death Squad’s reign as champions comes to a very apt end.

MW: And this seems like it truly will be the end with no rematch between these two. I’m sure they’ll meet again, but I don’t know how keen either team will be for it to happen too soon after that.



Sato hands the belts to Tchyukiro and Takahara and they raise them, all three of them bowing to the crowd before staggering out of the ring and up the ramp, neither man able to walk in a straight line without help.

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



Backstage, Jim Houston is with Dasha Banks.



DB: Mr. Houston, can we have your response to Artemis Evans’ request for a Dead Man’s Chest qualifying match?

JH: First of all, Dasha, I wouldn’t call it a request. I’d call it a demand. But, I do like the idea. So I’m going to agree. That means we have two spots filled in the match. I have a few ideas in mind for who might take the rest of the spots- people who really want to get the chance to have a crack at Davey Jones- but I’m going to let the rest of the night play out before making any further announcements regarding the Dead Man’s Chest match.

DB: Is there anything else that you can tell us that may be coming up on the next couple of shows?

JH: Aside from the two qualifying matches I’ve already announced for Road To Dead Man’s Chest, I’d like to hear from our Free-1 winner. I’m happy to give them the ring to explain to the fans what winning the Free-1 means to them and to… well, say whatever comes into their mind, I suppose.

DB: And now that we’re approaching the Free-1 final, what do you think to our two finalists?

JH: Neither of them surprise me. Jace Mason winning the A Block wasn’t everyone’s first pick when it came to predictions, but I like Jace. He works hard. He approaches his career with an excellent attitude. I think he’ll go far. Maybe tonight is the beginning of that but maybe tonight is just a little too early for him. Baker… well, I didn’t like what I saw with the chair in the B Block final and I don’t like the creeping influence of Kate Mustang, but I do like his intensity and his will to win this tournament. I think we’re in for an excellent final and I’ll be looking forward to watching it.



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



MW: We’ve seen two new champions already tonight, but will we see a third in this match?

SD: No. Davey Jones is not going to lose that title for a long time, and with his close ally Jack Sevren in the match, he’s certainly not losing it.

MW: Do you think that Davey and Jack will be able to coexist in this match? Jack Sevren is working with Davey Jones for entirely selfish reasons. He wants to use Davey to further his own aims. Surely if he gets a chance to win the FPW Championship in this match, he’s going to take it?

SD: Sevren has said he’s not interested in winning this championship. I believe that. He has his own aims that he’s looking to achieve and he’s happy with Davey as the FPW Champion. Sevren’s one goal in this match will be ensure that Bobby O does not take that title, not that he could.

MW: Do you expect there to be any layover from Bobby’s issues with MDE and Jerry Bishop in this match?

SD: Of course not. MDE has said he won’t be here and neither will Jerry. Bobby has been playing around with Jerry for all of this time until he gets to this match. Bobby will be focussed on this rather than anything else. He’s selfish. That’s who Bobby O is.

MW: Well I’m not sure I can agree with that entirely, although I think Bobby has perhaps not been the reformed character recently that he claims to be. But I think there are clear reasons for that and I think the two men he faces tonight might be top of that list. Now let’s go to the person who’s at the top of many people’s lists, Dasha Banks.



“The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the Freedom Pro Wrestling Championship. Introducing first, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he is known as Mr. FPW… Bobby O!”



‘This Means War’ begins to play and the fans cheer as the anticipation builds for Bobby O’s appearance. After a pause in the music, Bobby emerges to more cheers wearing a military jacket. He pops the collar and walks quickly down the ramp, high-fiving fans on his way down to the ring. He then climbs the steel steps and enters the ring through the ropes, grabbing the top rope and leaning over them, pointing out into the crowd as they cheer for him.”



“And his first opponent, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he is The Best in the Game… Jack Sevren!”



‘Fifteen Minutes’ begins to play and Sevren steps through the curtain, holding up a finger. He signals to cut the music and tells Dasha to introduce Davey Jones.



“Ummm… and their opponent, from Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, he is the Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion, The American Lunatic… Davey Jones.’



‘Bully’ plays and Davey walks out onto the ramp next to Jack Sevren, fist bumping before raising both arms and holding up the FPW Championship. Sevren and Davey walk down to the ring together before Sevren steps through the ropes and Davey over them. Bobby flexes his fingers as he looks ready to leap at both of them but he manages to restrain himself as Jack and Davey intimidate the official. Davey finally hands over the FPW Championship before blindsiding Bobby with a hard clothesline and then picking him up, pulling his jacket off and throwing him over the top rope. He turns and smiles as he sees Jack Sevren lying down on the mat. Davey moves over to him and covers him, the fans booing.



MW: I don’t believe this!

SD: Genius plan from Davey Jones and Jack Sevren. This is a night off for them.

MW: But the official isn’t counting.

SD: That lazy… not even doing his job! He should be fired!

MW: He’s signalling that he hasn’t rung the bell yet. The match hasn’t officially begun!



Davey and Sevren both stand and close in on the official but before any damage can be done, Bobby takes them both down with a double running dropkick. The official quickly moves aside and then calls for the bell.



Match 5: FPW Championship: Davey Jones v Jack Sevren v Bobby O:



Bobby then pulls Sevren to his feet and drives him into a corner, landing a series of straight punches to his upper body and head. Davey stands, charging at Bobby, who moves, causing Davey to connect with a huge splash on Sevren, who drops to the mat and clutches his chest. As Davey turns, Bobby connects with a hard superkick to the gut and a DDT, making a very early cover, 1-2-no! Davey just kicks out as the fans hold their hands to their heads. Bobby stands, beckoning for Davey to follow, before he hits the ropes and lands a hard clothesline. Davey staggers but doesn’t go down, causing Bobby to repeat the move. Davey still doesn’t go down, but a superkick from Bobby drops him to one knee. Bobby then hits a second superkick, felling Davey before looking to lock in O Snap. He grips the arm but Sevren recovers and kicks Bobby in the head to break his grip.



Sevren then grabs Bobby and lands hard chops to his chest, forcing him back towards the corner. He continues to hit chops as Davey stands, and then charges in and connects with a hard running clothesline to Bobby, who falls to the mat. Sevren lays in some stomps before Davey pulls Bobby to his feet and lifts him for a powerbomb, driving him hard into the mat. Davey drops down and makes a cover as Sevren holds an arm in the air, 1-2-no. Bobby kicks out. Sevren comes in again with stomps before pulling Bobby up himself. He whips him into the ropes and then connects with a dropkick before Davey hits the ropes and lands a leg drop, covering Bobby again, 1-2-no. Bobby again kicks out.



MW: Bobby O really in trouble in what essentially amounts to a handicap match.

SD: So now you’re saying Sevren won’t look to take the belt?

MW: He hasn’t yet, but should the chance arise, I wouldn’t put it past him to take it.

SD: Never. Him and Davey Jones are as thick as thieves.

MW: Like him and Bobby were?

SD: It’s nothing like that.



Sevren rests back on the top rope and watches as Davey pulls Bobby up again. He hooks an arm over him and connects with a vertical suplex before pulling Bobby up and throwing him into a corner, following him in with another hard splash. Bobby drops down to a seated position and Davey backs away, Sevren sliding out of the ring and behind the ringpost, holding Bobby in place. Davey then charges at Bobby and connects with a devastating cannonball. Bobby rolls away and Sevren climbs up to the top rope, Davey moving aside. Sevren jumps off and connects with a top rope knee drop, rolling away as Davey makes another cover, 1-2-no! Bobby gets a shoulder up.



Davey pulls Bobby up again and grabs him by the throat, telling him that he should never have come looking for a match. He slings his arm over the shoulder and then lifts Bobby for a chokeslam, but Bobby manages to drop down behind Davey. He ducks an attempted clothesline from Sevren and takes him down with a superkick before landing jab after jab to Davey, stunning him before he leaps up and connects with a jumping DDT. Bobby then turns to Sevren, already getting up, and lifts him onto his shoulders, dropping him down with a fireman’s carry stunner. He turns to see Davey getting to his hands and knees and runs at him, taking him down with a curb stomp. He quickly rolls Davey over and makes a cover, 1-2-no. Davey kicks out. Bobby then turns to Sevren and makes a cover on him, 1-2-no. Sevren kicks out this time.



MW: Bobby O oh so close to a victory there.

SD: But he couldn’t get it. You can see his desperation as he tries to get quick wins on both of these men.

MW: And why wouldn’t he be desperate. He wants to face each of them one on one to really get the revenge that he still hasn’t had the chance to take but he has to face both of them together. Mr. Houston seemed to want to drive a wedge between Sevren and Jones but all he’s managed to do so far is caused Bobby to suffer.

SD: Houston will never learn. That’s why there are people out there who work against him so much.

MW: What?

SD: It doesn’t matter.



Bobby stands and stalks both men. Davey is first to pull himself to his feet, but Sevren isn’t far behind. Bobby leaps up and looks for an RKO on Davey, but Davey shoves him off, right into the path of Sevren, who Bobby manages to connect with the RKO on instead! Davey immediately pulls Bobby up so he can’t make the cover and he whips him into the ropes, but Bobby catches the top rope. Davey charges at him but Bobby pulls down the rope and sends Davey out of the ring. He scrambles over to Sevren and makes the cover, much later than he’d have liked, 1-2-no! Sevren just gets a shoulder up. Bobby bangs the mat in frustration before looking to the outside.



He rolls out of the ring and goes over to the timekeeper, where his jacket rests on a table. He puts his hand into one of the sleeves and pulls out a lead pipe, staring at it for a few moments as the crowd cheer. Bobby looks up into the ring at Sevren, his eyes loaded with hatred, and slides in with the pipe still in his hand. He raises it, but is distracted by Davey climbing back into the ring. Bobby swings it at Davey, but Davey ducks it, hits the ropes and takes Bobby down a running big boot, causing the pipe to drops from his hand. Davey checks on Sevren and pulls him up, pointing at the pipe. Sevren smiles and walks slowly to the pipe as Bobby reaches out for it, gripping it. Sevren places a foot down on the pipe and Bobby looks up at him as Sevren rips the pipe from his grasp.



Bobby begins to back up towards the corner, but Davey stands behind him leaving Bobby nowhere to go. Bobby pushes himself up to his feet as Davey grips his arms, leaving him free for Sevren to strike him. Sevren pulls back the pipe and swings, but Bobby ducks. The force of the blow sends Davey out of the ring and the shock of hitting Davey causes Sevren to hesitate and allows Bobby to take the pipe from his hand. Bobby holds it up and advances on Sevren, Sevren backing away into the corner and begging off. Bobby lifts the pipe but Sevren counters with a low blow which causes Bobby to drop the pipe once more. Sevren moves around Bobby and pulls him in for a German suplex, instinctively bridging for a cover, 1-2-no! Davey breaks up the fall.



MW: I think we’ve just seen our first glimpse of the real Jack Sevren.

SD: No! That’s a move he does in almost every match. Muscle memory made him hold for that bridge. It wasn’t a conscious decision. Look- he’s telling Davey that very truth right now.



Sevren holds up his hands to apologise, Davey looking doubtful but accepting as he turns back to Bobby. Behind him, Sevren looks for the briefest of seconds as though he’s about to strike but the moment passes without incident. Davey pulls Bobby up and wraps a hand around his throat again, lifting him up and planting him with a chokeslam. He maintains his grip, pulling him up to a standing position and then lifting him onto his shoulders for Psychosis. He spins Bobby but Bobby manages to transition, hitting an RKO on Davey! He makes a cover, 1-no. Sevren immediately breaks it up, pulling Bobby up into a deadlift German into the turnbuckles.



Sevren then lifts Bobby up onto the top rope and connects with a snapmare back down into the ring before hitting the ropes and striking Bobby with a low dropkick. Sevren then lifts Bobby’s leg and sets up for the figure-four leg lock. Bobby grimaces with the pain as Sevren pushes up for as much leverage as he can possibly get. As Dabey begins to recover from the RKO, he turns and sees Sevren with the submission hold locked in and Bobby struggling. Davey pushes himself to his feet and he looks down at Sevren, who either doesn’t notice or ignores him, not breaking the hold. Davey reaches down and grabs Sevren around the throat by both hands, pulling him up and breaking the hold all in one motion.



“What are you doing?” Davey growls at Sevren, who begs off, saying that he was just softening Bobby up for Davey later in the match. Davey begins to advance on Sevren but Bobby stands and lands a dropkick to send Davey crashing into Jack Sevren, who drops to the mat. Bobby then leaps up and lands another RKO on Davey, making a quick cover, 1-2-no! Sevren manages to break up the count. Bobby turns and stares at Sevren, who backs away and slides under the bottom rope, Bobby quick to follow. Sevren runs around the ring, Bobby following him, before Sevren can slide back into the ring. Bobby follows again and, as he catches up to him, Sevren turns and cracks Bobby in the skull with the lead pipe. Bobby lands hard on the mat and Sevren is about to make the cover as Davey grabs him and throws him aside. Davey pulls Bobby up and onto his shoulders, hitting Psychosis, Bobby’s legs crashing into Sevren to take him down before Bobby is driven into the mat. Davey makes the cover, 1-2-3.



Winner and Still FPW Champion: Davey Jones (16:25).



MW: Davey Jones retains.

SD: As was always the plan.

MW: A plan that Jack Sevren almost ruined by covering Bobby and trying to make him tap as well as trying to cover him a second time?

SD: He didn’t cover him a second time.

MW: No, but only because his ‘associate’ stopped him from doing so. Sevren tried to take the belt and we all know it.

SD: The belt was never Sevren’s aim. He accomplished what he set out to accomplish.



Davey stands tall with the belt as Sevren recovers and moves over to him. Davey gives him a look and Sevren backs away, holding his hands up. Medics come down to the ring to check on Bobby’s head, carefully helping him out of the ring and up the ramp, leaving just Davey and Sevren in the ring. As Davey begins to move towards Sevren, a commotion can be heard in the arena which is entirely unrelated to what is happening in the ring. Davey and Sevren look around as Haych, Dario, George Jackson and Sara Daniels climb over the barricades and surround the ring, leaving Sevren and Davey circling back to back.



MW: What are TakeOver doing out there? They’ve already attacked one man tonight, why do they need to do more? Surely they’re not coming for the FPW Champion?

SD: Oh they are most definitely coming for the FPW Champion! This is brilliant. They said they’d be stronger than ever by the end of the night, and we’re about to see it right now.



Haych, Dario, Jackson and Daniels climb through the ropes but all six people in the ring hold back form physicality, instead continuing to slowly circle. TakeOver continue to circle until suddenly all four of them end up behind Jack Sevren, who turns to Davey with a grin on his face.



MW: No!

SD: Yes, Watson! A new TakeOver, headed by Jack Sevren!

MW: I don’t… I don’t believe this!

SD: A TakeOver with Jack Sevren at the reigns backing up Davey Jones as FPW Champion. What could be more dangerous to everyone else in FPW?

MW: I… I don’t know…



Sevren holds out his arms to Davey Jones, the rest of TakeOver behind him all smiling. Sevren advances and extends a hand.



“Are you with us?” he asks Davey, who regards Sevren with suspicion. Davey stands there for a moment. “Or are you against us?” Sevren asks, the smile gone from his face.



Davey regards TakeOver one more time before shaking his head. He turns, title over his shoulder, and leaves the ring, walking up the ramp as the fans struggle to process what they’ve just seen.



MW: It seems like Davey Jones doesn’t want the backing of TakeOver.

SD: It’s a mistake. With Sevren at the helm, TakeOver are going to be even more powerful than ever before. Davey may not have actively set himself against them, but in time if he’s not with them, he’ll be an obstacle.

MW: An obstacle that I’m not sure any of them will want to take on.



Sevren, Haych, Dario, Jackson and Daniels pose together in the ring, a TakeOver flag held up by Daniels and Jackson as they kneel at the front of the group. The fans begin to boo heavily as they leave the ring.



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Backstage, cameras follow Davey Jones as he comes through the curtain. Dasha Banks stands by.



DB: Davey Jones, what just happened out there?

DJ: What just happened? What happened was-



Davey pauses as he looks up. The camera pans left to show Botiatus walking with a purpose, his left arm still in a protective sleeve.



B: I respect your choice out there, champ. TakeOver have no place in the House of Botiatus, but there have been some serious breaches of the House Rules by you, Davey Jones. I’ve heard everything you’ve tried to throw my way and I’ve thrown plenty back at you. But we’ve never met in that ring. Not yet. First night of the Free-1, I beat Graham Baker, and as far as I can tell, that puts me at the front of the line to get a shot at that.



Bo points at the belt slung over Davey’s shoulder.



B: Dince you were sooooo concerned about my injured arm I just had to come and share the good news. I just got done with my doctors and i'll be cleared to return to in ring action in just one week’s time. Which means I'll be more than ready for the Road to Dead Man's Chest show. And I can't think of anything better than to kick your ass at that show, earn my title shot and then take that belt from you at the Dead Man's Chest PPV! You made a big mistake Davey. You carelessly threw out that challenge to me when I was hurt. In other words, you broke House Rules! And you did it because you thought you could intimidate me like you do everyone else. Davey, as you've learned before there's a heavy price to pay for breaking House Rules. And at Dead Man's Chest I intend to start collecting. You may be Champ for now but make no mistake THIS. IS. MYYYYYYY. HOUSE!



Botiatus stares at Davey for a few moments before walking away, Davey staring after him.



DB: Davey… can we get a response to that challenge?



Davey continues staring after Botiatus before walking away, leaving Dasha standing there holding a mic up to nobody.



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MW: Well that certainly is an interesting challenge.

SD: Davey Jones versus Botiatus is a match I’d love to see. I don’t know if Bo has made the right decision challenging Davey, but I’m sure he’ll be as ready as anyone can be.

MW: Let’s deal with that match in due time because now, ladies and gentlemen, it is time for our main event.

SD: The Free-1 final is one of those matches that captures the attention of wrestling fans all over the world. Welcome to all of you who may not normally be tuning into Freedom Pro Wrestling, who are here because of this next match and because of the amazing month that we have just seen.



A highlights package focusses on Jace Mason and Graham Baker’s path in the tournament. It begins with their opening night losses, showing Mason’s epic match against Williams and Baker’s devastating defeat to Botiatus. It then goes on to Mason’s victory over James Saturn and Baker only just overcoming Evans. Mason is then shown in defeat against Berry as he leaves the ring with his head held down. Baker’s aggressive victory over Shihei leads into Mason overcoming Karlson in a technical masterpiece. Baker’s aggression is shown massively amped up as he defeats Clutch McCloud before the focus comes onto the final night of the A Block. It shows Karlson and Saturn winning, meaning Mason needed to win to win the block. It focusses on the near-falls in the Marcus match, then the time running out for Marcus before Mason capitalised on Marcus’ error with Extra Credit for the win. It then focusses on Baker versus Jerry for all the marbles, highlighting Jerry’s ability to keep away from Baker’s grasp and then showing the clock ticking down with Baker trapped in the Chelsea Smile. It ends with footage taken from the crowd of Jerry releasing the hold and Baker countering Last Laugh into a Mustang Driver for the win before standing on the top rope and demanding the fans cheer for him.



MW: The last time these two men met was at the end of year awards show in an FPW Champion v Hardcore Champion exhibition match. Graham Baker won in fairly routine fashion. How can Jace Mason make tonight different?

SD: Just like I’ve said with others, he needs to use Baker’s desperation, especially now that Davey has retained the title tonight. Graham Baker needs to win this otherwise what is there for him in FPW? If he’s not the champion, he doesn’t see any value in anything here. A loss tonight and I don’t know where Baker goes. If Mason can play into that, worry Baker early on, frustrate him when he inevitably looks for the arm then maybe he can gain an edge, but make no bones about it, Jace Mason is the underdog in this match.

MW: Underdog he may well be, but we can all see the progress he’s made since that last Baker match. If he needs to get under Baker’s skin and get into his head to get the edge, what does Baker need to do?

SD: Graham Baker needs to be calm and collected. A win tonight and he gets what he wants- the chance to wrestle in the biggest match on the FPW calendar- and it is our biggest match- for the biggest prize we have to offer. He can’t let that desire overwhelm him. He needs to take control of the match, wrestle it at his pace and remind Jace Mason of their last match where Baker was clearly the better man. If he can work the arm and do enough damage for the submission, great, but last time he won with a Mustang Driver and he needs to be willing to win with it again.

MW: There’s no scenarios here and no time limits to worry about. This match will set one of these men on the path to the main event of Judgement Day II. Let’s find out which. Dasha Banks.



“The following contest is the Free-1 final and it is scheduled for one fall with no time-limit. Introducing first, representing the A Block as its winner with six points from victories over James Saturn, Elizabeth Karlson and Marcus Allen Jones, hailing from Seattle, Washington, The Eternal Student… Jace Mason!”



The crowd erupts as ‘Afterlife’ begins to play. The cheers build as the introduction goes on before reaching their peak as Jace steps through the curtain, pyro exploding on either side of him with some extra bursts than he’d normally have. He stands and takes in the crowd, inhaling deeply before beginning his journey down the ramp. He slaps hands with almost every fan on his way, many of them shouting encouragement to him as he walks past. He then pauses again as he reaches the ring, looking around him before climbing up onto the apron and then onto the turnbuckles. He steps up, one foot to the top and one resting on the middle, raising his right fist and bowing his head, soaking in the cheers. Mason then drops down into the ring, shares a word with Dasha and comes to rest in one of the corners.



“And his opponent, representing the B Block as its winner with eight points from victories over Artemis Evans, Go Shihei, Clutch McCloud and Jerry Bishop-“ here the crowd boo fairly loudly, and a few begin a ‘We want Jerry’ chant- “hailing from London, England, The Aviator, The Ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling… Graham Baker!”



A number of fans boo Baker, the boos certainly out-numbering the cheers, as the usual staccato machine gun fire fills the arena. As ‘DNA’ begins, Baker steps through the curtain and looks out at the crowd before popping open his jacket to reveal the ALPHA and ICW Heavyweight Championships. A number of fans make comments about bringing other companies’ titles to FPW as Baker begins his walk down the ramp. He holds out his hand but not many fans hold out theirs. Baker pauses and looks around the crowd, a lot of whom continue to boo him, before calling, “So this is how it’s going to be, tonight huh? Well, don’t blame me when you don’t get what you want.” Baker walks down to the ring and stands on the apron before springboarding in and pointing double finger guns at Mason, the fans again reacting with a considerable number of boos mixed in with a ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant. Baker looks around at the crowd as he hands both of his belts to the official before staring dead ahead at Mason, who returns his glare.



Match 6: Free-1 Final: Jace Mason v Graham Baker:



As the official calls for the bell, the ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant rings out loudly and clearly around the arena. A ‘Gra-ham Ba-ker’ chant can be heard mingling with it from a loud subsection of the crowd, but it’s nowhere near as strong. Mason steps forward and offers Baker his hand, but Baker just looks at him and then shakes his head. Mason shrugs and the two begin to circle one another before they lock up, Baker driving Mason back into the ropes. He continues to drive as Mason’s back arches over the ropes, the official coming between them to force the break. Baker begins to make a clean break, backing away a little before delivering a hard palm strike to Mason’s head.



“You don’t belong in this match,” Baker tells Mason as he then backs away, the crowd booing. Mason touches a hand to his face before looking up at Baker. He moves in and the two lock up again. Baker drives Mason back again, but Mason turns him as they get to the ropes and the official comes in to force the break again. Mason breaks, moving backwards, breaking cleanly as the fans applaud him. Baker, however, rushes in and lands a kick to the gut, locking in a headlock and driving a knee into Mason’s head. Mason reels away and Baker pulls him in for a snap German suplex. Mason rolls over and ends up on his knees as Baker then lands a shotgun dropkick. Mason rolls under the bottom rope and drops down to the outside.



MW: Baker setting his stall out early in this match.

SD: Doing exactly what I said he ought to. Graham Baker is showing Jace Mason that he’s still better than him.

MW: I don’t know if I’d say better. He seems happier to bend the rules than Mason.

SD: And look where that’s got them both.



As Mason begins to stand, Baker positions himself against the ropes and leaps up, looking for Clipped Wings. He lands the lariat hard on Mason, who drops to the floor once again. Baker rolls through, taking a moment to recover from the impact of the landing, and then moves over to Mason. He grabs Mason’s arm and wrings it hard, immediately pulling his hand through the guardrail. Baker pulls back and the official is quick to come out to force him to break his grip, which he does, but not before landing a hard kick to the rail to further jam the arm. Mason pulls it out and shakes it, trying to get rid of the pain, but Baker grabs him again and looks to run him shoulder-first into the ring post. Mason manages to block the impact with his foot and he throws an elbow back at Baker, who ducks, landing a perfect Saito suplex onto the floor.



The official rolls back into the ring and begins a count, but Baker ignores it.



1……….



Baker stomps on Mason’s arm as the fans voice their displeasure with his aggressive approach.



2……….



He then pulls Mason to his feet and drives a knee into his gut before landing a series of forearms which end with Mason slumped down against the base of the ringpost.



3……….



Baker backs away and points the double finger guns at Mason as the fans realise what he’s about to do.



4……….



Baker charges at Mason and leaps, looking for a hesitation dropkick, but Mason rolls away at the last minute and Baker’s feet connect only with the ringpost. The fans cheer the near miss.



5……….



Mason pulls himself to his feet using the guardrail and then moves over to Baker, pulling him up as well.



6……….



Mason rolls Baker back into the ring and follows, breaking the count. Mason lifts Baker and pulls him into a suplex position, pulling him up and then dropping him down with a falcon arrow. He holds onto a leg to make a cover, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out of the match’s first pin-attempt. Mason doesn’t waste much time, lifting Baker, mostly with his right arm, as he whips him into the corner. He backs into the opposite corner and then runs at Baker, looking for a high knee, but Baker catches him and drives him into the mat with a sudden powerbomb. Baker staggers out of the corner and looks down at Mason before pulling him up and whipping him into the same corner Baker was in. Baker then moves in and lands a knife-edged chop to Mason. He repeats, landing chop after chop before driving a hard forearm to Mason which causes him to slide down the turnbuckles. Baker then backs away and aims the double finger guns again before running at Mason and this time successfully delivering the hesitation dropkick.



MW: Mason had a chink of light there amidst all of this offense from Graham Baker, but Baker is looking more focussed than I’ve ever seen him here.

SD: He went away, knowing that his desperation almost cost him everything, and has come back composed and calm. He’s asserting himself on this match in exactly the right way.

MW: Mason got in to it a little by avoiding one of Baker’s dropkicks. Is that Mason’s best hope or can he look to break up the Baker barrage another way?

SD: I think counter-wrestling isn’t just his best hope but probably his only hope until he starts to do some real damage to Baker. Until then he just has to avoid taking too many hits.



Baker watches as Mason rolls out of the corner. Baker stomps down on Mason’s left arm before laying it out flat with his leg foot on the wrist. Baker then lands several more stomps to the elbow joint before releasing the arm. Mason jerks it away but Baker drops down and looks to lock in Emergency Landing. Mason immediately locks his hands and places his foot on the bottom rope. Baker breaks the hold and lands a kick to the back of Mason’s head before standing back and watching Mason pull himself to his feet. As Mason turns, Baker aims a dropkick to his knee, but Mason avoids it, connecting with a leaping double stomp to halt Baker’s momentum for a moment.



Mason stands, Baker close behind, before delivering a spinning kick to the gut. Mason then kicks Baker’s leg out and hits the ropes, delivering a low dropkick and quickly making a cover, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out again. Mason shakes out his left arm again before pulling Baker up and connecting with a snapmare. He hits the ropes and looks for a penalty kick, but Baker grabs the leg and rolls backwards, ending in a half-crab and then dropping down into an STF before releasing the knee and looking to transition into a Fujiwara arm bar. Mason again quickly makes it to the ropes, knowing the need to avoid being trapped in one of Baker’s arm holds for too long.



MW: We know that Jace Mason is an avid tape watcher and he’s made sure to avoid those arm bars.

SD: He’s avoided them for now but he can’t do so forever. Baker has already damaged Mason’s arm and he’s like a shark with the scent of blood when he senses weakness in an arm.

MW: But Mason seems like he’s starting to get a foothold in this match. Baker not quite so quick to get to his feet after that hold was broken.

SD: Mason needs to keep chipping away, but even then I fear it may not be enough to withstand this onslaught from the Ace of FPW.



Baker makes it to his feet before Mason and he helps Mason up, driving him back into the corner and landing another chop. Baker then wraps Mason’s left arm around the top rope and pulls back, his feet on the middle rope, as the official counts. When the count reaches four, Baker lets go of the arm, and Mason drops to his knees, the fans booing Baker’s newly developed attitude. Baker again doesn’t waste much time, pulling Mason to his feet and then setting up for an exploder suplex into the turnbuckles. Mason counters with elbows and forces Baker to release his grip, allowing Mason to connect with a desperation DDT to counter.



Baker rolls away as Mason again stretches out his arm, desperately trying to dull the pain and regain as much functionality as he can. As Mason sees Baker getting to his feet, he leaps onto the middle rope, catching the top rope with just his right hand, and delivers a disaster kick. Baker staggers towards the ropes and Mason follows up with a lariat to send him over the top rope. With Baker down, Mason begins to climb the turnbuckles, the fans cheering him as he reaches the top and looks down at Baker. He points a single finger gun to Baker and leaps off with a shooting star press- but Baker gets a knee up and connects with Mason’s head as he comes down. Mason drops down to the floor and Baker follows momentarily.



MW: My God! Jace Mason crashes and burns like I’ve never seen before.

SD: He took a risk- which he has to do against Graham Baker- but it’s really not paid off for him this time.

MW: And now Jace Mason could be in serious trouble.

SD: The shark still senses blood and now his prey has got seriously weaker. We’ve been going for fifteen minutes and I don’t know how much longer Mason can last.



Baker pulls Mason to his feet and rolls him straight back into the ring, but he leaves his arm dangling on the outside.



MW: We’ve seen this before from Graham Baker in this tournament.



Baker climbs onto the apron but pauses.



MW: What’s he thinking?



Baker then pushes himself up onto the top turnbuckle, the fans begging him not to do it.



MW: This could seriously shorten this match for Jace Mason.

SD: Not just the match!

MW: Baker with the double stomp off the top right onto the arm and- look at Mason’s arm!



The impact causes Mason’s arm to snap back and bend in a horrible direction. He cradles it as he rolls around in the ring, but Baker doesn’t give him much time to recover. He comes in and grabs the wrist straight away as he looks to drop down into an Emergency Landing. Mason resists, kicking at Baker each time he looks to fully control the arm and not allowing him to come too close. With Mason on his back defending, Baker takes a leg instead, looking for the transition that he made earlier. He locks in the half-crab but Mason manages to counter, hooking him with his good arm into a schoolboy roll-up, 1-2-no! Baker escapes.



Mason rolls away towards the corner and Baker comes in again. Mason tries to keep his arm back but Baker forces him back into the turnbuckles and then unleashes a series of stomps to Mason before kicking him hard in the head. Mason rests limp for a moment before Baker hits the opposite corner and charges at him, delivering a double knee strike. He pulls Mason out of the corner and makes a cover, 1-2-no. Mason manages to kick out but Baker takes control of his arm, quickly pulling it back and locking in the Emergency Landing. Mason cries out in pain and flails around, trying desperately to take away some of the leverage that Baker has. Mason manages to get into a position where his arm can’t be fully extended and then he manages to hook a leg over the ropes. Baker eventually breaks his grip with a frustrated look at the official.



MW: Graham Baker can’t be too far off getting the submission now.

SD: But Mason is countering him effectively. He may be suffering- in fact, he definitely is suffering- but he’s managing to impede Baker’s ability to fully lock in that Emergency Landing. I wonder if Baker will persist or look for another way to keep Mason down?



Baker pulls Mason up again but Mason is ready, shoving him away with his right arm and then, as Baker comes back to him, leaping up and connecting with a gamengiri. Baker staggers and Mason comes back in again, taking him down with an STO and making another cover, 1-2-no. Baker manages to kick out. As Mason stands, he takes Baker’s leg and looks to the half-crab. This time it’s Baker who flails and tries to resist, managing to reach the ropes fairly quickly. Mason, however, has got the adrenaline pumping a little, and he lifts Baker leg and lands hard kicks to the inside of the knee.



He then pulls Baker up and takes the leg again, connecting with a dragon screw leg whip. Baker hits the mat and Mason lands more stomps to the knee, the fans eagerly cheering him on. Mason looks to grab the leg and set up the half-crab again, but Baker seizes his chance, kicking out at the left arm and causing Mason to spin around, then reaching up and pulling him down in a kind of German suplex. Baker stands, flexing his leg against the pain caused by the attacks to the knee, before driving Mason back into the corner and landing a hard palm strike. The fans begin to quieten as Baker lands several more, just like he did against Clutch. But the official forces Baker away from the ropes and instead he lifts Mason up onto the top rope. Baker then climbs after him, leaps up and looks for the Ejection Seat, only for Mason to catch his left leg and lock it into a half-crab, with Baker hanging from the top rope. Baker cries out in pain and the official begins a count, forcing Mason to break the hold.



MW: That was an ingenious counter from Jace Mason!

SD: I’ve seen hanging chokes and hanging dragon sleepers before, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a hanging half-crab.

MW: And now Baker is set up and Mason is standing. And so are these fans.



Mason looks down at Baker before leaping off the top rope and landing perfectly with a shooting star press. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Baker manages to kick out. Mason flexes his arm frantically, the landing from the shooting star press having taken its toll on the arm, before pulling Baker up. He lands a kick to the knee to drop Baker to one knee before hitting the ropes behind Baker and coming off with a hard knee strike to the back of his head. Mason makes another cover, 1-2-no! Again Baker manages to get a shoulder up. Mason holds his hands to his head before pulling Baker up to his feet. He whips Baker into the ropes, Baker limping a little as he comes back straight into an attempted Extra Credit. Baker manages to block it, hooking a leg around Mason’s leg and forcing him down, making a quick transition into the Emergency Landing once again!



But Mason hammers at Baker’s knee and Baker can’t get him in the position he wants him. After a few moments of struggling between locking in the hold and avoiding excessive knee damage, Baker releases his grip. Mason rolls away but Baker catches him, hooking an arm and a leg and rolling him over and standing, straight into position for a Mustang Driver. Baker tries to deliver the Mustang Driver but Mason elbows him over and over again. Baker, however, refuses to let him go, connecting even as Mason lands more elbows. Baker drops into a cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no! Mason gets a shoulder up.



MW: No way!

SD: Mason has never kicked out of that move before! Not many people have.

MW: Baker is running out of options. Mason has gone some ways to negate the Emergency Landing and now he’s just kicked out of the Mustang Driver.

SD: He still has plenty left in the tank though.

MW: Can he find something that will keep Jace Mason down.



Baker berates the official, but he stands firm that it was a two count as the official boo the lack of respect Baker is showing. Baker, still on his knees, delivers a brutal palm strike to Mason and then mounts him, looking to end the match with the same series of palm strikes that put down Clutch McCloud. But Mason is ready for him, catching him in a small package, 1-2-no! Baker just escapes. Both of them quickly scramble to their feet, Baker aiming a dropkick at Mason and Mason managing to move out of the way and catch Baker in a half-crab. He sits down deeply, his right arm keeping the hold locked in while his left does what it can to assist. Baker grimaces in pain as Mason sits deeper and deeper. Baker fights tooth and nail against the pain, gritting his teeth and dragging himself towards the ropes before finally hooking an arm over the bottom rope, Mason falling to the canvas.



Mason takes a few moments to get to his feet as he looks down at Baker on all fours. He aims a hard kick to Baker’s leg and Baker drops to his belly. Mason looks up at the top rope once again and then he climbs. The fans urge him on as he points double finger guns once again at Baker. He dives off for a second shooting star press, but Baker moves on the mat and catches him, transitioning into a Fujiwara arm bar to the injured left arm. Mason screams with the agony of the hold, Baker wrenching the arm with everything he has. Mason lifts a hand to submit, but the fans beg him not to, a loud chant of ‘No, No, No’ echoing around the arena. With one last effort, Mason kicks his legs around and manages to catch the bottom rope. The official tries to force Baker to release the hold, but he refuses, the count reaching a millisecond before five until he finally relinquishes his grip.



SD: He’s- no, he’s still in it.

MW: I can’t believe Baker didn’t make Jace Mason tap out there. That arm must be hanging by a threat.

SD: I think it’s hanging by band-aids and the hopes of these fans right now.

MW: But Jace Mason is still in this match.

SD: For how long?

MW: Maybe for as long as he needs to be. I guess we’ll find out.



Baker pushes himself to his feet and points a finger gun to Mason’s temple. He fires it and then lifts Mason into a powerbomb position. Pulling him up, he pauses for a moment before delivering a buckle bomb. Mason staggers out of the corner and Baker pulls him immediately back in again to complete Ground Zero. He hooks his arms and pulls him up but Mason frees himself, dropping to his feet and then executing a sudden Extra Credit out of nowhere! Mason rolls his arm onto Baker and official counts, the fans counting with him, 1-2-no! Baker rolls an arm up as the official’s hand was barely even a grain of sand from hitting the mat for a third time. Mason rolls away and the fans gasp in shock.



MW: I think… was that the first time anyone has ever kicked out of Extra Credit?

SD: I don’t remember anyone kicking out of it before. But Graham Baker isn’t just anyone.

MW: Now it’s Jace Mason’s turn to wonder what on Earth it will take to win this match and to hold up that Free-1 trophy.



Both Mason and Baker lie on the mat as the fans soak in what they have seen. After a few moments, they both begin to roll towards the ropes, using them to pull themselves up. Mason flexes his arm as Baker flexes the leg before both of them turn to face one another. They slowly move towards one another, each man aiming a forearm at the other before they go back and forth with forearms, the fans cheering Mason’s and booing Baker’s. Baker gains the upper hand, forcing Mason back into the ropes. Mason manages to ducks one at the last minute and all he can do is drive Baker back into the ropes. The official tries to separate them and Mason begins to pull away, only to lay a palm strike of his own into Baker.



Baker explodes out of the ropes but Mason is ready, ducking a palm strike and taking Baker down with a single leg before turning him for the half-crab. Baker pushes up and looks to drag himself to the ropes but Mason sits down deeply and then arches his back, the back of his head almost striking Baker’s as Baker roars with the pain of the hold. But Baker still refuses to quit. Mason holds the leg for as long as he can, but the angle can only be sustained for a certain amount of time. With Baker refusing to tap out, Mason drops, relinquishing the leg and rolling away. He looks down at Baker and holds both arms out, wondering what he can possibly do to win the match.



MW: Jace Mason has never been in this kind of situation before. How will he handle this kind of pressure?

SD: I don’t know if he can. He’s facing a man who simply refuses to lose.

MW: But Mason seems to have an idea.



Mason reaches down to pull Baker up, but Baker counters, wrapping his legs around Mason’s head and pulling the arm into a triangle armbar. Mason grips his hands to avoid the full extension but Baker’s face shows the effort he’s putting into it and Mason grip begins to loosen. With a big effort, Mason manages to lift Baker and, half walking, half falling, he moves over to the corner and throws Baker into it. Baker somehow manages to catch himself on the top rope, and ends sitting on the top turnbuckle. Mason looks up at him and begins to climb. He strikes Baker with a forearm and Baker strikes him back, the two men exchanging once again on the top rope. Baker again gets the better of it and, looking down into the ring, he hooks his arm under Mason’s knee and lifts him up onto his shoulders.



MW: Graham Baker-

SD: He’s going for an Avalanche Mustang Driver.

MW: If he hits this then it’ll truly be game over. Baker with Mason on his shoulders, Aval- Mason counters! Top rope Extra Credit!

SD: I don’t believe what I’ve just seen!

MW: Mason with the arm over Baker… one… two… three! Jace Mason wins it!



Winner: Jace Mason (37:58)
.


The fans explode as the official’s hand comes down for the three-count. Mason rolls off Baker and lies on the mat, exhausted.



MW: Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have just witnessed one of the greatest matches this company has ever seen.

SD: Jace Mason. A star is born tonight.

MW: The man who last year refused to enter the Free-1 because he didn’t believe himself to be good enough. Tonight he’s proved to everybody, and, perhaps most importantly, to himself, that he most certainly is good enough. And now Jace Mason will go to the main event of Judgement Day to challenge for the FPW Championship against whoever holds that belt, be it Davey Jones, Botiatus or anybody else who tries to take it.

SD: In the coming days Jace will start thinking about that match, but right now I guarantee you it’s the furthest thing from his mind. Right now the only thing in his mind be that he is the winner of Free-1 II, the second man to win that trophy. This is the best night of that young man’s life right now and I guarantee you that.



Mason gets to his knees and looks out at the crowd, who are standing, applauding and chanting ‘Mason, Mason, Mason’. He lifts a hand to acknowledge them before slowly pushing himself up to his feet and offering the official his right hand, which is raised. The Free-1 trophy is brought down the ramp to the ring and the official takes it and turns to Mason, who has already turned away, looking to Graham Baker. Baker pushes himself unsteadily to his feet and stares at Mason with a blank look on his face. Mason nods at him and extends a hand. Baker stares at the hand for a few moments and then at Mason. Mason takes a step forward but Baker just walks past him. The fans begin to boo and Mason grabs Baker’s arm. Baker turns and sees Mason extending a hand again, but he simply unleashes a hellacious palm strike, flooring Mason. The fans boo even louder as Baker leaves the ring and makes his way up the ramp, aiming a hard kick at the guardrail and turning finger guns on both hands into middle fingers, which he extends to the crowd.



After Baker disappears, Mason slowly stands again, the fans once again on their feet and applauding the Free-1 winner. The official hands Mason the trophy and he looks at it for a few moments, tears welling up in his eyes, before lifting it and roaring in delight. He then leaves the ring, carrying the trophy in his right arm and hugging fans at ringside, taking selfies with them and the Free-1 trophy as the show goes off the air.