Dead Man's Chest II

[Jim Houston]

The show begins with highlights of last year’s Dead Man’s Chest match as a voice-over speaks in a deep voice.



“Opportunity: a time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. Tonight is the time for six of the best in Freedom Pro Wrestling to climb the ladder and create their own circumstances. By the end of tonight, one of those six will have the greatest opportunity: a guaranteed shot at any championship at any time. But to get there, they must pay the ultimate price. They must out-think, out-last and out-fight the five others before climbing the ladder to their victory. And then the world will sit in the palm of their hand as they watch and wait, waiting for the perfect time to strike. Graham Baker, a former FPW Champion, perhaps the greatest of all. Marcus Allen Jones, himself a former FPW Champion looking to regain the title for a far nobler cause. Jack Sevren, the master of puppets, looking to add another weapon to his considerable arsenal. Berry Bishop, a young prodigy looking to take the next step. Artemis Evans, the first ever Women’s Champion who considers herself wrestling royalty. Go Shihei, a Japanese beast backed by an American mastermind. One of these six will hold the Dead Man’s Chest, and with it, the beating heart of FPW.”



At the end of the video, Mike Watson and Steven Deville introduce the show.



MW: Tonight is indeed a golden opportunity for one of those six competitors, but there is so much more on the line tonight than just the Dead Man’s Chest.

SD: There certainly is, Watson. Two championships, a continued spot in the tag team gauntlet series, the soul of Jerry Bishop. It’s all up for grabs tonight.

MW: The FPW Champion Davey Jones defends against a man who I’ve been very impressed with of late- Botiatus. We also have the Freedom Championship on the line as our newest recruit Vanessa Scott takes on Elizabeth Karlson and, as you mentioned, MDE and Bobby O face off in a match which I’m already worried about.

SD: What’s there to worry about?

MW: Well… let’s leave that one for later. We have a great show lined up tonight and I for one can’t wait to get started.

SD: The Dead Man’s Chest match last year was special, but the Chest was ultimately wasted. Whoever wins it this year needs to learn the lesson that Bobby O showcased and use it to its full potential.

MW: That may be so, but let’s get to match number one for the night. Our first match here tonight is a tag team match that reunites the fan-favorite team of Aaron Williams and Jace Mason from the 2019 All Star Tag Team Classic This reunion was set up after the shocking return of Russ Bolt to FPW, and the even more shocking news that he’d re-aligned with the man that betrayed him, Clutch McCloud.”



SD: “I don’t understand what everyone found so shocking about Russ’ return. Every friendship has its ups and downs. Hell, the two of us have multiple arguments every time we’re paired together for commentary. It's the mark of a true friendship that Clutch and Russ were able to reconcile after Clutch lost his temper earlier this year. And speak of the devils, here they come now.”



The lights in the arena went out, and a pair of spotlights hit the stage as ‘This Fire Burns’ began to play from the arena speakers. Russ Bolt and Clutch McCloud emerged from the shadows to stand under each spotlight, with the silhouette of Richard Crowley visible between them. The boos that rained down upon the two nearly drowned out the music, but neither let it bother them as they walked down the ramp; with Clutch maintaining an expressionless face and Russ taunting the crowd.



“The following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one fall!” Dasha Banks announced. Introducing first, the team of Clutch McCloud and Russ Bolt!” The two of them stepped into the ring as Dasha finished the introductions and raised their arms above their heads, revelling in the negative reaction they’d received.



But that negative reaction suddenly changed to cheers as ‘I Still Believe’ blasted from the speakers. Aaron Williams appeared at the top of the ramp, singing along and clapping his hands to encourage the fans to join in. He pumped his arms up and down as the verse drew to a close, but just before the final line, the music suddenly cut out, replaced by the intro to ‘Afterlife’. Jace Mason emerged, responding to Aaron’s incredulous look with a sheepish shrug before the pair of them began walking down the ramp. “And introducing their opponents, the team of Aaron Williams and Jace Mason!” Jace and Aaron stood on opposite turnbuckles, with Jace holding a fist over his head while Aaron waved to the crowd. The two of them gathered in their corner as Clutch stepped onto the apron and allowed Russ to start the match. Jace and Aaron had a quick discussion, going over which of them would start the match for their team.



SD: “This is more proof about how deep the bond of friendship runs between Clutch and Russ, they’re able to work seamlessly as a team. Did you see the way Clutch knew immediately to allow his partner to go first? Now compare that to their opponents, who have finally decided that Aaron Williams will start the match. That’s not what you want to see out of a tag team, all that should be decided before any entrance music is played.”



Match 1: Aaron Williams and Jace Mason vs Russ Bolt and Clutch McCloud (written by Mason):



The ref called for the bell, and Aaron and Russ advanced into an initial lockup. They shifted their weight against each other, jockeying for position before Aaron applied a side headlock, wrenching on Russ’ neck. Russ attempted to force Aaron to the ropes, but Aaron drove his weight downwards to prevent the escape. But Russ still managed to escape, breaking Aaron’s grip and grabbing his wrist, transitioning into a hammerlock. A surprised look came over Aaron’s face as his shoulder was cranked on, but escaped quickly, applying a wristlock as he broke free. But Russ wasted no time in escaping, moving towards the ropes, grabbing the top one and flipping himself over, releasing the pressure on his wrist and then pulling Aaron into an arm drag.



SD: “Russ Bolt holding his own much better than I was expecting against the more experienced Aaron Williams.”



Aaron attempted to rise, but Russ put him back down with a swift mid kick. The crowd booed as he taunted his fallen opponent. Aaron looked up at him and shook his head, then moved backwards towards the ropes, using them as he stood up.



MW: Aaron re-evaluating his opponent after this impressive start from Russ Bolt.”



Russ grew tired of waiting for Aaron to attack and went on the offensive himself, charging at his foe. But Aaron sidestepped and Russ connected with the ropes. Aaron landed a kick to the small of the back, and when Russ arched back, Aaron hooked an arm around his head and dropped him with a reverse DDT. Jace extended his arm for a tag as Aaron turned Russ over, but Aaron shook his head, placing a knee on top of Russ’ shoulder and twisting his arm. Russ cried out and struggled, kicking his legs as he tried to reach the bottom rope to force a break. But no matter how hard he tried, Aaron kept him just away from the ropes, allowing him to maintain his hold. But Russ’ struggling did eventually cause the hold to loosen, and Aaron removed his knee and used his grip on the wrist to pull Russ to his feet. He dragged Russ to his corner and allowed Jace to tag in. Aaron passed Russ’ wrist to Jace as he stepped into the ring.



Jace passed the arm over his head and used the opportunity to land several elbow strikes to the exposed shoulder before whipping Russ across the ring. Russ rebounded, and Jace took him down with a back elbow, then extended his arm and connected with a knee drop to the shoulder. Russ writhed in pain as Jace glanced over to his partner and received a nod.



MW: “Jace and Aaron have done a good job painting a target on that shoulder, it will be interesting to see how that plays out through the rest of this match.”



Jace looked to resume his attack, but Russ scrambled away and grabbed the bottom rope, clinging to it as he yelled for Jace to back away. Russ stood up as the ref backed Jace away, then when the ref stepped aside, he grabbed Jace and drove him throat first into the top rope. Jace staggered back, and Russ connected with a jumping neckbreaker to take him down. With Jace down, Russ ran into his corner and tagged in the waiting Clutch McCloud. Jace rose to his feet as Clutch entered the ring and met him with a forearm, but Clutch just shrugged it off and drove him to the mat with a powerful boot to the chest. Jace rolled over and tried to crawl away, but Clutch grabbed him by the head and dragged him into the corner, driving him face-first into the bottom turnbuckle. “You think you’re special? Just because you won one little tournament?” Clutch yelled at Jace before driving his face into the turnbuckle again. He bent down and lifted Jace upright, tossing him out of the corner with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Jace hit the ground and didn’t move, and Clutch made a cover.



...1!..Kick-out!



Jace tried to roll towards his partner as he kicked out, but Clutch didn’t give him the chance, hauling him to his feet and whipping him into the ropes. Jace managed to duck the clothesline on the first rebound but was then staggered by an enzuigiri on the second. Clutch caught him before he could fall and sent him into the corner. He charged in after Jace and connected with a clothesline the dropped Jace into a seated position. Clutch capitalized by backing into the center of the ring and blasting Jace with a sliding forearm smash. He stood up and hurried into his corner, tagging Russ Bolt back in, who leapt into the ring and then charged at Jace, connecting with a hesitation dropkick to his seated opponent. He pulled the stunned Jace out from the corner and hooked his leg for a cover.



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



Russ pounded the mat in frustration, then stood up and dragged Mason to his feet with a front facelock. He lifted Mason for a suplex, but Jace shifted his weight and landed behind Russ. Russ turned around and Jace connected with two quick shots to the midsection, then capped it off with a European uppercut. Russ was staggered, and Jace pressed his advantage, grabbing Russ and throwing him with a single underhook suplex. And with Russ down, Jace began crawling towards his corner, reaching for Aaron to make the tag. But Russ recovered quickly, grabbing ahold of Mason’s leg and holding him back from his partner. Jace worked his way to his feet, and as Russ began taunting him, Jace connected with an enzuigiri! Russ fell back to the mat, and Jace dove for the tag.



But at the last moment, Clutch pulled Aaron down, his head smacking off the apron, and tossed him into the guardrail. Jace, still flat on his stomach, looked on in dismay as the realization that he was alone sank in. Then he quickly rolled over as Russ stood up and went on the attack. Jace planted both feet in Russ’ chest and kicked out, launching him across the ring. He shot to his feet as Russ did the same thing, and as Russ charged at him, Jace pulled down the top rope and sent him to the outside. Jace took a quick glance as Russ was standing up, then ran across the ring, rebounded and went sailing through the ropes feet-first to connect with a wrecking ball dropkick. Russ was driven into the rail, and Jace wasted no time tossing him back into the ring. Before Jace could follow him, Russ scrambled into his corner and tagged in Clutch. Clutch stepped through the ropes and went for a clothesline on the charging Jace, but Jace ducked and then leaped onto the rope, springing off into a roundhouse kick!



MW: “Jace Mason with a Disaster Kick out of nowhere! Now into the cover!”



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



Jace shot upright and to his feet as Clutch kicked out and waited for him to get up, the crowd growing loud as Jace motioned for Clutch to rise. And when Clutch eventually stood up, Jace struck, connecting with a spinning gut kick before kicking out one of Clutch' s legs, forcing him down to all fours. Jace hit the ropes and then ran back towards the downed Clutch. But before he could connect with the dropkick, Clutch shot up and sidestepped Jace, sending him into the ropes and colliding with Aaron Williams as he finally returned to the apron. Aaron fell to the floor again, and Jace stood there, shock and regret on his face, before Clutch got behind him and tossed him into the center of the ring with a German suplex. He turned around and waited for Jace to sit up, then ran in and hit a shining wizard, driving his knee into Jace's head. Jace flopped to the ground, and the ref dropped to count the pin.



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



Clutch glared down at Jace and then dragged him to his feet, tossing him into his corner. He repeatedly drove his foot into Jace’s chest. The ref administered the five-count, but just before the disqualification, Russ tagged himself in, and as Clutch left the ring, he took up Clutch’s role of punishing Jace. Again, the ref began the five-count, and again, just before the disqualification, Clutch tagged back in. They continued this, with Russ being tagged in one more time. But when they tagged Clutch back in, Jace fought back, kicking Clutch in the gut and then elbowing Russ off the apron. Clutch stepped back in and swung at Jace, but Jace ducked and dropped Clutch with an STO. And with Clutch down, Jace scrambled across the ring towards his partner. Russ slid in to try and stop him, kicking out his leg and lifting him for a vertical suplex, but Jace drove his weight downwards and turned it into a DDT. He looked at both of his opponents down and, with the crowd cheering louder than they had all night, dove and made the tag.



Aaron Williams charged into the ring and took Clutch down with a clothesline. Clutch fell into the corner, and Aaron went to continue the offense, but Russ struck with a forearm from behind. Aaron shrugged this off and turned around with a forearm of his own. He glanced down at the seated Clutch and then shoved Russ into sitting down in front of him. Aaron backed into the center of the ring, then ran in and delivered a cannonball to both members of the opposite team. Russ rolled out of the ring, and Aaron hauled Clutch to his feet before launching him into the far corner. He ran in after him and connected with a running body splash. The crowd grew loud as Aaron prepared to deliver another, but then Jace jumped up onto the apron and tagged himself in. Aaron looked surprised, and the two of them exchanged quick words before Aaron shook his head and pulled Clutch from the corner. Jace climbed the turnbuckles as Aaron set up Clutch for a package piledriver. Aaron connected with the A Triple Plus, driving Clutch’s head into his knee, and then as he rolled out of the ring, Jace leapt from the top with a shooting star press, driving his weight into Clutch and holding on for a cover!



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



Winners: Jace Mason and Aaron Williams (17:23)



‘Afterlife’ began playing as Aaron slid back into the ring, shaking his head as the ref raised his and Jace’s hands. The ref stepped back and Jace and Aaron embraced, saying things to each other that the cameras couldn’t catch; before Jace broke off the embrace and went to the corner, standing on the middle turnbuckle and posing for the crowd. Aaron remained in the center of the ring, a bemused expression on his face before he walked to the side of the ring and asked for a microphone. “Cool your jets there Jace.” Jace dropped from the turnbuckle and turned around as Aaron waited for the music to cut out before continuing.



“Jace, I never actually congratulated you on winning the Free-1, so I’m taking the time to do it now.” A smile appeared on Jace’s face, and the crowd broke into applause. “And I am really happy for you, and I’m proud of you as well, the Jace Mason I first met was good, but the Jace Mason standing before me now is on another level from that.” The crowd applauded again. “But something’s been rubbing me the wrong way ever since you won the tournament.” The crowd went silent, curious about his next words. “See, ever since you became the Free-1 Champion, everyone’s been treating you differently; they’ve been treating you as a much bigger deal than they’d treated you before. And I’d be lying if I said you hadn’t let it get to your head a bit. And the thing that really gets me is that everyone seems to have forgotten that your path to that trophy wasn’t unblemished, I beat you in the first round. And at our next show, I’m going to try to do it again, when I challenge you to put that trophy and the guaranteed title shot on the line against me! I beat you before, I can do it again!” The crowd exploded with cheers, that were then hushed as Jace motioned for his own microphone.



“Challenge accepted.” was all he said before he left the ring and walked up the ramp.



MW: “I cannot believe what we just heard! Aaron Williams will challenge Jace Mason for the Free-1 trophy next month!”



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



Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Jack Sevren, The Invaders and Hunter Killer.



DB: I’m joined tonight by Jack Sevren-

JS: You’re joined by TakeOver. Now why don’t you run along and let me handle this. I’m sure you’ve got bigger things to worry about given the next match tonight. That’s right, Bobby, I’m still keeping track of you. I haven’t forgotten that I haven’t had the chance to beat you one on one yet. But that time will come. Tonight is about one thing- TakeOver. Hunter Killer are back and are ready to get their contracts back again after they destroy whoever is unlucky enough to be drawn against them for the first gauntlet series match. The Invaders have tonight off but I assure you they’ll be ready to do what needs to be done. As for me… tonight I emulate my former partner Bobby O and win the Dead Man’s Chest. But unlike my former partner, I’ll use the Chest well. I’ll use it for the betterment of myself and the betterment of TakeOver as I bring the FPW Championship back into the TakeOver bubble. Now last time I was in this shithole I made an offer to one Davey Jones. It seems like Davey decided against the wisest course of events and refused to join up with us. That’s up to him. But it means that one day soon, when he manages to get past the waste of space Botiatus, we’ll cross paths and, just like I said, if he’s not with us, he’s a target like everyone else. And speaking of targets, in the Dead-



Sevren stops speaking as Marcus Allen Jones walks up to him. The Invaders step in front of Sevren but Marcus doesn’t back down.



MAJ: Last time you two tried something with me, I dispatched you so fast that you needed to bring those losers back in again. Sevren, I’ll tell you this straight up. You’re not winning the Dead Man’s Chest tonight. I’m entering the match for two reasons. Number one: I want to win back the FPW Championship. Number two: I will do anything- and I mean anything- to make sure you don’t walk out with that Chest. I know what happens when TakeOver has all the power around here, and I refuse to let that happen again. I suggest you keep your head on the swivel tonight, because I promise you, even if you’re on the top rung and the ring is empty, I’ll sacrifice everything to make sure you don’t pull down that chest.



Marcus backs away as Sevren smirks at him before nodding to Haych and Dario, who turn and walk in the opposite direction.



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



MW: Well, after that big victory and tantalising match that we’ve just set up, I have to quote a great comedy troupe when I say, ‘now for something completely different.’

SD: In a match where the prize is Jerry Bishop’s soul, quoting Monty Python seems very apt.

MW: Normally I’d challenge you for your use of hyperbole, but this… this match doesn’t seem to be about MDE versus Bobby O. Both men have claimed that their way is the right way for Jerry Bishop to go.

SD: MDE’s way is superior, we can all agree on that-

MW: Can we? Jerry seems to be finding that difficult and I have to admit that an MDE-trained Jerry loses a certain part of his unique charm.

SD: So you’d prefer Jerry to be a lovable loser?

MW: He can be a lovable winner.

SD: Can he? I’m not so sure.

MW: Well, let’s try to focus this match on the two competitors. MDE and Bobby O have-



Watson is cut off as ‘Comedian’s Gallop’ begins to play. Jerry Bishop emerges in his Friendmigo mask and with a referee’s shirt thrown on. His usual entrance is nowhere to be found. Instead, he walks out, looks around the arena and sighs, checking both shoulders after having got used to having MDE and Bobby walking out alongside him during the Free-1. Jerry walks to the ring, half-heartedly holding out a hand for the fans to slap, but not looking at them. He climbs into the ring and moves quietly to the corner, not acknowledging the fans or anybody else at ringside.



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, a very special guest referee, from Kansas City, Missouri… ‘The JESTER’… Jerry Bishop!!”



The fans cheer for Jerry but he doesn’t acknowledge them, just looking down in the corner.



“Introducing the first competitor, from Plymouth, England, he refers to himself as ‘Simply Great’… MDE.”



‘Dance of the Knights’ begins to play and the fans boo vociferously as MDE steps through the curtain, stopping at the top of the ramp to look around the arena with a smug grin. He walks slowly down the ramp, eyes focussing unblinkingly on Jerry. He reaches the ring and slides under the bottom rope, walking up to Jerry and extending a hand, which Jerry looks down at but doesn’t shake, the fans cheering this small showing of defiance from the man they desperately want to remain their hero. MDE stares Jerry down for a few moments before backing away and coming to rest in one corner.



“And his opponent, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he calls himself Mr. FPW… Bobby O.”



Fairly loud cheers greet the sound of ‘This Means War’. The song plays for a while before Bobby emerges, wearing his usual military jacket and carrying the lead pipe that he’s made his own, but also wearing the Friendmigo mask that Jerry gifted him a long time ago. Jerry’s head lifts as he sees Bobby in the mask, and he keeps his eyes on him as he makes his way down the ramp quickly, high-fiving fans as he points the pipe towards MDE in the ring. He climbs the steps and steps through the ropes, eschewing his usual pose to the crowd and instead walking right over to Jerry and bowing deeply to him, much as Jerry usually does at the top of the ramp. He then removes his mask and places it on top of the lead pipe, telling Jerry, “Tonight, we do it the Friendmigo way.”



Bobby hands Jerry the pipe and places his hands on Jerry’s shoulders as Jerry stares down at the pipe and mask. Just as Jerry is about to look back up, MDE springs in and takes Bobby down with a double leg. He mounts him and begins pummelling him with forearms, yelling at Bobby that Jerry will never go back to being the old Jerry that Bobby wants him to be. Jerry drops the pipe and mask and tries to tell MDE to back off, but MDE continues pummelling Bobby. Jerry then grabs him under the shoulders and pulls him off Bobby. MDE rounds on Jerry and yells at him to do his job. Jerry holds back as MDE tells him to ring the bell. Reluctantly, Jerry calls for it.



Match 2: Special Guest Referee: Jerry Bishop. MDE vs. Bobby O:



MDE returns to Bobby, who is beginning to make it to his feet. He grips him round the waist and lifts him off his feet before dropping him to the mat and transitioning into a front facelock and keeping Bobby grounded. The fans boo as MDE yells at Jerry to check on him. Jerry does and Bobby refuses to give in. Bobby begins to push his way up to one knee but MDE transitions into a snap suplex and makes a quick cover, 1-no. Bobby quickly kicks out as MDE gives Jerry a look of dissatisfaction. Jerry holds up one finger as MDE pulls Bobby up and drives a knee into his gut before whipping him into the corner. MDE follows him in and connects with a splash before pulling Bobby out into a belly to belly.



“That’s how we do it,” MDE tells Jerry before looking down at the discarded pipe and mask. He picks it up and taunts Bobby with it, holding it out to him and mocking him. “Honourary Friendmigo?” MDE asks before spitting on the canvas and slinging the pipe and mask up the ramp. “The Friendmigos are dead,” he continues before pulling Bobby up and hitting another snap suplex. He then grabs an arm and wrings it with Bobby grounded. Bobby grunts with pain as MDE drops a knee onto the arm and then wrenches it, twisting the arm and wrist around his leg before pushing up and driving a knee into it again. MDE steps back and points down at Bobby, looking at Jerry with a quizzical look.



MW: MDE really hammering home his point to Jerry.

SD: As he should. If Jerry hasn’t seen it by now, surely this match is his chance to see that MDE is the man to follow, not Bobby O.

MW: Or maybe pushing Jerry this hard will finally make him snap like he almost has done with both of these men for some time now.

SD: The only thing that’s going to snap is Bobby’s arm if MDE continues like this.



Bobby flexes his arm as he pushes up to all fours but MDE comes at him again, hooking an arm and looking for a grounded octopus hold. Bobby resists, elbowing away at MDE and forcing him back, giving Bobby enough time to get to his feet. MDE moves in and looks for another double leg, but Bobby drops low and holds him off, driving a knee into the sternum before laying into MDE with a series of jabs which force him back into the corner as the fans cheer. Bobby continues his attack in the corner and Jerry comes in with a five count, reaching four before pulling Bobby back. “Really?” Bobby asks, arms outstretched. “After all he’s done, you’re stopping me?”



Jerry shrugs as Bobby turns back to MDE, who, given time to recover, hooks Bobby in for a snap suplex into the turnbuckles. Jerry looks down with a pause for a moment, having given MDE the time to recover by pulling Bobby back. He sighs again as MDE stands, dragging Bobby out of the corner and stomping hard on his arm. Bobby retracts the arm but MDE grips it and drives it down into the canvas before holding it out and pushing up before dropping down to drive his knees into the arm. Bobby grunts with pain again and MDE wastes little time in locking in an arm bar, telling Jerry to get down quicker and check on Bobby. For a moment, Jerry stands, staring at MDE, the fans starting to bubble before he gives in, dropping down and asking Bobby if he can carry on. Bobby tells Jerry he’ll never quit on him before MDE wrenches the arm further.



MW: This is a dangerous hold for Bobby to be in.

SD: It is. MDE is the master of technique. There’s nobody better than him. If he wants to win the match in this armbar, he can.

MW: He could, but Bobby is a good technician himself. He knows how to counter a basic hold like this.

SD: Then why is he still in it?

MW: He’s- oh, he may not be in it for much longer.



Bobby turns his hips to get his legs under him and then pushes up, MDE trying to transition the hold into a Kimura lock, but Bobby resists, dropping his arm as MDE tries to switch his grip. Bobby then drives MDE back into the corner and wraps his left arm around the top rope, jerking on it. MDE yells for Jerry to break it up, and Jerry comes in and begins another five count. Bobby keeps the pressure on and Jerry has to pull him away again. “You won’t disqualify me,” Bobby tells Jerry. “Not against this limey prick.” Bobby turns back to MDE, who looks to pull him in for another snap suplex into the turnbuckles, but Bobby has it scouted, landing a European uppercut before dropping MDE with a DDT. Bobby makes a quick cover, 1-2-no. MDE kicks out. Bobby looks to Jerry and asks if it was three, but Jerry holds up two fingers. Bobby gives him a look but turns back to MDE, who is pulling himself up on the ropes.



Bobby stalks MDE and calls for him to turn around. As he does, Bobby leaps up for an RKO, but MDE pushes him away and then rushes in for a snap German suplex. MDE pushes himself up and turns to Jerry, berating him for a quicker count for Bobby. Jerry holds his arms out and MDE advances towards him, only for Bobby to spring back up and whip MDE round, lifting him onto shoulders and delivering a fireman’s carry stunner. Bobby makes another cover, 1-2-no! MDE just gets a shoulder up. Bobby turns to Jerry and smiles at him before raising his arms to the crowd and signalling for an O Snap.



MW: Bobby O looking to win this via submission.

SD: This is a bad idea if you ask me. MDE will have this move very much scouted.

MW: He may have it scouted, but can he stop a determined Bobby O from locking it in?

SD: Of course he can. This man may have been away from the ring for a while, but he’s still the best technician in the world.



Bobby swoops in and looks for the O Snap, but MDE does quickly counter, taking the arm and twisting free, trapping the arm with his leg and looking to pull back the other for the Simply Great Stretch. Bobby resists, refusing to give MDE the arm and causing MDE to transition again, going for Bobby’s legs. Bobby resists again and MDE switches his hold again, locking in a rear naked choke. MDE wrenches it and Bobby’s resistance quickly dampens, his movement becoming laboured as MDE puts all of his weight on Bobby’s back. MDE yells for Jerry to come and check on him. Jerry comes in and asks Bobby is he can carry on, but Bobby barely responds. MDE demands that Jerry raise Bobby’s arm but Jerry doesn’t immediately do it, hanging back for a moment. MDE yells again and then Jerry does, raising Bobby’s arm. It almost drops but he manages to hold it up at the last moment, Jerry holding his head as he realises how close he came to having to call for the bell.



Bobby begins to fight out of the hold, pushing up to one knee and then to a standing position. He elbows MDE, but MDE switches his grip for a German suplex. He delivers it, but Bobby flips out and lands on his feet. As MDE stands and turns, Bobby delivers a superkick and MDE staggers. Bobby delivers another, dropping MDE as Bobby falls into a cover, the fans counting along with Jerry, 1-2-no! MDE gets a shoulder up as Jerry backs away, again realising how close he came to calling for the bell. Bobby rolls away and pulls himself to his feet, MDE taking a little longer. Bobby comes in and grabs MDE in a waistlock, connecting with a German suplex. He wastes no time in pulling MDE up and whipping him into the corner before backing away and pointing at him. He charges at MDE and connects with a running dropkick before getting back to his feet and delivering a second. MDE staggers out of the corner and Bobby grabs him by the back of the neck and throws him over the top rope.



MW: And Bobby O is following MDE to the outside.

SD: This won’t have been in MDE’s gameplan.

MW: I don’t like this. We know how much of a mean streak Bobby has and without a proper official to keep control, this match might not end well.

SD: Jerry should keep a very close eye on Bobby O with that pipe still around somewhere.



Bobby pulls MDE up and drives him back-first into the gurardrail. MDE staggers away and Bobby positions himself behind MDE, gripping him for a German suplex into the guardrails. Jerry quickly comes in and tells Bobby that it’s too much, causing Bobby to pause and loosen his grip for a moment. “Too much?” he yells. “Too much for the man who… did that to your sister? To Berry?” Jerry sighs once again and Bobby looks to tighten up his grip again, only for MDE to elbow his way free. MDE then switches position and looks to hit his own German suplex into the gurarail. Jerry barely has time to come in before MDE delivers it, only for Bobby to flip out again and land on the guardrail. He catches his balance and then leaps off, delivering an RKO!



Bobby takes a moment to recover after landing back-first on the floor. The fans cheer for him and buzz as he looks down at MDE, readying themselves for Bobby to roll MDE into the ring and get a pin. Bobby looks down at MDE with darkness in his face before looking back up the ramp and seeing the lead pipe. He moves towards the pipe, bending down and picking it up. He turns, but Jerry blocks his way. As Jerry tries to grab the pipe, Bobby pushes him aside and moves over to MDE, who is slowly climbing up with the aid of the ring apron. Bobby lifts the pipe over his head and… Jerry pulls it out of his hand. Bobby turns to Jerry. “Not like this,” Jerry tells him, placing the pipe on the edge of the ring.



Bobby nods, seemingly coming back to his senses, before turning back to MDE, who nails him with a knee to the gut and then rolls him into the ring. MDE follows, stalking Bobby before lifting him to begin a Triple Gutwrench. He looks for the gutbuster, but Bobby drops down and rolls through, shoving MDE forward into Jerry, knocking him down for a moment. MDE recovers and turns as Bobby looks for a jab, but MDE, having just picked it up, nails him with the pipe. The fans boo vociferously as MDE drops the pipe, Jerry turning round and missing the entire thing, before making the cover, 1-2-no! Bobby just gets a shoulder up as the boos turn to even louder cheers.



MW: I thought that was it!

SD: It should have been. It was a slow count!

MW: I’m not sure it was. And even if it was, can you really say MDE didn’t deserve it? He used that pipe-

SD: Bobby O’s pipe.

MW: But MDE was the one who used it.



MDE turns to Jerry and grabs hold of his shirt, yelling at him to count properly. Jerry almost steps up to MDE before MDE releases his grip and turns back to Bobby O, who reaches up and pulls him in for a small package, Jerry quickly getting into position, 1-2-no! MDE just escapes. The fans gasp again. Both men make it to their feet and Bobby ducks a clothesline attempt from MDE, connecting with a German suplex before turning to Jerry and pointing to his forehead, where a lump is already forming. “You’re taking his side?” he yells. “You’re not calling it?” Jerry holds out his hands and looks around before his eyes fall on the pipe. “Yeah,” Bobby calls again. “He just hit me over the fucking head with it.”



Jerry looks at Bobby and then down at MDE, who is just getting to his feet. Jerry, seemingly making a decision, turns towards the timekeeper, but MDE shoves Bobby forward and Bobby catches Jerry with an elbow to the head. Jerry drops down and MDE tries to pull Bobby in for a Triple Gutwrench again, only for Bobby to free himself and land a low blow.



MW: Low blow? Bobby O taking a bit of a shortcut after being struck with the lead pipe.

SD: Jerry saw it! He saw it!

MW: I don’t see how he could have…

SD: He turned his head. He saw it and he’s ignoring it. He was going to disqualify MDE and now he’s ignored Bobby hitting a low blow.

MW: Well maybe he sees it as even between the two of them now. No need to call the match for either of them.

SD: I know he’s not a trained official, but this is heinous.



Bobby quickly pulls MDE up and shoves him into the ropes before popping him up and hitting a pop-up powerbomb. He makes a deep cover, Jerry recovering to make the count, 1-2-no! MDE barely gets a shoulder up. Bobby turns to Jerry and accuses him once again of a slow count, but Jerry, more aggressively, bangs the mat to show his steady pace. Bobby’s face flashes a hint of the darkness he’s still trying to get away from, but it’s just a flash as he turns back to MDE, pulling him up and looking for another DDT. MDE shoves him away and connects with another belly to belly. He then stands and looks over at Jerry, aggressively pointing as he yells at him. “Did you see that low blow? Did you see it?”



Bobby pulls himself up and shoves MDE away from Jerry. “Who cares what he saw? He let you hit me with a pipe.” Bobby and MDE shove each other back and forth as Jerry looks between the two of them. He holds out his arms and then shakes his head, dropping down and rolling out of the ring. The fans begin to cheer loudly as they see Jerry walking away up the ramp as MDE and Bobby continue to argue with one another in the ring. Bobby connects with a superkick to send MDE through the ropes and then he grabs the lead pipe again, following MDE out of the ring. Jerry turns to see Bobby swinging the pipe and missing, only for MDE to quickly grab a steel chair, the two men facing off. Jerry looks at them for a moment before marching back down the ramp.



He reaches the two of them and stands between them, ducking as both of them swing their weapons at the same time. Bobby drops the pipe as MDE drops the chair, Jerry standing between them, suddenly seeming taller than before, and ordering them back into the ring. Bobby and MDE both look at Jerry before rolling back in, Jerry following. The fans cheer Jerry’s seemingly rediscovered confidence as MDE looks to pull Bobby in for another snap suplex, only for Bobby to drive knees into MDE’s gut. MDE is driven back and Bobby then superkicks him in the gut and leaps up for a curb stomp. Bobby makes a cover, 1-2-no! MDE again barely gets a shoulder up.



MW: I thought he had him there.

SD: He’ll never beat MDE!

MW: But look at the difference to that count. Jerry looks like he’s rediscovered the man he wants to be. He’s taking charge of this match finally.

SD: And now he’s surely about to ring the bell and hold up his mentor’s hand.

MW: But which mentor will it be?



Bobby signals for MDE to get to his feet and he stalks him, looking for another RKO. As MDE stands and turns, Bobby leaps up, but MDE counters, remaining standing and catching Bobby’s arm. He traps it and then forces Bobby down, trapping his arm with his leg and then pulling back on the left arm. Bobby tries to counter but MDE drives an elbow down into the side of Bobby’s head, wrenching back with the arm and then hooking his leg over it, completing the Simply Great Stretch. The fans gasp as Jerry drops down and asks Bobby if he can continue, MDE yelling for Jerry to call the match. Bobby continues to resist the pain, trying to push with his legs to roll over and release his arms. He manages to push up enough to free one arm, rolling over to free the other.



Bobby pushes up to his feet, flexing both arms to get some of the feeling back. MDE stands too, ducking under another attempted superkick, only to trap Bobby for the gutbuster, transitioning into a gutwrench suplex and then completing the Triple Gutwrench with a gutwrench powerbomb. MDE makes the cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no! Bobby somehow manages to get a shoulder up. MDE turns to Jerry, who clearly and forcefully tells him that it was only a two-count. As MDE walks towards Jerry, who holds his ground, Bobby reaches up and rolls him up into a schoolboy. Jerry makes another count, 1-2-no! MDE just kicks out.



As Bobby tries to get to his feet, MDE manages to catch his arm and forces him back down. Bobby cries out as he tries to resist, but MDE manages to trap an arm with his leg and then pull back the other. Bobby does everything he can to resist the arm being fully pulled back, but he can’t resist forever. MDE finally manages to fully pull back the arm, hooking his leg over it and then gripping both of Bobby’s ankles with his hands. Jerry gets into position and checks on Bobby, who cries out in pain. MDE yells at Jerry repeatedly to call the match but Jerry gives Bobby every possible chance. “I told you I’ll never give up on you,” Bobby says through gritted teeth as he continues to try to resist, but he can barely move as his arms are being ripped from their sockets. Finally, Jerry, with a sigh and a shake of the head, calls for the bell.



Winner via Referee’s Stoppage: MDE (31:07).



MDE releases his hold and stands, raising his arm and looking at Jerry with a smile. Jerry looks back at him and then down at Bobby, shaking his head at what he’s had to do. MDE steps up onto the middle rope and looks out at the fans, who respond with shocked silence mixed with some boos and abuse.



As MDE drops down, Bobby pulls himself to his feet on the ropes as Jerry checks on him. He shoves him away. “I told you I wouldn’t quit on you!” he says. “What the fuck, man?” MDE looks on as Bobby comes forward and grabs Jerry by the scruff of the neck. “You’re taking his fuc-“



Jerry cuts Bobby off by pulling his hand off his shirt. “You had no way out. I had to call it before you took real damage.”



Bobby stares Jerry down and shakes his head. “You really are The Joker. Enjoy being his puppet. The Friendmigos truly are dead.”



Bobby pushes past Jerry and goes to walk away, but Jerry grabs him and spins him back around. “I called the match because I didn’t want you to get hurt. If I hadn’t, you’d have lost that arm for good.”



Bobby looks down and sees the mask that he wore when he made his entrance. He bends down and picks it up, looking at Jerry as he holds it up. “Doesn’t this mean anything to you anymore? Anything?” The darkness clouds Bobby’s face again as he grips the mask and tears it in two, throwing it at Jerry before turning to walk out. Jerry looks at the mask for a moment before grabbing Bobby’s arm and whipping him round. He grabs him and connects with a parallel snapmare. The fans stand in silence and MDE looks on with a maniacal grin on his face as Jerry hits the ropes and connects with a penalty kick to complete a Touchstone Takedown that has never been heard before without a single cheer backing it up. Jerry then turns to MDE and grabs his right arm, aggressively raising it before stepping through the ropes and walking up the ramp ignoring the fans, MDE following behind him.



MW: I… I don’t…

SD: Then let me say it for you. Jerry Bishop has finally made his choice. He’s seen Bobby O for the hanger-on that he is and he’s said enough is enough. MDE defeats Bobby O and finally Jerry is going to be the man he always had the potential to be. The Jester is dead.

MW: I don’t know if that’s the story here. Bobby didn’t like what Jerry had to do, but he had to do it. Jerry tried explaining but Bobby was too angry to hear it. Bobby said some things and Jerry heard enough. To me, that was an explosion of emotion that’s been building for months and months and months. Has Jerry decided to go with MDE for good? I don’t know, but I hope not. Maybe Jerry will never be The Jester again, but he doesn’t need to be the man MDE wants him to be.

SD: Maybe he doesn’t need to be, but I think he’s come to realise that he wants to be. The Jester is dead; long live The Joker!



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



Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Kate Mustang.



DB: K-Kate… I… sorry, I just…

KM: What? You didn’t like what you just saw?

DB: I’m sorry… I can do it. Kate, you have Go Shihei and Graham Baker in the Dead Man’s Chest match tonight. Will they be working together?

KM: No. No, they’re too proud to work together. We discussed it but neither of them was willing. Besides, they’re both clearly the best competitors in the match and I’d expect it will come down to the two of them slugging it out at the top of a ladder anyway.

DB: Which would you rather got the win?

KM: I don’t answer stupid questions. The better man of the two will win and the other will have to accept it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a lot to prepare.



Mustang walks off and the camera catches Dasha turning to see Jerry marching up the corridor. She shifts her feet, unsure how to react, but he walks straight past her, not even acknowledging her. MDE follows behind him, giving Dasha the same maniacal grin that he gave in the ring. She watches as the two continue up the corridor and then Ted Crewmember’s voice can be heard telling the camera to cut.



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



MW: Well that was quite the emotional rollercoaster that match. I think it may take some time for us to be ready to continue but the show, as always, must go on.

SD: I’m ready. I feel great!

MW: You’re probably the only one. But our next match is a big one. Jim Houston has been focussing on recruitment in the tag team division recently and he’s been bringing in some talented teams. With The Guardians of Strong Style taking the titles back to Japan and announcing that they’ll return when they get some proper competition, our General Manager has created a Tag Team Number One Contender Gauntlet Series which will play out between now and the final show before Judgement Day. We know almost all of the entrants, and we know that Sara Daniels and George Jackson, better known as Hunter Killer-

SD: TakeOver’s Hunter Killer.

MW: We know they’ll be in the first match with their FPW futures on the line.

SD: And it looks like they’ve been given a very helpful draw.

MW: It does seem that way as we see The Baxter Brothers standing in the ring. But these two men have been improving and I think they could give Jackson and Daniels a real challenge here, especially given Hunter Killer’s lack of in-ring experience recently.

SD: Just because we haven’t seen them it doesn’t mean they aren’t ready. I think it’s fairly clear which two teams will be in the finals unless these two meet The Invaders before then.

MW: With some of the teams new to FPW, I wouldn’t like to predict anything. But tonight we know the first match in the series will be The Baxter Brothers facing Hunter Killer.



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a tag team match scheduled for one-fall and it is the first of the Tag Team Number One Contender Gauntlet Series. Introducing first, already in the ring, from Chicago, Illinois, Billy and Jordan… The Baxter Brothers!”



The fans applaud gently as The Baxter Brothers raise their arms.



“And their opponents, from Dayton, Ohio and representing TakeOver, ‘Double Barrel’ George Jackson and ‘Forty-Four’ Sara Daniels… Hunter Killer!”



The fans boo as ‘6/8’ begins to play, the lights flashing red as both Jackson and Daniels emerge from backstage. As the intensity rises, the two of them walk to the ring, Daniels ahead of Jackson. Jackson shoves a couple of fans back and Daniels gets in the face of one fan with a sign reading ‘Fuck TakeOver’, which she grabs and tears up. When they reach the ring, Jackson holds the ropes open and Daniels steps through, before she does the same for Jackson. With both of them in the ring, they stand in the centre and remove their entrance gear, tossing it at The Baxter Brothers as Daniels tells them to hold onto it like the young boys that they are.



Match 3: Tag Team Number One Contender Gauntlet Series: First Match: Hunter Killer vs. The Baxter Brothers:



George Jackson stands in the ring as Jordan and Billy Baxter touch fists before Jordan steps through the ropes. Jackson and Billy come together and lock up but Jackson tosses Billy to the mat with ease, laughing as Billy looks up at him. Billy pushes himself up and comes back to Jackson to lock up again but the same thing happens. Billy bangs the mat and gets to his feet again, going to lock up again but this time ducking under the lock up and grabbing Jackson in a waist lock. Jackson backs up into the corner and drives Billy into the turnbuckles, Daniels tagging herself in and laying into Billy with kicks to the gut to drive him down to a seated position before she drives her boot into his face and forces him to arch his back. The official gives her a count and she backs up on four, taunting Jordan.



Jordan steps through the ropes and makes to come at Daniels but the official holds him back and Jackson takes advantage, coming into the ring and holding Billy for Daniels to connect with a hard kick to the head. Billy drops to his knees and Daniels hits the ropes behind him, connecting with a penalty kick to the back of the neck. She makes a cover, 1-2-no! Billy gets his shoulder up and Jordan leads the crowd in a rhythmic clap to help him to get back to his feet. As he struggles up, Daniels tags in Jackson and he hits the ropes, taking Billy down with a hard lariat which folds him in half. Jackson makes a cover, 1-2-no! Jordan dives in to break up the cover.



MW: I don’t know how wise that was.

SD: Jackson has Jordan Baxter in his sights and he won’t be letting him get away.

MW: Both Baxter Brothers have heart but they may be lacking in brains if they keep getting into these kind of situations.



Jackson advances on Jordan and grabs holds of him, lifting him by the throat before lifting him onto his shoulders into a fireman’s carry position, looking for a fireman’s carry neckbreaker, only for Jordan to elbow his way free and drop down. Daniels enters the ring but Jordan dropkicks Jackson into her, sending her through the ropes. Billy reaches up and pulls Jackson into a schoolboy roll-up as Jordan follows Daniels with a suicide dive to keep her down. 1-2-no! Jackson powers out of the cover. Billy scrambles to his feet and makes it just before Jackson does, hitting the ropes and landing a springboard crossbody to take Jackson down. He stands and fires up, the crowd coming with him as he turns to Jordan, who has just made it back into the corner. Billy tags him in and the two of them stalk Jackson as he stands. They land a tandem dropkick and Jordan makes the cover, 1-2-no! Jackson just kicks out.



Daniels slides back into the ring and Billy enters to meet her, but he’s met with stiff leg kicks followed by a dragon suplex. Daniels rolls him out of the ring and turns, but she’s met by a superkick from Jordan Baxter which sends her to the outside too. Baxter looks down at Jackson as he slowly stands, before climbing up to the top rope and calling for the fans to get louder. They cheer as Jordan leaps off, looking for a top rope crossbody, only for Jackson to catch him. The cheers stop as Jackson throws Baxter up into the air and then connects with Road Trip, making a deep cover, 1-2-3.



Winners: Hunter Killer (6:02).



MW: And it’s Hunter Killer who advance to the second match.

SD: And they earn their FPW contracts.

MW: They certainly do. I wonder who they’ll be facing at Road To-



Watson is cut off as ‘Turbo Killer’ begins to play and the fans immediately turn to the entrance ramp, as do Jackson and Daniels.



MW: That’s-

SD: Ella Ripley. Tommy Saxon!

MW: The Suplex Sweethearts are here! They must be the next opponents for Hunter Killer.



Saxon and Ripley stare down Hunter Killer as the fans cheer loudly for them. They point at Jackson and Daniels in the ring before acknowledging the crowd and backing away back through the curtain.



MW: Well it seems like it’ll be Hunter Killer versus The Suplex Sweethearts at Road To Uncensored.

SD: We’ve heard a lot about hoe good Ella Ripley and Tommy Saxon are. Remember they won the ICW Tag Team Classic, defeating Marcus and Morgan, a team we’ve seen compete here, and our own Tag Team Champions, The Guardians of Strong Style, in the final.

MW: Many people see them as favourites to win this gauntlet series, but can they last through all of the teams remaining?



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



Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Artemis Evans.



DB: I’m standing here with Artemis Evans before the Dead Man’s Chest match. What is your plan for this match?

AE: As if I’ll tell you that. What do you take me for? An idiot? I have a plan and it’s a damn good one. I’ll tell you the final line of the plan. Unhook the Dead Man’s Chest. Climb down the ladder. At a time of my choosing, become the first ever female FPW Champion.

DB: Many people have you as the underdog in this match with such top-level wrestlers as-

AE: Who? Who in that match is better than The Monarch? Berry Bishop? Don’t make me laugh, because she certainly doesn’t. I’ve beaten her before. Go Shihei? I beat him in the Free-1. Graham Baker? He doesn’t have half the discipline that I have. Marcus Allen Jones? He’s gone soft. Jack Sevren? Who was the last person he actually beat? I was the first ever FPW Women’s Champion. I would have won the Free-1 if not for cheating by multiple people. I’ll win this match because I’m the best wrestler in that ring. I’m the best in any ring.

DB: You’ve never been in a ladder match before. How will you approach this different style of match?

AE: Beat everyone else up so that they can’t climb the ladder. It’s hardly a difficult problem to solve. Do you have anything useful to ask me?

DB: If you do win the Dead Man’s Chest, do you know what you’ll do with it?

AE: Yes. I’ll use it win the FPW Championship.

DB: Will you use it tonight? To get into the main event of Judgement Day II?

AE: Why would I tell you that? I’ll use it when it best suits me, like I do with everything.



Evans gives Dasha a disgusted look before heading away. Ted Crewmember comes into shot as Dasha sighs.



TC: Look, I know this is difficult for you, maybe we leave the last one.

DB: No, it’s fine. I can do it.

TC: You know the last one is Berry Bi-

DB: I know. I’ll be fine. Honestly. I don’t have a choice.



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



MW: Up next is a debut and a title match rolled into one.

SD: Yes! This is what I’ve been waiting for ever since the match was announced! Vanessa Scott!

MW: Vanessa Scott will make her FPW in-ring debut tonight as she challenges Elizabeth Karlson for the FPW Freedom Championship. Scott has a… interesting approach.

SD: She’s got an interesting everything!

MW: I think I’ll be doing most of the talking during this one. Vanessa Scott has had some success elsewhere but this may be a step too far for her, especially given that the match is a street fight. Karlson is a very good competitor and Scott-

SD: Even Karlson will get distracted in this match. Even if she’s… well… anybody would get distracted with Vanessa Scott in front of them. She’s my pick.

MW: I won’t even ask what for. I think we’d better get to the match.



“The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is a street fight for the FPW Freedom Championship. Introducing first, from Miami, Ohio, she is The Queen of Snark Style, Your Boyfriend’s Favourite Wrestler, Perfectly Sculpted, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Miss Main Event, Scotty Too Hotty, The Bad Bitch… Vanessa Scott!”



‘Sorry Not Sorry’ begins to play and blue and white lights erupt over the arena like a siren. The screen shows a woman’s boot driving Justin Bieber’s skull into the canvas before the entranceway is bathed in pink light and Vanessa Scott emerges. The lights around the arena all focus on her as she poses, her weight all on one hip and her face twisted into a condescending scowl before she shifts weight to her other hip and flicks her hair back arrogantly. The camera pans up her body from her feet to the top of her head before she smirks and makes her way down the ramp, skipping down before sneering at the crowd at the bottom of the ramp and then climbing the stairs. She poses on the middle of the apron before swinging into the ring under the middle rope and slowly removing her crop top. She motions to her body with both hands before calling out, “You’re welcome,” with a grin which quickly shifts to a scowl.



“And her opponent, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the reigning and defending Freedom Champion, ‘The Renegade’… Elizabeth Karlson!”



The fans cheer as ‘Turn It On’ plays and the light flicker. As the song goes on, the cheers quieten and the fans become confused, wondering why Karlson hasn’t made her way to the ring. The lights come back up and the camera shows Vanessa Scott arching an eyebrow and looking fed up before the music stops. The official and the ring announcer confer, neither knowing what is going on.



“Hey!” comes a female voice which attracts everyone’s attention to the screen. On it, we can see Elizabeth Karlson down backstage with a foot on her back.



“Houston, I said I wanted a match tonight,” the voice goes on. “But you didn’t think I was worthy of one. I even went out to Sixty Minutes of Freedom to find a challenger, but I got laughed out of the building.”



The camera pans up to show Danica Jane holding the Freedom Championship.



“Well I’ve had enough of being laughed at. So here’s my demand, Houston. I know you’ll give good old Liz whatever she wants, and I’m sure that plastic bitch in the ring will get her way in the end, so here’s what I want. You still want to see Karlson versus Scott? It’s not going to happen until I get added to it. At Uncensored, Elizabeth Karlson versus Vanessa Scott versus Danica Jane. Freedom Championship. And if I don’t get what I want, I know Clutch can give me plenty of advice on how to disrupt things around here.”



The screen goes blank and the official rushes out of the ring to check on Karlson backstage, leaving Vanessa Scott incredulous in the ring. She snatches the microphone from the ring announcer.



“Who the fuck do you think you are to take away my moment? What, you lie down for one of the guys around here and you think that makes you worthy of stopping everyone from seeing this perfect specimen of womanhood in action? You want to step into the ring with the Bad Bitch? Fine. And after I make you lie down for a three count, maybe you’ll realise you’re better of lying down elsewhere rather than in my ring.”



Scott throws down the mic and gives the camera a condescending look before leaving the ring and walking back up the ramp.



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



Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Berry Bishop.



DB: Berry, how can you focus on the Dead Man’s Chest Match tonight after what you saw earlier?

BB (with a steely gaze): I have to. I just have to.

DB: Will there not be other things on your mind tonight?

BB: Maybe. But I have to go out to the ring and be the wrestler I always wanted to be, whether on my own or with someone else alongside me. I’ll go out and put on a great show for these people because that what we B… that’s what I do.

DB (sighing): But how can you keep your mind on entertaining people?

BB: In brightest day, in darkest night… the night may be dark but as long as someone chooses to be the light, it can always be lit up. Happiness can always be found in even the darkest of places if one only remembers to turn on the light. I’ll be that light, and maybe… maybe others can use that light to help find their way. Or not… it’s up them I guess.

DB: So… how can you win this match?

BB: It’s going to be tough… no doubt about it. The others in the match are really good but I know what I can do. I hope I can put in a performance these people can be proud of, whether I win the briefcase or not.

DB: Berry… you’re an inspiration. Good luck.



Berry hugs Dasha and whispers something in her ear that the microphone doesn’t catch. When Berry pulls away and walks off, Dasha wipes a tear away.



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



MW: Well seeing as we didn’t get a Freedom Championship match as we expected, up next is our one title match of the night.

SD: Botiatus has been impressive since coming here. Ok, so he lost a few matches in the Free-1, but a win over Graham Baker isn’t something too many people can boast about.

MW: He injured his arm in that match which rather hampered his progress throughout the rest of the tournament, but he would have been a major contender without that injury and now he challenges for the ultimate prize.

SD: And that’s his mistake. Why face Davey Jones? He’s unbeatable. Why not go after the Dead Man’s Chest and get an advantage of facing Davey whenever?

MW: Because Bo doesn’t do things that way. He believes he can beat Davey and will test himself and his ability rather than taking a shortcut.

SD: But Davey is unbeatable. Un-beat-able.

MW: That may well be so, but Bo needs to find out.

SD: He’ll find out alright.



“The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the FPW Championship! Introducing first, from The Bay Area, California, this is… Botiatus!”



Lights drop and the screen displays the foot of wide stone steps. As the opening chords play the shot pans up to show severally steps and then Roman pillars in front of a villa style home from ancient Rome. As the song kicks into high gear with a scream the lights flash back on in the arena and the home on the screen in replaced by the words THE HOUSE OF BOTIATUS in his signature electric blue lettering and he emerges from back. He walks straight to the ring but he plays to the crowd the entire way blowing kisses and soaking in the adulation. He walks to the rings cameraside and hops onto the apron walking over to the corner where he ascends until he's kneeling with one foot is on the oversized ring post the other is on the top turnbuckle. He looks down to his left and points to the announce table. As the song kicks into its hook the arena goes black again and a spotlight comes on Botiatus now standing. He soaks in the crowd in his signature pose. The lights return once again after the hook ends.



“And introducing his opponent, from Truth of Consequences, New Mexico… the current, reigning, defending FPW Champion, The American Lunatic… Davey Jones!”



The fans boo as ‘Bully’ begins to play. Davey steps onto the ramp and raises his arms, the FPW Championship sitting over his shoulder. He grips the belt before making his way slowly down the ramp, keeping his eyes on Bo, who stares right back at him, showing no fear. Davey steps up onto the ring apron and lifts his leg over the top rope, stepping into the ring and meeting Bo in the middle, the two men staring each other down before the official forces them back and takes the title, holding it up.



Match 5: FPW Championship: Davey Jones vs. Botiatus (written by Botiatus):



As the bell rings Davey and Bo stand face to face jawing at each other. The exchange quickly boils over into a barrage of fists flying from both sides and Davey quickly gains the advantage. He knocks Bo back into the ropes and looks for a Lariat but Bo comes off the ropes with a Basement Dropkick to Davey's left leg that takes him down to one knee. Bo is back on his feet quickly as he hits the ropes looking for a running knee but Davey scoops Bo up into a Fireman's Carry. He gets back to his feet and looks ready to deliver Psychosis but Bo drives his elbow into Davey's head several times. Davey loosens his hold and Bo drops down in front of him quickly kicking the left leg and again dropping Davey to one knee followed immediately by a Snap DDT.



MW- "Bo is in control here early but what is he doing not going for the pin here?"



SD- "He's doing what's necessary. He knows a move like that isn't gonna put Davey down for a 3 count so he's not wasting time with a pin attempt"



Bo rains down stomps om every part of Davey's body. The champ grows visibly frustrated at being kept grounded and finally blocks a kick. Davey makes it to one knee and blocks a second kick. He gets back to his feet and blocks a third kick, this time grabbing the leg. He tosses the leg aside but Bo spins right into a Dragon Whip. The blow catches Davey flush across the face but he remains on his feet. Bo hits the rope and comes in with a leaping Double Forearm Strike that only manages to knock Davey back a step. Bo rebounds and hits a second leaping Double Forearm Strike that knocks Davey back two steps this time. Bo rebounds going for a trifecta but Davey snatches him out of the air with a hand around the throat. He looks prepared to deliver a Choke Slam but Bo manages to slip out as he being lifted, dropping behind Davey and immediately delivering an Inverted Headlock Backbreaker. Davey is laid out near the ropes and the crowd is on its feet roaring



SD- "The champ is in serious trouble here as he's in the dropzone for the Leg Drop"



MW- "Yes and again I have to ask you what exactly is Bo doing here? He's heading to the opposite ropes"



Bo steps through the ropes and hypes the crowd up. He quickly works the crowd into a frenzy before pointing at himself 3 times as nearly the entire arena booms "H.O.B."



MW- "You don't think..."



SD- "There's no way..."



MW- "OH MY GOD! SPRINGBOARD LEG DROP ACROSS THE RING!"



Bo crashes down hard on Davey getting all of the leg drop. Fans stand with their mouths open chanting "Holy Shit". Bo writhes in pain briefly from the impact before scrambling over for the pin but Davey rolls under the nearby ropes and out of harm's way right in front of the announce table. Bo stands with a visibly frustrated look on his face but he quickly shakes it off as Davey gets to his feet



MW- "What could Bo possibly do now? That Leg Drop looked like his golden opportunity right there"



SD- "I don't know but Bo said he'd have to go big and that's certainly what he's done so far"



Bo hits the opposite ropes and goes for a Tope Con Hillo but Davey somehow catches him out of the air. With his legs on Davey'a shoulders, Bo is draped upside down over the front of Davey. He lifts Bo while spinning around



SD- "INCOMING"



The announcers scramble away just in time as Davey Powerbombs Bo through the announce table. Davey stumbles backwards and ends up seated against the ring as chants of "THIS IS AWESOME" rain down on both men. The ref begins his count and neither man moves

1...



2...



3...



4...



5- Davey makes it back to his feet



6- Davey moves over to Bo pulling him from the rubble



7- Davey whips Bo hard into the ring apron



8- He picks Bo up again and rolls him into the ring breaking the count



MW- "Things aren't looking good for the challenger here"



SD- "Davey is firmly in control now and it's only a matter of time before this one is over"



Davey climbs back onto the ring apron. He surveys the crowd as they rain down boos and Bo uses the opportunity to rush to his feet and deliver a Sliding Elbow drop that doubles Davey over the ropes. The arena is in a frenzy once again as they count along with Bo's Rising Knee Strikes

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9...Bo hits the ropes and the crowd lets out a loud OHHH as he comes in for the running knee and 10. Davey doesn't fall into the ring, instead he hangs from the middle rope. Bo seizes on the opportunity, grabbing Davey by the head and stretching him out before delivering a Rope Hung DDT! He flips him quickly for the cover



1...



2...



NO! Davey just gets an arm up and Bo holds his head in shock



MW- "Bo can't believe it and I'm not sure I can either"



SD- "Bo's finding out just how difficult Davey is to beat. He's held that title with an iron grip for good reason"



MW- "And we've reached the point that seems to come in every Davey Jones match where we have to ask just what it will take to put down the champion for good"



SD- "Bo will have to keep his composure and dig even deeper into his bag of tricks if he wants the title"



Bo sits looking in disbelief another few seconds before shaking his head and seeming to refocus. He goes to pick up Davey but as he leans over Davey grabs him and sends Bo tumbling between the ropes. Bo manages to keep himself on the apron and climbs back through the ropes and right into a Spear! Davey gets back to his feet and whips Bo into the ropes looking to complete the Black Hole but Bo uses the opportunity to load up the House Call Elbow. He comes off the rebound looking to end the match but instead of Davey attempting a second Spear as expected he scoops Bo up onto his shoulders



MW- "PSYCHOSIS!"



SD- "Thanks for playing"



Davey goes for the cover as the crowd loses all its steam



1...



2...



3!



Winner and Still FPW Champion: Davey Jones (10:56).


The bell rings and Davey is victorious. He rolls out of the ring, propping himself against the apron. The ref brings him his title and he rubs the back his head while looking back in the ring. Bo is seated and staring at his hands. Davey heads up the ramp as Bo seems to be stuck in place still looking at his hands and the opportunity he just let slip through them. The crowd shows their support as another H.O.B. chant starts up.



The cameras follow Davey through the curtain as Dasha Banks approaches him, but she’s cut off as Davey is suddenly jumped by five men- Jack Sevren, The Invaders and Hunter Killer. They take Davey down and lay into him with boots as Sevren directs traffic. Jackson and Haych pull Davey up and hold his arms as Sevren lays into him with right hands, yelling at him that he should have done the right thing. He backs up and allows Daniels to land some sickening kicks to the head as Dario and Sevren take care of the security who have come to separate them.



They drag a now limp Davey over to a door marked ‘medical’. They shove him through it and then Jackson pulls out the medical personnel and throws them onto the floor before they run away. They lay Davey on the treatment table and continue to lay into him, bloodying his face with right hands before Sevren signals to Haych and Dario. They reach down and pick up a steel chair that sat under the table and, with some difficulty, wrap it around Davey’s thick neck. Sevren then looks to Daniels, who hands him a pipe. Sevren looks back at the camera and smirks, holding the pipe up, before lifting it over his head. He pauses a moment and then brings it down hard on the chair, crushing Davey’s throat and possibly breaking his neck. Sevren lifts the pipe again and bring it down hard on Davey’s head before wrenching the chair off his neck and tossing it aside along with the pipe.



“Keep him here,” he tells Haych and Dario. “Until I come back with the Chest. Nobody comes into the room until then.”



Sevren marches away.



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

MW: What the hell was that?

SD: That was brilliant! Jack Sevren is utilising TakeOver’s numbers better than Marcus Allen Jones ever did.

MW: So you’re saying it’s ok to do that to a man?

SD: It’s questionable morally but it’s practically brilliant. Sevren takes out the FPW Champion, makes sure he stays in the building under guard without receiving medical help and now he’s going to win the Dead Man’s Chest and become FPW Champion tonight! You can’t deny his genius.

MW: Well… it’s clever, I’ll grant you, but sometimes people need to ask whether something should be done rather than whether it could be done.

SD: It could be done, it would benefit Sevren and TakeOver as a whole, so therefore it should be done. And now he has to win this match!



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a ladder match for the Dead Man’s Chest. Introducing first, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The Best in the Game… Jack Sevren!”



‘Fifteen Minutes’ begins to play and Sevren comes out immediately. He marches down to the ring, his entrance devoid of any theatrics. As he reaches the bottom of the ramp, George Jackson and Sara Daniels emerge from the curtain and stand just in front of it. Sevren grabs one of the many ladders sat around the ring and slides it in, fans chattering as they begin to realise what is happening. As Sevren goes to set up the ladder, Marcus Allen Jones, Berry Bishop and Artemis Evans try to burst through Jackson and Daniels. Hunter Killer hold them off for long enough that Sevren can set up the ladder and begin to climb, but then Marcus bursts through, sprints down the ramp and dives into the ring, shoving the ladder over just as Sevren touches the chest. Sevren falls and Marcus dives at him, laying into him as Evans anad Berry also burst through, closely followed by Graham Baker. Go Shihei comes out too, but he focusses on Daniels and Jackson, lifting Jackson onto his shoulders and then catching Evans as she tries a cross-body. He backs up to the corner of the stage before completing a Samoan-drop-fallaway-slam combination off the stage to the floor!



Match 6: Dead Man’s Chest: Jack Sevren vs. Marcus Allen Jones vs. Berry Bishop vs. Artemis Evans vs. Graham Baker vs. Go Shihei:



With Shihei down, the other five go at one another in the ring, Baker and Evans teaming up to take on Berry as Marcus and Sevren exchange right hands. Quickly the action spills to the outside, Marcus sending Sevren out and then landing a corkscrew moonsault plancha to take them both down while Baker throws Berry over the top rope and is then caught by a discus forearm from Evans. Evans quickly goes to lift the ladder that Sevren brought into the ring into position, but Baker recovers fast and pulls her in for a German suplex, which she blocks with elbows before dropping down and pulls Baker face-first into the ladder as it rests against the ropes.



Meanwhile, Berry moves across to Marcus, who has just recovered from his big dive. She aims a roundhouse kick but he ducks, pulling her in for a wheelbarrow facebuster into the ring apron. The crowds gasps in shock but Marcus wastes little time in going back to Sevren, landing kicks to his back as he props himself up on the guardrail. The gasps turn to cheers as Marcus continues to lay in the kicks before turning to see Evans setting up the ladder. He slides back into the ring and Evans drops from the bottom rung, engaging in a forearm battle with Marcus where she gains the upper hand before clotheslining him over the top rope.



MW: This one is hard to keep up with in the early going.

SD: As these types of match always are. Artemis Evans has the best position at the moment but things can change so fast in a ladder match, especially with six in the match.

MW: Although one of them is still down a long way from the ring.



Evans turns back to the ladder but Baker blocks her from picking it up with a hard knee strike before whipping her into the corner. He runs at Evans and crunches a hard elbow into her skull, causing her to stagger forward. Baker grips her around the waist and connects with a German suplex into the turnbuckles. Now he looks to take the ladder and set it up, but Berry slides back into the ring and grabs him by the shoulder to turn him around. Baker aims a forearm but Berry ducks, aiming a roundhouse, Baker ducking too. Berry’s kick knocks the ladder into the ropes and, as it rebounds, it connects with Baker, distracting him and allowing Berry to connect with a parallel snapmare before hitting the ropes… but she pulls up short, unable to complete the Touchstone Takedown.



Berry’s pause is enough for Sevren to take advantage. Sliding back into the ring, he grips Berry by the head and steps up on the ropes, driving her down with a tornado DDT. Even before he can stand, Marcus is back in and on him, laying more hard forearm strikes into him. The two men go back and forth again before Artemis Evans stands and charges at both, connecting with a double Silver Bullet knee strike to send both of them out of the ring. She turns to Baker and stalks him, looking to pull him in for Guillotine Strike, only for Baker to free himself and land another hard knee before a forearm smash sends Evans through the ropes. Baker grabs the ladder and sets it up, the only man left in the ring.



MW: Graham Baker could be about to make the second real attempt to get to the Chest here.

SD: I’m not sure they’re all going to stay down for long enough for this.

MW: But here he goes, ladder set up under the Chest.



Baker starts to climb but Evans, sliding a second ladder into the ring, cuts him off. She sets it up alongside Baker’s ladder and begins to climb, landing a forearm strike to Baker and then driving his head into the rung of the ladder and causing him to fall. As Evans climbs higher, Go Shihei, now fully recovered after taking out Hunter Killer, enters the ring and yanks the ladder away just as Evans grips the Chest. She stays there, hanging from the Chest, desperately trying to hook her legs onto the second ladder. Shihei grabs that one too, but he’s cut off by a disaster kick from Berry, taking him down.



Berry looks up to see Evans hanging there from the Chest and she quickly decides to climb the second ladder. Evans watches Berry, still dangling as she tries to get enough purchase to unhook the Chest. Berry climbs to the very top of the ladder and then takes a deep breath before coiling her body, the fans cheering in anticipation. Berry then uncoils, connecting with a devastating Checkmate to send Evans crashing to the canvas below! Berry looks down at her for a moment before trying to reach across, only to realise that she isn’t close enough to reach the Chest. As she begins to climb down, Jack Sevren, back in the ring, clubs her across the back and climbs up the same side of the ladder as she is on. He grips her by the back of the head and drives her face-first into the very top rung before carefully hooking her and lifting her onto his shoulder. The fans gasp again as Sevren pulls Berry into position, taking a last look down, before leaping off the ladder and delivering a tombstone piledriver!



MW: Oh my God!

SD: Evans crashes and burns and now Berry is pildriven into the canvas!

MW: Both of those two could be seriously hurt… they could be out of this match already.

SD: And Sevren took a lot of weight on his knees; he can’t be feeling good either.

MW: And look- Marcus Allen Jones now could be about to make the climb.



Marcus drags the ladder that Berry was taken down from under the Chest and begins to climb, but Go Shihei recovers and quickly pulls him down. Marcus looks to strike Shihei but Shihei gets in there first with a massive chop to the chest. Marcus reels backwards but Shihei keeps coming, landing chop after chop after chop as Marcus is backed into the corner. Shihei then switches to lariats, landing stiff lariats one after another as Marcus tries in vain to resist. Finally, Shihei allows Marcus to stagger out of the corner, but he doesn’t give him much time to rest as he takes him down with a Saito suplex onto a fallen ladder.



Shihei then looks to the ladder still set up under the Chest, and he goes to step onto it, but Baker has recovered and he looks to stop Shihei, landing blows to his back. Shihei however turns and gives Baker a look as if the blows were nothing but flies landing on him. Baker drives a forearm into Shihei’s face but Shihei moves towards him, forcing Baker back as he grips him around the waist and throws him over his head with a belly to belly suplex. Shihei then looks to climb the ladder again, but Berry and Sevren, who are just about able to stand, intercept him, Berry landing a leg kick as Sevren pokes him in the eye. Berry then lands another roundhouse kick as Shihei staggers and falls through the ropes.



MW: Somehow Berry Bishop and Jack Sevren are standing, but I don’t know how.

SD: Sevren should be, but Berry? She ought to be back in that trainers’ room, except there aren’t any left!

MW: That’s a very serious matter not to joke about. If someone is hurt in this match Jack Sevren could be facing severe consequences.



Berry and Sevren brawl as Baker stands, holding his head which is now covered with blood from the shot to the ladder. He grabs Berry and throws her into the ladder, knocking it away forwards the corner, where it somehow stays standing. Berry staggers and Baker goes to lift her onto his shoulders, but she resists and Baker has to drop her. Sevren grabs Baker and looks for a German suplex, only for Baker to elbow his way out. As they three of them brawl, Artemis Evans is standing and, seeing the ladder ear the corner, she begins to climb. Without any of the three below her realising, Evans reaches the top, faces away from them and leaps off, connecting with a moonsault from the top of the ladder to take all three of them down. The four roll out of the ring and, for a moment, the ring is left empty.



Marcus is the first to get back into the ring, although he struggles to stand with his back in pain from landing on the ladder. As he pulls himself up, using the ladder for assistance, he’s railroaded by Go Shihei, who charges at him and crushes him against the ladder in the corner. Marcus drops to the mat, unmoving, as Shihei steadies the ladder and looks to the top. The fans again begin to murmur as he climbs, reaching the very top step and looking down at Marcus. With the fans telling him not to do it, Shihei launches himself with Year of the Toad, crushing Marcus and seriously hurting himself. Both of them roll to the outside and land hard on the floor.



MW: Is there anything these competitors won’t do?

SD: Marcus Allen Jones was never particularly big, but he might be flatter than a pancake after that.

MW: And now we have nobody left in the ring whatsoever. We’ve been going for fifteen minutes and all we have a pile of broken bodies.

SD: The next person to get into the ring and get to that ladder could well be our winner.

MW: I wouldn’t bet against it.



Evans, Baker, Berry and Sevren all roll into the ring from different sides. They eye each other across the ring as they slowly stand and move towards one another. Sevren lands a forearm to Berry, who staggers and lands on to Baker, who does the same to Evans, who does the same to Sevren. The four of them go round for a few strikes each before they all stagger a couple of steps backwards. Sevren is first to grab the ladder, dragging it to the middle of the ring while the others recover. He begins to climb, but Berry lands a hard kick to his back and Baker and Evans pull him down. Baker lifts him up and delivers a Mustang Driver onto the discarded ladder on the mat.



Sevren rolls out of the ring, clutching his back, as Evans begins to climb the ladder in the middle of the ring. Berry climbs the other side and the two of them exchange blows through the rungs. They slowly climb closer to the top, still exchanging blows. Evans lands hard shots to Berry, who almost falls but manages to cling on. Evans grabs Berry’s head and looks to drive it down like she did to Baker, but Berry blocks it, manages to grip Evans from around the rungs and lifts her up, spinning off the ladder as she comes down with a Berry Buster! The ladder slowly topples, landing closed as it rests on the top rope. Marcus and Shihei stand on the outside but, from nowhere, Baker charges up the rungs of the ladder and connects with Clipped Wings to take both of them back down.



MW: I still don’t believe what I’m seeing in this match!

SD: All of them are down. All of them are broken. Who can get enough time to actually retrieve the Dead Man’s Chest?

MW: I don’t know. I don’t see how any of them can last for much longer if this is what they’re prepared to do to one another to retrieve the prize awaiting them at the top of the ladders.



With all six competitors down, the crowd show their appreciation of the match so far. Slowly, Jack Sevren climbs back into the ring and sees the carnage that’s been left there. He staggers over to the ladder which rests against the ropes and pulls it away, setting it up under the Dead Man’s Chest again. The fans boo as he begins to climb, but they cheer as they see Berry Bishop pulling herself up the ladder opposite him. He aims a right hand but she blocks it, pulling his arm through the rungs and dropping down with an armbreaker. Sevren screams in pain and drops down, landing on his knees. Berry moves around to him and lands several kicks to the chest before delivering a buzzsaw kick which takes him down completely.



She then begins to climb, looking up at the Chest, only for Artemis Evans to recover and climb as well. The two exchange blows through the rungs again, Evans gaining the upper hand again, before Graham Baker, after sliding a table into the ring, pulls Evans down from the ladder into a deadlift German suplex! He then moves around to Berry’s side and pulls her down too, connecting with a knee to the head as a version of a GTS as she lands. He then looks at the ladder but pauses as he sees Marcus Allen Jones slide into the ring. The two men stare each other down for a moment.



MW: Listen to these fans!

SD: The anticipation in this arena right now!

MW: These two men have met twice, in the two biggest matches in FPW history, and these fans I’m sure would love to see them go at it once again.



Marcus grabs the ladder and tosses it aside as he and Baker move closer to one another. The indiscriminate cheers become loud ‘M. A. J.’ chants but, before he and Baker can come to blows, Go Shihei enters and takes both down with a double lariat. The fans boo as Shihei picks up the table that Baker brought into the ring and sets it up near the corner. He lifts Marcus and looks to set him up for an exploder through the table, but Marcus blocks him with elbows and then connects with a swinging neckbreaker. As he stands, Baker stands opposite him, but this time they don’t wait.



Baker and Marcus launch at one another, landing right hands at lightning speed as the fans cheer wildly. Baker gains the upper hand and then looks to lift Marcus up for a Mustang Driver, only for Marcus to drop down and look for Six Stars, which Baker blocks with a back elbow. Marcus staggers and Baker connects with a shotgun dropkick to send Marcus into the corner, where Baker charges at him and connects with a huge knee strike. Marcus staggers away and Baker looks for another Mustang Driver, but Marcus again elbows his way out of it, landing a superkick to send Baker through the ropes. Before Marcus can even turn, Evans grabs him and connects with a Guillotine Strike.



With no one else standing, Evans looks to climb the ladder. She slowly makes her way up the rungs one at a time, reaching up for the Chest in desperation. As she nears the top, she is distracted by Jack Sevren standing on the apron and then climbing up to the top rope. Evans looks across at him in bemusement as he looks at her and then points. He leaps off the turnbuckle, looking to spear Evans off the ladder, but she catches him with a cutter from the ladder which drives Jack Sevren through the table!



MW: By God, not again! This match is out of control!

SD: This match is incredible! What a counter by Arty.

MW: It was incredible, but how much more do these people have to suffer.

SD: They entered this match knowing that it would be a match with a lot of punishment. They volunteered for this.

MW: But a time must surely come when they realise even this prize isn’t worth possibly ending your career for.

SD: Whoever is willing to risk it all will come out victorious. That’s always been how these matches have worked.



Go Shihei and Berry Bishop are first to their feet on the outside. With one ladder standing and one lying on the mat, they each grab a ladder of their own and slide it into the ring. Berry drops hers while Shihei maintains his grip of his, Berry aiming Checkmate at the ladder, but Shihei throwing it at her and blocking her. Berry staggers and Shihei runs at her, taking her down with a lariat. He sets up the ladder that he brought into the ring, setting it up in the corner and maintaining the one in the middle of the ring under the Dead Man’s Chest.



Shihei then begins to climb but Graham Baker slides back into the ring and looks to pull him down. Shihei, however, is too strong, maintaining his grip on the ladder and not allowing Baker to rip him down. Baker decided instead to back down and climb up the second ladder while still facing Shihei. As Shihei continues to climb, Baker leaps off the second ladder and connects with a dropkick, forcing the ladder to topple over and leaving Shihei with a hard landing. Baker then lifts Shihei and connects with a Mustang Driver, setting up the second ladder under the Chest again and starting to climb.



This time Berry recovers, landing kicks to Baker to stop him from climbing any further. She grabs the ladder that she brought into the ring and slides it through the rungs of the two ladders, creating a bridge between them. She stands on the bridge and pulls Baker down, both of them balancing precariously on the structure. Baker aims a forearm but Berry ducks, lifting him for a Berry Buster and spinning off the ladder, driving him into the canvas below. Sevren and Evans begin to recover just as Shihei and Marcus also get back into the ring.



MW: All six competitors are in this ring for what I think is the very first time.

SD: And you know when this happens it is close to the end of the match. One by one they’ll fall and leave one of them standing ready. No getting back into the ring to climb the ladder. No time for anyone else to recover. I predict we’ll have our winner after this next exchange.

MW: That may be true, but we’re none the wiser to knowing who the winner of this match will be.



Evans begins to slowly climb the outside of the middle ladder while Marcus steps onto the bridge ladder, looking to climb up the other side. Shihei, however, pulls Marcus down and the two exchange blows, Shihei sending Marcus staggering into the second ladder. The whole structure wobbled but it doesn’t fall. Berry manages to pulls herself onto the bridge as well, but she can’t stand, due to the impact of so much damage taken. Baker also climbs onto the bridge, driving forearms into the face of Marcus, who manages to climb up the ladder in the corner to escape. Baker steps over Berry and lands blows to the back of Go Shihei as he climbs towards the Chest.



With Shihei and Evans closest, Jack Sevren looks up and quickly climbs the same side of the ladder as Evans. He tries to climb through her, forcing his shoulders between her legs, only for Evans to take advantage and sit on top of his shoulders, Sevren’s frantic climbing pushing her ever closer to the top of the ladder and in reach of the Chest. Shihei, seeing what is happening, kicks out at Baker and forces himself up, landing a huge lariat to Evans, which forces her back. As she falls, she maintains her grip on Sevren into a reverse rana off the ladder! Both of them land hard and roll to the outside.



Shihei then reaches up, only for Baker to recover and grips him round the waist. He tries to heave Shihei down, but Shihei resists, maintaining his grip on the ladder as Berry and Marcus exchange blows on the other ladder. Finally, Baker’s pressure pays off and he lands a German suplex to send Shihei onto the bridge ladder, the whole structure again coming close to falling but managing to remain standing. Moments later, a hard forearm from Marcus sends Berry crashing down on top of Shihei and Marcus looks down at the both, sighs and leaps off with a Mark Out Moment to send both of them through the ladder!



MW: I have no more words!

SD: There can only be two competitors left in this one!

MW: I don’t even know if there are any.

SD: Graham Baker is standing and Marcus Allen Jones is pulling himself to his feet. They’re the only two left able to stand.

MW: Evans and Sevren haven’t moved and now Shihei and Berry are motionless on the outside. I think you’re right. It’s come down to these two rivals, their rivalry over a year-long at this point. Which one will win the Dead Man’s Chest?



Baker shoves the middle ladder down to the mat as Marcus does the same to the one in the corner. The two old rivals advance on one another and begin to land forearms, not especially strong at first, but enough to stagger their opponent. Baker begins to gain the advantage, forcing Marcus back to the ropes, but Marcus ducks one and lands a Pele kick which sends Baker over the top rope and landing hard on the outside. Marcus looks down and decides to follow, lifting Baker and driving him head-first into the barricade. He rests Baker on the barricade and lays into him with more forearms before turning away, only for Baker to grab him by the back of the trunks and stop him from getting back into the ring.



Marcus turns and looks down at Baker, but Baker pulls him down into the guardrail and Marcus lands face-first. Baker pulls himself slowly to his feet and lands a hard stomp to the back of Marcus’ head before looking down under the ring. He pulls out a second table and lethargically slides it into the ring before looking back under the ring. He then pulls out a small bag and a can, the fans gasping when they realise that the can contains lighter fluid. Baker turns back to Marcus and pulls him to his feet, another gasp coming as the fans notice Marcus bleeding from the mouth.



Baker shoves Marcus into the ring and then follows, picking up the little bag and reaching inside it. He pulls out a box of matches, which he tosses aside for a moment before turning the bag over and dropping thumbtacks in a pile in the corner. Baker smiles as the crowd inhales. Baker pulls Marcus up again and slaps him across the face before lifting him up onto his shoulders, looking down at the tacks before looking for a Mustang Driver. Marcus, however, manages to elbow his way out, drop down behind him and lift him for a wheelbarrow facebuster, looking to drive him into the tacks, but Baker flips out and lands on his feet, gripping Marcus for a German suplex.



MW: I really don’t like what’s in this ring right now.

SD: Graham Baker has taken this match to the next level. And who better to do it with that his oldest rival Marcus Allen Jones?

MW: I thought you and Marcus were best friends?

SD: We were…



Baker moves back to the table and sets it up near the corner. He then picks up the can of lighter fluid and spreads it all over the table. He bends down for the matches but Marcus manages to cut him off, connecting with a reverse DDT. Marcus looks down at the thumbtacks and then at the table before looking up at the Chest. He shakes his head and moves towards the ladder, beginning to climb but feeling the pain of the match slow him down. Baker recovers fairly quickly and grabs one of the other ladders, throwing it at Marcus to slow him down further. He then bends down and picks up the matches, lighting one and tossing it onto the table, which bursts quickly into flame.



Baker then looks up at Marcus and smiles a sick smile, climbing the opposite side of the ladder. He reaches near the top but he doesn’t reach for the Chest. Instead, he pulls Marcus up and then turns back to look down at the flaming table. The fans, sensing what is about to happen, beg Baker not to do it, but Baker leaps up, looking for Ejection Seat through the flaming table… but Marcus manages to propel himself away from the table and he lands on his feet. He frantically turns as Baker starts to get to his feet, trapping his wrist and pulling him in for Six Stars. As he hits it, the fans begin to make a lot of noise as they see Jack Sevren beginning to climb the ladder. Marcus sees it too and he looks around quickly, looking up and Jack and then at the table below. He makes a decision, stepping through the ropes in the opposite corner to the table and climbing up to the top turnbuckle. As Sevren reaches a point where he could grab the Chest, Marcus makes his leap, landing perfectly and connecting with a Canadian destroyer to Jack Sevren through the flaming table!



SD: Noooooo!

MW: Marcus Allen Jones said he would stop Jack Sevren at all costs, but when does at all costs become too much?

SD: That! That was too much!

MW: Both men are writhing in agony!

SD: And there’s no one… wait…



Artemis Evans slowly climbs into the ring and looks at the carnage around her, Sevren and Marcus in the wreckage of the table, Berry and Shihei broken on the outside, Baker out cold under the ladder. She scrambles over to the ladder and begins to climb, the fans booing as she gets closer and closer. As she reaches the top she steadies herself and takes one more look around, checking to make sure she won’t be stopped. With nobody anywhere near stopping her, Evans reaches up and unhooks the Dead Man’s Chest, cradling it to herself as the bell rings.



Winner: Artemis Evans (44:05).



MW: Artemis Evans has won this match!

SD: Yes! I knew Arty could do it.



Evans slowly climbs down from the ladder and has her arm raised, before a look comes over her face.



MW: I think Evans has had an idea.

SD: I know what idea she’s had… do it Arty! The FPW Championship is there for the taking!

MW: She’s not…

SD: It was Sevren’s plan but maybe Arty can be the one to carry it out.



Evans rolls out of the ring and moves as quickly as she can up the ramp. She ploughs through the curtain, the cameras struggling to keep up. As she gets to the medical room, there is carnage all around it, security people lying motionless as well as Jim Houston. Haych and Dario are nowhere to be found until Evans pushes open the door to the room, an official just behind her. She pauses in the doorway and, over her shoulder, we see Haych and Dario lying on the floor and the FPW Championship left on the treatment table. Davey Jones is nowhere to be seen.