Uncensored

[Jim Houston]

A video plays showing some of the key events of the last few months. It shows The Invaders and Hunter Killer siding with Jack Sevren as Davey Jones walks away. It shows the attack on Davey and Artemis Evans winning the Dead Man’s Chest before trying to cash in on Davey. It shows Jim Houston’s announcement of the FPW Rumble and some of the key moments: Jerry losing his mask to Bobby, TakeOver running rampant, Botiatus being eliminated by Death Squad, Marcus Allen Jones eliminating Jack Sevren and then MDE eliminating berry Bishop and holding the FPW Title aloft.



We then cut to Mike Watson and Steven Deville on commentary.



MW: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to our final big show before Judgement Day II.

SD: And tonight could well prove to be a huge judgement on some of our biggest stars. We have matches tonight which could define careers and which could determine the direction of FPW for a long time to come.

MW: We certainly do. There are so many matches tonight that it would be futile to try and go through them all, but some of the key match-ups tonight involve the Free-1 trophy on the line as Jace Mason faces Aaron Williams, Graham Baker facing former FPW star Adam Thompson, Marcus Allen Jones finally getting his hands on Jack Sevren and our main event, the FPW Championship being defended as MDE meets Berry Bishop for the second time.

SD: By the end of the night TakeOver will reign supreme and MDE will fully establish himself as the FPW Champion. This is going to be a great night in the history of FPW.

MW: And we have an interesting match to start things off. Botiatus was eliminated from the FPW Rumble by Death Squad after having already eliminated two of them. Tonight he tries to get his revenge.

SD: But he has to team up with Jerry Bishop and Bobby O, two men who really don’t want to work together.

MW: They seem not to want to, but they’ve trained together this week. They may be able to coexist for long enough to win this match.

SD: Not a chance. Jerry attacked Bobby after his loss to MDE and Bobby tore off Jerry’s mask. There’s no way they’ll work together.



“Our opening contest is scheduled for one-fall and is a six-man tag team match. Introducing first, they are former FPW Tag Team Champions, accompanied to the ring by Ava Knight, from Las Vegas, Nevada, Death’s Right Hand, Sins’s Left Hand and Uncaged Fury respectively… Aiden Balmer, George Mercer and Mary Downing… Dead Squad!”



Ava Knight appears on the entrance ramp to introduce Death Squad as smoke pours out. After her introduction, a klaxon sounds and ‘Legend Has It’ plays while three spotlights hit Balmer, Mercer and Downing. The three competitors lead the way down the ramp as Knight follows behind while the fans boo them all loudly. Ava Knight overtakes them as they get to the ring and she holds the ropes open for each of them to step through before they pose in the centre of the ring, the crowd continuing to boo the group.



“And their opponents… introducing first, from Kansas City, Missouri… The Joker… Jerry Bishop!”



‘Comedian’s Gallop’ begins to play and Jerry emerges at the top of the ramp. The fans gasp as they see him without his mask but instead with his face painted. He looks around at the top of the ramp, seemingly gauging the reaction to the paint, before looking at the ring, sighing, and making his way down the ramp. He reaches the ring and Death Squad move towards the ropes to intimidate him, but Jerry climbs onto the apron anyway and steps through the ropes, eyeballing each of them as they back away from him.



“And his partner, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a former FPW Tag Team Champion… he calls himself Mr. FPW… Bobby O!”



The fans cheer as ‘This Means War’ begins to play. At a pause in the music, Bobby steps out to a positive reception. He pops the collar on his military jacket and walks quickly down to the ring, slapping hands with the fans as he reaches the ring. He climbs up the steps and steps through the ropes, leaning over them as he looks out to the fans. As he turns, he sees Jerry and the two eyeball one another for a few moments. Bobby shakes his head and turns away towards their corner while Jerry continues to stare at him.



“And their final partner, from The Bay Area, California, a multiple time champion up and down the west coast… this is Botiatus!”



The lights drop and the familiar stone steps appear on the screen. The camera pans up to the Roman style villa before ‘The House of Botiatus’ replaces it and ‘Famous’ really kicks in. Bo emerges from the back and walks straight down the ramp, playing to the fans all the way to the ring. He walks around one side and hops up onto the apron before climbing the corner, pointing down to the announce table before the lights go down. A spotlight shows Bo, now standing, before he drops down into the ring and slaps Jerry on the back before doing the same to Bobby.



Match 1: Death Squad vs. Jerry Bishop, Bobby O and Botiatus (written by Botiatus):



Bobby and Jerry stick to opposite sides of the corner as Bo remains in the ring jawing with Balmer. The trash talk intensifies until the ref forcefully separates them. He then signals for the bell and Balmer explodes forward with Freight Train. The running European Uppercut floors Bo and Balmer wastes no time making a quick cover 1, 2, no Bo kicks out. Balmer tries to press his advantage as he gets both men back to their feet but he's met with a chop from Bo. A second chop catches Balmer as Bo builds momentum but a third chop is cut off by a vicious headbutt. Repeated headbutts are delivered in rapid fire succession backing Bo all the way into Death Squads corner. Balmer then lays the boots to a dizzy Bo until he's slumped down in the corner before tagging in Mary Downing. She takes a moment to strut across ring, taunting the crowd as she goes until reaching the opposite corner where she also taunts Jerry and Bobby. She then dashes back across the ring delivering a Running Double Knee Facebreaker.



Deville- This one could already be over



Watson- Downing's going for the cover... and Bo somehow manages to get a shoulder up



Deville- He can't take much more of this though. Bo desperately needs to make a tag and he's on the wrong side of the ring



Watson- And here comes Mercer



Downing makes the tag and Mercer comes in quickly applying a Sleeper Hold. Bo attempts to fight momentarily before quickly beginning to fade. Across the ring Jerry and Bobby watch on. Jerry seems indifferent but Bobby starts up a slow clap as he gets the crowd to try and help Bo rally. Bo begins to stir as he struggles against the hold. He makes it to one knee, then to his feet. He then delivers an elbow to the gut that loosens the hold a bit, followed by a second and a third that finally breaks the hold. The crowd cheers Bo on as he aims a punch but Mercer delivers a knee to the gut that doubles Bo over. Mercer then grabs Bo's arm as he looks to deliver a Ripcord Lariat but Bo ducks under the arm and then leaps up connecting with House Rules!



Watson- This could be the opportunity that Bo needs. He's gotta make a tag here



Deville- He does but I'm not sure if Bo even has any energy left. That House Rules seemed like a last gasp effort



Both men lay motionless for a moment before starting to crawl towards their corners. Mercer makes it to his corner first tagging in Balmer. He rushes over grabbing Bo just in time to stop the tag but Bo quickly flips over and kicks away Balmer with both legs. He then turns makes a leaping tag to Bobby who comes in with a full head of steam. He ducks the Lariat attempt from Balmer as he rushes across the ring knocking Mercer off the apron. Balmer rushed with another Lariat but Bobby catches him with an underhook followed by a short series of nifty transitions that end in a thunderous DDT! Bobby goes for a pin but Downing comes in immediately breaking it up. She lays a few boots into Bobby for good measure but turns around into a Springboard DDT from Bo! Jerry watches on still having not moved from his spot on the apron as Bo sees Balmer getting to his feet. Bo looks ready to deliver the House Call and hits the ropes but tumbles over as Mercer pulls the top rope down. He hits the ground hard and Mercer quickly grabs him and whips Bo into the steel steps.



Watson- Ouch, Bo might be out cold after going head first into that unforgiving steel



Deville- And what a situation that leaves his team in. In fact I'm not even sure you can call them a team. They're supposed to be running all the tags thorough Bo so what happens if he's out of commission? Jerry has yet to enter the match



Watson- I know they have their problems but i'd like to think they can put all of that aside to try and win this match right now



Deville- I wouldn't be so sure



Bobby sticks his head through the ropes as he attempts to check on Bo but Balmer pulls him back right into Tailspin. He covers for the pin 1, 2, No! Bobby kicks out! Balmer gets back to his feet quickly tagging in Mercer. He then sets up Bobby for a Backdrop Nightmare that Mercer finishes off with a Leaping Dropkick to complete the tag team maneuver. Mercer makes the cover 1, 2, No! Bobby again just gets his shoulder up. Mercer is frustrated as he lays boots to Bobby until he's seated in Death Squads corner. Mercer then tags in Downing who taunts the crowd and opposing corner. Jerry stares with indifference as Downing turns and charges to deliver another Running Double Knee Facebreaker Bobby manages to roll out of the way and Downing crashes hard.



Watson- "Bobby needs to make a tag here"



Deville- "Indeed but Jerry's the only one in the corner



The crowd is the loudest it's been all match as Bobby crawls over towards his corner. Jerry makes no attempt to reach for a tag and as Bobby gets close Jerry seems conflicted. Bobby gets close enough and leaps for the tag but Jerry hops off the apron and Bobby crashes into the turnbuckle. Boos rain down from the stands as the fans voice their displeasure with the turning of events. Jerry and Bobby share a brief stare before Jerry turns his back and walks up the ramp



Watson- I don't even have the words right now.



Deville- Well I do. And you really shouldn't be surprised. This was bound to happen sooner or later.



Watson- But to walk out on a match? This isn't the Jerry any of us know and love.



Deville- Damn straight it isn't. Long live The Joker!



Jerry continues up the ramp to deafening boos before disappearing behind the curtain. Back in the ring Bobby is all alone and Mercer takes advantage as he jumps all over him in Bobby's own corner. He then tries to set up Bobby for a Superplex but as he climbs to the second rope Bo suddenly hops back on the apron giving Bobby a push on his back as he simultaneously makes the tag. Bobby uses the momentum to flip out, managing to land on his feet as he charges at the opposite corner knocking Downing off the apron and into the serenity wall. Mercer charges at Bobby flooring him with a Lariat but he turns around into a House Call! Bo makes the cover and Balmer tries to break it up but Bobby manages to grab his foot and hold him just long enough 1, 2,3!



Winners: Botiatus and Bobby O (11:36)



Bo and Bobby immediately roll out of the ring as an enraged Balmer checks on his teammates. As they walk up the ramp, Bo and Bobby give each other a look before continuing through the curtain.



MW: I don’t believe that Jerry Bishop abandoned this match, but Botiatus and Bobby O managed to pull out the victory anyway.

SD: Jerry should never have agreed to be in the match and he ended up doing the right thing.

MW: The right thing?

SD: Yes.

MW: Well, Bo and Bobby managed to get it done anyway and Bo continues what has been an impressive start to his FPW career.



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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Marcus Allen Jones.



DB: Marcus, tonight-

MAJ: Dasha, I mean no disrespect… for once… but you don’t need to tell people how important tonight is for me. Tonight is my opportunity to finally take down the disease I unleashed so long ago. Tonight is my chance to right all of the wrongs that I’ve done in FPW. When I first created TakeOver, I simply wanted to make sure that I remained FPW Champion for as long as possible and I did that because deep down I wasn’t sure I could do it by myself. If I’m honest, after the year I’ve had, I’m still not sure, but I know what I need to do. Tonight I beat Jack Sevren and I prove to everyone, but most of all to myself, that I never needed TakeOver and that TakeOver damn sure has no place in FPW.

DB: What happens if you don’t win tonight?

MAJ: If I don’t win… I don’t know. I don’t know.

DB: Have you considered it as a possibility?

MAJ: Of course I have. I know better than anybody the power that TakeOver has. I know that I could be facing five guys out there. And not just five guys, but four guys who know me better than anybody else. I could lose. I don’t want to admit that but I know it’s possible. If I do… I think there’s only one other way that I could get out of my slump. But I’m not sure it’s a path I want to take.

DB: What path is that?

MAJ: I hope we don’t have to find out.



Marcus walks off, a pensive look on his face.



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MW: “Our next match has some very interesting possibilities surrounding it. Artemis Evans won the Dead Man’s Chest ladder match, setting her up for a future title shot at any time she wants/ But while participating in the thirty-person Rumble match for the FPW championship, she was eliminated by the Japanese giant Go Shihei, which set up this match.”



SD: “I’m not sure I see what you mean Mike. The Dead Man’s Chest won’t be on the line in this match, so even is Shihei wins tonight, which he won’t, he doesn’t gain the guaranteed title shot.”



MW: “Perhaps, but a victory over the survivor of such a brutal match could go a long way towards propelling Shihei into the main event picture. And how do you know Shihei will lose tonight?”



SD: “Simple, Artemis has already beaten him in the Free-1. She knows what it takes to withstand Holy Fury, and history will repeat itself tonight.”



The White Queen logo appeared on the tron to a chorus of boos, drowning out the anonymized voice saying “Checkmate”. ‘Hammer to Fall’ played from the speakers and Artemis Evans appeared at the top of the ramp, carrying the Dead Man’s Chest and revelling in the reaction. She spread her arms and pyro exploded on either side of her before she began marching to the ring.



“The following contest is scheduled for one fall!” Dasha Banks announced. “Introducing first, from Manchester, England, she is the holder of the 2019 Dead Man’s Chest, the Glory Huntress, Artemis Evans!”



As Artemis neared the ring, she stopped by a trio of fans in the front row who were all wearing her ‘Monarch’ shirts. She exchanged a few words with them and extended her hand for a shake, then pulled it back at the last moment and climbed into the ring, posing on the middle turnbuckle.



Artemis dropped down as ‘Fury, Oh Fury’ began to play. The fans remained silent during the opening monologue, but as the lights came back and the music began, they exploded into cheers. Go Shihei emerged, with Kate Mustang following behind him, and he played to the crowd, thrusting his fist into the air.



"And her opponent, from Osaka, Japan, being accompanied by Katherine Mustang, he is Holy Fury, Go Shihei!"



Shihei stepped through the ropes and raised both arms as he marched to the center of the ring. Kate Mustang followed behind him and shot Artemis a dirty look before speaking into Shihei's ear, giving some last minute advice. The camera showed a quick shot of Artemis leaning back in the corner, looking bored.



Match 2: Artemis Evans vs Go Shihei (written by Mason):



Mustang left the ring as Shihei backed into his corner, and the ref called for the bell. Both competitors met in the center of the ring, with Shihei glaring down at Evans as she talked trash. "You think I'm scared of you?" She shouted. "It takes more than a large shadow and an over-inflated head to intimidate-" Shihei cut her off, swinging a massive fist. Evans ducked the punch and slapped him in the face. "Come on big boy" she taunted as she backed away. Shihei stared at her with a silent rage for a moment before charging at her. As he approached, she leaned backwards and pulled down the top rope, sending him tumbling to the outside. Artemis walked back into the center of the ring, laughing, unaware the Shihei had landed on his feet and was now sliding into the ring. She turned around as he started to run at her, connecting with a powerful lariat, prompting cheers from the crowd.



MW: "He nearly took her head off! Artemis now rolling to the outside to recover."



SD: "Maybe we should call off the match. We all know who's going to win, there's no need to put the competitors through such physical punishment."



Steven stopped talking as Artemis stepped back into the ring, glaring at Shihei. He swung another punch, and this time Artemis caught his fist, attempting to lock in a wristlock. She struggled for a moment, and just as she locked it in, Shihei shoved her away. Artemis regained her footing and dove for a takedown, only for Shihei to stop her and lift her up, throwing her to the ground.



MW: "Artemis is an accomplished technical wrestler, but she may need to re-think her strategy against such a large opponent."



Artemis approached much more cautiously this time, faking another attempt at a takedown, then connecting with a knee to the head as Shihei bent down to block. Shihei staggered back, and Artemis went to follow up with a knee to the gut, only for him to catch her leg. There was just enough time for a panicked look to come over her face before she was pulled into a fisherman's driver. Shihei left her body laying there as he stood up and backed into a corner. Artemis staggered to her feet, and Shihei exploded out of the corner, driving her back down with a big boot. And this time Shihei dropped into a cover.



...1!..Kick-out!



Shihei didn't seem disappointed, standing up and pulling Artemis up to her feet. He dragged her into the corner, where he began unloading on her, landing multiple shots to the midsection, up until the ref's count reached four. He backed into the center of the ring, then charged forward again, aiming to drive his shoulder into her gut, only for Artemis to use the ropes to lift herself over him, and landing on her feet behind him as his shoulder hit the post. She waited for him to turn around, and leaped up for a hurricanrana as he did so. But as her legs landed on his shoulders, Shihei held her up, preventing her from connecting with the hurricanrana, and then drove her to the mat with a powerbomb, holding her shoulders down for a cover.



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



Shihei maintained his grip on her legs, and as she kicked out, he lifted her back into the powerbomb position, then shifted her weight to set up a crucifix powerbomb. But Artemis struggled, kicking her legs, and eventually managed to slide free, landing on her feet. Shihei turned around, and Artemis met him with a jumping knee strike. Shihei shook it off quickly, so Artemis ran to the ropes and rebounded, connecting with a flying forearm smash. Shihei remained standing, and as she got back up, Artemis connected with a standing dropkick. Shihei took a step back, but still remained standing. Artemis shook her head before running to the ropes again, rebounding and running straight at her opponent. But as she approached, Shihei caught her, stopping her momentum and, after grabbing her leg, tossed her over his head with an exploder suplex.Shihei stood up and bent down to grab Artemis, but she rolled to the outside, hoping to buy a few moments to recover. Shihei didn’t give her that time immediately stepping out of the ring. But as he was stepping through the ropes, Artemis took out his lead leg, causing him to crash onto the apron, his other leg getting caught in the ropes at an awkward angle. As he struggled to free himself, Artemis slid into and ran across the ring, connecting with a dropkick to the trapped knee. The impact freed Go from the ropes, and he noticeably winced as he put weight on the leg. He glared at Artemis, who taunted him to get back in the ring, her cocky attitude starting to return. Shihei climbed onto the apron and stepped into the ring, glaring at Artemis. She returned his stare before he charged across the ring, his arm extended for a lariat. Artemis ducked under the strike and connected with three quick kicks to Shihei’s injured leg, actually driving him back for the first time in the match until he was up against the ropes. Artemis turned him around and grabbed his neck, pulling it down across the top rope. The referee quickly stepped in and began administering a five count, yelling at Artemis to back it off the ropes. Asa the count reached four, Artemis released her hold ran across the ring, rebounding against the far ropes and taking out Shihei’s leg with a sliding dropkick. Shihei collapsed as she stood up on the apron, and with him flat on his back, Artemis launched into a slingshot knee drop, driving her knee into the injured limb. She wasted little time attempting to press the advantage, grabbing both of his legs and look to step through into a cloverleaf. But Shihei’s legs were too large, and he was too strong, forcefully extending his legs and driving her backwards. Artemis rolled back to her feet as Shihei stood up, and the two met in the center of the ring, standing chest to chest and glaring at each other.



Artemis strikes first, slapping Shihei in the face once again. Shihei was surprised, and Artemis connected with a pair of palm strikes, irritating her opponent more than dealing damage. Shihei looked to hit back, swinging a powerful punch, but Artemis dodged by dropping back to the mat, then kipped up and connected with a punch of her own, this time with proper force. Shihei took a step back and shook his head, and then kicked Artemis hard in the chest, driving her back. Artemis bounced off the ropes and came back, connecting with a spinning wheel kick, but Shihei didn’t go down. Artemis knees him in the gut and steps into position for an axe kick, but Shihei recovers and grabs her, whipping her into the ropes. Artemis handsprings off the ropes and goes for a back elbow, only for Shihei to catch her and drive her to the mat with a German suplex.

MW: “What a counter from Go Shihei! And now it seems like he’s looking to finish this match, going up for the Year of the Toad.”



But as Go climbed to the top rope, he stumbled slightly on his bad leg. He recovered quickly and then leapt, but the delay was just enough time for Artemis to recover and roll out of the way. Shihei crashed and burned, and as he worked his way back up, Artemis used the ropes to climb her way back to her feet. As Shihei stood up, Artemis charged in, leaving her feet to deliver a Silver Bullet, but Shihei caught her into a pop-up chokeslam!



MW: “High Altitude from Go Shihei, and now going for the cover!”



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



Artemis rolled to the outside to recover, but Shihei didn’t give her the chance pulling her to her feet on the apron and lifting her back into the ring. He whipped her into the ropes, but Artemis once again handsprings off and this time connects with the flying back elbow! Shihei went down hard, and Artemis went for a cover.



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



Artemis rolled off Shihei and immediately began climbing the turnbuckles, launching into a moonsault and holding for a cover as she made contact.



…1!...2!.Kick-out!



Artemis sat up and raised her hands to her head, disappointed that she couldn’t finish Shihei before a new resolve entered her eyes. She grabbed him by the head and pulled him up, setting up for the Guillotine Strike. But before she could bring her arm down, Shihei squirmed free and slipped behind her, throwing her overhead with another German suplex. Before she could even begin to rise, he turned and ran towards her, leaving hs feet and connecting with a running senton, crushing Artemis beneath his weight before transitioning into a cover.



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



Shihei glared down at Artemis before hauling her to her feet. She tried to break free, landing several punches that ultimately did nothing to stop Shihei, who whipped her hard into the corner. Artemis collided hard with the turnbuckles and bounced back, and then was driven forwards again from a massive lariat to the back of the neck. Shihei held her upright in the corner, and the crowd, sensing that the end was near, began to rise to their feet. Shihei nodded to them before bending down and sitting Artemis on his shoulders in the electric chair position. He backed into the center of the ring, but before he could connect with High Intensity, his bad knee buckled, and Artemis used his momentary loss of balance to her advantage, falling backwards and pulling him down with an inverted hurricanrana! Artemis shot to her feet, holding herself up in the corner as she motioned for Shihei to stand back up. Groggy from having his head driven into the mat, Shihei stood up, shaking his head. Artemis charged at him, and as he turned around, she connected with a Silver Bullet knee strike! Shihei went down, and Artemis dove into a cover.



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



Winner: Artemis Evans (17:06)



‘Hammer to Fall’ played from the speakers as Artemis made her way back to her feet, one hand held against her head. A smile slowly spread across her face as the referee raised her arm. Artemis motioned for something, and the referee handed the Dead Man’s Chest. She held it above her head as she soaked in the boos from the crowd.



MW: “What a match! A back and forth contest that has left both competitors battered. Go Shihei appeared to have Evans set up for High Intensity, but the damage she’d caused his knee throughout the match caused just a momentary delay, and that delay was all that Artemis needed to hit a reverse rana to set up the Silver Bullet and end the match.”



SD: “I’m waiting Mike…”



MW: “And just what might you be waiting for?”



SD: “For you to admit that I was right about this match. I never doubted the Shihei would prove to be a challenge, and he nearly had the match won on several occasions, but Artemis was the one standing at the end. Just like I predicted, the Monarch reigns supreme.”



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Backstage, Adam Thompson is seen entering the arena. Dasha Banks waits for him with a mic.



DB: Adam, long time no see!

AT: Long time for sure. It’s good to see you Dasha. How are you?

DB: So why did you decide to return to FPW, albeit for seemingly one match?

AT: I was the first ever FPW Champion. That was a belt I carried with pride. That was a belt that I never truly lost. When I left this place, I wasn’t myself. Since I’ve left I’ve been drifting around between a few different places but none of them have really felt like home. When I saw the attack on Davey Jones and the plan for TakeOver to once again claim the title, I called Jim Houston and wanted to do something about it. I couldn’t stand by and let it happen.

DB: And tonight you find yourself facing Graham Baker.

AT: I do. I’ve wrestled Baker once and it ended in a draw. Graham Baker likes to call himself the Ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling, and, to be honest, I considered myself in a similar role in the early days here. I’ve never beaten Graham Baker, but, more importantly, he’s never beaten me. Tonight I get the chance to do something for the very first time and earn a return to this place that I never thought I’d get.

DB: If you do manage to beat Baker, you’ll immediately set yourself up as one of the top tier guys. What would you want for Judgement Day?

AT: I’d love to say I was entirely focussed on Graham Baker but that would be a lie. I have thought about possible opponents here. Tonight I want to beat Graham Baker but there’s a man here that I need to beat. There’s a man here who cost me my title a long time before I should have lost it. If I beat Graham Baker tonight, I’ll be laying down the challenge to Marcus Allen Jones for Judgement Day.



Thompson nods to Dasha and then walks off towards the locker room.



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MW: I think that’s a match we’d all like to see.

SD: Agreed. But tonight is a match I most definitely want to see too.

MW: We started the night with tag team action and now we continue with tag team action. The Tag Team Number One Contender Gauntlet Series has seen a victory for Hunter Killer and a victory for the Suplex Sweethearts on their debut. Tonight the Suplex Sweethearts face another team with the aim of progressing closer to a shot at The Guardians of Strong Style at Judgement Day II.

SD: Tonight could be the end of the line for Tommy Saxon and Ella Ripley.

MW: Do you know who their opponents are tonight?

SD: I may have had a hint or two thrown my way…

MW: I’m not sure I like that note of glee in your voice, Steven.

SD: Oh you’ll grow to like it!



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is the third match is the Tag Team Number One Contender Gauntlet Series. Introducing first, they are the Ice Coalition Wrestling Tag Team Champions, from Colby, Kansas and London, England respectively… ‘The Stargazer’ Ella Ripley, ‘Dauntless’ Tommy Saxon… The Suplex Sweethearts!”



‘Turbo Killer’ begins to play and Saxon and Ripley come through the curtain with a lot of energy. They come together with Saxon putting an arm around Ripley and kissing her passionately before peeling away and throwing a few shadow punches while Ripley stands and admires him. They move quickly down the ramp. Saxon looking very pumped up while Ripley moves with much more control. As they get to the ring, Saxon slides in while Ripley takes her time climbing the steps and stepping through the ropes. The two of them pose for the fans, who respond as they did before with a mixture of cheers and boos, before resting against the ropes and waiting for their opponents.



“And their opponents…”



The lights go off as the intro to ‘Killing in the Name Of’ plays. The fans instantly boo as spotlights hit Haych and Dario coming through the crowd. Some braver fans try to step up to them but they get brushed aside as Haych and Dario reach the guardrail and climb over it. They enter the ring and immediately square up to Saxon and Ripley, who don’t back down. The official steps in to separate the four of them as some pushing and shoving breaks out, and the two teams reluctantly return to their corners.



“Representing TakeOver, from Apia in the Samoan Islands and Nuku'alofa in the Tongan Islands respectively, they are known as The Championship Collectors… Haych and Dario… The Invaders!”



The fans boo once again as Dario talks trash to all four sides of the ring.



Match 3: Tag Team Number One Contender Gauntlet Series: Suplex Sweethearts vs. The Invaders:



As the official calls for the bell, Saxon and Haych step forward and Ripley and Dario back out of the ring somewhat reluctantly. The two men lock up and Haych drives Saxon back into the corner and forces his head back as the official counts. Haych breaks at the count of four and Saxon immediately comes back at him with a straight right hand. Haych aims a lariat but Saxon ducks and Haych rests against the turnbuckles, Saxon landing a flurry of punches to the body before pulling Haych out into an exploder suplex. He makes a tag to Ripley, who runs at Haych and takes him back down with a swinging neckbreaker. She makes the first cover of the match, 1-2-no. Haych is quick to kick out.



Ripley pulls Haych up and whips him across the ring, leaping up and taking him down with a frankensteiner. She then hits the ropes and connects with a low sliding dropkick before making another cover, 1-2-no. Haych again kicks out. Ripley grabs Haych and drags him over to her corner, tagging in Saxon. He enters and lands a few stomps on Haych before pulling him up and looking for a vertical suplex. He tries to lift Haych but Haych resists, dropping back down and landing a clubbing blow across Saxon’s back. Haych then lifts Saxon and connects quickly with a fallaway slam, buying him enough time to get to the corner and tag in Dario.



MW: The Suplex Sweethearts started strongly in this one, but Haych may have turned that tide towards his team with that big time fallaway slam.

SD: The Invaders are hard to face because they’re so different. With Saxon and Ripley, you know you’re going to get a lot of suplexes. They have some variations but they’re more similar. Haych and Dario will have been able to be better prepared than Saxon and Ripley.

MW: It’s an interesting point. We’ll see if Saxon can resist the high-speed offense of Dario.



Dario enters and hits the ropes, connecting with a running knee to Saxon, who drops down to the mat. Dario then blindsides Ripley, taking her off the apron with a leg lariat before turning back to Saxon. He goes for a handspring off the ropes and transitions into a tornado DDT. Dario makes the cover, 1-2-no. Saxon kicks out. Dario pulls Saxon up and drives him into The Invaders’ corner before driving a shoulder into his gut and tagging in Haych. Dario remains in position, trapping Saxon in the corner, while Haych backs up before charging in and connecting with a stinger splash, Dario moving aside at the perfect moment. Saxon staggers out of the corner and Dario takes him down with a leg lariat, the fans booing as the official tries to get Dario out of the ring. Haych makes a cover and the official quickly turns to him, 1-2-no. Saxon kicks out again.



Haych pulls Saxon up and lifts him up into a gorilla press position. He holds him there for a few moments before looking down to see Ella Ripley standing. Haych moves over to the ropes and throws Saxon over them. He lands on his partner and both of them hit the floor. Dario charges into the ring and runs at Haych, leaping up onto his shoulders and connecting with a 450 splash over the ropes to the outside onto both of the Suplex Sweethearts. The fans gasp as Dario lies in agony, but they don’t have long to think about it because Haych slides out and drags Saxon up, rolling him back into the ring. He follows and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Saxon just gets a shoulder up.



SD: That was three!

MW: It was awfully close, Steven, but it was just a two-count.

SD: You know it was three. There’s no way Tommy Saxon can carry on after that.

MW: I’ll admit Dario has incredible athleticism, but Tommy Saxon is tough. It’ll take a lot to keep that man down.



Haych pulls Saxon up and throws him into the corner again. He charges and connects with a second stinger splash before setting up for an exploder suplex. It connects, but, instead of making the cover, he calls for Dario. Dario pulls himself up onto the apron and Haych tags him in. Dario climbs up to the top turnbuckle and sets himself up as Haych pulls up Saxon. He throws Saxon into the ropes and pops him up as The Invaders look for War Game. Dario launches himself with the senton bomb, but Saxon drops down before Haych. Dario hits the canvas hard as Saxon traps Haych’s wrist and connects with a desperation ripcord short-arm lariat. All three men lie in the ring as the fans chant for Ella Ripley to recover.



Ripley slowly drags herself up and starts to climb onto the apron as Saxon begins the slow crawl over to her. As he comes within touching distance, Haych recovers and grabs his leg, pulling him back towards the middle of the ring. Saxon turns and eyeballs Haych before pulling him in for a Northern Lights suplex. Saxon turns and dives at Ripley, but Dario gets there first, taking Ripley off the apron with a diving forearm. Saxon fails to make the tag and Dario takes full advantage, pulling Saxon up and whipping him into the corner, charging at him and connecting with a corkscrew splash. Saxon drops to his knees and Dario drives his head into the mat with a spike hurricanrana. He makes a cover, 1-2-no! Saxon just gets a shoulder up again.



MW: I’m not sure how much longer this match can go on.

SD: Dario has Saxon just where he wants him. The Invaders are poised to advance.

MW: But they haven’t won this match yet.

SD: Not yet, but they will.



Dario tags in Haych and readies himself on the top turnbuckle again. Haych throws Saxon into the ropes for a second time and lifts him, Dario coming off perfectly as The Invaders connect with War Game. Haych makes the cover as Dario looks to the outside to ward off Ripley, 1-2-no! Ripley quickly emerges on the opposite side of the ring and pulls Tommy Saxon out as the referee’s arm is coming down for three. The crowd cheers as Dario realises what has happened. Haych, enraged, quickly gets out of the ring, but he’s met by a step-up high knee from Ripley. Dario charges at the ropes and looks for a suicide dive, but Ripley counters into a face buster. The fans cheer loudly as Ella Ripley throws Tommy Saxon back into the ring and makes her way around to her corner. He crawls across and finally manages to make the tag.



Ripley doesn’t enter the ring. Instead, she heads around to Haych and Dario and rolls Haych back into the ring before connecting with another swinging neckbreaker to keep Dario down. She climbs to the top rope and, as Haych tries to get to one knee, dives off and connects with a diving leg drop bulldog. Ripley springs to her feet and stalks Haych. As he stands, she pulls him in for a half-nelson suplex before rolling through and pulling him up again into a Saito suplex. She makes the cover, 1-2-no. Haych kicks out. Ripley looks across to her corner where Saxon is not yet able to stand, and she stalks Haych once again. He stands and Ripley lands another step-up high knee which sends Haych staggering into the corner. Ripley sweeps out the leg and then backs up, charges at Haych and connects with the Colby Cannonball.



Ripley then immediately climbs up to the top rope, Saxon tagging her just before she leaps off and his Star Destroyer. Saxon enters the ring and pulls Haych to his feet. He staggers as the Suplex Sweethearts get into position. Saxon backs up before connecting with The Knuckler right into a Colby Crusher into the corner from Ripley. Saxon drags Haych out of the corner and makes the cover, 1-2-no! Dario manages to leaps off the top with a senton bomb onto Ripley and onto Saxon to break up the cover. All four of them lie in the ring for a moment as a large number of fans begin a ‘Su-plex Sweet-hearts’ chant.



MW: This has been a hell of a sprint!

SD: It certainly has. Whichever team can recover quickest here will have a big advantage.

MW: It looks like Dario will be the first to his feet.

SD: And that spells trouble for Saxon and Ripley!



Dario stands, staggering for a moment, before picking up Ella Ripley and throwing her out of the ring. He then turns to Saxon, who gets to one knee, and connects with a roundhouse kick, dropping Saxon down again. Dario tries to get Haych to recover, but Haych is barely able to move. Instead, Dario turns to Saxon and stalks him, looking for a super kick. He steps towards him but Saxon ducks, pulling Dario into a bridging Northern Lights suplex, 1-2-no! Dario just kicks out. Both of them make it to their feet at the same time, each connecting with a right hand which staggers the other. Dario then goes for another superkick, which Saxon ducks. Saxon aims for The Knuckler, but Dario ducks. Dario then connects with a roundhouse kick but, out of nowhere, Ripley takes him down with a seated senton from the top rope.



Ripley pulls Dario up and, with Haych beginning to recover, she calls for Saxon to get to his feet. He does and the two of them connect with stero German suplexes to The Invaders. Haych rolls out of the ring and Ripley calls for Saxon to set up Dario. He traps the wrist and connects with a ripcord short-arm lariat, Ripley following up with a German suplex and Saxon diving on top to make the cover straight away, 1-2-3.



Winners: Suplex Sweethearts (16:35)



The fans cheer as Saxon and Ripley stand with their arms raised by the official. They embrace and then kiss as Haych and Dario roll out of the ring and stagger up the ramp.



MW: What a great victory for Tommy Saxon and Ella Ripley.

SD: It was a great match. I thought The invaders had it won but it seems that I was wrong.

MW: You were. With just two more matches left in this Gauntlet Series, we’re coming close to finding out the challengers for the Tag Team Championships at Judgement Day, and I think these two will take some beating.

SD: They are a very good tag team. We know The Dogs of War are chomping at the bit to get into this Gauntlet Series but we don’t yet know who the other team are. One of them will challenge the Suplex Sweethearts at the first Road to Judgement Day show in two weeks’ time.

MW: And I for one can’t wait to see these two in action again.



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Backstage, Jack Sevren stands with Hunter Killer.



JS: It looks like it’s down to me for us to have a successful night.

GJ: Correction… down to us.

JS: Of course.

SD: Everything we do is as a collective. TakeOver is one single entity. If Marcus Allen Jones challenges you, he challenges all five of us. We’ll all teach him a lesson tonight.

JS: And after we dispose of that obsolete non-entity, we enter the next stage of the plan.

GJ: By the end of Judgement Day, no one will be in any doubt about the future of Freedom Pro Wrestling.

SD: And it’ll be a very hostile TakeOver.



Haych and Dario limp into the room and the conversation immediately stops.



H: We’re sorry. We-

JS: Save it. The Tag Team Championships were a secondary aim. You don’t control FPW by being the Tag Team Champions. We’ll collect those belts another time. Tonight we start to really take over. A win tonight over Marcus Allen Jones and Houston won’t be able to turn me down again.

GJ: So no mistakes.

SD: From anybody.

JS: We all know the plan. If we all stick to it, we’ll come out tonight stronger than ever.



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MW: I don’t like the sound of that from TakeOver, but I can’t focus on that right now. Up next is a match with three very determined women.

SD: Vanessa Scott!

MW: Yes, Vanessa Scott. Elizabeth Karlson was due to defend the Freedom Championship a few weeks ago against Scott, but Danica Jane jumped her and caused the match to be put off. Stealing the title belt, she made quite the impression on Karlson, who has elected for a brutal deathmatch for this triple threat.

SD: We’re just delaying the inevitable entrance of Vanessa Scott. Let’s get on with it.

MW: I fear that my broadcast partner may be rendered fairly incapable for this match.

SD: Vanessa Scott!



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall and is a triple-threat match for the Freedom Championship. Introducing first, from Los Angeles, California, being accompanied to the ring by Clutch McCloud… Danica Jane!”



‘This Fire Burns’ plays and Clutch emerges through the curtain first, beckoning Jane to come and join him. She walks through and raises the Freedom Championship to a fairly negative reaction from the fans, which causes her to scowl at them and Clutch to yell at them to have some respect. Jane makes her way down the ramp, showcasing the Freedom Championship that isn’t hers to all of the fans and waits for Clutch to hold the ropes open while surveying the variety of weaponry that surrounds the ring. She steps through the ropes and poses for the fans while Clutch stands behind her, looking concerned at the weapons at ringside.



“And her first opponent, 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 finally, she is the Freedom Champion, from Philadelpha, Pennsylvania… The Renegade… Elizabeth Karlson!”



‘Turn It On’ plays and the lights begin to flicker on and off. Karlson enters the arena showing the back of her denim vest with her old tag team design before turning and pointing directly at Danica Jane, who holds up the Freedom Championship in the ring. Karlson moves quickly down the ramp, slapping hands with fans before pausing and assessing the weapons around the ring. She smiles and then points at Jane and Scott before climbing into the ring and stepping up on each turnbuckle, posing for the cheering fans.



Match 4: Freedom Championship: Deathmatch: Elizabeth Karlson vs. Danica Jane vs. Vanessa Scott (written by Baker):



While the three women in the Freedom Championship match wait for it to begin, Danica Jane postures in the center of the ring with the belt in hand, a wicked smile on her face BEFORE LIZ KARLSON RUNS HER DOWN WITH A BUNDLE OF LIGHT TUBES SHE BROUGHT TO THE RING, KNOCKING JANE FLAT ON HER ASS! She turns around ONLY TO EAT A STUNNING SUPERKICK FROM VANESSA SCOTT, WHO IMMEDIATELY LOOKS FOR A SCOTT SHOT, BUT KARLSON CATCHES HER AND POWERBOMBS HER ONTO DANICA JANE! KARLSON GOES FOR AN EARLY COVER!



ONE!



TW-NO! SCOTT KICKS OUT!



Karlson throws Scott into the corner before grabbing Danica Jane, who’s got color from the light tubes already, and PLANTING her with a nasty German Suplex out of fucking nowhere! Jane tries to recover, and Karlson hits the ropes before she goes for a knee strike from a thumbtack-laden kneepad! She throws Jane out of the ring to the outside, sending her precariously close to a table while not going through it, before Karlson turns around-AND EATS A CHAIR SHOT FROM VANESSA SCOTT! Scott throws Karlson to the ropes before trying for ‘Nesa knows Best, but Karlson manages to pop Scott up weakly and throw her off, just delaying the inevitable as Vanessa course corrects into a leg drop bulldog that sends Karlson down into the light tube dust before going for a cover!



One!



Tw-Liz kicks out!



Not one to be upstaged, Scott grabs her t shirt and a staple gun and pulls it over Karlson’s head, stapling it in place and screaming ‘let’s give you a makeover, bitch!’ before beaming Karlson with an unprotected chair shot to the skull! Liz tries desperately to get away as Scott brings the chair down one more time, staggering her just long enough for her to try and hit her curb stomp-BUT DANICA JANE HITS THE RING WITH LIGHTS OUT!



Jane tries for a cover, but Karlson breaks it with a weak dive as Scott rolls out! Seeing an opportunity for vengeance, Jane pulls a chair from the ring and begins repeatedly blasting Karlson with the chair, setting her up for another Light’s Out as Karlson gets to a sitting position-BUT AS JANE COMES IN, KARLSON CATCHES HER WITH A SNAP POWERBOMB AND BOMBS HER INTO THE CANVAS!



One!



Two!



Three!



Winner: Elizabeth Karlson (Match to be edited for length at a later date).


MW: A huge win for Elizabeth Karlson.

SD: No! Vanessa!

MW: Karlson did what had to be done and she reclaims the belt that Danica Jane stole from her. Now it will be Elizabeth Karlson moving forward into Judgement Day as the Freedom Champion for what I’m sure will be a major title defense.



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Backstage, Dasha banks stands with Artemis Evans.



DB: Artemis, tonight you had a big victory over Go Shihei. Do-

AE: A big victory? It was a repeat victory. I beat him in the Free-1 and now I’ve beaten him again. I’m fed up with facing these bottom-tier wrestlers. I hold the Dead Man’s Chest. Whenever I choose, I can become FPW Champion. Maybe I’ll do it tonight and force Jim Houston to take me seriously. Maybe I’ll insert myself into the Judgement Day main event. Maybe I’ll ruin the party after that match. Or maybe I’ll watch and wait, biding my time until the perfect moment, just when nobody expects it. The only thing I’ll guarantee is that I will become FPW Champion because of this Chest.

DB: Do you-

AE: I’m not finished. Whatever happens later tonight, I want a match on the first Road to Judgement Day show. Not just any match. I want a big match against a major opponent. I’m fed up of easy matches. I want something to sink my teeth into- someone to sink my teeth into. You hear me, Houston? Give me a real challenge or I’ll go and find one myself.



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MW: Well now we come to a match which I’m sure will be much more sportingly-contested that what we’ve just seen. Jace Mason won the Free-1 and, with it, the right to face whoever the FPW Champion is in the main event of Judgement Day II. But he lost to Aaron Williams along the way and now it’s time for Williams to try and take Mason’s spot.

SD: These two are good friends and have teamed up on multiple occasions, but tonight there’s no room for friendship. One of them will go into the biggest match FPW has to offer while the other… well…

MW: I’m sure their friendship will be tested with such high stakes but I hope that we see handshakes book-ending this match. Whoever wins will have one of the biggest opportunities of their career ahead of them, but they have to know that the friendship they share is just as important.

SD: I disagree. I’ve said it on multiple occasions: whoever is willing to sacrifice that friendship for their own betterment will win this match. The only problem is that I don’t know who that will be.



“Ladies and gentlemen, our next match is scheduled for one fall and the Free-1 trophy is on the line. Introducing first, a former two-time Ring of Honour World Champion and the winner of many championships around the world, he hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania… this is ‘A Plus’… Aaron Williams!”



‘I Still Believe’ begins to play and Aaron Williams quickly emerges from behind the curtain, really pumping up the crowd as he belts out the words to the song. He gets a good reaction, the fans singing along with him as he makes his way down the ramp, slapping hands with almost every single fan on the way. He makes his way around the ring, still leading the fans in singing along, before pulling out a Sharpie and looking for a fan to hand it to. He tries one child but they shake their head, holding up a home-made Jace Mason action figure. Williams smiles and then turns to another, but they’re wearing a Mason t-shirt. He looks around before shrugging his shoulders and climbing into the ring, offering his hand to both the ring announcer and the official before settling in the corner.



“And his-“



Before the announcement can be made, a loud ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant breaks out and rolls around the arena. This goes on for some time, Aaron Williams looking round at the fans before nodding to himself.



“His opponent… he hails from Seattle, Washington and is a former Freedom Champion, the current holder of the Free-1 trophy… ‘The Eternal Student’… Jace Mason!”



The fans cheer loudly as ‘Afterlife’ begins to play. As soon as the intro ends, Jace Mason steps through the curtain and poses for the fans, pyro exploding around him as he looks around at an area which appears to be fully behind him. Mason smiles before making his way down the ramp, slapping hands with all of the same fans who held their hands out for Aaron Williams. Mason reaches the ring but continues slapping hands with fans until he’s gone all the way around the ring, just like Williams did. He pauses to look at the home-made action figure and to take a selfie with the kid in a Mason t-shirt before climbing onto the apron and then the turnbuckles. He poses, raising his right fist, before dropping down and giving Aaron Williams a nod, which is reciprocated.



Match 5: Free-1 Trophy: Jace Mason v Aaron Williams:



As soon as the bell rings, Aaron Williams comes forward and offers Mason a hand. Mason shakes it, the two men nodding at one another as the fans applaud, a ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant breaking out again. The two circle one another, Mason encouraging the chant as they do. They lock up, both men trying to gain an advantage but neither able to before the break the lock-up and return to circling one another. When they come together again, Mason ducks the lock-up and looks for a waistlock, but Williams performs a quick standing switch. Mason tries to throw an elbow but Williams ducks, taking Mason in a headlock and taking him down to the mat. Williams maintains the headlock for a few seconds but then Mason escapes, taking the wrist and looking for a hammerlock, only for Williams to roll through and wring the arm, wrench it and pull it up behind Mason’s back. Mason rolls through but Williams maintains his grip, wrenching the arm again and pulling Mason in for a belly to back suplex. He makes a cover, 1-no. Mason is quick to kick out and the two men get to their feet, eyeing one another as the fans applaud.



They come together again, locking-up traditionally this time. Mason gains an advantage with a headlock but Williams runs him into the ropes and shoves him off. Mason hits the opposite ropes and Williams drops down, hoping to trip him, only for Mason to step over him. As Mason comes back, Williams leap-frogs him, but Mason stops himself and, as Williams lands, he takes him down with a drop toe hold and looks for a Fujiwara arm bar. Williams is quick to scramble to the ropes and Mason breaks the hold, again both men eyeballing one another as the fans applaud once more.



MW: A very even start to this match.

SD: They’re feeling each other out. This isn’t the type of match where each will try to kill each other from the bell. They know they’ll be going for a while and they’re wrestling within themselves for now to conserve some energy.

MW: Have the early goings in this one told you anything?

SD: Williams seems to have the slight technical advantage but Mason will get a big boost from this crowd being solidly behind him. He’ll have expected a fairly even split, but the reaction he got will help him to keep going when he really needs it. Williams will have to adjust to not being the crowd favourite tonight and I think he might find that a challenge at times.



The two men come together again and Mason offers a hand to Williams. Williams grasps it and the two jockey for position, Mason dropping down and trying to take Williams off his feet, but Williams managing to take advantage, dropping into a headlock position. Mason, however, is quick to escape and both men scramble to their feet, Mason taking Williams back down with a snapmare before hitting the ropes and looking for a penalty kick, which Williams barely avoids. Williams looks up at Mason, who signals how close he was to connecting as the fans chant for him once more. Williams stands and the two men come together again for a lock up, but Williams drives a knee into Mason’ gut, pulling him in for a vertical suplex, which connects.



Williams pulls Mason up and whips him into the ropes, taking him down with a dropkick before connecting with a standing shooting star press and holding for a cover, 1-2-no. Mason kicks out again. Williams sits Mason up and hits the ropes, looking for a penalty kick of his own, but Mason catches it and rolls through, taking Williams down and looking to lock in the half-crab. Williams scrambles to the ropes before Mason can lock it all the way in, and Mason breaks his grip. This time, however, he doesn’t give Williams the chance to get up of his own accord. Mason pulls him to his feet and looks for an STO, only for Williams to counter with a sudden DDT from nowhere. Williams makes a third cover, 1-2-no. Mason kicks out.



MW: For all of Jace Mason’s offense so far, he looks a little nervous to me.

SD: I completely agree. He’s going for moves that don’t have much chance of being effective at it’s costing him at the moment. He wasn’t going to get the submission and that STO was unlikely to connect. Aaron Williams seems the calmer of the two so far, but he’s more used to big matches.

MW: Mason started like this in the Free-1 final too.

SD: He did. He managed to come through on that occasion. He needs to find the same resolve now as he found then.



Williams pulls Mason up to his feet and whips him into the corner, following up with a splash. Mason stays standing and Williams hits the opposite corner before connecting with a second splash, then a third and a fourth. As he backs up for the fifth, a section of fans are booing, but he doesn’t let it get to him. He connects with the fifth splash and Mason drops down to a seated position. Williams calls for the cannonball, which he connects with hard, sending Mason out and into a prone position beneath turnbuckles. Williams climbs up and is quick to dive off with a swan-ton bomb, which connects, Williams holding for the cover, 1-2-no. Mason again manages to kick out.



With all of the momentum, Williams looks to keep up his offense, pulling Mason to his feet and hooking his arm over his head. Williams lifts Mason and looks for the brainbuster to the knee but Mason drops down and connects with a desperation DDT of his own. Mason tries to get quickly to his feet but can’t quite manage. He does pull himself up before Williams, and he pauses before connecting with a spinning gut kick, kicking out Aaron Williams’ leg and then hitting the ropes and hitting him with a low dropkick. Mason makes a cover, 1-2-no. Williams kicks out this time.



MW: Jace Mason finding his way back into this one.

SD: He’s always had that competitive spirit. He needs to find a way now to string some offense together and really take control.

MW: That won’t be easy against someone like Aaron Williams who always seems to find a counter when he needs one.

SD: It won’t be, but if Mason can’t do it then he’ll lose his chance to have the biggest match of his life.



Mason stands, pulling Williams up with him and driving him into the corner. He connects with a few knife-edged chops before taking Williams’ leg and kicking it hard. Williams reaches down for it and Mason sweeps his other leg before landing a stomp. He looks down and then backs away into the opposite corner before charging at Williams and connecting with a penalty kick in the corner. Williams rolls out of the corner clutching at his chest and Mason shoves Williams out of the ring. Williams lands and takes a moment on his hands and knees before standing, only to be taken out by a wrecking ball dropkick from Mason, who follows through and lands on his feet in front of the cheering crowd.



Mason pulls Williams up and looks to roll him back into the ring but Williams blocks him, elbowing him in the stomach and then driving him back into the guardrail. Williams backs up before connecting with a hard mid-kick and then taking Mason down with a DDT as he lurches forward. The fans gasp as they hear Mason’s head hit the floor. Williams stands and looks down at Mason and then at the guardrail. He pulls Mason up and sets him into a powerbomb position, lifting him onto his shoulders and then positioning himself before driving Mason down on top of the guardrail. Mason’s back arches and he cries out in pain as he drops down to his knees. Williams unleashes another hard mid-kick before lifting him and rolling him into the ring.



MW: Aaron Williams really pulling out the innovative offense here!

SD: What did I say about forgetting the friendship? Aaron Williams is realising what he needs to do and he’s doing just that.

MW: And he’s also realising just what it takes to beat Jace Mason. This isn’t a cover.



Williams lifts Mason into a vertical suplex position before dumping him over the top rope. Williams then backs away towards the corner and pushes himself up, standing on the top turnbuckle before leaping off with a 450 splash. Both men land hard and Williams can’t make the cover immediately. He drags himself over to the Mason and does manage to cover him, hooking the leg, 1-2-no! Mason just manages to get his shoulder up. Williams holds a hand to his head but doesn’t waste much time. He pulls Mason up as he gets to his feet and sets him into a powerbomb position again. He pulls him up and drives him down with a powerbomb backbreaker. Williams makes another cover, 1-2-no! Mason again manages to kick out.



Williams looks down and nods as he calls for A Triple Plus. He pulls Mason up and hooks his arms, lifting him, but Mason resists, frees his legs and manages to drops back down again. Williams pulls Mason up and looks for a forearm, but Mason ducks, leaps onto the middle rope and takes Williams down with a disaster kick. Both men lie on the mat as another loud ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant breaks out. Both men look to get to the ropes to pull themselves to their feet and they manage to get there at the same time. They turn to one another and advance, Mason looking for a chop, which Williams manages to ducks underneath, looking for a discus clothesline, which Mason also manages to duck. As Williams turns, Mason unleashes a gamengiri and Williams drops to his knees. Mason connects with a superkick to the head and Williams drops to the canvas. Mason looks up to the top rope and climbs up, looking down at a motionless Aaron Williams before connecting with a shooting star press. Mason holds for the cover, 1-2-no! Williams just gets a shoulder up.



MW: That was as close as I’ve seen in a long time!

SD: Aaron Williams nearly had this match won but now the tide has really turned. Jace Mason’s resilience came through and now he has control.

MW: He does. Can he put Aaron Williams away in this match?



Mason stands, staggering, and looks as Williams crawls towards the ropes. As Williams pulls himself up, Mason aims a hard kick to the back of his left knee. Williams drops down to a knee and Mason connects with a snap DDT. He makes the cover, 1-2-no. Williams manages to get his foot on the ropes. Mason grabs his leg and drags Williams to the middle of the ring, stepping through the leg and dropping down to wrench the knee. Mason then stands, maintaining his hold on the leg as he unleashes a series of kicks to the back of the knee. Williams tries to crawl away but Mason doesn’t release his grip, instead pulling Williams into a half-crab, which he manages to lock in.



Williams tries to scramble to the ropes but Mason holds strong and sits deeper and deeper. However, Mason’s back starts to cause him problems and he has to stand up for a moment, giving Williams the chance to scramble underneath Mason and then pull him down into a small package, 1-2-no! Mason just manages to break out. Both men scramble to their feet and Mason aims a superkick to the gut, only for Williams to catch it. He spins Mason around and then takes him down with a huge discus clothesline. Williams lies on the mat for a few moments before pushing himself up, shaking off his knee, and stalking Mason.



Williams positions himself behind Mason and then lands a hard mid-kick to the back before running Mason into the ropes and performing an O’Connor roll, but instead of holding for a cover, he leaps up and connects with a standing double stomp. Williams’ knee buckles and he drops to the mat, unable to take advantage of the move. He stands, but Mason is pulling himself up at the same time. Williams advances on Mason and spins him round, looking for a vertical suplex, only to be met with a hard knife-edged chop. Williams staggers back and Mason advances, pulling Williams in for a snap STO. He rolls him over and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Williams just kicks out.



MW: What a match this is between these two!

SD: Both men are giving everything they can. They know how big the stakes are in this one and they’re determined that they’ll be the one to take the spot in the Judgement Day main event.

MW: And now both men are getting to their feet. Which will take the advantage now?



Mason kicks Williams in the gut and then pulls him in for a vertical suplex, lifting him and pausing for a moment before switching positions into a falcon arrow. Instead of making the cover, Mason rolls away and staggers to his feet. He signals for Williams to get to his feet. As Williams does, Mason grabs his wrist and whips him into the ropes. As Williams comes back at Mason, he looks for Extra Credit, only for Williams to block it with an elbow. Mason staggers away and Williams aims a hook kick, only for Mason to catch it and transition into a half-crab again. He quickly locks it in and sits down on it. Williams cries out in pain and tries to push up to reach the ropes, but he struggles to fight off the hold.



Mason makes sure he doesn’t sit down as much as he did last time, his back still very sore. Williams tries to push up and make his way to the ropes, but Mason drags him back towards the middle of the ring. Williams lifts his arm, looking like he’s about to tap out before resolving not to and instead pushing himself up once more and driving towards the ropes. Mason tries to resist but Williams’ determination is too much and he manages to drape an arm over the bottom rope. Mason looks down at Williams, breathing heavily as he sees his friend clutching at his left knee. Mason nods to himself and grabs the leg again, only for Williams to roll over and pull him in for another small package, 1-2-no! Mason escapes at the last possible moment.



MW: I thought he had him there!

SD: Me too. But Mason managed to escape. This match goes on.

MW: But surely not for long now. Aaron Williams’ knee must be very problematic.

SD: But Jace Mason’s back is obviously very sore too. One more big move from either man could end this one.



Mason forces himself to his feet and turns to see Williams pulling himself up on the ropes. Mason moves in quickly and kicks him hard in the knee before pulling him up and whipping him into the ropes, looking again for Extra Credit, only for Williams’ knee to give out as he comes back. Williams collapses to the mat. Mason moves in and drives Williams into the corner, pushing him up onto the top rope. He climbs after him and lands a forearm before looking to set up for a top rope Extra Credit. He leaps, but Williams manages to hold onto the top rope. Mason lands hard on the mat as Williams looks down at him. With Mason face-down, Williams stands and points down at him, launching himself off with a frog splash and landing right on Mason’s back. Williams slowly rolls Mason over and drapes an arm over him, 1-2-no! Mason just gets a shoulder up.



Williams looks down at him with a look of disbelief on his face. He pulls himself up, using the ropes, and stalks Mason. As Mason gets onto his knees, Williams dives in and looks to set up for A Triple Plus. He traps the left arm but Mason uses his right arm to hammer at Williams’ knee. Williams releases Mason and Mason uses the time to takes Williams down and lock in the half-crab once again. Williams looks longingly at the ropes, desperately trying to reach for them. He drops his head, lifting his arm as if he’s about to tap, before pushing up again, the very same look of determination etched on his face as before. He drives towards the ropes but, just as he’s about to get there, Mason drags him back into the middle of the ring and sets deeper than before. Williams, with tears in his eyes, slowly raises his arm and taps out.



Winner: Jace Mason (28:22)



As soon as the bell rings, Mason releases the hold and drops to the mat. The official brings the Free-1 trophy into the ring and sets it down next to Mason, who holds his back. He tries to push himself up and staggers a few steps before looking down at Aaron Williams as he holds his knee. Mason extends a hand to Williams and he grasps it, Mason helping his friend and tag team partner up. The two shake hands and embrace warmly before Williams breaks away and picks up the Free-1 trophy. He looks at it for a moment before handing it to Mason and raising his arm as the fans cheer loudly.



MW: What a victory for the Free-1 winner Jace Mason.

SD: A great victory for The Eternal Student and we now know that Jace Mason will go into the Judgement Day II main event.

MW: We don’t yet know his opponent, but if he gets a tougher match than that I’ll be amazed.



Mason helps Williams towards the ropes and both men leave the ring together. They slowly walk up the ramp as Mason slaps hands with the fans.



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Backstage, Ted Crewmember knocks on the door of a locker room. He shifts his weight nervously before Jerry Bishop opens the door, face still painted like before.



JB: It’s you. I thought… never mind.

TC: Jerry… I just wanted to get your thoughts after what happened earlier tonight in your tag team match.

JB: Look, maybe I didn’t handle things the way I should have done. Truth be told, I probably shouldn’t have accepted the match at all. Knowing Bobby would be there… MDE advised me against it and I should probably have listened to him. But what happened happened. Botiatus won the match anyway so I guess it didn’t really matter.

TC: Where do you go from here? You don’t seem to have exactly had lots of meaningful matches since the Free-1.

JB: I’ll find my way. I’m back to winning ways, just like the fans wanted. They wanted me to be a winner, a main event star. I’m giving them that now. They may be questioning some of the ways that The Joker operates, but they wanted me to be successful and this is what it looks like. Come Judgement Day, I’m sure I’ll find my way into a big match.

TC: And tonight’s main event… your… whatever he is to you, MDE facing Berry. Are you… will you… who are you rooting for?

JB: That’s a tough one. Berry is my sister. She’s my flesh and blood and she’s always had my back… maybe not so much recently but that’s up to her. It took me a while to warm to MDE, but now I see what he’s helped me to become. The two of us are partners now. My partner or my sister? I just hope they have a good match.

TC: Surely you’re going to support Berry? Have you forgotten-

JB: Teddy, I’ve said what I have to say. Now if you’ll excuse me, there are things I need to take care of.



Jerry steps back through the door and closes it, leaving Ted looking incredulous at him not being willing to back his sister over MDE.



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MW: Now our next match is an interesting one for sure. For the first time in a very long time, Adam Thompson will return to singles action here in FPW.

SD: And he said it himself. He’s facing a man he never beat and a man who’s never beaten him.

MW: If Thompson wins, he’s back in FPW for good, but a loss will send him back to travelling the indies without much of a home. This is big for the former FPW Champion.

SD: It’s also big for Graham Baker. Remember he lost the FPW Championship to Davey Jones and he lost his rematch. He also lost the Free-1 final to Jace Mason, couldn’t win the Dead Man’s Chest and was eliminated from the FPW Rumble by Marcus Allen Jones. He needs to get himself back on track too or people won’t see him as the Ace of FPW for much longer.

MW: This match is a must-win for both men but for very different reasons. A win here and a win at Judgement Day and each man could be in line for a shot at whoever the FPW Champion is at the end of that night. A loss here and I don’t know where Baker stands.



“The following contest is scheduled for one fall. If Adam Thompson wins this match, he will return full-time to Freedom Pro Wrestling.”



The fans cheer for their former hero.



“Introducing first, from Plymouth, England, he was the first ever Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion, The Pendragon… Adam Thompson!”



The lights go down as the fans cheer for Thompson. ‘The Feast and the Famine’ begins and a spotlight hits the stage as Adam Thompson emerges to another loud cheer. He looks around the arena for a moment before striding down the ramp, eyes focussed on the ring in front of him. As he reaches the ring, he climbs the steps and steps through the ropes, walking to the corner and climbing to the top turnbuckle. He looks out at the fans and raises his arms, roaring at them as they continue to cheer for him. He drops down, waiting for Baker to come out.



“And his opponent, hailing from London, England, he is a former FPW Champion, a former ICW Heavyweight Champion and the current ALPHA Wrestling Champion… The Aviator… Graham Baker!”



The fans boo as staccato machine-gun fire around the arena. As ‘DNA’ begins, Baker emerges from backstage with Kate Mustang following behind him. He holds his jacket open to reveal the ALPHA Wrestling Heavyweight Championship and begins to move down the ramp. He ignores the fans as Kate Mustang brushes them aside for him before he climbs onto the ropes and springboards into the ring, dropping to both knees and aiming double finger guns at Thompson, who simply stands and looks at him. Baker stands and removes his jacket, handing it to Mustang. Thompson steps forward and offers Baker a handshake but Baker blows him off, spitting in his face and giving him the finger. Thompson lunges at Baker but the official pulls them apart, Baker smirking at Thompson as he’s being held back.



Match 6: Adam Thompson vs. Graham Baker (written by Baker):



The bell rings, and Baker immediately rushes forward for a leaping high knee to the jaw of Thompson, but Adam Thompson’s size and strength allow him to catch Baker and almost immediately turn the knee around into a powerbomb! Thompson looks for a spinebuster, but Baker manages to quickly and easily counter it, hitting the ropes and getting a running start for a nasty dropkick to the head! Thompson drops to a knee, and Baker takes advantage, going for a shoulder-breaker, but Thompson fights him off with repeated blows to the head! At ringside, Kate Mustang screams for Baker to ‘get him to the ropes!’ and Baker nods, keeping his hold on Thompson’s arm and heading over the ropes-and he nails Thompson with a shoulder-breaker off the apron! Thompson falls back clutching his arm, and Baker rolls back into the ring, taking advantage with a step-up enziguri before following with a pin attempt!



ONE!



TW-NO! Thompson kicks out!



Baker grabs Thompson again, trying to pull him in for an early armbar, but Thompson fights against it, shoving Baker into the ropes and cutting him down with a massive chop! Baker slams hard to the canvas, and Thompson grabs him, belting him in the face with repeated strikes before pulling him up for the Motion Sickness, but Baker counters it and manages to land on his feet, grabbing Thompson around the waist and shoving him into the ropes before catching him with a German Suplex! Baker tries to transition through to a running low-angle dropkick, but Thompson counters into a spin-out powerbomb! He tries to pull Baker up for another powerbomb, but Baker manages to transition into a cross armbar on Thompson! Thompson looks stunned as Baker forces him down, doing more damage to the arm he already caught with the slingshot shoulder-breaker, but he refuses to give in-only for Baker to transition to a full-on triangle choke!



Thompson drops to a knee as Baker locks the choke in tighter, giving Thompson the finger as he does so before he tries to pull Thompson down for a full Brutalizer, but Thompson has other ideas as he rotates Baker in, pulling him up-AND DROPPING HIM WITH A MASSIVE POWERBOMB! He rolls Baker through, hitting the ropes and looking for a knee strike of his own, but Baker manages to roll him through and nail him with a pop-up knee followed by a running attempt at his Psalm Twenty-Knee single-leg high knee, but Thompson catches Baker for a spinebuster and spins out as he plants him, going for a pin!



ONE!



TW-NO! BAKER KICKS OUT!



Thompson rolls Baker through the pin and boots him roughly in the face, but as he steps back to line up for another big boot, Kate Mustang grabs his leg and causes him to turn around and spit vitriol in her face! She opens Thompson up, however, and as he turns around he eats A MASSIVE JUMPING KNEE STRIKE FROM GRAHAM BAKER! Thompson falls out onto the apron, and Baker climbs to the top rope, giving Thompson two middle fingers before he DIVES AND SLAMS THOMPSON’S ARM INTO THE APRON WITH A MASSIVE METEORA! Thompson rolls off of the apron and Baker hangs onto the ropes, beckoning him to get back to his feet. He does, and Baker gets a running start, looking for a ‘rana, but Thompson catches him for a powerbomb and runs him forward BEFORE THROWING HIM INTO THE CROWD WITH A MASSIVE POWERBOMB! Baker crashes to a stop amidst the chairs as Thompson follows him out, much to the chagrin of the referee, before he grabs him and hurls him back into the ringside area. He stomps on Baker’s face as Baker tries to get back to his feet, before grabbing him and slamming him into the apron HARD!



Baker looks to be in agonizing pain as he tries to get to his feet but Thompson’s not quitting yet, rolling Baker back into the ring and looking for Excalibur, but Baker counters it into a cutter, dropping Thompson to the ground before trying for a Dragon Slayer Sleeper! Thompson looks to be struggling for air as Baker keeps the hold locked in tight, trying to end Thompson’s night before it ever really even got started, before Thompson manages to stretch his leg out and catch the ropes! Baker breaks the hold, and turns around INTO A DESPERATE LARIAT FROM A RECOVERING THOMPSON! He goes for a pin on Baker!



ONE!



TWO!!



TH-NO! BAKER KICKS OUT!



Thompson, looking exhausted, grabs Baker’s arm for a ripcord lariat, but Baker ducks it and manages to catch him with a German Suplex that he rotates to land Thompson on his injured arm! He follows up by trying for an armbar on Thompson’s injured arm, but Thompson manages to scramble for the ropes, causing Baker to break the hold while Adam tries to recover, but opening him up for a Mushroom Stomp from Baker! Thompson looks to be in pain as he tries to recover, but Baker won’t let him, going for a running dropkick THAT THOMPSON STALLS WITH A BIG BOOT! Thompson grabs Baker and spins him around with a front facelock, looking for a moment like he’s going to go for a modified Bloody Fucking Murder, but he alters it, hauling Baker up AND DOWN TO THE CANVAS WITH A BRAINBUSTER! Baker lands flat on his back after Thompson releases his hold, and Thompson goes for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



THR-NO! BAKER KICKS OUT AGAIN!



Thompson looks frustrated, and pulls Baker up for another attempt at Excalibur, but this time, he drags Baker to the top rope. He gingerly steps up onto the buckles, keeping Baker held in place with one arm, but Baker fights against it, drilling Thompson with a series of strikes to the head! He drops down, before getting a running start, hopping to the springboard and springboarding up-AND HE HITS AN EJECTION SEAT ON ADAM THOMPSON THAT SENDS HIM CRASHING DOWN INTO THE RING! Baker leaps up onto the buckles one more time, hitting a double jump LEAPING DOUBLE STOMP ONTO THE ARM OF ADAM THOMPSON! Thompson looks to be in agony as Baker goes for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



THRE-NO! THOMPSON KICKS OUT AGAIN!



Baker tries to transition into an armbar, but Thompson’s quick to evade it, getting to his feet and taking Baker down with an armdrag before nailing him in the back of the head with a sliding big boot! Baker tries to recover, but Thompson nails him into the corner with a wicked German Suplex, before dragging him away, getting a wrist-clutch-AND HITTING A WRIST CLUTCH EXPLODER SUPLEX INTO THE CORNER! Thompson yoinks Baker out of the corner and goes for one more cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



THREE-NO!!! BAKER KICKS OUT!



Thompson drags Baker back to his feet, and blasts him with a nasty forearm, but as he goes for another Baker drills him with a kick to the gut that forces him to bend over, before hopping up and STOMPING THOMPSON’S HEAD DOWN TO THE CANVAS! Baker looks to Mustang and nods, before he grabs Thompson and tries to pull him in for a Mounted Emergency Landing, but Thompson tries to counter it and rolls Baker onto his back, only to roll him through a roll-up and NAIL him with a kick to the jaw! Baker looks stunned, and Thompson pulls him up-AND ANOTHER BRAINBUSTER TO GRAHAM BAKER! Holy shit!



Thompson looks for one more attempt at Bloody Fucking Murder, but Baker’s not having it, landing on his feet and yanking Thompson’s injured arm nearly out of its socket! He blasts Thompson with a nasty shot to the head, before nailing him with a sliding knee strike that rocks Thompson severely! Baker rolls Thompson out and goes for a leaping forearm, but Thompson catches him, somehow, someway, in a kimura! He goes for Retirement, but Baker rolls him down one more time, trapping his arm with an Emergency Landing in a Fujiwara variant and belting Thompson with repeated elbows to the head! He busts Thompson open after a few elbows, before rolling back to his feet, tapping his knees as Thompson tries to recover-PSALM TWENTY KNEE STRIKE TO THE FUCKING HEAD! Baker goes for a cover on Thompson!



ONE!



TWO!!



THREE!!!



Winner: Graham Baker (13:49)



Mustang enters the ring and raises Baker’s arm as he stands over Thompson. The fans boo Baker and he eggs them on, cupping a hand to his ear and yelling that Thompson doesn’t belong in Baker’s company. As Baker talks trash to the crowd, Adam Thompson slowly pulls himself to his feet. Baker turns and stares him down as Thompson stands holding his head. Thompson nods at Baker and slowly extends a hand. Baker looks down at it and smirks again before grasping it. The fans seem surprised but they quickly see what is happening as Baker lands a vicious palm strike to Thompson’s head before low blowing him. Thompson drops to his knees and Baker backs away before connecting with another knee strike to leave Thompson lying in the middle of the ring. Baker sarcastically waves at Thompson before he and Mustang leave the ring, walking up the ramp and laughing.



MW: I don’t believe that lack of sportsmanship from Graham Baker.

SD: He’s right. Adam Thompson doesn’t belong here. He couldn’t beat The Ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling so he’s rightly being shown the door.

MW: Perhaps that’s right, but he doesn’t deserve to be attacked after showing respect to his opponent. Baker did the same to Jace Mason too. He’s always had a mean streak but this is too much.

SD: Ever since losing the FPW Championship Graham Baker has turned over a new leaf and has become more dangerous than ever.

MW: You know; I think it goes back further. I think it goes back to that Hell in a Cell match with Marcus Allen Jones. Baker was viciously efficient in that match. He was this violent and he got the job done. After the match, Marcus showed him some respect and shook his hand. Ever since then, Graham Baker hasn’t been able to show anyone any respect. There’s something psychological about that but I’m not the man to diagnose it.



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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Jim Houston.



DB: Mr. Houston, I was hoping to get your thoughts on what we’ve seen tonight.

JH: Well, Dasha, tonight has been a fairly mixed night. We’ve had some great matches- Jace Mason versus Aaron Williams was a classic in my opinion. We’ve seen some things that have disappointed me too- Jerry Bishop walking out on his match being one and that attack from Graham Baker being another. With two more matches to go and each potentially a match of the year contender, I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of the show.

DB: And now we’re only six weeks away from the biggest show of the year. Do you have any announcements for it yet?

JH: Well there’s a lot to do before we can set the card in stone. We do know that Jace Mason will face the winner of MDE and Berry Bishop. We also know that The Guardians of Strong Style will defend the Tag Team Championships against the winners of the Tag Team Number One Contender Gauntlet Series. I have a few matches in mind that I think we may end up putting together, but I can’t confirm any of those just yet. We of course also have two Road To Judgement Day shows where matches will undoubtedly be set up for… Aaron. Great match.



Aaron Williams walks up to Jim Houston and shakes his outstretched hand.



AW: Thanks. But once again I got into a big spot and I lost. I don’t know what I need to do to turn this around but…

JH: Go on…

AW: Well, seeing as I won’t be in the FPW Championship match, I figured I’d set my sights on some different gold. I’d like a chance to wrestle for the Freedom Championship at Judgement Day against Karlson. I’ve wrestled her before and we’ve had a great match. I’d like the chance to do it again.

JH: Interesting idea. I like the sound of the match but… as you said, you’ve not exactly been winning a lot of matches of late. I’m not going to give you a Freedom Championship match right off the bat, but I will give you a number one contender match.

AW: That’s fair. Who will I be facing?

JH: Well there is someone who has caught my eye in his short time with us. Someone who, unlike yourself, has won a few matches recently. On the first Road To Judgement Day show, you’ll face Botiatus and the winner will face Elizabeth Karlson at Judgement Day II.

AW: Botiatus… I like the sound of that. I won’t let you down.



Williams walks away nodding his head and Houston turns back to Dasha.



JH: See… things have a way of working themselves out.



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MW: That match should be a great one for the first Road To Judgement Day show, but this match should be a great one right now.

SD: Jack Sevren and TakeOver 2.0 face Marcus Allen Jones, the former leader of TakeOver 1.0. I can’t wait for this.

MW: The question on everyone’s mind, I believe, is whether or not this will be a fair fight. Marcus Allen Jones says that he needs to win this match in order to get himself on the track he believes he needs to be on. Jack Sevren says that he needs to win to get TakeOver into position to rule Freedom Pro Wrestling once again. I believe Marcus can overcome Sevren one on one, but can he do so with Hunter Killer and The Invaders alongside him?

SD: The answer to that question is a resounding no. TakeOver’s strength is in their numbers. One man cannot hope to overcome five. Tonight will see the final rise of TakeOver 2.0 before they are crowned very, very soon.

MW: Of course, we are two impartial observers…

SD: Nothing but, Watson. Nothing but…



“The following contest is scheduled for one fall. Introducing first, representing Take-“



Suddenly Dario enters the ring and snatches the microphone from the ring announcer.



“Take a hike. Nobody announces TakeOver 2.0 but us. With that in mind… representing TakeOver 2.0… being accompanied to the ring by the former FPW Tag Team Champions The Invaders and the most dangerous team in professional wrestling Hunter Killer… he hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is a former multiple-time champion all around the world… The Best in the Game… Jack fucking Sevren!”



The fans boo loudly as ’15 Minutes’ begins to play and Sevren emerges, flanked by George Jackson, Sara Daniels and Haych, with Dario watching from the ring. The four of them strut down the ramp, fans trying to talk trash but being shoved aside by Haych and Jackson. Sevren reaches the ring and waits for the rest of TakeOver 2.0 to enter before entering himself. He embraces Dario before Dario reveals a TakeOver 2.0 flag and the five of them pose with it. The fans continue to boo loudly before the five of them break the pose and stand together awaiting Marcus Allen Jones.



“And his opponent, hailing from Chicago, Illinois… he is a former FPW Champion and Young Lions’ Cup winner… The Smartest Man in Pro Wrestling… Marcus Allen Jones.”



‘Cult of Personality’ begins to play and Marcus emerges on the top of the ramp. However, he doesn’t perform a backflip or play to the crowd. Instead, he simply walks down the ramp, eyes fixed on Jack Sevren. As ‘I’m the Smiling Face on Your TV’ hits, Marcus simply looks down the lens of the camera with an intense stare before sliding into the ring. TakeOver close ranks around Sevren as Marcus marches up to them, the official stepping in to make sure there isn’t an early start to the match. Marcus backs up and TakeOver eventually step out of the ring, leaving just Marcus and Sevren staring each other down.



Match 7: Marcus Allen Jones vs. Jack Sevren:



The bell rings and the two men come together immediately, foregoing the usual lock up and simply beginning to exchange right hands. Marcus takes the early advantage with his flurry of rights forcing Sevren back into the ropes. He whips him across and goes for a dropkick, but Haych leaps onto the aprin and catches Sevren’s arm to stop his momentum. Marcus crashes into the mat and Sevren immediately takes advantage, mounting him and landing more right hands as the fans begin to boo. The official forces Sevren to dismount, but, as Marcus rolls away, Sevren pulls him up and drives him into the corner, where he unleashes a volley of chops.



Marcus staggers away, hands to his chest, as Sevren takes him down from behind with a clothesline to the back of his head. Sevren then hits the ropes and comes back with a knee drop to the back of the head. Sevren rolls Marcus over and goes for a cover, not bothering to hook the leg as the fans continue to boo, 1-no. Marcus kicks out. As Marcus tries to get to his feet, Sevren jams a thumb into his eye, leading to yet more boos. The official separates them again but Marcus can’t get to his feet before Sevren comes in again, landing a series of stomps to the back of his neck before lifting him and whipping him into the ropes, catching him in a sleeper hold as he comes back.



SD: Yes! He’s going to put Marcus to sleep.

MW: This is potentially dangerous for Marcus Allen Jones. Since the interferences by Haych Jack Sevren has had total control over this match.

SD: As he will for the rest of it, not that it will last very long.

MW: But Marcus is fighting this. I don’t think this match will be ending here.



Marcus elbows away at Sevren’s stomach and forces him to reel away, breaking the hold. Marcus takes a moment to recover before turning, only to be met with another big chop to the chest. Sevren lands another and then a third before Marcus responds, landing a flurry of forearms before whipping Sevren into the ropes again. He looks for a dropkick again but the very same thing happens as Jackson this time catches Sevren and Marcus crashes and burns. Sevren darts back in and drops Marcus with a DDT, making another cocky cover, 1-2-no. Marcus kicks out again. Sevren smirks and taunts the fans, who continue to boo him vociferously. He then returns to Marcus and lifts the leg, looking to soften up the knee for the figure four. Marcus, however, reaches up and pulls Sevren down into a small package, but he doesn’t hold it, instead rolling through and lifting him up into a small package driver.



Marcus stands and hits the ropes, running towards the opposite side of the ring before diving over the top rope with a somersault senton to take out Hunter Killer. The fans cheer wildly as he climbs up onto the apron and lands a springboard forearm to take Sevren down, rolling through, leaping up onto the top rope and landing another big dive to take out The Invaders. Marcus then dives back into the ring, pumps up the crowd and stalks Sevren as he makes it to his feet. He whips him into the ropes, free to do so with the rest of TakeOver still down on the outside, and takes him down with a dropkick before positioning himself behind Sevren and connecting with a belly to back wheelbarrow facebuster. He rolls Sevren over for a cover, 1-2-no. Sevren kicks out.



MW: Marcus Allen Jones with the control now in this one!

SD: But for how long? TakeOver won’t be down forever and he can’t beat Jack Sevren before they recover.

MW: Then maybe the official needs to take control and get them out of here if they’re going to have that much of an impact on this match.

SD: Whatever happens, Marcus can’t win this match. TakeOver 2.0 is too strong, and he knows it.



Marcus looks down to see the rest of TakeOver still down on the outside before pulling Sevren up and whipping him into the corner. Marcus follows and connects with a running forearm before taking him down with a snapmare and following up with a shining wizard. Marcus then pushes himself up onto the top rope and, after a quick check behind him, lands a phoenix splash on Sevren. He makes a cover, hooking both legs, 1-2-no! Sevren just gets a shoulder off the mat. Marcus doesn’t waste any time, running to the ropes and connecting with a wrecking ball dropkick to take out Dario as he begins to recover before using his momentum to take Haych down with a hurricanrana.



Marcus then looks across to the opposite side of the ring where Hunter Killer are beginning to get to their feet too. He charges around the ring and leaps up onto the steel steps, using them as a platform to dive off and connect with a double shooting star DDT to take both of them out. The fans cheer louder than ever before as Marcus slides back into the ring, but he’s taken down by a drop toe hold from Sevren who quickly locks in a knee bar. Marcus tries to pull himself over to the ropes but Sevren doesn’t let him, doing everything that he can to do damage to the knee before he looks for the figure four in the latter stages of the match.



SD: I told you! The numbers game catches up in the end.

MW: Marcus was being proactive and trying to take out TakeOver before they could affect this match any further, but it got to him.

SD: Psychological warfare from TakeOver 2.0 and now Jack Sevren has Marcus exactly where he wants him.

MW: But Marcus is fighting it. He’s edging closer and closer to those ropes.

SD: Sevren knows this hold won’t win him the match. He doesn’t expect it to. He’s using it to weaken Marcus and it’s doing its intended job.



Marcus does edge closer and closer to the ropes and finally manages to grab them, Sevren only breaking the hold after the official’s count reaches four. After breaking it, Sevren grabs Marcus by the leg and drags him back towards the middle of the ring, lifting his leg and driving the knee down into the canvas before stomping hard on it. Marcus rolls away and tries to buy some time, but Sevren doesn’t let him, pulling him up and into a bridging German suplex, which he holds for the pin attempt, 1-2-no. Marcus kicks out. As Marcus’ body twists, Sevren catches his leg and looks to lock in a knee bar again, only for Marcus to kick out hard with his right leg and force Sevren back a few steps. Marcus pulls himself up on the ropes and, when Sevren charges at him, Marcus drops down sending Sevren through the ropes to the outside.



Marcus stands uneasily and rouses the fans as Hunter Killer and The Invaders rally to Sevren’s side. Marcus hits the ropes and, albeit with a slight limp, charges at the ropes, landing a corkscrew moonsault plancha to take out all five members of TakeOver 2.0. However, he can’t get to his feet straight away as he tweaked his knee on the landing. Marcus slowly pulls himself up on the guardrail as Sevren tries to do the same on the apron. Marcus is first to his feet. He moves towards Sevren and kicks his leg out before driving his head into the edge of the ring. Marcus rolls Sevren back into the ring and follows, lifting him and planting him with a falcon arrow. Marcus makes another cover, 1-2-no. Sevren again manages to kick out.



MW: This match is going back and forth. I can’t call a winner right now.

SD: Of course you can! Jack Sevren will win this match.

MW: Not if Marcus keeps up this momentum he won’t.

SD: Wait until the rest of TakeOver 2.0 recovers. Marcus won’t be able to focus on Sevren and Sevren will find his opening. Marcus may be on top for now but it can’t last long.



Marcus pulls Sevren up and grips him by the neck, planting him face first with a snapmare driver. Marcus then stands and stalks Sevren, who has got back to his hands and knees. As Sevren pushes himself up to his feet, Marcus traps his arm and looks for Six Stars, but Sevren drops down to a knee. Marcus adjusts, releasing the arm but instead connecting with a hook kick to drop Sevren to the canvas. Marcus then looks up to the top rope and begins to climb, the fans sensing what’s about to happen and starting the rhythmic clap themselves. Just as Marcus is about to leap, he looks down to see Haych and Daniels beginning to stand. Marcus pauses for a moment, unsure whether to continue or to dive onto them to take them out.



As Marcus stares down at the rest of TakeOver 2.0, Sevren takes advantage, quickly standing and pushing himself up to join Marcus. He lands a series of right hands before turning himself and connecting with a top rope snapmare. With Marcus down, Sevren pushes himself back up to the top and comes down with a top rope knee drop. He makes a cover, this time hooking the leg, 1-2-no! Marcus just manages to get his shoulder up. Sevren then quickly moves around to Marcus’ legs, stepping through and locking in the figure-four leg-lock. Marcus writhes in pain immediately and tries to turn Sevren, only for Sevren to distract the official and Haych to pull Marcus back down again. Dario enters too and lands a series of right hands to Marcus, all while Sevren has the official distracted.



MW: This is heinous!

SD: It’s genius. TakeOver 2.0 is working as a well-oiled machine. No one man can hope to defeat them.

MW: Marcus is wrestling a five-on-one handicap match. How is this fair?

SD: It’s not fair. It’s TakeOver 2.0.



As The Invaders slide out of the ring, the official looks to Marcus, whose shoulders are on the mat. He begins to count, 1-2-no! Marcus just manages to get a shoulder up and, in so doing, tries to turn Sevren once again. With the official focussed on Marcus, George Jackson reaches into the ring and pulls Sevren back, not allowing Marcus to turn him. The fans boo loudly as Marcus drops down to his back again and the official again begins to count, 1-2-no! Again Marcus is just able to get his shoulder off the mat. Sevren pushes up, sensing that Marcus won’t be able to last much longer. Dario distracts the official and Sevren pulls himself up onto the middle rope, increasing the pressure on the knee massively. Marcus cries out in pain and his head starts to roll around on his shoulders. He drops down to the mat again and Sevren quickly lets go of the ropes. The official makes another count, 1-2-no! Marcus just gets his shoulder up, but it barely rises from the canvas. Once more, Haych distracts the official and Sevren grabs the middle rope again. As Jackson and Daniels move around to the official, Dario climbs up to the top rope and carefully lands a 450 splash, avoiding Sevren. He rolls away just as the official turns around and makes another count, 1-2-3.



Winner: Jack Sevren (19:15)



MW: I don’t believe it!

SD: The TakeOver takeover is almost complete!

MW: The robbery of Marcus Allen Jones is complete. It took several distractions and even another wrestler to put him away. How can this be allowed to stand?

SD: This will go down in history as the beginning of the greatest reign Freedom Pro Wrestling has ever seen. TakeOver 2.0 is already bigger than the original and I can’t wait for the next phase of-



Deville is interrupted by ‘This Means War’ as the fans’ boos turn to the raucous cheers. Bobby O emerges at the top of the ramp with a microphone in hand. All of TakeOver 2.0 turn to stare at him as he stares back intensely.



BO: Sevren! You cheating scumbag. It’s time all of this was put to an end once and for all. And if Marcus can’t do it, I know full well that I can!



The fans cheer but Sevren and the rest of TakeOver 2.0 laugh. Sevren grabs a mic.



JS: Oh Bob-O… you want to put an end to us? Why don’t you come down here and do it?



Bobby shakes his head with a smile on his face.



BO: You may think it, but I’m really not that stupid. I won’t stand a chance five-on-one and you know it. But I do stand a chance one-on-one. Remember, Jack… we never did have that one-on-one match did we? Well I think it’s time that we did. Judgement Day II. Bobby O versus Jack Sevren. Let’s finally make it happen.



Sevren laughs again.



JS: You want me one-on-one? Well I’ve just won a big match and I’m feeling generous. You know what… you’ve got it.



The fans begins to cheer but they’re quickly cut off by Jack Sevren.



JS: However… to get to me, you have to go through them. There are two shows before Judgement Day and there are two tag teams in this ring with me. You want to face me? Beat Hunter Killer… beat The Invaders… and then you can face me.



Bobby lifts the microphone to his lips but he’s interrupted by Jim Houston, who walks onto the stage with a mic of his own.



JH: Sevren… TakeOver… you just pulled off a heist. I’ve got to hand it to you… you’re a well-oiled machine. But that’s not going to fly around here. At Judgement Day II, Jack, you will face Bobby O. Bobby… I will give you the two handicap matches before you get to Sevren. However, whatever happens, you will face Jack Sevren at Judgement Day II. If you beat Hunter Killer and/or The Invaders, whoever you beat will be banned from ringside for that match. So two wins and you’ll get your one-on-one match.



The fans cheer loudly while TakeOver 2.0 shake their heads in the ring.



JS: You can’t-



JH: I’m not done. Sevren… you’d better hope you have some help left in that match because if you lose, it’s the end of TakeOver for good. If Bobby beats you, TakeOver 2.0 will be forced to disband and never again associate with one another. Your actions have consequences Sevren, and here they are.



Houston drops the mic and shakes Bobby’s hand before leaving Bobby and Sevren staring each other down while the fans cheer the huge announcement.



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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Jace Mason.



DB: Jace, you managed to come through what must have been a very tough match tonight.

JM: It was. I’ve had a few tough matches recently but that was one of the toughest. I have nothing but respect for Aaron Williams. He’s a hell of a wrestler and I’m proud that I managed to beat him. But now I’m looking to the future. Now I’m looking to Judgement Day II. Whether it’s MDE or Berry Bishop makes no difference to me. I’ve proven to myself by winning the Free-1 and successfully defending it that I belong in that match, and I’m going to give everything I have to reach the top of the mountain.

DB: Before the Free-1, did you think you’d be here with a main event spot at Judgement Day II?

JM: I don’t know… after voluntarily missing the first Free-1, I just hoped to give a good account of myself and maybe earn a title match by beating a champion. When I made the final I hoped I’d give Baker a tough match. I don’t honestly know if I ever really believed I’d win the whole thing, but that’s exactly what I did. Now I’m ready to take the next step. This place has a lot of questionable characters, our current champion undoubtedly being one of them. If I win that title, I’ll bring respect back to it. I’ll carry it the way it ought to be carried. But it’s still an if. There’s a lot of training to do in the next six weeks and then I’ll see where I stand. I now believe that I can win that belt, and I’ll do everything in my power to make that a reality.

DB: I assume you’ll be watching the next match very closely?

JM: I will. And I’ll be ready to show my face at the end of the match.



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MW: Well, now we’ve come to our main event. With so many matches and so much emotion on show tonight, this match may have been hidden a little, but I assure you there is more than just the Freedom Pro Wrestling Championship on the line.

SD: MDE versus Berry Bishop. These two were the final two participants in the FPW Rumble and there is a lot of history between them.

MW: Indeed, there is. How could anyone forget the sickening manipulation of Berry by MDE in the run up to Judgement Day last year? How could anyone forget Berry’s emotional victory over MDE earlier this year. And how could anyone forget the ongoing relationship between MDE and Berry’s brother Jerry.

SD: I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there, Watson. This match is a big match in and of itself, but it’s also very symbolic. Jerry Bishop has been torn between two different lives in the past few months. MDE is helping him to be a better wrestler, to be a winner and to give these fans what they’ve wanted ever since they first saw him. Berry Bishop, along with others, is pulling Jerry back to being a cartoonish lovable loser. Jerry doesn’t want to be that. But he also doesn’t want to abandon his sister. Tonight could be the night that he finally chooses exactly who he wants to be.

MW: He thinks these fans want to see him as a winner and he’s not wrong, but I know for sure that they’d rather him be a loveable loser than a winner with MDE. They want The Jester not The Joker. But let’s remember, this match isn’t just about Jerry Bishop. The winner of this match will go into the biggest match of the year against Jace Mason with the FPW Championship on the line. This match is huge for both competitors.



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the Freedom Pro Wrestling Championship! Introducing first-“



The announcer is interrupted by ‘Comedian’s Gallop’, and by Jerry Bishop walking out, dressed in street clothes but with his face still painted, onto the ramp. He looks around the crowd who give him a mixed reaction, many muttering to the people next to them. He frowns for a moment before shaking his head and walking down the ramp. When he reaches the ring, he doesn’t climb in, instead he skirts around the outside and heads towards the announcers’ table, where he takes a seat and puts on a headset.



MW: Well it seems like we’re being joined by Jerry Bishop tonight.

SD: Speak of the devil and he shall appear. What brings you here Joker?

JB: I need to see this match. I need to see… I just need to see it.

MW: Earlier tonight you spoke of just hoping it’s a good match. Surely you must be rooting for your sister to finally win the FPW Championship?

JB: I just want to see both of them at their best. I want to see a winner who deserves to be a winner. That’s all.

SD: Do I sense some je-

JB: I mean what I said. If Berry wins, I’ll be happy for her. If MDE wins, I’ll be happy for him. Let’s get on with it.



“Introducing first, the challenger, from New Haven, Conneticut, a former Freedom Champion… The Bombshell… Berry Bishop!”



The fans cheer loudly as ‘The Entertainer’ begins to play and Berry enters the arena, bowing deeper than ever. She then begins her hopscotch down to the ring before pausing at the bottom of the ramp to hug a young fan in a Bombshell t-shirt. Berry then plays the ring apron before standing on the apron and somersaulting over the top rope, landing with a bow in the middle of the ring before rising with a smile and a wink. As she turns, she sees Jerry at the announcers’ table and gives a wave, but her face looks wary. He nods to her and smiles, but Berry turns away before they can interact any more.



“And her opponent… hailing from Plymouth, England… he is the reigning and defending Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion… he calls himself Simply Great… MDE!”



Boos rain down as ‘Dance of The Knights’ plays. MDE comes through the curtain and surveys the arena, giving a dismissive smirk before slowly making his way down the ramp, eyes on Berry Bishop, who returns his stare with one of her own. He reaches the ring but doesn’t immediately climb in, instead looking across to Jerry and walking around to the announce table, where he offers a fist to Jerry. Jerry bumps it and the two exchange a nod, which causes Berry to look concerned in the ring. MDE then climbs through the ropes and gives Berry an arrogant smile before removing the FPW Championship from around his waist and handing it to the official.



Match 8: FPW Championship: MDE v Berry Bishop:



The bell rings and MDE and Berry circle one another, neither of them looking to come forward first. Berry watches MDE closely, a determined look on her face as she refuses to allow her emotions to get the better of her, while MDE watches with an intrigued look. After a couple of rotations around the ring, they each come forward simultaneously and lock up, MDE taking the arm and looking for a wrist lock. Berry, however, twists her way out and pulls MDE’s wrist up his back before transitioning into a headlock, which MDE slithers out of and into a wristlock of his own. Berry rolls through and takes MDE’s wrist, looking to wring the arm, only for MDE to twist and grab both wrists, forcing Berry to the mat. Berry bridges and turns her body to get to her feet, reversing the pressure on the wrists as she forces MDE to his knees. Berry then aims a kick at MDE’s head, but he ducks and rolls away under the bottom rope to the outside.



A loud ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ chant breaks out as MDE composes himself on the outside. Berry stands and watches him, her face remaining determinedly focussed as he climbs back up onto the apron. He climbs through the ropes slowly, but Berry holds her position, not darting into what could easily be a trap. He stands and the two circle one another again before coming together. MDE looks to lock-up but Berry ducks under it, kicking him twice in the back of the leg. She then locks in a headlock and takes MDE over, pushing up with her hips to apply more pressure. MDE tries to escape but Berry maintains her hold and MDE is forced to push up to his knee and then to a standing position instead. He lifts Berry into the air, but she releases the hold and drops down into an arm drag before he can do any damage. MDE rolls through and under the bottom rope again as the fans chant Berry’s name once again.



MW: A strong start from the challenger.

JB: No real damage though.

MW: Not yet, but she’ll have gained a psychological edge.

JB: Impossible.

SD: I agree. MDE isn’t someone you can psych out. Berry may have had the advantage so far but MDE will be set for the long run. He’ll be calculating exactly what he needs to do right now to turn this match in his favour.

JB: He knows what he needs to do.

MW: Have you worked on his gameplan for this match?

JB: ……



MDE climbs back into the ring and again Berry hangs back, not wanting to be lured in. The two of them circle each other once again before coming together. They look to lock up, Berry ducking again but MDE catches her and driving a knee hard into her gut. He drops her with a front facelock and keeps her grounded for a few moments before switching positions to take her arm. He maintains his hold in an arm bar before Berry starts to push herself up to counter, at which point MDE pushes up himself and drives a knee into the shoulder blade. Berry drops back down and MDE steps through, looking for a different version of an arm bar. Berry cries out but manages to wriggle her way towards the ropes, MDE transitioning again by rolling Berry over into a roll-up, 1-2-no. Berry kicks out.



MDE gets to his feet but Berry quickly follows, catching him with another surprise leg kick. MDE staggers for a moment and Berry swoops in, leaping up and taking him down with a monkey flip before hitting the ropes and taking him down again with a shining wizard. The fans cheer in anticipation as she makes a cover, 1-2-no. MDE kicks out. Berry stands quickly and lands a hard kick to the sternum before stalking MDE as she allows him to get up. Instead of standing, however, he looks to once again rolls to the outside. Berry tries to stop him but MDE is quick and his feet hit the floor. Berry considers following but decided against it, instead settling in the ring and waiting for the champion to make his own way back in.



MW: Berry starting to gain some ground after MDE’s attack on the arm and shoulder.

JB: But he’s stopping her momentum every time she starts to build some. Berry runs on momentum and energy. He knows that.

SD: And he’s executing a good gameplan. MDE is breaking up Berry’s momentum at each point. He’ll be looking to frustrate her and to draw her into a mistake.

MW: Jerry, I ask again… you seem to know a lot about MDE’s gameplan. Did you have any input into his preparation for this match?

JB: ……



MDE takes a moment before stepping back onto the apron. This time, Berry comes in before he can get through the ropes. She aims a roundhouse kick at him, but MDE catches it and drops the foot before hitting a jawbreaker onto the top rope. Berry staggers backwards as MDE slides into the ring and takes her down with a German suplex. He immediately goes back to the shoulder, stepping over Berry’s head and pulling back on the arm, driving his knee into her elbow to add extra pressure. Berry wriggles and tries to get her legs onto the bottom rope, but MDE grips her left leg and pulls it back, making it difficult for Berry to get out of the hold. She tries to get her right leg to the ropes but MDE doesn’t give her the space in which to move, and she’s forced to remain in the hold for longer than she’d like.



Berry tries another way, looking to twist her hips and relieve some of the pressure, but MDE switches his own position to make this harder for her. Berry struggles but still can’t get out of the hold until she kicks back with her right leg and manages to free her left one, allowing her to quickly get to the ropes. MDE uses the full extent of the official’s count before releasing Berry and, when he does, he drives his foot into her shoulder for added measure. Berry rolls towards the bottom rope but MDE quickly pulls her away, lifting her up onto his shoulder and dropping her down with her left shoulder right onto his knee. He makes a cover, holding down the right arm, 1-2-no. Berry kicks out but jerks her left shoulder as she does.



SD: That’s a really intelligent cover from MDE. He knows that if Berry kicks out she’ll do more damage to that left shoulder.

JB: She needs to do something outside of the box to beat him. She won’t beat him technically and there’s no way he’ll let her kick her way to victory.

MW: Berry needs a way back into this one for sure and right now I’m not sure where it’s going to come from.

SD: It isn’t. MDE is in total control. Do you hear how quiet these fans are? That’s because he’s silenced them. They were so clearly behind Berry at first but he’s taken them out of this match.

JB: He thinks of everything.



MDE rolls Berry onto her front and drops a knee across her left shoulder, pulling her arm up as he digs the point of his knee into her shoulder blade. Berry cries out in pain but she appears powerless to stop MDE from doing whatever he wants to her. MDE switches his grip and looks for a cross arm-breaker, but Berry uses the transition to her advantage, rolling through with him and forcing his shoulders onto the canvas, 1-2-no. MDE kicks out and the crowd groans, but it begins to come alive a little for Berry. She springs to her feet, shaking off her arm as she aims a hard kick to MDE’s leg. MDE catches it, and pulls her in for a belly to belly suplex, but Berry drives her knee up into his gut and transitions into a running bulldog.



The fans begin to rally behind Berry as she stands, vigorously shaking off her left arm. MDE gets up a little slower and Berry runs at him, sending him hard into the turnbuckles with a running dropkick before taking him down with a headscissors as he staggers out of the corner. Berry then stands and stalks MDE once again, but once again he decides to roll out of the ring rather than stand and face Berry’s offense. The crowd boos loudly but Berry decides enough is enough. She hits the opposite ropes and charges towards MDE before launching herself through the air and catching her legs around his neck, taking him down with a diving hurricanrana!



MW: What a move by Berry Bishop!

SD: That’s certainly outside of the box.

JB: He won’t have been expecting it. But he’s done the damage to her shoulder. Look. She’s still down.

MW: Jerry is right. Berry can’t capitalise as she grasps that injured shoulder.

SD: MDE’s gameplan working for him even when it seems not to.

JB: As always.



Berry wills herself to stand, but MDE stands at the same time. She aims a roundhouse kick at him but he ducks it and hoists her up onto his shoulders into a powerbomb position. He looks to send her into the apron, but Berry looks to counter with a hurricanrana once again. However, MDE catches her, and she dangles upside down for a few moments before he pulls her back up again. MDE manages to switch her position, running her at the ring post and driving her shoulder right into it. The crowd groan as Berry lands on the floor. MDE takes a moment to recover before pulling Berry up and rolling her back into the ring, leaving her left arm dangling over the edge. He climbs onto the apron and jumps up, stomping hard on her arm and causing Berry to cry out in pain once again.



MDE quickly climbs into the ring and makes another cover, again holding down the right arm, 1-2-no! Berry just gets her left shoulder up. He looks to transition into an armbar again but Berry is ready, rolling backwards and freeing her arm before grasping MDE’s and landing a hard kick to his chest. She maintains her grip on his arm and lands several more kicks to send MDE to his knees, where she almost kicks his head off with a buzzsaw kick. Berry falls into a cover, 1-2-no! MDE just kicks out. With the fans once again cheering her loudly, Berry stands and stalks MDE, coiling herself up. MDE, shaken from the kick to the head, slowly gets up and turns towards Berry as she uncoils herself for Checkmate… but MDE ducks under it, positions himself behind her and lifts her for a German suplex… which she flips out of landing on her feet. Berry then leaps up and drives a standing double stomp into MDE’s chest before pulling him up and taking him down with a parallel snapmare before completing the Touchstone Takedown with a hard penalty kick. She falls into a cover again, unable to hook a leg, 1-2-no! MDE just kicks out.



MW: I thought she had him there!

SD: These fans thought it too, but it’ll take more to keep MDE down.

JB: She’s looking ready for Checkmate, but he has a counter.

MW: What is it?

JB: ……

MW: Have you really been helping MDE to plan for a match with your sister?

SD: And why shouldn’t he? Jerry and MDE work closely together. Jerry can choose to help whoever he likes.



Berry coils herself up again as MDE slowly begins to rise to his feet. As he turns, she uncoils for Checkmate, but MDE ducks again, driving a forearm into her gut and quickly pulling her up for a gutbuster. He connects and then lifts her again for a gutwrench suplex. MDE floats over, looking to complete the Triple Gutwrench with a gutwrench powerbomb. He pulls Berry up but she lands a series of forearm strikes to his head and then drops down to her feet. Both of then stagger for a moment before Berry unleashes a roundhouse kick to send MDE into the ropes. As he comes back to Berry, the lifts him up and connects with the Berry Buster! However, it causes Berry a lot of pain in her shoulder and MDE has time to roll towards the ropes as Berry frantically scrambles to grab him for a cover. He manages to roll under the bottom rope, leaving Berry holding her head as she looks down to the outside.



Berry shakes off her left arm again before following MDE to the outside. She lifts him up and drives him back-first into the ring apron before pulling him in for an exploder. At first, she can’t lift him, her shoulder causing her too much trouble. She reels away but, with huge support from the fans, she lands a hard kick to the gut and tries again, this time sending him into the guardrail with an exploder suplex. Berry stands, rallying the crowd behind her even more before lifting MDE and slowly forcing him back into the ring. Berry follows and dives onto him for a cover, hooking the leg this time, 1-2-no! MDE just manages to kick out.



MW: So close again for Berry Bishop!

JB: Too close. MDE needs to get back to his gameplan or she might beat him.

SD: She can’t!

MW: I’ll remind you that she beat him before.

JB: A different time. They’ve both changed a lot since then.

MW: You seem to be very much on the side of-

JB: Berry needs to hit Checkmate but he won’t let her do it.



Berry stands, staggering back towards the corner. MDE gets to one knee and Berry runs at him, aiming for another shining wizard. MDE manages to duck and quickly grabs the arm. He traps the right arm with his right leg and pulls back on the left, looking for The Simply Great Stretch. Berry resists, kicking her legs at MDE and stopping him from getting the full extension. MDE drops the arm for a moment and tries to grab the legs, but Berry is too quick, rolling away and freeing her right arm before pushing herself up to her feet. MDE scrambles up too and Berry connects with a roundhouse kick which staggers him. She then leaps up onto the ropes and connects with a disaster kick, making a cover, 1-2-no! MDE just kicks out again.



Berry gets to here feet again, willing MDE up as she coils up for a third time. The fans buzz with anticipation as they can feel the moment that’s about to happen. As MDE stands, Berry waits for him to turn, but he doesn’t. Instead he drops back down to the mat and tries to roll away to the outside once again. Berry refuses to let him, moving in and trying to pull him back into the ring. MDE, however, pulls her down onto the middle rope and quickly positions himself behind her, taking her down with a German suplex. He pushes himself to his feet and drives a series of hard kicks into Berry’s shoulder. He then reaches down and lifts her for a gutbuster before transitioning into a gutwrench suplex. Floating over, he looks to complete the Triple Gutwrench, pulling Berry up onto his shoulders and driving her down with a gutwrench powerbomb. He stacks her up, driving his full weight down onto her shoulders, 1-2-3.



Winner and still FPW Champion: MDE (26:13)



MDE stands as the fans sit down with disappointment. As the official reaches for the FPW Championship, Jerry stands, the fans quickly turning to him. He takes off his headset and moves towards the ring, climbing in. He looks down at Berry for a few moments and then at MDE. The fans begin to buzz once again as Jerry and MDE stare into each other’s eyes. Jerry takes one final look down at Berry before moving towards MDE, grabbing his wrist and raising his arm. The fans boo vociferously, but they’re cut off by ‘Afterlife’.



Boos turn to cheers as Jace Mason stands on the entrance ramp, his music still playing as he stares down both MDE and Jerry Bishop. He holds the Free-1 trophy aloft as MDE holds the FPW Championship aloft, only for his music to be interrupted by staccato machine gun fire followed by ‘DNA’. Cheers turn to confused boos as Graham Baker emerges onto the stage with a mic in hand.



“Just hold up a minute, Mason. You’ll get your match at Judgement Day, don’t fucking worry about that. I’m not here for you.”



Baker turns to MDE.



“I’m here for you. Remember when I held that belt and I said you could face me anytime, anyplace for it? Well you took up my offer and I beat you fair and square. In fact, we’re two for two right now. I expect you to reciprocate. In two weeks’ time, at the first Road To Judgement Day show, you put that belt on the line against me. When I beat you, I’ll go on to Judgement Day II to right the wrong from the Free-1 final and beat Mason here. What do you say?”



Baker drops the mic as MDE stares him down before slowly nodding his head. Baker aims one finger gun at MDE and another at Jace Mason, who switches his gaze between the two men as the show goes off the air.