Judgement Day II

[Jim Houston]

The show begins without the usual fanfare and video, instead beginning with a wide shot of a large crowd chanting ‘F-P-Dub’. The camera pans around the crowd for a full minute before cutting to a series of backstage shots. They show MDE with his eyes closed, FPW Championship around his waist, visualising key moments of his match. They show Bobby O pacing his locker room. They show Berry Bishop stat staring into space with a distant look in her eyes. They show Botiatus deep in conversation with J. They show The Guardians of Strong Style laying palm strikes into one another. They show Graham Baker stretching out with Kate Mustang. They show Jack Sevren surrounded by TakeOver 2.0. They show Jerry Bishop staring into a mirror. They show Marcus Allen Jones with Airpods in his ears. Finally, they show Jace Mason shuffling nervously. As the shot closes in on Mason’s uncertain look in his face, the camera cuts to Mike Watson and Steven Deville.



MW: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the biggest show in Freedom Pro Wrestling history. Welcome to Judgement Day II.

SD: This absolutely is the biggest show of the year. Baker v Marcus, Jack v Bobby, MDE v Mason, Bishop v Bishop. Titles, rivalries, great matches. This will be a special, special night.

MW: Let’s just check through our card and hit those big matches tonight. Let’s begin with a match many have said is the biggest match in the history of FPW. Graham Baker faces Marcus Allen Jones for a third, and final, time with the loser leaving FPW.

SD: And it’s not just a match… it’s a sixty-minute ironman match. I agree that it’s the biggest match in FPW history. These two are the biggest stars FPW has ever had and by the end of tonight, we’ll be losing one of them while the other will surely take the spotlight as the clear Ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling.

MW: We might see the end of TakeOver 2.0 for good tonight.

SD: But in order for that to happen, Bobby O must defeat Jack Sevren. The Invaders and Hunter Killer

may well be banned from ringside but that doesn’t mean Jack Sevren doesn’t have a plan.

MW: We also have a match that nobody- and I mean nobody- ever expected to see. Jerry Bishop

versus Berry Bishop.

SD: It’s a sad state of affairs when brother and sister have to face one another. Tonight this match

will be very hard to watch and it’s the one match I’m not sure I’m looking forward to.

MW: And then we get to our main event. The Freedom Pro Wrestling Championship is on the line as

MDE defends against Free-1 winner Jace Mason.

SD: And that’s a huge match. MDE is a dominant champion. Jace Mason is stepping up to this level

for the very first time. Can he do enough to overcome one of the best there is? It’s a huge question

and I know that Jace himself does not know the answer to it.

MW: But before that, we will find out our new number one contenders for the FPW Tag Team Championships. We have five teams looking to claim the right to take on either The Guardians of Strong Style or The Dogs of War on New Year’s Eve.

SD: Four of these teams were defeated in the Tag Team Number Once Contender Gauntlet Series and Death Squad were barred from entering it. This match ought to be very interesting.

MW: Well they’re already in the ring and ready for this match, so let’s get it started.

SD: Actually, they’re not all in the ring… where are Clutch McCloud and Russ Bolt?

MW: I don’t know, Steven… please don’t say there’s been another backstage attack?

SD: I don’t know… but it looks like we have to start without them.



Match 1: Number One Contendership for the FPW Tag Team Championships: Death Squad vs. Clutch McCloud and Russ Bolt vs. Hunter Killer vs. The Invaders vs. The Suplex Sweethearts (written by Baker):



As soon as our tag title contendership match begins, both Hunter Killer and The Invaders are out the gate laying boots into Death Squad and The Suplex Sweethearts! The combined forces of TakeOver look to make quick work of the Sweethearts after tossing the team of Aiden Balmer and Mary Downing from the ring and to the outside! Jackson throws Tommy Saxon to Daniels for a Killing Blow while Haych and Dario look for a Wargame on Ripley, but surprisingly the Suplex Sweethearts manage to evade both tag team manuevers! They find themselves outnumbered still, until Aiden Balmer levels both members of Hunter Killer with a double lariat! Balmer and Downing descend upon them with vicious fury, throwing them about the crowd and battering them with any object they can find while The Invaders find themselves on the receiving end of a brutal conflict with the Suplex Sweethearts! Tommy Saxon launches the larger Haych into the running knees of Ella Ripley, before turning on Dario and nailing him with The Knuckler, followed up by a German from Ripley! They set up for their devestating Hammer-and-Riptide combo, but Jackson manages to escape the violence of Death Squad for just a moment long enough to nail Saxon with a Hunter Killer driver and a pin!



ONE!



TW-NO! BROKEN UP BY AIDEN BALMER!



Balmer drags Jackson out of the ring again, driving his knee into Jackson’s head repeatedly before RAMMING HIS HEAD INTO THE APRON WITH A NASTY ENDER! Jackson slumps down as Downing traps Daniels on the outside with a standing Octopus Hold, driving elbows into Daniels’ head. Balmer grunts at Tommy Saxon as Saxon tries to recover, before pulling Jackson up again and dragging him away from the ring! Saxon cracks a half-smile, before turning INTO A LARIAT FROM HAYCH THAT TURNS HIM INSIDE OUT! Haych throws Tommy into the ropes for a pop-up powerbomb, but Ella Ripley delivers a jaw-breaking superkick to Haych, before Saxon goes for a Belly-to-Belly, landing it and going for a cover-BUT DARIO HITS A SWANTON BOMB ONTO BOTH MEN! Dario goes for a cover on Tommy Saxon!



ONE!



TWO!!



THR-NO! ELLA RIPLEY BREAKS IT UP!



Ripley grabs Dario by the wrist and throws him into the ropes, looking to toss him with a backdrop into a knee strike from Tommy Saxon, which Dario manages to counter with a leaping knee to Saxon! Dario turns and nails Ella with a pele kick, but as Ella falls and he looks for his 450 Splash, Mary Downing, her elbow covered in the blood of Sara Daniels, leaps up onto the ropes AND PULLS DARIO DOWN TO EARTH WITH A LEAPING CUTTER! She rolls away as Aiden Balmer heads to the top and lands A MASSIVE BACK SENTON ONTO THE INVADER! Balmer goes for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



THRE-NO! HAYCH BREAKS IT UP!



Haych makes quick work of Downing with a nasty big boot to the head that sends her tumbling over the top rope and to the outside, but he finds a harder challenge in Aiden Balmer, who nails him with a stiff chop before getting a running start for a MASSIVE CROSSBODY-BUT HAYCH CATCHES HIM! Haych looks for a Scoop Slam Brainbuster, but Saxon looks for a leaping knee strike followed by a neckbreaker to put himself and Ella back into the match! Saxon goes for a lifting vertical suplex on Dario, who’s tried to climb to the corner to escape some of the action as Ella goes to the top rope, but Mary Downing nails Ella with a springboard kick to the jaw before following up with a standing German Suplex from the top rope that sends Ella crashing neck-first into the corner! Ella slides to a stop, and Downing spins around, looking to take Saxon out-BUT SARA DANIELS TAKES HER OUT WITH THE LETHAL FORCE! Jackson bounces Saxon out of the ring with a massive pounce as Daniels goes for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



THRE-NO! AIDEN BALMER BREAKS UP THE PIN!



Balmer levels Jackson with another Big Boot before nailing Daniels with a lariat, hauling her high AND SMASHING HER DOWN ONTO HIS KNEE WITH AN OVERHEAD PILEDRIVER! Daniels slumps to a stop in the corner, and Balmer rolls back, roaring as he runs forward AND NAILS HER WITH A DROPKICK THAT BOUNCES HER HEAD OFF OF THE MIDDLE ROPE BUCKLE! Daniels rolls out of the ring, and Balmer grabs Jackson for a running powerbomb, looking to Saxon and Dario-AND HE HURLS THE LARGER MAN INTO DARIO AND SAXON, SENDING ALL THREE CRASHING TO THE OUTSIDE! Balmer beats on his chest as he screams out, before a recovering Haych nails him with a superkick! Haych throws Balmer into the ropes and catches him for a pop-up powerbomb! He goes for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



THREE-DOUBLE STOMP FROM ELLA RIPLEY TO BREAK THE HOLD UP!



Balmer rolls out of the ring as she stomps on Haych’s neck, trying to keep him down while Tommy Saxon pulls himself back into the ring! She looks to Saxon, and the crowd heats up as she throws Haych to him with a whip, Saxon catching him as she prepares-THEY HIT THE HAMMER-N-TIDE!



ONE!



TWO!!



THREE!!!



Winners: The Suplex Sweethearts (8:39)



Ripley and Saxon stand and have their arms raised by the official before turning to leave the ring, only to find Clutch McCloud stepping out onto the ramp. They look at him with confusion on their faces as he raises a microphone to his lips.



CM: Earlier this week, I revealed my reason for my long-held opposition to inter-gender wrestling. It took a lot of thought, but I decided that Russ and I had to withdraw from this match due to the presence of Ella Ripley and Mary Downing. I refuse to step into the ring with a woman and I resent the fact that once again I’ve been asked to do so.



The fans boo as Clutch looks around them in disgust.



CM: You boo a man who refuses to hit a woman on account of his experiences with domestic abuse? You stay classy, Chicago. Anyway, congratulations Tommy and Ella. You’ll go into the match against whoever wins later, but I’ll be watching closely- if it even goes ahead. Men and women don’t belong in the same ring, and it won’t be long before I make sure that inter-gender wrestling is banned in FPW.



Clutch turns and walks back through the curtain as Ripley and Saxon shake their heads before the crowd return their attention to them and applaud them up the ramp.



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Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Botiatus.



DB: I’m joined by the number one contender for the Freedom Championship tonight, Botiatus. Bo, you’re known for your preparations for matches and this is one of your biggest in FPW so far. Are you fully prepared?

B: Of course. This isn’t just one of my biggest matches in FPW. It’s one of the biggest in my career. This is the biggest show I’ve been a part of for a very long time. I’m absolutely one hundred percent ready to face Elizabeth Karlson tonight.

DB: How can you take on her technical ability?

B: She does have an advantage over me in that regard. But it’s not as big as some might think. I have my own set of technical skills and I know that with the work I’ve put in to prepare for this match that I can match up with Karlson. I have to be very careful with her attacks on the knee, but I know that I can step up to the challenge.

DB: You’ve been a little frustrated recently with things here. Do you care to speak on that?

B: I’ve been a little frustrated with the fact that I’ve struggled to connect with others in the locker room. But that’s always been a struggle for me. I’m a principled man and I have my set of House Rules. A lot of people don’t understand that and don’t seem to want to work with it. That’s up to them. What I’m not frustrated with is my connection with these fans. These FPW fans are great and they’ve formed a wonderful new wing of the House of Botiatus. I respect them as a group and I’m looking forward to performing in front of such a hot crowd later tonight.

DB: Thank you and good luck for tonight.



Bo nods to Dasha and then walks away.



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MW: “With nothing on the line and minimal personal history between the two, our next match is one that seems to have fallen under the radar somewhat, wouldn’t you agree Steven?”



SD: “I would agree that this match hasn’t been getting as much attention as it probably deserves, and I’d say that’s a mistake. Aaron Williams and Artemis Evans are both spectacular athletes, and the two of them sharing the ring is like a dream match you didn’t know you needed. This has the potential to steal the show tonight. And we have a card that feature Marcus Allen Jones meeting Graham Baker once again, and saying that might not be match of the night is a huge statement.”



MW: “Especially coming from you. Well, let’s not put this off any longer, it’s time to get started!”



All the lights in the arena went out, leaving the crowd in darkness, before a single spotlight illuminated a man standing onstage with a guitar. He began playing, and the arena was filled with the sound of the opening verse of ‘I Still Believe’. The crowd cheered as they recognized the song, then grew silent as the song continued. As the guitarist played the final chord of the opening verse, pyro exploded on the stage as Aaron’s video package illuminated the screen and the song played from the speakers. Aaron emerged through the smoke left by the pyro, nodding his head to the beat of the music as the crowd exploded with cheers. Aaron smiled and played some air guitar with the guitarist before he began walking down the ramp.



Dasha Banks stood in the ring, a smile on her face, and began the introductions. “The following contest is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this is A Plus, Aaron Williams!”



Aaron finished letting the young fan in the front row sign his knee pad, then hurried up the steps and into the ring. Throwing his hands in the air as the music from the speakers faded out and left just the guitarist to play the final chords.



MW: “An impressive entrance from Aaron Williams for our biggest show of the year.”



Steven was about to respond, but was cut off as loud trumpets sounded throughout the arena. The crowd looked confused for a moment as the fanfare continued before Thea Donovan and Mrya Lopez appeared, each of them baring large black flags emblazoned with the white chess piece logo of the Queendom. Sharing a glance, the two of them simultaneously slammed the flagstaffs on the floor as the music changed to ‘Hammer to Fall.’ Artemis appeared at the top of the ramp, wearing new purple and black gear, her jacket replaced by a long purple cloak. Thea and Myra led the way down the ramp, keeping their flags in the air as Artemis followed.



“And introducing his opponent,” Dasha announced from the ring. “From Manchester England, she is the holder of the 2019 Dead Man’s Chest, the Monarch, Artemis Evans!”



Artemis stepped into the ring, her cloak hung up on the middle rope as she advanced into the center. Thea and Myra stepped up on the apron and held their flags high as Artemis posed in the center of the ring and pryo exploded from the ring posts. The music faded out as Artemis turned her head to stare at Aaron before reaching up and unclasping her cloak, folding it up and handing it to Myra after she dropped off the apron and planted her flag in a slot in the floor.



Match 2: Aaron Williams vs. Artemis Evans (written by Mason):



The two advanced into a lockup and began jockeying for position. Neither can advance into another position, and so the lockup becomes a test of strength, one that Artemis gains the first advantage, pushing Aaron back towards the corner. But at the last moment, Aaron shifted his weight and redirected Artemis, driving her into the corner. He held her there as the ref began the five-count, releasing at three seconds and backing away. Artemis remained in the corner, eying Aaron carefully. Aaron went back on the offensive, but Artemis leaned her head back through the ropes, and yelled at the ref to make the break. The ref obliged and stepped in between the two competitors, pulling Aaron back away from Artemis. Artemis tried to rush Aaron as the ref stepped aside, but Aaron caught her forearm and transitioned into an arm wringer, turning her over and dumping her on the mat. He went for a headlock, but Artemis twisted free and shot to her feet, a glare on her face. She lunged forward, faking a takedown attempt before applying a headlock. She cranked on his neck for a moment, but before long, Aaron drove her into the ropes, and then shoved her off of him. Artemis continued to run across the ring and rebounded off the ropes, coming back at Aaron, who met her with a leg sweep and then slapped on a waistlock as she came down. Despite Artemis’ struggles, she just couldn’t manage to break Aaron’s grip. She eventually made it to her feet, but still had no luck escaping, at least until she utilized a series of back elbows that weakened Aaron’s grip, then she grabbed Aaron’s wrist and broke free, turning and pulling him into an arm drag. And this time it was Aaron who shot to his feet before Artemis could take advantage. There was a pause as the crowd applauded and the two of them stared each other down.



MW: “It’s too early to tell, but if I had to guess, I would say that Aaron has the edge in technical ability in this match.”



And it was Aaron who would make the first move, faking a lunge for a headlock before diving down for a takedown. But Artemis saw through the ploy and met him with a knee to the stomach that doubled him over, then connected with an axe kick to the exposed back of the neck. Aaron dropped down to one knee, but didn’t stay down long, as Artemis lifted him back upright before planting him with an inverted STO. Aaron went face-first, and Artemis rolled him over for an early cover.



...1!.Kick-out!



Artemis didn’t let Aaron escape following the kick-out, grabbing him as he turned over and wrapping her arms around his neck with a cravate.

SD: An intelligent move by Artemis here. I doubt she seriously thought she could win the match there, but she used the pinfall attempt to position Aaron right where she wanted him, allowing her to continue her offense.”



Aaron reached for the ropes, but he was just out of arm’s reach. So instead he shifted his weight and extended his leg. But Artemis twisted his head slightly, and the maneuver caused Aaron to tense up in pain, pulling his leg back as he did so. Unable to make a break, Aaron did the only thing he could do and began to fight back to his feet. And, after a tense moment of struggle, he did just that, standing upright and pulling Artemis up with him. But before he could escape, Artemis switched her grip and locked in a headlock, pulling Aaron back down to the mat. Aaron cried out and grabbed his neck as he came to a stop.



MW: “Artemis has clearly found her target in this match, the neck of Aaron Williams.”



And Artemis proved this point by wrenching on Aaron’s neck. But before long, Aaron was able to escape the hold, reaching his legs up and wrapping them around Artemis’ neck, pulling her off of him and trapping her in a headscissors. Artemis was trapped for a moment, but she didn’t spend long in the hold before attempting to escape, shifting her weight and lifting herself into a headstand. But when she threw her weight back to escape, Aaron tightened his legs, keeping her trapped. Pressing the advantage gained from her momentary confusion, Aaron sat up and changed tactics, loosening his legs only to grab around her neck with his arms, standing up as he transitioned into a front facelock. He went to lift Artemis with a suplex, but Artemis kicked her legs and drove her weight back down. She attempted a suplex of her own, and Aaron drove his weight down to prevent the attempt. Then they both attempted a suplex, but with both of them planting their feet, neither of them moved an inch. Then they moved, although it was impossible to tell who was directing the movement, driving each other into the ropes. The ref stepped in and forced the break, and both of them stood up, their arms raised as they each took a step back. And then Artemis stepped forward and slapped Aaron hard across the face, backing into the center of the ring with a smile on her face. Aaron raised a hand to his face, and shrugged, running at Artemis and attempting a discus clothesline. Artemis ducked, and when Aaron turned around, she pulled him in and lifted him up and over with a butterfly suplex. She held on after delivering the move, floating over and pulling Aaron up into another suplex, bridging for the pin.



...1!..Kick-out!



Artemis broke her grip as Aaron kicked out, but quickly rolled over and grabbed Aaron as they both stood up, a cocky smile on her face. But then Aaron exploded into action, shrugging her arms off and connecting with a jumping knee strike, then hitting a roundhouse kick as he landed. Artemis staggered back, but then regained her footing and came forward, right into an exploder suplex from Aaron! Aaron rolls over and hooks the leg for a cover.



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



Aaron stood up and pulled Artemis into a seated position, then ran across the ring, hitting the ropes and attempting a sliding knee strike, only for Artemis to roll to the side, then catch him with a neckbreaker as he stood up. “Is that the best you’ve got?” she taunted Aaron as she rose to her feet. She dragged his body into the corner and began to lay into him with stomps. But Aaron began to block the strikes, fighting his way back to his feet. As he stood, Artemis simply pulled him back down with a snapmare, then connected with a roundhouse kick that flattened him. Artemis almost went for a cover, then hesitated, eyeing the top turnbuckle.



MW: “It looks like Artemis is looking to spread her wings here, climbing up to the top rope.”



Artemis came off the top with a moonsault, driving her weight into Aaron’s chest and making a cover.



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



Evans growled in frustration before standing and pulling Aaron to his feet and going to whip him into the corner. But Aaron reversed and sent her into the corner instead. Aaron raised a fist, pumping up the crowd, and then charges in, looking to deliver a running body splash, only for Artemis to catapult him over and onto the turnbuckles. Aaron managed to land on his feet and quickly turned around, right into a pele kick from Artemis! Aaron slumped back, and Artemis began to climb the turnbuckles, standing on the second rope. She jumped up to deliver a hurricanrana, hooking her legs around Aaron, but Aaron held her up and then brought her down with an avalanche powerbomb! Artemis, perhaps unconsciously, tried to roll away, but Aaron dove onto her and made the cover.



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



Aaron sat up, catching his breath before he rose to his feet to a large ovation from the crowd. He nodded a few times, soaking in their applause before he bent down and pulled Artemis upright. Utilizing a front facelock, he lifted her up and draped her over the top rope, then marched into the corner. The crowd cheered as they realized what was coming, and then grew quiet as he climbed the turnbuckles, perching on the top rope. Aaron took a deep breath, and then launched into a 450, crashing into Artemis’ immobile form. Both wrestlers fell into the ring, and Aaron reached over to make a cover, only to find Artemis rolling out of the ring.



MW: “Aaron Williams may have been able to win the match there, but he took too much out of himself and was unable to capitalize.”



SD: “But now he’s doing the right thing, following Artemis to ringside to continue his offense. He’s not wasting time expressing his disappointment and frustration, he just keeps moving forward.”



Aaron bent down to pull Artemis up, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw Thea Donovan approaching. He shook his head and stood up, turning to face her. “We’re not doing this right now” Behind Aaron, Myra had bent down and was speaking to Artemis as she slowly made it back to her feet.



Thea smirked at Aaron and replied, “Who are you to tell us what we’re doing?” Aaron sighed and shook his head again, then lunged forward and nailed Thea with a forearm! Thea went down hard, and Aaron turned to see Myra standing near Artemis, then he took her down with a big boot! Aaron pulled Artemis up to her feet and rolled her into the ring. But before he could follow her in and while the ref was checking on Artemis, Thea grabbed him around the waist and pulled him away from the ring. Both Queendom members stood between Aaron and the ring, and they went on the attack, only for Aaron to duck and then hit a dropkick that took both of them off their feet! The crowd cheered loudly as Aaron took down both members of the Queendom, but back in the ring, Artemis had risen to her feet and ran across the ring. She rebounded off the far ropes and kept running, launching herself over the top rope into a moonsault plancha, taking down Aaron Williams! A surprising number of cheers broke out as Artemis stood up, along with an extremely loud “HOLY SHIT” chant. Artemis rolled Aaron back into the ring and then began to climb the turnbuckles.



SD: “The Monarch ascends to the top rope, looking to finish this match.”



Artemis waited for Aaron to rise, and then lepts from the top rope, looking to connect with a blockbuster. But somehow, Aaron caught her as she got close, turning the blockbuster into a brainbuster to the knee! The crowd erupted with cheers as Aaron went into a cover.



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



Aaron sat upright, raising his hands to his head in shock. But then a look of determination came across his face, and he stood up, backing away from Artemis and motioning for her to rise. Artemis slowly stood up and Aaron quickly took her back down with a mid kick, then leapt into the air and connected with a double stomp. He rolled through upon landing and pulled himself onto the second rope, launching into a moonsault and rolling back to his feet as it connected. He pulled Artemis up and whipped her into the ropes, lifting her up as she rebounded. But as she came back down, Artemis connected with a hurricanrana! Aaron rolled through, and both competitors stood up at the same time. Aaron turned around, swinging a big right hook as he did so, only for Artemis to duck under the strike. Off-balance after putting so much power into the punch, Aaron was left exposed for Artemis to hook an arm over his head, pulling him into a Guillotine Strike! Aaron collapsed, and Artemis fell into a cover.



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



Winner: Artemis Evans (20:01)



MW: “What a match!”

SD: “We said this one might steal the show, and Aaron and Artemis have certainly set a high bar for the rest of the matches on the card tonight.”



MW: “Normally I try to give a recap of the match here, but I have no words for what we just witnessed, two competitors pushing each other to the absolute limit.”



SD: “It was definitely a back-and-forth match, but in the end, Aaron was unable to finish the Quick Fire Combo, leaving himself open for the Guillotine Strike, and leading to a victory for the Glory Huntress.”



Artemis had rolled off of Aaron as the bell rang and was now sitting up, a smile spreading across her face as ‘Hammer to Fall’ began to play. Thea and Myra climbed into the ring and helped her to her feet, raising her arms as they shared identical smug grins, the Queendom standing tall as the camera faded to black.



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MW: After not such a great moment for these fans, let’s hear from some of them. Dasha Banks was outside today as the fans were queuing to come in and she asked them what they were most looking forward to tonight.



DB: What are you most looking forward to tonight?

F1: I can’t wait to Jace Mason shut the arrogant asshole MDE up and end the night holding up that belt. Go get ‘em Jace!

F2: Baker v Marcus III. I don’t want to see either of them leave but I can’t wait to find out who it’ll be!

F3: It’s got to be a new champion! Jace Mason is taking it home tonight, baby!

F4: Bishop-bowl. I didn’t know how much I wanted it until it got made. Let’s go Berry.

F5: Jace Mason capping off what has been low-key the best year anyone in FPW has had. Freedom Title run. Free-1. Main event of Judgement Day II. It can only end one way- FPW Championship. The man deserves it and I can’t wait to see it.



DB: Who do you think will be saying goodbye to FPW for good by the end of the night?

F6: It has to be Baker. Marcus is the best in the world and I’m not ready to send him away.

F7: I hate to say it, but Marcus Allen Jones can’t beat Graham Baker. I think we’re saying goodbye to TakeOver tonight and to the man who originally created it.

F8: Man, Graham Baker is as good as gone. Marcus Allen Jones has to have him this time. Surely he has to have his number by now…

F9: I can’t call it. Baker has beaten Marcus twice now. Is Marcus due? Will Baker make it three in a row? I can’t wait to see it.



DB: How about our main event. Will it be MDE retaining or Jace Mason with the fairytale win?

F10: Can Mason beat MDE? I don’t want to say no, but I’m not sure he can.

F11: If Mason wins, I’ll be in tears. That kid deserves this more than anybody out there. He’s humble. He works hard. He’s got FPW in his veins. He deserves to hold up that belt and I’ll be right there in the front row when he does.

F12: No way. MDE may be a no good bastard but he’s better than Jace Mason. He got lucky winning the Free-1 and now he’s going to be taught a lesson in wrestling he won’t forget.

F13: Let’s go Mason! Let’s go Mason!



A loud chorus of fans join in the chant as Dasha smiles and we return to her backstage with Bobby O.



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DB: Bobby, thank you for your time tonight.

BO: No problem.

DB: You’ve had a good career in wrestling. Where does this match with Jack Sevren rank in terms of how big a match this is?

BO: It’s the biggest. The biggest. This goes beyond titles and main events and everything like that. Me and Jack have a history, but this match goes beyond even that. This match is about ridding FPW of a cancer that has infected it for too long now, whether under the stewardship of Marcus Allen Jones or, in my opinion, the far worse version led by Jack Sevren. I have a duty to FPW, to all of the fans but, most of all, to myself, to win this match and finally end this.

DB: Talk to me about that moment where Jack Sevren let you waste your Dead Man’s Chest and then left you to get beaten down by The Guardians of Strong Style all those months ago.

BO: It hurt. Physically and emotionally. I took quite a beating that day and have been doing so ever since then. I missed out on the Free-1 because of Jack Sevren. It wasn’t just the Dead Man’s Chest. But that… I felt that I had a duty to make up for a mistake I made and I sacrificed the biggest opportunity I could have had in this company to make up for that error. I gave my opportunity to Jack Sevren and he threw it back in my face. And now I get to face him one-on-one tonight. I’m ready to take this chance, for myself, for FPW and for everyone.

DB: Are you taking too much baggage into this match? Will the emotions get the better of you?

BO: No. I’m in control. I’m taking my needs, FPW’s needs, the fans’ needs… I’m taking them all on my back and I’m not going to let that break me. I’m not going to let anyone down, least of all myself. Tonight is the night that TakeOver dies and I get back to the position I should have been in with that Dead Man’s Chest.

DB: Thank you for your time.



Bobby walks off, his mind clearly processing a lot.



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MW: And now we have the first of our three championship matches tonight.

SD: Finally, we see The Guardians of Strong Style returning to Freedom Pro Wrestling to defend their Tag Team Championships.

MW: This ought to be an interesting match between a team we know well and an impressive team that we don’t know much about yet.

SD: The Dogs of War will be a great foil for Tchyukiro and Takahara. They don’t back down and they’ll get into anyone’s faces. Tchyukiro and Takahara won’t have been able to do much specific preparation for them either, so there’s another possible advantage.

MW: It is. But The Guardians of Strong Style have been so dominant in the tag division. They’re our only two-time champions in any of our divisions and they won’t be beaten easily.

SD: I think Archer and Cable might surprise people tonight.



‘Justice’ begins to play as Archer and Cable emerge through the curtain. Archer makes a motion as if he’s shooting a bow while Cable produces a finger gun and shoots it at The Suplex Sweethearts. The two men make their way quickly down the ramp, Cable leading the way, before they climb straight into the ring. Archer and Cable stare out at the fans before making their way into one of the corners.



As the music dies down, it’s quickly replaced by the slowly building music of the Tag Team Champions. Sato emerges through the curtain first and bows deeply, to be followed by Masa Tchyukiro and Hiro Takahara. All three bow before marching down the ramp and climbing to the ring. The two teams immediately go head to head before the official separates them.



Match 3: Tag Team Championships: The Guardians of Strong Style vs. The Dogs of War (written by Baker):



As soon as the bell rings, Tchyukiro and Cable rush at eachother and trade blows out the gate, back and forth nasty strikes and chops that send both their partners into a frenzy! Tchyukiro manages to get a brief advantage with a wicked forearm followed by a rising knee to the skull of Cable, followed up even faster by a powerbomb attempt, but Cable counters that into a whip and a big boot, but Tchyukiro ducks the boot and hauls Cable high, trying to run him into the corner, only for Cable to roll out and escape, getting behind Tchyukiro and SPIKING HIM off of a nasty German Suplex! Tchyukiro tries to respond, but Cable’s slightly faster, going for another Big Boot only for Tchyukiro to pop up and catch him in a fireman’s carry for a modified USHIGOROSHI! Tchyukiro goes for a cover!



ONE!



TW-NO! CABLE KICKS OUT!



Cable’s back on his feet and he hits Tchyukiro with a discus lariat that staggers the big man, sending Cable back to the ropes to try for another boot, but Tchyukiro slaps him across the face, stopping him in his tracks before going for a Brainbuster, only for Cable to overrotate and land a tag to his partner in the process! Tchyukiro hits a falling kick to Cable, not having seen the tag, but the crowd lets out a massive boo as Archer takes advantage WITH A MASSIVE DOUBLE STOMP TO TCHYUKIRO! Archer rolls off of him and looks to go for a knee drop to the head, but Tchyukiro somehow manages to roll out of the way, diving for a tag to Takahara! Takahara rushes in as Archer goes for a hook kick and BLASTS Archer in the chest with a massive Kawada Kick, before lighting him up with supersonic chops that send Archer stumbling back into the corner! He repeatedly chops Archer, his hand beginning to burn as Archer’s chest turns red, before he throws Archer into the corner with an Irish Whip, going to follow it up with a high-knee-BUT CABLE INTERCEPTS WITH A LARIAT!



Cable hauls Takahara high and looks to the corner where Archer waits for a leaping knee strike to the powerslammed Cable, but as he rushes forward Tchyukiro gets involved with a massive CHOP that cuts Archer down off of the top rope! Cable’s forced to improvise with a powerslam to Takahara, but Takahara manges to counter with a MASSIVE INVERTED BRAINBUSTER TO THE KNEE! Takahara stumbles, and looks to Cable as he stands on his knees, hitting the ropes and SENDING HIM OUT OF THE RING WITH A MASSIVE SLIDING D! He turns around to where Archer sits on the top rope, but as he goes to follow after Archer, Archer blasts him with repeated nasty forearm shots before causing him to drop down, climbing up and standing from the top and CRUSHING TAKAHARA AT THE SHOULDERS WITH A FALLING DOUBLE STOMP! Archer goes for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



THR-NO! TAKAHARA KICKS OUT!



Takahara tries to take advantage and snap a sleeper hold on Archer, but Archer’s fast and manages to get to the ropes, breaking the hold before Takahara can get it locked all the way in! Takahara tries to transition to a sleeper suplex, but Archer lands on his feet and grabs Takahara around the waist, shoving him into the corner-GERMAN SUPLEX FROM ARCHER TO TAKAHARA! Takahara rolls to recover, but Archer’s faster, nailing him in the skull with a single leg high knee! He hits a massive falling forearm strike to the head of Takahara, before following up with one final killshot in the form of a nasty kneedrop! He contemplates a cover, but instead heads to the top rope, looking for a Senton-ONLY FOR TCHYUKIRO TO BOUNCE UP AND PUSH HIM OFF INTO THE WAITING ARMS OF TAKAHARA! ANOTHER SLEEPER HOLD!



Archer struggles as Takahara wrenches the hold in tighter and tighter, but he cracks half a smile as Cable blasts Tchyukiro in the back of the head with a wicked elbow and hauls him up high-SLAMMING HIM DOWN WITH A POWERBOMB THAT CRUSHES TAKAHARA UNDER THE WEIGHT OF HIS TAG TEAM PARTNER AND THE MAN HE’S CHOKING! Takahara releases the hold as Archer tries to recover, going for a tag to Cable as Cable returns to his corner, while Takahara and Tchyukiro look, for lack of a better term, fucked. Cable hauls Takahara up, but Takahara blasts him with repeated, albeit woozy, strikes to force Cable to drop him! Cable, however, tries to maintain his powerbomb, only for Takahara to counter with a Hell’s Gate! Cable struggles against the hold as Takahara locks it in, sinching it and putting more pressure on Cable’s neck, but eventually Cable tries to rise to his feet, grabbing hold of Takahara-POWERBOMB INTO THE CANVAS! BUT TAKAHARA KEEPS THE HOLD LOCKED IN! ANOTHER POWERBOMB! BUT TAKAHARA KEEPS HANGING ON! A THIRD-AND CABLE COLLAPSES AS TAKAHARA RELEASES THE HOLD! Takahara struggles, and rolls over onto Cable for a cover!



ONE!



TWO!!



THRE-NO! CABLE KICKS OUT!



Takahara grunts as he rises to his feet, but as Archer barks something at him, he blasts Archer with a nasty back elbow that sends Archer falling off of the ropes and to the arena floor! Takahara rolls and tags Tchyukiro in, and Takahara pulls Cable up to his knees as the two line up for a forearm/knee strike combo to Cable, but Cable ducks and sends both men crashing into eachother before he lays Takahara out with a massive lariat! He nails Tchyukiro with a low angle thrust kick and hauls him up for a powerbomb, but Tchyukiro escapes, blasting him with a discus elbow before kicking him low, hauling him up for a powerbomb of his own, and hauling him into the corner with a Thunder Fire Bomb! Tchyukiro waits until Cable tries to stand up to haul him up with a brainbuster-AND HE DROPS IT ONTO HIS KNEE! He goes to tag in Takahara, only to find Takahara missing-AND HE EATS A MASSIVE LEAPING KNEE STRIKE FROM ARCHER! Archer drags Cable on top of Tchyukiro and rolls to the top rope!



ONE!



TWO!!



THR-NO! TCHYUKIRO KICKS OUT-AND A SHOOTING STAR PRESS FROM ARCHER! CABLE COVERS AGAIN! THIS ONE MIGHT BE OVER!



ONE!



TWO!!



THREE-NO! TAKAHARA BREAKS THE PIN UP WITH A DOUBLE STOMP ONTO CABLE! Takahara may have done damage to his tag team partner in the process, but he goes wild, taking Archer out with a massive clubbing forearm before following up with a leaping big boot to the skull of Cable as Cable recovers! The referee tries to regain control of this match as Takahara asks Tchyukiro for a tag, and Tchyukiro obliges! Takahara stalks Cable as he tries to recover before running for a PK-BUT CABLE POPS UP AND GRABS HIS LEG, HE POPS HIM UP-TITAN KILLER! A COVER!



ONE!



TWO!!



THREE-NO! TAKAHARA KICKS OUT!



Cable, infuriated, pulls Takahara up to his feet and locks in The Garotte! He grapevines the hold, and as Tchyukiro tries to get back in the ring, Archer takes him out with the Gut Shot! Tchyukiro rolls out as Cable keeps the hold wrenched, locking it in tighter and tighter-TAKAHARA TAPS! THE DOGS OF WAR ARE THE NEW FPW TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS!



Winners: The Dogs of War (12:08)



Match 3: FPW Tag Team Championships: Guardians of Strong Style vs. The Dogs of War (written by Baker):



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



Backstage, the camera shows Fozzy walking up a corridor. He sniffs out the door of a locker room and walks on before doing the same to the next few doors. When he gets to the fourth door, he pushes it open to reveal Berry Bishop stretching out.



BB: Hey Fozz.



Fozzy lets out a warm growl but with a tinge of melancholy.



BB: I know, buddy. I don’t want to do this either. But it’s the only way… I think.



Fozzy moves over to Berry and nuzzles her leg before looking over at her bag.



BB: Yeah… maybe it’ll remind him of who he is. It was a great idea, Fozz. Anything… anything that might help him to get back to himself…



Fozzy nuzzles Berry’s leg again before turning away to let her continue to stretch out. He leaves the room, dragging the door behind him, before continuing up the corridor. He continues to sniff at doors before stopping at one. He looks at it for a few moments before letting out a low growl. He waits for a moment before suddenly darting down the corridor and through the next door.



The locker room door opens and Jerry, complete with his Joker facepaint, emerges. The locker room behind him is filled with darkness. Jerry looks up and down the corridor before rolling his eyes and moving back into the locker room, slamming the door behind him.



After a few moments, Fozzy pokes his head through the door again and moves back out into the corridor, pausing outside Jerry’s door before making his way back down the corridor and into Berry’s locker room.



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



MW: “And now we move on to our Freedom championship match, which promises to be an exciting matchup. On one hand, we have the champion, Elizabeth Karlson, a dangerous combatant who, despite her temperament, has become a fan-favorite here in FPW. On the other hand, we have the challenger, Botiatus, someone who, despite being popular with the crowd, has rubbed several people backstage the wrong way with his ego. And one of those people has been Elizabeth Karlson.”



SD: “Yes, Botiatus has certainly found himself inside the mind and within the skin of Elizabeth Karlson, but I get the feeling that he’s going to discover that that’s not a place you want to be.”



The opening chords of ‘Famous’ began to play, and the tron played the video rising up the stone steps, pausing at the top with the villa in sight. But where the music normally kicked into high gear, it faded out. And then lightning flashed onscreen, and the background changed from bright and sunny to dark and stormy, with more lightning flashing in the skies behind the villa, which now appeared to be in ruins. The camera panned back down the steps, the score rising again, until it came to rest on a warrior’s silhouette. The silhouette drew a sword and raised it above his head before the lights in the arena went dark and the video faded to black. And then the music came back as a spotlight revealed Botiatus on the stage, a single arm raised above his head, wearing gear that was clearly evocative of a Roman soldier, complete with helmet. Pyro went off as ‘Botiatus’ appeared on the tron and he began his walk to the ring.



“The following contest is scheduled for one fall,” Dasha announced. “And it is for the FPW Freedom championship. Introducing first, from the Bay Area, California, this is Botiatus!”



Botiatus stood on the top turnbuckle and slowly removed his helmet, smiling at the crowd before he dropped into the ring. The crowd cheered as they saw his face, then grew quiet in anticipation of Elizabeth Karlson’s entrance. Smoke billowed from up near the entrance ramp, and ‘Bury me Face Down’ began to play. A figure appeared from the smoke as it began to clear, and the crowd cheered as they realized it was John Grimm! Grimm raised one fist to acknowledge the cheers, and then lowered his arm, pointing at the entrance. ‘Bury me Face Down’ faded out and was replaced with ‘Turn it on’ as Elizabeth Karlson appeared, wearing her old Renegades gear, without the mask. She fist bumped Grimm, who then pointed to the ring, and he could be heard saying “go fuck him up”. Karlson gave a sadistic smile and nodded, her attention turning to botiatus as she began to make her way down the ramp.



“And his opponent, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the FPW Freedom champion, Elizabeth Karlson!”



Karlson unstrapped the title from around her waist and raised it into the air, first showing it to the crowd before she turned and held it out in front of Botiatus. Botiatus stared at it for a moment before she gave it to the ref and backed into her corner.



Match 4: Freedom Championship: Elizabeth Karlson vs. Botiatus (written by Mason):



The bell rang, and Botiatus stepped forward, his arm extended for a handshake. Karlson raised an eyebrow and looked in confusion at his outstretched arm. “House Rules,” Botiatus said as explanation. “Always respect the champ.” Karlson nodded and shook his hand, then pulled him into a lariat! Botiatus was taken off his feet, and Karlson dropped to a knee, grabbing his head and shouting, “Do you think I give a shit about your pathetic rules?” before laying into him with repeated forearm strikes. Leaving Botiatus dazed, she stood up and motioned for him to get up. Botiatus rolled over and grabbed the ropes, using them as he rose to his feet. But Karlson didn’t give him the chance to turn around, draping his arm over her neck and lifting up with a back suplex, driving him into the mat. She went to continue the onslaught, but Botiatus kicked her away and dove for the ropes, holding on as he stood up.



MW: “Botiatus starting on the back foot here. He needs to take control soon if he wants to win this match.”



Botiatus tried to take Karlson by surprise and suddenly ran forward, but she caught his wrist and ducked behind, turning his charge into a ripcord lariat that sent him back to the floor. She maintained her grip on his wrist, passing it to her other hand and stepping through with her leg, then driving her knee into his shoulder. Botiatus cried out, and Karlson released her grip, allowing him to sit up, only to connect with a sliding knee strike as he did so. She didn’t give him a second to recover lifting him to his feet and whipping him into the corner. She followed him in and connected with a knee strike, then backed away as he dropped into a seated position. Karlson’s eyes never stopped glaring at her opponent as she charged back in and connected with a hesitation dropkick. But as she rolled back out of the corner, Botiatus took the chance to roll out of the ring, landing on his feet and catching his breath. Karlson let out a growl of frustration that her target had escaped, then ran across the ring, building momentum before she dropped into a baseball slide dropkick. But Botiatus sidestepped the attack and jumped up onto the apron. He waited for her to stand up and then launched into a diving clothesline, only for Karlson to duck under his arm. Botiatus landed on his feet and turned around, right into a superkick from Karlson! She caught him before he could fall and rolled him back into the ring, going for a cover as she rolled in herself.



...1!.Kick-out!



Karlson nodded and pulled Botiatus back to his feet, beginning to pull him into a front facelock. But Botiatus shoved her back, then hit a European uppercut as she stepped close again. He connected with a spinning gut kick, but as he turned back around, Karlson nailed him with a bicycle knee strike. With Botiatus dazed, Karlson ran to the ropes, but as she rebounded, Botiatus dropped down low and grabbed her ankle, pulling it back as he stood up, dropping her to the mat. Keeping her leg extended, Botiatus unloaded with a series of kicks, then twisted it with a dragon screw. Karlson grabbed her knee, and Botiatus stood up, pressing his advantage by running forward and delivering an elbow drop to her chest. Botiatus stood up and raised an arm for the crowd, prompting loud cheers. He turned back around and bent down to pull Karlson upright, but Karlson met him with a boot to the face. He stumbled back, but came right back at Karlson, who’d risen to her knees. He went to deliver a roundhouse kick, but she caught his leg and pulled him in, standing up as she lifted him into a powerbomb position. But she stumbled slightly as she did so, allowing Botiatus to shift his weight forward off of her, landing on his feet. He turned around as Karlson grabbed at her knee and quickly wrapped an arm around her neck, pulling her into an inverted headlock backbreaker. Karlson went down, and Botiatus quickly rolled her over and made a cover.



...1!.Kick-out!



Botiatus wasted little time following the kick-out, grabbing Karlson’s leg and dragging her towards the ropes. He draped her leg over the bottom rope and then began stomping at the exposed knee, right up until the ref counted to four. He then grabbed Karlson and lifted her up, seating her upon the second rope before running across the ring. He rebounded off the far ropes and dropped into a slide underneath the bottom rope, reaching up and pulling Karlson down to the mat with a German suplex. Pausing to catch his breath on the outside, he acknowledged the cheering fans before he rolled back into the ring. He lifted himself onto the middle rope and motioned for Karlson to get up. She did so, and Botiatus launched into flight, only to be met with a knife-edge chop. Botiatus went down, gasping for breath, before Karlson hauled him to his feet. With a dangerous look on her face, Karlson tied his arms up in the ropes, then began unloading with a series of strikes, alternating between chops and forearms. The ref began his count, but Karlson refused to cease her assault, forcing the ref to step between her and Botiatus. She seemed to calm down, and the ref backed away, only for her to lash out with a pump kick that connected square on Botiatus’ jaw. Botiatus went limp, and Karlson pulled him free of the ropes, dropping into a cover.



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



Karlson stood up and delivered a single kick to Botiatus’ head to keep him stunned as she backed into the corner, lifting herself onto the second rope. Botiatus stood up, and Karlson launched into the air, catching him with a diving hurricanrana. Karlson got to her feet first and ran to the ropes as Botiatus rose. Botitus stood up as she rebounded, and he had just enough time to turn around before he was taken off his feet by a flying crossbody from Karlson.



MW: “Elizabeth Karlson unleashing a tremendous flurry of offense here.”



SD: “And it doesn’t look like she’s done yet.”



And indeed she wasn’t, wrapping her arms around the waist of the downed Botiatus and lifting him up and over with a deadlift German suplex, then connecting with a mushroom stomp to his head!



MW: “Karlson going for a cover off the Three Deadly Letters!”



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



Karlson slapped the mat in frustration before standing up and backing into the corner behind Botiatus. And when he stood up, she ran forward, aiming to deliver a shining wizard to the back of his knee. But Botiatus turned and caught her with an enzuigiri, stunning her long enough for him to pull her into a snap DDT. He rolled over and rose to a knee, catching his breath. He rose to his feet and pointed at the crowd, prompting a ‘let’s go Bo’ chant, but behind him, Karlson had recovered, pulling him into a school boy roll-up.



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



Botiatus rolled to his knees, a look of surprise on his face before he was met with a roundhouse kick to the head. Botiatus went down, and Karlson went to grab him, but, perhaps intentionally, perhaps accidentally, Botaitus rolled to the outside. Karlson let out a frustrated yell, the nran across the ring, rebounding off the ropes and coming back towards Botiatus, leaving her feet to fly through the ropes, only to be met with a jumping European uppercut. Karlson staggered back into the ring and fell to her back, and Botiatus capitalized, climbing to the apron and then launching into a springboard leg drop! Botiatus transition into a cover almost as soon as his leg made contact, hooking both his opponents legs.



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



Botaitus rolled off of Karlson and back to his feet. He looked at the top turnbuckle and then made a rotating motion with his hands, which caused the crowd to cheer as he climbed the ropes. But when his attention returned to the ring, he was shocked to see Elizabeth Karlson rising to her feet. He dropped into the ring and approached, only for Karlson to explode into a double leg takedown. She quickly transitioned into a full mount and began raining down vicious right hands. Botiatus covered up, blocking several of the punches. But no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t unseat Karlson, and her hands kept coming down. Eventually he gave up his block and reached out to grab the bottom rope. This forced the break, but Karlson used every second of the five count to continue bringing down punches, finally letting up as the ref counted to four. Botiatus stood up, blood trickling from his forehead. He stumbled forward a few steps, and Karlson charged in to continue the assault, but Botiatus caught her as she approached, driving her into the mat with a scoop powerslam. Karlson once again immediately began getting back up, but this time, Botiatus was ready, pulling her right into a northern lights suplex. He floated over, pulling Karlson back up and into another northern lights suplex, this time bridging to make the cover.



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



Botiatus calmly accepted this kick-out, grabbing Karlson and pulling her up with him as he stood up. He lifted her onto his shoulder and ran forward, lifting her up and driving her face-first into the top turnbuckle. Karlson staggered back, right into a house call from Botiatus as he rebounded off the ropes! Karlson collapsed, and Botiatus quickly made a cover, much to the delight of the cheering crowd.



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



The crowd exploded with shock, and Botiatus raised his hands to his head, just as shocked as they were. And once again, Karlson began to rise, albeit, much more slowly this time. Thinking quickly, Botiatus swept her leg out from under her as he stood up, running to the corner and climbing the turnbuckles once again. He wasted no time on the top rope, launching into a 450, but Karlson brought her knees up! Botiatus crashed and burned, and Karlson rose to her feet. And began climbing the turnbuckles herself, launching into a frog splash!



MW: “Brick Shithouse Bomb from Karlson!”



SD: “But she’s not going for the cover, why?”



The answer quickly became apparent, for as Botiatus rose to his knees, Karlson ran forward and delivered a step-up axe kick, driving her heel into the back of his head. BOtiatus went limp, and Karlson made the cover.



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



MW: “Botiatus kicking out of Full Fucking Force! What’s it going to take to end this match?!”



Karlson stood in the corner, motioning for Botiatus to stand up.



MW: “What’s she doing? She’s already thrown her best shot at Botiatus, and it didn’t work. What else does she have?”



SD: “She’s got one thing left, the 3XF.”



Botiatus stood upright, and Karlson ran in, prepared to deliver her final shot, only for Botiatus to sidestep and catch her with the House Rules Neckbreaker! Karlson fell, but Botiatus was slow to make the cover, only managing to drape an arm over her chest for a cover.



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



Winner and new Freedom Champion: Botiatus (18:47)



MW: “We have a new Freedom Champion!”



SD: “Karlson made him work for it though. That House Rules was clearly a product of pure adrenaline, he had absolutely no energy left to make that final cover. It was extremely fortunate that Karlson had even less energy and was unable to kick out of such a weak cover.”



MW: “Don’t make it sound like it was all luck Steven, Botiatus earned that title he’s being handed, he fought hard to become champion.”



Botiatus accepted the title from the referee and raised it above his head as the ref raised his other arm. Botiatus gave a triumphant shout, and the crowd responded with a wave of cheers.



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



Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Jace Mason. He shifts his weight and can’t stand still as she asks her first question.



DB: Jace Mason. You’re maybe two hours from the biggest match of your life. Are you nervous?

JM: In a word? Yes. This is the biggest match of my life. There’s no doubt about it. It came earlier than I thought it would and I’m not sure if it’s too early for me. I don’t honestly know. All I know is that I’ve been working my ass off, not just this month but for my entire life, to get here and I’m not about to let my chance slip through my fingers now. Maybe I’ll be walking back without that belt at the end of the night, but I’ll give MDE the match of his life. If he beats me after all that then I’ll be the first to stand and shake his hand.



DB: An honourable sentiment. It seems like you’ve really grown in popularity as you’ve risen up to the top of FPW. How much will the fans help you tonight?

JM: I’ve always been quite popular. I think it’s probably because I’m one of them. If I weren’t wrestling here tonight I’d be there in the front row cheering on someone else in the match. I make no secret of the fact that I’m not the most gifted or the most talented. What I am is someone who works hard every day to get better all the time and I think the fans respect me for it. They’ll be a huge help tonight. I expect to be put through the ringer and to need as much support as I can get. If they can give me a second wind when my body is screaming for me to tap out or an extra burst of adrenaline so I can hit one more move, then I’ll be forever grateful. If I win tonight, that title will be as much theirs as mine.



DB: Speaking of the title, have you imagined that moment standing in the middle of the ring with the FPW Championship raised above your head and the fans chanting your name?

JM: I’ve tried not to but honestly I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s one of those things that I’ve pictured in my head so often but it’ll always be an unreachable goal until it finally happens. I have no doubt that if it does happen tonight, it’ll be a better feeling than I could ever have imagined. But if it doesn’t happen tonight, it’ll still be my dream. MDE has told me over and over again that this is the apex of my career, but I don’t see it the same way. I see this as the beginning. If I win, what a great start it’ll be. But if I don’t win tonight, I’ll fight my way back up from the bottom and get another chance, and another, and another, until I finally achieve that dream.



DB: You talk of MDE and what he’s said in the run-up to this match… how much has he got under your skin?

JM: He’s told me that I don’t deserve to be in the match. He’s told me that I got lucky in winning the Free-1. He’s told me that it’s a case of how long it takes him to beat me. Has that got under my skin? No. Why? Because it was already there. Those questions go through my head every morning and every night and they’re going through my head now. Maybe I did get lucky in beating Graham Baker in the Free-1 final. Maybe I don’t really deserve to be in this match ahead of some of the big names who could be here. Maybe I can’t win. But when I get into the ring, those doubts fly out of my head and my instincts and my training takes over. I may be doubting myself all the way down the ramp, all the way through the introductions and all the way until that bell rings. But when it does… I’ll be one hundred percent focussed on shoving every single one of those words back up MDE’s ass.



DB: Good luck Jace. You deserve to be there and I know you can beat him.



JM: Thank you Dasha. I hope you’re right.



Jace nods and then walks away aimlessly.



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



MW: Well… we said at the top of the show that this wasn’t a match we were looking forward to and I think we can reiterate that now.

SD: It’s not a match I want to see. Sibling versus sibling. Brother versus sister. Bishop versus Bishop.

MW: This all started with MDE’s desperation to defeat Jerry and then his desperation to rebuild him in his own image. MDE drove a wedge between these two siblings and it’s come to this.

SD: Let’s not be too hasty there, Watson. Make no mistake, this match is happening because Berry Bishop asked for it.

MW: But only because it was her last resort to getting the real Jerry Bishop back.

SD: That would be the ‘real’ Jerry Bishop who doesn’t want to go back to being that lovable loser? She wants him to return to being a failure just because she liked him more back then. Berry needs to accept that Jerry has moved on and is far better for it.

MW: Maybe a better wrestler, but he’s not a better person. He’s become jealous of Berry and the reaction she gets from the fans. He’s become insular and has lost his connection with the very people who once sustained him. This ‘Joker’ personality is not the Jerry Bishop they all loved.

SD: But it is the Jerry Bishop they all wanted. They wanted him to be successful and he’s on the cusp. Now they boo him and cheer others? They betrayed Jerry, not the other way round.

MW: Well tonight Berry Bishop has the chance to prove to Jerry that being fun and being a fan favourite doesn’t mean you can’t be successful. Can Berry finally bring Jerry back from the brink or will tonight be the night that he steps over a line from which he cannot come back?



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall… introducing first… from Kansas City…. Misso… ri… he is now known as… ‘The Joker’… Jerry……… Bish…. op.”



MW: We of course all know how tough it is for Dasha Banks to stand there and announce these two.



There’s a pause before unfamiliar music plays. The fans begin to boo as they start to recognise ‘Shine My Shoes’ by Robbie Williams. Jerry Bishop, decked out in new sleeveless purple and black gear. He stands at the top of the ramp and surveys the booing crowd before shaking his head and ironically bowing to the crowd, who are already beginning a ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ chant which can be heard above the music. Jerry pauses and signals to the back, the volume of the song increasing to drown out the chant, which gets louder in response. Jerry turns again and calls for the volume to be increased, but again the volume if the chant rises with the music to drown it out. Jerry shakes his head again before completing his walk down to the ring and sliding in. He ignores Dasha and the official before coming to rest in the corner.



The song dies down but the ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ chant continues to roll around the arena. Dasha Banks keeps trying to bring the mic to her lips but she keeps pausing, her voice catching in her throat. Finally, the chant dies down enough for her to try again.



“And his opponent… from New Haven, Conneticut… she is known as ‘The Bombshell’… BERRY… BISHOP!”



‘The Entertainer’ plays and the fans cheer loudly as Berry emerges onto the ramp, her head bowed. She raises her head to reveal a paint job which looks exactly the same as Jerry’s old mask. The fans cheer loudly before she bows deeply at the top of the ramp before hopscotching down to the ring with a real spring in her step. She moves around the ring and slaps hands with all of the fans before leaping up onto the apron and playing it before she climbs up. She then somersaults over the top rope and bows in front of Jerry, standing with a wink and a smile, which he doesn’t return. The fans continue to chant Berry’s name loudly as she readies herself.



MW: Berry Bishop really emphasising the fun element that I must say is missing from Jerry’s new entrance.

SD: ‘… and you can shine my shoes…’ it’s so catchy! I love it.

MW: Oh come on. This isn’t Jerry-

SD: Yes. It is. Accept it. I don’t want this to happen but until Berry accepts her brother for who he is, it’s going to and she’s going to learn a hard lesson here tonight.



Match 5: Jerry Bishop vs. Berry Bishop:



The official calls for the bell and Jerry and Berry stand facing one another across the ring. Neither of them moves forward. The ‘Be-rry Bi-shop’ chant rolls around the arena, never losing its momentum. Jerry looks around at the fans who chant so loudly for his sister before looking back at her with a frown on his face. Berry looks around the arena too and encourages the fans, blowing kisses out to them as Jerry looks on with a shake of his head. As they begin to move forward, Jerry points at Berry and says, “You asked for this. Remember that.”



The two them lock up and Jerry forces Berry back into the corner. The official comes in to separate them and Jerry breaks his grip fairly quickly. He backs off and Berry comes at him again. They lock up again but again Jerry forces her back into the corner. The official comes in again and again Jerry breaks the hold quickly. He backs away and Berry pauses for a moment before coming back to him. They lock up for a third time but the very same thing happens once again. This time, Jerry takes a little longer to break the hold and he stands and looks into Berry’s eyes for a few moments after doing so before he backs away.



SD: Jerry clearly the dominant one of these two.

MW: And he seems to be sending a message to Berry with that stare.

SD: The message is clear. ‘Don’t mess with me.’

MW: Come on, Steven. She’s his sister.

SD: And she asked for this match. It’s her fault that she’s about to suffer this beating.



Berry comes out from the corner and beckons Jerry forward. He moves in but she ducks the lock up and locks in a waistlock. She tries to lift Jerry but he drops to a knee and pulls Berry over his shoulder, locking her in a chinlock and then driving a knee into her back. The fans boo as he pulls back on the hold. Jerry looks around at them and pulls back a little more, leading to even louder boos. Berry fights against him, getting up one a knee before pushing up to her feet and landing elbows to his gut. Jerry breaks the hold and Berry hits the ropes, coming back at Jerry and looking for a headscissors, but Jerry catches her legs and drops into a Boston crab. The fans boo as Jerry maintains the hold for a few moments before Berry makes it over to the ropes.



He looks down at her and then out to the fans again before pulling her away from the ropes and lifting her up before whipping her into the corner. Jerry follows her in with a high knee before grabbing hold of her and setting himself up on the top rope before delivering a tornado DDT. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Berry kicks out to cheers from the fans. Jerry pulls her up again and whips her into the corner for a second time. He moves in slower this time before grabbing a headlock and looking for a running bulldog, only for Berry to shove him off and force him into a hard landing. She follows up with a hard kick to the back, leading to loud cheers from the fans.



MW: That’s the first real bit of aggression shown by Berry in this match.

SD: And she needs to do it. She doesn’t want to hurt her brother but she needs to wrestle this match like any other or she’ll be torn to shreds.

MW: And these fans are egging her on. There’s no question that they’re in the Berry camp tonight.



Berry doesn’t follow up on the kick, instead allowing Jerry to stand. He looks across at her and holds the small of his back before coming in, looking to lock up, only for Berry to take him down with an arm drag. He quickly stands and she takes him down with another, before hitting the ropes and landing a shining wizard. She makes a deep cover, 1-2-no. Jerry kicks out. Berry stands quickly and calls for the fans to help her out. They cheer loudly as she stalks her brother before she whips him into the ropes and then takes him down with a monkey flip. She kips up and plays to the fans for a few moments before stalking Jerry and pulling him in for a Northern Lights suplex, bridging for a cover, 1-2-no. Again Jerry kicks out.



Berry stands quickly and she coils herself up, the fans cheering loudly as they sense that she’s looking for a quick end to the match. Jerry stands and turns to see Berry unleash Checkmate, but he drops down and rolls under the bottom rope, leaving her kicking air. The fans boo Jerry as he walks past them, running a hand through his hair as he looks up at his sister. She calls for him to come back into the ring but he takes his time, slowly climbing onto the apron but refusing to step through the ropes. With the fans booing, Berry gets frustrated and moves towards him, only for Jerry to pull her down onto the top rope for a jawbreaker. With Berry staggering away, he leaps up onto the top rope and connects with a springboard forearm. Jerry stands and looks out at the fans, who continue to boo him loudly.



MW: Jerry Bishop with a dirty trick there.

SD: Dirty trick? A thumb to the eye is a dirty trick. That’s just intelligent wrestling. He suckered her in and took advantage.

MW: I think that’s MDE’s influence taking hold.

SD: Maybe. The old, foolish Jerry wouldn’t have done it. The new, intelligent Jerry has done it. I know which I prefer.

MW: As do I. And so do these fans. I’ve never seen Jerry Bishop be met with such a wall of negativity. I don’t think there’s a single person in this arena cheering him right now.



Jerry slowly pulls Berry up and forces her into the ropes before whipping her across the ring. As she comes back to him, he connects with a step-up enzeguiri before taking her down with a Russian leg sweep. He rolls through and then backs away into the corner, stepping up onto the middle rope. As Berry stands, he leaps down and takes her down with a blockbuster. Jerry makes a cover, 1-2-no. Berry again kicks out. Still working at a slow pace, Jerry pulls Berry up once again and sends her hard into the turnbuckles. She staggers a few paces out but Jerry charges at her and connects with a running dropkick. Berry bounces off the turnbuckles and drops down to the mat. Jerry rolls her over and makes another cover, 1-2-no. Again Berry manages to kick out.



Jerry look around the arena before looking down at Berry. He slowly pulls her up and sets himself up beside her. As the fans sense what’s coming, they boo loudly. Jerry performs a parallel snapmare and then hits the ropes, looking to complete the Touchstone Takedown, only for Berry to drop onto her back and then kip up for a second time, connecting with a roundhouse kick as Jerry turns. He drops to his knees and Berry then connects with a buzzsaw kick before making a deep cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets a shoulder up and Berry holds both hands to her head.



MW: You can see the desperation of Berry Bishop to defeat her brother here.

SD: But she won’t do it. He’s clearly a level above where she is right now.

MW: Don’t be so sure. She believes it’s the only way to get back-

SD: Will you quit with talking about getting back the old Jerry. The Jester is dead. The Joker is here to stay. This match is about Berry accepting that she can’t change that and moving on.

MW: I disagree, Steven. The Jester is still in there and Berry needs to reawaken him.



With Jerry slow to get to his feet, Berry pulls him up and connects with an exploder suplex. Jerry rolls towards the ropes and Berry stalks him, waiting for him to get to his feet and then leaping up to take him down with a disaster kick. She then calls for the Touchstone Takedown, and the fans cheer loudly. She pulls Jerry up and connects with the parallel snapmare before hitting the ropes and hitting him hard with a penalty kick. Berry drops down and makes another deep cover, 1-2-no! Jerry just gets a shoulder up again. Berry again holds her head in her hands before looking out to the fans, who chant her name one more time.



She looks down at Jerry and nods, before pulling him up and trapping his arms. The fans gasp as they realise what she’s planning to do. Berry lets out a loud, booming laugh before… Jerry frees his arms and shoves her away. He looks at her for a few moments, eyes wide. She opens her mouth to speak but he cuts her off with a rolling elbow. The fans boo louder than ever as he looks down at Berry before rolling out of the ring. He reaches under the ring and pulls out a bottle of water. The fans chatter quietly as they’re unsure what Jerry is about to do. He rolls back into the ring and, with Berry beginning to sit up, he grabs her chin and opens the bottle of water. He then begins to pour it onto her face, rubbing away the paint while yelling at her, “You’re not me! You’ll never be me! You don’t know what it’s like to be me!” The fans boo loudly as Jerry removes the majority of her face paint.



MW: This is reprehensible from a man who has clearly lost his cool.

SD: Maybe he has, but I said Berry Bishop would learn a hard lesson tonight. She’s learning it now.

MW: I don’t believe that Jerry Bishop could be acting like this… listen to these fans. Did you ever imagine they’d be booing him like this- and deservedly so.

SD: I don’t think anyone who tries to better themselves like he has done deserves to be booed like this. These fans need to take a good, hard look at themselves.

MW: Give me a break. You’re seeing the same match as I am, right?



Jerry throws the empty water bottle out of the ring and releases Berry, backing away towards the corner. She stands, coughing up water before turning to look at her older brother. A look comes over her face and she stands, calling him forward. As he comes forward, Berry unleashes a series of hard kicks, first to the leg, then the gut, then several to the legs before a spinning gut kick and another roundhouse kick. She then coils herself up as Jerry drops to a knee. When he stands, he turns and she unleashes Checkmate again, but Jerry catches it. He shoves her foot down and uses the momentum to plant her with a DDT.



He then sits up, the fans continuing to boo him vociferously. He stands over Berry and watches as she tries to get to her feet. As he gets to a knee, he pulls her in and traps her arms, but Berry drops down and frees her arms, crawling through Jerry’s legs and springing up, taking him down with a running bulldog. Berry wastes no time in pulling Jerry to his feet and connecting with a second parallel snapmare. This time, however, instead of hitting the ropes, she lands a hard kick to the chest from a standing position before pulling Jerry to his feet. She sets up for the Berry Buster, but, as she hooks Jerry’s leg, he counters, trapping her arms and instantly dropping her with the Last Laugh.



The fans go silent as Jerry looks down at Berry lying face-down on the mat. He is about to roll her over when he stops. A buzz picks up around the arena as he once again runs his hand through his hair. A flicker of doubt passes through his eyes as he backs away from Berry. A few fans let out a cheer but many remain silent, transfixed by what they hope they’re about to see. Jerry holds his hands to his head as he watches Berry struggle to push herself up. He moves over to her and reaches down, fans cheering again as he pulls her up. The two Bishops look into one another’s eyes for a few moments as Berry smiles, only for Jerry to lift his thumb and cut his lips into a smile. Berry immediately stops smiling but she can’t stop what’s about to happen. The earlier cheers turn back to boos as Jerry pulls Berry down and locks in the Chelsea Smile. Berry resists for a few moments but Jerry pulls back harder than he’s ever pulled back before and Berry is left with no choice but to tap out.



Winner: Jerry Bishop (21:53).



Jerry releases the hold and stares down at Berry as the fans boo louder than they have all match. He stands and holds out an arm for the official to raise before immediately leaving the ring and making his way back up the ramp. At the top, he turns, the fans still booing vociferously, and he cuts his lips into a smile one more time before disappearing through the curtain.



MW: That was… that was hard to watch.

SD: I believe that match was the final domino in Jerry’s journey to becoming The Joker. The final remnants of The Jester are gone for good. The Joker is Jerry’s present and his future.

MW: And you can’t be happy with that.

SD: I… I admire Jerry for bettering himself. There are certain things he did tonight that made me uncomfortable. We have to remember that he was in the ring with his sister. It must have been difficult for him, but I’ll admit it was difficult to watch at times.

MW: And now we know who the real Jerry Bishop seems to be. The man who tells these fans to shine his shoes and who made his sister tap out when he could have just pinned her.



In the ring, Berry sits up, tears flowing down her face. Dasha quickly comes in to comfort her, and both sit there crying. The fans slowly stand, applauding Berry’s efforts. Dasha helps Berry up and the two of them leave the ring together, the fans chanting Berry’s name louder, but with a definite reduction in energy. Berry pauses at the top of the ramp and she offers half a bow to the fans, but she can’t bring herself to do any more than that.



MW: That ladies and gentlemen, is the face of a broken heart.

SD: It’s hard to watch, Watson.

MW: It sure is. She did everything she could to get the man she respected- loved- back to who she thought he ought to be. But it wasn’t enough. And now we have to face the reality of The Joker being unleashed on Freedom Pro Wrestling.



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Backstage, Bobby O walks with a purpose down the corridor.



MW: And there we see Bobby O, a man on a mission today with-



Mike Watson stops talking as Bobby O stops and eyes Marcus Allen Jones pacing back and forth. He walks up to Marcus and taps him on the shoulder.



MAJ: What the- oh… it’s you.

BO: Yeah, it’s me. I know we’re not exactly the best of friends, but I have grown to respect you recently. I wanted to thank you for taking a shot at TakeOver 2.0 like you did. But don’t worry. I’ll finish them off.

MAJ: I’d have hoped to do it myself, but I trust you to get it done. Don’t let FPW down.

BO: Don’t worry. After this match, TakeOver will be history. Good luck for your match tonight. I know it’s not exactly what you’d hoped for-

MAJ: It’s the biggest match of my life.

BO: Well good luck. If you’re still here afterwards… maybe our paths will finally cross.

MAJ: If I’m still here.



Bobby and Marcus shake hands before Bobby continues his walk down the corridor.



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A video plays:



‘Oooooh, Kyle Ohio… Oooooh, Kyle Ohio…’



The chant goes on as we see quick cuts of highlights from matches, showing a man wearing simple trunks, boots and kickpads performing a range of martial arts moves. It shows him hitting several brainbusters and pinning several opponents. It shows him standing at the top of a ramp performing a butterfly kick through pyro. The song ‘Handlebars’ takes over as the man is shown teaching martial arts classes to kids. As the lyrics turn to ‘I can keep rhythm with no metronome’, it shows him landing a series of kicks to a heavy bag in an empty gym. As the lyrics change to ‘I can lead a nation with a microphone’, it shows him whipping up a crowd with impassioned promos. The song then fades out and a shot of the man looking straight down the camera comes into focus.



“Kyle Ohio… coming to Freedom Pro Wrestling. December 31st 2019.”



The video ends with Ohio performing a trio of rolling savate kicks.



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MW: We’ve got a number of big matches tonight with a lot at stake but this match is as big as any of them.

SD: Jack Sevren said that TakeOver 2.0 was going to be running this company at the turn of the new decade. A victory tonight will establish TakeOver 2.0 at the top of the pyramid and will give Sevren every right to become the next FPW Champion.

MW: Alternatively, Bobby O will finally get his revenge on Jack Sevren for robbing him of a year which had so much promise. And in so doing, TakeOver 2.0 will be forever disbanded.

SD: TakeOver 2.0 will live forever. Jack Sevren will win this match and will become the next FPW Champion. I guarantee it.



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one-fall with the stipulation that, should Jack Sevren lose, TakeOver 2.0 must be permanently disbanded. Introducing first, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania… ‘Mr. FPW’… Bobby O!”



‘This Means War’ begins to play and the fans’ cheers build before Bobby finally steps through the curtain in his familiar military jacket. He pops the collar and then makes his way down the ramp, holding out his hands for the fans to slap before reaching the ring. He walks up the steps and then steps through the ropes before leaning over them and pointing out to some of the fans in the crowd. A ‘fuck Take-Over chant’ begins and Bobby smiles, calling for it to get louder and louder.



“And his op-“



Dasha Banks is cut off by Jack Sevren’s voice.



JS: Baby O… I’ve got to say, you passed my tests with flying colors. To think you’d get through two handicap matches against my firing squad is, admittedly, surprising. But, I think I always knew you had it in you. I’ve known you a long time Bobby. Our careers intertwine in a big way. So, to say I’m shocked, nah that’s not it. Part of me, let’s just say, I knew this day would come. That you and I would finally have our judgment day. And here we are. You got your one-on-one…Well…Kind of…See Bobby, my former mentor from NXT taught me that you always need to have a Plan B. Plan A would have seen me cornered by two of the best tag teams this place has to offer. But it didn’t work out that way. It’s okay though. I think I’ve always preferred Plan B anyway. See Bobby, I have a little surprise for you tonight and she’s missed you very much.


MW: She?

SD: She. Like I said Mikey, Sevren’s always got an ace up his sleeve. That’s why tonight he’ll be the one to save TakeOver from sure destruction.

Bobby looks confused until a young blonde-haired woman appears on the ramp causing his jaw to drop. The woman looks briefly at Bobby before falling into a spot right next to Jack, her arms locked in his.


JS: What’s wrong Bobby, you look like you’ve seen a ghost? For those who may be unaware, allow me to introduce the stunning lady to my left. Ladies and gentlemen, meet my girlfriend, my love, the beautiful Cee Cee Holmes!


SD: I repeat Watson. This is why Jack Sevren is the Best in the Game. Then, now, forever. Don’ t look now Bobby but while you were over there playing checkers, Jack was playing chess. Game. Set. Match.


CJ makes eye contact with Bobby as Jack just looks on, a broad grin on his face, before he makes his way down to the ring and climbs through the ropes.


Match 6: Jack Sevren vs. Bobby O:



The official calls for the bell and Sevren gains an immediate advantage as Bobby is still looking out at CJ. Sevren darts in and lands a clubbing blows across Bobby’s back before jamming a thumb into his eye. The official forces him to step back but he doesn’t step away for long. He comes back in and pulls Bobby towards the middle of the ring, where he kicks him hard in the gut and then steps on his left hand as it drops to the mat. Bobby snatches it back but Sevren comes in and takes him down with a chop block. Bobby hits the mat and looks up at CJ, who still doesn’t make eye contact with him.



Sevren then attacks the knee rabidly, landing stomp after stomp to the back of the knee before lifting the leg by the ankle and jamming the knee into the canvas. Bobby tries to roll away but Sevren places a foot on his ankle and then leaps up, dropping a knee to Bobby’s calf. Sevren then grips the ankle and pulls the leg up, driving his own shin into the calf and causing Bobby to cry out with pain. Sevren steps away after a few moments and looks down to CJ with a smirk. She smiles up at him too.



MW: Bobby O hurting physically but he must be absolutely knocked for six seeing that ghost from his past out here with his greatest enemy.

SD: It’s genius from Jack Sevren who always has a plan.

MW: Sevren does need to focus on Bobby. He can’t give him this kind of time to recover.



Bobby pulls himself up and Sevren moves in again, landing a kick to the back of his leg. He grabs a waistlock and pulls Bobby away from the ropes, looking for a German suplex, but Bobby forces his elbow back and escapes Sevren’s grip. Bobby staggers forward and Sevren comes in for another chop block, but Bobby steps aside and dives at Sevren, launching a series of right hands at him. The crowd really picks up as Bobby lands each right hand before the official pulls Bobby away from him. Bobby stands and glances down again at CJ, who still doesn’t meet his gaze. Bobby turns back to Sevren and pulls him up, but Sevren jams a thumb into his eye again and Bobby reels away.



The fans boo as Sevren comes in and lands a chop to Bobby’s chest. Bobby reels away and Sevren follows, chopping him again. He drives him back into the corner and lands a series of hard chops before raising his hand one more time for a big one. The crowd go quiet, but the boos resume when Sevren jams a thumb into the eye again instead of going for the big chop. The official admonishes Sevren but he brushes him aside and lands a series of kicks to Bobby’s gut. Bobby drops down to a seated position and Sevren forces his boot into Bobby’s throat. The official again pulls Sevren away.



MW: Jack Sevren must be close to a disqualification in this match.

SD: I don’t think that’ll happen.

MW: He needs to start playing by the rules.

SD: Jack Sevren plays by one set of rules- the TakeOver 2.0 rules.

MW: And what do they say about cheating?

SD: They say there’s only one rule- win.



Sevren again brushes off the official’s warning before returning to Bobby and pulling him up in the corner before landing another couple of chops. He then pulls him out of the corner and pulls him up to deliver a vertical suplex. Sevren then looks down at Bobby and pushes himself up onto the top rope. He leaps down for a top rope knee drop, but Bobby manages to roll out of the way! Sevren rolls through and tries to stand quickly but his knee buckles and he drops down. Bobby manages to stand and quickly comes in to deliver a belly to back suplex. Bobby flexes his own leg and then pushes himself up to his feet before pulling Sevren with him. He drives Sevren back into the corner before unleashing a series of jabs and right hands.



Sevren flops down to a seated position as Bobby hits the ropes. He then charges at Sevren and connects with a sliding lariat into the corner. He pulls himself up on the ropes and turns away, the fans chanting his name as he bends down, but pauses as he catches CJ moving around on the outside. He watches her as she still refuses to meet his eye, and this allows Sevren to grab him and pull him down into the turnbuckles. Bobby staggers backwards and Sevren makes it to his feet, kicks Bobby in the gut and pulls him into a front facelock. Sevren pushes himself up onto the top rope and connects with a tornado DDT. Sevren makes a cover for the first time in the match, 1-2-no. Bobby just kicks out.



MW: Bobby O needs to focus on this match. Every time he’s been on top, he’s been distracted by looking out at CJ.

SD: And that’s why Jack Sevren brought her out here.

MW: As much as I don’t respect his tactics, I think he’s found an effective way to keep himself in this match at all times.



Sevren pulls Bobby up off the mat by his hair and lands a straight right hand, laughing as the fans boo him. He then stands and taunts the fans some more before turning back to the knee. He lifts Bobby’s leg and drives a stomp into it before kicking repeatedly at the back of the knee and then dropping own knee onto it and wrenching it hard. Sevren then stands, pulling up the leg and stepping through. Bobby tries to block him from turning by kicking him away with his free leg but he can’t force Sevren away completely. Sevren instead drops down to his back and jars Bobby’s knee, causing Bobby to turn and bang the mat with pain.



Sevren then stands again and stomps on Bobby’s chest before pulling him up. He kicks Bobby’s knee out before connecting with a DDT and make a cover, 1-2-no. Bobby kicks out. Sevren continues to work the knee, lifting it and kicking hard at the back of the leg again. He then steps through once again and looks to lock in the figure four. This time he does manage to turn and he drops down, fully locking in the hold. Bobby cries out with pain but he manages to fight his way towards the ropes fairly quickly, grabbing the bottom rope and forcing the break, which Sevren forces the official to perform rather than releasing the hold himself.



SD: This match is going absolutely perfectly right now!

MW: Those who wish to see TakeOver 2.0 disband will not be enjoying this. Jack Sevren has targeted that knee from the early stages and has focussed on it well. Bobby O must find a way to get back into this one.

SD: There is no way.

MW: I’m not sure I’d agree with that.



Sevren takes a moment to taunt the fans once again before turning back to Bobby, who is helping himself up using the ropes. Sevren comes in and aims a kick to the back of the leg. Bobby drops down to a knee and Sevren lands a right hand. Sevren then pulls Bobby up and whips him across the ring, but Bobby’s knee gives out half-way across. Sevren laughs as he sees Bobby down on the canvas once again. Sevren swaggers over to Bobby and pulls him up once again, looking for another right hand, but Bobby blocks it and lands a right hand of his own. On one leg, he lands more rights and forces Sevren across to the ropes. He then whips Sevren across the ring and catches him with a superkick to the gut as he comes back. Sevren drops to one knee and Bobby finds the energy to leap up and connect with a curb stomp. Sevren rolls onto his back as Bobby rolls away and clutches at his leg.



The two men take a moment to recover before they begin to make it back to their feet. Bobby flexes his knee wildly and beats at it to try and get the circulation going while Sevren holds his head. They each make it to their feet. Sevren begins to advance but CJ is quick to get onto the apron and she grabs Bobby. Sevren darts in and aims a right hand, but CJ shoves Bobby aside, distracting the official for a moment. She then slaps Sevren hard across the face and drops down from the apron, the fans unsure as to how to react. Sevren reels away and Bobby stands, pulling Sevren in for a belly to belly suplex. It connects but Bobby doesn’t follow up, instead looking down at CJ with a look of utter bewilderment on his face. She tells him to stay on Sevren and, with a shrug of the shoulders, he turns. Sevren begins to make it to his feet and Bobby spins him round, lifts him onto his shoulders and drops him with a fireman’s carry stunner. He makes a cover, 1-2-no. Sevren manages to kick out.



MW: I don’t know quite what is happening in this match, but Bobby O is suddenly back on top!

SD: No! I don’t accept this. Send her to the back. Filthy jezebel!

MW: And now we’ll see a fully focussed Bobby O.



Bobby stands, pulling Sevren up with him, and he whips Sevren into the ropes. As Sevren comes back, Bobby delivers a powerslam and makes another cover, 1-2-no. Sevren kicks out. Bobby stands and pumps up the fans before stalking Sevren. As Sevren unsteadily gets to his feet, he turns into a superkick from Bobby. Sevren staggers and Bobby throws him into the ropes before delivering a pop-up powerbomb. Instead of making the cover, he pulls Sevren up to his feet and backs him into the corner. He lands another series of jabs and right hands before lifting Sevren up onto the top turnbuckle. Bobby climbs after him and sets Sevren up for a superplex. Sevren tries to resist, but Bobby remains strong, and he delivers the superplex, immediately transitioning into O Snap!



MW: This could be the end of this one.

SD: Never! Jack Sevren won’t tap out.

MW: Bobby has made many people tap with the O Snap. What a way to end TakeOver 2.0!

SD: It won’t end this match. Sevren will not lose.



Bobby nods his head as he tries to apply as much pressure as he possibly can. Sevren tries to resist but the pressure gets greater and greater as CJ leads the fans in a chant of ‘tap… tap… tap…’ With some effort, Sevren manages to drag himself over towards the ropes, and hooks a leg over the bottom rope. Bobby breaks the hold and then rolls away, pushing himself up as the adrenaline masks the pain in his left knee. He pulls Sevren up and whips him into the corner, following him in with a running dropkick. Sevren staggers a couple of paces out of the corner but Bobby follows up with a second running dropkick. Sevren hits the turnbuckles and staggers out, right into a German suplex into the turnbuckles.



Bobby looks down at Sevren before reaching down to pull him up again, only to find yet another thumb being jammed into his eye. Bobby staggers backwards and Sevren reaches up to pull him down into a small package, 1-2-no! Bobby just manages to break out of it. Both men scramble to get to their feet but Sevren manages to catch Bobby first with a stomp to the knee. Bobby drops to one knee and Sevren looks for another DDT, only for Bobby to block it and counter with an attempted Nothern Lights suplex, but Sevren lands another kick to the knee and takes Bobby down with an X-Factor.



Sevren then wastes no time in turning to the leg. He lifts the left leg and steps through, but Bobby forces him away with his other leg. Sevren blocks his path by holding onto the bottom rope and then looks down at CJ. His face turns to thunder as he looks down at the woman who tricked him. Sevren climbs through the ropes and begins to stalk CJ, who backs away from him. As CJ rounds the corner, she trips and falls. Sevren advances on her and reaches down under the steps to pick up a lead pipe. He raises it and stands over CJ, but Bobby emerges from behind and he grabs the pipe before Sevren can bring it down.



SD: Hit him Bobby!

MW: Don’t do it Bobby. You’ll get disqualified.

SD: Hit him Bobby! Hit him!



Bobby stares at Sevren, who drops down just like CJ did and begs off. Bobby lifts the pipe and then pauses, looking at it and casting it aside. As the official comes to check on CJ, Sevren lifts a leg as he attempts a low-blow, but Bobby catches it and shakes his head. Sevren’s eyes widen as Bobby pulls him up and drvies him back-first into the edge of the ring. Bobby then rolls Sevren back in and follows, connecting with a superkick as Sevren rests on his knees. Bobby then pulls him up and connects with a perfect jumping DDT. Bobby rolls him over and makes a cover, 1-2-no! Sevren just gets a shoulder up.



Bobby then stands and pulls away from Sevren before crouching down and stalking him. Sevren slowly pulls himself to his feet before turning right into Bobby, who leaps up for an RKO- but Sevren shoves him off. Bobby quickly gets to his feet only for Sevren to land a kick to the gut and then look to lift him onto his shoulder. He shifts Bobby’s position for a tombstone piledriver, but Bobby resists, dropping back over the shoulder. As Sevren turns, Bobby leaps up and looks for an RKO again, but Sevren catches him into as German suplex, which he holds with a bridge, 1-2-no! Bobby just kicks out.



Sevren quickly gets to his feet, staggers a little, and then lifts Bobby’s leg, looking for the figure-four once again. He turns but Bobby reaches up and pulls him down for a small package, 1-2-no! Sevren just breaks out. Both men make it to their feet and Sevren tries to jam a thumb to the eye, only for Bobby to catch it and connect with a superkick. Sevren staggers backwards and Bobby leaps up for an RKO again, but Sevren catches him and shoves him into the ropes before connecting with a dropkick to the back. Sevren quickly climbs up onto the top rope and stalks Bobby. As Bobby stands, Sevren leaps off, looking for the top-rope lungblower, but Bobby counters it into an RKO! He makes a cover, hooking a leg, 1-2-3.



Winner: Bobby O (25:09)



MW: Take Over… are gone!

SD: Nooooooooooooo.

MW: Bobby O with a marvellous performance tonight. He defeated his demons in Jack Sevren, TakeOver, the memory of CJ… This is the biggest victory of Bobby O’s career.

SD: I don’t believe it…



Bobby O stands up and the official raises his arm. He roars to the crowd but then he turns and freezes as he sees CJ climbing into the ring. Bobby and CJ stare at each other for a few moments before both of them burst forward into an embrace. The fans cheer loudly as CJ stands and raises Bobby’s arm and the two of them celebrate the end of TakeOver 2.0 for good.



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Backstage, Hunter Killer and The Invaders sit in their locker room, looking despondent. After a few moments, Dario stands and throws a bag across the room.



GJ: Well, boys, it was fun while it lasted.

H: Yeah. I guess all good things come to a fucking end.

SD: What do we do now?



The four of them remain in silence for a few moments before Dario turns to them.



D: Look… TakeOver 2.0 must permanently disband, right? But it doesn’t mean we can’t form something else. With us at the helm. Why are we always the back-ups? Why are we always the lackeys? Sevren told us that we were all equal but that was bullshit. All four of us can be FPW Champion if we want to. We could hold all the gold between us. Fuck Sevren. He’s done. Let’s just stick together with the four of us.



They look at him for a moment.



GJ: You know… we could do that.

H: And if Houston stops us, we just do what we did to Davey Jones.

SD: And we make sure he’s replaced by someone who… looks favourably upon us.

D: Exactly. We know there are people up there who see us for the valuable assets that we are. Fuck Houston. Fuck Sevren. And you know what? There’s one man who started all of this for us. We were Tag Team Champions… you two were going to be big. And then he came to us all and subjugated us. He made us like this. We made sure he was beaten by Sevren but tonight we can remove him from this company for good. Tonight, we finally make sure that Marcus is gone from FPW.



They look at Dario before all smiling and nodding. Then the door bursts open and Jim Houston enters, flanked by a large number of security guards.



JH: You four just can’t resist, can you? You know you’ve got to disband for g-



Houston pauses and then shakes his head.



JH: You’ll never get it, will you? You’ll never stop this.



D: No. We won’t. We won’t stop until we truly run this place. All the belts with us. Everyone worshipping at our fucking feet.



JH: I thought not. Ok… you’re all fired.



The room is filled with silence for a few moments.



SD: What?



JH: You heard. If you won’t go your separate ways, you’re fired. That’s it. Get your things. These men will escort you out.



D: You can’t fucking do-



JH: I can fucking do whatever I fucking like. You’ve breached so many contracts in your time here that you’re lucky I couldn’t get rid of you earlier than this. TakeOver has had their time. You’re done here. Get your things and then get out.



Houston walks out, closes the door, smiles and dusts off his hands.



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MW: Well ladies and gentlemen, this next match is, for some of our fans, the biggest in Freedom Pro Wrestling history.

SD: One of the two greatest FPW wrestlers ever is going to be saying goodbye to Freedom Pro Wrestling in just over an hour’s time.

MW: These two men detest one another. I think they respect one another, but I know for sure that they detest each other. Marcus Allen Jones said that if he can’t beat Graham Baker, his career isn’t worth anything. Baker agreed to put his own FPW career on the line out of sheer confidence. Marcus Allen Jones has never beaten Graham Baker. They’ve met twice- once at Judgement Day last year where Graham Baker won the FPW Championship and once at the All Star Tag Team Classic earlier this year inside Hell in a Cell. The first match was a wrestling classic. The second was a fight. This will be a one-hour ironman match.

SD: And I think it’ll be closer to their second match than their first. Make no mistake about it- these two men will do anything to win this match.

MW: But this match is not no disqualification. A disqualification counts as a fall to the opponent so this can’t be as brutal as their last encounter.

SD: But we’ve said it before. Hardcore for Graham Baker is not weaponry. Hardcore is a state of mind for Baker. He can bring that attitude to this match and not come close to a disqualification. Marcus has to match that tonight or else he’s in danger of being overwhelmed.

MW: Now’s the time, Steven. Cards on the table. Which of these men will still be an FPW wrestler in an hour’s time?

SD: Wow… my heart says that Marcus Allen Jones has the ability to beat Graham Baker, but my head says to go with the form. Baker has the better head to head record. I say he wins but I think Marcus will get a fall.



“Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a one-hour ironman match where the loser must leave Freedom Pro Wrestling. Introducing first, from London, England… a former ALPHA Wrestling, Ice Coalition Wrestling and Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion… accompanied to the ring by Kate Mustang… The Aviator and the self-proclaimed Ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling… Graham Baker!”



Staccato gunshots fire out to cover the boos heard around the arena. Kate Mustang appears from backstage before Graham Baker, and she brings out a series of men dressed as former opponents of Baker. As DNA plays, Baker emerges, pointing a finger gun to the head of each man in turn, shooting down Adam Thompson, Jace Mason, MDE, James Saturn, Jerry Bishop and, finally, with three gun shots, Marcus Allen Jones. He stands over the fallen body of the man dressed as Marcus and holds the front of his jacket open before stepping down the ramp and focussing on the ring ahead of him. Baker then climbs up onto the ropes with his back to the crowd and springboards into the ring, aiming finger guns out into space. He holds the pose and soaks in the boos of the fans before standing and coming to rest in one corner where Kate Mustang whispers into his ear.



“And his opponent… from Chicago, Illinois and also a former Freedom Pro Wrestling Champion… The Smartest Man in Professional Wrestling… Marcus Allen Jones.”



‘Cult of Personality’ plays and Marcus steps through the curtain, looking around the arena to see a sea of cheering fans. He takes a deep breath before performing his signature backflip and landing in his typical pose. As pyro explodes around him, Marcus stands and makes his way down the ramp, his eyes looking everywhere but at Baker in the ring. As ‘I’m the Smiling Face on Your TV’ hits, Marcus reveals a piece of paper which simply says ‘Thank you’ before scrunching it up and finally locking eyes with Graham Baker.



MW: The contrast between these two men is astonishing. Graham Baker’s hubris in coming out through a guard of wrestlers he’s beaten and his arrogance in reminding everyone of his victories compared to Marcus’ humble message of thanks to fans he might see for the last time.

SD: And don’t forget the contrast between this year and last. Last year it was Marcus, backed by TakeOver, who was the arrogant champion and Baker the hungry upstart challenger. Marcus was very much the favourite and Baker was the one with doubts. Now Baker is the big bad wolf and Marcus is the man on a noble, but quite possibly futile, quest to slay him. The story between these two is more compelling than almost any I’ve seen in my many years in wrestling.



Marcus stares at Baker for a few seconds before rushing the ring. The two men immediately engage with one another, exchanging right hands. Marcus gets the upper hand but Baker responds with a vicious low blow. He quickly throws Marcus to the outside and follows, stripping off his jacket and wrapping it around Marcus’ throat. Marcus tries to rip it free but Baker pulls back and Marcus turns a deep shade of red before Baker finally releases him. Marcus drops to the ground but Baker doesn’t allow him time to recover, stomping hard on his back before lifting him and throwing him into the guardrail. The fans spit venom at Baker, but Baker ignores them, focussing only on Marcus as he continues to stomp on him.



The official tries to pull Baker away but Baker shoves him back and pulls Marcus up, kicking him hard in the gut before grabbing him for a German suplex into the guardrail. Marcus’ head hits hard and he slumps to the floor, but Baker isn’t done. He pulls Marcus up again and drags him over to the announce table. Watson and Deville scramble away as Baker tosses Marcus over the table and follows, stomping some more against the guardrail. Baker then sweeps the table free and rolls Marcus onto it. The fans boo loudly as Baker climbs after him and pauses to look out around the arena. With a sick smile, Baker pulls Marcus up and lifts him onto his shoulders before delivering a Mustang Driver through the announce table.



Baker takes a moment to recover but Mustang is quick to help him to his feet. He pulls the limp body of Marcus up and rolls him back into the ring. Baker follows and insists that the official rings the bell. The official looks uncertain but Baker grabs him by the collar and he reluctantly calls for the start of the match.



Match 7: Sixty-Minute Ironman; Loser Leaves FPW: Graham Baker vs. Marcus Allen Jones:



Baker makes an immediate cover, 1-2-3.



Graham Baker 1-0 Marcus Allen Jones.



Baker stands and smirks as the official raises his arm as the winner of the first fall. He looks down at Marcus as the official checks on him. Baker, however, doesn’t let Marcus have any breathing space, instead grabbing him by the head and pulling him up, shoving the official away as he does. He drives Marcus into the corner and lays into him with a series of forearms. The official tries to pull Baker away and has to wrestle him away from Marcus, who has been cut by the forearms and is beginning to bleed from his forehead. Baker shoves the official aside and catches Marcus before he can slump down. He drives knees into his gut before pulling him out of the corner and lifting him onto his shoulders again. He looks for a second Mustang Driver, but Marcus resists, elbowing Baker and dropping down behind him.



The fans cheer loudly as Marcus drops down and rolls up Baker with a schoolboy roll-up, 1-2-no! Baker just escapes. Marcus stares at Baker, who yells at Marcus that it won’t be that easy. The two men stand and go forehead to forehead, staring with hatred into one another’s eyes before unleashing another flurry of right hands. Baker takes the upper hand and drives Marcus into the corner, but Marcus ducks a forearm and switches positions, landing his own forearms before whipping Baker across into the opposite corner and following up with a running dropkick. Baker staggers out of the corner and Marcus takes him down with a running swinging neckbreaker before wiping the blood away from his eyes.



MW: As fast a start in this one as we expected, Steven.

SD: We said there’s no love lost between these two men and, especially after the way Baker started this one to go one fall ahead, Marcus will be desperate to do some damage.

MW: And it looks like he’s very much back in this match after Baker’s early attack.

SD: Remember that it was Marcus who charged the ring to start that off. Don’t think he wouldn’t have done the same if he’d got the chance.



Marcus stands and pumps up the fans, waiting for Baker to get to his feet. As Baker stands and turns, Marcus connects with a superkick to the gut before taking Baker down with a DDT and then following up with a standing shooting star press to his back. Marcus stands and pulls Baker with him, sending him into the corner again and following up with a running knee to the gut. Baker doubles over and Marcus leaps over him onto the top rope before coming down with a moonsault which drives his knees into Baker’s back. Baker hits the mat and Marcus rolls him over to make the cover, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out and Marcus wipes the blood from his eyes again.



Marcus pulls Baker into a sitting position and drives forearms into his face before backing up and connecting with a shining wizard. Baker drops back down to the mat as Marcus leaps up to the top rope again. With his back to Baker, he goes for a phoenix splash, but Baker avoids it and Marcus crashes and burns. Baker rolls to the outside to catch his breath after Marcus’ intense flurry. He and Mustang discuss strategy before Baker turns to see Marcus starting to get to his feet. He climbs onto the apron and then leaps onto the top rope, taking Marcus down with Clipped Wings. Baker follows up with a cover, 1-2-no. Marcus kicks out.



MW: Baker getting back into this one after Marcus’ mistake.

SD: Marcus’ adrenaline got the better of him there. He put together a great string of offense but he needed to slow things down. He has to wrestle for an hour and he’s already down a fall. He needs to pace himself and he has to avoid damaging mistakes like that.

MW: Will Baker look to keep the pace up or will he slow things down now?

SD: It depends. I’m sure Mustang has told him to slow things down but whether he can right now given the stakes and especially given the opponent, I don’t know.



Baker doesn’t let Marcus catch his breath as he pulls him up from behind and plants him with a snap German suplex. He then catches the arm and drives a knee into it. He looks to pull it back to begin to soften Marcus up for the Emergency Landing, but Marcus has it scouted, pushing to his feet and rolling through before landing a hard kick to Baker’s head. Baker releases the arm and Marcus takes a moment to recover, giving Baker time to get to his feet. Marcus runs at him and leaps up, looking for a hurricanrana, but Baker cartwheels out of it and lands a sliding knee to Marcus’ head before he can get to his feet.



The camera catches up to Marcus to see that his cut from earlier has been opened up again and that the blood is trickling down the side of his face a little quicker now. Baker sees this too and smiles before laying in a couple of elbow strikes to that part of Marcus’ head. He then pulls Marcus into a seated position before taunting him with some soft kicks to his chest. Marcus stands angrily and looks to respond but Baker unleashes a hard palm strike before following up with the same kind of flurry that forced the official to stop his match against Clutch McCloud in the Free-1. Baker looks to the official, who is clearly refusing to do the same as he did in that match.



This momentary loss of concentration allows Marcus to block one of the strikes with his foot and land a kick to Baker’s face. Baker staggers back and Marcus springs up. Baker charges at him but Marcus ducks and pulls down to the top rope, sending Baker to the outside. Marcus looks down at him before hitting the ropes and charging towards Baker, launching himself with a corkscrew moonsault plancha to take Baker down. Marcus again springs to his feet, blood covering large parts of his face, and he lifts up the guardrail to get the fans cheering even louder.



MW: Marcus continuing to take risks, but that one paid off big time!

SD: It did, but I’d be advising Marcus against it. We’re ten minutes in and he’s sustained a lot of damage already. At this pace, I’d say a standard match might last fifteen minutes. They have to have four fifteen-minute matches tonight. It’s a lot to ask for Marcus to keep this up.



Marcus picks Baker up and whips him into the guardrail with such force that the guardrail becomes disconnected and drops down onto the floor. Marcus pulls Baker away from it and drags him over to the other side of the ring before driving his head down into that guardrail. He then lifts Baker up into position for a vertical suplex but dumps him gut first onto the guardrail. Marcus calls to the fans, who cheer him once again, before climbing back onto the apron. He then looks up to the top rope and the fans gasp as he starts climbing. He looks down at Baker, who remains hung over the guardrail, before leaping off and connecting with a guardrail-hung shooting star DDT from the top turnbuckle to the outside!



The fans cheer loudly as both men lie on the floor. Baker lies motionless while Marcus holds his back which has already taken a lot of punishment. Marcus pushes through the pain and grabs Baker to lift him up. With difficulty, he lifts him and rolls him back into the ring. Following, Marcus makes a deep cover, 1-2-no! Baker just gets a shoulder up. Marcus looks to the official, who confirms it was just a two-count. Marcus then stands, wiping more blood from his eyes and holding his lower back, before returning to Baker and pulling him up. Marcus pulls him into a suplex position again and lifts him, but Baker drives a knee down into Marcus’ skull and then drops down, trapping Marcus into position as he lifts him up and delivers a desperation powerbomb before rolling away to take a breath.



MW: What a sequence we’ve just seen. It’s no wonder both men are down!

SD: I know for sure that Graham Baker is trying to pace himself but he’s being drawn into wrestling this match at Marcus Allen Jones’ pace. Marcus is wrestling like a man with nothing to lose.

MW: But he has everything to lose.

SD: He doesn’t think so. If he can’t beat Graham Baker, he’s not the best, and he’s only here to be the best. He refuses to play second fiddle to anyone. His only option is to win tonight.



Baker and Marcus both use the ropes to pull themselves to their feet before turning and advancing on one another. They go eyeball to eyeball again, Baker’s forehead catching some of the blood from Marcus’ gash. Baker goes to throw a right hand, but Marcus catches it and leaps up, expertly taking Baker down and transitioning perfectly into a version of the Emergency Landing. The fans come to life as they sense that Marcus may be about to even up the scores. Baker thrashes around, trying to get to the ropes, but Marcus is extending the arm as much as he possibly can. With some help from Kate Mustang pushing the rope towards his foot, Baker finally manages to get to the ropes and break the hold.



Marcus releases the hold but quickly pulls Baker up and traps the arm. The fans stand as he ripcords him and looks for Six Stars, but Baker ducks the knee and traps Marcus’ arm, ripcording him and taking him down with a ripcord discus forearm strike. Baker makes a cover, 1-2-no. Marcus kicks out, but Baker transitions into a Fujiwara arm bar. Marcus tries to roll away to counter the pressure but Baker rolls with him, transitioning into the Emergency Landing. Marcus quickly locks his hands together but Baker uses a leg to break the grip and establish the hold. He pushes up with his hips and Marcus cries out in pain as his left arm comes close to breaking.



MW: He might have to tap out here!

SD: Shades of Judgement Day last year!

MW: He’s reaching for the- wait! Kate Mustang pulling the rope away.

SD: Marcus needs to tap out or he’s at risk of losing a lot more later on in the match. He has to think about this.



Marcus looks about to tap but makes on last effort and his foot grazes the bottom rope. Mustang tries to push it away but the official sees and forces Baker to break the hold. The official admonishes Mustang as Baker stands and pulls Marcus up onto his shoulders, but Marcus quickly drops down behind Baker and goes for a wheelbarrow facebuster. He tries to lift Baker but struggles with his arm and Baker breaks the grip, taking the left wrist and wringing the arm before wrapping it around the top rope and pulling back viciously for as long as the official will allow him to.



When he releases the hold, Baker quickly pulls Marcus back towards the middle of the ring and connects with another vicious palm strike to send Marcus staggering towards the ropes. Baker then clotheslines him over the top and quickly springboards, leaping to the outside with a missile dropkick which sends Marcus crashing into the guardrail. Baker stands and looks over to the guardrail that was dislodged earlier. He moves over to it and picks it up, setting it up against the edge of the ring and across a second guardrail and testing its strength. He then pulls Marcus up and drives a forearm into his forehead.



Baker drags Marcus with him over to the balanced guardrail and he drives his head down into it before rolling Marcus onto it. Baker climbs up with him and positions himself behind him, grabbing him by the waist and looking for a German suplex onto the guardrail. He lifts Marcus but Marcus flips out and lands on the apron, connecting with a superkick to Baker as he turns. Baker drops off the guardrail and lands hard on the floor. Marcus is quick to turn and leap off, connecting with a phoenix splash from the balanced guardrail to the floor.



MW: Another huge-impact move from Marcus Allen Jones!

SD: But more damage done to himself as well as his opponent.

MW: He might be able to get the fall here if he can get Baker into the ring.

SD: But he’s struggling to lift him. His back is damaged and his left arm is too. That’s not a great combination.



Marcus barely manages to lift Baker and rolls him into the ring. He considers following him but instead looks up to the top rope. As he climbs, the fans sense what he’s thinking and they begin the rhythmic clap themselves. Marcus looks down at Baker and leaps off for the Mark-Out Moment… only for Mustang to pull Baker out of the ring. Marcus crashes and burns and lands very hard on the mat. Mustang revives Baker, who quickly climbs up to the top rope himself. He looks down at Marcus and leaps off, connecting with Landing Gear right into the injured lower back. Baker rolls Marcus over and makes an immediate cover, 1-2-no! Marcus just gets his shoulder up.



Baker, however, makes a quick transition into the Emergency Landing, and Marcus is powerless to resist. He tries to get to the ropes but again Mustang tries to pull the bottom rope away from him. The fans boo loudly as Marcus looks about to tap but, all of a sudden, a woman comes through the crowd and leaps over the guardrail. With a cheer of realisation from the fans, Liz Karlson grabs Mustang by the head and drives her into the edge of the ring. She watches as Marcus hooks a leg over the rope and then lifts Mustang and carries her off up the ramp.



MW: Wow!

SD: This is just like last year!

MW: Except last year Liz Karlson was here to help Graham Baker fight off TakeOver and now she’s here to stop him from getting the same kind of unfair advantage that Marcus used to covet from his lackeys.

SD: Baker has realised and he’s staring daggers at Karlson. He’s incensed.

MW: But he needs to be careful.



Marcus takes advantage and rolls Baker up into a schoolboy, 1-2-no! The fans hold their hands to their heads as Baker manages to escape again. There’s no exchange of words between the two of them this time as both spring to their feet. Marcus connects with a thrust kick to the gut and grips Baker for a DDT, stepping onto the ropes and connecting with a tornado DDT. He makes another cover, 1-2-no! Again Baker manages to kick out. Marcus bangs the mat with frustration before stepping back from Baker and motioning for him to get to his feet, holding his back as he does.



Baker stands somewhat shakily as Marcus connects with a Pele kick to stagger him further before pulling him into a suplex position. With a great effort, Marcus lifts Baker and plants him with a falcon arrow, hooking the leg for the cover, 1-2-no. Baker again kicks out, but this time Marcus transitions, wrapping Baker’s legs and locking him up with a kneeling cross-legged STF. Baker tries to fight him off but Marcus manages to keep the hold locked in, keeping Baker in the middle of the ring.



MW: Graham Baker could be in trouble here.

SD: I don’t think this will lead to a submission but it’s smart from Marcus. He catches a bit of a breather here as well as weakening Baker. It’s much better than leaping up to the top rope and doing himself as much damage as he does to Baker.



Baker manages to wriggle his way towards the ropes as the effort of keeping him in the middle of the ring causes Marcus’ back to arch with pain. Once Baker gets to the ropes, Marcus breaks the hold and takes a moment to stretch out his back and his left arm. Baker pulls himself up but Marcus moves in and whips him across the ring, leaping up and taking him down with a hurricanrana before holding on for a cover, 1-2-no. Baker kicks out again, but Marcus is ready, pulling him up and lifting him for a wheelbarrow facebuster, rolling him over for a cover again, 1-2-no! Again Baker manages to kick out.



Marcus shows some frustration again as he bangs the mat before pulling Baker up once again. He drives him into the corner and hits the ropes, leaping up onto the top rope and coming down with a kick to the back of Baker’s head. Baker staggers forward and Marcus moves in, trapping the arm again and looking for Six Stars, but Baker counters again, catching the knee and lifting Marcus onto his shoulders for a powerbomb backbreaker. Marcus arches his back again in pain and Baker rolls away to catch his breath once again.



MW: We are almost half-way through this match and Baker still leads by one fall to zero after his early attack on Marcus.

SD: And Marcus is getting closer but he still hasn’t been able to put Baker away.

MW: If he wasn’t already, he’s got to be questioning whether he actually can beat Graham Baker.

SD: He’s got to have been questioning that ever since he agreed to put his career on the line. He may be starting to regret that decision at the moment.



Baker stands and looks at Marcus, who rests against the bottom rope. Baker smirks as he sees Marcus holding his back, and he grabs his ankle and pulls him to the middle of the ring. Baker traps Marcus’ head again and looks to lift him up into powerbomb position again. He pulls him up and drives him down into the mat but he holds on, lifting Marcus up again. Baker looks to plant him again but Marcus manages to free himself and he drops down, forcing Baker down and, as soon as his feet touch the canvas, he connects with a Canadian destroyer. Baker rolls away before Marcus can make the cover and he stretches out an arm as Baker disappears under the bottom rope.



Marcus looks down at Baker on the floor outside the ring and then pulls himself up, calling on the fans, who begin a rhythmic clap for him. Marcus climbs up to the top rope and, with fans gasping, waits for Baker to stand. As Baker slowly makes it to his feet, Marcus lets out a loud ‘Screw you Trevor!’ before launching himself into a Mark-Out Moment onto a standing Graham Baker on the outside. Baker drops to the floor and so does Marcus, who arches his back again after another major impact. The fans stand and cheer for Marcus’ bravery but he can’t stand himself, holding his back and resting against the guardrail.



MW: He truly is a man with nothing to lose.

SD: As we’ve already said, that’s how he feels. The irony is that this will cost him everything.

MW: Or maybe he’ll manage to get the fall that he needs.

SD: Maybe, but he’s got to get to his feet and get Graham Baker back into the ring.



The official checks on both men before sliding into the ring and beginning a count.



1……….

2……….

3……….



Neither man manages to stir as the count goes on, and the arena goes quite quiet.



4……….

5……….

6……….



Graham Baker reaches up to the apron to help himself up to his feet while Marcus keeps holding his back, unable to move from the guardrail.



7……….



Baker pulls himself up and looks across at Marcus.



8……….



Baker takes a step towards Marcus before shaking his head and sliding back into the ring, much to the crowd’s dismay.



9...



Marcus tries to rolls his way closer to the ring.



…



Marcus manages to pulls himself up using the apron.



…



He tries to slide into the ring, but his back gives out and he drops back down.



.



10!



Graham Baker 2-0 Marcus Allen Jones.



The official raises Baker’s hand once again as he rests against the ropes while looking down at Marcus, and the fans begin to murmur with genuine concern at Marcus’ welfare.



MW: This is playing out just like you’ve been saying, Steven.

SD: Marcus will lose everything because he was too willing to risk it all. There’s still a long time left here. This could get ugly once Baker fully recovers.

MW: Marcus really looks like he’s struggling on the floor.

SD: He’s in a lot of pain. Adrenaline will get you through a leg injury or an arm injury, but it won’t get you through a back injury. The official might have a tough decision to make in a minute.



Baker looks down at Marcus before reaching down and lifting him up to pull him back into the ring. He drags him slowly between the ropes and pulls him up to his knees. Marcus kneels and looks up at Baker and Baker launches a vicious palm strike at him to send Marcus back down to the mat. Baker points down at Marcus with a laugh as the boos rain down on him. He flips off the fans before pointing a finger gun at Marcus’ head. He pulls him up and yanks him onto his shoulders, but Marcus drops down and looks to trap the arm, only to stagger due to his back and drop down onto the mat. Baker turns and smirks again before pulling Marcus up and lifting him onto his shoulders again. The fans go silent as he connects with another Mustang Driver. He makes a cover, 1-2-no! Marcus just gets a shoulder up.



The fans come unglued as Baker stares down at his opponent in disbelief. Marcus’ face is a picture of determination as Baker stares daggers at him. Baker draws back his arm again and looks for another palm strike, but Marcus catches the arm and uses it to help him get to his feet. Baker yanks his arm free and launches another strike, but Marcus ducks under it, traps the arm and manages to connect with a quick Six Stars. The fans stand as Marcus falls into a cover, 1-2-3!



Graham Baker 2-1 Marcus Allen Jones.



The fans cheer wildly as Marcus Allen Jones records his first ever pinfall over Graham Baker. He raises an arm as he lies on the canvas, the official checking over Marcus and Baker.



MW: Marcus finally gets on the scoreboard!

SD: But was that his final burst of energy? I think it might have been.

MW: Maybe… but even if he does lose this match, he can finally say that he’s scored a pinfall against Graham Baker.

SD: But it may not matter. Losing 2-1 is still a loss even if he has managed to pin him once.

MW: But it’s something, Steven. It’s something.



Both men lie motionless apart from the rising and falling of their chests for quite some time before they each begin to stir. They roll to opposite sides of the ring and slowly pull themselves up on the ropes. They turn and eye each other across the ring once again before coming together forehead to forehead for a third time. They stare deeply into each other’s eyes for a few moments before each man explodes with a flurry of right hands. The exchange and exchange and exchange, neither man getting the upper hand, before they begin to slow down. The fans cheer Marcus’ shots loudly while they boo Baker’s vociferously. After a few slows shots, the pace picks up again and the fans cheer themselves into a frenzy seeing the energy of the two men.



They slow down again and the pattern reverts to a cheer for a Marcus strike and boo for a Baker strike. After a few shots each, Baker blocks one of Marcus’ shots and he goes for the left arm, trapping it and looking to use it to take Marcus down. Marcus, however, rolls through and transitions perfectly into a handspring enzeguiri which takes Baker down. Marcus takes a moment to get himself to his feet, pumping up the fans as he makes it back to a vertical base. He sits Baker up before unleashing a vicious superkick right to his face. Baker drops to the mat and a steady stream of blood begins to pour from his nose.



Marcus looks down at the blood and smiles, putting his finger into it and wiping it across his chest as he gives a roar to the fans. He lifts Baker and traps his arm, looking again for Six Stars. As he leaps, Baker ducks under the knee and pulls Marcus in for a deadlift German. Marcus rolls through and ends up in a kneeling position, only for Baker to charge at him and drive a knee right into his face. Marcus collapses to the mat and Baker looks to the outside, where the guardrail remains set up between the ring and the rail.



MW: I think Graham Baker has something nasty in mind.

SD: You could say that any time he’s awake, but… I agree. This could be curtains for Marcus.



Baker lifts Marcus and he hoists him up to sit on the top turnbuckle. Baker doesn’t climb after him. Instead, he steps through the ropes and then repositions Marcus so that his back is facing out to the guardrail. Baker then slowly climbs, landing a couple of shots to the lower back as he does. He stands alongside Marcus and leaps up, looking for a reverse Ejection Seat onto the guardrail… but Marcus holds onto the top rope and Baker drops down hard onto the ring apron. Marcus slowly turns to see Baker on all fours on the edge of the ring. Marcus forces himself to stand and then launches himself with a Mark-Out Moment to Baker’s back!



Both men drop down to the floor as the fans urge Marcus to get Baker back into the ring. With great effort, Marcus slowly drags himself to his feet. He looks at the guardrail drapes across the gap between ring and fans and laboriously lifts Baker and rolls him onto it. Marcus then pulls himself onto the apron and then again up onto the turnbuckles. The fans gasp as he stands atop the top rope, only for his back to spasm and, coming close to falling, he quickly steps down to the middle rope. This gives Baker time to recover and, with a spring in his step, he steps up alongside Marcus and looks for a German suplex onto the guardrail.



Marcus, however, lands on his feet on the apron once again, staggering backwards but managing to recover to connect with a superkick to Baker’s face as he dangles from the top rope. Before Baker can drop down to the apron himself, Marcus pushes him back up and climbs alongside him. He checks the position of the guardrail and then takes a deep breath before leaping up and taking Baker down with a reverse rana which sends him crashing through the guardrail as it snaps in half! Marcus finds a burst of energy to haul Baker to his feet and roll him back into the ring. He dives in after him and drapes an arm over Baker’s lifeless torso, 1-2-3.



Graham Baker 2-2 Marcus Allen Jones.



MW: Thirteen minutes remain in this match and we’re back level!

SD: Marcus has been risking it all for the whole of this match and he is reaping his just rewards now.

MW: How much more can either man give. How on earth can either of them carry on, let alone find a decisive fall in this match.



The fans gasp as Marcus rolls off Baker and they see the deep gash in his stomach where one of the guardrail bars snapped on impact. Blood pools to Baker’s side as the official quickly checks him over but determines that it’s not enough to stop the match. Both men remain prostrate in the ring for quite some time as the fans process the situation in the match. Finally, both men start to make it to their feet and they eye one another again. Marcus moves forward, desperate to continue his momentum and pick up the go-ahead fall, but Baker holds back, letting Marcus come to him.



As Marcus takes a swing at Baker, Baker catches his arm and takes him down. He floats over and manages to lock in the Emergency Landing much quicker than he has any right to after such a gruelling match. He tries to put pressure on the arm but he can’t put as much as he’d like to as he involuntarily grabs at his stomach, the cut stretching as he tries to push his hips up. With Baker unable to fully extend the arm, Marcus manages to hook a leg over the ropes and force the break. Marcus rolls away but baker gets to his feet quicker and pulls him in for a deadlift German, bridging for a cover, 1-2-no! Marcus just kicks out.



MW: That cut looks like it’s really hampering Baker.

SD: That bridge certainly wasn’t what he’d have liked it to have been and we saw that he couldn’t full extend the arm for the Emergency Landing.

MW: Could that be decisive in this match?

SD: Maybe. It will certainly even the playing field with Marcus’ arm and back.



The two men take a moment to recover, Baker getting to his feet first and pulling Marcus up. He hooks his arms and lands a snap dragon suplex before backing into the corner and landing a running knee strike. Baker then pulls Marcus up and whips him hard into the corner. Marcus’ back hits hard and he staggers out of the corner, only for Baker to connect with a shotgun dropkick which sends Marcus into a seated position in the turnbuckles. Baker then backs up into the opposite corner before charging at Marcus and connecting with a double knee strike which sends Marcus rolling out of the corner.



Baker looks down at him and, with a grimace of pain, pulls him up into powerbomb position. He heaves him up with great effort and connects with a buckle bomb before forcing him into position once again, this time lifting him for a tiger bomb to complete Ground Zero. The fans gasp as Baker holds for the cover, 1-2-no! Marcus barely inches his shoulder off the canvas, leading to wild cheers from all sections of the arena. Baker looks down at Marcus and shakes his head before banging the mat and standing. He holds his stomach before pulling Marcus up by the hair. He lifts him up onto his shoulders and looks for a third Mustang Driver, but Marcus drives a closed fist right into the gash on Baker’s stomach and he doubles over, allowing Marcus to float over into a DDT, leaving both men down.



MW: We have just under seven and a half minutes to go in this match and we’re no closer to finding out which of these two men will be leaving FPW at the end of that time.

SD: Both men have major weaknesses after such a gruelling match. I don’t think either can be certain of being able to finish off the other. This will come down to which man can fight through the pain more effectively.

MW: And which do you think can do that?

SD: Well Baker’s deathmatch background will help but I’ve never seen Marcus Allen Jones this determined before. I can’t call this one.



Marcus manages to get to his feet before Baker and he moves over to him, looking to trap the arm and go for Six Stars, but Baker throws hard elbows to stop Marcus from spinning him out. Marcus releases the grip on the wrist and Baker lifts him onto his shoulders again. Marcus tries to elbow his way free, but Baker is expecting it and catches the arm, flipping Marcus down onto the mat and dropping down into the Emergency Landing. With a great cry of pain, Baker pushes up to fully extend the arm and leaves Marcus screaming in his own pain. The official checks on Marcus but he refuses to tap out, even as his arm looks dangerously close to snapping.



Baker pulls back even harder and the official checks on Marcus one more time. With Marcus barely conscious, the official raises his arm to signal that it’s Baker’s fall, but Marcus reaches out and grabs him by the shirt, pulling him back towards him. The official pauses and Marcus, with a big effort, manages to roll into the hold and drives his right elbow into Baker’s stomach. Baker grits his teeth and the two lock eyes as Baker refuses to release his grip. Marcus unleashes a flurry of elbows and finally Baker is forced to break the hold. Marcus rolls over to the ropes and cradles his arm as Baker clutches at his stomach.



MW: We have fewer than four minutes to go!

SD: And Marcus has refused to give up. I think Baker will have to pin him.

MW: But can he?

SD: I don’t know!



Marcus pulls himself up before Baker and quickly moves over to him, lifting him and trapping his arm. With great effort, he spins him out and leaps up, connecting once again with Six Stars! Baker collapses to the mat and Marcus collapses just too far for him to make a cover straight away. Marcus takes a few moments to roll over and drape an arm over Baker once again, 1-2-no! Baker barely gets a shoulder up as the fans hold their hands to their heads again. Marcus sits up and stares down at Baker in disbelief.



With a renewed sense of determination, Marcus stands, wobbling on his feet, and stalks Baker. Baker slowly crawls towards the ropes before reaching up and pulling himself to his feet. As he turns, Marcus unleashes a superkick and immediately reaches down for Baker’s legs, looking to complete the Mark-treal Screwjob with a sharpshooter. He turns Baker and sits down as far as he can given his injured back. Baker cries out in pain, the cut on his stomach being stretched as Marcus puts pressure on his back. Baker grits his teeth and tries to make his way over to the ropes, but he can’t manage the effort, collapsing down in a heap.



MW: This could be it!

SD: And with one and a half minutes to go, it needs to be for Marcus!

MW: Baker could be out. The official might have to call this fall.



The official checks on Baker, who, as he senses the official about to ring the bell, forces himself up with gritted teeth. He roars with pain as he slowly drags himself over to the ropes, leaving a trail of blood from his stomach in his wake. Marcus tries to resist, but Baker’s resolve is too strong. With Baker getting closer and closer to the bottom rope, Marcus makes one final effort, stepping forward and dragging him back to the middle of the ring. A loud chant of ‘tap… tap… tap’ echoes around the arena and Baker looks up at the screen to see how long he has to hold out for.



Six….

Five….

Four….

Three….

Two…

One…



Baker lifts a hand.



Zero.



The bell rings and Marcus breaks the hold, sure that Baker must have tapped out. He turns to the official who tells him that the time has expired. The official consults with the announcer on the outside, who raises the mic.



“Ladies and gentlemen, with the time at sixty minutes, the score is Graham Baker 2, Marcus Allen Jones 2. We now enter sudden death. The first man to win a fall will win the match and the loser will leave FPW.”



Marcus turns to see Baker trying in vain to pull himself up on the ropes as the bell rings a third time. He quickly moves in and drags Baker back into the middle of the ring, forcing himself to apply the sharpshooter again. Baker resists, trying to drag himself over to the ropes, but he can’t even push himself up to begin his journey. With the chant of ‘tap… tap… tap’ ringing even louder around the arena, Baker finally drops his head to the mat and raises his right arm a few inches, tapping his hand on the mat to bring the match, and his FPW career, to an end.



Winner by 3 falls to 2 in sudden death overtime: Marcus Allen Jones (61:55).



MW: Listen to that ovation!

SD: Marcus Allen Jones finally overcomes Graham Baker.

MW: And now we’re saying goodbye to the self-proclaimed Ace of Freedom Pro Wrestling.

SD: I can’t quite believe this is really happening.



Marcus Allen Jones is helped to his feet by the official who raises his arm. He roars to the fans as they chant his name before looking down at Baker, who hasn’t moved. Marcus watches carefully as Baker rolls over and slowly sits up, holding his head in his hands. The crowd go silent as Baker looks up at Marcus. The two stare at one another for a few moments before Marcus offers Baker a hand. Baker looks up at it and shakes his head, pushing himself to his feet. He stares Marcus down some more and shakes his head again, turning and stepping through the ropes.



As he begins to walk up the ramp, the fans boo him loudly. Baker reaches the top of the ramp and pauses before flipping off the crowd one final time and exiting through the curtain. The boos die down and are replaced by a loud round of applause for Marcus Allen Jones as he hoists himself up onto the top turnbuckle to salute the fans.



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MW: Well here we are, folks. The main event. The Freedom Pro Wrestling Championship.

SD: MDE defends against the Free-1 winner, Jace Mason. Mason may be a somewhat unlikely challenger but he’s proven this year that he’s a worthy one.

MW: Jace Mason has had an excellent year. He won the Hardcore Championship this time last year and held it through the transition to the Freedom Championship, with defences against Jimmy Havoc, Clutch McCloud, Russ Bolt and even against a rampaging Marcus Allen Jones. He then went into the Free-1 and came through a group which was incredibly close before retaining his chance to be in this match against Aaron Williams. He may doubt himself, but Jace Mason unquestionably deserves to be here.

SD: Mason may question himself but he’s in the ring with someone with the upmost confidence. MDE goes into every match not just believing he can win, not just believing that he will win but refusing to countenance that he can lose. He has a gameplan for everyone and knows exactly how to take away strengths and prey on weaknesses. He may have said that Jace Mason doesn’t deserve to be here, but I know for sure that he’ll be ready for him.

MW: This match is the biggest in Jace Mason’s career. He’s admitted to nerves and self-doubt. Can he overcome all of that and take away the biggest prize in FPW?

SD: I think he can, but he’ll have to wrestle the best match of his life. MDE will look to control the pace and keep it slow, pick apart Mason and take away his base for the Extra Credit and the half-crab. Mason needs to avoid taking too much damage and turn the match into a faster-paced one. I’m betting on MDE retaining tonight, but if the stars align in the right way, a Mason victory is not completely impossible.

MW: Well let’s get to it. The main event of Judgement Day II, FPW Champion MDE defending the FPW Championship against the Free-1 winner, Jace Mason.



The camera pans around the crowd, who begin to let out a ‘Let’s Go Mason!’ chant. The chant builds and builds, rolling around the arena as the fans wait in earnest for Jace Mason’s music to play. Finally, ‘Afterlife’ begins and the fans explode with the biggest pop of the night. As soon as the intro ends, Jace Mason steps through the curtain, one foot forward as pyro explodes around him. He takes a deep breath and looks around at all of the fans, taking a big gulp before nodding to himself and making his way down the ramp. He holds out his hands for the fans to slap but he doesn’t interact as much as he normally would, instead focussing his gaze on the ring. He steps up onto the ring apron and climbs the turnbuckles, one foot on the middle and one on the top, before raising his right fist and dropping into the ring. As his music ends, the ‘Let’s Go Mason!’ chant picks up again and Mason bounces up and down with an uneasy smile on his face.



As soon as ‘Dance of the Knights’ interrupts the chant, the fans let go with loud boos. MDE steps through the curtain, FPW Championship around his waist, and surveys the arena with a confident smirk. His eyes come to rest on Jace Mason in the ring and he cocks an eyebrow before returning to his usual neutral expression and walking slowly down the ramp. As MDE walks, he doesn’t drop his gaze from Mason, who stares right back at him, his eyes flicking down at times to the belt that sits around MDE’s waist. As MDE reaches the ring, he climbs up onto the apron and steps through the ropes, keeping to his corner as the official checks him over.



With both men checked, the official shows both the FPW Championship. MDE doesn’t look down at it, instead keeping his gaze on Mason. As Mason is shown the belt, he stares down it at, nods to himself, and then raises his gaze to MDE with renewed determination. The official holds up the belt before calling for the bell.



Match 8: FPW Championship: MDE vs. Jace Mason:



As the two men stare one another down, the same ‘Let’s Go Mason!’ chant fills the arena again. The chant spurring him on, Mason moves in quickly and looks for the lock-up, but MDE steps aside and the fans boo. Mason holds out his arms as MDE looks him up and down dismissively. Mason comes forward again but again MDE steps aside from the lock-up and the fans are left booing. MDE turns to look at Mason again and he shakes his head. Mason calls MDE forward and stands his ground, but MDE simply gives him a look and shakes his head before beckoning Mason to him instead. Mason wastes no time in coming forward, only for MDE to turn away again.



MW: MDE stalling here.

SD: He knows that Jace Mason will be full of nervous energy. He wants to frustrate him and put the emphasis on the nerves and not the energy.

MW: It seems like he’s succeeding at the moment.

SD: MDE is disrespecting Mason. Jace Mason needs to show MDE that he deserves to be taken seriously otherwise MDE will frustrate Mason into mistakes and he’ll jump all over them.



Mason turns to MDE and moves in again quickly but again MDE turns away. This time, however, Mason grabs his arm and whips him round before striking him with a right hand. MDE turns his head as Mason steps back and beckons him forward, the fans cheering. This time, MDE comes forward and he and Mason lock-up, MDE locking in a headlock and taking Mason over quickly. Mason gets his legs up in a headscissors but MDE breaks the grip and maintains his headlock. Mason tries to wriggle a hand in underneath MDE’s grip but MDE takes the hand and transitions into a wrist-lock before bending the arm unnaturally.



MDE then places Mason’s wrist on the mat and holds it there with his foot. He brings his other foot up and stomps hard on the triceps, Mason withdrawing the arm quickly and clutching it to his body. MDE then pulls Mason up and takes the arm again, wringing it and driving his elbow into the same triceps he stomped on moments before. Mason drops to a knee and MDE draws the arm across his body, catching his other wrist and locking Mason in a straightjacket, driving his knee into Mason’s back to apply further pressure. Mason cries out in pain and manages to wriggle his foot over to the bottom rope. MDE releases the hold and looks down at the challenger as he holds his left arm.



MW: MDE taking early control of this one.

SD: As we expected. Mason showed that he wasn’t to be disrespected but MDE has kept him grounded ever since.

MW: How does Mason get back into this match from here?

SD: He needs to be quicker to break free of MDE’s grip. He can’t let him manipulate his limbs at will. Mason has to quicken up and force MDE to change his gameplan.



MDE moves over to Mason and pulls him up, but Mason shoves him away and MDE backs up a step. As MDE comes back in, Mason drives his right elbow into MDE’s gut and then pulls him down throat-first into the ropes. MDE reels away and Mason stands. He hits the ropes and looks for a disaster kick, but MDE catches his leg and locks in an ankle lock, dropping down and grapevining the leg. Mason tries to manoeuvre his way to the ropes but MDE transitions, releasing the leg and pulling Mason into the middle of the ring, trapping him in a knee bar instead. Mason tries to kick out with his other leg but MDE positions himself well and doesn’t allow Mason to connect.



After a couple of kick attempts, MDE catches the leg and draws it across Mason’s other leg, using it to add more pressure to his knee bar. Mason tries to fight against it and manages to drag himself towards the ropes, but MDE releases the knee and rolls up Mason’s back, wrapping an arm around his neck and pulling back, putting pressure on the back. With his other arm, he traps both legs and quickly switches his grip, allowing him to force Mason into the air with his knees into his back. Mason cries out but manages to slip an arm under MDE’s grip and pull himself free. He lands a hard stomp to the arm before backing away and trying to get some feeling back into his limbs. MDE quickly makes it to his feet and Mason comes at him with a spinning back kick which connects. Mason kicks out MDE’s leg before hitting the ropes and looking for a low dropkick. MDE, however, avoids it and catches Mason in a chinlock, which he quickly adds to by trapping Mason’s arm behind his knee and driving his other knee between Mason’s shoulder blades.



MW: I hate to say it but this is an exhibition of technical wrestling from MDE.

SD: Jace Mason is doing just enough to survive at the moment but not much more than that. He went for that disaster kick too early and I think he went for the kick combination too early too.

MW: Is that a result of nerves?

SD: Yes, I’d say so. He’s trying to do moves that he wouldn’t normally do until he’s established some more offense. He’s leaving himself open and MDE is the one man you never can afford to do that against.



Mason manages to hook a leg over the bottom rope and MDE is forced to break his grip. MDE doesn’t let him catch his breath, however, gripping him around the waist and lifting him into a German suplex, holding onto the grip and rolling Mason into a seated position before locking him in a dragon sleeper and wrapping his legs around his torso, pushing up with his hips to really apply pressure. Mason tries to get a hand under MDE’s arm but this time he can’t do it. Instead, he walks his legs up until he can flip over and get a cover on MDE, 1-2-no. MDE breaks his grip to break the cover.



MDE gets quickly to his feet but he comes in a bit too quickly, allowing Mason to take him down with a drop toe hold. Mason quickly goes for a Fujiwara arm bar, but MDE flips over, using a crucifix to roll Mason onto his back and then looking to transition into the Simply Great Stretch. The fans gasp as MDE traps the right arm and looks to pull back on the left, but Mason holds it too close to allow MDE to take it. MDE looks to transition by taking a front facelock, but Mason manages to take the arm and wriggle free, holding the wrist and landing a hard knee strike to MDE’s head.



MW: That’s the first big shot that Mason has managed to get in on MDE.

SD: And these fans know it. Listen to them, Watson!

MW: They’re desperate to see Mason get the win in this match and they’re sensing that the tide may be starting to turn here.



Mason pushes up to his feet as MDE takes a little longer after the hard strike. As MDE gets to his feet, Mason connects with a superkick to the gut before taking MDE down with a snapmare. He hits the ropes and connects with a penalty kick, really quickening the pace. The fans cheer as he looks to make another cover, 1-2-no. MDE kicks out on the stroke of two. Mason springs to his feet and stalks MDE again, this time whipping him into the corner and following him in with a high knee. He doesn’t release MDE, instead holding onto him and bringing him out of the corner before taking him down with an STO. Mason makes another cover, 1-2-no. again MDE kicks out.



This time, Mason doesn’t wait for MDE to get to his feet, lifting him himself and kicking him in the gut before looking for a DDT. MDE, however, blocks it and takes Mason down with a fireman’s carry before looking for another chinlock, only for Mason to take MDE’s wrist and free himself. Mason pulls the wrist as high up MDE’s back as he can before landing a hard knee strike to MDE’s back. MDE arches his back and Mason hits the ropes, coming back with another penalty kick which causes MDE to rolls backwards and land on his knees. Mason then hits the ropes again and connects with a low dropkick to send MDE rolling under the bottom rope to the outside.



MW: Now we’re cooking!

SD: Mason needs to be careful here, though!

MW: The Eternal Student looking to go high-risk on the top rope.

SD: This could be very costly for Mason.



Mason looks down at MDE from the top rope and, with a loud cheer from the fans, leaps off and connects with a shooting star press to take MDE down. Mason rolls away and holds his stomach but he recovers quickly as he sees MDE lying motionless. Mason pulls MDE up and whips him into the guardrail, following up with a high knee before transitioning into a snapmare which leaves MDE resting against the steel steps. Mason backs off and connects with a third penalty kick to sandwich MDE between the kick and the steps. Mason then pulls MDE up and rolls him into the ring, following quickly to make a cover, the fans counting along with the official, 1-2-no! MDE kicks out.



Mason looks to MDE and then looks at his knee. He lifts the leg and looks to stamp on the back of it, but MDE manages to block the shot with his other leg before quickly lifting his legs around Mason’s neck and pulling him in, locking in a triangle choke. Mason struggles and MDE transitions into a cross arm-breaker, which Mason quickly blocks. MDE tries to break his grip but can’t, so he spins away from the arm and goes back to the leg, locking in the ankle lock again. Mason tries to fight it but MDE doesn’t let him turn onto his back, nor does he let him inch his way towards the ropes.



MW: This has got to be painful for Mason.

SD: And just like that, MDE is in control again. He took the flurry of offense from Mason and now he’s back to picking apart his limbs.

MW: He’s got the ankle but surely he’ll want to soften up the shoulders for the Simply Great Stretch?

SD: Yes and no. That’ll be in his mind but he’ll be looking to take away the base for Mason’s two big moves. He can’t hold onto a half-crab for long with a bum ankle and he won’t be able to push off for Extra Credit either. That’s MDE’s genius. He can take away moves as much as he can build to a submission.



MDE keeps his grip on the ankle and Mason’s face begins to show some concern as he can’t get close to the ropes. The fans continue to chant his name as he struggles, but their chants start to quieten as they can see the predicament he’s in. MDE senses Mason’s fight beginning to fade for the first time and he torques the ankle further, eliciting a cry of pain from The Eternal Student. MDE calls for Mason to tap out as he knows he can’t escape, but Mason refuses, pushing up and reawakening the fans as he makes another attempt to push towards the ropes. As he makes his first move, MDE shifts his position slightly to block Mason, but Mason uses it expertly, pulling with his leg as MDE is off-balance and forcing him to loosen his grip enough for Mason to free his ankle.



Mason tries to get quickly to his feet but he struggles to put weight on the ankle and MDE takes advantage, stomping down on the joint and then lifting Mason into a belly to back suplex. He quickly looks to go back to the ankle lock, but Mason kicks out hard with his right leg. MDE catches the right leg but Mason reaches up and pulls MDE down into a small package, 1-2-no! MDE just manages to escape. He and Mason both get to their feet and MDE looks for the stomp to the ankle again, but Mason blocks it and he lands a hard chop to MDE’s chest. MDE winces and Mason chops him again and again, forcing him back into the corner, where he lets off a volley of chops, each one sending the fans more and more frenzied.



MW: Intensity radiating from Jace Mason now!

SD: This is the Jace Mason we need to see if he’s going to win this match.



Mason wheels away and lets out an intense roar to the fans, who respond to him as he charges at MDE and lands a running chop. MDE staggers out of the corner holding his chest and Mason looks to take him down with a DDT, but MDE stomps on the ankle join again and lifts him before dumping him over the top rope. Mason lands on the apron and is quick to kick MDE’s leg out. MDE drops to his knees before Mason launches himself through the ropes with a wrecking ball dropkick back into the ring. He rolls over and clutches the ankle for a moment before pushing up to his feet and stalking MDE. As MDE kneels again, Mason lands a huge superkick before delivering a second and a third. He makes a cover, 1-2-no! MDE kicks out just as the fans sense a three-count.



Mason holds a hand to his head but doesn’t waste much time as he grabs MDE’s leg and looks for the half-crab. MDE, however, is prepared, and he reaches up to pull Mason in for a small package. Mason, however, rolls through and lifts MDE, transitioning into a falcon arrow and hooking a leg for a cover, 1-2-no! Again MDE kicks out. Mason goes to the half-crab again but MDE again counters, sweeping the leg with his right leg and quickly stepping up, looking to counter with a figure-four. Mason waits until MDE turns and he kicks him hard to get some separation. MDE turns back to Mason, who pulls himself up using the ropes and then pulls the top rope down as MDE charges at him.



MDE tumbles over the ropes but he doesn’t fall to the floor. Instead, he catches himself on the apron, but Mason wastes no time in connecting with a disaster kick to take MDE down. MDE lies on the apron as Mason stands and pumps up the fans. He pulls MDE up and looks to bring him through the top and middle ropes. Hooking his legs on the middle rope, Mason spikes him with a rope-hung DDT. Instead of going for the cover, Mason rolls MDE onto his back and points to the top rope. The fans cheer as Mason leaves the ring and climbs up to the top rope. He pauses for a moment before leaping off for a shooting star press, but MDE moves, positioning himself perfectly to catch Mason’s ankle again and grapevining the leg.



MW: MDE caught him!

SD: What a counter! We’re twenty-five minutes into this match and for the first time, I really think it could be about to end.

MW: Jace Mason has waited his whole life for this opportunity. Surely he won’t tap out.

SD: Eventually he may have to. If MDE keeps that hold in for too long Mason’s ankle is going to snap.



Mason cries out in pain as MDE twists the ankle as far as he possibly can. Mason tries to push himself up but MDE’s grapevine of the leg doesn’t give him much room to work with. The fans begin a loud ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant, and Mason begins to fight harder, pushing up and crawling to the side to try and get to the bottom rope. Just as he reaches out, MDE rolls, rolling them both back into the middle of the ring. All of a sudden, the excited cheers turn to concerned murmurs and fans in the front row can be seen with their hands over their mouths. Mason’s fight suddenly seems to drop and he starts sinking down to the mat.



MDE continues to torque the ankle as hard as he possibly can, and Mason droops further and further. The official checks on him, but he refuses to give in. The arena quietens as MDE orders the official to check again once Mason goes limp. The official raises Mason’s arm and allows it to drop back to the mat. He raises it a second time and again it drops down to the mat. MDE grins maniacally as the official once again raises the arm, signalling that this is the third time. With the arena deathly quiet, he drops the arm and Mason’s arm drops towards the mat… but it doesn’t hit. The fans explode with cheers as Mason keeps his hand aloft and curls his fingers into a fist of determination. Mason suddenly ma n ages to push himself up and, with a snarl on his face, makes one final push and drapes an arm over the bottom rope.



MW: He did it! Jace Mason escaped!

SD: He escaped the ankle lock but how much can he really do in this match? That ankle must be close to being broken if it isn’t already broken.

MW: And MDE looks ready to move in for the kill now.

SD: This could be the end of this match.



MDE pulls Mason up and lifts him for a gutbuster. He drives him hard into his knee before transitioning into a gutwrench suplex. He floats over and uses all of his strength to lift Mason, pulling him onto his shoulders and completing the Triple Gutwrench with a gutwrench powerbomb. The fans again go silent as MDE makes a cover, 1-2-no! Mason just gets a shoulder up and the fans come unglued. MDE stares at the official in disbelief and he looks down at Mason as the fans still cheer loudly. MDE looks down with renewed determination before trapping the right arm and pulling back on the left. The fans quieten again as MDE drapes his leg over the left arm and pulls back to complete the Simply Great Stretch. Mason’s face contorts in pain, but, beneath the pain, is more determination as he wriggles his legs and manages to get to the ropes.



MDE reluctantly breaks the hold and then pulls Mason to his knees. He looks down at him and slaps him across the face before lifting him for a gutbuster again. Mason, however, elbows his way free and lands a hard elbow strike to the gut to double MDE over. Still on his knees, Mason pulls MDE down into a DDT. He rolls over as the now-familiar ‘Let’s Go Mason’ chant echoes around the arena again. Mason begins to slowly make his way towards the ropes and he reaches up, pulling himself up bit by bit. Once he gets to his feet, MDE is doing the same on the opposite ropes. Mason turns and tries to run across the ring at him, but he can only manage a few faltering steps before he drops to one knee as his ankle gives out.



MDE swoops in, pulling Mason in and delivering a belly to belly suplex. He then looks to take the ankle again but Mason uses the ring apron to pull himself out of the ring and away from MDE’s grip. MDE looks down at Mason as he holds his ankle on the outside. MDE slides out of the ring and moves slowly to Mason, who tries to back away. MDE, however, reaches down and pulls Mason up, driving a knee into his gut before rolling him back into the ring. MDE then follows and pulls Mason up again before looking to the top rope. He backs up, maintaining his grip on Mason, and he slowly pushes himself up onto the middle rope. MDE then hooks his arm around Mason’s waist and pulls him up, stepping up to the top rope for a top rope gutwrench powerbomb.



MW: This is going to the move that ends this match.

SD: Mason won’t be able to survive this, that’s for sure.

MW: MDE with- no! Mason counters! Extra Credit! Shades of the Free-1 final!

SD: He’s got to make the cover!

MW: Mason… he drapes an arm over the champion… one… two… thre-no!



The loud buzz around the arena suddenly goes quiet as MDE lifts a leg onto the bottom rope and the official stops his count at the latest possible moment. Mason turns, disbelief etched onto his face as he sees the leg on the bottom rope. Mason rolls away, hands on his head, as the fans once again build their noise for him, sensing a possible opening for Mason. He slowly pushes himself up and, although he can’t put much weight on his left leg, he slowly makes his way over to MDE, who still lies with his leg over the bottom rope. Mason grabs the leg and laboriously drags MDE towards the middle of the ring. Mason then takes the leg and locks in a half-crab.



A loud chant of ‘tap… tap… tap’ rolls around the arena as Mason exerts as much pressure as he can on the knee. MDE struggles to resist after expending his final ounce of energy on getting his foot on the rope. The chant gets louder and louder as MDE looks ready to give up. However, with a swipe of his arm, he manages to take away the left leg and Mason falls forward, losing his grip on the leg. MDE uses the ropes to pull himself up and turns to see Mason kneeling on the mat. Mason’s head rolls as MDE moves towards him. MDE beckons MDE forward and MDE bends down, only for Mason to pull him into a small package, 1-2-no! MDE barely manages to escape as the fans gasp once again.



MW: I thought he had him there!

SD: As did almost everyone in this building, Watson!

MW: And now Mason managing to get to his feet.

SD: But so is MDE.



Both men turn to one another. Mason aims a superkick to the gut but MDE catches it, spinning Mason around and looking to catch him with a German suplex. Mason, however, drops down, wriggles through MDE’s legs and pulls MDE’s arms with him, flipping him onto his back and then using his legs to hook MDE’s legs for a roll-up, 1-2-no! MDE again just manages to kick out. Mason this time doesn’t waste time, using the energy of the crowd for a shot of adrenaline to mask the pain in his ankle. He scrambles to his feet and pulls MDE with him, whipping him into the ropes and catching him with another Extra Credit!



However, instead of making the cover, Mason grabs the leg again and locks in the half-crab. MDE cries out in pain as Mason bends back as far as he possibly can, looking to wrench the leg from its socket. MDE raises his arm as the chant of ‘tap… tap… tap’ breaks out again. MDE grits his teeth and drives towards the ropes, reaching out, but Mason steps forward and takes him back towards the middle of the ring, only for MDE to catch the foot again and break the hold one more time. MDE tries to catch the ankle but Mason wriggles free and away from MDE’s grip. MDE tries to make it to his feet quickly but Mason gets there quicker and lands another hard superkick to the head.



MDE sways backwards and Mason pulls him up, launching a barrage of elbow strikes to drive MDE into the corner. He unleashes another series of chops before connecting with two superkicks to the gut. MDE drops to a seated position and Mason backs away, signalling for a cannonball, borrowing a trick from Aaron Williams’ playbook. The fans cheer as Mason crashes into MDE, who rolls away towards the middle of the ring. Mason then climbs gingerly to the top rope and wastes no time in coming down with a shooting star press. He holds for the cover, 1-2-no! MDE again barely gets his shoulder up.



MW: How can either one of these man put the other away in this match?

SD: I just don’t know. We’ve seen an hour-long ironman match just now and now we may well be about to see another hour-long epic.

MW: Whatever happens, one of these men will well and truly have earned the chance to wear that title after tonight.



Mason pushes himself up to his knees and looks down at MDE who lies on his back breathing hard. Mason nods to himself and calls to the fans, who cheer loudly for him. He takes an age to push himself up to his feet before pulling a dead weight MDE with him. He forces MDE into the corner and tries to lift him up, but MDE resists, jamming an elbow down into Mason’s back. Mason backs away for a moment but doesn’t allow MDE the upper hand, instead pulling him onto his shoulders and connecting with a fireman’s carry neckbreaker, which causes MDE to stagger forward into the turnbuckles again.



Mason moves in and lands a series of knee strikes to MDE’s back before turning him round and heaving him up to a seated position on the top rope. Mason climbs after him and chops him hard in the chest. He then takes a breath before looking around the arena. Every fan stands on their feet as Mason leaps up onto the top rope and lands another top rope Extra Credit, this time coming down with both knee’s in MDE’s midsection before hooking both legs for the cover, 1-2-3!



Winner and new FPW Champion: Jace Mason (43:35).



The fans explode as the official’s hand hits for a third time. Mason rolls off MDE and he rests on his back for a few moments before slowly sitting up, tears already in his eyes. The official places the FPW Championship in his hands and Mason holds it to his forehead, tears freely flowing now as every fan in the arena gives him a standing ovation. Slowly, Mason pushes himself up onto his feet and he looks out around the entire area before slinging the belt over his shoulder and applauding all of the fans before bowing to all sides of the arena.



MW: Jace Mason’s dream has come true. He has climbed the mountain in Freedom Pro Wrestling, and boy does he deserve this moment.

SD: And what a match to win the FPW Championship in. He went through the wringer with a man who I think is the best technical wrestler in all of wrestling. He essentially wrestled the final ten minutes on a broken ankle and managed to fight through it to win an historic victory.

MW: I know it may be gimmick infringement but looking at this right now I’m not sure anybody can challenge the assertion that Jace Mason is most definitely the people’s champion. I’ve never seen an outpouring of emotion quite like this.



Jace Mason climbs up to the top turnbuckle and raises the FPW Championship over his head, letting out a huge roar of pure elation as the fans below him applaud him some more. The show goes off the air with a shot of Jace Mason holding the FPW Championship over his head with one hand while the other points out into the crowd of adoring fans.