Post by Jim Houston on Sept 6, 2020 9:57:34 GMT
Franz Ferdinand’s ‘Take Me Out’ begins to play and the FPW logo appears on the screen. As the song picks up, big moments from FPW’s past play- Adam Thompson becoming the first FPW Champion, Marcus Allen Jones standing with the belt, Graham Baker’s Free-1 victory, Artemis Evans becoming the first Women’s Champion, Graham Baker winning the FPW Championship, Jace Mason debuting the Freedom Championship, Davey Jones winning the FPW Championship, Jace Mason winning the Free-1, Jerry Bishop taking Bobby O down with a right hand, Artemis Evans winning the Dead Man’s Chest, Jerry Bishop making Berry Bishop tap out, Jace Mason winning the FPW Championship, Artemis Evans winning the FPW Championship, Jace Mason winning it back again, Jerry Bishop winning the FPW Championship, The House of Berry and Bo winning the Tag Team Championships and finally Jerry Bishop winning the Free-1, standing a laughing with both the FPW Championship and the Free-1 trophy as the video ends.
The lights come up in the arena to loud boos as Thalia Columbina stands under a spotlight in the ring, the Free-1 trophy just visible on a plinth to her left and the FPW Championship just visible on a plinth to her right.
“Ladies and gentlemen, THE man who simply requires no introduction.”
‘Shine My Shoes’ plays and Jerry Bishop walks into the arena, the spotlight focussing on him as he stands at the top of the ramp, letting out a loud laugh in response to the boos that greet him. A loud ‘Fuck You, Jerry’ chant comes up and Jerry beams, conducting the fans with great enthusiasm as he makes his way down the ramp. He reaches the ring and hops up onto the apron, spreading his arms and smiling at Thalia before stepping between the ropes. The boos continue as the lights come up and Jerry moves over to Thalia, bowing to her and kissing her hand before taking a mic.
TC: Welcome, Joker. Once again you grace these undeserving people with your presence.
JB: On the contrary, Thalia, the presence of The Joker is exactly what these people deserve.
The fans boo loudly again.
TC: A fair point as usual. This is the night that we have been waiting for since your glorious triumph in the Free-1 final. The moment where you reveal your intended challenger for Judgement Day III. But allow us to hold off on that moment for a time. Where does the Free-1 victory rank in your long, long list of FPW achievements?
JB: Being FPW Champion, winning the Free-1, being impossible to pin or submit in over a year, having the record for most FPW victories of all time, vanquishing several past foes. The list is indeed long, but of course you know that already. A Free-1 victory that I and my associate have been guaranteeing for some time is an achievement in which I take pride, but achievements which I already expect to happen may not be as exhilarating as those which come as a surprise, my dear.
The fans boo some more as Jerry and Thalia exchange a long look.
TC: You do so love to be surprised. Was it a surprise to be facing your sister in the final.
JB: Not at all. Since working with the unpronounceable one, she has made big strides in her all-round abilities. I was intrigued by the opportunity to test her. Sadly, she failed her test. Or perhaps I should address this deserving audience for a moment. It maybe wasn’t she who failed the test, but you. For when she held your support, I sensed that she may be strong enough to overcome even The Joker, but you failed her. You didn’t truly believe in her, as much as you may have believed you did. She suffered for it. And once again, you got the result that you deserved.
The boos get even louder and another loud ‘Fuck You, Jerry’ chant goes up.
TC: Let’s not delay the moment of gratification any longer, Joker. It is time to reveal your desired opponent for Judgement Day III. Who is the unfortunate soul who is destined to be vanquished upon their biggest day?
JB: I have given this a great deal of thought. Of course, the Free-1 contract does indeed state that should the FPW Champion, in this case, moi, be victorious and retain the FPW Championship up until Judgement Day III, which of course I shall, then the challenger shall be someone who has defeated the FPW Champion in the Free-1 block. Of course, I remained undefeated, and therefore Section B comes in force. Should the FPW Champion win the Free-1 and retain the FPW Championship up until Judgement Day III, which of course I still shall, the FPW Champion shall reserve the right to choose a deserving challenger. And that is the right that I deserve. So who should it be? Who deserves the opportunity to face The Joker on the biggest stage this company has to offer? Who truly would be a ‘deserving’ challenger?
The fans begin a small ‘We Want Marcus’ chant which quickly gains in momentum.
JB: Ah yes, young mister Jones. A fine CV, a former FPW Champion, a former Young Lions’ Cup winner with a record of big matches. A deserving challenger for an FPW Champion? Of course. A deserving challenger for The Joker? I’m afraid not. I defeated Marcus Allen Jones the last time we were in the ring together and therefore he is not deserving of the opportunity. So who else is there?
The fans boo, but that chant turns into a ‘We Want Mason’ chant, which equally quickly gains momentum.
JB: Young Mason. Another fine record, another former FPW Champion and Young Lions’ Cup winner. Even a member of the exclusive club of Free-1 winners. Once again a deserving challenger for an FPW Champion, but once again not a deserving challenger for this FPW Champion. I’m sure none of you have forgotten that it was Jace Mason against whom I finally claimed this prize. So who else?
The boos come again, but they turn to a ‘Bo-ti-atus’ chant, which also picks up quickly.
JB: Botiatus? Intriguing. A weaker CV than the previous two rejects for sure, but a man with a certain fire in his belly when it comes to myself. However, another man who I defeated the last time we were in a ring together. No, I’m afraid I must reject him too for Judgement Day III although Judgement Day III remains three months in the future and I suppose I can’t sit and put my feet up for that time. So I have a proposal. Botiatus has something I desire. The FPW Tag Team Championships. Should Botiatus manage to successfully defend the FPW Tag Team Championships against myself and MDE, then I shall grant him an opportunity to try to take the FPW Championship from me before Judgement Day III.
The boos turn to cheers for a brief moment, before the fans remember who stands in the ring, and the boos return.
JB: Of course, you do realise that this opportunity will not come to pass. Myself and MDE will claim the Tag Team Championships and you will all have the chance to see something that I’m sure you dreamed about for a long time- Jerry Bishop standing in the ring as a double champion. And I can promise you that you will get to see exactly that moment, because it is, after all, just what you deserve.
Jerry hands the mic to Thalia and picks up the FPW Championship, placing it over his shoulder before lifting the Free-1 trophy once again, the rest of the arena going dark as a spotlight coming down on Jerry. The fans rain boos down on him even as Thalia stands and applauds. After several moments of holding the pose, Jerry moves over to the ropes, holding them open for Thalia, who steps through. He drops down and she takes his arm as the two of them walk up the ramp.
MW: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to FPW Freedom Fighters. This is our debut weekly show and, well, I’m sorry that the first thing you had to see was our current FPW Champion.
SD: Sorry, Watson? Sorry? Jerry Bishop is FPW Champion. Jerry Bishop is the Free-1 winner. Jerry Bishop is the best wrestler FPW has to offer. You may not like the way he does things and, if I’m honest, there are a few things he does that I’m not too fond of myself, but what better way to start our first ever show than with The Joker himself?
MW: I can think of a few to be honest, but let’s just take a moment to focus on what he said. Jerry has the right to choose a challenger for Judgement Day III, should he still be FPW Champion of course, and he has claimed that there is no deserving challenger. What do you make of that, Steven?
SD: I can’t say that I disagree with his logic. Who is there who can say they’ve defeated recently? Marcus can’t, Mason can’t, Botiatus can’t, all of which Jerry noted, but who else might challenge? He beat Williams and Bobby in the Free-1, he beat Berry in the final, MDE won’t challenge him. He beat Evans and Clutch in last year’s Free-1 and neither has beaten him since. Who else would you genuinely claim is a deserving challenger than Jerry hasn’t beaten?
MW: At the moment, I’d struggle to find one, but let’s hope that someone emerges or that Botiatus accepts Jerry’s challenge.
SD: The question for me is whether Botiatus would be willing to do so knowing it would put Berry in the ring with Jerry again. Psychologically, she can’t be in a good place after another defeat like that.
MW: That’s a great point. I suppose we’ll need to wait to find out Bo’s thoughts on that one. Something we won’t need to wait for, however, is the first ever Freedom Fighters match. Tonight we see Go Shihei, the powerful Japanese brawler, facing off against The Silent Assassin, the impressive Free-1 debutant. Who do you have in this one, Steven?
SD: I saw something special in The Silent Assassin. The man has a presence that you can’t ignore and he stepped in to pick up some strong wins in the Free-1. He did come unstuck against Bobby O, Aaron Williams and, of course, Jerry Bishop, so he has some areas that he needs to develop, but I think this man is set for a big FPW career, and I think he builds a nice bit of momentum with a win tonight.
Match 1: The Silent Assassin vs. Go Shihei:
- The match begins with Shihei showcasing his power and forcing The Silent Assassin back into the corner.
- The two exchange a few strikes, Shihei again taking the advantage and landing some big chops and elbows.
- The Silent Assassin fights back into it by ducking a big lariat into a spinning Samoan drop for a two-count.
- He ups the pace, landing a big boot and a couple of running European uppercuts in the corner before getting another close two-count with Crossed Out.
- Shihei fights back into it, catching a springboard knee and turning it into an exploder before landing a barrage of chops.
- He pulls The Silent Assassin up for a Dead Man’s Bomb, but The Silent Assassin drops down behind him, connecting with a German suplex before landing Double Tap.
- The Silent Assassin pulls Shihei to his feet and connects with Silencer for the win.
Winner: The Silent Assassin (9:32).
MW: And that’s a big win for The Silent Assassin.
SD: He showed tonight that he doesn’t just rely on being the more powerful man in the ring. He overcame someone who may be more powerful than he is. I think The Silent Assassin could become a major player in FPW over the coming months.
MW: He’s someone to watch out for for sure, but someone else to watch out for is Aaron Williams. He came off a Free-1 where he picked up eight points but one which he claimed was a disappointment after working so hard to win it. Tonight he faces Myra Lopez, who pinned Williams in a six-man tag match just six days ago, albeit with the help of a handful of tights.
SD: The Queendom are looking to continue as the most dominant faction in all of FPW. They picked up a huge win over Williams, Jace Mason and Marcus Allen Jones and Artemis Evans stated that her aim now is to work towards having all the gold. A win for Myra Lopez tonight and she surely puts herself in line for the next Freedom Championship match against whoever walks out as champion tonight.
MW: Whereas a win for Williams is maybe more about redemption and a chance to start afresh. He still clearly has his sights set on Parker, Si and Armondo, and I’m wondering if a win tonight might get him a little closer to a match with those three, who, by the way, I think we ought to be watchful for. They seem able to slip past security whenever they like, and they may well have this match circled as one to come and get involved with.
Match 2: Myra Lopez vs. Aaron Williams:
- Myra Lopez come out with Thea Donovan, while Williams comes out alone.
- Lopez gets the better of the opening technical exchanges, working Williams’ knee.
- Williams manages to escape most holds without major damage but Lopez keeps him grounded due to her technical expertise and a few distractions from Donovan.
- A knee bar takes its toll on Williams, who takes a long time to get to the ropes and break it, partially due to Donovan pulling them away from him.
- Williams gets back into the match with a discus clothesline to counter a swinging leg lariat and he looks for his splash-cannonball combo, but Lopez avoids the first splash after his knee slightly slows him down.
- She catches him with a butterfly backbreaker for a close near-fall.
- She looks to set him up for GTS, but Williams frees himself and connects with a brainbuster to the knee to give himself some breathing room.
- He sets her up on the ropes and hits a 450 off the top for a near-fall before pulling her up and sending her into the ropes.
- Donovan gets onto the apron and Williams takes her down with a mid-kick. Lopez tries to take advantage by taking him down into an inverted figure-four, but Williams doesn’t let her lock it in.
- He manages to get into the corner and his splashes-canonball-swan-ton combo earns him a near-fall.
- He looks to set her up for A Triple Plus but she escapes and pulls him up for GTS, but he escapes again. Donovan gets onto the apron to distract the official and Lopez goes for a low-blow, but Williams blocks it, connecting with A Triple Plus for the win.
Winner: Aaron Williams (13:11).
MW: Aaron Williams finally manages to overcome Myra Lopez.
SD: She had him in trouble in that match but Williams got there in the end.
MW: The trouble mostly coming from several distractions and an attempted low-blow. We all know how The Queendom operate.
SD: She had him in trouble because her work on his knee.
As Williams celebrates, Thea Donovan attacks him from behind, connecting with a superkick to the back of his head and then laying into him. Lopez joins her and together they put the boots to Williams. The boos of the fans turn to cheers as Jace Mason and Marcus Allen Jones come running down the ramp and they run Lopez and Donovan off. Mason checks on Williams while Marcus stares back up the ramp at The Queendom as they retreat.
MW: It looks like these two haven’t forgotten that loss.
SD: And nor should they forget a loss. But I’m not sure that these three individuals want to put themselves up against The Queendom a second time.
MW: If The Queendom continue to attack with the numbers game, I for one am glad that we have people willing to take a stand.
SD: I still don’t see what Marcus Allen Jones and Jace Mason think they’ll gain from this. They were comprehensively defeated by The Queendom six days ago. They’ll be comprehensively defeated again if they want to try and make this into something more than it was.
Backstage, Kincaid and Alyssa walk through the corridor. Kincaid pauses for a moment as he sees Bobby O and CJ Holmes walking hand-in-hand towards them. Alyssa turns and looks at Kincaid with concern before Kincaid marches up to Bobby.
K: Here he is, ‘Mr. FPW’.
BO: Look, I-
K: No, you listen to me. I’ve been in this business for a long time. I’ve got plenty of contacts and when I asked people about this place and who I might like to be around, you came up. Most people seemed to think you were a man of integrity and a man who could be trusted to do the right thing, despite your obvious flawed past. You were a reformed man and I went into that match looking forward to facing you, to having a fair, albeit meaningless, contest against someone who I thought I could respect. And not only did you come into that match far too aggressive for what it was, but you refused to shake hands with the man who had just beaten you and then you walked away from me when I was jumped from behind by someone I know you can’t stand. ‘Mr. FPW’? If you represent this company like that, then I’m not sure I want to be here.
Kincaid goes to walk on, but Bobby catches his arm.
BO: Listen, I hold my hands up. Maybe I went into that match a bit too amped up after I essentially handed Jerry Bishop the block on a silver platter, but no match that I have is meaningless. If you can’t handle someone giving their all, then you’re in the wrong profession. As for the handshake, that’s my bad.
Bobby extends his hand to Kincaid who looks down at it and shakes his head.
K: You don’t get it, do you? You approached this match in totally the wrong way. You were disrespectful throughout the match and afterwards. I don’t want to shake your hand. I want an apology.
BO: An apology? Fine. I’m sorry I didn’t shake your hand. I let my emotions get the better of me and I’m better than that. But I make no apologies for the way I wrestled the match. And I make no apologies for the fact that you can’t handle yourself against Clutch McCloud. I’m moving forward. Clutch is in my past. And so is this.
Bobby goes to walk on this time, but Kincaid grabs his arm.
K: There’s a right way and a wrong way to do things in this business. I do things the right way. I do things with respect to the business and everyone in it. It’s a shame to see someone who calls themselves ‘Mr. FPW’ doing things the wrong way. Maybe you need a bit more time think about who you want to be.
Kincaid and Alyssa walk off, leaving Bobby staring after him.
CJ: Ignore him. Like you said, it’s in the past now.
Bobby continues to look down the corridor as Kincaid and Alyssa turn a corner.
MW: And now we see the FPW Champion in action.
SD: Jerry Bishop teams with MDE to face Revolution-X, who had some very disrespectful words for Jerry and MDE earlier this week. I think these two young whippersnappers are going to be taught an important lesson tonight.
MW: I think there’s little doubt that MDE and Jerry Bishop enter as favourites for this match. After Jerry’s challenge to Botiatus earlier, this tag match could be an important warm-up possibly.
SD: I’m not sure that these two need a warm-up match. Jerry Bishop is the best wrestler in FPW and MDE is the best technician in the world. If these two really want to win the Tag Team Championships, they’ll do it.
MW: Of course, if Revolution-X do find a way to win tonight, they’ll put themselves right up there for a shot at those titles. Let’s get to ringside.
Match 3: Jerry Bishop and MDE vs. Revolution-X:
- The match begins with MDE and Jackson Banks with Jerry Bishop not bothering to stand on the apron.
- MDE immediately takes control, grounding Banks and keeping him in headlocks, facelocks and various holds to work the shoulder.
- After keeping Banks under control for the first few minutes of the match, MDE releases him and shoves him into his corner, calling for Tudor to come in.
- When Tudor comes in, he surprises MDE with a few kicks, but MDE catches him and regains control fairly quickly, taking him down and working his left leg.
- The fans try to help Tudor to get himself into the match, but MDE keeps snuffing out any chances that he gets.
- After a fairly long period of MDE being in control, Tudor manages to fight his way to the ropes and he lands a couple of kicks before tagging in Banks.
- Banks speeds the match up and manages to keep on top of MDE with a couple of springboard moves and a rope-walk facebuster for a two-count.
- Banks manages to tag in Tudor, who connects with a superkick into a shooting star crossbody from Banks. Tudor follows up with a double-rotation moonsault into a standing shooting star from Banks. Tudor gets a close two-count.
- MDE manages to get back into it and he tags in Jerry, who comes in and takes control quickly.
- Jerry connects with a tornado DDT before a slingshot DDT earns him a close two-count. Jerry looks for Last Laugh but Tudor blocks it and scrambles over to make the tag, only for MDE to pulls Banks off the apron. Tudor turns into Punchline and Jerry picks up the victory.
Winners: Jerry Bishop and MDE (14:07).
MW: Revolution-X did all they could, but Jerry Bishop picking up what seemed like an inevitable victory.
SD: Jerry got it done like we all expected and he’s letting out his patented laugh in celebration.
Boos rain down on Jerry as his laughing only grows louder until he's cut off as Famous by Puddle Of Mudd plays. Jerry shoots an annoyed look towards the stage as many of the boos start to turn to cheers. Bo walks out and the cheers grow louder as his music dies down. He paces back and forth on the stage for a second before raising the mic to speak but he stops as a H.O.B. chant starts up around the arena. He pauses as the chant builds momentum looking around and nodding in appreciation before locking his eyes back onto Jerry.
"You really are a miserable asshole."
The crowd erupts into cheers before starting up the H.O.B. chant again.
"Look at you Jerry. You're the FPW Champion! You haven't been pinned or submitted in a year! And you just won the Free-1 with a perfect record! You should be on top of the world! But it's not enough for you. So now you want to come after the Tag titles? And for what? Haven't you done enough to Berry already? I mean it's not enough that you beat her but you had to humiliate her while you did it. That laugh, that smug laugh of yours. It's just as fake as the rest of this bullshit persona you've built up for yourself. I mean look at you. There isn't a shred of the so called real Jerry left. You've traded milkshakes for Macallan. When's the last time you went to Jilly's huh?"
The crowd let's out a loud OHH.
"You've given up everything you used to be all in the name of being FPW Champion. I'll bet you thought winning that title would finally give you the validation you always craved. But it didn't did it? No of course not. I can see it in your eyes now. That title has left you feeling more empty than ever. You wake up every morning and you look at that belt and it's not validation no no no, it's a reminder that the real Jerry Bishop isn't good enough. The real Jerry Bishop could never accomplish the things you have. The real Jerry Bishop could never go a year without being pinned or submitted. The real Jerry Bishop could never win the Free-1. The real Jerry Bishop could never become FPW Champion. You tried that and you failed miserably. You failed over and over and it ate you alive. It ate you alive until there was nothing left and that's the real you. An empty shell of a man who looked himself in the mirror one day and decided he'd rather pretend to be someone else than to keep living as himself. A man who was driven by desperation to turn to the one person he despises most in this world. The Jester turned Joker standing side by side with the man who defiled his sister. You don't even need makeup and you still look like a straight clown."
The crowd roars as Jerry glares around, their reactions seeming to get to him for the first time.
"So let me get this straight. If I give you and your lackey, yeah that's what you are at this point Mr. Dead Last in his Free-1 block, if I give you two a shot at the Tag Team Titles and beat you, you'll give me a shot at the World Title? You know what Jerry, I ACCEPT."
The crowd explodes with its biggest cheer yet.
MW: It looks like the match is set. The House of Berry and Bo defending the Tag Team Championships against Jerry Bishop and MDE. What a match that will be.
SD: And what a moment it’ll be when Jerry becomes the first man to hold both the FPW Championship and the FPW Tag Team Championships at the same time.
MW: Don’t be so sure about that, Steven. I’ve never seen Botiatus this fired up before.
SD: He may be fired up, but he’s no Jerry Bishop.
MW: I guess we’ll find that out in due course. I hope Bo has consulted with Berry in making that decision because she will now have to stand across the ring and look at her big brother once again.
SD: Don’t forget that Jerry has to look at his little sister. I think some of his actions towards her are too much at times, and I don’t want to see them fighting, but they’ve chosen different paths, and Jerry is simply trying to give the fans what they’ve always wanted. I’m not sure he really wants to be facing her, but he won’t allow it to get in the way of his success.
Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Marcus Allen Jones, Jace Mason and Aaron Williams.
DB: Marcus, Jace, Aaron, thank you for joining me tonight. Earlier on we saw a typical Queendom double-team on Aaron and, Marcus and Jace, you two came out to make the save. Why was that?
JM: Aaron and I are friends. We have been for a long time. He did it for me in the Free-1 and I returned the favour. He won the match against the odds and he shouldn’t be subject to a beat-down because of it. I know only too well what The Queendom can do, and I’m not going to let them run roughshod over whoever they choose.
MAJ: The Queendom got one over on us at the Free-1 final. Sure they were the better unit but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them use those kind of tactics against us. We’re not done with them.
DB: Is that a challenge for a rematch?
MAJ: When you put it like that, I guess it is. I’d like to set the record straight. How about you two?
JM: Yep.
AW: Absolutely.
DB: Do you worry that your lack of experience as a team will hinder you against the most experience three-person team in FPW?
AW: It did last time. We went into that match with The Queendom on the back of about three days and Jace and Marcus were both going in hurt. Hell, I didn’t have my leg hanging off or my ribs taped to shit, but I was exhausted after the Free-1 too. If we get another opportunity, we’ll make sure that we work at this. Jace and I have pretty good chemistry and I’m sure we can work with Marcus and develop that as a trio as well. If we get the chance to face them again, we’ll be a far better team than we were six days ago.
JM: And remember, The Queendom aren’t the group we ultimately want to take down.
MAJ: We all still want to get the chance to face Parker, Si and Armondo. Maybe Houston will let us and maybe he won’t, but we’re not stupid. We know that we need to be a tighter unit if we’re going to get our chance against them. They’ll do whatever they have to do- even more so than The Queendom- so we need to work and work to make sure we’re prepared. A rematch with The Queendom can only help us.
DB: Okay, well-
Jim Houston walks up to the four of them and Dasha pauses.
JH: I’m sorry to interrupt you, Dasha. I couldn’t help but overhear you and I think you make a compelling case. I’ll give you the rematch. But that’s a big match and I’m not going to give it you for next week. Just like the Tag Team Championship match that I’m happy to sign off on, this match can start to fill in the card for Evacuation. And seeing as the three of you are so keen to get your hands on members of The Queendom, why don’t we complete the set? Next week, Jace, you can face Thea Donovan. The week after that, Marcus, I know your knee should be back to one hundred percent by then, you can face Artemis Evans. Happy?
JM: Yes. Thank you.
MAJ: I’m happy to get to face Evans. But we still want to-
JH: I’ve made my stance clear on that. I will not budge. Now, I’d better get going. I want to catch Botiatus before he leaves. I think he and MDE would make an interesting match in a couple of weeks’ time and I want to let him know the good news.
Houston walks away and Marcus stares after him, shaking his head.
MAJ: What will it take for him to give us that match?
AW: He’ll be forced into it in the end. In the meantime, let’s all be careful. These guys have targeted us and they’ll be back again I’m sure. Watch your back, and let’s also watch out for each other too.
JM: Agreed.
MAJ: Yeah. I just hope he gives us that chance to take it to them before they do anything too serious. I know exactly how much damage a group like that can do.
JM: I remember.
Marcus and Mason give one another a look before we return to ringside.
MW: Two massive matches announced for Evacuation right there.
SD: And for some of our next few shows too. Jace Mason versus Thea Donovan next week and then Botiatus versus MDE and Marcus Allen Jones versus Artemis Evans for two weeks’ time.
MW: Big matches for sure, but let’s get to tonight’s main event. A fitting main event for the first ever Freedom Fighters show as Clutch McCloud is set to defend the Freedom Championship against Danica Jane.
SD: This is… quite frankly, I don’t know what to expect. Clutch is adamant that the Freedom Championship is a men’s division belt and he refuses to accept any suggestion that an inter-gender match can be acceptable. Now that he has to defend this belt against not just any woman, but the woman he loved. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
MW: Clutch McCloud is opposed to inter-gender matches because he believes they promote… how does he put it… senseless man-on-woman violence.
SD: He believes all men secretly want to attack women and that by putting on inter-gender matches, we’re encouraging them to indulge those desires. I can see his reasoning, but I just can’t support it.
MW: And now he steps into the ring with Danica Jane. We haven’t heard about Clutch’s state of mind going into this one. I don’t even know if he could articulate the thoughts he must be having.
Match 4: Freedom Championship: Clutch McCloud vs. Danica Jane:
- Danica enters first, looking very focussed and ready. The fans respond well to her and she settles and prepares for Clutch.
- Clutch enters dressed in street clothes and the fans boo him loudly.
CM: Just the kind of reception I was expecting from a bunch of pigs salivating over the idea of seeing a man hitting a woman. Utterly disgusting. The Freedom Championship is a men’s division championship. The number one contender battle royal is invalid. Women cannot compete for my Freedom Championship. I refuse to wrestle a woman, especially… I refuse to participate in the institutionalised man-on-woman violence in FPW. I refuse to allow any of you to get off on seeing your worst fantasies become reality both in this arena and later tonight in your own homes. So I’m not even going to apologise, because I’m glad to be disappointing you. This match will not be taking place.
The fans boo loudly and Clutch turns and walks back through the curtain. Danica just stares after him, sighing and shaking her head.
Match Didn't Take Place
MW: Well it looks like this main event isn’t going to happen.
SD: I can’t say I’m surprised. But I’m sure Jim Houston isn’t going to be happy about this. The first Freedom Fighters show and the big main event has been ruined.
MW: I agree. I’m sure Clutch McCloud will be seeing some kind of punishment. I’ve got to think that Jim Houston will be looking to have this match whether Clutch likes it or not.
SD: I’m not sure that Clutch will do it.
MW: Then maybe he’ll find himself stripped of the Freedom Championship. But I guess that will be resolved next week, alongside Jace Mason facing Thea Donovan and… well, we’ll have to see. We’ll join you next week. Thank you so much for being with us.
The lights come up in the arena to loud boos as Thalia Columbina stands under a spotlight in the ring, the Free-1 trophy just visible on a plinth to her left and the FPW Championship just visible on a plinth to her right.
“Ladies and gentlemen, THE man who simply requires no introduction.”
‘Shine My Shoes’ plays and Jerry Bishop walks into the arena, the spotlight focussing on him as he stands at the top of the ramp, letting out a loud laugh in response to the boos that greet him. A loud ‘Fuck You, Jerry’ chant comes up and Jerry beams, conducting the fans with great enthusiasm as he makes his way down the ramp. He reaches the ring and hops up onto the apron, spreading his arms and smiling at Thalia before stepping between the ropes. The boos continue as the lights come up and Jerry moves over to Thalia, bowing to her and kissing her hand before taking a mic.
TC: Welcome, Joker. Once again you grace these undeserving people with your presence.
JB: On the contrary, Thalia, the presence of The Joker is exactly what these people deserve.
The fans boo loudly again.
TC: A fair point as usual. This is the night that we have been waiting for since your glorious triumph in the Free-1 final. The moment where you reveal your intended challenger for Judgement Day III. But allow us to hold off on that moment for a time. Where does the Free-1 victory rank in your long, long list of FPW achievements?
JB: Being FPW Champion, winning the Free-1, being impossible to pin or submit in over a year, having the record for most FPW victories of all time, vanquishing several past foes. The list is indeed long, but of course you know that already. A Free-1 victory that I and my associate have been guaranteeing for some time is an achievement in which I take pride, but achievements which I already expect to happen may not be as exhilarating as those which come as a surprise, my dear.
The fans boo some more as Jerry and Thalia exchange a long look.
TC: You do so love to be surprised. Was it a surprise to be facing your sister in the final.
JB: Not at all. Since working with the unpronounceable one, she has made big strides in her all-round abilities. I was intrigued by the opportunity to test her. Sadly, she failed her test. Or perhaps I should address this deserving audience for a moment. It maybe wasn’t she who failed the test, but you. For when she held your support, I sensed that she may be strong enough to overcome even The Joker, but you failed her. You didn’t truly believe in her, as much as you may have believed you did. She suffered for it. And once again, you got the result that you deserved.
The boos get even louder and another loud ‘Fuck You, Jerry’ chant goes up.
TC: Let’s not delay the moment of gratification any longer, Joker. It is time to reveal your desired opponent for Judgement Day III. Who is the unfortunate soul who is destined to be vanquished upon their biggest day?
JB: I have given this a great deal of thought. Of course, the Free-1 contract does indeed state that should the FPW Champion, in this case, moi, be victorious and retain the FPW Championship up until Judgement Day III, which of course I shall, then the challenger shall be someone who has defeated the FPW Champion in the Free-1 block. Of course, I remained undefeated, and therefore Section B comes in force. Should the FPW Champion win the Free-1 and retain the FPW Championship up until Judgement Day III, which of course I still shall, the FPW Champion shall reserve the right to choose a deserving challenger. And that is the right that I deserve. So who should it be? Who deserves the opportunity to face The Joker on the biggest stage this company has to offer? Who truly would be a ‘deserving’ challenger?
The fans begin a small ‘We Want Marcus’ chant which quickly gains in momentum.
JB: Ah yes, young mister Jones. A fine CV, a former FPW Champion, a former Young Lions’ Cup winner with a record of big matches. A deserving challenger for an FPW Champion? Of course. A deserving challenger for The Joker? I’m afraid not. I defeated Marcus Allen Jones the last time we were in the ring together and therefore he is not deserving of the opportunity. So who else is there?
The fans boo, but that chant turns into a ‘We Want Mason’ chant, which equally quickly gains momentum.
JB: Young Mason. Another fine record, another former FPW Champion and Young Lions’ Cup winner. Even a member of the exclusive club of Free-1 winners. Once again a deserving challenger for an FPW Champion, but once again not a deserving challenger for this FPW Champion. I’m sure none of you have forgotten that it was Jace Mason against whom I finally claimed this prize. So who else?
The boos come again, but they turn to a ‘Bo-ti-atus’ chant, which also picks up quickly.
JB: Botiatus? Intriguing. A weaker CV than the previous two rejects for sure, but a man with a certain fire in his belly when it comes to myself. However, another man who I defeated the last time we were in a ring together. No, I’m afraid I must reject him too for Judgement Day III although Judgement Day III remains three months in the future and I suppose I can’t sit and put my feet up for that time. So I have a proposal. Botiatus has something I desire. The FPW Tag Team Championships. Should Botiatus manage to successfully defend the FPW Tag Team Championships against myself and MDE, then I shall grant him an opportunity to try to take the FPW Championship from me before Judgement Day III.
The boos turn to cheers for a brief moment, before the fans remember who stands in the ring, and the boos return.
JB: Of course, you do realise that this opportunity will not come to pass. Myself and MDE will claim the Tag Team Championships and you will all have the chance to see something that I’m sure you dreamed about for a long time- Jerry Bishop standing in the ring as a double champion. And I can promise you that you will get to see exactly that moment, because it is, after all, just what you deserve.
Jerry hands the mic to Thalia and picks up the FPW Championship, placing it over his shoulder before lifting the Free-1 trophy once again, the rest of the arena going dark as a spotlight coming down on Jerry. The fans rain boos down on him even as Thalia stands and applauds. After several moments of holding the pose, Jerry moves over to the ropes, holding them open for Thalia, who steps through. He drops down and she takes his arm as the two of them walk up the ramp.
MW: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to FPW Freedom Fighters. This is our debut weekly show and, well, I’m sorry that the first thing you had to see was our current FPW Champion.
SD: Sorry, Watson? Sorry? Jerry Bishop is FPW Champion. Jerry Bishop is the Free-1 winner. Jerry Bishop is the best wrestler FPW has to offer. You may not like the way he does things and, if I’m honest, there are a few things he does that I’m not too fond of myself, but what better way to start our first ever show than with The Joker himself?
MW: I can think of a few to be honest, but let’s just take a moment to focus on what he said. Jerry has the right to choose a challenger for Judgement Day III, should he still be FPW Champion of course, and he has claimed that there is no deserving challenger. What do you make of that, Steven?
SD: I can’t say that I disagree with his logic. Who is there who can say they’ve defeated recently? Marcus can’t, Mason can’t, Botiatus can’t, all of which Jerry noted, but who else might challenge? He beat Williams and Bobby in the Free-1, he beat Berry in the final, MDE won’t challenge him. He beat Evans and Clutch in last year’s Free-1 and neither has beaten him since. Who else would you genuinely claim is a deserving challenger than Jerry hasn’t beaten?
MW: At the moment, I’d struggle to find one, but let’s hope that someone emerges or that Botiatus accepts Jerry’s challenge.
SD: The question for me is whether Botiatus would be willing to do so knowing it would put Berry in the ring with Jerry again. Psychologically, she can’t be in a good place after another defeat like that.
MW: That’s a great point. I suppose we’ll need to wait to find out Bo’s thoughts on that one. Something we won’t need to wait for, however, is the first ever Freedom Fighters match. Tonight we see Go Shihei, the powerful Japanese brawler, facing off against The Silent Assassin, the impressive Free-1 debutant. Who do you have in this one, Steven?
SD: I saw something special in The Silent Assassin. The man has a presence that you can’t ignore and he stepped in to pick up some strong wins in the Free-1. He did come unstuck against Bobby O, Aaron Williams and, of course, Jerry Bishop, so he has some areas that he needs to develop, but I think this man is set for a big FPW career, and I think he builds a nice bit of momentum with a win tonight.
Match 1: The Silent Assassin vs. Go Shihei:
- The match begins with Shihei showcasing his power and forcing The Silent Assassin back into the corner.
- The two exchange a few strikes, Shihei again taking the advantage and landing some big chops and elbows.
- The Silent Assassin fights back into it by ducking a big lariat into a spinning Samoan drop for a two-count.
- He ups the pace, landing a big boot and a couple of running European uppercuts in the corner before getting another close two-count with Crossed Out.
- Shihei fights back into it, catching a springboard knee and turning it into an exploder before landing a barrage of chops.
- He pulls The Silent Assassin up for a Dead Man’s Bomb, but The Silent Assassin drops down behind him, connecting with a German suplex before landing Double Tap.
- The Silent Assassin pulls Shihei to his feet and connects with Silencer for the win.
Winner: The Silent Assassin (9:32).
MW: And that’s a big win for The Silent Assassin.
SD: He showed tonight that he doesn’t just rely on being the more powerful man in the ring. He overcame someone who may be more powerful than he is. I think The Silent Assassin could become a major player in FPW over the coming months.
MW: He’s someone to watch out for for sure, but someone else to watch out for is Aaron Williams. He came off a Free-1 where he picked up eight points but one which he claimed was a disappointment after working so hard to win it. Tonight he faces Myra Lopez, who pinned Williams in a six-man tag match just six days ago, albeit with the help of a handful of tights.
SD: The Queendom are looking to continue as the most dominant faction in all of FPW. They picked up a huge win over Williams, Jace Mason and Marcus Allen Jones and Artemis Evans stated that her aim now is to work towards having all the gold. A win for Myra Lopez tonight and she surely puts herself in line for the next Freedom Championship match against whoever walks out as champion tonight.
MW: Whereas a win for Williams is maybe more about redemption and a chance to start afresh. He still clearly has his sights set on Parker, Si and Armondo, and I’m wondering if a win tonight might get him a little closer to a match with those three, who, by the way, I think we ought to be watchful for. They seem able to slip past security whenever they like, and they may well have this match circled as one to come and get involved with.
Match 2: Myra Lopez vs. Aaron Williams:
- Myra Lopez come out with Thea Donovan, while Williams comes out alone.
- Lopez gets the better of the opening technical exchanges, working Williams’ knee.
- Williams manages to escape most holds without major damage but Lopez keeps him grounded due to her technical expertise and a few distractions from Donovan.
- A knee bar takes its toll on Williams, who takes a long time to get to the ropes and break it, partially due to Donovan pulling them away from him.
- Williams gets back into the match with a discus clothesline to counter a swinging leg lariat and he looks for his splash-cannonball combo, but Lopez avoids the first splash after his knee slightly slows him down.
- She catches him with a butterfly backbreaker for a close near-fall.
- She looks to set him up for GTS, but Williams frees himself and connects with a brainbuster to the knee to give himself some breathing room.
- He sets her up on the ropes and hits a 450 off the top for a near-fall before pulling her up and sending her into the ropes.
- Donovan gets onto the apron and Williams takes her down with a mid-kick. Lopez tries to take advantage by taking him down into an inverted figure-four, but Williams doesn’t let her lock it in.
- He manages to get into the corner and his splashes-canonball-swan-ton combo earns him a near-fall.
- He looks to set her up for A Triple Plus but she escapes and pulls him up for GTS, but he escapes again. Donovan gets onto the apron to distract the official and Lopez goes for a low-blow, but Williams blocks it, connecting with A Triple Plus for the win.
Winner: Aaron Williams (13:11).
MW: Aaron Williams finally manages to overcome Myra Lopez.
SD: She had him in trouble in that match but Williams got there in the end.
MW: The trouble mostly coming from several distractions and an attempted low-blow. We all know how The Queendom operate.
SD: She had him in trouble because her work on his knee.
As Williams celebrates, Thea Donovan attacks him from behind, connecting with a superkick to the back of his head and then laying into him. Lopez joins her and together they put the boots to Williams. The boos of the fans turn to cheers as Jace Mason and Marcus Allen Jones come running down the ramp and they run Lopez and Donovan off. Mason checks on Williams while Marcus stares back up the ramp at The Queendom as they retreat.
MW: It looks like these two haven’t forgotten that loss.
SD: And nor should they forget a loss. But I’m not sure that these three individuals want to put themselves up against The Queendom a second time.
MW: If The Queendom continue to attack with the numbers game, I for one am glad that we have people willing to take a stand.
SD: I still don’t see what Marcus Allen Jones and Jace Mason think they’ll gain from this. They were comprehensively defeated by The Queendom six days ago. They’ll be comprehensively defeated again if they want to try and make this into something more than it was.
Backstage, Kincaid and Alyssa walk through the corridor. Kincaid pauses for a moment as he sees Bobby O and CJ Holmes walking hand-in-hand towards them. Alyssa turns and looks at Kincaid with concern before Kincaid marches up to Bobby.
K: Here he is, ‘Mr. FPW’.
BO: Look, I-
K: No, you listen to me. I’ve been in this business for a long time. I’ve got plenty of contacts and when I asked people about this place and who I might like to be around, you came up. Most people seemed to think you were a man of integrity and a man who could be trusted to do the right thing, despite your obvious flawed past. You were a reformed man and I went into that match looking forward to facing you, to having a fair, albeit meaningless, contest against someone who I thought I could respect. And not only did you come into that match far too aggressive for what it was, but you refused to shake hands with the man who had just beaten you and then you walked away from me when I was jumped from behind by someone I know you can’t stand. ‘Mr. FPW’? If you represent this company like that, then I’m not sure I want to be here.
Kincaid goes to walk on, but Bobby catches his arm.
BO: Listen, I hold my hands up. Maybe I went into that match a bit too amped up after I essentially handed Jerry Bishop the block on a silver platter, but no match that I have is meaningless. If you can’t handle someone giving their all, then you’re in the wrong profession. As for the handshake, that’s my bad.
Bobby extends his hand to Kincaid who looks down at it and shakes his head.
K: You don’t get it, do you? You approached this match in totally the wrong way. You were disrespectful throughout the match and afterwards. I don’t want to shake your hand. I want an apology.
BO: An apology? Fine. I’m sorry I didn’t shake your hand. I let my emotions get the better of me and I’m better than that. But I make no apologies for the way I wrestled the match. And I make no apologies for the fact that you can’t handle yourself against Clutch McCloud. I’m moving forward. Clutch is in my past. And so is this.
Bobby goes to walk on this time, but Kincaid grabs his arm.
K: There’s a right way and a wrong way to do things in this business. I do things the right way. I do things with respect to the business and everyone in it. It’s a shame to see someone who calls themselves ‘Mr. FPW’ doing things the wrong way. Maybe you need a bit more time think about who you want to be.
Kincaid and Alyssa walk off, leaving Bobby staring after him.
CJ: Ignore him. Like you said, it’s in the past now.
Bobby continues to look down the corridor as Kincaid and Alyssa turn a corner.
MW: And now we see the FPW Champion in action.
SD: Jerry Bishop teams with MDE to face Revolution-X, who had some very disrespectful words for Jerry and MDE earlier this week. I think these two young whippersnappers are going to be taught an important lesson tonight.
MW: I think there’s little doubt that MDE and Jerry Bishop enter as favourites for this match. After Jerry’s challenge to Botiatus earlier, this tag match could be an important warm-up possibly.
SD: I’m not sure that these two need a warm-up match. Jerry Bishop is the best wrestler in FPW and MDE is the best technician in the world. If these two really want to win the Tag Team Championships, they’ll do it.
MW: Of course, if Revolution-X do find a way to win tonight, they’ll put themselves right up there for a shot at those titles. Let’s get to ringside.
Match 3: Jerry Bishop and MDE vs. Revolution-X:
- The match begins with MDE and Jackson Banks with Jerry Bishop not bothering to stand on the apron.
- MDE immediately takes control, grounding Banks and keeping him in headlocks, facelocks and various holds to work the shoulder.
- After keeping Banks under control for the first few minutes of the match, MDE releases him and shoves him into his corner, calling for Tudor to come in.
- When Tudor comes in, he surprises MDE with a few kicks, but MDE catches him and regains control fairly quickly, taking him down and working his left leg.
- The fans try to help Tudor to get himself into the match, but MDE keeps snuffing out any chances that he gets.
- After a fairly long period of MDE being in control, Tudor manages to fight his way to the ropes and he lands a couple of kicks before tagging in Banks.
- Banks speeds the match up and manages to keep on top of MDE with a couple of springboard moves and a rope-walk facebuster for a two-count.
- Banks manages to tag in Tudor, who connects with a superkick into a shooting star crossbody from Banks. Tudor follows up with a double-rotation moonsault into a standing shooting star from Banks. Tudor gets a close two-count.
- MDE manages to get back into it and he tags in Jerry, who comes in and takes control quickly.
- Jerry connects with a tornado DDT before a slingshot DDT earns him a close two-count. Jerry looks for Last Laugh but Tudor blocks it and scrambles over to make the tag, only for MDE to pulls Banks off the apron. Tudor turns into Punchline and Jerry picks up the victory.
Winners: Jerry Bishop and MDE (14:07).
MW: Revolution-X did all they could, but Jerry Bishop picking up what seemed like an inevitable victory.
SD: Jerry got it done like we all expected and he’s letting out his patented laugh in celebration.
Boos rain down on Jerry as his laughing only grows louder until he's cut off as Famous by Puddle Of Mudd plays. Jerry shoots an annoyed look towards the stage as many of the boos start to turn to cheers. Bo walks out and the cheers grow louder as his music dies down. He paces back and forth on the stage for a second before raising the mic to speak but he stops as a H.O.B. chant starts up around the arena. He pauses as the chant builds momentum looking around and nodding in appreciation before locking his eyes back onto Jerry.
"You really are a miserable asshole."
The crowd erupts into cheers before starting up the H.O.B. chant again.
"Look at you Jerry. You're the FPW Champion! You haven't been pinned or submitted in a year! And you just won the Free-1 with a perfect record! You should be on top of the world! But it's not enough for you. So now you want to come after the Tag titles? And for what? Haven't you done enough to Berry already? I mean it's not enough that you beat her but you had to humiliate her while you did it. That laugh, that smug laugh of yours. It's just as fake as the rest of this bullshit persona you've built up for yourself. I mean look at you. There isn't a shred of the so called real Jerry left. You've traded milkshakes for Macallan. When's the last time you went to Jilly's huh?"
The crowd let's out a loud OHH.
"You've given up everything you used to be all in the name of being FPW Champion. I'll bet you thought winning that title would finally give you the validation you always craved. But it didn't did it? No of course not. I can see it in your eyes now. That title has left you feeling more empty than ever. You wake up every morning and you look at that belt and it's not validation no no no, it's a reminder that the real Jerry Bishop isn't good enough. The real Jerry Bishop could never accomplish the things you have. The real Jerry Bishop could never go a year without being pinned or submitted. The real Jerry Bishop could never win the Free-1. The real Jerry Bishop could never become FPW Champion. You tried that and you failed miserably. You failed over and over and it ate you alive. It ate you alive until there was nothing left and that's the real you. An empty shell of a man who looked himself in the mirror one day and decided he'd rather pretend to be someone else than to keep living as himself. A man who was driven by desperation to turn to the one person he despises most in this world. The Jester turned Joker standing side by side with the man who defiled his sister. You don't even need makeup and you still look like a straight clown."
The crowd roars as Jerry glares around, their reactions seeming to get to him for the first time.
"So let me get this straight. If I give you and your lackey, yeah that's what you are at this point Mr. Dead Last in his Free-1 block, if I give you two a shot at the Tag Team Titles and beat you, you'll give me a shot at the World Title? You know what Jerry, I ACCEPT."
The crowd explodes with its biggest cheer yet.
MW: It looks like the match is set. The House of Berry and Bo defending the Tag Team Championships against Jerry Bishop and MDE. What a match that will be.
SD: And what a moment it’ll be when Jerry becomes the first man to hold both the FPW Championship and the FPW Tag Team Championships at the same time.
MW: Don’t be so sure about that, Steven. I’ve never seen Botiatus this fired up before.
SD: He may be fired up, but he’s no Jerry Bishop.
MW: I guess we’ll find that out in due course. I hope Bo has consulted with Berry in making that decision because she will now have to stand across the ring and look at her big brother once again.
SD: Don’t forget that Jerry has to look at his little sister. I think some of his actions towards her are too much at times, and I don’t want to see them fighting, but they’ve chosen different paths, and Jerry is simply trying to give the fans what they’ve always wanted. I’m not sure he really wants to be facing her, but he won’t allow it to get in the way of his success.
Backstage, Dasha Banks stands with Marcus Allen Jones, Jace Mason and Aaron Williams.
DB: Marcus, Jace, Aaron, thank you for joining me tonight. Earlier on we saw a typical Queendom double-team on Aaron and, Marcus and Jace, you two came out to make the save. Why was that?
JM: Aaron and I are friends. We have been for a long time. He did it for me in the Free-1 and I returned the favour. He won the match against the odds and he shouldn’t be subject to a beat-down because of it. I know only too well what The Queendom can do, and I’m not going to let them run roughshod over whoever they choose.
MAJ: The Queendom got one over on us at the Free-1 final. Sure they were the better unit but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them use those kind of tactics against us. We’re not done with them.
DB: Is that a challenge for a rematch?
MAJ: When you put it like that, I guess it is. I’d like to set the record straight. How about you two?
JM: Yep.
AW: Absolutely.
DB: Do you worry that your lack of experience as a team will hinder you against the most experience three-person team in FPW?
AW: It did last time. We went into that match with The Queendom on the back of about three days and Jace and Marcus were both going in hurt. Hell, I didn’t have my leg hanging off or my ribs taped to shit, but I was exhausted after the Free-1 too. If we get another opportunity, we’ll make sure that we work at this. Jace and I have pretty good chemistry and I’m sure we can work with Marcus and develop that as a trio as well. If we get the chance to face them again, we’ll be a far better team than we were six days ago.
JM: And remember, The Queendom aren’t the group we ultimately want to take down.
MAJ: We all still want to get the chance to face Parker, Si and Armondo. Maybe Houston will let us and maybe he won’t, but we’re not stupid. We know that we need to be a tighter unit if we’re going to get our chance against them. They’ll do whatever they have to do- even more so than The Queendom- so we need to work and work to make sure we’re prepared. A rematch with The Queendom can only help us.
DB: Okay, well-
Jim Houston walks up to the four of them and Dasha pauses.
JH: I’m sorry to interrupt you, Dasha. I couldn’t help but overhear you and I think you make a compelling case. I’ll give you the rematch. But that’s a big match and I’m not going to give it you for next week. Just like the Tag Team Championship match that I’m happy to sign off on, this match can start to fill in the card for Evacuation. And seeing as the three of you are so keen to get your hands on members of The Queendom, why don’t we complete the set? Next week, Jace, you can face Thea Donovan. The week after that, Marcus, I know your knee should be back to one hundred percent by then, you can face Artemis Evans. Happy?
JM: Yes. Thank you.
MAJ: I’m happy to get to face Evans. But we still want to-
JH: I’ve made my stance clear on that. I will not budge. Now, I’d better get going. I want to catch Botiatus before he leaves. I think he and MDE would make an interesting match in a couple of weeks’ time and I want to let him know the good news.
Houston walks away and Marcus stares after him, shaking his head.
MAJ: What will it take for him to give us that match?
AW: He’ll be forced into it in the end. In the meantime, let’s all be careful. These guys have targeted us and they’ll be back again I’m sure. Watch your back, and let’s also watch out for each other too.
JM: Agreed.
MAJ: Yeah. I just hope he gives us that chance to take it to them before they do anything too serious. I know exactly how much damage a group like that can do.
JM: I remember.
Marcus and Mason give one another a look before we return to ringside.
MW: Two massive matches announced for Evacuation right there.
SD: And for some of our next few shows too. Jace Mason versus Thea Donovan next week and then Botiatus versus MDE and Marcus Allen Jones versus Artemis Evans for two weeks’ time.
MW: Big matches for sure, but let’s get to tonight’s main event. A fitting main event for the first ever Freedom Fighters show as Clutch McCloud is set to defend the Freedom Championship against Danica Jane.
SD: This is… quite frankly, I don’t know what to expect. Clutch is adamant that the Freedom Championship is a men’s division belt and he refuses to accept any suggestion that an inter-gender match can be acceptable. Now that he has to defend this belt against not just any woman, but the woman he loved. I don’t know what’s going to happen.
MW: Clutch McCloud is opposed to inter-gender matches because he believes they promote… how does he put it… senseless man-on-woman violence.
SD: He believes all men secretly want to attack women and that by putting on inter-gender matches, we’re encouraging them to indulge those desires. I can see his reasoning, but I just can’t support it.
MW: And now he steps into the ring with Danica Jane. We haven’t heard about Clutch’s state of mind going into this one. I don’t even know if he could articulate the thoughts he must be having.
Match 4: Freedom Championship: Clutch McCloud vs. Danica Jane:
- Danica enters first, looking very focussed and ready. The fans respond well to her and she settles and prepares for Clutch.
- Clutch enters dressed in street clothes and the fans boo him loudly.
CM: Just the kind of reception I was expecting from a bunch of pigs salivating over the idea of seeing a man hitting a woman. Utterly disgusting. The Freedom Championship is a men’s division championship. The number one contender battle royal is invalid. Women cannot compete for my Freedom Championship. I refuse to wrestle a woman, especially… I refuse to participate in the institutionalised man-on-woman violence in FPW. I refuse to allow any of you to get off on seeing your worst fantasies become reality both in this arena and later tonight in your own homes. So I’m not even going to apologise, because I’m glad to be disappointing you. This match will not be taking place.
The fans boo loudly and Clutch turns and walks back through the curtain. Danica just stares after him, sighing and shaking her head.
Match Didn't Take Place
MW: Well it looks like this main event isn’t going to happen.
SD: I can’t say I’m surprised. But I’m sure Jim Houston isn’t going to be happy about this. The first Freedom Fighters show and the big main event has been ruined.
MW: I agree. I’m sure Clutch McCloud will be seeing some kind of punishment. I’ve got to think that Jim Houston will be looking to have this match whether Clutch likes it or not.
SD: I’m not sure that Clutch will do it.
MW: Then maybe he’ll find himself stripped of the Freedom Championship. But I guess that will be resolved next week, alongside Jace Mason facing Thea Donovan and… well, we’ll have to see. We’ll join you next week. Thank you so much for being with us.
