DT: Well fans, as you know our next contest is taking place under some auspicious circumstances. After “Queen of the Ring” Lindsay Troy took legal recourse to block her participation in this match, IC title tournament finalist Adam Benjamin took up Troy’s slot against the debuting “Silent Assassin” Brien Cage.
MN: I like this Cage guy. He is quiet, but yet not quiet.
DT: Huh?
MN: C’mon, Dave. Tom Hanks…movie trailer…and this guy calls himself a “Silent Assassin”?
DT: Why God, why?
MN: The big guy loves ya, Davey. That’s why you’re working with me.
DT: What’s the point. Let’s just go to the ring.
RA: The following match is scheduled for one fall, and will be contested under standard Empire Pro rules. Introducing first…
[A heart with a knife through it appears on the Globe-a-tron. The words "Silent Assassin" surround the heart. Requiem (the fifth) by Trans Siberian Orchestra blasts through the speakers. Brien Cage emerges from behind the curtain. With eyes of a hungry tiger and a look of intensity on his face, he shakes loose his muscles before walking down the ramp towards the ring. After entering the ring he stands in the middle of the ring and holds up fist in the air.]
RA: Making his Empire Pro debut tonight. Hailing from Washington, DC and weighing in at 239 pounds, the “Silent Assassin”…BRRIIIIIEEEEENNNN CAAAAAAAAAAGGGGEEEEEE!!!!!!! His opponent…
[“Lose Yourself” by Eminem begins to blast as "Yours Truly" Adam Benjamin makes his way slowly to the ring. Adam is wearing two English flag bandana's one that cover his head and the other that covers the lower part of his face revealing only his stone cold eyes. Adam makes his way into the ring and stands firm in his corner waiting for the bell to ring.]
RA: He is a finalist for the EPW Intercontinnental Title at Black Dawn. Standing 6 foot 4 and weighing in at 245 pounds, a native of the United Kingdom, he is “YOURS TRULY”…ADAAAAAAMMMMMM BENNNNJAMIIINNNNN!!!!!
[SFX: Bell Rings]
DT: We’ve got a hell of a technical masterpiece ahead of us here, as both of these guys are experienced and talented mat wrestlers.
MN: [snores]
DT: Neely, WAKE UP!!!
MN: Huh? What? Mommy, I don’t wanna go to school! I wanna stay home and bake cookies with you!!!
DT: Neely, PAY ATTENTION!!!
MN: Fine, you take all the fun out of everything.
[Benjamin and Cage finish sizing each other up and walk determinedly towards each other before going into a collar-and-elbow tie up. After either man fails to gain and advantage, Cage quickly ducks under Benji’s right arm and hooks in a standing waistlock. “Yours Truly” attempts to elbow Cage in the head to break the hold, but Brien slips under the arm and tries for a quick released German Suplex. But, the Brit floats over and shoves Cage into the corner, charging in and nailing him with a running shoulderblock.]
DT: A beautiful display of mat wrestling by Benjamin, as he counters Cage’s suplex and gets the early advantage! Cage is very quickly back to his feet, and he charges at Adam Benjamin…BIG CLOTHESLINE…NO!!! Benji got under it. Spinning heel kick by Benjamin, but Cage catches the leg!!! DRAGON SCREW BRINGS BENJAMIN TO THE MAT!!!
MN: This is way to fast for me, man.
DT: Just try and keep up. Benji to his feet, and they tie up once again. Irish whip by Benjamin, and he nails Brien Cage with a flying cross body block!!! Pin attempt…
ONE…
TWO…
THR-NOOOO!!!! The “Silent Assassin” rolls through!! He’s got a pinning predicament now!!
ONE…
TWO…
BENJAMIN KICKS OUT!!! Wow, that was close!!! Both these men picking up the intensity in the early going here, Michael.
MN: Forget sleep. This is gonna be fun!! Brit-boy versus “The Oddly Un-Silent Silent Assassin”.
DT: Is all you do with your free time think of ways to annoy me?
MN: Yup.
DT: Thought so.
[After a quick breather, both Cage and Benjamin get to their feet. What follows is an intense flurry of mat expertise. Cage goes for a side kick, which Benji blocks with his right hand. Cage tries for an enziguri, but Benji slips under and Cage is somehow able to land on his feet. Benjamin locks Cage in a reverse waistlock, which Cage slips out of, setting Benjamin up for a Fisherman’s Suplex. However, Benji again floats over, again locks in a full nelson and hits Cage with a vicious Dragon Suplex. Cage is up quickly, but he is obviously dazed.]
DT: And with THAT incredible display, Adam Benjamin has the “Silent Assassin” reeling!!!
MN: Yeah. T.O.U.S.S.A. is off his game right now.
DT: With the obvious advantage, “Yours Truly” is going on the attack. He’s laying into the EPW newcomer with a barrage of kicks in that far corner. He brings Cage down into a side headlock, and he signals that he’s gonna charge across the ring. Big running bulldog…CAGE SLIDES OUT AND SENDS BENJI CRASHING INTO THE TURNBUCKLE!!!!
MN: YES!!!! Beat his British a-
DT: FAMILY SHOW!! How many times do I have to tell you?
MN:...a-a-armada!!! Ha! Gotcha, Thomas!!!!
DT: If you have any mercy, Lord, you shall smite him down where he stands.
MN: Ain’t gonna happen, buddy. I’m here for LIFE.
DT: Fine. Whatever. Adam Benjamin is obviously stunned after Cage sent him into that turnbuckle, and the D.C. native is trying to establish his first real advantage in this tussle. Irish whip into the ropes…SPINNING SPINEBUSTER!!! Adam Benjamin just got planted into the mat!
MN: What’ll a British guy grow into when he gets planted?
DT: I’ll ignore that one. Cage brings Benji to his feet, and he hooks him up…SNAP SUPLEX!!! He holds on, and he brings the former MCW champion crashing down with another suplex!!! He brings him up one more time, and yes, he’s going for a third suplex. Brings him up…INSIDE CRADLE BY BENJAMIN!!!
ONE!!!!
TWO!!!
THREE!!! NO!! NO!! TWO point NINE!! Brien Cage JUST got out, and Benji is absolutely furious with our official.
MN: [Checks stopwatch] Wow. You guys are good. Two point eight seven three. You’re good Thomas, I’ll give you that.
DT: Back to the action, as neither man has yet to take a hold on this match. Right now, Benjamin has Cage rocking after that sensational counter. In close quarters, and Benji separates himself from Cage with a kneelift to the gut. Irish whip, and a HUGE belly to belly suplex by Adam Benjamin!!! Cage is on the mat, and Benjamin is quickly over to lock in a sitting dragon sleeper. He’s gonna wear the rookie down with that submission hold!!
MN: [Pulls out a copy of the SI Swimsuit Edition] Good. Gives me a chance to catch up on my reading.
DT: Just pay attention, Mike. Then I’ll be happy. “Yours Truly” has that dragon sleeper locked in mighty tight, but Cage is pretty close to those ropes. The referee comes over to check on the “Silent Assassin”, and he brings his arm into the air. ONCE…TWICE… THR-NOOO!!! Cage got the arm up, but that sleeper is still locked in. He’s fighting with all he’s got, but Benji isn’t letting up. He’s got that in tight, but BRIEN CAGE IS NOT LETTING UP!!! He keeps fighting…and…HE CATCHES THE ROPE WITH HIS RIGHT LEG!!!!! Benjamin must break the hold. He got out, but that had to take a lot from Brien Cage’s energy supply.
MN: Yeah. He was talking before, but he might really be a “Silent Assassin” after all that time in Benji’s dragon sleeper.
DT: Cage is obviously weary, but he’s trying to fight back. He fires a spin kick at Benjamin and…he…CONNECTS!!! Brien Cage is alive and well!!! He fires away at Benjamin with lefts and rights, and he’s got him hooked up once again. NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX SENDS BENJAMIN TO THE MAT!!! He’s got him down, and he’s looking to end it!!!
MN: I’ve seen this move in types, and it looks like it would hurt. A lot. A whole damn lot.
DT: He has him in position, and he’s going for the Caged Fear submission, he locks one arm in, but Benjamin counters!!! Inside cradle by Benji, reversed by the Assassin, reversed by Benjamin again!!
ONE!!!
TWO!!!
THR-KICKOUT!!! Narrow escape once again by Cage, but Adam Benjamin is back!!! He springs to his feet with the momentum behind him. He pulls Cage up, and sends him into the ropes…SHINING WIZ-CAGE DUCKS UNDER!!! Cage bounces of…and Benjamin evades the flying forearm attempt!! The two cross one more time, and NOW Benjamin connects with that Shining Wizard!!! He hooks a standing headscissors, and hoists Brien Cage up in the air.
MN: Benji Driver, baby!!!
DT: He’s going for that patented Benjamin Driver. He signals to the crowd. Cage is UP…but he turns it into a hurricanrana!!! Fantastic counter, and Adam Benjamin is livid!!!
MN: Yeah, and Brien Cage doesn’t have much left in the tank at all.
DT: Cage looking to end it right here. He’s setting Benji up for a Tombstone Piledriver. Benjamin is up, but he tilts the weight in his favor and his a picture perfect reverse DDT!!!! Whips Cage into the ropes, and he nails the Shining Wizard ONE MORE TIME!!!!
MN: Goodnight, Bri-bri.
DT: He hooks him once again, and this time Brien Cage is near unconsciousness. Up into powerbomb position…BENJAMIN DRIVER!!!! Lights out for Brien Cage!!!
ONE!!!!
TWO!!!!
THREE!!!! Adam Benjamin piles up the momentum before the IC title match at Black Dawn in a hell of a contest, and Brien Cage showed us some of the future of EPW tonight with a marvelous effort in an outstanding match. All I can say, ladies, gentlemen, and Mike Neely, is wow!!!
MN: Yeah…HEY!!!!
DT: YES!!!! I FINALLY GOT HIM!!!!
MN: [sheepishly] Let’s get to the next match… alright?
WINNER: ADAM BENJAMIN