[We come back from commercial a tad late, as The Sergeant’s music is still playing in the background while he holds up the Intercontinental Title standing on the second turnbuckle. Andrew Rossi leans against another turnbuckle, obviously favoring his neck.]
DM: Word from the back now as we had been wondering if this next match was gonna take place here tonight or not. As many of you know, our very own owner Dan Ryan put Rossi out of commission over in NAPW a few weeks back, seriously injuring his neck and ending Rossi’s NAPW career. Now we’re being told that Ryan has ordered Rossi to compete tonight against doctor’s orders.
DT: This is outrageous. Ryan is forcing Rossi to wrestle when he is in absolutely no shape to what so ever.
DM: It's a shame really.
MN: A shame? It's an order straight from the boss. HE HAS TO WRESTLE.
DT: Well, it's still not right.
DM: Doesn't seem like Sarge minds one bit as he quickly charges at Rossi. Rossi tries to move out of the way but stumbles to the mat as he moves, causing Sarge to stop short and just stare at his fallen oppenent.
DT: Rossi is sitting there holding his neck in pain and I don't think he wants to stand back up.
MN: IT'S HIS JOB TO STAND UP!
DM & DT: SHUT UP!
MN: Damn.. okay okay..
DT: Rossi is cringing in pain.. I think it took all his energy to even get to the ring in the first place.
DM: The Sarge is looking to end this right now and he grabs Rossi by the head making him scream in agony.. Sarge sets him up... OH MY GOD PILEDRIVER!! Rossi...
DT: Folks.. Rossi looks as if he just went completely limp after that move and even the ref looks sick of this and he's telling Sarge to cover him.. Sarge finally does.. 1.2..3! It's over.
MN: That was obvious.
DT: Well, we’re gonna cut away as they tend to Rossi in the ring, and he does seem to be moving around okay and starting to come to..……BUT - The match to determine the number one contender to the World Title is up next. We’ll be right back.
DT: Alright folks, we’re back. It’s been a hectic struggle over the past few months, but hopefully we’ll find a conclusion here tonight to this number one contender’s situation.
DM: Doubtful, considering our referee…
[“Death Is This Communion” hits the PA. The lights around the arena dim, all focus put on the red haze around the stage.]
TF: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall, and will determine the rightful number one contender for the EPW World Title. Introducing first… from Tacoma, Washington… weighing in at 242 pounds… HERE IS… ROOOOCCCKOOOOOO DAAAAYYMMOOOOONNN!!!!
[An explosion PEALS over the stage as Rocko Daymon makes his entrance, taking a moment to pump his fist to the crowd. His supporters give him a very HEFTY pop as he makes his way to the ring.]
DM: So after begging for yet another second chance… Rocko Daymon finds himself in this match. How many times is Dan Ryan going to push this guy?
DT: You forget, Dean, that Rocko Daymon’s proven his worth on many occasions. The reaction from the fans is proof of that. Just last week, he single-handedly defeated the Tag Team Champions, the Proletariat. He’s had substantial victories all over…
DM: But he can’t seem to win when it MATTERS…
DT: Well, tonight it matters… and he is intent on silencing the critics. Daymon comes to the ring alone this time, I can only guess out of safety for his wife, Caitlyn.
DM: Good. That’s one less worry for his opponent.
[Rocko hits the ring and makes his rounds to the corners to flash a few poses for the fans. After a few moments, the lights fade out and “Sigillum Diaboli” by H.I.M. begins to play. The Hiroshi fans in the audience CHEER wildly!]
TF: And his opponent… from Tokyo, Japan… weighing in at 235 pounds… he is the NUMBER ONE CONTENDER… HE IS… “THE MUFFIN MAN”… KIIIIIIN HIIIIROOOOSHIIIIII!!!
[BIG pyro explodes over the ring as Kin Hiroshi makes his appearance. He paces the stage a few times to get the crowd into it, and makes his way down the ramp.]
DT: The Number One Contender earned his right to fight for the title at the last Aggression with a questionable victory over JA…
MN: Yeah, this guy hardly deserves what he’s been given. Which is why I’m not complaining to see him have to defend it here tonight.
DM: I’d rather see JA coming down that ramp, but whatever… the man can wrestle, and I’d rather seem him as the champion before Rocko.
[Hiroshi comes up the steel steps and enters the ring, going to the ropes to POSE for the cheering fans! He eyes Rocko meticulously, and then his music ends. “I Did My Time” by Korn hits the PA, and the audience begins to BOO LOUDLY!]
TF: And now introducing your Special Guest Referee… from Seattle, Washington, HERE IS… STTAAAAAALLLKEEEEEERRRR!!!
[With a bitter sneer across his face, Stalker emerges from the entry-way and comes to the ring. He comes bearing an over-sized and tattered referee shirt.]
DT: Dan Ryan made a very gutsy call when he declared Stalker as this match’s officiator. In one hand, both the competitors won’t have to watch over their backs for an outside interference, but at the same time, one really has to wonder just what Stalker has in mind for this match.
DM: Is he going to call it straight down the middle? Some would call that very unlikely. I think Dan Ryan really underestimated this fool’s brainpower. Stalker only cares about his own interests, and he’d gladly screw someone over in this match if he wanted to.
MN: Well of course! He’s in a key position. Everybody knows how much he HATES both Rocko Daymon and Kin Hiroshi, and now he can finally sit back and watch the two of them beat the hell out of each other. He’ll probably enjoy this more than anybody else.
[Stalker is hesitant as he enters the ring and keeps his distance from the two combatants. From two opposing corners, Daymon and Hiroshi stare daggers into him. Stalker seems aware of all the heat and a bitter smile spreads over his face. Without making any checks, he just points at the timekeeper and steps back.]
DT: It seems as though Stalker has made his final preparations, and makes the signal to the timekeeper… the bell sounds, and the fight for the right to be the number one contender is underway!
DM: Here comes Hiroshi out of his corner… Daymon stays in place, playing it safe and putting himself into a ready posture. He knows “The Muffin Man” can be dangerous if he gets behind him.
MN: That’s called the “Buttguard Stance” over in Poland.
DT: Hiroshi tentatively coming forward, waiting for Daymon to make his first move… and Daymon suddenly comes CHARGING out of the corner with a running clothesline, and Hiroshi DUCKS! Daymon stops himself on the ropes and puts himself into the corner again. These opening moments are pivotal in the pacing of a match. Rocko obviously wants to come out fists swinging…
DM: But he may have a hard time accomplishing that against a ring general like Hiroshi. “The Muffin Man” slowly advancing again… comes to a stop outside of striking range… and both men charge forward with the lockup!
DT: Daymon quickly pivots around, and now he’s muscling Kin Hiroshi into the corner! Hiroshi has contact with the ropes… why isn’t Stalker making a break?
DM: Maybe he lacks proper knowledge of the basic rules of this sport…
MN: Or maybe he just willingly doesn’t want to.
DT: Rocko with a KNEE to the mid-section of Kin Hiroshi… and there’s the SECOND… hoping to get some momentum going, and now there’s the Irish Whip to—no WAIT! Hiroshi reverses, and DEFTLY drops Rocko with a Drop Toe Hold!
DM: Hiroshi, with the transition to a textbook STF, and now Daymon’s feeling the burn!
DT: Hiroshi has put his excellent mat skills to work to prevent his opponent from gaining any sort of momentum… and now Rocko Daymon finds himself in a predicament as Hiroshi has the submission locked in. Stalker isn’t even bothering to ask him he’ll submit, although he seems to be enjoying it enough…
MN: If he starts playing with his nipples, I’m outta here…
DM: It’s Rocko Daymon, now, trying to inch his way to the ropes. The problem with the STF is that it leaves you little leverage to try and pin your opponent in place. Hiroshi, putting everything he’s got into that STF… but Rocko reaches the bottom rope and hangs on!
DT: He’s got it! …but Stalker doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to warn Hiroshi about breaking the hold! Now he’s TRASH TALKING Rocko Daymon! What did he say?
MN: I think it was something like, “Don’t be a ‘swear-word’ and get out of it yourself.”
DT: Daymon’s in trouble now… and he begins to rock back and forth to flip himself over! Hiroshi trying to maintain balance, but Rocko Daymon is DESPERATELY trying to break himself from the hold in light of Stalker’s biased officiating! Daymon gaining some momentum… and THERE’S the roll-over!
DM: And Hiroshi just ROLLS him right back onto his belly, and continues the—OH NO!! Daymon used the distraction to get his hands up and prevent him from sinking in the chinlock! Rocko breaks free, and both men rush to their feet!
DT: Rocko comes at Hiroshi with a big right hand—and Hiroshi catches him by the arm, followed with a JAPANESE ARM DRAG! Rocko up again, and Hiroshi with ANOTHER arm drag, puts him to the mat again! The Number One Contender is putting forward some slick techniques to keep Rocko Daymon from getting in any hits.
MN: Not a bad strategy, considering Rocko’s got a set of knuckles that could smack the sobriety into that speed-freak faster than a Lindsay Lohan relapse episode.
DM: Daymon up again… opts for a standing side-kick, but Hiroshi catches him by the leg! Draws him in… and Rocko goes UP AND OVER with a Capture Suplex from Kin Hiroshi! He couldn’t get off a shot if his life depended on it!
DT: Rocko trying to get up… but Hiroshi’s there with a KNEE to the side of the head, and he quickly goes for the cover! Here’s Stalker with the count…
One…
And Rocko with the kick-out! What an UNBELIEVABLY slow count! Did he somehow forget that TWO follows one?!
MN: Like I said earlier… you can predict an extremely unbiased match. Stalker will stretch this out if he has to. Or maybe he’s just trying to anger either Hiroshi or Daymon to the point where they confront him, and he can DQ their ass on the spot.
DM: I think Dan Ryan made a bad choice when he picked Stalker as a special guest referee…
DT: I think you may be right, Dean, but at least we won’t have to worry about him interfering. Hiroshi throwing Stalker an angry glance, but he gets Rocko back to his feet… hooks him around the face, and DROPS him with a Side Russian Legsweep! Hiroshi with another pin attempt! One-TWO!—OH!!
[Audience BOOS loudly!]
DT: Rocko with the near kickout before three, although if you ask me, those counts were lightning fast! WHAT is Stalker’s agenda in this match?
DM: Hiroshi throwing him another warning glance, and Stalker is just smirking at him, telling him to keep it up. Hiroshi obliging, takes Rocko by the arm… turns around, and DRIVES IT DOWN over his shoulder with a standard Arm Breaker! Daymon is left reeling, and now here’s Hiroshi from behind… double underhooks, and FOLLOWS THROUGH with a BRIDGING TIGER SUPLEX!!
DT: Here’s Stalker with the count again!
ONE…
TWO… and Rocko kicks out shortly after the two. Slow count again, and now Hiroshi’s getting positively riled.
MN: Come on, it’s not like he nearly just cost Daymon the match a few moments ago with that quick count.
DT: Hiroshi continues to keep his momentum going, regardless of the topsy-turvy officiating… he takes Rocko by the arm and brings him to his feet… slaps on a hammerlock, and puts in a cross-face with his free arm! Could be going for a Chickwing Hold—BUT WAIT!! Rocko breaks free of the cross-face and twists out of the hammerlock!
DM: And Hiroshi BOOTS him in the gut before he can break his arm free! Hiroshi reels him in and slaps on a Front Face Lock… going for the DDT—but DENIED, as Rocko plants his feet and holds him in place!
DT: Rocko trying to fight back… now he wraps his arms around Hiroshi’s torso… and FLIPS HIM OVER with a released Northern Lights Suplex! Rocko Daymon finally showing some offense, but Hiroshi may have slowed him down with his advantage earlier in this match!
MN: Slowed, but likely not stopped.
DM: Daymon looking hurt, but he bounces off the ropes… RUNNING FOREARM to the face of Kin Hiroshi as he gets to his feet! Daymon goes around to his blindspot and puts himself into a three-point stance—TURN AROUND KIN!!
DT: TOO LATE!! Rocko with a RUNNING SPEAR sweeps Hiroshi off his feet, and now Daymon goes to work on his face with a series of HEAVY right hands! This is what we were talking about earlier… Daymon can severely damage his opponent with his stiff brawling style. Luckily for Kin Hiroshi, he can take a beating…
MN: Well it’s good that he can take it, because that’s what he’s going to get…
DT: Rocko continues the ground and pound as Kin Hiroshi tries to defend himself. Stalker doesn’t seem to mind closed fists being used, and Daymon seems to be taking advantage of the lenient ruling. Hiroshi looks to be bleeding from the lip, and now his eyes are fluttering from the series of shots he’s taken to the head…
DM: “The Muffin Man” is in serious trouble now… Rocko is going straight for the KO. Finally, he comes off of Hiroshi’s chest, and brings his opponent up with him… hooks both arms, and OH!! Just drills him straight on the forehead with a Double-Arm DDT!!
DT: Kin Hiroshi is down for the count, and now Rocko makes the cover… how fast will Stalker count this time?
…
Nevermind, I guess he won’t count at all!
DM: What blatant disregard to his duty as the referee. Rocko DEMANDING he makes the count… and Stalker just flips him off in the face!
MN: This whole thing is just ridiculous now…
DT: Tell me about it, Mike. Neither man can seemingly finish the other one off with Stalker playing these games of his. But still, Rocko Daymon continuing his offense… he takes Hiroshi by the legs and drags him to the corner. What’s he got planned now?
DM: Doubt it will be a standard submission hold… Daymon tucks Hiroshi’s legs under his arms… falls BACK WITH A SLINGSHOT—and Kin Hiroshi was just YANKED off the mat and face-first into the top turnbuckle!
DT: Daymon, using his environment to his advantage to keep control, as he’s been known to do in recent months… now he’s taking ahold of Kin Hiroshi from behind… and there’s the BACK SUPLEX out of the corner—and HIROSHI flips onto his feet! Hiroshi rushes Daymon into that corner… tucks his legs under his arms, and goes for a VICTORY ROLL—
MN: DENIED… Daymon grabs the top rope to prevent himself from going butt-to-butt with “The Muffin Man.”
DM: Hiroshi in trouble as he finds himself on his back without his legs… now Rocko, backing up… reaches down and hooks Hiroshi by the waist… whips him forward, and—OH MAN, what a WHEELBARROW FACEBUSTER!!
DT: Quick thinking from Rocko Daymon, preventing a potential counter-pin into a very devastating attack… although you have to wonder if Hiroshi’s pin attempt would have paid off with Stalker making the rules here. Daymon keeping the heat on, as he lifts Hiroshi off the mat… hooks him around the face… DROPS HIM with a Side Russian Legsweep!
DM: Keeps the hold locked in as he brings him to his feet again… A SECOND Russian Legsweep!
DT: We’ve seen this before, and it’s done well to get the job done… Rocko brings Hiroshi back up… A THIRD Russian Legsweep, and now he is simply mauling the Number One Contender in there!
DM: Let’s see if it goes anywhere as Rocko makes another pin attempt…
DT: …and Stalker, AGAIN, refuses to make a count! He obviously hates both of these men, but he must hate Rocko just a little bit more to not even give him a chance to win this match and move on to face the champion at Black Dawn!
DM: I feel a bit guilty for saying this, but neither would I…
MN: Right, Dean. That’s why you’re sitting behind a desk instead of, you know, wrestling…
DM: Doesn’t mean I couldn’t, Mike. I just choose not to.
MN: Whatever…
DT: Daymon up onto his feet, and now he gets into Stalker’s face! Stalker is just TAUNTING him, just waiting for him to make his one move and he’ll ring the bell and end it for him right there! Meanwhile, Kin Hiroshi is being given ample time to recover!
DM: Shouldn’t have turned his back on him…
DT: Daymon going back to Hiroshi… hooks him around the waist, and goes for a GUTWRECH SUPLEX—but Hiroshi LANDS ON HIS FEET!! Hiroshi with the reversal, takes ahold of Rocko from behind… and boosts him into the TORTURE RACK!!
DM: HERE IT COMES!! HIROSHIMA’S LITTLE BOY!!
DT: NO WAIT!! Stalker just TRIPPED Hiroshi’s legs out from under him! What the HELL was that all about!
DM: Stalker’s crossing the line now! Bad officiating is one thing, but now he’s directly getting involved in this match!
MN: Maybe that was his punishment for Hiroshi taking too long to get the job done…
DT: Hiroshi on his face, and now HE’S getting into Stalker’s face! He just SHOVED the referee, and Stalker’s threatening to DQ him! Regardless of how ridiculous this is, Hiroshi better be careful, or he might just hand Rocko his title shot on a silver platter!
DM: Come on, Kin, chill out and focus on your opponent!
DT: Hiroshi turns around… and Rocko MEETS HIM WITH A BOOT TO THE GUT… and THERE’S THE BRAIN ROCKER!! Daymon took advantage of the distraction from Stalker, and now Hiroshi has been laid out!
DM: DAMN THAT BUM!!
DT: Rocko makes the cover… and Stalker’s actually going for the COUNT!!
ONE!!
TWO!!
…and Stalker just suddenly STOOD UP AND KICKED ROCKO right off!!
DM: FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!! This circus never ends!! Somebody has to stop this!!
MN: Where’s the back-up ref when you need him?
DT: Rocko on his feet, getting into Stalker’s face… and Stalker with a BLATANT SLAP!! Rocko Daymon is LUCID!! Wait a second, somebody’s running down the ramp…
IT’S JA!!
DM: ALRIGHT!! The Anglo Luchadore to the rescue!!
DT: JA hits the ring… and Stalker hardly sees him coming as he TACKLES HIM to the mat!! JA ferociously driving his fists into Stalker’s face! Man, he is PISSED!!
DM: Naturally! That piece of garbage cost him his title shot at the last Aggression when he interfered in his match with Kin Hiroshi!
MN: Man, what a sore loser…
DT: JA and Stalker brawling on the mat… and they slide under the ropes to the outside, leaving only the two competitors in the ring! Now’s their chance to finish this! Here’s Rocko looking the entry-way and calling for a replacement! Somebody get down here and make a ruling!
DM: Daymon goes back to Hiroshi to keep him in his control… he lifts him off the mat, and there’s the whip to the corner… Rocko going in for the BACK-FIRST SPLASH—NO!! Hiroshi jumps to the side!! Daymon left REELING after connecting with the turnbuckle… Hiroshi lifts him UP FROM BEHIND—ACHE ELL BEE!!
DT: HE DID IT!! Now where’s the referee?
MN: Outside the ring, going toe to toe with JA.
DT: Not THAT one… the back-up! Hiroshi calling to the backstage area… and THERE!! A referee has finally emerged, as is making his way down to the ring!
DM: …is that a referee?
MN: Well, it’s a striped shirt.
[Dean’s suspicions are with merit as the referee comes clad in unusually baggy clothes, along with unusual looking hair, a mustache, and large glasses. Definitely not a familiar face as part of the Empire Pro staff.]
DM: That doesn’t look like one of EPW’s regular referees!
MN: I don’t think Hiroshi cares at this point… he just wants to finish this.
DT: Hiroshi going for the pin as our replacement makes the count…
ONE…
TWO… WHAT THE HELL—?! KICKOUT from Rocko Daymon to yet ANOTHER unbelievably slow count!
DM: Who the HELL is that in the ring!?
DT: Hiroshi getting up and he is FURIOUS as he goes to the ref to see what the deal is… and here’s ROCKO with the ROLL-UP FROM BEHIND!! Back-up ref with the count…
ONE-TWO-THREE!! WAIT!! HIROSHI KICKED OUT!!
DM: That count was WAY too fast!
DT: HIROSHI KICKED OUT… but the referee CUES THE BELL!! NO, WAIT, THIS ISN’T OVER!!
[“Death Is This Communion” hits the PA as Hiroshi is left sitting on his knees, stunned. The crowd is decidedly mixed, as everybody present CLEARLY saw Hiroshi kickout right before the count of three.]
TF: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner… and NEW Number One Contender… ROOOOCKOOOO DAAAAAYYYMMOOOOONNN!!!
DM: Who IS that referee?!
DT: Something isn’t right here… not only was that count too fast, but the referee clearly overlooked the kickout made by Kin Hiroshi. This has screwjob spelled all over it.
MN: WHO CARES!? Rocko WON!! He’s going to Black Dawn to fight SEAN STEVENS!!
DT: This isn’t right… wait a second, what’s happening in the ring?
[Rocko Daymon stands victoriously, raising his arms, though seemingly oblivious to what happened… then he notices the new ref, holding up his right arm, does a double take… and suddenly sneers. He reaches over, rips off the fake mustache, and removes the shoddy wig, revealing the identity of the referee…]
DT: CAITLYN DAYMON?!
DM: You gotta be kidding me…
MN: Huh… imagine that.
DT: What a gyp! That is NOT the referee Dan Ryan put in place to serve as the back-up! She’s not a referee, PERIOD! She just gave her husband the win… and both Kin Hiroshi AND Rocko Daymon look obviously pissed upon this realization!
MN: Who cares?! The decision was made! The winner was announced! We’ve got a new number one contender!
[The Daymons begin bickering on the spot, when Hiroshi suddenly interjects and SHOVES Caitlyn, demanding to know what she thinks she’s doing. In response, Rocko shoves Hiroshi, and the two immediately begin fighting!]
DT: Here we go, the brawl continues between Hiroshi and Daymon over the controversy of who rightfully won this match!
MN: Wait a minute, Stalker just WHIPPED JA into the barricade on the outside… and now he’s taking the opportunity to get back into the ring! The OLD ref is back and ready to continue!
DT: No he’s not! Stalker TACKLES Rocko the mat, and now he’s wailing away on his face! Caitlyn jumping onto his back, trying to get him off… and JA follows him into the ring, and meets up with Hiroshi! There’s just complete and utter PANDEMONIUM IN THE RING as everybody brawls mercilessly!
[The timekeeper rings the bell incessantly until a troop of ring officials and security guards storm the ring and separate everybody. Nearly four men have to keep Rocko restrained from attacking Stalker, who is equally fervent in crossing over to the other side of the ring. Hiroshi and JA are split apart, and JA drops out of the ring, indicating he isn’t there to continue fighting any longer. After a few moments of chaos, “Zero” by the Smashing Pumpkins hits the PA.]
DM: Here comes the boss to finally set things straight, and boy, does HE look angry!
[Ryan is holding a mic as he comes out, his face looking very stern.]
Ryan: Alright, that’s enough… Rocko… Kin… JA… and you too, Caitlyn. I want all of you in my office, and we’re going to talk this over.
[The infighting stops, and all those named are escorted by security up the ramp to the backstage area. Stalker is prepped to be led away when he hops a barricade and disappears into the crowd.]
DT: I wonder what this is going to be about?
DM: Hopefully he’ll reverse that decision, cause that was complete and utter bullcrap.
MN: Yeah, well, at least Rocko made a PINFALL to become number one contender!
DT: Folks, we have to take a commercial break, but we’ll see if we can bring some resolution to this issue by the time we get back…