DT: Welcome back to Aggression, everyone! It's just about time for Troy Douglas to put his EPW Intercontinental Title on the line, against Anthology's own Cameron Cruise. Anything to say before this one gets started?
DM: Cameron Cruise has looked solid in his matches, and as focused as I've seen him at any point in the past year. But Troy Douglas hasn't backed down from any challenge, defending against everyone, and he's held that belt for a long time now. He's done a lot of good for the Intercontinental Title, and made it clear you need to be at the top of your game to have a chance of taking it from this Champion. Whenever you get two guys at the top of their games in the ring, it should be a great match.
MN: Screw that, Douglas and his reign of dooming the Intercontinental Title are finally going to get killed off! And who else could do it but a member of Anthology?
DM: Wasn't it another member of Anthology who failed to beat Douglas at Unleashed?
MN: Everyone has an off day, and every Megatron has a lucky one.
DT: I think Troy Douglas is well past the lucky stage, Mike. As impressive as the roll Cruise and Anthology have been on, he's going up against a Champion whose reign has endured many challenges, and eaten up time on the calendar. Let's leave it at that and hand things over to Tony Fatora for the introductions!
TF: The following contest is scheduled for one fall... and is for the EPW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
["Pieces" by Hoobastank. Larry Tact walks down the ramp, ignoring the boos from the crowd and bypassing the ring, heading instead towards the announce table.]
DT: What's this? I know one member of Anthology is in this match, but it isn't Larry Tact...
MN: He must have heard what you said about his losing to Dougie and got pissed off. Dean, you're a dead man!
DM: I was just stating facts. I didn't actually name names.
DT: It seems Tact is heading this way, Dean. Looks like we may need to make some room, at least.
DM: Easier said than done, with Mike here.
MN: Hey, it's not my fault the diet pills I bought were a year past expiration!
[Tact takes up a chair and sits at the announce table.]
DT: Welcome, Larry. Here to watch your fellow Anthology member try and get some gold?
LT: That's right.
DM: Is that all?
LT: What is that supposed to mean?
MN: Dean's clearly got some personal problems with you, Larry!
DM: Mike, that's not true at all! I just noticed Anthology seems to be operating in pairs, at least.
LT: We're not afraid to show our strength. Right now, though, it's all about Cameron becoming the new Intercontinental Champion, and nothing more. I just wanted a ringside seat for Anthology's first title victory.
MN: Who wouldn't!
["All These Things I Hate [Revolve Around You]" by Bullet For My Valentine. Cameron Cruise hears the boos of the crowd as soon as he steps out from behind the curtain, staring at the ring as he walks down the ramp.]
TF: Introducing first, the challenger, hailing from Jacksonville, North Carolina! He stands six feet, three inches tall and weighed in at 263 pounds! He is a former EPW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION... one of the founding members of THE ANTHOLOGY.... CAMMMMERRRROONNNNNN CRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUIISSSSSSEEE!!!!!
DT: Cruise hears it from the crowd, who are solidly behind the Intercontinental Champion.
MN: What fools.
LT: Cruise eats it all up. He's ready for this match, and he'll thrive here. It's been a long time coming.
["You Know My Name" by Chris Cornell. After the first ten seconds play, a series of three loud cannon blasts goes off! As the song cuts to the first chorus, Troy Douglas steps onto the ramp, the EPW Intercontinental Title around his waist, to a MONSTER POP from the crowd!]
TF: And now, introducing... from Greensboro, North Carolina! He stands six feet, five inches tall, and weighed in at 260 pounds! He is the man at the End of the Road... the reigning and defending EPW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION! TRRROOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYY DOOOOUUUUUUUGGLLLLAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
[Douglas makes his way down to the ring and enters, climbing each turnbuckle and holding the IC Title up to the cheers of the crowd!]
DT: A Champion EPW can be proud of, Troy Douglas.
LT: Don't speak for everyone, it's not your place.
DM: You seemed to be locked in on Douglas when you first arrived here, Larry, but of late you attacked Sean Stevens. Any reason?
LT: I was asked by Anthology to get in on the six-man tag with Stevens involved, and then I took advantage last week in striking him when the opportunity arose. I did what I had to do. If a message was sent, all the better.
DM: Some might call that, 'biting off more than you can chew.' You haven't even tasted EPW gold yet, and you're going around attacking the EPW World Heavyweight Champion?
LT: I'm well aware of what I'm doing, and what he's got. I don't do anything without a purpose, and I definitely didn't come here so I could lay back and play with anyone who happened into the ring against me. I came here to compete at the highest level, which means there's plenty of reason, and pounds of gold, in attacking Stevens. Besides, I beat Troy before, and Cameron here is about to take the only thing worth recognizing him for.
DM: I wouldn't be too confident. There's no question that Troy Douglas has the tools to make it all the way to the top. You should know that pretty well, having competed with him. In fact, sitting here at ringside, and knowing what happened at Unleashed, I'd think it would make you want to be the one going for the title right now.
LT: I wouldn't have turned down the chance. But if Anthology will be getting gold, I can look forward to this for now. It'll be satisfying seeing Cameron show you that he's also got what it takes. He'll give a demonstration by beating Troy tonight.
MN: Douglas was just holding onto his belt while Anthology came together, right?
LT: Sure, that's one way of looking at it. And once Cameron gets the strap, I can adjust my sights, elsewhere, for more Anthology gold that EPW will contribute, like it or not.
DT: As Cruise and Douglas meet center ring, it's clear that confidence is not something lacking in Anthology.
LT: Of course not.
DT: The bell rings, and we're officially on our way in this Intercontinental Title match! Douglas and Cruise exchange words as they continue to stare at each other. Now it's Cruise with a forearm, but Douglas blocks and returns with his own! Cruise backed into the ropes by two more, and then whipped to the ropes. Cruise ducks under a clothesline... returns with a Cross Body... caught! Troy Douglas heaves Cruise up and over with a Fallaway Slam! What strength!
DM: Cruise is no small man, but Douglas showing right away that his powerful frame is not just for show.
DT: Douglas with a club on the rising Cruise before picking him up, then works on the stomach with some knees to the stomach. Douglas not letting Cruise even get started as he whips him into the corner and immediate follows in with a forceful clothesline.
DM: Getting the momentum early on can lead to a quick match. I'm sure Troy wouldn't mind that.
MN: Cruise would!
DT: Douglas whips Cameron to the opposite corner and follows in, but Cruise with a boot up! He quickly comes back out with a boot to the guts, and hits several forearms to the face of Troy Douglas. He rolls the Champion with a neckbreaker, quickly follows up with an elbow to the sternum and then another! Cruise backs up to the corner and mounts the second rope... Douglas gets back up and Cruise lands a dropkick! Now the first cover of the match....
ONE!
Kickout at TWO!
DT: Troy Douglas refuses to give the title up this early.
LT: That wouldn't have been worth walking down here for.
MN: But Cruise has taken the momentum, it's only a matter of time before the celebration!
DT: Cruise is waiting for Douglas as he stands, and lands a clean forearm to the face... but Troy returns it with one of his own! Cruise returns, as does the Champion again! And Troy with another! He comes in close with a knee to the guts of Cruise, then locks an arm around the challenger's head and flips him over onto the mat. Douglas mounts Cruise's back as he tries to stand, and starts landing fists right to the temple!
DM: What was that about Cruise having taken the momentum?
MN: Cruise might be used to this kind of punishment from Beau Michaels, but this doesn't look so good in the ring!
DT: Douglas applies a camel clutch, and the referee checks to make sure it's no choke, but it's all legal.
MN: Choking now? Is he trying to distract poor Cameron with flashbacks to Beau's bed tricks??
LT: From what I've heard, those rumors have only been confirmed by Beau. But everyone knows how he mixes and matches reality and fantasy, as much as Jared Wells does with women.
DM: For Cameron's sake, we can only hope that sully picture is true.
DT: Douglas sees there's no quit in Cruise at the moment, and he releases the hold with one parting blow to the head of Cruise. Now a cover by Douglas...
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
DT: The Champion gets the challenger to his feet and runs him into the corner with a shoulder charge! But Cruise looks to get out with clubbing blows to Douglas's back, and he gets a moment to elevate himself up to the second rope! Douglas lifts his head and takes a forearm, then another by Cruise, who hooks the Champion... BULLDOG from the second rope! Cruise hits it and makes a cover...
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
DM: Nice move there by Cruise, turning his defense into offense.
MN: That's just what Anthology does, turn the tables like that!
LT: That's only the beginning.
DT: Cruise seems to be getting ahold of things, as he lands a swinging neckbreaker on Troy Douglas, followed by knees to the neck. He lifts up Douglas and drops him with a double underhook Suplex. He lifts Troy up again and hooks the arm for a Suplex and.... Douglas with a block! Troy finds Cruise's midsection and breaks free after a couple hammerblows to the ribs. Cruise is momentarily stunned and Troy hits the ropes... RRROOOOOAAARRRING ELBOW! MISSES! Cruise evades and Douglas turns, clothesline! No Douglas ducks under and goes for a running knee. Cruise somehow rolls over the knee and counters with a roll up!
ONE!
TWO!
TH-- NO!
DM: That looked like it caught Douglas off guard a little.
LT: Wouldn't you be, if you expected to have your opponent down, and ended up the one in a predicament?
MN: The only thing Dean knows how to knock down is drinks! hahaha!
DM: Now Neels, don't go projecting your problems onto others again.
MN: ...I'll get you.
DT: Both men are up, and Cruise is countered as he goes for a quick arm wringer! Douglas spins Cruise back around and this time connects with the knee to Cruise's guts! Cruise doubles over from the force, and Troy wastes little time as he lifts the challenger up into a military press... and brings him down into a European Uppercut!
DM: Strength and timing lead to a smooth combination for the Intercontinental Champion. Can he follow it up?
DT: Looks like he's about to do just that as he picks Cruise up and sends him into the ropes.... Cruise tries to stop himself but can't, and receives a spinning kick to the guts, then another running knee!
MN: If I were Cruise right now, I'd hurl after all these knees and kicks to my stomach.
LT: That's why he's competing for the title. You just stay right here at the announce table.
DT: Douglas lifts Cruise in a Fireman's Carry, then drops him with a Gutbuster! I can't imagine Cruise is feeling too good after that one.
MN: Don't hate, Thomas! Like Larry said, I'm here to protect Anthology from you two haters to my left!
DM: Score another poor attempt at slang for Neels.
MN: Hey yo. I'm just pimpin' support for my boys, Anthologyyy!
DM: Never do that, Neels. Not you. Ever.
MN: Okay yo.
DM: *sigh*
DT: Cruise whipped against the ropes.... THERE is the RRROOOARRING ELLLBOOOOWW CONNECTS! Cruise staggers back into the ropes though... only to be brought down hard with a SPINEBUSTER! Douglas looks pumped and the crowd agrees!
DM: How's that seat, Larry? Feeling a little hotter now?
LT: I'm a believer that, at times, you just need to weather a storm, and wait for a chance.
MN: In other words, it isn't over yet!
DT: Douglas may have drastically different ideas, as he brings Cruise to a corner, and now to the second rope. Could this be the End of the Road for Cruise and Anthology's hope for gold tonight?
DM: The End of the Road is just that, so Cruise had better do something.
DT: Douglas up to the second rope. He has Cruise hooked! No, Cruise won't let him as he keeps an arm free, hitting Douglas in the midsection! Cruise elbows Douglas off the second rope... but the Champion lands on his feet and hits a boot to the face of Cruise! Douglas goes back up to the second rope, but Cruise goes to the top rope! They're exchanging blows.... Douglas is up to the top as well!
DM: Here we go!
LT: Show him how much you want it, Cameron!
DT: Douglas gets a good shot in! He wants to end the match right here!
DM: Cruise is going to regret going to the top rope.
MN: NOO!
DT: Wait, Cruise is battling still... headbutt to Douglas's leg! The Champion's leg slips, but Cruise keeps him from falling back, and pulls him in!
DM: What's he doing?
DT: Cruise is lifting up Douglas.... OH MY!!
MN: YES!
DT: SHIPWRECK! CAMERON CRUISE just did it, hitting SHIPWRECK FROM THE TOP ROPE!!!
LT: Just pin him and the celebration begins, Cameron!
MN: Do it!
DT: Both men are down after Cameron Cruise hits the Shipwreck from the top rope!
DM: That may have been a desperation move on the part of the challenger, but I have to think the Champion took the brunt of the damage.
LT: Call it what you want. Anthology is about to claim the Intercontinental title.
DT: Cruise rolls over... he hooks the leg!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE-- NOO!!
DT: TROY DOUGLAS KICKED OUT! OH MY! He kicked out of the Shipwreck from the top rope!
LT: Meh.
DM: Look at the face of Cruise, he's shocked!
MN: I call shenanigans! That count was clearly in favor of Dougie, there's no way he could have kicked out of that!
DT: Somehow he did it, and Cameron Cruise is yelling at the referee, but there's no changing his mind. Cruise goes back to Douglas and lays in the boots to him, hammering away with fists to the face of the Champion. The referee puts in a five count, and Cruise barely stops before five, and gets a stern warning!
DM: If he lets his emotions get to him, he'll be disqualified, and even more upset.
LT: He's still got a golden opportunity. Douglas is weakened, just finish him!
DT: Cruise is getting himself back under control, and lifts Douglas up, who does look like he's struggling. Cruise whips Douglas to the corner, and he comes in with a running clothesline. Now he mounts the second rope and lands heavy punches to Douglas's head, as the crowd expresses its displeasure!
LT: I doubt he can hear them right now. He's locked in to finish this.
MN: Who cares what those idiots think, anyway?!
DM: You should. They help pay you to sit here and make comments like those.
MN: Everyone loves hearing what I have to say.
DM: Right.
DT: Cruise gets off the ropes and brings Douglas out to the middle of the ring. Looks like he wants to finish it right here, as he boots Douglas in the guts, hooks the head... High Impact DDT?
LT: That's ri--
DT: NO! The Champion counter Cruise into a NORTHERN LIGHTS SUPLEX! COVER!!
[Tact stands up from his seat.]
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
MN/LT: NO!!
DM: YES!
DT: Wait, SHOULDER UP! Cruise had a shoulder up in the last second!
DM: That was razor close.
MN: No way, the referee just saw Cruise's shoulder way late! Heresy!
DM: That seat too hot to sit in now, Larry?
LT: Shut it. I just wanted to make sure the referee made the tactful call.
[Tact sits back down.]
DM: Right.
DT: Cruise is the one getting up first, as Douglas still looks somewhat limited. He's getting up as well, but slower. Cruise steps back to the ropes, then goes off them for an added burst and charges at Douglas! The Champion looks to counter with a Spinebuster!
LT: Didn't get under him.
DT: Cruise stops the Champion with a knee to the head as he bent a moment too soon to lift the challenger. Cruise quickly hooks Douglas's head and hits a High Impact DDT!
MN: Yes!
DM: Douglas tried to cover his damage by making his move a moment earlier, and that early movement gave him away.
LT: In another moment, it's going to have cost him the strap.
DM: Hm, deja vu moment.
MN: Just wait and see!
DT: Cruise isn't taking any chances this time. He brings Douglas up and sets him in place.... REALITY CHECK! He hits it perfectly on the Intercontinental Champion!
LT: FORMER Intercontinental Champion in...
DT: Cover by Cruise, could we see a new Champion?
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!
DT: That's it, it's over! We have a new EPW Intercontinental Champion!
TF: The winner of the match... and NEEEEW EPW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION.... CAAAMMEEEERRROOOONNNN CRRRUUUUUIIISSSEEE!!!!!
MN: Anthology has claimed their first title in EPW!
LT: Looks like Cameron beat me to the punch. I'll have to find my EPW gold elsewhere.
[Tact stands and goes into the ring, taking the Intercontinental Title from the referee and shoving him away. He hands it to Cruise and they celebrate in the ring.]
DT: As Mike pointed out, Anthology has staked their claim to EPW gold, after Troy Douglas did what he could to keep from being dethroned.
DM: I really thought Troy was going to comeback after he kicked out of the Shipwreck, but it wasn't to be. Anthology has the Intercontinental Title in their camp, now, which makes things even more interesting between themselves, the Fallen, and the Forsaken.
MN: Anthology will be breaking out the ho's and the booze for Cruise tonight!
DM: You only wish you could be apart of it.
MN: Hey, maybe Larry will send me an invite, after seeing my masterful skills on the mic!
DM: I think not.
DT: Troy Douglas is on the mat and holding onto his neck right now. You have to wonder if he came down a little too hard on the next because he is NOT getting up.
DM: Well, he took the Shipwreck twice and that’s a devastating move to take just once.
DT: In any case, we do have a new EPW Intercontinental Champion, and his name is Cameron Cruise! More EPW action after a quick break.
MN: God help us all.