DM: That it has, Dave! I cannot believe this non-stop action that Empire Pro has put in front of us here. Not only that, Tariq Ismail is gone after throwing a shoe of all things….and The Entourage just walked out!!
MN: Well, prepare to be even more amazed, Matthews.
DT: He speaks the truth, Dean. This next matchup is one that has been over a year in the making.
DM: Ken Cloverleaf and “Sensational” Steven Shane have been literally at each other’s throats since Sensationally Perfect split up almost two years ago. They’ve seen each other in the ring, but never has the match ended without some sort of controversy to prove who the real leader of the team was.
[CUE UP: “The Wind Below” by Rage Against The Machine. Enter Ken Cloverleaf to massive heel heat.]
TF: The following contest is set for one fall…
Introducing first… from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania…KEEEENNNN CLOOOOOVERLEEEAFFF!!
DT: Well, if you ask this guy, he’s the reason for Sensationally Perfect being known as two-time tag team champions.
MN: Ask him? Ask anyone, Thomas. He single-handedly carried the team.
DT: That could be argued from more than one standpoint.
[CUE UP: “Damn” by Fabolous. Shane steps through the entranceway to a big face pop.]
DM: That’s true, because many would say that Shane’s versatility is what kept Sensationally Perfect in a lot of their matches.
DT: Versatility is a great word. His primary offense is to ground his opponent, but he can also up the ante and go to the air if need be.
DM: This is definitely going to be a great match, and one that not only I, but fans around the world have been waiting for.
DT: Well, they’re in the ring and ready to go. Here’s the ref calling for the bell.
[DING, DING, DING!]
DT: Here we go. Both men just simply giving a stare across the ring. You can literally feel the tension here throughout Madison Square Garden as these two prepare to finally meet each other.
DM: Well, here we go. Both men step to the middle of the ring as they now lock up in a collar and elbow tie-up.
DT: Shane quickly gets the upperhand as he presses Cloverleaf back into the ropes. The ref calls for a clean break…but Shane doesn’t give it to him! Big knife-edge chop!
DM: Well, he’s holding up Cloverleaf again…another chop!
DT: Steven Shane really taking it to Cloverleaf quickly. He now grabs Cloverleaf by the arm and gives him an Irish whip across the ring. Cloverleaf rebounds…into a big clothesline by Shane! There’s a cover…
…one…
…two…
…kickout by Cloverleaf!
DM: Shane maybe going for a pinfall a bit early there, but nonetheless, he is controlling the pace early here against Ken Cloverleaf.
DT: Shane pulls Cloverleaf back up quickly. He gives Cloverleaf a quick right to the head, followed by another Irish whip into the corner. Shane quickly follows Cloverleaf in and now he’s going to the second rope!
…eight…
…nine…
…ten!
DM: Steven Shane is not taking any prisoners here tonight against his former tag team partner! Ten, well-aimed punches to Ken Cloverleaf’s head there to get things going!
DT: Well, Shane ducks back out of the corner. He now gives Cloverleaf a kick to the midsection, followed by a DDT! Shane will go for another cover here…
…one…
…two…
…kickout by Cloverleaf!
DM: Well, Shane seems a bit frustrated here, but I think he’s trying to go for the win a bit too early here.
MN: A bit too early? This is Ken Cloverleaf! There is no way this man is going to go down that easily.
DT: Well, Shane pulls Cloverleaf back up one more time here.
DM: But Cloverleaf quickly catches Shane with a fist to the midsection. Shane doubles over, and Cloverleaf clubs him down with a forearm to the back of the neck.
MN: Are you seeing what I’m saying, Matthews?
DT: Well, Cloverleaf taking the advantage here. He drives a hard right into Shane and now whips him into the corner…no! Shane reverses! Shane charges in…
DM: But Cloverleaf with a quick poke to the eye that has Shane stunned! Cloverleaf pulls himself to the second rope, and now catches Shane with a bulldog!
MN: And look at Cloverleaf pointing to his head! That’s him saying that no matter how hard Shane tries, he won’t be as smart as Cloverleaf. And he just proved it there!
DT: And now he’s staying on the attack to keep the momentum in his favor here. Yet another brilliant move by Cloverleaf. Right Neels?
MN: Hey, don’t get sarcastic with me because my pick is winning this match.
DT: When did you pick Ken Cloverleaf to win this match?
MN: The minute Sensationally Perfect broke up.
DM: So you foresaw this match coming?
MN: Didn’t everyone?
DM: But they didn’t part on bad terms. They were forced out of tag team action. How could you predict that?
MN: I guess some people are more gifted than others, Matthews.
DT: Well guys, back to the match. Cloverleaf has been working all over Shane’s knee here as my colleagues have verbally battled it out. He’s now currently got Shane’s leg contorted around his in an outstanding leg grapevine.
MN: Perfect, outstanding leg grapevine.
DT: Whatever Neels.
DM: Look at the pure agony on Shane’s face right now! If anyone in this business knows how to work over a knee, it’s Ken Cloverleaf.
DT: Well, he’s been doing this for years, and never has he strayed from that famed Texas Cloverleaf.
MN: That’s how the best do it. They find what works and stick with it.
DT: Well, he’s pulling Shane back up here. He backs him into the ropes and now whips him across the ring.
DM: Big dropkick to the knee there! And Shane met the mat very quickly there!
DT: Cloverleaf now pulls up Shane’s leg…and there’s an inverted Indian deathlock! Shane could give it up right here!
DM: The ref is down in Shane’s face, asking him if he wishes to quit.
[The camera zooms in on Shane’s grimacing face as his head shakes “no” vigorously.]
MN: Well, he’s saying no now, but he’ll be pleading for that bell to ring in just a few seconds.
DT: Oh my! Cloverleaf just fell to his back to apply even more pressure! Look at the veins popping out of Shane’s head!
DM: I’m not sure how much longer he can hold on here, Dave.
[Chants of “Let’s Go Shane! Let’s Go Shane!” protrude around the arena.]
DT: Well, Shane’s making a move for the ropes here. Let’s see if he can get to them…
…
Yes! Cloverleaf must break the hold.
DM: Oh come on! He’s not letting go!
…three…
…four…
DT: And now he lets it go! Come on!
MN: He has to the count of five.
DT: That’s not the point! The ref told him to break the hold four seconds ago. There’s no reason to hold onto it that long!
DM: Regardless, Cloverleaf still has a huge advantage right now, and I’m not sure if Steven Shane is going to be able to get back to his feet, let alone find a way to win this match.
DT: That is very true, Dean. And now, Cloverleaf is pulling Shane back up to his feet, which is about the only way Shane can be vertical right now. He backs him into the ropes and gives him an Irish whip across the ring.
DM: Oh come on! Cloverleaf just took off on a full sprint and sent a shoulder block to Shane’s already injured knee. He could have hyper extended that knee into submission right there!
DT: Well, the ref is trying to check on Shane…and damnit! Cloverleaf butts his way right back into the match. He could have had the match won had the ref been given time to evaluate Shane’s physical capability.
MN: But this man does not like Steven Shane. It isn’t about wins and losses, because he has those over him already. All he cares about is hurting this man.
DT: Well, he’s doing a good job here as now he locks Shane in a figure four! Shane is writhing in pain here! How much more can that knee take?
DM: And the other thing is that Shane is stuck right in the middle of the ring. He has nowhere to go.
DT: And now Cloverleaf is grabbing hold of the ropes, using his own placement to his advantage!
DM: You’ve got to think that a man like Cloverleaf knows how to work this leg and where he should be in the ring at all times. Here he was smart enough to realize that if Shane was in the middle of the ring and he were on one of the outsides, he could take advantage of the ref’s placement when he checked on Shane.
MN: That’s why he’s Empire Pro’s only Perfect, Outstanding Superstar, Matthews.
DT: Look out! Shane’s shoulders are down…
…one…
…two…
…and Shane sits up! He’s writhing in pain, but he somehow manages to sit up.
DM: And the pressure on that knee is becoming unbearable. Shane may be able to stay up for now, but sooner or later he could easily pass out from all that pain.
DT: He’s down again…
…one…
…two…
…three…NO! He’s up! What kind of fight does this man still have left in him?
MN: Probably enough to keep from passing out, but there is no fight left for him to win this match. The ref should call it now and save Shane’s knee a little damage.
[Again, the chants of “Let’s Go Shane! Let’s Go Shane” ring throughout the arena.]
DT: Listen to this crowd getting behind Steven Shane here! I think he may be feeling some of it too!
DM: It certainly appears that way. Shane’s arm is up, and he’s looking to turn over Cloverleaf here, I believe.
DT: Well, he’s on his side. Cloverleaf is trying to grab those ropes again…but the ref kicks his hand off!
MN: That’s cheating! Cloverleaf was trying to break the hold!
DM: Neels, he is the one with the hold locked in right now. So, in essence, I guess you’re right. It is cheating, but from the Cloverleaf side.
DT: Well, Shane is still on his side. Now he’s almost over…yes! He rolled it over! All the pressure is being applied to Ken Cloverleaf now! And Ken breaks the hold to save his own knee!
DM: Both men are getting up slowly here! Ken is up, but Shane is limping right towards him!
DT: There’s a right by Cloverleaf. Blocked by Shane! And Shane follows it with a right of his own!
DM: Cloverleaf swings again…blocked! And Shane sends him reeling into the ropes with another right!
DT: Shane backs Cloverleaf down. He gives him a whip into the ropes…big clothesline! Shane is feeling it here as he has come back to life!
MN: He’s making a mistake here though. He’s waiting on Cloverleaf to get back to a vertical base. Attack this man!
DT: He’s waiting…Cloverleaf is up! Shane charges! Oh my!
DM: Ken Cloverleaf just took Steven Shane down again with that chop block to the knee!
DT: And now he’s signaling for the end of the match! He’s walking over to Shane’s feet. It could be…
DM: What’s this? Ken Cloverleaf isn’t going for the Texas Cloverleaf here. He’s going for the…California Clutch? Are you kidding me? That’s Steven Shane’s submission hold!
DT: Well, he’s got Shane’s legs locked. Now he’s trying to turn him over…
DM: But Shane presses him off into the ropes! Cloverleaf quickly fires back, but Shane ducks a clothesline!
DT: California Dream! Shane just nailed Cloverleaf with the California Dream! He’s going for the pin…
…one…
…two…
…THREE!
[DING DING DING]
TF: Ladies and gentlemen, here is your winner… “Sensational” Steven Shane!
[The crowd pops through the roof.]
DM: Are you kidding me? Steven Shane just somehow came out of nowhere and upended the enormous amount of offense that Ken Cloverleaf had built here to win this match!
MN: I think his shoulder was up.
DT: There was no doubt about that one, Neels. Once Shane hit that California Dream, it was lights out for Ken Cloverleaf.
DM: Well, Ken Cloverleaf made a comment about Steven Shane’s t-shirt slogan this week, but in the end, he was just another one that Shane can add to the list of people’s he’s put to sleep.
DT: Folks, this has been an outstanding pay-per-view! And guess what! We’ve still got more great action coming up!