(Cue up “The Touch”)

DT: Well, here comes Jonathan Marx returning to Empire after a little hiatus.

MN: Bah, tell me why he should get a shot at the Almighty Dodd after being gone for awhile.

DM: Because he was the NFW points leader. (snickers)

DT: That’s not the reason, Dean.

DM: Is your sarcasm detector broken?

MN: Well, Dodd is going to mop the floor with him.

DT: I don’t know about that. Marx is a world class wrestler.

(Cue up “Stellar”)

MN: Praise Dodd!

DT: Dodd’s looking determined here. I think he wants to prove that he’s as good if not better technically than Jonathan Marx.

DM: Well, that may be a tall order to fill. I think he can hang, but c’mon, Marx is one of the best.

DT: Dodd enters the ring and we can begin.

(SFX: Ding ding ding)

DT: They’re circling. Feeling each other out here. Collar and… no, Dodd pulls back. Tie up… no, now Marx pulls back.

DM: These two guys are no strangers to each other. I’m surprised they’d start the match off so tentatively.

DT: Now Dodd’s raising his hand. He wants… a test of strength?

DM: Dodd, man, I know he wanted to kick it old school, but this is ancient.

MN: Hey, Dodd knows what he’s doing.

DT: Marx looks a little perplexed, but he’s going to accept. We got a good old-fashioned test of strength going here, it’s pretty even right now, although Dodd does have 30 pounds on Marx. He may have the advantage here.

DM: I’m still wondering why anyone in this day and age would do a freakin’ test of strength.

DT: Well, they’re doing it, and it looks like Dodd’s got the advantage. He’s bearing down on Marx. Wait, Marx is fighting back, he’s got it back to an even keel. It’s a struggle… a struggle, Marx has the advantage now, he’s bearing down on Dodd and… the Intercontinental Champion with a knee to Marx’s gut.

DM: That wasn’t very sportsmanlike.

MN: He doesn’t have to be sportsmanlike. He’s the Eye-See Champ!

DT: Marx doubled over, Dodd in with a bulldog headlock.

DM: Well, I’ll give the Doddler his credit. He’s been crafty at the outset of this match.

MN: You’re damn right!

DT: Dodd down on the canvas. He’s got a front chancery locked in, but Marx is getting up. He twists out of the hold and sends Dodd to the mat with a crisp snap mare. Now Marx has the rear chinlock on Dodd. Dodd’s now stirring, he’s getting up and the chinlock becomes a side headlock. Dodd now shoves Marx off the ropes. Marx comes bouncing back, Dodd hits the deck. Rebound again, Dodd up, but not for long. Nice shoulder block by the challenger. Both men are up, and the crowd gives their appreciation for the sequence.

DM: Now that’s wrestling.

MN: Yes, Dodd is a wrestling god.

DM: Who just got knocked down by a wrestling titan.

DT: Both men are back up, and they’re at it again. Collar and elbow, Marx with a hammerlock. Dodd reverses it with a hammerlock of his own. Marx with one elbow to Dodd’s head, and another, and another, now a snapmare. Dodd down and Marx in with a sleeperhold.

DM: More good chain wrestling here, although Neels’ hero over here now is in a precarious position.

DT: Dodd’s getting back to his feet, he shoves Marx to the ropes. Marx rebounds with a big clothesline! This time, Dodd doesn’t get right up. Marx drops one knee, another knee… now a jumping knee across Dodd’s chest.

DM: The title’s in trouble!

MN: Bah, all you non-believers will be struck down by Dodd after the match!

DM: Well if he striketh me, I’ll sueth him.

DT: Marx back down to the canvas, he’s got a Dragon sleeper locked in. Dodd’s doing his best to get out of the hold, and Marx finally lets go, stomping Dodd in the chest.

MN: You can’t make a wrestling icon like Dodd submit that easily!

DT: Dodd slowly to his feet, but Marx is waiting for him, double arm suplex. He covers…

…one…

…two…

…Dodd kicks out.

MN: Way to early to try and pin Dodd.

DM: It’s never too early to try and get a pinfall, Neels.

MN: When you talk about the Almighty Dodd, it is.

DT: Marx is a consummate technician. He knows what he’s doing. And now, he’s got Dodd in the octopus hold.

DM: Marx loves him some submission holds.

MN: Pfft, Dodd’s not going to tap.

DT: That might not be Marx’s aim here. Marx releases the hold, and now he’s up, Dodd’s up, and… gutwrench suplex by Marx! Cover…

…one…

…two…

…Dodd with another kick out. Marx is up, he’s got Dodd in the side headlock. DD… no! Dodd blocked it… Northern Lights suplex! Dodd bridges…

…one…

…two…

…but Marx kicks out.

MN: What a reversal by Dodd! The match is won.

DM: I wouldn’t go that far, cupcake.

DT: Both men are up, Marx goes for a chop, Dodd shoves it aside and counters with a chop, two chops, three of his own. Marx staggers back, Dodd bounces off the ropes… flying cross chop! Marx is down!

MN: The fall of Marxism!

DT: Dodd down on the canvas with a cross armbreaker.

DM: Playing some of The Gentleman’s game here with submissions.

DT: Trying to wear down the former Intercontinental Champion. He’s wrenching back, Marx is trying to fight out of it… Dodd breaks the hold and stomps on Marx as he’s getting up. Dodd takes Marx, rear waistlock and… German suplex with a pin…

…one…

…two…

…but Marx kicks out.

MN: Dodd is on fire here. GO DODD!

DM: Christ…

DT: Dodd’s got Marx up and whips him into the corner. Dodd’s just strolling into the corner now. He raises his arm up in the air, and… knife edge chop!

Crowd: WOOO!

DT: And another one…

Crowd: WOOO!

DT: …and a third one…

Crowd: WOOO!

DT: …and one more! Marx falls to the canvas.

MN: Marx’s chest is bright red now. Heh, this is great.

DT: Dodd with a few stomps on Marx before picking him up. Dodd whips Marx off the ropes, rebound… he hits Marx with a big tilt-a-whirl backbreaker! Marx down to the canvas again.

MN: Domination!

DM: I wouldn’t be so sure yet.

DT: Dodd’s got Marx up, and… sidewalk slam into a cover…

…one…

…two…

…Marx kicks out.

DM: Dodd’s really proving himself here, but can he put Marx away?

MN: Of course! That’s why he’s the Intercontinental Champion!

DT: Dodd’s got Marx up again. He’s setting Marx up.

MN: D-O-DDT! This match is going to be over!

DT: That’s exactly what he’s going for, and… no! Marx blocks it!

MN: Nooo!

DT: Marx shoves Dodd to the ropes, Dodd rebounds and… flapjack!

DM: The tides have turned, Neels. How about that?

MN: This is bad!

DT: Dodd’s up, Marx runs behind him, bounces off the ropes. Rebound… chop to the back of the knee!

DM: Looks like it’s time for some Marxism.

DT: Marx is sizing him up… he’s going down… Dodd moves out of the way, and now he’s to his knees. Marx down to get Dodd and… no! Dodd just wrapped him up in a small package!

One…

…two…

…three!

(SFX: Ding ding ding)

Tony Fatora: Here’s your winner, and STILL Intercontinental Champion… “Your Hero,” Sebastian Dodd!!!

DM: Well, Dodd made good, he defended his title and did so on a slick reversal. A page out of Marx’s book.

MN: Admit it. Dodd is God.

DM: I wouldn’t go that far, but he’s proven himself.