MN: IT'S EMPEROR TIME, BABY!!! WOOWOO!!!

DT: Both Douglas and Benjamin have racked up some impressive victories here in Empire Pro and are accomplished technicians in their own right. Bank on this one to be a classic.

MN: I've got money riding on it.

DT: Let's go to the ring!

TONY FATORA: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is set for one fall, with no time limit, and it is for the Empire Pro Wrestling INTERCONTEINTAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

[The crowd cheers madly at the mention of the title match, as fading up, “Only Happy When It Rains” by Garbage kicks in. Jonathan Marx walks down to the ring confidently, staring intently at the ring. He climbs the steps, taking his time, as the crowd still cheers. He pauses on the apron, glancing round at the assembled fans, before stepping through the ropes, walking over to a corner away from the ramp way to stretch]

TONY FATORA: Introducing first, the challenger. He weighs in at two hundred fifteen pounds, and hails from Princeton, New Jersey... this...isssssssss........GENTLEMAN.... JOOOOOOONNNNNNNAAAAAAATTTTTTHHHHHHHAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN...MMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!!!!

DT: Fans, Marx has been on a bit off a losing streak of late, but he was up against two of the toughest men in this industry and took both to the limit. He also lost the last encounter between these two, so he must be looking for some fragment of revenge.

MN: But he’s never faced any challenge as steep as this man about to make his entrance.

[“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 covers his head and the other that covers the lower part of his face revealing only his stone cold eyes. He glares at Marx, not taking his eyes off the challenger, as he too climbs the steps, eyeing Marx as he steps through the ropes, before standing in his corner, removing the bandanas]

TONY FATORA: And his opponent, weighing in at two hundred, forty five pounds... he hails from the United Kingdom, and is the reigning Empire Pro INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION...ladies and gentlemen, this is YOUR’S TRULY... AAAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMM...BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNN NNNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJJJAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!

DT: This is set to be a good match, fans. Both are masters at the mat game, truly two of the greatest technicians you are likely to ever see. The ref is checking both men for foreign objects, calling them to the middle to do things properly.

MN: Isn’t Benjamin a foreign object?

DT: He’s the Intercontinental champion, Mike. He’s allowed to be in this match. The ref now shows the belt to the fans, handing it now over to the timekeeper... and he signals the start of the match. Marx and Benjamin circling each other, neither man wanting to make a mistake.

[Marx and Benjamin circle each other, feigning a lock up, backing away, feigning again. Finally, they lock up, Benjamin quickly scooting behind for a hammerlock, cranking on the arm. Marx holds his shoulder for a moment, before reaching between his legs to try and trip Benjamin. Finding this a fruitless course of action, he rolls forward, taking Benjamin over with a roll, before applying a side headlock on the mat. Benjamin rolls sideways, breaking the hold, but grabbing the arm, locking in a grounded hammerlock, which Marx counters by rolling through, hooking Benjamin in a leg lock. The champion rolls over yet again, pushing Marx off with his free leg, as the two men get to their feet quickly, neither man quicker than the other]

DT: As we expected, even mat wrestling from these two, as they both look for the opening, and the crowd were really into that exchange.

MN: I never liked mat wrestling. They’re gonna have to do something big to keep my attention.

DT: The only thing that will keep your attention is some way to annoy me. The two gladiators lock horns again, this time Marx with the go behind into a waist lock...no, Benjamin reverses into a waist lock of his own. A nice dump there from the champion, taking down the smaller man, looking to keep him down likely with the mat expertise.

[Benjamin floats over, hooking in a front face lock, as Marx struggles to get his arms around Benjamin’s waist. Marx uses hi positioning to help push himself and Benjamin to a standing base, where Marx lifts the champ up and over with a Northern Lights Suplex]

DT: Pinning combination... no, Benjamin kicks out before the count of one, as Marx now kicks him in the gut...hooking him here...NICE vertical suplex, as he rolls over, lifting Benjamin still with a face lock applied... Benjamin drops down behind on the second attempted suplex, and SCORES there with a German suplex, holding onto to it... no, Marx kicks out at one. These two have such similar styles it’s going to be difficult for either man to be able to win here today.

MN: The champ looks in control as he takes Marx down with a double leg take down though.

[Once again on the mat, Benjamin grabs Marx’s left leg, wrapping it round his own body in a simple leg lock. Marx grimaces slightly, before putting Benjamin in a chin lock, pulling back as he tries to rock the weight of two men forward. Benjamin continues to crank on the leg, until Marx finally manages to topple both himself and the champ forward. Standing on one leg, he wrenches back with a move approaching a camel clutch, forcing Benjamin to break his leg lock as he makes a swift approach to the ropes]

DT: The champ with the smart move there, making it to the ropes before Marx could do any real damage. You can see Marx ever so slightly favouring that leg, shaking out the kinks.

MN: Benjamin should know them; they were a big band in the sixties.

DT: Huh?

MN: British progressive rock, Dave. Don’t tell me you didn’t know that, you un-hip cat.

DT: Regardless, neither man looks willing to go into another tie up. Both men eyeing each other, as Benjamin gets to his feet... and gets taken down by Marx with an impressive hip toss, keeping the arm locked into an arm bar.

[Benjamin rolls backwards, Marx still holding onto the arm. As the champ gets to his feet, Marx steps in, hitting an arm drag, again holding onto the arm, cranking it as he steps one leg over the champ, trying to keep him grounded. Benjamin shows some signs of discomfort, as he looks for a way to get out of the hold. Finally, he settles on grabbing the leg Marx had stepped over with, rolling through to break the hold, still holding the leg and locking in an STF. Not allowing himself to be trapped in his own move, Marx quickly drags himself to the nearby ropes, forcing the break]

DT: And Marx now to the ropes, as the ref looks for a clean break...NO, as Benjamin drops the elbow on Marx’s back, and again... picking him up

MN: A NICE forearm smash there, very reminiscent of Pat Roach.

DT: Who?

MN: Pat Roach, former British heavyweight wrestler who’s been in films including Conan the Destroyer.

DT: Well aren’t you a veritable fountain of knowledge today. Benjamin repeats the uppercut, whipping Marx to the ropes.

[On the rebound, Benjamin hits with a firm clothesline, dropping straight down with a fist drop to the forehead of the challenger. Keeping things on the mat, the champ locks in a rear chin lock, sitting Marx up, and placing a knee firmly in his back, wrenching on the neck. The ref checks that it’s not a choke, then asks Marx if he wants to give up. Resiliently, Marx refuses, trying to pry the champions’ hands loose. Benjamin keeps the grip firm, keeping Marx firmly on the mat. Slowly, the challenger manages to rise to his feet, Benjamin behind him, keeping the hold firmly locked in. Marx grabs behind Benjamin’s head, looking for a jawbreaker, but Benjamin steps on the back of the challengers left knee, taking him back down to the mat]

DT: The champion’s in control, working over the head and neck with the chin lock. Marx trying to get to his feet again...

MN: And Benjamin’s gonna be drinking his tea through a straw after that one!! Nice counter with the jawbreaker, and Marx hits a clothesline.

[Marx waits for the champ to get to his feet again, charging in with another clothesline. He picks Benjamin up, scoring with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex, which sends the champ flying across from one side of the ring to the other. Benjamin holds his back as he rises, Marx quickly following in. At the last second, Benjamin steps forward, taking Marx OVER the top rope with a Mexican arm drag!! Marx lands hard on the outside, yelling in pain from the impact, holding his back, as Benjamin looks scornfully down at him for a moment, before sliding under the ropes to the outside himself]

DT: HOLY COW!!! Benjamin just took the advantage back with that HUGE arm drag to send Marx CRASHING down!!

MN: Now THAT’S technical wrestling. GO HARDCORE TECHNICAL!!

[The champ stomps away a couple of times on Marx’s back, before whipping him into the security railing. The fans are going nuts as Marx sinks down to his knees, his face showing a not inconsiderable amount of pain. The champ follows up, suplexing the challenger into the edge of the ring apron, before driving him shoulder first into the ring post. He grips injured arm, wrapping it around the ring post, as he slides back into the ring, pushing with his foot against the post from the inside, stretching the challengers arm and shoulder. The ref reaches four before Benjamin releases the hold, and admonishes the champ for his unfair conduct, as Marx sinks into the ring, holding his arm]

MN: A mean streak here in Benjamin, as Marx is in a lot of pain. You know, back in the old days, he’d have gotten a public warning for that.

DT: A what?

MN: A public warning. Two public warnings, and you lost. You REALLY don’t know your British wrestling, do you?

DT: I hate you.

MN: You’ve said.

[Benjamin moves past the ref, keeping his gaze firmly on the challenger, as he places a stiff kick to the injured shoulder. Marx screams in pain, as Benjamin winds up another kick... but Marx manages to catch the leg, using his good arm to complete a dragon screw leg whip, holding onto the leg in a grapevine. Quickly, Benjamin kicks out of the hold, as both men rise quickly. Both men charge each other, Marx dropping down and catching the champ with a drop toe hold, skimming over into a hammerlock on the mat, which Benjamin reverses with a bizarre looking headlock, rolling over to grind Marx’s neck and breaking the hammerlock. Marx manages to lift his legs up, gripping Benjamin’s head in a head scissors]

DT: The challenger now with a head scissors on the champ, as he looks to slow down the pace of this match to gain some time to recover.

MN: He needs it after that vicious offence on the outside. You know, Shirley Crabtree would never have done that.

DT: Who on earth is Shirley Crabtree?!?!

MN: Big Daddy.

[Marx applies more pressure with the head scissors, as Benjamin fights to free his head. He manages to loosen Marx’s grip slightly, allowing himself to slip out of the hold. He rises quickly, catching the slower Marx in his arms, whipping him into the corner. Marx bounces out of the corner, straight into Benjamin, who suplexes him over with a belly to belly over head suplex, Marx landing awkwardly on his neck and shoulders, slumping to the mat. Benjamin moves in, making the cover, but Marx somehow manages to kick out after two. Undeterred, the champ rolls Marx onto his stomach, before setting him in a surfboard, keeping his own shoulders off the mat as he pulls back on Marx’s arms, looking to cause as much pain as possible. Marx is visibly in pain from the hold, as the ref signals to the timekeeper that Marx refuses to give up]

MN: Marx refusing to give up despite that onslaught from the champ. This is actually interesting for a technical match.

DT: Marx trying to fight the pain, trying to free his arms... he manages to!!!

MN: I bet Adam will be feeling that later, as Marx falls straight onto his chest!!

[The champion pushes the challenger off to one side, trying to catch his breath again after the impact. Marx lies on the canvas, trying to fight off the pain in his back and shoulders. Both men are slow to rise, the ref reaching a count of six before Adam Benjamin makes it to his feet. He targets the back of Marx, stomping away, before locking in a camel clutch. Marx crawls slowly to the ropes, almost making it, before Benjamin leaps into the air, over Marx, dropping an elbow right in the small of the smaller mans back. The yell of pain is clearly audible, as Benjamin pulls him back to the centre of the ring, dropping his knee into the same spot five times repeatedly. He then picks the smaller man off the mat, whipping him to the ropes, taking him down with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, pushing down on Marx’s chin and legs to stretch his back out some more. Marx breathes heavily, the ref checking to see if he wants to call it quits, but he stubbornly refuses freeing one of his legs from the restraining influence of Benjamin’s hand, kicking the champ a few times in the head. Benjamin, stunned, lets Marx slump to the mat. Regaining his bearings, the champ moves in again, locking the challenger in a front face lock as Marx rises]

DT: Benjamin here looks like he could be going for a suplex... he lifts him up... MARX FALLS BEHIND, lands on his feet...SLEEPER HOLD!! Sleeper hold applied by Marx, and Benjamin’s struggling to fight it off!!!

MN: Finally. I was wondering when the Gentleman would turn up the juice.

[Benjamin thrashes about, trying to dislodge the smaller man, who cranks back, adding more pressure. Benjamin at one points looks like he’s going to hit a jawbreaker, but Marx manages to shift his weight, dropping himself and the champ down to the mat in a sleeper neck breaker. Both men lay on the mat, the ref checking them over, before beginning to employ the ten count]

DT: Both men down, as Marx pulls out what surely was a desperation move to buy himself some time.

MN: He should’ve asked me. I know a nice little shop a few blocks away, sells nice watches.

DT: I knew it was too good to be true.

MN: I know. The ref’s at five... six...

DT: Seven...

Eight...

Ni..no, Benjamin stirs, making it to his feet, using the ropes for leverage. Marx stirring, as Benjamin moves in...Marx with the right hand to the midsection of Benjamin... and another, doubling the champ over.

MN: Those punches would make Rocky proud I’ll bet.

[Weary, Marx pulls himself to his feet, hitting a Russian leg sweep on Benjamin. The challenger, holding his back, slowly makes his way to the corner, climbing to the second rope, and scoring with a fist drop. He makes the cover, getting a two count, before whipping Benjamin into the corner. Benjamin reverses, sending Marx crashing into the corner, and follows in, looking for a splash. Marx steps out of the way, and as the champ eats turnbuckle pad, the smaller man locks his arms around his waist, hoisting him over with a German suplex, rolling over into a bridge on top of the champ]

DT: Marx reversing the splash...the pin...two..

THR...NOO!! No, no no. The champ refuses to be put away like that, getting the shoulder up just in the knick of time. Marx now grabbing the knee of Benjamin, slamming it down into the mat, as he looks to lock in... MARXISM!!! Marxism in the centre of the ring!!!

MN: Benjamin looks ready to tap, Dave.

DT: The champion’s grip on that title is slipping...he’s trying to crawl over to the ropes... he’s craaaawwllling over....NO!!! Marx releases the hold, dragging the champ back to the centre of the ring, and locks it in again!!!

MN: Benji’s gotta tap.

[Howling in pain, Benjamin starts to crawl to the ropes again. Again, Marx lets go of to hold, and tries to drag the champion back to the middle of the ring. This time, however, Benjamin rolls onto his back, reaches up, and rolls the challenger up with a small package for two. Marx quickly gets to his feet, connecting with a stiff knee to the face of the rising champion. Tired, Marx lifts the champion up, whipping him into the corner. He follows in with a clothesline, before lifting Benjamin up to the top rope. The crowd gets more excited, as Marx follows him, hooking his head, and rocks him back for what looks like a superplex. Benjamin, however, manages to shift his weight forward, connecting with a shining wizard in mid-air, as the fans go wild. Marx drops straight down like a stone, the champion on top of him]

DT: THAT’S THE MOVE THAT WON HIM THE TITLE!!! One...

TWO...

THRE....NO!!!!!! Marx SOMEHOW kicks out!!!

MN: And Benjamin can’t believe it!!! He’s done EVERYTHING he can think of to put this guy away, and can’t.

[Furious, Benjamin screams at the ref, who shouts back that it was two, signalling an inch to say how close it was. Benjamin sees Marx getting to his feet, and runs the ropes, looking for a second shining wizard. As he leaps up, Marx ducks, lying flat on the mat as Benjamin goes straight into the corner knee first. The champ hangs there, holding the ropes as he yells in pain. Meanwhile, Marx rises behind him, grabbing his head, and planting him with a neckbreaker out of the corner. Marx goes for the cover, and gets a near two count, but Benjamin manages to kick out. Marx takes a step back, allowing the champion to get to his feet, before charging in, hitting a shining wizard of his own]

DT: SHINING WIZARD BY MARX!!! ONE

TWO......

THR.....AND BENJAMIN KICKS OUT!!!

MN: Neither man wants to lose it tonight, this title means too much to both of them!!

DT: Marx now with the advantage, picking the champion up, looking for another suplex...Benjamin with shots to the ribs... a kick to the legs takes Marx down. Marx to his feet...kick to the gut by the champ.

MN: Looks like he’s setting him up for something... Benjamin lifting Marx up for a powerbomb... NO!! It’s a Benjidriver!!! That powerbomb into a piledriver looks to have it sown up, as Benjamin crawls over... one,

TWO

THR... NO!! AGAIN Marx refuses to quit.

[More frustrated than angry, Benjamin lifts the limp body of The Gentleman off the ma, ramming him spine first into the corner. Marx limply falls over his shoulder, as Benjamin lifts him to the top rope. Benjamin starts to follow him, giving him a hard slap across the face. It seems to be a bad idea, though, as Marx fights back, pushing Benjamin off the ropes. Benjamin lands on his feet, awkwardly, looking like he twisted his ankle on the fall. Marx flies off the top rope with a cross body block, landing squarely on the champion, looking the leg for the cover]

DT: Marx with the cover...

One...

TWO...

 
THREE!!!!

MN: NO!! NO!! BENJAMIN KICKS OUT AGAIN!!

[Tired, exhausted, both men lay motionless on the mat. The ref, concerned, checks men, before again starting the count.]

DT: These two have given it their all in a technical marvel here today and it’s clearly taken it’s toll, as both men lie there. We might have a draw here. The ref’s up to four...

Five...

Six...

Seven... eight...

Nine...

[With the ref at nine, Marx rolls over, draping an arm on the champion]

MN: One... TWO....THNO!! Benjamin kicks out!!! You’ve got to think that whoever can hit the next big move will win this match.

[Both men slowly, agonisingly, manage somehow to get to their feet. They trade lefts and rights, before Benjamin manages to floor Marx. He runs the ropes, leaps up for a shining wizard, but Marx grabs hold of him, taking him over with a HUGE, and very bizarre, belly to belly suplex. Benjamin lands firmly, as Marx turns and almost pounces with his last ounce of strength onto the champion]

DT: HOLY COW!!! WHAT WAS THAT!!?!??

MN: TWO...

 
THREE!!! JONATHAN MARX HAS WON THE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE!!! WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!! And off one of the strangest counters I’ve EVER seen!!!

[SFX: Ding, ding, ding, ding]

TONY FATORA: The winner of this match, and NEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWW Intercontinental champion... GEEEENNNNNTTTTTLLLLLLLEEEEEEEMMMMMMMAAAAAAANNNN....... JJJJOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNAAA AAAAATTTTTTTTHHHHHHHAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN....... MMMMMMMMMMMMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DT: What a showing from these two, as Marx pulls it all out after some sickening offence from Benjamin to counter the shining wizard SOMEHOW into a suplex for the pin. Say what you will, but these two deserve a lot of credit for this GREAT classic showcase of technical wrestling!!

MN: Even I’M impressed. I can’t WAIT to see what paths these guys take now, as Benji gave it his all and truly deserves a rematch.

DT: I couldn’t agree more, Mike. This was the sort of match that DVD collections are made for.

MN: Oh, hell yes.

DT: But just think of what's following it! Don't go away, folks! When we come back, it's the one we've all been waiting for! Beast! Sands! The World Title on the line! NEXT!

[Cut to a video package for the Sands/Beast rivalry.]