An empty arena is shown in all black and white before in capture motion figures are shown darting back and forth assembling a ring, piecing it all together. Fans are featured filling the arena’s vacant seats in super quick motion before the entire Manhattan Center is packed with screaming spectators. All of the natural colors return as flashbulbs explode from the cameras of the crowd who are shown shouting with great excitement, again in slow motion. Orlando Cruze is now displayed crouching behind the curtains, his back facing the lens taking several deep, uneasy breaths.

Every time I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It goes by, like dusk to dawn
Isn't that the way
Everybody's got their dues in life to pay

The next scene transfers all the way back to Paranoia II and is in black and white, the Icon stands on a corner, drenched in sweat. He hoists the World Championship high above his head. A close up of Hurse’s face is shown as he stares off into emptiness before glaring into the lens with seriousness. Again the scene is devoid of all color while featuring the Champion loaded on top of the shoulders of the Alpha Generation, holding his newly won title into the air. The Weapon’s Lair towers behind his bloodied back.

Yeah, I know nobody knows
where it comes and where it goes
I know it's everybody's sin
You got to lose to know how to win

Several old clips are featured with no color, showcasing Silencer carrying a plethora of title belts to the ring, including holding up the World title as he stands on the stage. It cuts to him emphatically and dramatically connecting with the superkick to the jaw of Shinzan Valfane, his foot slowly traveling right into his former rival’s jaw. Silencer is then briefly shown getting face to face with Johnny Kingdom, before cutting to the painted apparition standing in front of an insanely bright light shining over his shoulders. His eyes remain shadowy even in this bright lighting.

Half my life
is in books' written pages
Lived and learned from fools and
from sages
You know it's true
All the things come back to you

“The Team Leader” Johnny Kingdom runs down a beach covered in a hooded sweat shirt and shorts, moving slowly with a very intense expression inhabiting his eyes. He moves along beside the crashing waves of the ocean, carrying the sand away before the video switches to a much more youthful looking Kingdom hitting the Exodus Finale on Chris Cortez in a grainy black and white scene. Once more the video shifts to another old scene showcasing a bloodied, hue deprived Kingdom roaring in pain as AWOL stretches him in the War Crimes. His roar is dramatized via being displayed in slow motion.

Sing with me, sing for the year
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good lord will take you away

Grainy imagery is shown featuring Desolation with his arms thrust out to his sides and blood running down his face. A roar emanates from his lungs yet isn’t heard verbally while he lurks within the confines of the Weapon’s Lair. The video now flashes forward and with bright, flashy colors replays the scene featuring the Dark Man delivering an emphatic Curb Stomp on Evermore. The Cartel title glistens from his hand as he crouches over the bloodied Axl. He now stands in the balcony of the empty Manhattan Center with his arms again thrust out to his sides and his eyes closed, embracing the quiet before the storm.

Yeah, sing with me, sing for the year
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away

The camera zooms in on the pupil of Axl Evermore, his ravenous eyes locked on the lens as he sits half obscured by shadows in a dimly lit lockeroom. Again dramatic black and white images are used showcasing Evermore’s IWC debut, nailing his finisher on a caught off guard Champion. His eyes then meet with Desolation’s as the concerned Dark Man backs up the ramp. It switches into another of his career highlights as he sits on the canvas holding the Cartel title over his shoulder.

Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dreams come true
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream until your dream comes through
Dream On Dream On Dream On
Dream On Dream On
Dream On Dream On

Pat Evans takes up the screen as he chokes out Robin Brooks in his very first match before the video transfers to him brawling it out with Faust. A black and white Lethal Weapon scene now takes over the screen, featuring him delivering a high impact spear on Cell Block. This is before the video switches to him delivering the same move on Too Magnificent on the last Riot! before this very event. Robin Brooks is shown stepping onto the stage with people surrounding her, holding up sparklers, an innocent smile on her face preparing to battle Nathan Creed for the X-Class title. However, the video then switches to one with color showing the devious grin that resides on her face as she flies off the top of a ladder with a shooting star press. The truly maniacal glint in her eyes is captured ever so briefly by the camera, showing the changes that have taken place over the years.

Sing with me, sing for the year
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
Sing with me, sing for the year
sing for the laughter, sing for the tear
Sing with me, if it's just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away......

The smarmy Jackson Adams dominates the screen with a baseball bat in hand, standing over the battered Creed who lies on the ground before him. An old clip overtakes the video now, showcasing Jackson Adams hitting the Angel’s Wings on Nathan Creed at Paranoia III. A black and white clip takes us back to the shocking debut of Christian Savior as he strolls onto the stage at Born Again, looking truly conniving. The video rapidly cuts to Savior now slamming a ladder right into the face of Jon Rich, then standing over him with two title belts lifted aloft. Killjoy takes up the screen standing on a turnbuckle in a crucifix pose, bleeding heavily from the forehead with his arms thrust out to his sides in exhaustion. It now cuts to him slapping a cane over the head of Adams. Riggs’ hallowed eyes come into view while he slams a steel chair over the back of Psycho’s head before cutting to an old Paranoia highlight showing Nathan Creed applying the move formerly known as the Courtesy Call on Alexander Fayt.

As the ending musical beat is heard the video shows the younger versions of the various competitors competing tonight at Paranoia V. Rather it be the masked face of Psycho, which is then shown uncovered and scarred, or the slightly heavier Phantom from two years ago, a man who is now shown looking more slimmer and trimmed down. The past is highlighted to provide a perspective on the future, as now, Dream becomes Reality.

Fireworks erupt from every turnbuckle, the stage, and the big screen which is situated directly in the middle of a giant glowing V. This V seems to be comprised of thousands of little screens which work as one to provide a sparkling star back drop. A collection of screens are also gathered on both sides of the entry way as well as just above it.

Dan Douglas: We are live, and this is Paranoia V!

The majority of the fans are standing with their signs held high and excited expressions on their faces, realizing that it’s now time to get the show on the road. The building looks more packed than ever, every seat occupied with anxious spectators, just dying to enjoy what should be the grandest Paranoia of them all. The camera cuts to the smugly smirking Billy Mayne and Dan Douglas, who cannot contain his enthusiasm about being part of this milestone in IWC history.

Dan Douglas: This is Dan Douglas, joined by Billy Mayne for perhaps the biggest evening ever in IWC, this is the five year culmination of Paranoia, and what a show we have slated to live up to the hype.

Billy Mayne: Ladders, tables, careers, titles, all will be in jeopardy here at Paranoia V, but all pale in comparison of course to my presence here at ringside. Look, I even busted out my collective Star Wars golden cufflinks for tonight.

The bell can be heard ringing as the camera immediately cuts to Kaily Wolf inside of the ring, obviously the festivities aren’t waiting to get underway. As she wears a sparkling white dress she raises a microphone to her lips rather excitedly.

Kaily: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a Tables Are Legal Match!

The entire Manhattan Center begins to scream with delight over the fact that this sure to be barbaric match is kicking off tonight’s event.

The arena lights dim, the stage slowly fills with smoke, the constant banging of the drum's echoes throughout the arena shortly followed by the guitar as the song heats up and gets faster. Blood For Blood by Machine Head finally starts to kick in as the shadow lurks in the smoke, a huge ball of ball spirals up from the rampway and Psycho emerges from the smoke. A hooded sleeveless jacket covers his torso and the hood up... He walks menacingly down to the ring with an icy cold glare in his eyes. The fire now ignites all the way down the ramp as he walks down the fiery corridor towards the ring. For this special occasion fire also sprouts upward from the turnbuckles. He slides into the ring underneath the ropes and de-robes himself, he throws the garment over the ropes to the outside and crouches down in the corner and grasps his hands together and waits...

Dan Douglas: What a way to kick off the biggest Paranoia of them all. We’re starting tonight with Tables Are Legal, Psycho out here ready to compete against Riggs.

Billy Mayne: We don’t have to wait to see what could very well be the most barbaric match of the night, because we’re going balls to the walls right from the get go. I just wonder what kind of shape Psycho is in given his numerous neck injuries over the past few months.

Dan: Well we’re going to see just how much he’s recovered here tonight as he prepares to take on perhaps one of his most bitter rivals ever in the form of Riggs.

Psycho’s eyes are more menacing than ever as they focus on the entry way, brimming with rage, perhaps asking himself just how many tables he intends to put Riggs through tonight. The arena drops into total darkness, the piano intro to “The Sacrament” by HIM begins to play and smoke appears in the entrance way. As the songs kicks in purple lights come on and Riggs comes walking out from the smoke. He stands on the rampway for a few seconds and throws one arm into the air before making his way down to the ring. Moving through the curtains behind him is a smirking AWOL, the GM clapping for the man he has seemingly chosen as his protégé.

Douglas: And of course being accompanied by that manipulative slime AWOL, is a man who has been on an outright tear since he returned to the IWC, and has targeted Psycho for destruction.

Mayne: Which he came close to accomplishing and may very well succeed in doing here tonight. Who knows how Psycho’s neck will withstand crashing through these tables.

Dan: Indeed, and ironically it was a table that injured Psycho’s neck in the first place.

Riggs continues towards the ring when Psycho flies through the ropes, taking him down with a suicide headbunt.

Douglas: Psycho already showing he’s not afraid of his neck injury!

Billy: Is this man insa….oh wait, he bases his gimmick around that.

Psycho gets to his knees and begins to drill his rival to the forehead repeatedly. He inflicts brutality on Riggs while feeling AWOL’s cold, malicious gaze centered upon him. Amongst screams of joy from the passionate crowd the former Champion stands and storms towards his former mentor, the General Manager not budging or flinching while keeping his thick arms crossed over his sternum.

Billy: Now he’s going after AWOL?

Dan: We’re not even five minutes into Paranoia V and already Psycho has snapped.

Mayne: You say that like its different.

All of Psycho’s fury is focused on the un-intimidated AWOL, who by not defending himself seems to be exacerbating his former pupil’s wrath. Just as he cocks his fist a kick is lobbed right into Psycho’s back from Riggs, taking advantage of the distraction. The vicious kick sends Psycho tumbling to his knees, reaching for his damaged spine before Riggs leads him up to his feet where he chops him across the sternum. A groan is heard from the crowd in respond to such a hard shot sending Psycho reeling towards the ring.

Mayne: Riggs nicely taking advantage of the distraction. This guy grows on me more and more everyday, just like the stuff between my toes.

As they near the ring Riggs takes Psycho by the shoulder and drops back, hitting a Russian Leg sweep that sends his portly opponent crashing spine first into the barricade. A grimacing Psycho stumbles forward and then is pushed by Riggs towards the turnbuckle post. He turns striking the exposed steel spine first. The distempered Riggs reaches under the ring, retrieving a chair which he immediately raises into the air, eliciting a mixture of reactions from the crowd. Many recall what Riggs has done to Psycho in the past with this very weapon, including being the only man to ever put him on the shelf for so long.

Billy: And now he’s got a chair.

Dan: That very dark and sadistic side coming out of Riggs. Remember what gruesome things Riggs did to Saul last year at this very event?

Mayne: My doctors have advised me to try not to.

The fans begin to scream as Riggs charges at Psycho, swinging the chair just barely missing his head. The steel collides with the turnbuckle post, and sounds just like a gunshot reverberating throughout the building. He turns with the chair gripped by both hands now when Psycho punches the steel, causing him to fly back and slam into his bitter rival’s face. As the steel collides with his painted features, the gothic figure is staggered, trying to maintain his balance. Psycho shakes off any damage done to his fist then grabs Riggs by the hair, pulling him towards the ring. He is rolled in under the cables while Psycho grabs the chair, tossing it over the ropes into the ring.

Dan: Some sinister ideas brewing in Psycho’s head now that he’s got hold of the very object that put him out of the ring for over a month.

Billy: And it was a blissful month, when I didn’t have to worry about coming out of my house in the morning.

Psycho slides under the cables taking hold of Riggs’ hair then guiding him to his feet where he is taken by the wrist. The intense Sadistic One whips Riggs into the corner, where he turns and slams against the turnbuckle pads with force. He doesn’t have time to react before Psycho engulfs him with a gigantic big splash. The crowd is cheering him on while he backs away from an incredibly dazed Riggs. Somehow he remains upright even as Psycho approaches the chair, picking it up off of the canvas then sticking it to his chest. He rushes across the ring and jumps into the air, big splashing the chair right into Riggs’ face. The fans are stunned at the sight of the steel possibly demolishing the skull of the veteran.

Mayne: Just how crazy is Psycho? He must not have a functional brain at all after killing himself to hurt Riggs.

Dan: To these two men, pain doesn’t exist.

Although aching himself Psycho doesn’t show it, backing to the center of the ring while Riggs comes staggering out of the corner. He’s caught directly against his massive opponent’s palms and hoisted into the air in a gorilla press position. It’ll be moments before he’s soaring through the air and crashing hard to the canvas below, therefore he tries to counter even in his groggy condition. He slips off of the hands, lands behind the sadist and then dropkicks him to the back of the knee. Psycho falls to a kneeling base, reaching for his leg in pain while Riggs rushes into the cables in front of him. Building momentum he charges in and jumps into the air for the shining wizard. Before it can connect Psycho ducks his head, causing Riggs to land on his feet behind him. The big man then rolls forward across the cables and back to his feet, bouncing off the ropes himself this time to hit a powerful running move of his own. He barrels towards Riggs and lobs a big boot at his cranium. However, the painted force ducks the incoming boot and as a result causes Psycho to crotch himself on the top rope.

With his adversary straddling himself over the top rope Riggs snatches up the chair then jumps over cables. He stands behind the ropes running perpendicular to the ones that Psycho is crotched against. Showing tremendous agility Riggs jumps to the top rope and then comes flying off, sticking the chair under his foot in mid-air to deliver a thrust kick right to the side of Psycho’s head. The chair slams forcefully into Psycho’s cranium, sending him tumbling to the outside mats where he falls to his knees. The Manhattan crowd is rather shocked by what they just witnessed while AWOL watches on approvingly.

Douglas: Amazingly dangerous move just pulled off by Riggs, that chair driven hard to Psycho’s cranium.

Billy: With one graceful yet frightening move, Psycho was put right back on the shelf, hahahahaha.

Now dazed himself, Psycho rises to his feet with his back pressed to the apron. That’s when Riggs hits him with a Baseball slide dropkick right between the shoulder blades. As a result Psycho is sent reeling into the barrier, spilling over into the sea of screaming humanity. The fans clear out of his way while he forces his way to his feet, turning to face the ring only in time to watch Riggs jump to the top rope then crash down on top of him. Everyone in the Manhattan Center erupts as Riggs springs from the top cable, soars over the barricade and collides with Psycho out amongst them.

Billy: AAHHH!

Dan: Riggs just as fearless as Psycho! Throwing himself into the crowd with no regard for his well being.

The front row of fans cleared out of the way in time, although their chairs are now demolished under the bodies of both competitors. Riggs begins to force himself to his feet, doubled over his aching ribs. As soon as he’s upright he moves painstakingly over the barricader, approaching the ring and grabbing the tarp hanging off the apron. He reaches under the squared circle and now brings out a table.

Douglas: And now they’re busting out the tables!

Billy: I almost forgot that the intention of this match was to kill each other using large inanimate pieces of wood.

Dan: I’ve heard people describe you like that before Billy.

The table is set up with one end placed over the apron and the other positioned on top of the barricade. A small table platform has been assembled while Riggs turns to bring forth its victim. He finds himself shocked to see him standing on the mats, leaning into the barricade for support, already having made it over it. Riggs becomes consumed as he charges right at his recovering partner who steps away from the barricade, catching his encroaching opponent across the chest. Riggs is lifted into the air then powered down with a standing STO right into the thin protective mats.

Billy: Riggs’ back has to be in traction.

The fans are still grimacing over that hard slam while Psycho takes his shadowy opponent by the hair, leading him to his feet then slamming him face first into the steel steps. Riggs’ skull collides violently with the steel before he stands up and spins to face his opposition, being hoisted into the air with a gorilla press. Psycho steps towards the ring then throws Riggs through the ropes into the squared circle. Now the Sadistic One is retrieving a table out from under the ring much to the dismay of AWOL who continues to watch on from the rampway. Psycho pulls the table around to almost the bottom of the ramp, beginning to set the table up, stabilizing it perfectly. He briefly glances over his shoulder at the GM who gives him a callous glare.

Dan: Psycho now bringing out the tables, and I shudder to think of why he’s setting this one up on the outside of the ring.

Billy: Well I shudder every time you make one of those generic remarks. Oh, I should do stand up. Besides, he’s probably just setting it up for a tea party with him and the numerous voices in his head.

Another table is being removed from under the ring by Psycho now who slides it into the squared circle. To the shock of everyone he reaches under the squared circle and grabs yet another table, sliding it out and placing it on his shoulder before slipping it through the cables.

Mayne: Why does Psycho need so many tables?

Psycho slips into the ring himself now and quickly approaches the rising Riggs, decking him across the face with a hard right hand that sends him tumbling to the canvas. The former multiple time title holder grabs one of the tables, dragging it towards a turnbuckle where he sets it up diagonally. He then turns towards Riggs who is again trying to stand up. As he forces himself up to his feet, Psycho takes him by the wrist, pulling him forward into a quick lariat that sends him tumbling to the canvas across his back. The sadist now pulls him back to his feet and then turns, eyeing the table on the outside of the ring. He drags Riggs’ head under his seat while wrapping his arms around his waist, lifting him up into a crucifix bomb position that gets the crowd screaming.

Douglas: Oh no, oh no, Psycho is about to crucifix bomb Riggs to the table he set up outside of the ring.

Billy: Why must these guys be so violent? We can’t have a fatality this early in the payper-view, save it for later!

Psycho rushes forward about to throw Riggs over the ropes when he shockingly squirms free. Riggs slips off of his opponent’s shoulders landing behind his back then snatching a chair up off of the canvas. He turns, throwing the steel right at Psycho, who turns and catches the chair before it could connect with his face. But now Riggs jumps into the air, going for a spinning heel kick into the steel only to have the big man duck under his attempted Van Daminator. Riggs lands on his feet behind Psycho then turns to face his monstrous opposition who hoists him into the air on his shoulder then charges him across the ring, almost spearing his lighter rival right through the table set up in the corner. The wood explodes as Riggs is driven through it with such incredible force, many of the fans screaming over the vile impact which sends wood chips flying in all various directions.

Mayne: RIGGS THROUGH THE TABLE!

Dan: And he was put through the wood with emphasis.

AWOL closes his eyes and shakes his head, Psycho sitting up in the ring in a slight daze. Finally he grabs the ankle of his adversary, dragging his almost lifeless body out of the broken wooden fragments then falling into the cover, hooking his leg.

Riggs lobs his shoulder from the ring, kicking out before he could be pinned in this very intense contest.

Douglas: Riggs shockingly kicking out even after being driven through that table. These guys can put their opponents through as many tables as they like, but ultimately it comes down to who earns the pinfall.

Billy: I have a feeling we’re going to be seeing a lot of broken tables by the end of this match.

Still a bit groggy himself Psycho stands, approaching the other table that he brought into the ring. He grabs hold of it then sets it up near one of the turnbuckles, obviously having another malicious goal in mind. The struggling Riggs is kicked to the sternum then blasted over the upper back with a forearm, almost knocking him back to the ring. Psycho quickly takes him around the head, dropping back into a brutal DDT. The top of Riggs’ cranium slams into the canvas before he bounces from the ring then flips over, landing on his spine.

With his opponent seemingly powerless to fight him, Psycho drags Riggs to his knees, pulling him towards the table and around it into the corner. Psycho slowly begins to climb up the ladder backwards, forcing Riggs’ head under his seat as if setting up for some type of huge powerbomb or piledriver off the turnbuckle and through the table.

Billy: Uh oh, AWOL, if you want your new associate to survive you might want to interfere right this second.

Dan: Psycho’s about to put Riggs through yet another table.

Psycho tries to lift up on Riggs who suddenly pulls his head free, decking his portly opponent right to the ribs. The strike causes him to double over while Riggs steps up onto the corner beside him. He turns to face the table, wrapping his arm around Psycho’s head then pulling him off the second rope with a bulldog right through the table. Screams and squeals are heard from the audience while the Sadistic Savage crashes face first through the wood.

Douglas: OHHH!

Billy: Riggs putting the Sadistic One right through the table face first!

The Manhattan Center is rocking with excitement and disbelief while Psycho lies amongst the broken fragments of wood right beside the Sadistic One. He rolls across the canvas with his hand placed to his posterior as it took most of the damage via the crash through the table. Despite his pain he begins to push himself up to his feet, slowly approaching the chair that has come in helpful thus far in this contest. A dazed, incoherent Psycho slithers away from the broken chunks of wood, sitting himself up against the corner with a slight trail of blood oozing from his forehead. Right when he puts himself in this seated position, Riggs charges in, jumping into the air and sticking the chair under his feet, dropkicking it directly into Psycho’s face. A loud mixed reaction is heard from the crowd at the sight of steel driven forcefully against skull.

AWOL perks up a bit on the rampway, smiling a little wider while Psycho rolls out of the corner to the center of the ring, hands draped over his face. The second he ends up on his back, Riggs slips through the ropes onto the apron then springs to the top cable, flying off while placing the chair under his legs. He comes down with a leg drop driving the chair directly into Psycho’s face. The Sadistic One begins to convulse while Riggs throws the chair aside, crawling into the cover.

Psycho now powers his shoulder from the canvas, kicking out even after all he’s been put through.

Dan: Psycho getting his shoulder up now, although I can’t imagine how these guys keep kicking out after being put through these tables.

Mayne: Don’t forget the work that Riggs has done on Psycho via the chair as well.

Although very badly battered Psycho begins to roll away from his rival in the direction of the cables, ending up stretched across his back on the apron. Riggs begins to approach him, slipping through the ropes then taking hold of his hair. He slowly starts to pull the psychopath to his feet before turning, wrapping his arm around his neck then running at the turnbuckle. He seems to be setting up for an Acid Drop through the table at ringside only to have Psycho push him off at the last second. As a result Riggs charges at the corner but stops himself just in time by grabbing hold of the post. He turns right into a boot to the gut, Psycho pulling his head under his seat then lifting him into the air in an awesome bomb position. All those in attendance begin to scream s Psycho threatens to powerbomb Riggs off the apron and through the ringside table. However, Riggs again gets free, slipping lose and then landing inside of the ring on the opposite side of the cables. He now rushes at the perpendicular ropes, jumping to the middle one, springing off and dropkicking Psycho right to the back of the head.

The blow sends the savage flying off the apron and slamming face first right into the table. He bounces off it in a disorientated manner before turning and lying on top of it now. He is completely laid out on the wood while Riggs approaches the ropes, grabbing the top one and pulling himself over into a senton pancha. Riggs crashes back first right into Psycho’s sternum, putting him through the table which explodes beneath both their frames.

Douglas: Psycho put through another TABLE!

Billy: Riggs pulling out the definition of a true high risk move there to put Psycho through the wood in this crazy opening Paranoia V match up. How is anything going to follow up this spectacle?

Although his back may be ravaged with pain, Riggs crawls towards the ring, reaching under it where he finds another table. He slides it out from under the squared circle then begins to set it up at ringside. He retrieves another table out from under the ring now and slips it under the ropes onto the canvas. All the while Psycho is trying feebly to get back to his feet, holding his sternum and his kidneys after being put through the wood. He’s promptly stomped to the face however, by a deranged Riggs who briefly glances at a nodding, conniving AWOL. He grabs Psycho’s hair, forcing him up to his feet and then rolling him onto the apron, quickly climbing up in front of him.

The Sadistic One is very dazed and battered while Riggs slugs him to his bloodied forehead over and over again, trying to inflict as much damage as humanly possible. He now drags Psycho across the apron so that they are standing over the other table that has been set up at ringside. Riggs grabs the top rope and jumps into the air, wrapping his legs around Psycho’s head. Obviously he is about to hurricarana Psycho through the wood, falling back only to have his opponent hold the top rope, keeping himself from being sent crashing through the table. He reaches out suddenly and wraps his arms around Riggs’ waist before stepping sideways off the apron, giving him a sit-out piledriver through the table at ringside. More shock emanates from the sold out crowd while both men lay amongst the fragments of wood, neither moving.

Billy: And now yet another table broken this time with a piledriver onto Riggs! How are these two men not dead right now?

Douglas: I’ve never seen so many tables broken in the span of one match in my entire life.

AWOL doesn’t display a single emotion yet one could imagine that he’s quite concerned while Psycho finally begins to awake from his almost comatose state. He rolls towards the ring, grabbing the apron then reaching out and seizing hold of Riggs’ hair. He’s pulled up to his feet then slid into the ring under the ropes, Psycho rolling in himself. He crawls towards Riggs now, dropping down into the cover in his sluggish, almost incoherent condition.

Somehow Riggs is able to get his shoulder up yet again, the fans finding themselves stunned by this.

Mayne: AMAZING!

Douglas: I’m shocked, Riggs getting his shoulder up before the three count even after the piledriver through the table.

An angered Psycho now gets to his feet and grabs that same chair off the canvas that has caused him such grief. He approaches Riggs and places the steel on top of his sternum before rushing into the cables at his side. The goliath bounces off, comes charging back in then jumps into the air, driving his back with a senton splash right into the chair. Riggs’ sternum is crushed beneath it, causing him to roll around with his arms placed over his chest. Psycho gets to his knees, breathing heavily from this violent, vicious tables encounter. Riggs curls around his ribs, wrapping his hands around them before Psycho steps in, taking hold of his hair. He is forced onto his feet then into a front chancery, his leg being hooked as well. Psycho hoists his nemesis into the air for a fisherman buster when Riggs floats over, landing on his feet right behind his savage opposition. In a dazed state, still aching from the crash through the table and that back splash onto the chair, he rushes into the cables, bouncing off then coming back in at Psycho. The big man turns in the nick of time to almost behead Riggs with a violent, jaw breaking lariat.

Billy: Is Riggs headless? Because that might be a cool gimmick.

Dan: Psycho with an unbelievable violent clothesline on his rival.

Riggs grips at his neck while rolling across the ring, ending up in the center of it. He’s perfectly prone for the tired, aching Psycho now stands on the apron, climbing the turnbuckle to the very top rope. He stands up with the cables shaking beneath his feet and now takes flight, soaring through the air for a big splash. Riggs rolls out of the way at the last second, causing Psycho to crash forcefully into the ring, bouncing back up to his knees.

Mayne: Riggs just barely avoiding the BIG SPLASH!

Blocking out his pain Psycho begins to stand when Riggs throws that dangerous steel chair right into his cranium. The steel collides with skull, causing Psycho to be staggered backwards in the direction of the ropes, just barely remaining upright. Riggs then grabs the chair again and throws it at Psycho who this time catches the steel before it could hit his head. That’s when Riggs jumps into the air, hitting a van damninator, the chair being driven with even greater force into the Sadistic One’s face. Psycho is sent spilling through the ropes and onto the apron, lying right next to the table that is elevated between the barricade and the ring. Riggs again grabs the chair and this time sets it up in the center of the ring, turning as he anxiously waits for Psycho to stand up in front of the table he positioned much earlier in this contest.

Even though he is very groggy Psycho begins to rise to his feet, holding the ropes to keep himself upright, his back facing that platformed table. Riggs now rushes in, stepping off the chair then flying towards the ropes, landing on the top cable feet first and reaching down to take Psycho around the neck. However, Psycho counters, reaching out and hooking Riggs’ leg while placing his head in a front chancery then dropping back with a fisherman buster through the table. The Manhattan Center erupts over this violent, insane counter just performed by the Sadistic Savage.

Dan: OH MY GOD!

Billy: A fisherman buster off the apron and through that elevated table! Look, I’m accurately calling moves, I demand another pay raise.

Douglas: There’s got to be nothing left of Riggs after that, nothing.

The fans in the Manhattan Center are standing, commencing with a loud “holy shit” chant while both men remain compressed amongst broken shards. AWOL continues to shake his head from the comfort of the rampway, but seemingly refuses to get involved. An exhausted, brutalized Psycho slowly grabs hold of Riggs hair, dragging him out of the pile of wood and then rolling him sluggishly under the bottom rope. With barely any strength left in his body, Psycho crawls under the cables and into the cover, hooking both of Riggs’ legs, his rival looking almost dead.

Riggs has been defeated in the Tables Are Leg….no, he got his shoulder up right before the last slap of the canvas.

Dan: And Riggs has kicked out! He’s kicked out, how is this humanly possible!?!

Mayne: The man was just given a modified Muscle Buster through the table, and yet he still gets his shoulder up! What the hell are one of these two men going to have to do to each other to win, run someone over with a tank? Which might actually be fun.

Those in attendance are slamming the barricades with their palms and stomping their feet over the shock they just derived from that kick out. Psycho turns over onto his seat, breathing heavily with blood trickling down his face. He finally rolls under the ropes to the outside of the ring, throwing the tarp into the air then reaching under the squared circle. He grabs one table, sliding it out and slipping it under the ropes before retrieving another one. A second table is now entered into the equation, with two already spread across the canvas. Psycho grabs yet another table, positioning it at ringside on the outside mats. Riggs still isn’t moving after that shocking kick out while Psycho grabs two of the tables, setting them up side by side in the center of the ring. He now approaches the table that Riggs brought into the match earlier, placing it over the ropes that conjoin in the corner. He sets it up across both sets of top cables and the upper most turnbuckle pad, creating another platform of sorts. His malicious gaze then turns towards the seemingly out cold Riggs, who hasn’t moved a muscle since crashing through that last table.

Mayne: Psycho’s got something elaborate set up here. I guess if monkeys learned to use rudimentary tools then Psycho can too.

Dan: He’s got a table platform in the corner and two tables in the center of the ring, this cannot vote well for his opposition.

AWOL watches on with increasing interest while Riggs is grabbed by the hair, being dragged to the corner with the table sat on top of it. The Sadistic Savage rolls Riggs on top of the table then begins to climb up the corner. He crawls on top of the table elevated above the ring and positioned across the perpendicular ropes. The crowd begins to get excited as he stands up and pulls Riggs’ head under his seat, his back facing the two tables in the center of the ring.

Douglas: Psycho again looking to powerbomb Riggs through the tables!

Billy: He’s just determined to powerbomb him through the wood.

Psycho begins to turn around on the table, so that he faces the wood in the center of the ring, reaching down to wrap his arms around Riggs’ waist. Suddenly Riggs spins around though, wedging his shoulder against Psycho’s ribs and unexpectedly lifting him up into the air with all of his weight. To a huge reaction Riggs delivers the Hopscotch (Michinoku Driver II) right through both the tables in the center of the ring.

Billy: WOW!

Dan: OH DEAR GOD, Psycho just taken off the platform and through two tables with the Hopscotch!

The fans are all standing in the Manhattan Center, screaming loudly in shock over what they just witnessed. The tables are completely destroyed beneath Psycho’s frame as Riggs sits up then crawls into the cover.

Those in attendance are on their feet screaming over the conclusion to this Tables Are Legal match, Riggs somehow pulling through victorious thanks to his Hopscotch. He lifts his arms into the air in victory when the official informs him that Psycho kicked out, that he got his shoulder up. As a result Riggs’ eyes almost shoot from their sockets. He falls onto his back, laying next to Psycho amongst the many broken chunks of wood, both men’s chests heaving after all the damage they’ve inflicted on one another.

Douglas: PSYCHO GOT HIS SHOULDER UP!

Billy: That was three dammit, I’m telling you that was THREE!

Dan: No it wasn’t Billy, Psycho refuses to be pinned even after taking that sickening Hopscotch from the top rope through those two tables. He refuses to be beaten for a fourth straight year at Paranoia.

Mayne: The curse will not end here tonight.

An absolutely exasperated, brutalized Riggs stands up, motioning repeatedly for the bloodied Psycho to reach his feet. The Sadistic Savage slowly begins to pull himself to his feet while Riggs slaps his shin, again setting up for the shining wizard. As soon as Psycho gets to his knees amongst the broken chunks of wood Riggs runs in, connecting with the shinning wizard. The blow knocks him onto his back with Riggs landing beside him then turning into a cover, the fans again screaming.

Psycho kicks out once more, sending those in the Manhattan Center into a wave of hysterics.

Douglas: Now he’s kicked out of the shining wizard! I can’t believe we’re kicking off tonight with such an encounter.

Billy: This is Paranoia V, baby.

Dan: You call me that one more time and I swear I’ll sue you for sexual herrassment.

The increasingly bloodied Psycho remains laid out while Riggs stands up, almost loosing his footing as he backs into a corner. He bends down, motioning for his ample opponent to get up, imploring him to reach his feet as he sets for the shining wizard a second time. Psycho slowly begins to turn amongst the broken chunks of wood, trying to get up when Riggs comes barreling towards him, jumping into the air for yet another shining wizard. However, Psycho stands, catching his opponent on his shoulders, holding him in a powerbomb position. He suddenly rushes across the ring and throws Riggs over the top rope with a powerbomb through the table sat up at ringside. The wood explodes beneath his frame while the Manhattan Center again reacts with loud applause.

Douglas: Riggs powerbombed out of the ring through the TABLE!

Billy: YIKES! He could have killed Riggs with that move.

Riggs is completely unconscious as he lies amongst the broken fragments of wood. To the outside of the ring now rolls Psycho who takes hold of his rival’s hair, forcing him up to his feet then pushing him under the cables. The eyes of the General Manager are filled with outrage while Psycho slides into the ring and immediately crawls into the cover.

Dan: Will it be enough, will Psycho’s losing streak at Paranoia end!?!

The Manhattan Center rejoices as Psycho has emerged victorious from this violent, brutal Tables Are Legal match.

Billy: No, I can’t believe it, Psycho’s curse is over!

Douglas: Psycho has defeated Riggs in one of the most insane opening matches to Paranoia ever, and to top it off he receives his first victory at this annual extravaganza. He gets his first Paranoia victory, and his revenge against the man who put him on the shelf for weeks.

Mayne: I guess there is a first time for everything, and it only took Psycho four tries to hit pay-dirt.

Many of those in the Manhattan Center are giving a standing ovation to the chaos they just witnessed while Psycho slowly begins to sit up. He looks absolutely exasperated yet still slightly coherent. The ref begins to raise his arm up in victory when AWOL slides into the ring, shoving the official out of the way then blasting Psycho to the jaw with a boot. The fans react with utter disgust as the General Manager commences with a beat down on the Sadistic One. He jabs him repeatedly to the face now while Riggs sluggishly works his way to his feet. He stands while doubled over, reaching for his spine.

Dan: A vicious attack on Psycho by the General Manager, who obviously didn’t count on this match ending the way it did. Thanks for ruining another feel good moment, AWOL!

Billy: Beat him, hurt him, ravage him, just not in the sexual way.

The flustered GM slugs Psycho again to the face when Riggs comes staggering in, shoving AWOL aside. The Big Crazy Bastard stumbles backwards, glaring at Riggs who now forms a barrier between the GM and his rival. Confliction is clear in AWOL’s eyes while the damaged, bruised and battered Riggs continues to protect Psycho.

Dan: What is this? Riggs is actually protecting the man who just defeated him.

Billy: Oh no, not one of these respect angles again, God how I hate those.

A confused yet enraged AWOL slips through the ropes then drops to the outside mats, slowly backing up the ramp. He clearly does not like what he’s seeing as Riggs turns, surprisingly extending his hand out towards a reeling Psycho. The psychopath stares at the extended palm before reaching out and taking hold of it, being assisted up to his feet.

HIDE AND SEEK

An excited Susie Moore looks on with wide eyes at the camera lens. Her body is covered by a rather revealing purple dress, trying to look immaculate for this special evening. The Paranoia V symbol glows behind her back, causing her dress to glisten slightly. She nervously holds the microphone up to her smiling lips.

Susie Moore: Wow, what an insane match to start off tonight’s show but moving along….

Good, you don’t want to spend too much time dwelling on Psycho, you’ll kill buyrates.

The cocky, arrogant, smug smirk of Jackson Adams takes up the forefront of the camera as he strolls into the scene at the rather disgusted Susie’s side. She gives him a cold stare while the confident former Livewire Champion crosses his arms over his sternum, obviously very sure of himself going into tonight’s eight person tag team confrontation.

Susie: As you can see I’m standing here with Jackson Adams, just one of the two team Captains for tonight’s four on four tag encounter.

Jackson: Yes, the Captain of the only team that actually matters.

Again Jackson flashes his pearly whites much to the ditzy correspondent’s annoyance. She takes a deep breath and progresses on with the interview.

Susie: Oookay, first of all, how does it feel to be back and competing tonight at Paranoia V?

A chuckle emanates from the competitor, one that isn’t very sincere.

Adams: I wish I could give one of those big excited speeches relaying just how honored I am to be here tonight, competing at the so called “biggest” Paranoia of them all. But my joy is diminished slightly by the fact that I was stuck in this clusterfuck instead of being put in a match more suited for my greatness. I’m not going to stand here and complain though, because if I get started I’ll be going on all night long. I’ll just say that the only advantages to being part of tonight’s card is the opportunity to finally end all my lingering issues with Nathan Creed, to humiliate the quote un quote “legendary” Lethal Weapon, bitch slap that hoe Aurora Rose, and beat Phantom for a second straight time.

Susie nods and surprisingly doesn’t hesitate to ask her next bold question.

Moore: Yeah, but in order to beat Nathan and his group tonight, won’t you have to depend on the assistance of your teammates? And haven’t the four of you been on a somewhat unstable foundation lately?

She utilizes the quotation fingers before JA slaps her hands down out of the air in frustration. He gives her an intense glare that intimidates the gullible correspondent slightly.

Jackson: You don’t think I can control my team? Is that what your implying?

Susie shrugs her shoulders and tries to defend herself.

Susie: Well, Max Craven did disobey your orders last week, and Killjoy did crack you over the head with a cane.

Although growing increasingly flustered Jackson covers his mouth with his palm, taking a deep breath.

Adams: Listen Susie, believe me when I tell you that I’ve got things under control. Last week may not have gone as planned, but I still put together the best team that half a pack of Michelob Lite can buy. Sure we were a little “unstable” last week, but tonight things will be different, because I have a plan, one that will ensure victory no matter what.

Susie: A plan?

Adams: DID I STUTTER!?!

She jumps back as he shouts this, growing a little red in the face.

Jackson: The past doesn’t depict what’s going to happen in the future. Here at Paranoia V I’m no longer going to tolerate any bullshit egos, over the top characters, and all around craziness. Everything will be under control by the time my match rolls around, where Max Craven, Killjoy, and Too Magnificent will all fall in line for the sake of victory against Creed’s team of geriatrics.

Adams turns his confident yet intense features towards the camera.

Jackson: You hear me? I’m not going to tolerate any more insanity tonight, I will not allow anything to stand in my way to vict…what the hell?

The rant is stopped as he feels something pressed to his back. In agitation he turns to figure out what is obscured behind him when he finds his eyes locked on a multi-colored bundle of hair. The fans inside the Manhattan Center erupt into a wave of cheers at the sight of the heavy Bob crouched behind Adams. Jackson becomes flustered as he steps back, overlooking the chubby legend.

Jackson: YOU!

Bob glances over his shoulders before looking towards the angered Adams and pointing towards himself questioningly.

Adams: YES YOU! What the hell are you doing behind my back, BOB!?!

Bob: Shhhh… Bob play hide and seek.

He holds his finger over his mouth to insist that his angered associate be quiet.

Bob: Bob hide behind you.

Jackson: What? No.

He shakes his head vehemently opposed.

Jackson: Listen, I’ve got a match to get ready for.

Bob looks excited.

Bob: Okay, Bob hide behind you now.

The portly figure jumps behind Adams back as Jackson keeps trying to turn to brush him away, growing all the more anxious and agitated. He can’t get Bob out from behind him, the gigantically proportioned man continuing to crouch behind him.

Adams: No, no dammit. I said no, get out from back there. Cut it out, stop it. I’ll sue you for sexual harassment.

Those inside of the Manhattan Center chuckle while Adams runs in repeated circles, Bob remaining behind him. Finally Jackson grabs Susie and forces her between himself and Bob before backing away in outrage.

Jackson: Your lucky I have a match tonight or so help me God, I’d, I’d… insert generic threat here!

In frustration Jackson takes off, leaving a saddened Bob standing beside a confused Susie. The saddened eyes of the chubby competitor turn towards the pretty young correspondent.

Bob: You help Bob hide?

Susie: Sure, but you do realize someone actually has to be looking for you to play this game.

Bob: Oh.

Bob looks horribly confused while lifting a finger to his lips, obviously this thought had never dawned on him.

The show comes back live to the inside of the arena, settling on the smiling Dan Douglas and the cringing Billy Mayne.

Dan: Haha, the stars coming out here tonight for Paranoia V.

Billy: I’d hardly insinuate that Bob is a star, although he is growing fat enough to collapse upon himself. But things certainly getting more interesting tonight as Jackson Adams apparently has a plan.

Douglas: Which slightly unsettles me. We’d just like to take this moment to once again thank you for joining us tonight on payper-view as the show continues.

“Bloody Tears” begins to play over the PA system and without any delay Faust emerges through the curtains. As soon as he stops on the stage the crowd lavishes him with praises, everyone almost jumping out of their seats with excitement. He stands there on the stage with a grin on his face and a thick trench coat covering his frame. His eyes turn one way, then the other before he rips open his coat to reveal a large cannon in his hands. He lifts it up into the air and begins to fire it as multi-colored pyrotechnics come flying out. This gets the fans to cheer even louder while Faust turns and launches the pyrotechnics to his opposite side. Finally he lowers the cannon, removes his coat and bolts towards the ring, sliding in under the cables.

Billy: And it looks like we’re about to witness the squash of the century here at Paranoia V, as the one submission wonder collides with the man of a thousand holds, no, not Dean Malenko, but Pat Evans.

Dan: The Submission gold about to be contested here tonight, as the proven tough Faust makes his way out to the ring ready to battle his greatest rival here in the IWC, Pat Evans. This match just won’t be about who has more holds in their arsenal though Billy, it’ll be about who has the best endurance, the better stamina.

Mayne: Quit making excuses for Faust’s blatant idiocy when it comes to technical wrestling.

The Manhattan Center crowd is rather energized at the sight of Faust who jumps up and down in the ring, preparing himself for the impending physicality. “Outsider” slowly begins to play over the PA system, altering the reaction from the crowd, who is vehemently opposed to the Submission Champion. Without hesitation Pat steps through the curtains and onto the stage, the belt glistening over his shoulder. He slaps his palm down reassuringly on the gold plate then turns his intimidating eyes to his opponent in the ring before making his way down the ramp. The crowd boos Evans, as if he cares while jumping to the apron and then lifting his belt up high in an effort to intimidate the challenger.

Dan: Pat Evans looks ready for the first defense of his title since he won it like six months ago.

Mayne: Pat hasn’t defended the belt up until now, because really, there isn’t anyone else on the wrestle who can go hold for hold with this man, so it be utterly pointless to constantly squash people in title matches, like tonight.

Official FitzPatrick is handed the Submission gold which he lifts into the air, getting some cheers from the fans. Pat and Faust have not taken their eyes off of one another, anticipating the clinic that is about to unfold as the bell finally sounds in the background.

Dan: We’re finally underway here at Paranoia V, Submission title on the line. Let’s explain the rules briefly here. Your only allowed to use the ropes three times to escape submission holds and once you’ve used those three allotted rope breaks then you can no longer use the cables to free yourself from a submission, and the ropes can be used against you to lock in holds. There’s a twenty count outside of the ring, and victories can only be obtained through submission or pinfall.

Pat now gingerly steps out of the corner with a conniving smirk on his face, lightening up a little as he recalls Faust’s inadequacy with submission wrestling. Evans slowly lifts his arms into the air.

Pat: Come on Faust, this is called a collar elbow tie.

Faust rolls his eyes and isn’t about to be patronized here at Paranoia, jumping in as both he and Evans lock up in a collar elbow tie. They jockey for positioning, pushing each other back and forth before the Submission Champion swings around under Faust’s arm taking hold of his wrist in the process. He now has him locked in a textbook arm ringer with Faust doubling forward, the Challenger shaking his head in anger. Pat then folds his arm over backwards into a modified top wrist lock before sweeping the leg of Faust out from under him. The former 6 time SCW World Champion crashes onto his back with Pat dropping to his knees at his side, continuing to wrench his arm over backwards into the top wrist lock.

Evans: And they call this a top wrist lock.

Faust begins to grow more flustered as Pat insults him by insinuating that he doesn’t even know the names of the holds he’s being tormented by.

Billy: Well this match is going exactly how I thought it would. It’s only a matter of time now before Faust is tapping and Evans is celebrating.

Dan: I don’t have the same confidence in Evans I’m afraid. He may have Faust down now, but the former World Champion has proven time and time again that he won’t be held down for long.

The agitated Faust lifts his legs into the air and acts like he’s going to nip up to his feet, however, he remains on his back. Pat keeps holding onto the top wrist lock, looking confused as Faust again pretends to nip up only to stay down. Before Evans can question his opposition’s motives, Faust fakes another nip up only to lift his foot up and scrape his heel across Pat’s eyes. This causes Evans to release him from the top wrist lock as the Challenger stands, swinging around his wrist and placing him in an arm ringer of his own. Pat appears somewhat stunned that he was countered with such technical expertise by his rival.

Mayne: Hey now, what does Faust think he’s doing? That was a counter wasn’t it?

Dan: Faust showing that he’s a much better wrestler than you give him credit for Billy.

In agitation the Submission Champion slowly lowers to his knees with Faust continuing to twist at his arm. Now the title holder falls to the top of his head, pushing himself up into a headstand. He turns and places his shins on top of Faust’s shoulders, forcing him to break the arm ringer. The crafty Evans pulls one of his feet back and then kicks Faust hard right in the jaw, causing him to stagger backwards into one of the corners. Pat now drops into a forward roll right onto his feet, thrusting his arms out to his sides with an actual cocky grin on his face.

Billy: Oh ho, ho, now that’s what you call a clever counter.

Douglas: I certainly can’t dismiss the unique submission style of Evans.

The Submission Champion turns around to eye Faust who is rubbing at his jaw and forming a grin of his own. A crazed look now inhabits his eyes as he insists that his adversary lock up with him yet again. They both step forward and interlock arms in a collar elbow tie when Faust swings around and places Pat in an arm ringer. Pat bends forward while grinding his teeth due to the awkward contortion of his arm. He now crouches and spins around under Faust’s arms as they continue to clutch at his wrist. He now stands up facing his opponent and reaches out with his foot, placing it to the back of his rival’s knee, pushing down on it. Faust has no other alternative but to fall to a kneeling base while still gripping at Evans’ wrist, who now lifts his knee into the air, placing it on the folds of Faust’s elbows. He pushes down with his knees and as thus breaks his arm free from Faust’s grasp. He now takes the wrist of the former 6 time SCW Champion, swinging around under it and placing him in an arm ringer before tucking it around into a hammerlock.

Mayne: Another ever so brilliant reversal by Evans.

Dan: We said this was going to be a clinic and that’s what its shaping up to be thus far with some creative counters between both of these athletes.

The Submission Champion continues to grin while twisting at his opponent’s arm viciously. Faust tries to counter by bending forward and slipping backwards under Pat’s arm only for the title holder to alter the submission into the arm ringer yet again. He stands at Faust’s side, wrenching his arm forward when the Challenger turns, facing his opposition. He reaches out and tries to push Pat’s arms away, desperately trying to free himself. However, he now crouches, turning his back towards Pat then standing up between his arms. Evans is still holding onto his wrist yet is reaching out both of his rival’s shoulders to keep hold of it. Faust now steps forward and with his free hand slaps one of Evans’ arms away from his wrist. He spins around to face the Submission Champion then swings around and places him back in the arm ringer.

The Manhattan crowd cheers and claps over another unique counter with Faust getting himself into the driver’s seat yet again. Pat drops down into a forward roll though and then turns on his seat to face Faust’s legs, sticking his feet out and placing them to his opponent’s ankles. He pushes them backwards, causing Faust to space his legs out and bend forward further as he tries to keep hold of the wrist. Pat now lifts his leg into he air and kicks one of Faust’s arms away from his wrist then stands and swings around under the other one, placing him momentarily in an arm lock. A grin forms on the increasingly confident Evans who now turns and catches Faust around the neck, pulling him down into a side headlock takeover. Pat has his arms tightly clamped around the former vampire’s neck, squeezing it with all of his upper body strength. However, Faust reaches up with his legs, wrapping them around Pat’s neck then puling him down into a head scissors.

Dan: More counters between these two, who just continuously go back and forth with submission after submission much like we thought they would.

Billy: I don’t know who Faust is trying to fool by doing all these counters.

Pat nips up out of the head scissors and lands on his feet, stepping towards the cables and leaning against them. He shoots a penetrating glare towards his opponent who has gotten to his knees with a smirk, his arrogance is now escalating. Faust stands up wearing that same charismatic smile while stepping forward with his palm held out for a handshake. Evans seems naturally speculative but sees this as a way to perhaps manipulate his opponent into a submission, therefore he reaches down and takes hold of his palm, beginning to shake it. Faust then quickly reaches out, grabbing his opponent’s other hand and placing it on the top rope. The official steps in, spotting Evans holding the ropes and stating that he’s now used one of his three rope breaks. Pat forces his hand free from Faust’s grasp and immediately begins to protest the official’s decision, stating that he didn’t use a rope break. However, FitzPatrick has no other alternative but to follow the rules, shouting to the ring announcer, Kaily making an announcement.

Kaily: Ladies and gentlemen, Pat Evans has used his first rope break, he now only has two.

Evans is irate before he turns towards the shrugging Faust who wears an angelic expression.

Billy: Pat didn’t use a rope break!

Dan: According to the rules he did, Faust had hold of his hand when Pat took the cables.

Mayne: But Faust put Evans’ hand on the ropes, this isn’t fair.

Evans now rushes at Faust in anger when the 6 time SCW Champion ducks his clothesline, stepping around behind him and locking in a reverse waistlock. He has the submission tightly clamped on before Pat reaches down, grabbing one of his arms and forcing it away from his waist. The aggressive Pat performs a standing switch, applying a reverse waist lock of his own on Faust. The Challenger grimaces as he reaches back with his leg, hooking it around behind Pat’s knee then pulling it forward. Pat tumbles onto his seat with Faust landing in front of him then falling sideways. The Champion is rolled onto his chest and stomach while Faust turns to face his spine, grabbing his legs and hooking them around one another. He leans pelvis first into the shins, holding them in an Inverted Indian death lock then reaching out and grabbing both of Pat’s wrists, pulling back into a modified surfboard.

Douglas: A very unique submission applied here now by Faust, a surfboard with the Indian Death lock established.

Billy: I’m not even going to try and call some of these holds, especially when that cheating Faust has them applied.

Faust is grinning as he leans forward over Pat’s back and continues to pull in reverse on his arms. The agitated Evans tries to pull his arms forward as he finds himself in agony over this submission. Finally he frees one of his hands from Faust’s grasp and grabs the bottom rope, forced to use his second break.

Kaily: Ladies and gentlemen, Pat Evans has now used his second rope, he only has one remaining.

The crowd cheers over this announcement as Faust breaks the hold and steps back grinning widely. The flustered Evans begins to stand up slowly, reaching for his legs in the process. He now turns and storms towards Faust he two locking up in a collar elbow. However, the challenger falls forward into the champion, knocking him down onto his back as his leg is taken hold of. Faust twists the leg around his body and wraps his legs around the ankle, driving his elbows into the knee. This quick submission is very effective as it continues to do damage to Pat’s obviously soar legs. However, the Champion sits up and is able to scoot around behind his seated opponent, wrapping his other leg around the opposite side of Faust’s body. Pat frees his ankle from between the legs of Faust as he now begins to squeeze the ribs of his opposition with a body vice. The Submission Champion looks rather pleased with himself as he sits behind his seated opposition and squeezes his abdomen violently with the use of his legs.

Billy: Evans may have used two rope breaks but he’s about to force Faust to use all three with one hold.

Dan: I highly doubt that’s even possible. However, Faust may be forced to use one of his rope breaks if he can’t find a way to escape this hold.

Pat really squeezes the waist of Faust, who looks on the verge of tapping out already. He grimaces while gritting his teeth before beginning to rock side to side. Pat tries to keep hold of his waist with his legs when Faust drops into a sideways roll. As a result Pat is pulled over onto his chest and stomach, Faust’s shoulders pinned to the canvas however as he’s turned completely upside down. The front of Pat’s shins are now pressed under Faust’s armpits, holding him down.

Faust kicks out and sits up, holding onto Evans’ ankles as his opponent’s shins remain placed in front of his shoulders. He now reaches out with his legs, placing them in front of Pat’s biceps and using them to pull his arms backwards. Faust grabs hold of his rival’s wrists while reaching around his legs, Pat’s shins remaining pressed to the challenger’s shoulders. Faust now begins to rock back and forth, pulling Evans up off of the canvas more and more each time. The Champion is shaking his head as he finds himself in this modified rocking horse style submission, yelling out in pain as Faust finally falls onto his back and pulls Evans up to his knees. Pat is bent over completely backwards while in this kneeling position, Faust’s legs placed around in front of shoulders and ripping his arms from their sockets as he drags down on them.

Dan: What the hell is this now?

Billy: Another modified surfboard of sorts.

Fitzpatrick steps in and inquires as to rather or not Pat submits, to which he is vehemently opposed despite his pain. Therefore, Faust lets go of his wrists and allows him to drop forward to the canvas. He now quickly sits up and grabs both of his opponent’s legs, tying them around one another into an Inverted Indian Death lock. The quick Faust spins and places his back to Pat’s ribs while pulling forward on the leg hooked around in front of the other one. He now reaches out with his other arm and wraps his hand around in front of Pat’s jaw, pulling back on it as he applies almost a modified bow and arrow stretch.

Dan: Are you seeing this Billy?

Billy: Not that I want to, but yes, yes I am.

Douglas: I never would have thought Faust would be capable of busting out moves like this.

Pat lifts his hand into the air, his fingers trembling as he is on the verge of submission. However, the Champion fights it and now rolls away from Faust, pulling him over his body into almost a crucifix style pinning predicament.

Faust kicks out, falling over onto his knees beside Evans and then grabbing his arm, placing it in a half nelson. He ducks his head, placing it to Pat’s ribs then flipping forward. He bridges over backwards into Evans’ gut and is trying his best to pull him down into a half nelson pin. He reaches out with his free arm, grabbing Faust’s leg and hooking it, finally forcing him down to the canvas across his back.

Pat kicks out while Faust sits up and swings around to the legs of his opponent, tying them around his own into almost a modified Inverted Death Lock/Figure 4 style combination. He remains kneeling in front of the Submission Champion, his legs all twisted and contorted around his own. The ravenous Evans sits up in sheer shock over the technical capabilities that Faust has displayed here tonight, never having expected this out of his opponent.

Mayne: Jesus, where did Faust get all of these holds from? Has he been watching Dean Malenko matches, because I do the same thing when I want to fall asleep.

Douglas: Your ignorance never ceases to amaze me, but your right in one extent, Faust is really kicking it into another gear here tonight and is working over that leg of Evans maliciously.

Pat now sits up and in anger takes Faust around the neck, placing him in a cravat. Therefore Faust’s head is being twisted brutally while Pat’s legs are being mangled. The crowd is cheering at the sight of both these submission holds being applied simultaneously. Finally Faust breaks the hold and frees his head, yet maintains a grasp on Pat’s ankle. He lifts the leg into the air, tucking it under his armpit then dropping back into a knee-DT. The shockingly technical Faust stands up and wraps his leg around Pat’s, dropping down into the canvas with a leg grapevine now established. Evans sits up, roaring in anguish as the ligaments in his leg are being ripped apart at the hands of his quick, technically versed opponent.

In a quick fashion Evans sits up and grabs the legs that are grapevining his own. He takes the ankle of one of Faust’s legs and crosses it over top of his other leg, causing the challenger great grief. Faust grimaces as he falls onto his back while Pat now rolls to his side. He pulls Faust over onto his chest as the Champion stands up behind him, reversing the grapevine into a sharpshooter. Faust pushes himself up onto his elbows, calling out in pain.

Douglas: What a counter by Evans into the sharpshooter!

Billy: That was simply amazing!

Faust agonizes as he pulls himself across the ring and then reaches out, grabbing the bottom rope, utilizing his first rope break.

Kaily: Faust has now used his first rope break, he only has two remaining.

The crowd reacts much differently to this news, booing as Evans breaks the hold and steps forward, shaking off the damage done to his leg. He moves to the center of the ring, continuing to rub at his knee while Faust pulls himself up with the assistance of the cables. He now barrels towards Evans who turns with his weakened leg to boot him to the ribs. However, Faust catches the leg around his knee then falls to the canvas, hitting a dragon screw leg whip. Evans is flipped over, crashing into the canvas across his back and then rolling over to his feet, staggering in reverse into the corner. He leans spine first against the corner while reaching for his knee, Faust stepping in and taking his opposition by the wrist, whipping him across the ring. The Submission Champion hobbles while charging into the opposite corner, turning and hitting it spine first. His arms fall over the ropes to hold himself up while Faust goes into a cartwheel across the ring, jumping out of it into a back elbow. The elbow connects right with Pat’s sternum while Faust takes him around the neck, rushing out of the corner in order to hit a bulldog. However, Evans plants his feet to the canvas, stopping Faust’s forward momentum then lifting him up into the air in a back drop suplex position. Pat now drops to his knees, pulling Faust down spine first right onto his shoulder with a modified back breaker.

Billy: Finally, what a counter by Evans, doing who knows how much damage to that spine.

Dan: Faust’s back perhaps severally damaged by that back breaker and Evans needs to stay on it if he wishes to retain his Submission title.

A winded Pat stands up and steps over Faust, sitting up on the canvas then placing his legs on both sides of his head. Pat hooks his feet under Faust’s knees while standing up straight, his knees pressed to both sides of his opponent’s cranium. He begins to twist back and forth with his lower body, wrenching the neck of his rival repeatedly. He now falls forward, his knees pressing to Faust’s shoulders and pushing him down back first to the canvas. Pat’s feet are hooked under Faust’s knee, lifting up on them and further pressing the back of his shoulders to the ring.

Faust kicks out amongst cheers from the crowd, falling over in a reverse roll where he lands on his knees. Pat stands up quickly and steps over his back, lifting up on his chin and placing his arms over his knees, applying a camel clutch submission.

Dan: And now Evans goes right back to work with this submission.

Billy: He’s staying on the back, just viciously targeting it at this point, which I like, I like a lot.

Although in a lot of pain Faust reaches up and grabs the hands of Pat that are interlocked in front of his jaw, beginning to scoot backwards through the legs of the Champion. He now gets behind Evans and pulls on his hands, placing them underneath Pat’s bottom then lifting up on them quickly. As a result Evans is sent into a forward flip, crashing down onto his back and Faust pushes down on his shoulders.

Evans rolls back a little and knees Faust right to the top of the knee, causing him to break the pinning predicament. He now falls onto his back while Evans stands up and steps over his head, placing his feet on both sides of Faust’s cranium. He now jumps into the air and twists his legs violently, wrenching Faust’s neck to the point where is almost breaks.

Faust sits up, reaching for his neck after that vile twist via Evans’ legs. As soon as he sits up Pat drops down behind him, establishing the sleeper hold.

Mayne: And Pat goes into the submission again, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many holds applied in one match.

Faust’s face has transformed to a bright shade of red as he begins to force himself across his seat, sticking out his leg and placing it over the bottom rope.

Kaily: Faust has now used his second rope break, he only has one remaining.

As soon as Faust reaches the cables, Pat breaks the hold, grabbing his opponent by the hair then repeatedly kicking him to the small of the back. The crowd grimaces with each vicious kick before Pat steps back and rushes forward delivering another boot to the Challenger’s cranium. Pat now takes Faust around the neck and pulls him up to his feet, standing him up straight then rushing backwards into the ropes, bouncing off of them and charging at his opposition with a lariat. Faust ducks this attempted blow and catches hold of his opponent’s arm, hooking it and dragging Pat around into a half circle so that he’s facing his opposition. He’s then taken by the stomach, hoisted into the air and slammed into the canvas with the sky high spinebuster. Faust leans forward into the back of Pat’s knees.

Evans lobs his shoulder from the canvas, kicking out just before a three count can be made. An agitated Faust stands and takes Pat by the hair, forcing him up to his feet and then whipping him across the ring into the turnbuckle, which he rams against hard spine first. Faust barrels towards him and dives in with a lariat to his throat before taking him around the neck and rushing out of the corner, delivering a huge bulldog. Pat’s face crashes off of the canvas while he rolls onto his back, Faust again crawling into the cover.

Pat kicks out desperately.

Billy: Hahaha, both of Faust’s nearfall attempts thwarted by the unbeatable Evans.

Douglas: He came close several times there to finishing off Pat, but it just wasn’t enough to put away this hard headed Evans.

An increasingly flustered Faust stands with the Manhattan Center crowd watching closely. He takes Evans around the jaw, leads him up to his feet and now tries to drag his head down into position for the Darkness DDT. However, Pat swings his body around out of the front chancery then grabs Faust’s wrist, whipping him across the ring. Faust somehow turns though and reverses the Irish whip, sending Evans charging into the cables but then jumping into the air, landing feet first on the second rope. He surprisingly springs off, twists and nails Faust with a vicious flying forearm to the jaw.

Douglas: What the hell?

Billy: Pat showing off some agility here tonight that we’re not use to seeing from him!

Evans rolls away from Faust, shaking off his leg a little before grabbing Faust by the hair, standing him up then lobbing him into the corner with a whip. Faust turns and hits the turnbuckle hard spine first while Pat charges in, throwing the full weight of his back right into the sternum of his opposition. He then rushes into the cables as Faust comes staggering out of the corner, setting up for something particularly vicious. As soon as Pat gets within legs-length of Faust, the Challenger spins around, connecting with a spinning back heel kick right to Evans’ stomach, doubling him over forward. Faust now rushes into the cables in front of Pat, bouncing off and coming back in before he jumps into the air. However, Pat stands up and catches Faust, his legs wrapping around Evans’ waist as he’s held in a bearhug. Pat quickly reaches up and grabs his opponent around the neck, placing him in a front chancery then dropping back into a DDT from this awkward position. Faust’s body is folded up like an accordion as his legs become untangled from around Pat’s waist, dropping over onto his back. Evans floats over, hooking the Challenger’s leg with the crowd screaming.

Douglas: What a high impact DDT, this could be it!

Billy: Your wrong, it will be it.

Pat has the legs hooked.

Faust lifts his leg into the air and places it over the nearby cables, the crowd going nuts as Evans is informed that his opponent has used his last rope break. The malicious Pat rises to his knees, looking irate.

Kaily: Ladies and gentlemen, Faust has used his final rope breaks, he can no longer use the cables to escape submission holds.

The reaction from the crowd changes over this announcement while Pat takes full advantage, sitting Faust up then placing him in the Time to Go to Sleep. All those packed in the Manhattan Center are screaming their heads off and their hearts out as Faust desperately jostles back and forth to free his trapped cranium. All the air is being deprived to his head as he slowly begins to scoot on his seat towards the ropes in his highly dazed condition. Pat rips and tears at his noggin while Faust places his foot desperately over the bottom rope. The official then informs Faust that the cables can no longer save him.

Billy: Hahaha, yes, YES, Pat has got the Time to Go to Sleep locked in and Faust is all out of rope breaks. The Submission title is about to stay exactly where it belongs!

Douglas: I don’t remember if anyone has been able to escape this hold when Pat gets it applied, it scored him a victory in his very first match ere in the IWC, will it do the trick now at Paranoia V!?!

Faust is still desperately trying to get free as he now rises to his feet, still jostling back and forth, unable to get his head out of the clutches of his staunch opponent. Pat headbunts his challenger to the back of the head, trying to soften him up even more as he continues to establish his version of the Million Dollar Dream cobra clutch. Faust now rushes at the corner and steps up, it reaching the top rope and pushing himself off backwards. Pat tumbles onto his back as a result with Faust bridging over, placing his feet to the canvas while his shoulders are pressed to Evans’ sternum, holding him down in a pinning predicament.

Pat rolls over sideways and keeps his Time to Go to Sleep established, Faust’s face becoming a bright shade of red as he sits up himself. Sweat is racing down his face as he tries to escape this hold, but is slowly beginning to pass out, finally beginning to force himself up to his feet. He stands but his body is slowly beginning to drop towards the canvas, his legs buckling while Evans applies the hold with a little more vigor.

Douglas: Faust fading rapidly.

Billy: Pat has this one in the bag ladies and gentlemen, he’s going to force the submission, he’s going to force the submission!

The crowd is screaming as Faust lowers towards his knees, quickly beginning to fade when he suddenly reaches back with his leg, wrapping it around Evans then hitting him with a Russian Leg Sweep variation. Both men crash onto their backs, Evans forced to break the hold while they both roll in reverse on their knees. Faust ends up at Pat’s side, grabbing his leg and wrapping it around the back of his neck, applying a version of the leg crab. Pat pushes himself up onto his elbows, calling out in pain, looking on the verge of tapping out for the very first time in his IWC career.

Dan: What a counter by Faust, going back to the leg, now it looks like Evans is going to be forced to tap out!

Billy: No way, no way, no, no, nah!

Those in attendance are screaming, hoping that Evans taps out, Faust continuing to wrench his leg over the back of his neck. Suddenly Evans rolls away from Faust though, causing him to flip over into a forward roll. The Challenger rolls across the canvas right onto his feet, turning towards Evans who is agonizingly trying to get up despite the anguish in his knee. Faust now rushes forward and gets caught across the sternum, Pat hoisting him up into the air then delivering the Spinal Tap to the shock of everyone in the audience. Faust flips off of the knee in reverse, landing in a crawling base before he’s taken around the jaw and led to his feet. Evans shoots his arm across his sternum, lifting him into the air then delivering a second Spinal Tap, breaking Faust’s spine right across his knee.

Billy: Two Spinal Taps in a row from Evans!

Dan: What a shocking counter by the Submission Champion.

Pat drops down exhaustedly into the cover with the crowd still buzzing.

The entire arena reacts with dismay, distraught by Pat’s victory here tonight.

Mayne: Mwahahaha, Pat is victorious, he’s pinned Faust after hitting two Spinal Taps.

Douglas: What a hard fought victory for Pat Evans, who somehow, through the grit of his teeth has retained the Submission title here at Paranoia V.

An exhausted Evans sits up and is handed the Submission title belt. He throws it over his shoulder then rolls towards the ropes, spilling under the cables to the outside mats. A diabolical smile creeps onto his face while he limps gingerly up the rampway, the gold glistening over his shoulder. Inside of the ring, Faust has rolled to his side, grimacing in the direction of Evans, having trouble accepting that he was defeated here this evening. Evans slowly lifts the gold into the air in a rather dramatic fashion while glaring towards his still reeling opposition.

Billy: Tonight, the better man emerged victorious.

Douglas: Evans retains.

Again the camera catches the flabbergasted expression of Faust, his intense eyes locked on the confident smile stretched across Pat’s face and the gold hanging from his palm.

KINGDOM’S QUEST

All those packed ever so tightly into the Manhattan Center respond with a loud ovation at the sight of Johnny Kingdom. They are absolutely pumped to see him apparently on his way to the ring, dressed for one of the biggest battles of his career, a match that will pit him against his longest rival and at the same time put his career in serious jeopardy. After all his years of competition, everything rests on the brink, his career, and the revelation of the owner’s true identity. As he continues onward he finds himself looking a bit leery, his eyebrow arching and his face twitching at the sight of Nathan Creed. There is another loud pop from the crowd as Johnny begins to march past him, Nathan watching him closely. Although it seems to pain him greatly, Creed steps away from the wall, reaching out and patting Johnny on the back. Kingdom raises a fist defensively before realizing that Nathan is almost saluting him instead of attacking him.

Nathan: Johnny, you don’t like me, I don’t like you.

The longest reigning World Champion gives him a speculative stare.

Kingdom: How do you know, I may have grown quite fond of you over the years.

Creed smirks before shaking his head, trying not to take offense to the comments from a man he’s long despised.

Creed: I’m sure you haven’t, and I’m sure you don’t owe me a favor either, but just do one little thing for me.

Johnny: Recommend a good dentist?

Nathan: No, put Silencer down, and put an end to the Boss’s mysterious tyrannical reign, so that I can have the honor or kicking the ever living shit out of him when he reveals himself. Just like I’m going to do to Adams tonight.

This request amuses the Team Leader, who grins and nods his head, slapping Creed on his shoulder in a mocking manner.

Kingdom: Sure thing you little go getter you. I’ll make sure to save some scraps of your illustrious owner and feed them to you under the table. Now if you’ll excuse me, I can’t take anymore forced inspirational dribble, I came here to kick an emo ass, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

He turns with determination in his eyes walking past Nathan who shakes his head with a slight grin on his face, realizing that Johnny will never change. As Johnny progresses down the corridor he happens to pass by the protruding gut of Bob, who has his back pressed to a wall and a Paranoia V t-shirt draped over top of his head. Obviously Bob is still playing hide and seek, having developed this brilliant hiding place. Kingdom closes his eyes and shakes his head after briefly pausing to overlook the portly figure. He now marches on down the corridor, continuing towards the ring for one of the biggest bouts of his career. However, his onward momentum is halted by clapping hands. He freezes and rolls his eyes while mildly grinning, already realizing who these clapping palms belong to. From the corner of his eye he catches sight of Desolation strolling outward from the shadows. No emotion is present on the Dark Man’s face while he continues to clap slower and slower but more emphatically.

Kingdom: Can I help you, Deso?

Desolation: Oh, I’m just practicing my forced, rehearsed and sympathetic clap.

Johnny finds himself naturally inquisitive.

Johnny: And why is that?

The Dark Man is amused by his question.

Desolation: Well, such a cliché clap will be needed and surely employed by the fans after your match. Once your career is ended, everyone will be standing and showering you with the same apathetic yet respectful applause. I’m just getting an early start.

The comment doesn’t adversely effect the Team Leader, instead it leaves him with a half, pompous smirk on his shaking head.

Kingdom: Thanks Deso, it’s good to know you hold such a high opinion of my abilities.

Desolation: Considering the fact that I’ve already defeated you, there’s not much reason for me to stand here buttering you up with praise.

Johnny: Granted.

Johnny certainly can’t argue with that fact.

Kingdom: Of course my capabilities extend a little further than just capitalizing on damage inflicted on my opponents by outside parties. I suppose I’ll just have to remind you, Mr. Dark Man, how much ability I actually possess by making quick work of Silencer here tonight. That way I can sit back and watch you struggle endlessly to put away the mediocre challenge that is Axl Evermore.

Desolation: I’m glad you’ll be watching, because then you’ll be reminded of what I’m capable of.

The crowd has a mixed reaction as this verbal debate finally concludes, the Team Leader and the Dark Man having a tense stare-down. After an awkward and tense few moments, Kingdom finally moves on towards the ring to collide with Silencer. As he moves on Desolation is left standing there with his grin fading, his features frozen and twisted with intensity.

RINGSIDE

The program quickly cuts to a graphic displaying Silencer standing side by side with Johnny Kingdom, the Paranoia V symbol highlighted behind them. Dan’s and Billy’s voices are overheard in the background.

Douglas: Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over, we’re about to witness a clash of long time rivals in Silencer and Johnny Kingdom.

Billy: Oh goodie, chances are we’ll be witnessing the end of Johnny Kingdom’s career here tonight, and I wish I cared, but I can’t condone the Team Leader openly defying our wonderful employer.

Dan: That’s how this all started, let’s take you back and show you what led us here to Paranoia V, to the final battle between former World Champions.

MANIPULATED

Silencer: No one is falling for your act Johnny Kingdom.

The almost demonic Silencer stands in the center of the ring, a little sweaty after his bout with Faust at Redemption Roe. No matter how winded, nothing dissipates the sheer hostility that radiates from his threatening frame. It then cuts to him standing with a pitch black background, staring up towards the ceiling with his eyes closed, as if absorbing it all.

Silencer: I went to Johnny’s house, and I threatened his children for a reason. BECAUSE I know who he really is, I see through his act, I remember him for what he really is, a cold blooded bastard.

The sadistic Silencer is shown driving his car right into the fence surrounding Kingdom’s house. Billy Mayne and his camera-man just barely get out of the way before Silencer approaches the Kingdom household, throwing a beer bottle at his door. He is then featured being arrested by police while Kingdom stands in his doorway, baseball bat in hand, imploring his long time rival to just try and do something bold.

Silencer: Johnny has betrayed absolutely every person he’s ever teamed with.

A classic clip features AWOL handcuffed to a cage as the Team Leader slams a chair over his bloodied head repeatedly. The video then jumps to him giving Hurse the Exodus Finale before being capped off with the Team Leader hitting his finisher on Silencer from the top of a ladder.

Silencer: He’s a liar, he’s a manipulator, and I won’t be the one who falls for his bullshit like everyone of you have.

The camera shows the screaming fans, highlighting those holding up Kingdom signs and wearing his merchandise.

Silencer: I know who he is, I know he’s the owner who’s been fucking with my career for months!

Various images are shown of Silencer trying desperately to get his hands on Desolation but constantly being denied. This leads to scenes of Silencer’s sadism over the past few months, as he pulls Faust down throat first into a chair and is then shown stabbing Ryan Mills repeatedly in the forehead with a belt buckle. Silencer is then featured choking a bloodied Sabre with a strap.

Silencer: I will stop at nothing until I get my hands on the owner, YOU, Kingdom!

Silencer is again shown standing in the ring microphone in hand when the words…

WAKE UP!

Blare over the PA system, and Johnny Kingdom emerges onto the stage, a shallow expression on his face.

Johnny: I’m going to tell you this one more time Silencer, I am not the owner of this company.

The video features Kingdom standing in the ring face to face with his rival while gripping a microphone. The show then switches to the Team Leader shouting at Billy Mayne on his doorstep as well as at Bob who proudly holds high a large ham.

Kingdom: But I am here to tell you that I’m returning to the ring until the son of a bitch who framed me is revealed.

Silencer: You think nobody can see through you Johnny, but I can….and I’m not going to fall for it, BOSS!

The slap heard round the world is highlighted, Silencer’s palm smacking Johnny forcefully across the cheek. A major brawl now erupts between both men, fighting it out with security repeatedly trying to separate them. The chaos is emphasized by the rapidly moving camera, as it tries to keep track of Silencer jumping over security onto Kingdom and then Johnny flying off a turnbuckle to the outside of the ring onto his bitter rival.

Krissie: I’m here to make you an off you can’t refuse Kingdom.

Johnny is now standing center of the ring, staring coldly at Krissie McMorris who is currently gripping a microphone.

Krissie: If you can beat Silencer at Paranoia V, then the Boss will reveal himself.

Repeated images of violence are shown, consisting of Johnny attacking Silencer from behind while dressed as a cameraman and then his rival stringing Kingdom up and beating him with a Singapore cane.

Krissie: But if you lose at Paranoia V to Silencer, then your career is OVER!

The shock of the fans can be heard while the camera zooms in on the unconcerned face of the Team Leader.

You can't quit until you try
You can't live until you die
You can't learn to tell the truth
Until you learn to lie

Silencer is shown throwing a beer bottle at Johnny’s house while he threatens the painted freak with a baseball in hand. Another scene features Johnny returning to the IWC at Redemption Roe until it proceeds to a shot of him standing in the ring, pointing to the Paranoia V symbol hung from the rafters. Silencer is then shown sitting on the stairs and shaking his head backstage.

You can't breathe until you choke
You gotta laugh when you're the joke
There's nothing like a funeral to make you feel alive

The video highlights older clips from the ULW days, where Silencer and Johnny were both standing backstage, holding the World title belts over their shoulders. It quickly cuts to the Team Leader standing up in the ring, removing bandages from around his head to the shock of Silencer, who had no idea it was Kingdom beneath the medical tape.

Just open your eyes
Just open your eyes
And see that life is beautiful.
Will you swear on your life,
That no one will cry at my funeral?

Silencer consumes the screen while he drives a Singapore Cane directly into Kingdom’s forehead, rendering him unconscious. Kingdom is now shown flying from the top rope and crashing down on top of Pat Evans and Silencer at ringside. The build up package cuts to the former Champion hitting the Team Leader under the jaw with the superkick, costing him the LoS Championship against Orlando Cruze several years ago.

I know some things that you don't
I've done things that you won't
There's nothing like a trail of blood to find your way back home

I was waiting for my hearse
What came next was so much worse
It took a funeral to make me feel alive

While gripping a microphone the twisted Silencer glares into the camera, overwhelmed with rage.

Silencer: Johnny Kingdom is the asshole who’s been toying with my career!

Kingdom stands in the ring mono a mono with Silencer and shakes his head, clearly disagreeing with his nemesis. The next scene demonstrates the lengths Kingdom went to in his past to take out the competition, pulling his at the time friend off the top of a ladder with the Exodus Finale, almost costing him the Championship. Kingdom’s bloodied face now overcomes the screen. Every fan in attendance is booing while Kingdom throws Silencer off of a stage and through a table. It now cuts to the hostile fans enraged at the sight of Silencer superkicking Johnny under the jaw in slow motion.

Just open your eyes
Just open your eyes
And see that life is beautiful.
Will you swear on your life,
That no one will cry at my funeral?

Silencer and Pat Evans repeatedly and viciously assault Kingdom as he hangs upside down, pummeling the life out of him with the use of Singapore canes. The camera zooms in on the blood flowing from the corner of the former Champion’s face. The longest reigning World Champion now is depicted getting his revenge by delivering repeated blows to Silencer’s face in the center of the ring. His loathed rival gives Johnny the Break the Silence right in the middle of the six person tag team main event.

Alive...
Just open your eyes
Just open your eyes
And see that life is beautiful.
Will you swear on your life,
That no one will cry at my funeral?

This video hits the closing moments with Johnny standing in the ring, pointing towards the Paranoia V symbol hung high above. The scene is short lived, quickly replaced with one showcasing Silencer repeatedly hitting a fan with a strap as well as having Denile Partis held up by Evans while slapping him repeatedly across the face. Kingdom’s determination for vengeance is shown again as he flies through the air, crashing down on top of security and Silencer.

Krissie: If you win, the Boss reveals himself, but if you lose, your career is over!

Silencer superkicks Kingdom, Johnny gives him the Exodus Finale, the two are shown with ravenous desires housed in their furious eyes.

The show cuts to the quiet fans, all of them silently anticipating the arrival of one of the competitors involved in the sure to be intense one on one bout moments from occurring.

WAKE UP, WAKE UP

Most of the loud crowd lunges to their feet, going nuts while “Wake Up” by the Lost Prophets continues to play in the background.

Douglas: Listen to this phenomenal reaction for the Team Leader!

Billy: I should get these type of pops.

The crowd doesn’t have to wait for long as through the curtains now rides, yes, RIDES, Johnny Kingdom, seated behind the wheel of a golden, tricked out golf cart.

Mayne: WHAT THE!?! Where did Kingdom get that golf cart?

Douglas: Another special entrance for Johnny here at Paranoia V, in what could be his very last entrance ever.

Johnny leans back casually, his arm thrown out over the seats while he steers the golden cart towards the ring. He drives at a puttering pace in the direction of the ring, staring out from behind his expensive shades at the crowd who is strangely going nuts for the man who use to be the most hated competitor in wrestling. The adulation shown by his former detractors hasn’t gotten to Johnny’s head as he stops the cart at ringside and then hops out, rushing towards the squared circle. He slides under the ropes and jumps to his feet while continuing to be lavished with praise from his ardent supporters.

Mayne: Well Johnny may have had a pimpin trip to the ring, but after tonight’s match he’ll be sulking as he somberly leaves the ring, hahahaha. Sorry I have to have you now Johnny, but your just far too popular.

Dan: You and your hatred of those more popular than you, which is most of the world. Kingdom arrived in the ring rather casually, but he needs to tap into his intensity to overcome the obstacle about to face him, his most bitter rival throughout the ages, Silencer.

"Go Ahead... Silence Me..."

The words echo throughout the arena, as the lights slowly fade out, replaced by a dull red. The fans grow restless, as the video screen flickers to life. The video screen shows Orlando Cruze against Silencer for the world championship, when all of a sudden, Silencer hits 'Break the Silence' on Orlando, and the words "SILENCED" appear across the video screen. Several others follow, such as Nathan Creed, Desolation, and Killjoy.

Finally, music starts to play, as the lights start to flicker. A single flame lights up on the ramp. It starts to pulse along with the beat of the music, until the music picks up, and then the flame explodes, quickly dying down, and leaving Silencer standing alone on the stage, covered in black and white tights, along with face-paint. He looks around at the crowd, with a half smile on his face, before bowing his head, and slowly walking toward the ring. The crowd is jumping all over him, absolutely repulsed by his behavior over the past few months, sickened at the mere sight of the man who tried to ruin IWC’s Japan debut and has disrespected every one of his opponents over the past few months.

He reaches the ring and then looks inside, his lips curled into a repugnant expression at the sight of Kingdom. For a moment he turns to overlook the golden, decked out golf cart and then spits repulsively upon it. His gaze then returns to Kingdom who is being restrained in the corner by the referee. Finally Silencer slides in under the ropes and stands, not deviating his eyes from the man he has developed such a bitter hatred for.

Billy: We’ve seen the most sadistic Silencer I can ever recall witnessing over the past five months, dating back to when he was denied a match against Desolation, and now we’re going to see him kick up the sadism for this one on one bout.

Douglas: The things these two have done to each other in the build to this match have been downright disturbing, so I shudder to think of what levels they’ll stoop to now that they’re at Paranoia V. Silencer is determined to retire Kingdom since he’s positive that Johnny is the owner who has tormented him over the past few months.

Mayne: Silencer may not have a flashy entrance but he’ll be endowed in the minds of every fan after he retires Kingdom tonight.

Johnny Kingdom stands in one corner of the ring, and occupying the other is his menacing rival Silencer. The painted apparition lowers his head and stares devilishly at the Team Leader, prepared to end his career once and for all.

Dan: This is it Billy, these guys have two objectives but one ultimate goal, victory here tonight.

Billy: That actually didn’t sound half bad Dan. If only the rest of your commentary sounded competent now.

The referee hesitantly looks to both his sides and calls for the bell as rivals slowly step out of their respective corners. Kingdom and Silencer find themselves face to face before turning coyly and going for a disrespectful slap. Kingdom blocks it then throws a slap of his own. Silencer is able to duck this intended slap and grab Kingdom by the wrist, swinging around under it and placing him in an arm ringer. He now whips Kingdom right into the ropes, the Team Leader bouncing off and quickly coming back in at his opponent who drops to his stomach. As a result Johnny has to jump over him and roll forward across the canvas directly onto his feet, turning around to face a quickly rising Silencer. The Team Leader barrels toward him and receives a vicious slap to the cheek for his trouble.

Billy: Hahaha, what disrespect, I LOVE IT!

Douglas: Some opening counters leading right back to that slap from Silencer. At this point I imagine Kingdom’s blood is boiling.

Johnny turns around and throws a forearm right at Silencer who ducks the shot. He steps behind the Team Leader and places him in a reverse waist lock much to Kingdom’s chagrin. He throws an elbow that causes him to spin around and face Silencer who bent back to avoid the shot this time. Maliciously he steps forward and takes Johnny’s arm again, tucking it around behind his back into the hammerlock. Johnny actually smiles, getting flustered with these constant counters by his opponent. Using his quick whit he bends forward and slips backwards, reversing into a hammerlock of his own.

As he stands behind his smaller opponent’s spine he tugs on the wrist of his hammerlocked arm, spinning Silencer around into a prompt slap to the face. The stiff strike sends Silencer plummeting to the canvas across his back, rolling to his knees as Kingdom steps in and begins to drill his kneeling opponent to the jaw with repeated forearms.

Dan: Johnny getting a measure of revenge, and now this match is no longer about getting the upper-hand, it’s breaking down into sheer physicality.

Mayne: Rats, I loved the bitch slapping.

Even while taking these repeated blows to his face, Silencer works his way to his feet staggering backwards into one of the corners. Kingdom drives more elbows into his jaw, followed by repeated kicks to his ribs, doubling Silencer over in pain amongst loud crowd approval. Still operating on anger over that opening slap, Kingdom drags his opposition out of his corner then nails him with a swift, stiff chop right to his sternum. The stiff shot almost takes Silencer down before he’s taken by the wrist and dragged forward into the Team Leader’s palms. His light frame is lifted into the air by a smirking Kingdom, who obviously has something dastardly in mind as he holds his long time rival in a military press with relative ease.

Johnny rushes forward to hurl his opponent over the ropes to the mats below before Silencer slips off of his palms and lands on the Team Leader’s shoulders. Unfortunately for Kingdom he is unable to stop his momentum as he rushes forward into the ropes where Silencer hurricaranas him over to the outside of the ring. Johnny flips forward and crashes with a hard splat across the mats, causing himself and many of the fans to cringe. The ever so durable Kingdom begins to stand almost immediately while Silencer is himself reaching his feet on the apron. As soon as Johnny stands and storms towards his opponent, he looks up to spot him flying through the air with a senton style cannonball splash. His back crashes into Kingdom’s sternum, sending them both tumbling to the outside mats. The former World Champion rolls off of the Team Leader and back into the ring to break up the official’s count.

Dan: Silencer already busting out some sensational moves with that senton off the apron.

Mayne: He’s more agile than a circus monkey. Wait, was that analogy flattering.

Douglas: Certainly not for the monkey.

Somewhat stunned Kingdom begins to stand with the assistance of the barricade only to have Silencer charge in, ramming his shoulder right into his ribs and driving him spine first against the very crutch he used to stand. Thinking quickly Silencer stands, taking hold of his opposition’s wrist then whipping him face first right into the exposed turnbuckle post. Johnny slaps off of the steel face first and then crashes with a hard thud onto his back, the crowd reacting with utter shock.

Billy: Silencer is so proficient on utilizing every aspect of a ring and the ringside area to inflict damage.

Silencer rolls back into the ring and then out of it to again break the official’s count before approaching his down prey. Still dazed Kingdom tries to stand only to be taken around the head and pulled around into a swinging neckbreaker right on the thin protective mats. The force of the back of his head meeting the mats causes Kingdom to sit up, reaching for his neck and agonizing while Silencer forces him back to his feet. He is rolled into the ring while Silencer slips in after him and rushes forward at his struggling opponent to press his advantage. However, Kingdom stands and catches one of his rival’s legs, lifting it into the air as he stands and shooting a frighteningly intense gaze into his face. Silencer attempts to counter, throwing one punch, then another, but they are both ducked by the Team Leader. He stands and uses the trapped leg to pull Silencer forward, pushing him up into the air and then driving him down to the canvas with a spinebuster.

Dan: Kingdom gets right back into the match with a tremendous spinebuster. Here comes another of Billy’s trademark whining sequences.

Mayne: That’s sweet, you know me so well.

Dan: Please don’t tell people that.

Shockwaves of pain coursing through Silencer’s spine as he slowly turns onto his knees, beginning to stand up when Johnny steps over his back and locks him in a classic full nelson. Silencer’s arms are completely at the mercy of the Team Leader, who pushes down on the back of his neck, inflicting a lot of punishment. To further emphasis this brutality, Kingdom begins to headbunt the back of Silencer’s neck, possibly trying to shatter his spinal column. Silencer obtains his footing though and as the ref steps in front of them, he lifts his legs into the air, wedging them to the official’s sternum. He pushes off and as a result sends Kingdom staggering spine first into the ropes, still holding onto the full nelson all the while. The powerful Kingdom hits the cables and spills through them while the referee is completely knocked to the canvas by the blatant cheating.

Douglas: Hey, Silencer should be disqualified for that. He just used the referee to escape the full nelson.

Billy: That was brilliant, more people should think of doing that. The referee’s are always getting in the way, they should be used for something good.

Kingdom now lies on the apron, holding the middle rope to keep from spilling to the mats. He grips at the back of his neck while standing, Silencer spotting him upright then rushing into the cables perpendicular to the ones Johnny is beyond. He springs to the middle rope and twists as he goes for the springboard dropkick, but Kingdom ducks down out of the way. As a result Silencer falls to the canvas across his elbows and knees, Kingdom pulling himself over the top rope into a flip over leg drop. It connects directly with the back of the Team Leader’s head, driving his face down into the canvas. He bounces off of the ring then rolls onto his back, looking very dazed as Kingdom crawls into the cover.

Silencer kicks out for the first time in this already back and forth contest, leading the Team Leader to sit up with a slight grin on his face. He stands and turns in a circle to face the struggling Silencer, bending forward with his arms out to his sides, anxiously waiting for his opponent to rise to his feet. The grimacing Silencer reaches an upright base when Kingdom steps forward to kick him to the gut. However, his foot is caught in the grasp of the ever so quick Silencer, who now pushes it down to the canvas. Johnny then steps forward with a lariat that his opponent ducks, turning to face the back of the former World Champion who flips in reverse with a Pele Kick. The kick drills Johnny right to his face, knocking him to the canvas while the crowd screams with shock and dismay.

Billy: What a beautiful kick by Silencer. Did he use to play soccer, was he is Bend it Like Becham?

Douglas: I think he was, oh wait no, that was Kiera Knightly.

With his palms gripping his forehead Kingdom rolls onto his back, Silencer scooting across his knees into the cover. He drops down into the lateral press.

Now Kingdom is the one who shoots his shoulder from the ring, prompting Silencer to stand before rushing forward into a shooting star press. The crowd is shocked by Silencer’s sheer agility as he crashes down on top of Kingdom and again hooks his leg.

The Team Leader launches his shoulder from the ring as a more intense Silencer sits him up on the canvas then rushes forward with a hard kick right to his sternum. The shot knocks the Team Leader back to his spine while Silencer steps across the ring and slips through the ropes onto the apron. He grabs the top cable, jumps to it from the apron then springs off, flying over half way cross the ring into a huge leg drop. It connects with Johnny’s throat, causing his lower body to kick up into the air while the sinister former Champion crawls into the cover, hooking both legs.

Again Kingdom kicks out, getting his shoulder up in the nick of time. The crowd is screaming fiercely at this point, pleased that Johnny’s career continues to thrive yet remain in jeopardy.

Dan: Silencer going for pinfall after pinfall on Kingdom, but the Team Leader is determined not to be retired.

Mayne: Of course. But maybe he’s being driven more by the desire to see the owner revealed.

Douglas: Yeah, obviously that’s more important than a man’s career.

After hitting all these high impact moves Silencer finds himself annoyed as he forces Kingdom up to his knees and now steps in taking him around the neck. He pulls the Team Leader all the way to his feet then rushes at the nearby ropes with his opponent trapped in a side headlock. The crowd boos as Johnny’s face is placed to the top rope and dragged across it rather forcefully, possibly ripping open his face. Silencer breaks the side headlock and steps behind his opponent, digging his claws into his back then raking it violently. Johnny staggers forward with his back arched, red streaks left in his flesh thanks to Silencer’s nails. His rival moves up behind him and now locks on a textbook abdominal stretch.

Billy: Silencer is bending the rules and doing so with panache.

Kingdom grimaces as he is held tightly in the clutches of his diabolical rival, yet he begins to fight to free himself. This makes Silencer alter his hold, instead locking in an Octopus stretch by placing his leg around Kingdom’s neck. The official steps around in front of Johnny, checking on his condition, asking him rather he wishes to submit or not. However, Kingdom refuses to relent even to this suffrage. Therefore he begins to jostle and struggle his way towards the cables, carrying the full weight of Silencer along with him. He reaches out for the ropes but is too far away, causing him to grind his teeth in both anguish and anger, sweat still streaming down his features.

Mayne: Johnny has got to reach those cables if he wants any chance of this match continuing.

Douglas: Billy, that was an astute observation.

Billy: Yeah, I’m proud of myself too.

Kingdom has frozen half way towards the cables, unable to move towards them any longer before he uses his brute strength o counter out of this hold. He frees his arm and pushes Silencer up into the air as his adversary surprisingly sits himself on top of Kingdom’s shoulders behind his head then falls forward, puling the Team Leader down into a victory roll.

To cheers from the crowd Johnny gets his shoulder up, kicking out before he could be defeated. Silencer is sent rolling in reverse and onto his feet as the Team Leader reaches an upright base, rushing towards his opposition who lunges into the air with a reverse heel kick. His heel connects straight to Kingdom’s face, knocking him from his feet and down to the canvas back first. The wind seems to have been knocked from the sails of the fans as Silencer gets to a kneeling base, wearing a truly menacing expression on his face.

Dan: I was not expecting this match to get this way. Silencer is just physically dominating Kingdom right now, and has been doing so for several minutes.

Billy: Silencer has certainly got an advantage in the speed department, which he’s utilized quite well thus far.

A stunned Johnny is sitting up on the canvas while Silencer steps around behind him, sitting down on the back of his neck. He places his legs around in front of Kingdom’s shoulders, wedging his shins against them. Displaying his agility yet again he bends over backwards into a crab like pose, as a result pushing Kingdom’s head down, his chin touching his chest. The crowd grimaces over this unusual contortion of Kingdom’s neck in this odd submission predicament. Silencer is still bent over backwards with his palms pressed to the canvas and a smile plastered across his face.

Mayne: What the hell is this? It looks like something out of a kinky German S&M video.

Dan: Silencer holding Kingdom in, I don’t even know what to call this move.

Silencer’s maniacal grin extends from one ear to the other as Kingdom breaks out in a sweat, his face transforming to a bright shade of red. The official moves in and checks on Johnny’s condition, inquiring as to rather or not he submits. The Team Leader refuses, gritting his teeth and balling up his fists as he continues to try and fight through this crippling pain.

Douglas: Johnny is hanging in there, he’s refusing to be retired by Silencer.

Billy: At this point it just looks like a matter of time before the Team Leader has to make that final long walk up the ramp.

Silencer pushes himself up and down, continuing to wrench Kingdom’s neck forward. Sweat cascades down Johnny’s face as he raises his open palm into the air, looking ready to make a symbolic tap out gesture. The official remains crouched beside him, looking on intently, repeatedly asking him rather or not he wants to throw in the towel. All those packed in the Manhattan Center are standing and screaming, begging Kingdom not to do it, imploring him to hang in there, to keep fighting. Although coming so close to submission, Johnny balls up his fingers into fists and refuses to relent, refuses to be retired. In anguish he begins to force himself upwards, starting to reach his feet as Silencer remains seated on the back of his neck, beginning to hang upside down. Suddenly Kingdom is able to push Silencer’s legs out from in front of his shoulders and now places his thighs on top of them, forcing him into a seated position in front of his cranium instead of behind it. Utilizing all of his power Kingdom dead lifts Silencer up into the air in a powerbomb position, the crowd stunned by the sheer strength of the Team Leader. He drops back, sending Silencer tumbling sternum first right into the top rope.

Dan: What a counter by Kingdom!!

Billy: Amazing. I just found a quarter.

Dan: You took that out of my pocket!

After being dropped throat first against the top rope, Silencer bounces off and staggers back into the waiting shoulder of Kingdom, who hoists him into the air with a back drop suplex position. However, he pulls down on Silencer’s shin, sending him falling forward sternum first right into the cables yet again. He bounces off them and turns as he limps towards Kingdom who boots him to the gut, dragging his head under his seat then lifting up into an awesome bomb position. The winded Johnny pushes Silencer off of his shoulder then twists around to catch him around the neck, planting him head first into the canvas with the Hurricane DDT. Silencer’s skull collides viciously with the ring, sending him rolling onto his back and lying beside an exhausted Team Leader. That last series of moves has left the Team Leader in a state of utter exhaustion.

The crowd is standing up and screaming joyously over this series of moves just nailed by Johnny, who remains a wreck on the canvas, his chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath.

Douglas: Kingdom with a come back, but he doesn’t seem capable of making the pin.

Mayne: He’s far too exhausted and brutalized to continue after the physical onslaught Silencer has perpetuated against him.

Silencer agonizingly starts to push himself up, holding his forehead in the process, while Kingdom is also trying to struggle his way to his feet. As both men reach their feet, albeit slouched forward, Kingdom turns and throws a hard chop right to Silencer’s sternum. The blow causes Silencer to stand up straight, sweat dissipating through the air before the Team Leader pops him under the jaw with a right hand. He then delivers another hard right hand to the cranium before stepping back and rushing forward into a hard lariat that takes him down to the canvas. Kingdom staggers forward, falling into the ropes for support and then turning to face Silencer who is slowly beginning to stand up. He reaches his feet when Johnny barrels away from the cables and jumps into the air, leveling Silencer with a diving shoulder block that again sends him crashing into the canvas.

Billy: Kingdom is building momentum!

The Team Leader gets to a knee with sweat streaming down his face while an agonizing Silencer begins to get up as well. Both men reach their feet when Silencer obtains a second wind, rushing forward and being caught by his opponent. He is lifted into the air then planted into the canvas with a flapjack. Silencer’s face slams violently against the canvas, sending him rolling onto his back while Johnny crawls into the cover, hooking his leg.

Silencer gets his shoulder up off of the canvas, kicking out before the three count could be fully made. This leaves the longest reigning World Champion a tad frustrated as he stands and steps over Silencer’s legs, he lifts them up, tucking them under his arm pits, then pulling him over onto his sternum. He now sits down on Silencer’s back, applying a liontamer to a loud reaction from the crowd. Pain rips through his spine as Silencer forces himself up onto his elbows, gritting his teeth and glaring at the cables which are so far away. All those packed in the Manhattan Center are standing and begging Silencer to tap out.

Fans: TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP!!

Silencer roars even louder while clawing his way cross the canvas in the direction of the ropes, determined to escape this predicament. With paint melting from his face he gets closer and closer to the cables, Kingdom bending his opponent’s legs further in reverse and placing even more strain on his lower back.

Douglas: Kingdom may force the submission!

Mayne: Silencer looks on the verge of tapping out. You were suppose to be the man to retire Kingdom damn you.

Silencer is on the verge of tapping out but utilizes that one last ditch effort to grab the bottom rope. All those packed in the Manhattan Center wail with despair as the official demands that the aggressor break the hold. Johnny releases the legs after being forcefully pried off by the referee, staggering forward in an exhaustive condition. Silencer utilizes the cables to begin forcing his way to his feet, reaching an upright base when Johnny takes him by the shoulder, spinning him around and delivering a swift knife edge chop right to his sternum. Silencer almost falls over the cables in reverse before an exhausted Kingdom takes him by the wrist and pulls him out of the cables, blasting him over the upper back with a forearm strike. He now pulls him forward into a short arm lariat. Silencer ducks it and catches Kingdom’s arm, hooking it and jumping into the air, wrapping his legs around his far arm as he tries to drag him down into a crucifix pin. Somehow Johnny keeps his feet planted on the canvas though and uses his brute strength to power Silencer back up onto his shoulders in a fireman’s carry position.

Billy: Silencer has got Kingdom at his mercy.

Johnny pushes Silencer around into what looks like a TKO diamond cutter only for him to slip free at the last second, landing on his feet right behind his legendary opposition. He steps forward and jumps into the air, wedging his feet to Johnny’s spine then pulling him down into a straight jacket back stabber. Kingdom crashes spine first right into the knees, bouncing off then turning as he falls to the canvas. He rolls onto his back with his lower spine arched as Silencer crawls into the cover, throwing himself on top of his opposition.

To a loud reaction Kingdom gets his shoulder from the ring, kicking out before his career could be ended. The crowd reacts rather favorably over the continuation of what has been a very intense encounter.

Billy: Oh, Silencer so close to ending Kingdom’s career.

Dan: I thought that backstabber was going to do the trick, BUT Kingdom continues to persevere in this grudge match.

With sweat racing down both men’s bodies Silencer begins to stand, turning Johnny over to his knees then popping him to the jaw with a hard closed fist. He nails him again with an equally as vicious shot to the jaw before stepping back and rushing in with a version of the enzugari which connects with the back of Kingdom’s head. The blow sends him turning and reeling into one of the corners, falling against it for support. He turns and wedges his back to the turnbuckle, his eyes glazed over from that extremely stiff shot to the skull while his opposition stands up in front of him. Silencer turns and rushes forward, jumping into the air with an extension of his knees, looking to drive them into Johnny’s sternum when he steps out of the way. As a result Silencer lands feet first on the second cable, Kingdom quickly stepping up behind him and wedging his shoulders into his spine. He’s taken around the neck and pulled own into a reverse fireman’s carry, Johnny rushing out of the corner in order to hit what looks like a Burning Hammer. He tucks down on Silencer’s jaw and sends him flipping over but landing on his feet right in front of the Team Leader with a surprisingly acrobatic counter. A shocked Johnny now rushes forward right into a devastating superkick to the jaw. The blow seems to have knocked Kingdom completely unconscious upon impact as he crashes to the canvas, laid out across it.

Douglas: What a counter into the superkick!

Silencer dives into the cover, hooking Kingdom’s leg.

Billy: Johnny’s career is over, it’s over!!

The referee drops down, making the count with all the fans screaming in shock over what they are seeing.

Johnny’s career has officially been ended, wait no, he got his shoulder up before the three count. The Manhattan Center is rocking with disbelief while Silencer sits up, paint spilling from his sweaty face.

Dan: Unbelievable! Kingdom has kicked out of that brutal superkick! His career is still alive.

Billy: I think that’s the closest anyone has come thus far to ending Johnny’s career.

An exhausted Kingdom looks glassy eyed as he begins to turn onto his side, Silencer standing up and backing into one of the corners. Fury inhabits the eyes of the former World Champion as he leans against the corner shoulder first and crouches slightly, preparing to deliver another superkick that will hopefully this time finish off the Team Leader. In exhaustion and the with the crowd pleading with him to look out, Kingdom starts to sluggishly force himself upwards.

Mayne: Silencer is setting up for another superkick that will effectively end Kingdom’s career here tonight.

Douglas: Stay down Johnny, stay down!

Everyone in the building is buzzing with excitement as Johnny finally reaches his feet, almost falling over in the process. He turns with wobbly knees to face the ravenous eyed Silencer, who steps forward and delivers his superkick. At the last second Kingdom ducks the shot and steps behind Silencer, pulling him in reverse into his shoulders. He stands up then rushes forward across the ring, pulling Silencer down out of the inverted fireman’s carry into the burning hammer. Silencer crashes into the ring face first, his body folding up like an accordion before it tumbles to the canvas. Johnny lies beside Silencer with the crowd screaming.

Douglas: The Burning Hammer delivered by Kingdom!

Billy: How did he have the strength to counter a superkick into that deadly move!?! Does Kingdom not have pain receptors or something? Is he like friggin Solomon Grundy?

Although he expelled all his energy to hit the Burning Hammer, Kingdom turns, his arm falling on Silencer’s sternum. The crowd is screaming as the official drops and makes the count, realizing that Johnny is about to pin Silencer and force the IWC owner to step forward.

Somehow Silencer kicks out, getting his shoulder up with the fans floored by their sheer disbelief.

Douglas: Now Silencer has kicked out of the Burning Hammer, my stars what a match we’re seeing here.

Billy: These two have done everything they possibly could to get the win and it still is not enough.

Johnny slowly rolls away from the down Silencer, ending up on the apron. He stands up and walks across it to the turnbuckle, agonizingly scaling to the top rope while Silencer remains laid out before him. The crowd starts to mark out, realizing what Kingdom is setting up for as he stands on the top rope and now flips through the air with the 450 splash. However, he comes down right on top of Silencer’s raised knees. The crowd finds itself stunned, watching Johnny stand back up with his arms placed over his chest, in absolute agony.

Douglas: Silencer somehow countering the 450 splash.

Billy: I can’t remember anyone who’s ever done that to Johnny before.

Although his knees are aching Silencer stands up behind Kingdom and now jumps into the air, flipping around into a corkscrew kick right to the back of the Team Leader’s cranium. Johnny is sent staggering into the cables, falling through them onto the apron. The former World Champion reaches his feet, grabbing at his forehead from the Burning Hammer before slipping through the ropes in front of Kingdom. Johnny has somehow gotten to his knees on the apron when Silencer steps forward, delivering a straight upward kick right to the Team Leader’s face. This shot causes Kingdom’s eyes to become glazed over while Silencer grabs him around the neck, forcing him up to his feet and setting up for the Break the Silence off the apron.

Dan: Oh no, this is not going to be good!

Billy: Silencer about to hit the Break the Silence right off the apron. Kingdom’s career is effectively going to be over!

Silencer has malicious intent as he begins to jump into the backwards flip when Kingdom shoots a knee upward right into his ribs. The strike causes Silencer to be doubled over before he’s placed in a front chancery by Kingdom. Before he has time to react he’s lifted into the air and hit with the Brainbuster DDT right on top of the apron.

Mayne: AAHHAAHHH!

Douglas: The Exodus Finale on the apron!

The back of Silencer’s head crashes with force across the hardest portion of the ring, sitting up with an incredibly glazed over expression on his face. Saliva seeps from the corner of his mouth while Kingdom pushes him through the cables and into the ring. Johnny now scales the turnbuckle, reaching the top rope and standing tall over top of Silencer who is in the middle of the ring, completely on Dream Street. The Manhattan Center shakes with applause as Kingdom connects with the 450 splash, crashing down right into Silencer’s sternum.

Dan: Johnny follows it up with the 450 splash!

Kingdom now hooks Silencer’s leg in his groggy state. The fans count along as the official makes his count.

Everyone packed into the Manhattan Center starts to jump for joy, absolutely ecstatic over the conclusion to this incredible one on one encounter.

Dan: Kingdom’s done, Kingdom’s done it, he’s defeated Silencer here tonight!

Billy: No, no, no, this was suppose to be his last match, he was suppose to be retired after tonight. Do you have any idea what this means?

Douglas: It means the Boss will now have to reveal himself, and it means Kingdom lives to fight another day.

The Team Leader slowly gets up, bathing in sweat, his every muscle aching from the extreme competition he had to go through. He finally finds his way to the corner, falling against it then scaling to the second rope with his arms raised in victory, the crowd giving him a loud, uproarious response. Silencer turns onto his side, regaining his senses with fluttering eyes, realizing that somehow he was just beaten despite having the match seemingly well within his grasp.

Dan: Another great moment here at Paranoia V, Kingdom victorious, his career in tact, and our mystery owner finally forced to reveal his true identity.

Billy: Hopefully this isn’t the start of a downward spiral for this big event.

Johnny’s entrance music plays in the background while Kingdom continues to stand on the corner, breathing heavily and overlooking the screaming fans. It seems to finally be setting in that he’s won one of the most competitive matches of his entire career. Silencer has slid out of the ring backing up the ramp and glaring at Johnny with evil intentions. The crowd is showering the Team Leader with praise.

INSPIRATION

A groove is almost formed into the carpet while Orlando Cruze’s feet repeatedly traverse it. The Icon is storming back and forth in his lockeroom, head lowered and his hands running over his cranium. Clearly the thought of tonight’s main event causes him some stress and agitation, realizing that this match may be his last chance to ever win the World Heavyweight title again. After years of waiting, of fighting through obstacle after obstacle, it all comes down to Paranoia V, this evening, and the pressure is certainly beginning to amass on his broad shoulders. His pacing only ceases as he finds himself almost bumping right into a particularly large figure looming before him. Cruze steps back, raising his eyes from the ground and settling them on the face of Lethal Weapon. The entire Manhattan Center reacts with a huge ovation at the sight of the two legends standing mono a mono once again, conjuring forth memories of their tremendous encounter at Paranoia III.

Orlando Cruze: My, my, I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting to see you here.

Lethal smugly smirks but remains coldly serious.

Lethal Weapon: I’m glad I still have the ability to surprise you old friend.

Orlando: That you do. Not to sound rude but might I be so bold as to ask what brings you to my lockeroom on the eve of the biggest match in my career?

Instead of being offended by the distrusting tone in Orlando’s voice, Weapon merely smirks a tad wider.

Lethal: Why if I’m not mistaken, I detect a bit of uncertainty in your voice, Lando.

Cruze: Well, if you had been screwed over the amount of times I’ve been, when victory was almost guaranteed, you’d be a bit paranoid yourself, especially when old faces start popping up around me. Namely the faces of former rivals.

The chuckle from Weapon does nothing to remedy his concerns. Lethal lowers his head while continuing with this rather generic yet chilling laugh before raising his calculating eyes, his face becoming stone like.

Weapon: I’m not here to rain on your parade Orlando. I told you years ago you could trust me, and I’ve more than proven it.

Orlando: Then why the hell are you here?

Orlando will not back down even while receiving such an intimidating glare from his former hero.

Lethal: Did you ever stop to think that I was here for another reason?

When this statement is made the Icon becomes a little remorseful for his blatant hostility.

Weapon: Tonight is my last performance ever in the center of an ULW/IWC ring, meaning I’ll never set foot in this building again. On my final night with this company there’s only one thing I want to see more than my team standing over the Adams Alliance victorious, and that’s my former pupil raising the World Heavyweight title up high.

Lethal symbolically raises his hand towards the heavens to a loud reaction from the crowd. An uncertain smile has formulated on the face of his former follower as he nods disingenuously. However, he finds himself angered when Weapon slaps him under the jaw to lift his head up straight.

Lethal: But maybe I’m asking too much. Do you know what I heard when I came into this building tonight, when I passed the hundreds of fans waiting to get in?

The Icon doesn’t respond, his features twisting with hostility while his friend points in the general direction of the entrance.

Weapon: I heard a lot of them questioning your resolve. They actually had the audacity to claim that you’d choke once again, just like last year.

This revelation leads the number one contender all the more bothered.

Lethal: They claimed that there would be nothing different about your title match tonight, that you’d lose yet again. And to be perfectly honest with you, now that I look you over, I don’t think their claims are too far from the truth.

This statement makes Orlando all the more agitated. Weapon continues to speak with a slight trace of a grin on his face, as if putting on quite the performance.

Weapon: Look at how uncertain and nervous you are. Now I realize there are understandably going to be butterflies swarming around in your stomach, but it looks like your letting the tension and anticipation get to you. You look like your soft, Cruze, and I hate to say it, but you look like your destined for failure for the second straight Paranoia.

Orlando: Is that so?

Lethal: Unfortunately. As much as I hate to agree with your opponent, but it appears that he’s going to have an easy victory tonight, that the title is destined to stay in his possession and you’re destined to fail. Your just not intense enough, and in the eyes of many, you just don’t have the talent to take the belt.

Cruze: Well I’m going to have to disagree with you.

The determined Orlando steps up into the features of the quasi retired superstar, snarling his breathes with intense, raging eyes.

Orlando: To be perfectly honest, I don’t give a fuck what you think, what Hurse thinks, and what the people think. Tonight I’m going out there with only one opinion mattering, my own. And you know what I keep telling myself, that Paranoia V is going to be different, that this World title match won’t be a repetition of history, but a change that forever alters the future.

Weapon begins to grin even further.

Cruze: I may have choked in the past, but this is the present and you’re looking at a much different animal than the one who was screwed over last year. I will become World Heavyweight Champion tonight, or I will kill myself trying. I’m not going to choke, I’m going to stand tall, take everything that Hurse has to throw at me, and then breathe new life into the World title. Then everyone, yourself included will eat their words.

Weapon: Don’t say it Cruze, prove it. Turn your words into reality…

Weapon’s face closes in on Cruze’s until the tips of their noses almost collide.

Lethal: I’m begging you Orlando, prove us wrong!

Lethal turns and steps towards the camera with a broad smile, hoping he further motivated the Icon. His manipulative words seem to have intensified the fire burning in Orlando, as he stands his ground, no longer pacing, and no longer anxious over tonight’s main event.

THIEVERY

RIOT! FEBURARY 16TH, 2008

Dramatic tunes are playing tensely in the background, heightening the suspense as these words remain stretched across a black setting.

Douglas: OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD!! WHAT A COUNTER!

Every fan in attendance is standing, going nuts as Robin Brooks stands on a corner then flips through the air with a shooting star press. Savior suddenly stands up, jumping into the air and catching her around the neck, countering her Flying Star into the diamond cutter. The voice over work of Dan Douglas and Billy Mayne can continue to be heard in the background.

Billy: Savior is going for the cover! We may have a new champion!

The ref makes the count.

The boos of the crowd can be heard drowning out all other sound while Savior sits up, lifting his arms up high in victory.

Mayne: It’s over, it’s over, Christian Savior has just won his first title belt here in the IWC.

An exhausted, sweaty and maliciously grinning Savior stands on a corner, holding the X-Class title belt up high. The conniving smirk on his face is zoomed in upon as his voice can be heard speaking diabolically in the background.

Christian: What your looking at is a Champion the IWC can be proud of, but what you need to realize is that one belt is just never enough for me.

RIOT! MARCH 28TH, 2008

A grinning World Champion Hurse is shown sliding into a ring with a steel chair in hand, slowly approaching the down Robin Brooks, his former lover. The camera briefly cuts to Jon Rich sitting at the commentary table beside Billy and Dan, looking confused.

Douglas: I cannot believe how this World title match has turned out. Hurse now going after Robin with a chair.

Jon: If you’ll excuse me, something has to be done about this.

The video quickly cuts to Jon snatching the chair out of Hurse’s hands, keeping him from using it. He turns as Jon saves his partner by driving the top edge of the steel right into the World Champion’s ribs. Brooks watches on with a smile present across her features.

Billy: Why can’t Jon just mind his own business!?!

Dan: He’s coming to the aid of his tag team partner, he’s saving her from being brutalized by this abusive son of a bitch, Hurse.

Again the video cuts forward to Rich beating down Hurse then turning when a chair is driven right into his face from Robin Brooks. Everyone in the building reacts with disgust as the chair is shown being drilled over Rich’s head from many different viewpoints. He crumbles to the canvas dramatically, the crowd’s shocked gasp being overheard time and time again. Members of the crowd are then zoomed in on, their jaws hanging open and their hands on top of their heads in disbelief.

Douglas: I don’t believe it, Robin Brooks has just betrayed her tag team partner!

Mayne: I never saw this coming!

The music and tension continues to escalate while a ladder is brought into the ring by Hurse, he and Desolation setting it up in the corner. Brooks is featured standing on the very top rung with a twisted glint in her ravenous eyes.

Billy: Don’t do it Robin, don’t do it!

The Black Widow flips through the air with the Flying Star, crashing down on top of both Jon Rich and her former lover Killjoy. The scene goes black and white while Robin rises to her knees, kicking her hair back in slow motion, the camera zooming on her devious smile.

Briefly the lyrics of Christian Savior’s entrance music can be heard in the background while the scene switches to the sinister X-Class Champion strolling out onto the stage. The camera boldly gets closer and closer to his eyes, which are focused on the bloodied, laid out Jon, who has been left prone after the brutality inflicted on him. Into the ring slides Savior who is now depicted crouching in the corner, urging Jon to his feet.

Douglas: What is going on here, what is going on!?!

Billy: Christian Savior is using that Ultimate Incentive opportunity, meaning he gets to pick any match he wants and it looks like he’s using it to face Rich for the N.H.B title right now.

A bloodied, sluggish Jon gets to his feet when he is almost ripped in half by a spear from Savior. Christian is then displayed holding the ladder on top of his shoulder, he charges it forward right into the blood smeared face of the N.H.B title holder, rendering him completely unconscious. Savior is shown hooking Rich’s legs.

Douglas: This isn’t happening, this just isn’t happening!

The entire Manhattan Center explodes with disgust yet again as Savior is shown standing on a turnbuckle, lifting his stolen N.H.B belt into the air alongside his X-Class gold. His deep laughter is emphasized to make it all the more dramatic while both belts are held aloft.

Savior: I bring prestige to the titles, I elevate this whole company by holding all it’s richest prices.

AWOL: I’ve decided that the three of you are going to settle this at Paranoia V.

A huge brawl is now shown talking place in the ring between Christian Savior, Robin Brooks and Jon Rich at the conclusion of the Twilight Zone. The trio seems out to destroy each other before Robin flees the ring from her vengeful former partner, and Christian clears out as well. It cuts to GM AWOL standing at Christian’s side.

AWOL: At Paranoia V, it’s going to be Jon Rich versus Robin Brooks versus Christian Savior in a triple threat match, and to sweeten the pot, and since Savior is a defending champion, both of his title belts will be on the line!

Savior’s eyes are opened wide with disbelief and anxiety.

AWOL: Oh, and also, it’s going to be a LADDER MATCH!

The entire arena is going nuts over this announcement while Christian is flipping out.

I won't suffer, be broken, get tired, or wasted
Surrender to nothing, or give up what I
Started and stopped it, from end to beginning
A new day is coming, and I am finally free

Robin and Jon are depicted standing side by side as a unit, celebrating a victory in the ring. This video trend continues as Rich is depicted rolling up Hurse into a school boy for a pinfall with the Black Widow’s assistance. Finally the video package cuts to Brooks slamming a chair violently over Jon’s head, striking him right between the eyes with the steel. Christian Savior is now shown making his way down the ramp with both the N.H.B and X-Class title belts over his shoulders.

Run away, run away, I'll attack
Run away, run away, go chase yourself
Run away, run away, now I'll attack
I'll attack, I'll aa-WHOOOAAAAAAAAA

Christian is shown hitting a spear on an injured Jon’s mid-section. It cuts to the co-holder of the tag titles turning on his side, wrapping his arms around his bandaged mid-section while coughing up blood. The video then switches to Jon slugging Savior repeatedly to the jaw, trying to inflict as much damage as humanly possible, enlivened with his rage.

I would have kept you, forever, but we had to sever
It ended for both of us, faster than a
Kill off this thinking, it's starting to sink in
I'm losing control now, and without you I can finally see

A smiling Brooks blinks her affectionate eyes towards the disgruntled Jon backstage, the camera zooms in as she places her hand on his broad shoulder. The Black Widow and Jon are depicted teaming together, hitting a lot of synchronized moves, displaying some real continuity. Again they are featured glaring at each other in the ring a little distrustingly while Jon holds a chair, standing over top the down Adam Riddick and Christian Savior during the Tag Team Tournament Semi-finals.

Run away, run away, I'll attack
Run away, run away, go chase yourself
Run away, run away, now I'll attack
I'll attack, I'll aa-WHOOOAAAAAAAAA

The Black Widow slams a stool over Jon’s back before his ravenous eyes cut towards her, instilling great fear within the young lady. She backs up greatly intimidated by his stare. The video then switches to him slamming a ladder down on top of a well dressed Christian Savior. He takes great joy in this beat down before he is attacked from behind by the Black Widow.

Your promises, they look like lies
Your honesty, like a back that hides a knife (knife)
I promise you (promise you)
I promise you (promise you)
And I am finally free

Christian’s face is zoomed in on while appearing frozen with that same twisted grin present. He is then depicted giving Robin a spear before cutting to him delivering the same move to Jon Rich. He stands up holding both the X-Class title and the N.H.B title belts in the palms of both his hands. Once more Robin is shown standing alongside Rich in the back, seemingly trying to convince him she can be trusted. Jon looks speculative, before coming to her aid in the ring. The video then switches to her flying from the top of the ladder, connecting with the shooting star press on her former partner.

Run away, run away, I'll attack
Run away, run away, go chase yourself
Run away, run away, now I'll attack
I'll attack, I'll attack, I will attack

Run away, I'll attack, I will attack
Run away, I'll attack, I will attack

Run away (Run away), I'll attack (I'll attack)
I'll aa-WHOOOAAAAAAAAA

Several violent scenes are depicted as Savior slams the top edge of a ladder into Rich’s face. Jon nails Savior over the head with a brutal steel chair shot, before cutting to Brooks delivering the shooting star press, landing on top of the camera that is aimed upwards to face her inbound body. Rich throws a ladder down on top of Savior’s body, before switching to Christian standing over the former N.H.B Champion coughing up blood. Christian stands on a corner with both his belts held high before switching to Robin smiling while she crouches over her battered tag team partner, then finally settling on Jon Rich standing in the center of the ring, both his rivals occupying the outside of it.

The show comes back live to the inside of the arena where a number of ladders have been set up, many of them leading to the ring and others laying at ringside. The crowd is excited at the sight of all these ladders, realizing what is coming up next.

Dan Douglas: The ladders are set up ladies and gentlemen, so that can mean just one thing.

Billy Mayne: Their going to paint the rafters?

Dan: Um, no. It means that the spectacle known as the double title triangle ladder match is up next.

Billy: Oh my, their will be more crashes in this match than in the Stock Market.

Tell me exactly
what am I supposed to do?
Now that I have
allowed you to beat me!
Do you think that
we could play another game?
Maybe I can win this time?
I kind of like
the misery you put me through.
Darling, you can trust me
completely.
If you even try
to look the other way,
I think that I could kill this time.

Rah! Rah!
Rah! Rah!

It doesn't really seem
I'm getting through to you.
Though I see you weeping so sweetly.
I think that you might
have to take another taste,
a little bit of hell this time.

Rah! Rah!
Lie to me!
Rah! Rah!
Lie to me!

Is she not right?
Is she insane?
Will she now run for her life
in the battle that ends this day?
Is she not right?!
Is she insane?!
Will she now run for her life
now that she LIED TO ME!

You always wanted
people to remember you.
You leave your little mark on
society!
Don't you know your wish
is coming true today?
Another victim dies tonight.

Rah! Rah!
Lie to me!
Rah! Rah!
Lie to me!

Is she not right?
Is she insane?
Will she now run for her life
in the battle that ends this day?
Is she not right?!
Is she insane?!
Will she now run for her life
now that she LIED TO ME!

Ramidi ma ma ba di ma!
Ramidi ma ma din do!
Ramidi ma ma ba di ma!
Ramidi ma ma ba di mo!
[all x3]

Is she really telling lies again?
Doesn't she realize she's in danger?

Eeeeeeeyow!

Is she not right?
Is she insane?
Will she now run for her life
in the battle that ends this day?
Is she not right?!
Is she insane?!
Will she now run for her life
now that she LIED TO ME!

The little bitch,
she went and she told A LIE!
Now she will never tell another.
A LIE!
The little bitch,
she went and she told A LIE!
NEVER FUCKING LIE TO ME!

The curtains start to move and out runs the energetic Robin Brooks. The crowd is irate at the mere sight of the former X-Class Champion, who smiles connivingly over their frustrated reaction. She now turns in a circle and when she stops fireworks shoot from the stage on both of her sides, pyrotechnics reigning down on top of her as well. The fans look even more disgusted as the fireworks cause a crown on top of her head to shimmer. She also wears a long red Queen like cape that hangs down over her body.

Billy: And here she is Dan, the Black Widow, and for tonight, here at Paranoia V, a true Queen. Not the type of queen I mistakenly took back to my hotel room last night only to learn a very terrifying secret.

The crowd continues to boo as she reveals a golden staff from beneath her cloak like cape and moves towards the ring with a debonair waltz. She casually strolls around each ladder erected on the way, her cape swinging in the process. She finally reaches the ring and lifts her cape as she steps up the stairs and onto the apron, slipping through the ropes then ordering the referee about. As she turns the official steps up behind her and removes her plush red cloak and then takes her crown gently from her head.

Douglas: What an utterly pompous entrance to the ring tonight for Robin Brooks. She is no queen, she is no dignitary, she’s barely even a woman.

Mayne: Oh, you bitch more than a women Dan, and your tits are bigger too. Brooks is a princess, a true queenly figure, and tonight she may be adorned with even more royal gold if she wins this ladder match. I can’t wait till this spectacle gets underway here at Paranoia V.

Robin snobbishly keeps her nose held in the air before sauntering into one of the corners, where she kicks her head back in anticipation. “Unbreakable” by Bon Jovi descends upon the ears of the fans and sends them into a loud reaction, the Manhattan Center vibrating from their response. To the stage now strolls Jon Rich before he excitedly drops to his knees and slaps the steel with his palms then shoots his fists into the air. This gets an even louder response while he lets out an eager roar then jumps back to his feet, adorned in special attire for tonight’s huge event. He now makes his way down the ramp, not taking his eyes off of Robin who gives him a scornful gaze. Deliberately Jon steps under each ladder in his path, showing he is not effected by superstition, then jumps to the apron. He slips through the ropes and is immediately cut off by the official, who keeps him away from a smiling, waving Robin.

Dan: Here is a man who is more motivated than any of his opponents here at Paranoia V. He’s out for revenge against them both, as Robin Brooks double crossed him and Christian Savior blatantly stole his N.H.B title. There’s no way he’s leaving here tonight, until he’s cost both of his opponents what they desire the most, title glory.

Billy: How elegantly put yet foolishly incorrect. All Jon is going to do is lose, it’s what he’s best at. This may be the show where dreams come true, but Jon’s fantasies will not become reality.

9...

8...

7...

6...

The crowd starts booing as the countdown continues, as it signifies the arrival of a certain superstar.

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

You think you know me?!

There is a blinding explosion as "Coming Home" by Alter Bridge blares throughout the stadium. As the smoke clears, there is a figure standing with his back to the audience, his arms outstretched.

So I'm coming home
Lost on a road I don't belong
I'll rest my song
I'm so alone
Far from the streets I call my own

So I'm coming home
Back to a world left long ago
And now I know
I'm coming home
I'll find my way back
I'm letting go
I'm coming home

Spinning around, the figure reveals himself to be Christian Savior, wearing his black pants and phoenix-logo shirt, along with a long black trenchcoat. Also adorning his frame is the X-Class Championship belt, glistening brightly over one shoulder, while the other is covered by his newly won N.H.B belt. Looking around, a smirk soon graces his lips as the audience boos. Jon Rich and Robin Brooks have much of the same reaction to Savior’s presence as the fans, momentarily glancing up the ramp at the man who took their titles.

As I peel away
All the years of pain
I discovered what's been all along
You were so right
I was so wrong

Every shooting star
They all fall so hard
They all fade like a played out song
Now is the time
Before all is lost

I'm coming home
I'm coming home

So I'm coming home
Lost on a road I don't belong
I'll rest my song
I'm so alone
Far from the streets I call my own
I'm coming home

Slowly, Savior makes his way down the ring, ignoring what words are being shouted by the audience. He lifts both belts briefly into the air while continuing down the extended rampway.

Rushing back to me
As the city sleeps
So afraid of what I will find

Memories they haunt
From deep inside

Sliding into the ring, Savior looks around for a few moments before getting to his feet, clear egotism shining through his eyes. Robin and Rich have now moved to the outside of the ring, watching the champion saunter to the center.

Every broken man
Comes to understand
that he'll never find paradise
When all that he wants
Was there all the time

I'm coming home
I'm coming home

Suddenly, Savior separates his arms as the cry of the phoenix is heard and fireworks erupt from all around the ring, moving around it in a squared pattern.

So I'm coming home
Lost on a road I don't belong
I'll rest my song
I'm so alone
Far from the streets I call my own

So I'm coming home
Back to a world left long ago
And now I know
I'm coming home
I'll find my way back
I'm letting go
I'm coming home

Savior now stands in the ring with both title belts draped over his shoulders, the X-Class and N.H.B Championships sparkling as they remain draped over him. He lifts the N.H.B belt in the air and plants a kiss on it with a diabolical grin forming on his face.

Mayne: Savior deservingly getting a little more pyro for his grandiose entrance on a grandiose night. How come I didn’t get pyro?

Dan: The best they can do is give you a sparkler Billy, and I don’t think you could be trusted with it. Savior is about to defend both of his belts here tonight ladies and gentlemen, against the very individuals he defeated for the straps. He has stepped in it big time, and tonight here at Paranoia V, it’s about time he suffered the repercussions.

Billy: There will be no such suffrage for Savior, he will retain both of his belts, because when opportunity knocks, Christian answers the door.

Savior hesitantly hands over both of his belts to the official, having them taken from him one at a time. The official steps to the center of the ring where a hook has been lowered from the rafters and attached to a cable. The gold is placed over both hooks then slowly raised towards the rafters, Jon and Robin standing on opposing aprons and joining in with Christian as the trio watches the belts ascend. As soon as the titles are positioned high above the ring the bell begins to chime repeatedly. As soon as it sounds Christian drops to the canvas and rolls under the ropes, rushing up the ramp towards the ladders.

Dan: And we’re underway here, the Triangle Ladder match has officially begun.

Billy: Savior not waiting to go after the ladder, God, not only does he have great hair but a brilliant brain to boot.

Savior grabs one of the ladders, beginning to pick it up when he’s blasted over the back from Jon Rich. Now Christian is grabbed by the back of the head and rammed face first into one of the rungs of the ladders. His skull collides with the steel violently before he begins to stagger in reverse, Jon stepping in and popping him repeatedly to the jaw with right hands. As these two battle, Robin discreetly grabs one of the ladders laying at ringside, lifting it up and moving towards the ring. She slides in under the ropes and then enters herself.

Douglas: Look at this, Robin trying to sneak in the back door.

Billy: I could make a very derogatory sexual remark right now concerning Robin, but that’s the old insensitive Billy.

Robin quickly grabs the ladder, trying to lift it only for Rich to enter the ring behind her, delivering a hard forearm over her back. Brooks arches her spine and yells in pain while Jon buries is shoulder into her spine then lifts her up into the air for a back drop suplex. However, Robin floats over, landing on her feet right behind Jon who turns in time to be caught with a big hurricaran. Rich holds on to Robin’s waist as he is hit with this move, rolling through and putting her in a sunset flip pinning predicament to some cheers from the crowd. As soon as he sits up though, holding Robin around the waist looking for who knows what maneuver, Savior rushes into the fray, and delivers an absolutely vicious running knee strike directly to his face. Jon is knocked onto his back and Robin rolls in reverse onto her feet, standing up with her spine hitting the cables. The second she stands Savior turns and rushes forward, jumping into the air and nailing her to the face with a jumping knee strike. The blow connects violently with her face and causes Robin to spill through the ropes to the outside of the ring.

Mayne: Savior using those knees like deadly weapons.

Dan: He’s taken Robin and Rich out of this encounter with those lethal knee strikes and now might be an opportune time to make it up the ladder.

While rubbing at his jaw, Savior turns and approaches the ladder that was brought into the ring by the Black Widow, quickly scooping it up into the air. He places it across his chest then looks over his shoulder at the struggling, laid out Jon Rich, backing towards him. To the shock of everyone Savior performs a standing moonsault with the ladder placed over his sternum, driving it down onto the prone body of Rich. The crowd screams with shock as Savior rolls off of the ladder and off of his opponent, kicking his legs while gripping at his sternum. Jon is convulsing beneath the ladder, pushing it off of his body.

Dan: What the hell was that!?!

Mayne: Savior with an insanely acrobatic moonsault with the use of the ladder.

Dan: I can imagine this is only the beginning of the insanity we’ll be seeing in this match.

Savior continues to hold his sternum but slowly starts to rise to his feet. He gets up and spots Robin leaning against the apron, trying to re-enter the ring. The double Champion storms towards her and reaches through the ropes for his opponent when Robin lifts a ladder into the air and drives the top half of it directly into Christian’s jaw. The fans groan over the vicious impact which sends Savior crashing backwards into the canvas, laid out in a near unconscious state. A chuckling Robin now lifts the ladder she used as a weapon into the air, placing it across her sternum before preparing to enter the ring. Her momentum is stopped as Jon Rich rushes across the ring and jumps into the air, twisting around into a moonsault and coming down right on top of the ladder and Brooks. All those in the Manhattan Center jump to their feet, beginning to scream with utter disbelief.

Billy: AAHHH!

Douglas: Rich moonsaulting out over the ring and right into the LADDER and Robin Brooks!

Mayne: I guess the prediction you just made a few seconds ago is true.

Robin is now the one lying beneath the ladder and curling around it while Jon rolls across the ring, gripping at his ribs in horrid pain. Inside of the ring Savior rises to his knees and spots his laid out opponents, capitalizing on this opportunity, as he’s known to do, by grabbing the ladder in the ring and beginning to set it up under the title belts. He immediately begins to climb the rungs, getting closer and closer to the two hanging belts while periodically grabbing at his damaged jaw. He only gets half way up the ladder when Jon slips into the ring, holding his ribs and grabbing Savior’s ankle. He drags him down off of the ladder, Savior landing in front of Rich and then rushing forward at him for a lariat. Jon ducks it and charges into the cables behind the Rising Phoenix, bouncing off the ropes and coming back in at his rival. A flustered Christian turns, bending forward and catching Jon by the thighs, throwing him over his head towards the ladder. To the shock of everyone Jon lands acrobatically on the rungs, balancing himself as Christian turns around, finding himself stunned to see that Rich has caught the ladder. Jon now back flips off of it and catches the double Champion around the neck, dropping to the canvas before falling into a reverse DDT.

Dan: Another acrobatic move from Jon, taking out Savior with the reverse DDT.

Billy: Alright, enough is enough Jon, stop hurting people with your outrageous dives now.

Jon rolls away from Savior who grips at the back of his neck, then approaches the upright ladder, beginning to scale it. The crowd is cheering, hoping Rich will reach the belts and reclaim his title. Their hopes are dashed as Jon is now grabbed by the ankle, being dragged off of the ladder and landing right in front of Robin Brooks. The Black Widow kicks Jon to the ribs, doubling him over then placing him in a front chancery. She charges at the ladder and steps up the rungs, pushing herself off into a tornado DDT. Jon’s skull collides violently with the ring before he flips over onto his seat, his eyes fluttering as they fight to remain open.

Billy: A tornado DDT with the assistance of the ladder now, God, the insanity just won’t end.

While gripping at her sternum Brooks stands up and then steps over Rich, beginning to stomp him repeatedly to his reportedly damaged shoulder. Jon roars in pain with each stomp to his tender, soar muscle before Brooks places his arm between her shins then drops to the canvas knees first. Rich’s arm is sandwiched between her shins, causing him to rol away while roaring in pain. Clearly Robin is trying to damage his injured arm even further so that he can’t climb the ladder, and so far she seems to be doing a sufficient job of it. Robin now grabs Rich’s arm, lifting it into the air before swinging it down with force into the canvas. His shoulder slams into the ring while he sits up, gritting his teeth in anguish.

Growing in confidence Robin now turns away from Rich, spinning to face the rising Savior, only to take him down with a spinning heel kick to the face. Christian now finds himself crashing into the ring while the Black Widow rolls away from him directly to her feet. As she stands she gloats by curtseying to both her laid out opponents then smiling as she approaches the ladder. She takes it down from the standing position then loads it up onto her shoulder as she approaches the laid out Rich. She now drives the top edge of the steel down into Jon’s shoulder, causing him to again begin roaring in pain, rolling towards the cables. He ends up spread across his chest and stomach as Robin drops the ladder to his side. She now takes his damaged arm and places it between both sides of the ladder, using it to sandwich his arm, holding it in place. She now steps towards the turnbuckle, beginning to move up it before turning to face her prone opponent.

Dan: Wait, wait, wait, hold on now Robin don’t do this, please don’t do this.

Billy: She’s effectively going to take Jon out of this match, if not end his career permanently.

As she begins to look over the fans who are begging her not to do this, she doesn’t spot Savior getting up and moving towards her. She has no time to respond as she’s grabbed by the wrist and pulled into his shoulders, Christian turning and delivering a Death Valley Driver that plants Brooks right on top of the ladder, in turn crushing Rich’s arm as well. All those in attendance groan while others scream over what they just witnessed.

Mayne: ARGH! Robin given the DVD right onto the ladder, with the only benefit being further injures to Rich.

Dan: That was almost depraved of Savior, but it has got these fans on their feet in astonishment.

Rich frees his arm from between the struts of the ladder, rolling towards the ropes and crashing to the outside of the ring. He drops to his knees, agonizing as he grabs at his shoulder. Robin has dropped to her front, grabbing at her back with tears of pain in her eyes. The only one unaffected by the last move in Savior who stands with a pompous grin on his face to which the crowd responds with anger. He slowly approaches the ladder that has inflicted so much damage on both of his opponents and lifts it into the air. The grinning Christian approaches the center of the ring and begins to set the ladder up under his titles, stabilizing the steel before moving up the rungs rather casually. A desperate Robin crawls in however and grabs hold of Savior’s ankle, keeping him from making it any farther up the ladder.

The angered Savior tries to kick the agonizing Robin away but can’t, therefore he drops down off the steel and lands in front of his kneeling opponent. He stomps her directly to the face, knocking Robin to the canvas then approaching the ladder, taking it down out of the standing position. The Rising Phoenix slowly approaches the turnbuckle with the ladder in his hands, setting it up in front of the turnbuckle. He leans it diagonally against the corner then struts towards the pain ridden Brooks, taking her by the wrist. The defending Champion leads her to her feet then whips her with all of his strength directly at the ladder. Shockingly she jumps into the air and lands feet first on the rungs, springing off them and flying in reverse for a back elbow only to have Savior jump into the air, dropkicking her to the lower back. She comes crashing from her airborne position and spilling to the ring right alongside Savior.

Billy: You won’t catch Christian with the same trick twice.

Douglas: He caught Brooks with a brutal dropkick in mid-air, targeting her spine yet again, which could lead to the Black Widow’s eventual downfall.

Mayne: Robin won’t stay down for long, she has too much sugar in her system from all those smooches with the World Champion.

Dan: I just threw up a little in my mouth.

Savior doesn’t hesitate to pull Robin to her feet this time then whip her brutally into the ladder. She turns, slamming into the steel rungs violently back first yet remaining upright. She winces in pain while reaching for her spine before Savior barrels forward, driving his shoulder directly into her ribs. This spear drives her back into the ladder even further while Christian drops to his knees in front of her, trying to catch his breath. Little does he know that outside of the ring Jon is manufacturing something with the use of one arm. He’s placed a ladder on top of two chairs, one supporting the upper portion and the other holding up the bottom half. He now turns and grabs another chair off the mats, having gotten them all from under the ring.

Mayne: What is Jon trying to build here, a Transformer? If he does it’ll just be ruined by Michael Bay.

Dan: I have no idea what Rich is concocting here, but I guarantee it won’t be pleasant when its used.

Inside of the ring Savior has now stood and grabbed Robin away from the ladder, burying his shoulder against her ribs then rushing forward in order to drive her spine first into the ladder yet again. However, Brooks kicks her legs up in reverse, wedging her feet to the ladder rungs then pushing herself off while holding Christian in a front chancery. She is setting up for the tornado DDT when Savior pushes her off, sending Brooks flying in reverse but landing on her feet in the center of the ring. She now rushes forward when Christian bends down and catches her with a back drop, sending her flipping over then crashing down spine first right into the slanted ladder in the corner. Another loud chorus of screams can be heard from the fans while Savior turns and spots Rich standing up on the apron, albeit bent over something. He rushes in and tries to lariat Jon to the face but Rich ducks it, forcing Savior to turn around to spot his opponent throwing a chair over the top rope right into his face. The loud sound of steel connecting with skull carries throughout the arena as Savior stands bow legged, trying desperately to maintain his footing. This becomes impossible though as Rich grabs the top rope and pulls himself over it, twisting and catching Savior around the neck then dragging him down face first into the canvas with a DDT.

Douglas: A slingshot DDT by Rich who is right back in this contest despite the damage already inflicted on his shoulder.

Billy: It’s mildly impressive, but Jon better not make a gimmick out of being a one armed wrestler, you saw what that did for Zack Gowen. Who the hell is Zack Gowen?

The fans are buzzing now that Jon is back in this contest, slowly forcing himself up to his feet then spotting Robin rolling off of the ladder in the corner. She tumbles to the canvas and grips at her back while Rich steps over and moves towards the steel, scooping it up into his arms. He has trouble holding it, his bad arm sending shockwaves of pain through his body every time it tries to support the rungs. Finally he’s able to get the ladder up onto one shoulder while stepping towards the center of the ring. He is about to set it up when he spots Savior utilizing the ropes to pull himself up, suddenly altering his game plan now.

Jon steadies the ladder on his shoulder and rushes forward, driving the top edge of the steel right into Christian’s face, taking him down to the canvas. Shaking his bad arm Jon now turns towards Brooks who is also trying to get her legs beneath her. He rushes forward and slams the hard steel top edge of the ladder directly into her skull, sending her plummeting to the ring.

Dan: Jon controlling things with the use of that ladder.

Mayne: The only thing Jon can control is the use of his bladder, and he barely regulates that.

Somehow Savior has rolled into a corner, pulling himself with his eyes glossy when Jon turns and throws the ladder into him. The steel cracks against Christian’s face yet he remains standing with his back pressed to the turnbuckle and the ladder pressed to his front. Jon doubles over his arm, holding it across his stomach as he rubs painfully at his shoulder and moves towards the crawling Robin. He grabs her by the hair and forces her head under his seat, reaching down then taking her around the waist. Rich continues to work the kinks out of his shoulder as he backs into the corner opposite the one Christian and the ladder are in. Although plagued with anguish he hoists Brooks onto his shoulders, rushing forward to throw her with a powerbomb into the ladder. The crowd is screaming at this prospect before Robin pushes herself up over Jon’s head, landing on her feet behind him then rushing into the ropes. Jon can’t stop his forward momentum as he rushes forward and has the ladder thrown right into his face by Savior. The blow severally disorientates Jon who looks googly eyed before falling to his elbows and knees, the ladder being caught by Christian. He holds it up in front of him, moments from gloating when Robin bounces from the ropes, charges across the ring then springs off of the crawling Jon’s back. She delivers an aided dropkick right to the ladder. The steel is driven into Christian’s face amongst a loud roar of approval.

Douglas: Savior taking Jon out, then Robin taking out Christian, I can hardly keep up with all this madness!

Billy: Just don’t try, regardless of rather you speak or not, we still get a paycheck for sitting out here.

Christian crashes to the ring and rolls across it while the ladder falls down beside him. The fans are still on their feet, erupting over that last series of moves. Brooks stands and grimaces as she grabs her back but quickly moves to the ladder. In anguish and slightly dazed she lifts up the ladder, approaching the center of the ring. The rungs are set up right beneath the titles, which nobody has even gotten close to touching thus far. On this occasion Robin looks to have a chance to change that, with both Rich and Savior laying in the ring fighting to remain conscious. She starts up the ladder slowly while glancing over her shoulder at her prone opponents, smiling as she realizes there’s nothing they can do to stop her. She continues to scale, getting closer and closer to the title belts, about to pull them both down when Rich begins to crawl towards the ladder.

Mayne: Oh my, oh my, new champion about to be crowned.

Dan: Robin getting closer and closer to the belts, there doesn’t seem to be anyone who can stop her.

Billy: Our Queen for the night is about to get blinged out.

Douglas: Never try that again, sit there and continue being stagnant please.

Robin is now almost to the top rungs, reaching up for the belts but her hand falls just short. She is so close though, only to find that the ladder is being tipped over. She looks down with terror in her eyes as the ladder is pushed over, sending her tumbling off it and crashing stomach first into the top rope. Jon has successfully tipped the ladder over, sending the Black Widow plummeting into the cables, curling around them then crashing with a hard impact against the outside mats.

Billy: AHHHH!!

Dan: The Queen dethroned.

Rich remains on his knees listening to the screams of the fans before pulling down on the ladder struts, causing it stand back up under the stationary belts. His body is racked with pain yet he falls into the ladder, using it to begin climbing towards his goal, the gold.

Dan: Now Jon is going for the gold, looking to regain what was stolen from him so many weeks ago.

Billy: Anyone but Jon, I’d rather Gary Coleman win this match than Jon Rich. Is that a possibility by the way? Can we book Gary Coleman?

The fans are buzzing the closer Rich gets to the titles, but he is severally debilitated by his injured arm. He’s forced to use one arm to make his way up the rungs, which causes him to move all the more slowly. As a result of pining over his battered arm, he doesn’t spot Savior standing up on the apron. Christian springs to the top rope then flies off it before connecting with a soaring forearm smash right to the back of Rich’s head. Jon is sent flipping forward off the middle of the ladder, crashing back first with force into the ring. While the crowd screams in anger Jon arches his back from the ring and looks to be swelling with pain. Christian has rolled into the ropes, utilizing them to stand since it took all his energy to hit the flying forearm.

Mayne: Hahaha, now there’s only man standing in the ring, the Champion is about to go home with his gold in tact.

Douglas: Savior with a surprise forearm smash into the back of Rich’s head right when it seemed Jon was destined to regain his gold.

Although still very dazed Christian staggers towards the ladder, falling into it and slowly, painstakingly making his way up the rungs. His body is aching from head to toe yet he continues to move up the steel one rung at a time, looking up at his belts which are almost within his grasp. He is so preoccupied with his still untouched titles that he doesn’t spot Robin sliding a ladder into the ring before entering herself. Clearly Christian has no idea she is standing up with a ladder, his focus on the belts which he now reaches up to grab.

However, when he hears the scream of the fans he turns, Robin driving the top edge of the ladder right into his ribs. The strike causes him to double over, yet he stills hangs onto the rungs for dear life. This gives Robin time to set the ladder up beside the one Christian is on, and make her way up it. The fans are rather stunned by everything that they’ve seen in this match thus far but know there is more excitement coming as Robin climbs her ladder rather quickly. Her ribs might be bothering her right alongside her back, but she won’t be slowed down. Savior looks up at his belts, slowly starting to reach out for them only to feel the pain in his gut, causing him to double over yet again. As he bends forward, Robin takes him under the arm, dragging him almost from the top of the ladder with a hip toss. Savior flips over and crashes violently into the ring with Brooks landing beside him on her elbows and knees. Again the crowd finds itself screaming, thrilled by that last high risk move.

Mayne: DID ROBIN JUST HIP TOSS SAVIOR!?!

Dan: She sent Christian crashing into that ring with a hip toss from the top of the ladder.

Billy: Okay, I was just making sure I didn’t need thicker lenses for my glasses.

Douglas: You don’t even wear glasses.

While Savior rolls around the ring with his back absolutely enflamed with pain, Robin gets to her feet and falls into the ladders. She begins to ascend them, yet again going for both title belts, her mind alive with thoughts of wearing all that gold. The thought would almost make her break a smile if she weren’t in such unbearable pain. Her hand reaches up for the N.H.B belt while she straddles both ladders and just as her fingers embrace the gold she’s slugged to the stomach by Jon Rich. Somehow Jon has made it up the opposite sides of the ladders, blocking the pain in his arm in order to make it. He reaches out and places Robin in a front chancery now, Brooks trying to fight off but being unable to free her head. Jon tries to lift her for a vertical suplex from the top of the ladder only for Brooks to wrap her legs around one of the rungs, keeping him from hitting it. Unbeknownst to them both, Christian has gotten to his feet and has staggered around behind Jon. He steps up the ladders then turns his back to them, reaching up and wrapping his arms around Rich’s waist. The former N.H.B Champion’s eyes open wide as he’s powerbombed off the ladders, yet he takes Robin with him into a vertical suplex off the rungs as well. They both crash violently into the ring with the fans jumping with excitement.

Dan: THE TOWER OF DOOM OFF THE LADDERS!

Mayne: OUCHIE!

Savior sits on the canvas, catching his breath and shaking off the effects of all the moves he’s withstood in this match thus far. Robin and Jon roll around on the ring agonizing, trying to grit through their pain but unable to barely even more as Savior rolls between his writhing opponents to the outside of the ring. He now reaches down and grabs another ladder that was laying at ringside, lifting it up and sliding into the ring. He enters the squared circle himself and now grabs the ladder, placing the top edge of it over the ropes then sticking the struts through rungs of the set up ladders. It is now elevated over the ring and forming a bridge between the top rope and the duel ladders.

Billy: What is Savior building here now? These three have turned the ladders into a Lego set or something.

Douglas: It looks like Savior has built himself a little platform.

Christian begins to climb up the ladder while sweating profusely, reaching the half way point then stepping out onto the platform that he’s formed with the horizontal ladder. He steps across it tentatively and now looks up at the gold, hoping this bridge will help him reach the gold easier. Such desires are altered though as Christian suddenly looks down at the prone, motionless Rich lying on the canvas, a sinister grin growing on his face. He looks around at the booing fans then takes flight, soaring through the air with a 450 splash off the platform and connecting with nothing but canvas. His face slams violently against the ring while the crowd eats it up; Jon having rolled out of the way at the last second.

Billy: Dammit Savior you should have went for the belts!

Although her back is in horrid shape Robin crawls towards the ladders, slowly beginning to scale the rungs in desperation. Her eyes look up at the glistening title belts, desperate to reach them, longing to regain her title and take the N.H.B belt along with her. Jon is now crawling towards the ladders as well, and begins to scale the one next to the one Robin is making her way up. They scale the ladders side by side while Savior now forces himself towards the rungs as well, falling against them and slowly beginning to climb up beneath his opponents, doing so much more slowly after missing that 450 splash. Jon and Robin have made it to the top of their respective ladders now and both begin reaching up for the belts. Jon turns however and slugs Brooks to her stomach, causing her to bend over before he reaches for the belts, his finger tips just aping them. Before he can pull them down Robin rakes his eyes

Dan: Robin and Rich dueling it out for the titles!

Mayne: Get up there Savior, get up there!

Savior agonizingly forces himself up the rungs as Rich and Robin now sit on top of their ladders, placing their feet on both sides, straddling the steel for better leverage. Brooks reaches up for the X-Class title and grabs it only to be slugged to the jaw from Rich, almost knocking her backwards off the ladder. However, she leans forward and slaps Jon hard across the cheek, almost taking him down now. None of them are aware that Savior has climbed up beside them and now laughs as he grabs them both by the backs of their heads.

Savior: This will be easier than when I took both your titles, hahahaha!

Robin’s and Rich’s eyes suddenly open and fill with rage before they block being headbutted against one another, both of them reaching out and hooking Savior’s arms. Christian’s head begins to shake as despair fills his eyes, but nothing will stop his vengeful opponents as they hip toss him over top of the ladders and send him crashing down spine first on the ladder forming a platform. The crowd reacts with astonishment as Savior lies on top of the steel and roars in agony, his back arching from the many rungs.

Dan: OH MY GOD!

Billy: Are you kidding me!?!

The fans are slapping the barricades and rising to their feet, starting a chant.

Fans: THAT WAS AWESOME, THAT WAS AWESOME, THAT WAS AWESOME!

Savior remains laying on top of the bridging ladder, barely able to move as pain courses throughout his spine. Robin and Rich look up at the belts and reach out for them yet again, Brooks grabbing the X-Class and Jon taking off his N.H.B title. It seems they are both content to leave here with the titles stolen from then before Robin reaches out and pokes Jon in one of his eyeballs, causing him to release his title. Robin begins to slug Jon repeatedly to the jaw, over and over again until he becomes tipsy, causing him to turn and now standing on one side of the ladder instead of straddling the top edge of it. Brooks now lifts her foot into the air and kicks Jon to the jaw, sending him flying off the ladder, twisting and crashing face first into the top turnbuckle pad. He bounces off and tumbles to his back on the canvas amongst wails from the crowd.

Douglas: Bodies flying everywhere in this unbelievable triangle ladder match here at Paranoia V.

Painstakingly Robin reaches up and grabs the X-Class title, the fans booing in despair as she rips it down off the hook.

Billy: Robin has done it, Robin has done it, she’s grabbed the X-Class Championship!!

Dan: We have a new champion crowned here tonight, but this match isn’t over until both those belts have been pulled down.

Robin kisses her X-Class belt, which was taken from her so long ago, now snuggling her face against it before getting that greedy glint in her eyes. She reaches up for the N.H.B belt when her leg is grabbed by Savior who is kneeling below her on the ladder bridge. He yanks down on her leg repeatedly while Robin turns and stomps him repeatedly to the face and now slips down beside him. Both individuals are standing precariously on the ladder bridge, Savior standing up with wobbly legs while Brooks takes him under the jaw, holding him upright and again smooching with her newly regained belt. She now rushes forward and swings the X-Class title at Savior who shockingly jumps into the air, catching her around the back of the neck and dragging her down off this platform with the Code Breaker. Savior slams back first into the canvas and drags Robin down face first into his knees.

Billy: AAAHHH!!

Douglas: Savior hitting his version of the Code Breaker off the ladders! What will we see next in this insane encounter!?!

Mayne: After that last move I shudder to think.

All three athletes are down on the canvas, convulsing while the N.H.B Championship sways back and forth on the hook high above. After bouncing from her opponent’s knees and doing so with such velocity Brooks falls under the ropes to the outside mats, landing on her elbows and her knees. Sweat seeps from her features while Savior sits up in the ring, gripping at his spine and crawling towards the ladders. Rich is beginning to show signs of life as well, rubbing at his shoulder while standing up slowly. He leans side first against the cables and glares at the ladders, trying to walk towards them but falling to his knees from sheer exhaustion. Somehow Robin is pulling herself up onto the apron with a severally glazed over glint in her eyes. As soon as she stands up on the apron, Savior rushes across the ring and spears her to the ribs through the ropes. But wait, no, Robin side stepped him, causing Savior to stick his head through the cables beside her. She now jumps forward into a front dropkick to the side of Savior’s face, knocking him back into he ring to a mixed response. She now slips through the ropes in her highly disorientated condition, her head pounding when Jon Rich bolts across the ring right at her. Robin ducks forward and catches him against her shoulder, back dropping him over the cables. He turns, trying to catch the top rope but instead plummeting face first into the apron. He bounces off and staggers backwards into the ladder he set up on the chairs earlier, falling spine first on top of them. All the while Savior has made his way to the ladders, falling into them.

Dan: Well, I think Jon has effectively been taken out of this equation after already winning back her X-Class title.

Billy: Get up those ladders then Savior, get up them now! The N.H.B belt is yours, you can’t lose both belts!

Robin crawls into the sides of the ladders where the bridge is formed, beginning to make her way up them. She reaches up and grabs the platform with her good arm, using it to agonizingly drag herself up. Savior grabs the other side of the ladders, starting to make his way up them even with exhaustion and anguish sweeping through every inch of his frame. A massive grin is depicted on Christian’s face as he makes his way to the top of the ladders, briefly reaching for his spine as he grabs at the N.H.B belt with his other hand. At the last second he’s slugged to the ribs though by Robin, who is now standing on the ladder platform. Christian is doubled over as Robin now dives in with a forearm strike to the side of her rival’s face. Christian is almost sent plummeting to the ring below before he’s grabbed by the hair and driven face first into the hard steel top edge of the ladder. This impact causes Savior to lose his grip and slip, yet catching himself as he falls half way down the ladders.

Robin now looks up at the belt swaying overhead before glancing over her shoulder at Robin outside of the ring, lying on top of the ladder mounted on the chairs. A crazed look inhabits her eyes as she puts on a malicious grin and turns, rushing across the ladder bridge then diving off into a shooting star press. She comes crashing down stomach first right on top of Robin at ringside, causing the ladder to bust beneath Rich and for them both to crash through it.

Dan: JESUS CHRIST!

Mayne: UNBELIEVABLE!

Jon and Robin lay amongst the broken fragments of a ladder, the crowd still on its feet putting their hands together and screaming as loud as possible.

Fans: HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT!!

Inside of the ring Savior begins to regain his senses and sluggishly make his way up the ladders.

Douglas: Robin Brooks has just destroyed herself and Jon Rich with one of the craziest moves I’ve ever seen.

Billy: Paranoia V is not the place where you try to kill yourself Robin.

Savior agonizingly climbs up the ladder, his body aching, every inch of it battered and abused. He finally reaches up, although grimacing in great pain and snatches down the N.H.B title.

Douglas: Savior has got down the title! There’s no one left to oppose him!

Billy: Yes, YES!

The crowd is screaming while Savior pulls down the belt, finally throwing it over his shoulder while looking absolutely exasperated.

Dan: Savior has retained his N.H.B belt! He’s pulled it down from the hook and now this insane, twisted ladder match is over.

Billy: Christian may have lost his X-Class title, but he’ll still be leaving here tonight with the N.H.B gold!

From sheer exhaustion Savior tumbles off the ladder, falling back first into the canvas with a crash. He is breathing heavily with dazed, glazed over eyes, yet his hand still tightly clutches the gold. On the outside of the ring, new champion Robin Brooks continues to lay on top of Rich and the broken portions of the table, neither athlete moving. Many of the fans are going nuts after one of the craziest ladder matches ever witnessed in the annals of IWC history.

Dan: What an absolutely unbelievable ladder match we just witnessed.

Billy: These three could have killed each other, which might have made things even more entertaining, assuming Jon Rich was the victim.

Douglas: They put on a hell of a show on a night that has already been simply astonishing.

Mayne: I hope we witness action this good at our next payper-view.

Dan: I don’t know how anything will be able to follow up this insane ladder match, but next time we join you on payper-view, it will be for IWC Awaken.

Douglas: And hopefully we can keep up the momentum we’ve had here tonight all the way up until Awaken.

Billy: Fat chance, as I usually start phoning it in after the big payper-views, anyway we understand that Susie Moore is now backstage, trying to get a word with the man who will have the impossible task of defeating Desolation ahead of him.

A FULLY UN-LOADED INTERVIEW

We open backstage as backstage correspondent Susie Moore is standing outside the locker room of Axl Evermore, the IWC Cartel Champion, for an interview.

Susie: Hi, I'm Susie Moore--you know, you'd think I wouldn't have to keep reminding people, right? Umm...what was I talking about again? Oh. Right. I'm Susie and stuff, and I'm here in front of...

She turns to see the name on the door, Axl Evermore, on top of a Fully Loaded logo.

Susie: Right. I'm here to talk to Axl Evermore-Fully-Loaded! Is that like, German, or something?

The door opens, and out steps a long blond-haired man wearing a red leather jacket and shades. He raises an eyebrow at Susie's presence.

Susie: ...You're not Axl Loaded. I've SEEN him before, and you're not him. ACTUALLY...you look a lot like Thor, God of the Thundercats...

The man sighs.

Man: Thor, God of THUNDER, was red-haired. The blond Thor is only in Marvel Comics and subsequent rip-offs because people associated the Norse with purely blond hair.

Susie: Oh. ...Where's Mr. Fully?

Man: He's not interviewing now...too busy getting ready for the match.

Susie: Well...who are YOU, and can I interview YOU about the match?

Man: ...Do you even KNOW who Axl's facing?

Susie: Darkman from that movie "Darkman"?

The man sighs again.

Man: Did you even take ONE class in Journalism at school?

Susie: I slept with the Journalism TEACHER, does that count?

The man shakes his head with another sigh.

Man: Whatever happened to that Michelle Blacker woman...?

Susie: She's doing something to herself with whips and chains, I think...

The man sighs once more as he goes back into the locker room just to escape her.

Susie: Um...back to you guys out there, I guess?

The crowd is still drained after that unbelievable ladder match. The ladders are still being carried from the ringside area by security.

Douglas: We just witnessed a hellacious ladder match ladies and gentlemen, that will surely live on the minds of all these fans for years to come, but now we’re about to change things up yet again.

The lights around the IWC arena slowly fade out as the opening sequence of "Hysteria" by Muse begins to play around the arena. The drum beats starts to kick in white lights flash in time with the song. Then the guitar riff starts to blast out over the speakers and white pyros shoot up into the air as Crowley makes it onto the entrance ramp. The crowd goes crazy as Chris Crowley makes his way to the ring.

Dan: You know, opportunities like these aren’t presented to IWC newcomers often. Chris Crowley is about to compete in his very first IWC match up, and his debut is taking place right here at Paranoia V.

Mayne: Who’s crazy idea was this? Hopefully Crowley lives up the hype and earns his spot on the card tonight.

Douglas: There’s a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but I’m sure Crowley has dealt with this type of tension in the past in other companies. It’s just unprecedented to have a debut here at our biggest show of the year.

Billy: It’s also unprecedented to put this match right after the classic we just witnessed.

Crowley now resides in the ring, stepping back and forth in anticipation of his impending contest. The arena lights go off. The piano intro to "Spirit of the Underdog" begins to play. Blue lights come on as blue confetti falls from the rafters. Smoke gathers at the front stage as the intro continues on. As the into comes to an end, the confetti stops and the lights dim again only to be brought back by a large fiery explosion accompanied by the chorus of the song as well as red and yellow lights flying around the arena.

"Cause if you've got to steal, you've go to steal the show
It's the spirit of the underdog
And if you've got to break, you've got to break the mold
It's the spirit of the underdog"

Freak comes out and stands there as the crowd either boos or cheers for him. He looks around at the darkened arena seeing only flashing lights from cameras and what the red and yellow spot lights allow him to see. He makes his way down the ramp as the first verse begins.

"Seen you round, I know your face
Watched you try to grow up with grace
Seen that heart out on your sleeve
Like it's so much life
You're dying to feel, you're dying to feel"

Touching the fans hands (both shaking them and pushing them away) he reaches the bottom of the ramp and climbs up on the apron and slides under the bottom rope. He stands and steps to the center of the ring looking at all sides to the fans who send both boos and cheers giving them a few of his own before letting out a beast like roar. Crowley watches this with confusion.

"Spirit of the Underdog" Europe
Seen you round, I know your face
Watched you try to grow up with grace
Seen that heart out on your sleeve
Like it's so much life
You're dying to feel, you're dying to feel

'Cause if you've got to steal, you've got to steal the show
It's the spirit of the underdog
And if you've got to break, you've got to break the mold
It's the spirit of the underdog

I've seen you reach that main event
And make it look like an accident
Your need for love can't be replaced
Just put away, at least for today
At least for today

'Cause if you've got to steal, you've got to steal the show
It's the spirit of the underdog
And if you've got to break, you've got to break the mold
It's the spirit of the underdog

Billy: Wow, David Freak found his way on the card? I guess they really want this match to serve as the piss break moment of the PPV.

Dan: How can you still speak so negatively about this man, who has really proven himself in the eyes of many over the past few weeks since his debut. He defeated Commander V dominantly, and almost had Phantom beaten as well, he’s been on a path of destruction since he’s got here, so why do you rag on him endlessly?

Mayne: Well, to be perfectly honest, his hair just rubs me the wrong way. Get a Christian Savior perm or something for crying out loud!

Douglas: Even here at Paranoia V, your stupidity is in full swing.

Freak and Crowley glare at one another intensely, looking ready for a very physical confrontation at the biggest show of the year. Obviously Crowley has quite a weight advantage over his opposition as both men begin to move around one another with their eyes interlocked. The bell sounds and both men step towards one another, Freak immediately launches a fist but Chris slips around behind him, establishing a reverse waist lock.

Douglas: And we’re off in this battle between IWC newcomers, who are getting a big opportunity to show what they’re made of here at Paranoia V.

Billy: Oh man, I can’t believe I have to look at Freak with the lights so much brighter here tonight.

David quickly elbows Chris hard to the jaw then turns around, applying a front chancery. He tries to drop to a knee but his taller and heavier opponent doesn’t allow it, instead placing his hand to Freak’s sternum and shoving him backwards into a corner. David hits the turnbuckle with force while Crowley barrels towards him, jumping into the air for a big splash. At the last second Freak steps out of the way and his larger opponent crashes sternum first right into the turnbuckle. He now staggers backwards into the waiting arms of Freak who takes him down hard to the canvas with a Russian leg sweep into the float over cover.

Chris powers out, sitting up on the canvas while Freak steps up behind him and drops to the canvas, placing his opposition in arm bar.

Douglas: A quick hold applied by Freak, you see a lot of these submissions from the slightly insane yet very technically versed newcomer.

Mayne: Technical? Please, I have more technical ability in my nutsack.

Dan: Why would you need a sack if there’s no balls to hold?

Crowley starts to force his way upward while the intense David maintains control of this match. He now swings around under the trapped opponent’s arm, beginning to twist at his wrist. Although caught in the arm ringer, Crowley pulls David towards his body, launching a knee right into his ribs. The blow causes Freak to double over while Chris steps to his side and wraps his arms around his waist. With a grunt David is hoisted onto Crowley’s shoulder for some type of awesome bomb. However, he is able to slide off at the last second, landing behind Chris and catching him by the back of the neck. Before he can hit anything, Chris spins around and wraps his arms about Freak’s waist, now setting up for a German suplex. However, David rushes forward into the ropes, pulling Crowley along behind him. He hits the top rope and wraps his arms around it while Chris tries to drop down into a backwards roll up. However, David keeps his arms clamped around the top rope, causing Crowley to fall to the ring and roll in reverse, unable to pull him down into the cover.

As Chris begins to stand, David turns, slapping his forearm then rushing forward for the Clothesline to Hell already. Crowley ducks forward and catches Freak against his sternum though, delivering a vicious spinebuster slam. A roar of pain emanates from Freak as he sits up reaching for his kidneys. Crowley falls down into the cover.

David is the one forcing his shoulder from the canvas now.

Billy: These guys are moving at a fast pace, it’s kind of hard to keep track of it all, so I won’t.

Dan: Both men trying to earn a quick, dominant victory here at the payper-view, but thus far they’re coming up short.

Mayne: I bet you hear the same thing in bed. Hahahahahaha.

Still ravaged with pain from the spinebuster, Freak begins to roll away from his larger opponent, gripping at his kidneys. Chris doesn’t let him get far before dropping an elbow right into his damaged spone. As a result Freak is knocked to the canvas, lying across the ring and again reaching for the small of his back. Crowley gets up and lunges into the air, extending his knee before dropping it directly to the kidney area again. A gasp of pain emanates from Freak who reaches for his back and now sluggishly begins to crawl towards the canvas. He pushes himself up onto his elbows and knees while Chris steps over his back, jumping into the air then dropping seat first right across his lower spine.

Douglas: Chris Crowley showing some psychology as he goes right to work on the back.

Mayne: Psychology? What is he quoting Freud in there or something? Ha.

Dan: Your stupidity is as unwavering as your shitty dialogue.

Although his back may be hurting him, Freak gets to his knees, again crawling towards the ropes. As he reaches out for the cables, Chris grabs his hand, dragging on it to force him to his feet before delivering a straight knee to his ribs. He now takes his opponent around the waist and lifts him back up into an awesome bomb position. However, this time he drops to his knees, delivering a train wreck back breaker. David twists as he crashes off of his opponent’s shoulder, who again slides into the cover.

Dan: A brutal backbreaker again being followed by the pin.

Billy: Yes, the sooner this match is over the better for my sanity.

Referee Wright drops down and makes the count.

Again Freak kicks out, sitting up with his back absolutely killing him at this point. Crowley catches him under the jaw and leads him to his feet before pulling him forward into a Canadian Backbreaker. David bounces off of his knee then falls chest first into the canvas, Chris quickly standing up at his side. He now runs past his laid out adversary into the ropes, bouncing off and coming back in while raising his elbow. He drops it right towards Freak’s spine only for him to roll out of the way. As a result Chris’ elbow slams viciously into the canvas, David finally getting some much needed time to recover.

Billy: Dammit, can’t these guys do anything right?

Dan: Well they’re impressing me thus far with this endless array of moves.

Mayne: I got moves, you just need to see me down at the roller rink.

Douglas: The thought of you boogying to the Beegees in bicycle shorts just made me queasy.

Crowley rolls to his knees while covered his elbow before Freak steps in, delivering a boot to the top of his head. He now begins to deliver repeated right hands to Chris’ jaw before spinning around and going for another boot to the skull. This time his foot is caught by Crowley and pushes down to the canvas, Freak unintentionally stepping forward into his opponent’s waiting arms. He’s now taken over into a release T-bone suplex, David crashing once more across the small of his back then rolling in the direction of the ropes.

He grabs the cables and agonizingly begins to pull himself to his feet as Crowley moves towards his prey. He turns David so his back is against the ropes then chops him violently across the sternum. David stumbles out of the cables with his arms draped over his shoulder while Crowley steps up behind him, wedging his shoulder to the small of his back. He is now lifted into the air for a back drop suplex only to have Chris float over, landing on his feet behind his much larger opponent’s spine. He quickly turns and catches Crowley by the back of the head, pulling him down into a reverse neckbreaker right across his raised knee.

Dan: A great counter by David Freak into a vicious neckbreaker variation!

Billy: Yay, he’s starting to earn his contract.

Freak takes Chris around the neck and now bridges him back up to his feet before stepping in and delivering an elbow right to the bridge of Crowley’s nose. The shot takes him down to the canvas while Freak jumps into the air, extending his leg before dropping it across his opposition’s throat. Freak rolls away from him and holds his spine, feeling some grief from his kidneys. He finally turns and motions repeatedly for Crowley to get up, Chris slowly turning onto his knees. As soon as he stands Freak steps in and uses the majority of his strength to lift Crowley into the air before scoop slamming him down to the canvas. Crowley rolls onto his knees while reaching for his own spine now, staring to stand up when Freak takes him around the neck, setting up for a swinging neckbreaker. He pulls back on Chris’ new like he’s going to hit the move but then changes it into a lethal face buster variation, dragging down on his cranium and slamming his face against the canvas. He pops up onto his knees as a result while Freak nails a front dropkick to the side of his skull.

Douglas: A very nice combination of moves there from David.

Billy: I will agree, that was a decent momentum swing, decent.

Crowley rolls onto his back, looking slightly loopy as Freak crawls into the hook of both his legs.

Chris powers his shoulder off of the canvas, kicking out before he could be pinned. He slowly turns away from David who steps up to his side, clamping on a neck cravat. He launches his knee upward into Crowley’s face, causing him to stand up straight before David spins around and levels him with a roaring lariat. The blow knocks his larger opposition down with force into the canvas while Freak stands over him, shaking off his bicep and wincing from the pain in his spine as well. He now turns and rushes into the cables, bouncing off then coming back in towards Chris who stands, catching his opponent against his shoulders. Freak is hoisted into the air while Crowley turns, connecting with a Death Valley Driver. Freak crashes forcefully into the canvas, sitting up and reaching for his spine while his tough opposition crawls up behind him, digging his knee into the small of his back. He grabs both of Freak’s arms, placing them in a double chickenwing.

Dan: Just when it looked like Crowley was down and out, he comes back by hitting that brutal DVD and now locking in this lethal submission targeting his opposition’s spine.

Billy: Yeah, okay, so both men know some submission holds, am I suppose to be impressed?

Dan: Billy, your impressed by the Count’s counting capabilities.

Mayne: Like your not.

Freak grimaces and groans in pain, stomping his heels to the canvas while the knee digs deeper into his back. His grunting opposition pulls back further on the arms, stretching out his spine even further. However, David will not stay down for long, his body shaking violently as he begins to force himself upwards. The crowd stands in anticipation, watching Freak forcing his way upwards, trying to get his feet beneath him while his frame aches from the brutality inflicted upon it thus far. The second he reaches his feet, Crowley breaks the hold, blasting him over the back with a clubbing blow then stepping under his arm. He lifts Freak into the air for an Olympic Slam when Freak slides off of his shoulders, landing behind the massive back of his opposition. He now rushes forward, catching Chris by the back of the head and pulling him down for a bulldog. However, Crowley pushes him off, instead sending David charging forward into the ropes.

Freak bounces off of the cables then comes rushing back in at Crowley, almost beheading him with the clothesline from hell. The Manhattan Center explodes as Chris is taken down forcefully into the canvas, Freak landing at his side then falling into the cover.

Douglas: Freak with the clothesline from hell out of nowhere!

Billy: He almost took Crowley’s head off, which means Chris wouldn’t be tall enough to ride the Tea Cups at Disney Land.

Freak has both of Crowley’s legs hooked.

The fans begin to cheer loudly in the Manhattan Center as Freak sits up, his face twisted with anger, rage and minor exhaustion.

Douglas: And Freak is victorious!

Mayne: That lariat is more brutal than I thought it was. Then again I didn’t think it was brutal at all before.

In an exasperated condition Freak stands up, his fists raised up high in victory. The fans are cheering loudly.

Douglas: Freak with his very first Paranoia win here at Paranoia V.

David steps onto the second cable, lifting his ever so dangerous arm up into the air in victory.

CUT AWAY

The show suddenly switches from the conclusion of that intense back and forth match to a graphic featuring Cartel Champion Axl Evermore and the man who will face him for the gold, Desolation. Both men beam intense expressions towards the camera before they freeze on frame.

Billy: Oh yes, now we’ve come to the match I’ve been waiting to see all night long. I’m so anxious to see Evermore finally be destroyed by Desolation that it gives me cramps.

Douglas: Why am I not surprised, or disgusted? For years this feud has been brewing, but the two could never get physical, but the contract that held them apart is now thrown aside, and now we’ll see both these men tear each other apart here at Paranoia V. This match has a long story…

Mayne: So blah, blah, blah, just roll the damn footage already.

NO!

PERSPECTIVES

A number of old clips slowly begin to bombard the screen, featuring Desolation standing on numerous corners with different World title belts hanging from the palm of his hand. The video then switches to Evermore making his way down the ramp, several different belts from numerous companies surrounding his waist.

Desolation….is afraid of me, Axl Evermore.

Axl is shown standing in the ring before pushing Hurse around into his finishing F5 in slow, more dramatic motion. The eyes of the IWC newcomer then lock on the Dark Man, who gets a noticeable gulp in his throat while backing up the ramp.

Axl Evermore: Desolation is afraid of the man who was crowned King of Submission in his VERY FIRST match in the Original-UWF; Desolation is afraid of the man who TWICE defended the NuWF Tag Team Titles in handicap matches against the UWF's best teams WITHOUT a partner….

Clips consume the screen showcasing Axl crouched on the ramp or in the ring, motioning towards himself symbolically with both thumbs. Again he moves in slow motion because its just so very dramatic. Plus no color is provided to give it a more artsy, sophisticated look.

Evermore: Desolation is afraid of the man who became the BACKBONE of the UWF in less than 2 years with the company….

Not intimidated Evermore steps up into the face of Desolation inside of the ring, microphone gripped tightly. It cuts to Axl now being held in the ankle lock by Pat Evans, before he slowly begins to look up into the twisted face of Desolation crouched over him.

Desolation: I will not lower myself to face you.

Douglas: The contract between the co-owners of Unsanctioned says they cannot lay a finger on one another. If Desolation breaks the contract then he’ll have to face Evermore in a match…

Again the hostile features of Dark Man grimace in the direction of Evermore who is glaring at him from his adoring Manhattan crowd.

Dan: But if Axl touches Desolation without being physically provoked, his wrestling career is over.

The camera catches a shot of a dramatic Evermore holding a chair in the air, threatening to swing it at Desolation who smiles in an attempt to bait him.

Evermore: Desolation is afraid of the only other man in THIS company who could take the World Champion Hurse by such total surprise. But MOST IMPORTANTLY...Desolation is afraid of the ONLY man who can so decisively make him devolve from an evil genius to a simple run-of-the-mill schoolyard bully...ME, Axl Evermore.

A spotlight shines down on Evermore as he stands on the corner, again doing his trademark hand gestures to the delight of the black and white crowd. Yes, also having things in black and white makes them dramatic.

Desolation: Hit me Axl, you know you want to…

The tense scene between the Dark Man and Axl Evermore is again relived as Mr. NYC clutches a chair, on the brick of swinging it into the disgusting features of his long hated rival.

Desolation: After everything I’ve done to you, you still won’t hit me?

Desolation is shown robbing Axl of the Cartel title, helping the official Pat Evans make the count which robbed Evermore of his championship.

Desolation: After what I’ve done to your friends, you still can’t bring yourself to face the consequences?

Another scene shows one of Desolation’s many acts of barbarity, repeatedly smacking J.T Knight in the head with his World title belt, then ripping his knee apart. Evermore stands on the apron, throwing in the towel to much chagrin. We then see him crouched beside the bloodied Knight, glaring at a smiling Desolation who towers over him, powerless to do anything to avenge his friend. Max Craven is shown being Curb Stomped viciously face first into the solid concrete before cutting to the Dark Man trying to do the same to Domino in the ring.

Desolation: Do it Axl, do it, give into it!

The red face of Desolation is zoomed in on, zooms in also being dramatic, while Evermore stands in front of him, fighting with everything he’s got as he holds the chair in his trembling hands. Briefly flashes highlight Desolation hitting a spinning back fist to the face of Domino, as well slamming a chair over Max Craven’s already damaged skull. Finally the focus of the video returns to Axl who slowly lowers the chair and sadly walks away. This leaves a grin on Desolation’s face.

THE BATTLE

Desolation is shown lifting up on Domino, again in dramatized slow motion, about to hit her with the Curb Stomp.

Dan: Don’t do this to the poor he/she Desolation, don’t do it!

Billy: Finish him/her off.

Before the Dark Man can hit his finisher a group of individuals dressed in riot gear slide into the ring, beating him violently with batons. A smiling Evermore now stands on the apron, glaring into the ring at Desolation who has pushed himself up onto his side, battered but smiling due to the Fully Loaded set up.

Mayne: What has Evermore done?

The video explores the first contact between the two, briefly highlighting the handicap match Evermore was participating in. He leap frogs an inbound Savior, causing him to spear his other opponent Riggs.

Douglas: Evermore avoided the spear, Christian ripped Riggs in half.

Evermore then pins Riggs to a huge ovation, dramatically sitting up when he spots Desolation on the apron. The Dark Man is shown loitering over Axl’s crawling body, taking him by the hand and helping him to his feet. The next incident is captured from numerous different perspectives as Desolation charges Evermore and throws him head first through a table in the corner.

Dan: NOOO!!

Billy: Desolation has finally attacked Evermore!

The music is almost spine tingling while the camera remains focused on the intense yet emotionless gaze of the Dark Man. He is now shown choking Evermore with a barbwire rope as well stapling him repeatedly in the face. The bloodied features of Mr. NYC are captured from numerous different perspectives as he raised to his knees then given a vile, violent Curb Stomp directly into the canvas. Desolation now lowers down over him with the Cartel title hanging from his grip.

Desolation: This is what you wanted…

Blood gushes down every inch of Axl’s face forming a ravine as he desperately tries to push himself up onto his elbows. The tune of “Blow Me Away” by Breaking Benjamin now starts to play in the background in conjunction with many of these images flashing by once again that built to this confrontation. Desolation is shown being hit with a superkick from Evermore then doused with gasoline before being promptly sprayed in the face by a seltzer containing trick lighter.

Axl: Maybe you and I are more alike than you think, eh Russ?

Desolation is now shown painting a target on Evermore’s forehead with the use of his blood then being featured pinning Axl by placing his foot on his sternum.

Douglas: I cannot wait to see these two fight it out at Paranoia V!

The music picks up in the background, coinciding with a shot of Desolation hovering over Evermore and smirking while watching Axl be ripped apart with the ankle lock. The video then switches to Evermore standing on an apron, smirking himself while Fully Loaded assault Desolation with their batons.

Billy: What will these two do to each other when the gloves are off, when there are no restrictions!?!

Again Axl is shown crouching over a gasoline soaked Desolation with a lighter in hand. Evermore is then featured being whipped knees first right into the steel steps, flipping up and over them.

Evermore: I’ve waited years for this moment.

Evermore assaults the Dark Man with repeated closed fists.

Desolation: Is this what you really wanted, Axl?

The Dark Man charges Axl across the ring and sends him crashing head first through a table.

Dan: Evermore vs. Desolation, Cartel title…

Evermore laying out Hurse with his finisher is shown before cutting to the Dark Man choking Axl with a barbwire cable.

Douglas: Paranoia V… V… V… V

The show comes back to the ring after the video has finished playing, the excited vocals of Billy Mayne and the somber voice of Dan Douglas being overheard.

Billy: Oh golly this is going to be grand.

Dan: Barbaric would probably be the more accurate description. I’ve been waiting for this match to happen for almost a year, but I find myself quite concerned over what these two might do to each other here at Paranoia V.

Mayne: Alright Grandma.

The arena lights dim, a think mist spilling out from beneath the ring and the Jumbotron with a low, dramatic hiss. Latin chanting can be heard and strange lights appear, seeming to bath the arena in a deep green-blue.

A curtain of water begins to pour down from the top of the big screen, as it falls. The chanting continues as dark, misshapen figures in long, cowled robes march out slowly under the waterfall. They look as if they have crawled out of the sea, their robes wet and dripping, covered in seaweed, some cloaked in nets, other dragging rusty anchors behind them.

Twelve in all, they stand along side the entry ramp as occult symbols flash, muted and warped by the flow of the water.

Billy: Um, what is this? Is the Submariner about to compete tonight, you know, the slightly less homosexual Marvel version of Aquaman?

Dan: No, I guess we’re getting some more lavish Paranoia entrances here tonight.

The lights take on an eerie tone, shifting to appear as reflections from a moving pool of water, or shadows on the bottom, making the arena appear to be submerged.

A final figure steps onto the top of the entry ramp, carrying a long wooden pole with a hook on the end. The implement looks rusted, half rotted, covered with mold and lichen, decaying with age and disuse.

The thirteenth figure hooks the metal mesh of the entry ramp, pulling it aside.

The curtain of falling water moves, circling and forming a circle around the opening.

The symbols flashing on the Jumbotron begin to slow, an eye in a star, a strange sort of swirly thing around a central point, a strange sort of double pentagram. As each one passes, similar sigils light up, projected onto the arena ceiling.

The lead figure steps to the top of the entry ramp, raising his hands into the air, a burbling, gutteral, deep voice echoes of the PA, snarling words in a strange language.

"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!"

The other take up the chant.

"Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fhtagn!"

One symbol appears on the Jumbotron, spinning slowly, that of a red serpent's eye inside the Seal of the Necronomicon.

The voice of a young child can now be heard, solemnly reciting the last words of this dark ritual.

All that is human, extirpated
All that man has built, devasted

Corpses and blood cover the earth
The old ones are in power
But at distant places the elder Gods
Prepares to set earth free of evil

That is not dead which can eternal lie
And with strange aeons even death may die

With the last of those words the arena goes entirely black in an instant. No strange water lights, no glowing sigils, no stylized occult symbols on the Jumbotron.

Mayne: Did HP Lovecraft design this entrance, because if he did I think I’ll begin soiling myself now, which is exactly what I did when I watched Bride of the Re-Animator.

A single spotlight shines down upon the column of water, making it seem to glow, the water flow ceases, and a figure is rocketed up from the depths of the water tank beneath the stage, back to the arena, a single fist raised in the air as the opening chords of the Rolling Stones' "Paint it Black," played on a warped, distorted violin, echo through the arena.

We call out to the beasts of the sea to come forth and join us
This night is yours
Because one day we will all be with you in the blackened deep
One day we will all go into the WATER

Slow, heavy guitar fills the arena as Dethklok's "Go Into the Water" begins to play, the Dark Man, Desolation, slowly walking down the ramp, water dripping from his hair and dark green clothing.

Go into the water
Live there, die there
Live there, die

The Dark Man's is a strange sight, his goatee shaved, formed into two braids, each bound with a small length of silver chain and versions of those strange sigils seen earlier.

We reject our earthly fires
Gone are days of land empires
Lungs transform to take in water
Cloaked in scales we swim and swim home

Still dripping water, Desolation rolls under the bottom ring rope, standing in the middle of the ring, the spotlight that followed him down the only source of illumination in the entire arena, aside from the occasional flash of a camera. He turns his head to the right, then slowly to the left, and back to the middle before he flings his arms out to the side in his trademark pose.

We'll rise
From our depths down below
Release yourselves
Drown with me
WE WILL CONQUER LAND WITH WATER

Columns of blue-green flame erupt from the turnbuckles, the arena lights back on, the mysterious, misshapen forms of the Cthulhoid Monks vanished, the rusted, bent harpoon standing at the top of the entry ramp the only sign they were ever there.

His dark green attire sporting silver and black details of the many sigils seen earlier, as well as the image of the Octopus Overlord, Cthulhu himself, on his left knee, Desolation smirks and motions for a microphone.

Desolation: Considering the untold millions I save this company by being able to stand in a corner and talk to a camera without having an entire sit com cast to try and make me marketable, I think that I'm allowed to spend a bit of the cash I save on those other 364 days of the year and give myself an entrance unlike any other on the biggest stage this company has to off...

The Dark Man makes a disgusted face and wriggles a bit, he reaches down the front of his singlet and remove a wiggling fish. Desolation makes a disgusted face and hands the fish over to IWC Senior Referee Chester Preston.

Desolation: Here, give that to the damned barking seal in the commentary booth.

Desolation smirks.

Billy: HAHAHAHAHA, you do look like a seal Dan, can you play me a diddy on some blow horns? Hahahaha.

Dan: Mayne, I think he was talking about you.

Mayne: Oh, well then it’s slightly less funny.

Desolation: And introducing my opponent, he hails from some town no one gives a shit about, weighing in at an additional five vanity pounds gained this year due to his never ending love of Goldfish crackers, he is the man with so many trade mark moves, we had to slap him in the face and tell him to get rid of some whenever the time rolls around for the upcoming IWC video game, the man who has been crying into a hankie all week because I don't think my career is worth that foil covered chocolate bar that is the IWC Cartel Championship...

The Dark Man smirks as the crowd boos his insulting of the Cartel Title.

Desolation: Likely being accompanied to the ring by a pair of woman who combined have had more plastic surgery than Michael Jackson, The Mistress of the Silicon Spheres to the Face, Sallie Roma, and the Terror of the 4-Chan /b/ board, Domino Rouge, give it up for AXL EVERMORE!

The Dark Man tosses the mic aside and goes to his corner amongst a rousing wave of disapproval.

Billy: What an entrance here tonight at Paranoia V, and he didn’t require a crown or a throne, or an entrance sung by Motorhead or anything.

Douglas: Desolation milking this entrance and rubbing it in to Evermore, forcing him to wait even longer to get his hands on him. But the time for talk and theatrics is over, it’s time to see this issue come full circle.

Mayne: Hey, say what you want, the man gave you a free mackerel!

The crowd boos viciously at Desolation's slamming of Evermore, the Cartel Title, and Fully Loaded in general. While Desolation waits in the corner, smirking, the lights dim once again and a single spotlight illuminates the entranceway.

Mayne: Hold up a minute...you mean Evermore, the CARTEL CHAMPION...ISN'T going to have some fancy-shmancy overblown super-expensive entrance???

Douglas: You mean like the Dark Man up there in the ring?

Mayne: Well, THAT'S different--HE'S earned it!

Douglas: You're impossible...

From the entranceway, with no music, emerges a well-built bald man in a grey suit with a black button shirt under it. He's holding a microphone.

Douglas: Well, if THAT'S our Cartel Champion Axl Evermore, then I'M the Queen of England.

Mayne: Your majesty...

The man raises the mic to his lips, the crowd (for some reason) respectfully staying silent. He begins speaking, in a VERY heavy brogue.

VKM: Ladies and gentlemen...my name...is Vincent Kennedy McTague.

Mayne: Vincent Kennedy McTague??

Douglas: Yeah! He's that Enforcer from UNSANCTIONED that Desolation pulled that prank on Evermore with a few months ago.

Mayne: Well, I would never have remembered him otherwise. That WAS a pretty good prank on Evermore, heh.

VKM: And I have been given the HONOR...of introducing a group of special guests for the evening. Coming all the way from Finland, please help me give a warm New York City welcome...to NIGHTWISH!!

Suddenly, a group of lights just off to the side of the stage come up, revealing the band Nightwish. The lead singer looks around, then nods.

(Singer) "ONCE...I had a dream...AND THIS IS IT!"

They begin playing their 2004 hit "Dark Chest of Wonders" and the crowd comes alive, with the arena lights flashing in time to the hits as McTague exits from ringside. String ensembles begin swelling as the same long blond-haired man in the red leather jacket from earlier emerges from through the curtains, a spotlight illuminating him. He walks down to the middle of the ramp, stares towards the ring with malicious intent in his eyes, then turns around with arms thrust out, dramatically revealing that the back of his jacket has the Fully Loaded logo in white. The tron begins flashing the Fully Loaded logo in white on a black background.

(Band) "ONCE THERE WAS...A CHILD'S DREAM"

(Singer) "One night clock struck twelve, the window open wiiiiiiide..."

(Band) "ONCE THERE WAS...A CHILD'S HEART"

(Singer) "...the age I learned to fly and took a step outside!"

The blond man crouches and begins pulling on a thick black rope. As he pulls on the rope, a giant wheeled cannon emerges from behind the entrance curtain, being pushed forward on either side by a total of four women, also wearing red leather jackets with white Fully Loaded logo on the back. On one side of the cannon are Axl's teammates Domino Rouge and her wife C.B.Gibeze, while on the other side are Axl's wife Sallie and an unidentified brunette. Once the cannon is wheeled to the top of the stage, the blond man approaches it. And the band played on.

Mayne: GOOD LORD!! What the FUCK is THAT???

Douglas: Well, it looks like a CANNON, Billy. But I must say, that's REALLY unique!

The blond man goes around the cannon and behind it, grabbing a long cord and going just off to the side of it as Sallie and the brunette join Domino and CB on the other side.

(Band) "ONCE I KNEW...ALL THE TALES"

(Singer) "It's time to turn back time. Follow the pale moonlight!"

(Band) "ONCE I WISHED...FOR THIS NIGHT"

(Singer) "Faith brought me here. It's time to CUT THE ROPE AND FLY!!!!"

Vuorinen bombs downward on his guitar as the blond man pulls on the cord, and the cannon goes off with a pyrotechnic BOOM! The crowd "OHHHS" and "AHHHHS" as from the cannon emerges none other than the Cartel Champion himself, Axl Evermore, wearing a red-and-white-with-black-trim full-body launch suit that has the Fully Loaded logo on the back in black.

Mayne: Look!! Up in the sky...it's a BIRD...it's a PLANE...

Douglas: It's our Cartel Champion, doing a pretty good job of UPSTAGING the Dark Man!

(Singer) "Fly to a dream, far across the sea, all the burdens gone...open the chest once more."

As Evermore reaches the apex of his cannon-and-wire-propelled flight, he thrusts his arms out and streamers are triggered, showering the arena with black, red and white strips of decorative tissue paper as the crowd roars in approval.

(Singer) "Dark chest of wonders, seen through the eyes of the one with pure heart...ONCE...so long ago!"

Axl's arc takes him across the arena and OVER the ring...to a waiting crash pad where he safely lands back-first after a stylish front flip through the air. After hitting the pad and triggering another set of pyros from the ring posts, he unhooks the wire harness and rolls off, a bunch of stagehands now beginning to collapse the crash pad and allow the crowd members rushing back in to fill the vacuum. Axl, in all his "Speed Racer" glory, slaps hands with crowd members as he heads through the roaring sea of fans and he begins unzipping the colorful launch suit.

(Singer) "The one in the Big Blue is what the world stole from me...this night will bring him back to me...!"

Evermore reaches the barricade as red and white spotlights roam the arena and flash over the ring, showing a scowling Desolation. Evermore hops over the barricade, landing on his feet right next to the Announcer's Table. He unzips his suit all the way and dramatically shucks it off, revealing the Cartel Title snapped snugly around his waist as the crowd cheers.

Douglas: Axl Evermore certainly has made QUITE the entrance for his first IWC Paranoia!

Mayne: ...Hey, where did his entourage go?

Douglas: They must've went backstage during the time we were watching his Human Cannonball act! But WHAT A DISTRACTION!

Evermore looks up at the still-scowling Desolation as a smirk begins forming on BOTH their faces.

Douglas: There's certainly no love lost between these two men as Axl Evermore seemed willing to sacrifice just about ANYTHING to get his supposed friend to actually AGREE to this match!

Mayne: Well, he should be GRATEFUL, because the Dark Man didn't HAVE to make this match!

Douglas: I'll agree with that, but only because Desolation was threatening to get the match UN-booked if Evermore didn't retract his request that Desolation put his career on the line!

Mayne: I love when you agree with me. It validates my pathetic existence...did I just say that out loud?

Douglas: You sure did, Billy! And to stoop to YOUR level--no takesies-backsies!

(Singer) "Fly to a dream, far across the sea, all the burdens gone...open the chest once more; Dark Chest of Wonders, seen through the eyes of the one with pure heart, once...so long ago..."

Evermore circles the ring, goes up the steps on the opposite corner of Desolation, and vaults himself over the ropes into the ring. As he lands, he spins around and thrusts his arms up in the air. The music ends with a decisive bang and the crowd roars as he gets the mic that Desolation dropped earlier and gestures for the crowd to calm down.

AE: You know...when I came into this company and challenged Desolation to give me a match, I wondered to myself just why he'd so adamantly refuse.

Desolation yells from across the ring, pointing an accusatory finger.

Desolation: You know why, Evermore!

AE: And then I wondered just why you'd go through SO MUCH TROUBLE to get me to abandon my Sisyphean quest to get that match. And then FINALLY, when I cracked that Dark facade enough to get you to AGREE to the match, I began to wonder why you'd even bother asking to make it a TITLE match...ESPECIALLY when you got insecure enough to refuse my rider on the match that if you LOSE, you're GONE. After all, didn't you just say less than 2 months ago that you were pretty much ready to throw up a reverse peace sign and a raspberry, then tell Dave Fields and his bosses to "jog on" after Paranoia IV?

Desolation: Who the hell you think you are, Nick Angel or something??

AE: Then it suddenly OCCURED to me--YOU...are a FULL-ON COMPANY GUY!

Desolation: ...NO! That's not true at all!! I'm my own man, and I do what I want, when I want, and no one in this company can stop me!

AE: THAT'S because you got such a SWEET contract...and even the Dark Man wouldn't give up perks like that for ANY kind of high-demand free agency, would you? YOU...have swallowed the Cartel Kool-Aid, my friend! YOU...have become a FERVENT proponent of the VERY ESTABLISHMENT you've supposedly been railing against for the past some-odd years! You even made it BLATANTLY CLEAR when you actually stood in the ring with that used-car salesman grin one week after Paranoia IV and said that your alliance with the Alpha Generation was for the good of the company...that you hand-picked Hurse to be the SAVIOR of this organization...BECAUSE...you in fact...CARED.

Desolation: That's not true! I DON'T care! IN FACT, this company can rot in hell, for all I care-slash-don't care! And so can YOU...you know, AFTER you lose that metal-covered bandage to me tonight.

AE: See, that's just the thing! Why on Earth would you go through ALL THIS TROUBLE if you DIDN'T care? Why would you stick around if you really DIDN'T want to? I THINK...you LIKE it here! In fact...I'd even go so far as to say...

Desolation: Don't you DARE say it, Evermore!

AE: I think...I think you LOOOOOOOVE it here in the IWC!

The crowd goes "OHHHHHHH!!!" as Desolation begins fuming. Axl undoes the snaps on the Cartel belt with his free hand and holds the belt out in front of him.

AE: So I guess there's nothing left to say...except--LET'S GET IT ON!!!

The crowd cheers as he holds out the mic perpendicular to the belt, then drops the mic all stylish-like and hands the belt over to the referee, who holds it up to another cheer from the crowd. He hands the belt over to the timekeeper, who heads back to the ring bell and places it on the table in front of it.

Douglas: Ladies and gentlemen...after some VERY strong words between them and months of mind games, we are FINALLY going to see Axl Evermore and Desolation, ONE ON ONE in that very ring...as soon as our timekeeper rings that bell!

Mayne: RING IT, RING IT, enough delay already. How dare Evermore insinuate that Desolation enjoys his profession.

As soon as the belt is handed over the ropes, Desolation comes rushing in, throwing a right hand before the bell could even ring. Evermore blocks his fist though, beginning to drill the Dark Man repeatedly under the jaw with right hands, backing him up across the squared circle.

Douglas: And we’re underway right here and right now, Desolation versus Evermore.

Billy: How dare Axl attack the Dark Man before the bell.

With one last shot Desolation is backed into the ropes before Evermore rushes in, giving him a lariat to the throat, carrying both men over the cables crashing to the outside mats. As soon as they hit the thin protective matting both men rise to their feet, again coming to blows as they begin to battle up the rampway.

Mayne: Finally the words are over and the fists are flying.

Douglas: But look at this, Desolation is starting to get the upper hand on Axl.

Desolation slugs Evermore to the face and Axl responds with a shot of his own, both men going toe to toe as they battle back towards the ring now. The Dark Man knees Evermore to the ribs then delivers a vicious forearm to the side of his face, causing Axl to spin towards the squared circle, falling against the apron for support. His eyes flutter a little as the Alpha Generation member storms towards him to press the advantage. However, Axl quickly steps away from the apron and chops the Dark Man right across the sternum. Desolation is staggered by the blow before he’s grabbed by the back of the head and dragged towards the steel steps. The Cartel Champion tries to pull him down face first into the stairs only for him to grab the steps, blocking this attempt before elbowing Axl to the ribs. Evermore doubles over when Desolation turns and slaps the cheek of Axl with incredible force.

Douglas: Both men continuing to brawl around the ring here and the strikes have already begun.

Billy: It didn’t take long for these two to start tearing each other apart.

Desolation delivers a straight boot to Axl’s ribs then takes him by the wrist, whipping him with force right at the steps. Instead of slamming into them knees first like he did last week, Evermore springs into the air, landing feet first on the stairs then springing off and twisting in mid-air. He comes down right on top of Desolation, knocking both men down to the mats with Axl beginning to slug his opponent repeatedly to the face.

Douglas: A twisting Lou Thez Press off the stairs! Evermore thoroughly embracing this opportunity to brutalize the Dark Man.

Billy: Rats! Get up Desolation, stop getting countered.

Axl continues to deck Desolation repeatedly to the face, more rabidly and more ferociously than we’ve ever seen him before. He finally stands and stomps his opponent to the face before taking him by the hair, referee Wright begging both men to get back in the ring. Evermore doesn’t care what the official demands as he drags Desolation up to his feet and now and takes him by the back of the head, turning him towards the ring and slamming his forehead against the hard apron. The Challenger bounces off of the ring and turns away from Evermore who buries his shoulder into Desolation’s spine then lifts him up into the air with a grunt, slamming him into the thin protective mats with a back drop suplex.

The slam causes Desolation to grit his teeth yet grin slightly as he arches his back from the mats. Evermore rises to his feet, almost frothing at the mouth as he pulls himself up onto the apron in reverse and then slips through the ropes. He stands behind the ropes and waits for Desolation to get up now, holding the upper cable. The official steps in and implores him to stay in the ring but obviously Evermore isn’t listening. He anxiously waits for Desolation to stand on the outside of the ring, the Dark Man getting to his feet when Axl pulls himself over the top rope for a crossbody.

Billy: Aaaaaah.

Evermore comes tumbling towards Desolation who steps out of the way, rolling into the ring to avoid him. At the last second Axl alters his move and lands directly on his feet with great agility and to cheers from the crowd.

Dan: Desolation avoiding the crossbody and Evermore avoiding slamming into those mats. The timing of both these athletes is simply impeccable.

Billy: As is their dental hygiene.

Douglas: I fail to see how that has a thing to do with the match, but I guess I’ll have to agree.

Momentarily Axl is angered that Desolation got out of his way, quickly approaching the ring and hopping onto the apron. The second he gets to his feet on the apron though, Desolation steps in and throws a buzzsaw kick aimed at his head. Evermore ducks the shot then drops to his seat, the Dark Man’s kick causing him to spin so that his back facing the cables. The quick Axl slides across his spine under the bottom rope and through Desolation’s legs, reaching in reverse and wrapping his arms around his opponent’s knees. Desolation tries to grab his opposition when Evermore reaches up with his legs, placing them under the Dark Man’s armpits and pulling him down into a forward roll. Axl sits up with Desolation’s legs over his shoulders, and the Alpha Gen member’s shoulders pressed to the canvas.

He kicks out, dropping over onto his seat while Axl rolls in reverse onto his feet behind him. He rushes forward and jumps over top of Desolation’s seated body, dropping into a forward roll across the canvas before ending up on his feet in front of his rival. He bounces off the cables back first then rushes in at the still seated Desolation, throwing a quick kick at his sternum. The Dark Man drops onto his back, avoiding the blow then rolling over onto his knees and springing to his feet. Axl turns to face him when Desolation lunges forward with his boots, looking for a basement dropkick to his opponent’s shin. Right before the boots could connect Evermore cartwheels over top of them and lands on his feet beside his laid out opponent. Evermore jumps into the air with a forward flip, coming down for an elbow drop into Desolation’s sternum only to have his adversary roll out of the way. As a result Axl crashes spine first into the canvas, missing his intended blow.

Douglas: The action in this match is almost too quick to call as Evermore and Desolation just counter absolutely everything they’re throwing at each other.

Mayne: Desolation is just horsing around, not that he looks like a horse, although his kicks are just as powerful as one.

Dan: Quit stretching logic Billy.

Axl rolls onto his knees while gripping at his elbow, Desolation nipping to his feet at his side then twisting around as he goes for a downward buzzsaw kick to the back of his adversary’s head. Evermore scoots in reverse at the last second though, causing Desolation kick to miss his head, his foot instead slamming into the canvas. Axl quickly stands up and lunges into the air as Desolation turns to face him, spinning right into a dropkick. However, the Dark Man swipes Axl’s legs out of the air and sends him crashing to his knees in front of him. The Alpha Gen representative now jumps forward into a pump kick that misses it’s mark, Axl pulling his head in reverse at the last second to avoid the blow.

Billy: Stop countering dammit!

Desolation now has his back turned towards Axl again, this time being grabbed from behind and pulled over into a school boy. Before a count can even be made Desolation rolls in reverse out of this pinning predicament and right onto his feet. Evermore gets to his knees in time to be met with an absolutely violent buzzsaw kick right to the side of the skull. The fans react with a groan due to the sheer stiffness of the blow which causes Axl to slowly crumble to the canvas.

Mayne: Finally Evermore has tasted one of Desolation’s brutal kicks.

Dan: He did a good job initially avoiding those strikes but in the end you can only dodge Desolation’s kicks for so long.

A somewhat exasperated Desolation steps towards one of the turnbuckles and leans side first against it while Axl lies across the canvas, his eyes awkwardly blinking as if concussed. Desolation steps forward and grabs Evermore by his hair, pulling him up to his knees then glaring into his eyes.

Desolation: This is when the real fun begins.

Desolation delivers a vicious open hand palm strike right across Axl’s jaw, knocking him down to the canvas yet again. The crowd is stunned by the sheer stiff impact of the chop as the Alpha rep takes the bangs of Axl’s hair, leading him up to his feet and then whipping him into one of the corners rather violently. Evermore hits the turnbuckle hard, his arms falling over the cables while Desolation slowly steps in and blasts him stiffly across the sternum with a knife edge chop. He now leans in and buries his forehead against Axl’s, mouthing some derogatory comments.

Desolation: This is what you wanted, right?

The fans are still squeamish over that last chop while Desolation pulls his hand back and rubs his palms together, as if warming up for another chop. He now throws the blow only for Axl to duck down out of the way, as a result Desolation’s momentum carries him back first into the corner. Evermore now pulls his hand back and delivers a blood vessel popping chop to Desolation’s sternum that sends his legs kicking up into the air.

Mayne: GAH!

Dan: Evermore showing he can dish it out just as badly as he can take it.

Desolation places his palm to the shirt binding to his sternum then looks up with ravenous eyes at Axl. He aggressively steps out of the corner and delivers another knife edge chop to Evermore’s chest, sending him reeling in reverse. The Dark Man maliciously throws another chop that Axl ducks under on this occasion. This causes Desolation to spin and walk into another violent, capillary rupturing chop. Desolation stumbles in reverse when Evermore delivers a kick to the back of his thigh, then one to his shoulder before finally spinning around into a back heel kick to his ribs. However, Desolation catches his foot before it could connect with his ribs then pushes it down, spinning Evermore around into a full circle. He turns to face Desolation then dives forward into a forearm strike right to the Dark Man’s jaw.

Dan: Axl exploding with some hard shots of his own now.

Billy: This is a stiff-fest, and not the type of stiff-fest my second wife left me for watching far too frequently.

Dan: Never use the words “stiff-fest” again please, there are far too many homosexual connotations of that hyphenated word.

Desolation rolls across the canvas and gets back to his feet rather quickly as the Cartel Champion almost takes him back down with a jaw shattering forearm strike. The blow momentarily dazes Desolation before he steps back and delivers a violent forearm strike of his own, this one almost taking Axl down. Desolation now goes for a spinning back fist but Evermore ducks and avoids it, catching his opponent stomach first against his shoulder and powering him backwards with a roar across the ring. He drives Desolation spine first through the ropes and sends both men crashing to the outside mats amongst screams from the crowd.

Douglas: Their right out here in front of us Billy.

Mayne: Why can’t they position our announce table in the nosebleed section?

The two bitter rivals rise to their feet swinging with fists into each other’s jaws, the official at a loss over what to do, having no power to stop any of this. Desolation connects with a punch but Axl answers right back with a hard shot of his own. He dives forward into another hard forearm strike then follows it up with a brutal knife edge chop that almost takes Desolation down. He only remains standing because Axl grabs him by the back of the head, dragging him towards the announce table then slamming him face first against it.

The impact leaves Desolation very dazed, holding onto the table to keep from falling to the mats while Evermore kicks him to the gut and grabs him by the wrist. He now whips Desolation right towards the barricade only for the Dark Man to reverse said whip. Instead Evermore now finds himself charging at the barricade but then lunging into the air and jumping over it. The crowd is amazed by his athleticism as he lands with all the agility of a cat right amongst them. Evermore now turns and begins to jump into the air over top of the barricade once again when Desolation rushes forward, dropkicking the barrier, knocking it backwards right into Axl’s knees. As a result Evermore crashes down ribs first right onto the steel then flips over onto the mats.

Dan: Ahhh, Evermore trying to leap over that barricade only to have it dropkicked into his knees.

Mayne: That’s why you’ve got to worship Desolation, because he’s a thinking man’s wrestler.

Dan: Then why do you support him?

Evermore grabs at his knees in pain while slowly starting to force himself up to his feet amongst the thin protective outside mats. When he reaches his feet, albeit limping slightly he is unaware that Desolation is now holding a chair and swinging it with vicious velocity right into his knees. The sound of the chair striking Axl’s knees is reminiscent of a gunshot and sends him buckling to the mats all over again, rolling onto his back while wailing in anguish.

Douglas: OH NO!

Billy: Desolation may have just broken Axl’s legs with that chair shot!

Desolation steps forward with zero emotion now in his eyes as he throws down the chair then turns to keep on the assault. The fans are letting their feelings known about the Dark Man through vulgar obscenities, yet he pays them no mind as he drags Evermore upward. Axl tries to push his hands away as he gets to his feet, barely able to stand, and then is rolled back into the ring. Desolation slides in himself and immediately moves towards one of Axl’s legs, grabbing hold of his ankle and lifting it up into the air. He violently drives the knee back down to the canvas, causing Evermore to begin flopping around in the ring reaching for his leg in pain. As he rolls onto his spine, Desolation grabs that same leg and lifts it into the air before delivering a horrendously violent buzzsaw kick right to the side of the knee. Axl’s leg bends so awkwardly it looks as if it’s almost broken, causing him to yet again roll across the canvas, reaching for his knee and biting his lower lip from the anguish.

Mayne: Desolation has discovered a weakness and he’s going to exploit it.

Dan: A weakness he caused by slamming that chair violently into Axl’s knees, taking full leverage with this no disqualification stipulation.

Evermore rolls across the ring and into the turnbuckle, grabbing hold of the cables and trying his best to use them to stand. Even the ropes don’t provide him with the necessary leverage he needs, falling back to his knees with the crowd chanting his name, trying to empower him. Desolation tries to drain the wind from their sails yet again as he methodically moves towards Evermore who suddenly chops him right to the chest from his kneeling position. The strike is as violent and stiff as ever, causing Desolation to double over while staggering in reverse. Evermore stands up and catches him with a brutal European Uppercut that would take the head off a normal man. The crowd is getting behind Axl who seems to be fighting through the pain in his knees as he steps in for another of those jaw shaking forearm strikes. Desolation is able to side step it though, ending up behind Mr. N.Y.C then superkicking him to the back of the knee. A loud groan can be heard from the crowd as Axl tumbles onto his back and reaches for his leg, unable to believe the anguish flowing through it.

Billy: A superkick to the knee now, do you see how calculating Desolation is, he’s like a shark who’s got a whiff of blood.

Dan: He certainly is as ravenous as an animal when it comes to exploiting the injuries of his opponent. I know this is what Axl wanted more than anything, but he needs to start worrying about the well being of his career.

Desolation immediately steps over Axl’s leg, lifting it into the air then rolling him over onto his stomach, applying a Single Leg Boston Crab. This basic move effectively targets the strained and damaged muscles in Evermore’s leg, causing immense pain to course all throughout his body. He pushes himself up onto his elbows and grits his teeth with the fans on their feet, starting another “A-X-L” chant as loud as their lungs can muster.

However, even their encouragement doesn’t appear to be enough as Evermore forces himself up onto his elbows, writhing in agony yet glaring at the ropes, his final refuge. Despite the overwhelming pain coursing through his leg Axl begins to crawl desperately for the ropes, pulling Desolation along with him, inching his way ever so much closer to the cables. Sweat beads down his contorted features as his leg is twisted and ripped with this hold, yet he will not allow his pain to get the better of him. The referee constantly inquires as to rather or not he’ll tap only for Evermore to shout “no” then reach out and grab the bottom rope. The crowd is screaming as Desolation is forced to break the Boston Crab, doing so with a pleasant grin on his face.

Douglas: Evermore has made it to the ropes, keeping this contest going although I’m not sure it’s a wise move.

Mayne: If he wants to continue getting his ass kicked then that’s his prerogative.

Evermore desperately tries to pull himself up the ropes with his legs giving out when Desolation takes him around the waist. He now tries to pull him over into that vicious back drop driver, however, Evermore is holding onto the top cable, clinging to them for dear life. He refuses to be pulled over and dropped so viciously on the top of his cranium, a move that could spell the end for his Cartel title reign. Trying to fight Desolation off he elbows him to the side of the head, then does so again, the blows beginning to weaken his opposition’s grasp. Desolation is finally forced to let go after another elbow to the jaw sends him stumbling away from his opponent, stepping to the center of the ring.

Axl slaps his knee and demands it stop hurting him before he rushes out of the corner right at Desolation who catches him with a drop toe hold. Evermore spills to the canvas as Desolation stands up over top of him and tries to grab hold of Axl’s legs, setting up for the Curb Stomp. However, Axl rolls onto his back, wedging his good leg to Desolation’s sternum then pushing him off in reverse.

The Dark Man’s attempt at the Curb Stomp has been thwarted as he charges into the cables, bouncing off of them and then coming back in at Axl who in agony has risen back to his feet. As soon as he stands Desolation throws a Kawada style buzzsaw kick right at his face, only for Evermore to drop to his back and avoid it. Again the kick gives Desolation so much momentum he’s sent into a spin, turning in a full circle back to face Evermore who shockingly nips up to his feet then delivers a jumping shin kick right to the side of the former World Champion’s cranium. The crowd erupts at the sight of this strike that sends Desolation tumbling to the ring, landing right beside Mr. N.Y.C who has fallen and is gripping at his knee in unbearable pain.

Dan: What a shocking kick by Evermore!

Mayne: Damn him, he’s on horse tranquilizers I tell you, there’s no other way he could have just nailed that kick given the condition of his leg.

Douglas: He’s going for the cover!

Evermore crawls on top of Desolation and hooks his leg while gripping at his own battered knee.

Desolation gets his shoulder up, avoiding defeat in this brutal one on one encounter for the Cartel Championship. Although dazed he begins to force himself over to his knees, Evermore standing up in front of him as he works the kinks out of his knee, stomping his foot down to the ring repeatedly. He now steps in delivering a hard spinning kick right to the back of Desolation’s skull. The blow causes the Dark Man to stand up surprisingly while turning around in a circle to face Axl, who takes him rival by the back of the head, throwing knees into his abdomen repeatedly. Axl only uses his good knee to hit knee strike after knee strike to Desolation’s gut, bending him over forward in the process. This allowed Axl to now step back and hit a superkick to his dazed opponent’s jaw. Desolation is knocked loopy, yet somehow he’s still standing long enough to spin around and deliver a vicious buzzsaw kick right to the side of Evermore’s skull.

Axl drops to a knee from the incredible impact but then stands right back up and delivers a buzzsaw style kick to the opposite side of the Dark Man’s cranium. This blow severally dazes Desolation, yet he remains upright, spinning around into a back heel kick right to Evermore’s jaw. A groan can be heard from the fans over the stiff strike, yet Axl is still standing. Evermore steps forward and delivers a superkick to the jaw of Desolation once again. This time to the blow sends the Dark Man tumbling backwards and spilling through the ropes onto the apron.

Dan: A battle of kicks between Evermore and Desolation, these two just repeatedly trading shots with one another in an attempt to see who is the better man.

Billy: As if the answer was ever in doubt.

While laying on the apron Desolation tries to regain some of his faculties, slowly taking hold of the ropes to pull himself to his feet. As soon as he stands up though, Axl drills him to the side of the face with a forearm, knocking him down to the outside mats where he conveniently lands on his feet. Evermore sluggishly begins to step through the cables now when Desolation jumps back onto the apron and grabs Axl’s damaged leg, which was placed through the ropes. He lifts it into the air and then gives Evermore the dragon screw leg whip right into the middle rope. The Champion’s knee hits the ropes violently, causing him to roar in anguish as he drops back into the ring, curling around it. Desolation has fallen onto the mats feet first, stepping forward with a diabolical smirk on his face. He has no idea that Evermore has risen back to a standing base in the ring, bent over his knee but rushing forward with a limp before diving over the top rope. He soars through the air as Desolation turns back to face the ring and spots him crashing down right on top of him with a flying splash. Both men tumble to the mats with the fans in the Manhattan Center going absolutely nuts.

Douglas: OHHH! WHAT A DIVE FROM EVERMORE!

Mayne: How the hell did he soar over that top rope even after taking that dragon screw into the middle cable? Is he Superman or John Cena?

The majority of those in attendance are standing and slapping the barricades as they start an “A-X-L” chant all over again. Evermore rolls across the mats, gripping at his knee and gnawing at his lower lip from the pain coursing throughout his leg. Axl slowly begins to stand up, reaching for his leg and almost falling over, having put everything he had into that last dive. Nevertheless he takes hold of Desolation’s hair, trying to will the Dark Man up to his feet. However, as soon as he gets Desolation up he’s grabbed by the wrist and whipped towards the steel steps. Evermore is unable to stop himself this time as he crashes knees first right into the stairs, flipping up and over them.

Billy: Ohhh, yes, yes! Axl’s knees continuing to be demolished by Desolation!

Dan: My God his knees may have imploded upon impact with those steps.

Evermore is absolutely writhing in pain as he rolls across the mats then stands up takes a few steps and falls back to the mats, grabbing at his knee. He punches the mats, angered by his agony before trying to stand up again. He can’t even put pressure on his damaged knee yet rolls instinctively into the ring where he stands up to limp some more. As he limps forward across the canvas Desolation shockingly steps up beside him, having snuck into the ring, catches him around the waist then pulls him over into a back drop driver. Evermore crashes into the canvas across the back of his head and neck, flipping over onto his seat and looking incredibly dazed at this point. Desolation steps in and takes him around the jaw, dragging him up to his feet and then pulling his head under his seat. Evermore is lifted up onto Desolation’s shoulder in an awesome bomb position but is then pushed around into a modified Go to Sleep, the Dark Man’s knee cracking into Axl’s face. Evermore tumbles onto his back while Desolation falls into the lateral press.

Douglas: The back drop driver followed by a twisting Go to Sleep!

Mayne: If Evermore survives this I’ll donate a testicle to science.

The crowd is screaming over those last two violent vicious moves as the official drops down, making the count.

Wait, no, Evermore got his shoulder up just before the final slap of the canvas. Desolation sits up, looking unnerved by the referee informing him that Axl has kicked out. Therefore the Dark Man rolls to his feet, grabs Axl’s legs, pushes him over onto his stomach then pulls him up by the wrists and delivers the Curb Stomp. Axl’s face is driven violently into the canvas, knocking him unconscious it appears.

Billy: THE CURB STOMP!

Dan: I’m afraid we have seen the end of Evermore here tonight.

Desolation forces Evermore over onto his back then drops down on top of him, grinding his forearm into his adversary’s face with the crowd standing and screaming.

All those in the Manhattan Center are disheartened before they realize that Axl barely kicked out in time. Desolation rises to a knee, looking on in sheer disbelief.

Douglas: Evermore kicked out again, even after the Curb Stomp!

Mayne: It’s like I’m watching an episode of the Twilight Zone or to a much lesser extent Night Gallery.

In a state of utter annoyance Desolation takes hold of Axl’s hair and forces him up to his feet, his opponent barely able to put pressure on his damaged leg. He looks completely incoherent after that last barrage of moves as Desolation slaps him to one cheek, and then the other. Sweat goes flying with each blow and leaves Axl all the more disorientated before he’s hit with a spinning back fist right to the face from the Dark Man, the shot causing Evermore to spin towards a turnbuckle. He falls against it spine first as Desolation steps in slowly and begins to rifle off with knife edge chop after knife edge chop after knife edge chop to Axl’s chest, hitting them faster than a machine gun can fire bullets. Evermore’s chest has become a bright shade of red, capillaries bursting and blood vessels popping before he’s taken by the back of the head finally and pushed down out of the corner. Evermore rolls forward onto his seat as Desolation now steps out of the corner and delivers an incredibly violent buzzsaw kick right between his shoulder blades.

Dan: Chop after chop capped off with that violent kick. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many strikes and kicks in a match this side of the Pacific.

Billy: I don’t think I’ve ever seen Desolation take such joy in the destruction of an opponent, but this is Paranoia, it does bring out that more vicious side of the Dark Man.

Dan: Yes, and it along brings out your horribly repetitious dialogue.

Desolation steps back, grinning maliciously while the crowd grimaces over the sheer amount of strikes and kicks he’s delivered to Evermore who shockingly begins to stand up. He is absolutely seething with a bruise formed on his sternum as he grits his teeth and forces himself to his feet. As soon as he stands he delivers a hard chop right to the side of Desolation’s jaw, then yells for him to bring it. The blow sends Desolation turning around into a full circle before jumping into the air, flipping backwards almost in order to connect with a kick right to the forehead of Evermore. Axl is taken back down to the canvas until he rolls across the ring and gets back to his feet, unleashing a primal roar. Desolation stands up in front of him, momentarily stunned when Axl drops down into a rolling kick that connects to the Dark Man’s jaw. Desolation is now taken down to the canvas with Evermore rolling past him onto his knees. The fans in attendance are standing and going absolutely nuts over these trading of shots as Desolation slowly starts to get up.

Mayne: How is this humanly possible? Nobody in the history of the IWC has been able to withstand Desolation’s kicks and keep on going.

Douglas: Evermore has been preparing his body for this brutality for a long time.

A dazed Desolation starts to stand as Mr. N.Y.C hobbles in and blasts him to the jaw for a forearm strike. He connects with another shot and then another and another and another, each blast from his forearm more violent than the last. Evermore steps in to deliver another blow when the Dark Man counters shockingly by delivering a spinning back kick right to Axl’s ribs, doubling him over forward. He grabs at his abdomen while Desolation turns and rushes into the ropes, bouncing off and coming back in at his battered opponent. Evermore catches him though and throws Desolation over his head with a release overhead belly to belly suplex. The Dark Man flies through the air before crashing into the canvas across his spine, slowly rolling over to his knees and reaching for his spine as he sluggishly rises. Axl now steps in and takes him around the neck and leg, dropping back into a release exploder suplex. Violently the Dark Man crashes into the canvas yet again with the fans screaming, Evermore turning and crawling ever so sluggishly into the cover.

Desolation gets his shoulder up to the shock and dismay of the Manhattan crowd.

Douglas: Suplex after suplex not enough to put away Desolation.

Billy: Evermore has hit his greatest rival with absolutely everything that he’s got in his arsenal, but it just is not enough to put the Dark Man away, and at this rate, I don’t think anything will do the trick.

In a horribly dazed state Desolation sits up on the canvas, Evermore limping up behind him and taking hold of his arm. He drags Desolation up to his feet and drops back into a Kobashi like half nelson suplex that drops the Dark Man right on the back of his neck. To the disbelief of everyone though Desolation roars and rolls backwards onto his feet, standing up with his features turning a bright shade of red, feeding off of his rage. Axl rises to his feet and doesn’t hesitate to rush right at the upright Desolation who completely blocked the pain from that half nelson suplex. As he comes barreling forward Desolation drops to his seat and catches his opponent’s legs, falling backwards and taking Evermore down with him. Axl tumbles to his elbows as Desolation rolls backwards onto his feet, lifting Evermore’s leg into the High Angle Boston Crab. Roars of agony erupt from Axl as he finds himself trapped in his very own submission hold. He pushes himself up onto the palms of his hands, his weakened leg being violently ripped apart at he hands of the Challenger for his title.

Dan: Desolation has got the half crab applied again!

Billy: Tap Evermore, just tap or your career is over.

The crowd is standing and screaming for Evermore to reach the ropes, yet the pain seems too much to handle. Nevertheless he digs his claws into the canvas, shaking as he pulls himself towards the ropes, Desolation continuing to sit down on the back of his knee, wrenching it over with all of his strength. Evermore finds himself getting closer and closer to the ropes which are now within arms-length, the fans beginning to calm down as they realize he is about o save himself from tapping out. That’s when Desolation pulls him back to the center of the ring and sits down even further on Evermore’s battered knee. Evermore’s eyes are bulging from their sockets and sweat is racing down his reddening flesh. He balls up his fists and falls to the canvas, punching the very ring he lays on.

Mayne: Desolation has pulled Evermore back to the middle of the ring, there’s no escape for Axl now, no escape whatsoever!!

Douglas: I am stunned that Axl has yet to tap out to the Half Crab, he is showing the world how much he wants this win tonight.

Billy: What he wants and what he gets are too entirely different things.

Axl looks up towards the ropes and reaches out for them although they are far, far outside of his grasp. He now falls back to the canvas, feeling his Cartel title slipping away as Desolation leans even further back with the High Angle Half Crab. Evermore looks to be fading as sweat pours in buckets from his body, his head falling cheek first to the canvas. His hand lifts into the air and trembles above the ring.

Fans: PLEASE DON’T TAP, PLEASE DON’T TAP, PLEASE DON’T TAP!

Billy: He’s about to tap.

Douglas: Fight it Axl, fight it!

Desolation wrenches even further back on the leg as Evermore prepares to tap out, his hand lowering towards the canvas but stopping before it could slap it. He now places his hand over the back of his head, ripping at his hair and punching himself in the temple to try and keep himself awake. Referee Wright is repeatedly asking him rather he wishes to tap out or not, almost begging him to do it for the sake of his career, but Evermore refuses. His eyes enliven with intensity as he pushes himself up onto his palms yet again, his body soaked with both sweat and saliva. Desolation is ripping and tearing at the leg as Axl pulls himself towards the ropes, grabbing at the ring as he forces himself onward despite all the pain coursing through his body.

Dan: He’s trying for those ropes.

Billy: He’ll fall short, he’ll tap, he’ll tap!

Axl continues towards the cables, using every muscle in his upper body to try and reach the ropes, the fans chanting “A-X-L” in an attempt to motivate him. With almost tears of pain streaming from his eyes Axl desperately reaches out for the ropes and grabs the middle one, everyone in the building screaming.

Douglas: Axl has reached the cables, my God I can’t believe it!

Billy: I refuse to believe it.

Evermore falls to his sternum, still holding the bottom rope as the official steps in, starting a five count on Desolation who breaks the hold, falling to a knee. Sweat races down his features while Evermore utilizes the cables to ascend to his feet despite the pain flowing through his knee. As he stands up Desolation grabs him by the shoulder, spinning him around into a hard slap across the cheek. Axl almost falls over before he delivers an open hand palm strike of his own to Desolation’s jaw. The Dark Man is staggered until he delivers a vicious forearm to Evermore’s face. Axl almost goes down to the canvas before hitting a forearm of his own with equally as devastating force.

Fans: YAY!

Desolation hits his own lethal forearm strike,

Fans: BOO!

Axl hits a forearm shot of his own that severally dazes the Dark Man, causing him to bend forward with his hands pressed to his knees.

Fans: YAY!

Desolation regains his composure and steps forward, hitting a forearm strike so vicious that it busts Evermore’s lip wide open, sending claret flowing down his chin.

Fans: BOO!

Although bloodied by the blow Axl steps in and hits another forearm strike, this one looking as if it’s broken Desolation’s nose.

Fans: YAY!

Desolation steps forward for another forearm, his nose now gushing blood when Evermore ducks it. The Dark Man turns to face Axl who chops him across the sternum, then does it again, and again.

Fans: YAY! YAY! YAY!

Evermore now spins around and hits a roaring forearm to Desolation’s jaw, causing the Dark Man to stagger backwards before he delivers a spinning back chop to Axl’s face. Axl almost falls over, bending over backwards and swaying his arms to keep himself up then diving forward into another huge forearm smash. Both men are taken down to the canvas, laid out side by side with the crowd giving a standing ovation to this action thus far.

Dan: Both competitors laid out after another lethal series of strikes. What an amazing match this has been between Desolation and Axl Evermore.

Billy: Those blows have been so powerful that they’ve busted one another open. How is anything going to follow this?

Although being hit with a particularly powerful forearm Desolation begins to stand up in a sluggish, exasperated manner. The second he stands Evermore nips up off of the canvas and lands on his feet, almost falling over though as his leg folds up beneath him. He steps towards Desolation, slapping him to one cheek, then the other, and then hitting the original target again. He spins around into a chop to the jaw of the Dark Man then connects with a buzzsaw style kick to the side of his head. The crowd is going nuts as they watch Evermore connect with all these strikes to his bitter rival, hitting another palm strike followed by another buzzsaw kick to the cranium. He now dives forward for another forearm to the bloodied nose of Desolation who side steps his opponent, catching him under his arm and lifting him up for the Cenabite. The crowd screams before they see Axl flip over Desolation’s shoulder and land with a grimace right behind his opponent. The Dark Man turns to face him and then has both his arms hooked, being lifted into the air then driven into the canvas with the Flipside (Double Underhook Falcon Arrow Driver). Desolation crashes forcefully into the canvas to a huge eruption of cheers from the crowd.

Dan: THE FLIPSIDE!

Mayne: AYEEEE!

The fans on their feet as Evermore crawls into the cover, barely getting an arm over Desolation’s sternum.

Billy: It can’t end like this, it just can’t!

Wright drops and makes the count.

The fans are jumping with excitement, going nuts before they spot Desolation arm shooting defiantly from the canvas.

Dan: OH MY GOD! Desolation got a shoulder up!

Billy: Haha, haha, ahahahaha, it continues, this match continues much to my utter joy.

All those in attendance are floored by the very last second kick out, which has left Evermore lying on his back in a state of dismay. With blood leaking from his lip and his body drained Evermore rises to his feet, gripping at his leg and then feeling with intensity yet again. He grabs Desolation by the hair, forces him up to his feet and places him in a front chancery. Many of those automatically know what he’s setting up for as he lifts the Dark Man into the air and allows him to float over his shoulder, going for the Shotgun (Vertical suplex into a stunner). As he drops to his seat, Desolation frees his head and lands on his feet right behind his opponent, Evermore missing the stunner as a result. Desolation quickly grabs Axl’s arms, placing him in a full nelson then dragging him to his feet as he drops back for a release dragon suplex. Evermore flips over, landing right on his feet and grimacing from the pain in his leg. He now charges forward right at the rising Desolation and jumps into the air, landing on his shoulders. He snaps over backwards into a hurricarana only for the Dark Man to remain standing, catching hold of his opponent’s legs. He turns around to face Axl’s back, hooking his legs around his own then lifting up on his wrists, connecting with the Curb Stomp!

Billy: The Curb Stomp, yes, haha, yes, YES!

Douglas: Reduce your sugar intake. What a counter by Desolation into his fishing move! Axl survived this moments ago, but I doubt he can do it again.

Desolation falls to his knees, looking exhausted and more winded than ever before as he falls into the cover on Evermore. He weakly hooks Axl’s leg as the official drops down, making the count, the crowd screaming for Axl to kick out.

Desolation has done it, he’s won the Cartel title. As he is about to celebrate Axl kicks out, launching his shoulder from the ring and sending Desolation into a fit.

Douglas: UNBELIEVABLE! Evermore has kicked out of the Curb Stomp for a second time!

Billy: Is that physically possible!?!

Desolation drops down and hooks both of Evermore’s legs this time.

The Cartel Champion gets his shoulder off the canvas again, inciting Desolation’s frustrations. Increasingly enraged Desolation rolls across the ring and under the ropes, approaching the steel chair he used to smash Evermore’s knee earlier in the contest. He snatches it off the mats and rolls back into the ring where Axl is shockingly trying to get up. With blood gushing from his lip, Axl agonizingly stands up only for Desolation to step in and almost take his head off via a thunderous, violent, gruesome chair shot. The fans in attendance are stunned by the highly unprotected nature of the steel connecting with Axl’s skull, sending him tumbling to the canvas in a heap.

Dan: Ah, what a disgusting chair shot from Desolation!

Billy: You don’t kick out of the Curb Stomp, let alone do it twice without paying for it.

The Dark Man throws down the chair and turns, falling into the cover on Evermore, hooking both his legs yet again. Referee Wright is disgusted yet he drops and makes the count.

The roof almost comes off the Manhattan Center as Axl kicks out again. Desolation rolls across the ring to his knees, his eyes almost ripping out of their sockets and his face a ghost white shade.

Mayne: There is no way!!

Douglas: Evermore kicked out of that violent chair shot! Is there anything that will put this man down?

Desolation’s skin is pulsating as he grabs the chair, drops it closer to Evermore, rolls him onto his gut and ties his legs around his own. The Dark Man pulls up on Evermore’s wrists, falling back first against the top rope then hitting the Curb Stomp Alpha, planting Axl’s face right into the chair.

Billy: The Curb Stomp Alpha into the chair!

Douglas: No!

Axl is rolled onto his back, a bloody mess as Desolation falls into the cover yet again, hooking his legs. The fans are imploring Evermore to kick out one more time.

Dan: Kick out Axl, kick out!

Douglas: You can do it!

The referee’s hand finally slaps the canvas for the third consecutive time concluding one of the most insane Paranoia matches of all times.

Billy: It’s over, by George it’s over! Desolation is victorious.

Douglas: I’m shocked, I thought Axl was going to kick out for sure. What a match here tonight at Paranoia V.

The fans are dismayed yet cheer and clap anyway after witnessing a match that lived up to all the hype. Desolation sits up, bleeding from his possibly broken nose and breathing heavily. He looks absolutely exhausted, battered and a mental wreck after the roller coaster ride that was this encounter with Evermore. Axl continues to lie on the canvas bleeding heavily from the forehead.

Billy: I certainly will never forget what we’ve witnessed here tonight.

Douglas: Axl Evermore put everything he had into this encounter, absolutely everything, but in the end he just had nothing left after that vicious chair shot combined with having taken several Curb Stomps. An amazing and gritty performance by both men here tonight at Paranoia V, wouldn’t you agree Billy? Billy?

Mayne doesn’t respond as the sound of chewing can be heard.

Dan: Are you actually eating that FISH!?!

Mayne: I got hungry.

Desolation backs up the ramp apathetically glancing at the Cartel title hanging from his grasp and taking deep breaths while Evermore tries to regain his bearings inside of the ring. The crowd is still giving this match a rousing ovation.

CONGRATULATIONS?

A flustered reaction is heard in regards to the sight of Robin Brooks lurking backstage, the X-Class title thrown over the shoulder of her still exhausted body. She brushes sweat from her forehead and reaches for her back in the process, reeling from the brutality she sustained as part of that triangle ladder match. Once again Susie Moore stands with a mic in her hand while formulating questions in her head, standing in front of the glowing Paranoia V symbol.

Susie: Well Robin I guess congratulations are in order?

A bit of laughter emanates from Robin although it makes her grimace while again reaching for her kidneys. Despite her pain her laughter remains diabolical.

Robin: For whom? Me or Desolation?

Susie: Both I guess.

The smile on her face increases with her cheeks trembling from the anguish coursing through her frame.

Brooks: Speaking of which, I just want to send a congratulations towards the Dark Man for his sensational performance against Evermore.

Susie: Speaking of sensational performances, you emerged with one of the titles after that show stealing ladder match earlier tonight, how does it feel to yet again be a champion?

The microphone is thrust out to the still smirking Robin’s face.

Robin: I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel good sweety, despite all the added pressure being champion now places on me. But I’m already a Queen, so gold should only naturally find its way into my hands. In fact, all titles seem to be surging towards the Alpha Generation, we’ve been absolutely dominant.

Moore: Do you expect that trend to continue into tonight’s main event?

Susie shoots a piercing glare towards the dimwitted correspondent.

Brooks: You know, I defended you against all the claims that you were stupid Susie, that you only got this job because unlike me, you were willing to sleep your way to the top.

This causes a grin to form on Susie’s face.

Robin: But I see now that I was wrong after such an ignorant question.

The smile vanishes and Susie lowers her head.

Brooks: Of course Hurse is going to retain his World title tonight, there’s absolutely no way he can lose. Can you imagine Orlando Cruze as Champion? I mean, honestly, can you picture…..

Her question stops in mid-sentence while her eyes widen at the sight of Killjoy strolling into the scene. The Manhattan Center reacts with a loud ovation at the sight of the former World Champion, who doesn’t display so much as a single emotion. Brooks clutches at her belt, feeling threatened by the presence of her ex-lover.

Killjoy: Robin, I just came back here to congratulate you on your mediocre success tonight….

Clearly Brooks isn’t buying it, as she continues to prepare to use her newly won belt as a weapon.

Killjoy: I’m glad to see that you’re so successful, that your riding so high on life right now. Because….

Killjoy steps towards Robin with those same threatening eyes that causes her to cower all the more.

KIljoy: It’s going to be so much more satisfying for me to knock you down off your cloud, spill your blood and make you PAY!

Robin’s lips are trembling.

Killjoy: I’m not going to obtain my revenge tonight though, no, no, I’m focused on carrying my team to victory. But afterwards, there’s going to be no one, or nothing, no obstacles whatsoever, that can keep me away from you…..Kiddo.

He reaches out and roughs her hair before Robin slaps his hand away, trying to look tough. He passes her by while Brooks watches him leave in a perpetual state of fear.

IN THE RING

The camera comes back to Kaily Wolf in the ring, microphone gripped in the palm of her hand. A broad smile is stretched across her face while she glares into the camera.

Kaily: Ladies and gentlemen please welcome, to perform their hit single and one of Paranoia V’s official theme songs,“Savior,” 30 SECONDS TO MARS!

Attention quickly shifts to the band occupying the entry way, pyrotechnics erupting from both sides of the stage around them. This gets the winded crowd to respond even louder while Jared Leto steps towards the microphone, taking hold of it with the palm of his hand. The song now begins to play while various images from Paranoia’s past plays on the big screen between the giant “V.”

Until you crash
Until you burn
Until you lie
Until you learn
Until you see
Until you believe

The instruments work as one to continue with the fast beat of this lyrical tune as Jared strolls back and forth on the stage, bending over it towards the screaming fans below. On the big screen behind him, images flash by featuring Johnny Kingdom moving towards the ring with the World Heavyweight title over his shoulder, then cutting to Desolation marching towards the squared circle, the belt wrapped around his waist. The video transfers to a shot of Psycho’s back while he moves through his curtains then switches to Silencer standing on a turnbuckle, overlooking the fans.

Until you fight
Until you fall
Until the end of everything at all
Until you die
Until you’re alive

The crowd is getting louder while actor/singer Leto marches passes the rest of his band, again almost hanging off the edge of the stage to add effect to his lyrics. The video now features Orlando Cruze standing in the ring face to face with Lethal Weapon while the crowd is going absolutely nuts in the sea of humanity around them. It then switches to the rage fueled AWOL stepping nose to nose with the Team Leader, both men’s eyes interlocked. An exhausted Hellkat is shown standing on the outside of the Weapon’s Lair with the World title held high above hr head.

Don’t save me, don’t save me, cuz I don’t care
Don’t save me, don’t save me, cuz
I don’t care

The images get quicker and more chaotic, showing Robin Brooks flying from the top of a cage with the shooting star press then transferring into a scene of River Angelus being given the implant DDT off the top of a ladder through a table. Nathan Creed is then shown locking in the Courtesy Call on a roaring Jackson Adams. The show returns to a live close up feed of Jared Leto’s face as he crouches towards the camera.

Until you give
Until you’ve used
Until you’ve lost
Until you lose
Until you see, how could you believe?

He rushes across the stage yet again with the fans cheering loudly. More classic Paranoia highlights are being relived via the video package, such as Chapel throwing an opponent through a table with the Crucifier in slow motion. Aurora Rose now stands on the ropes with her fist thrown into the air in a rock gesture. The Weapon’s Lair is then featured surrounding, Orlando Cruze, Desolation and Hurse, all three individuals glaring at each other anxiously in preparation for the classic triple threat.

Until you’ve lived a thousand times
Until you’ve seen the other side
This is my chance, this is my self.

Phantom is displayed standing on the stage with his eyes almost glowing a menacing purple. This shot is short lived, being replaced with a scene depicting Jackson Adams connecting with the Angel’s Wings on Krissie McMorris. The next image relays the historic moment when Orlando Cruze and Lethal Weapon shook hands after their epic campaign. Fireworks erupt from the stage yet again on both sides of the performing band while Jared Leto seems to be getting more animated with his performance.

Don’t save me, don’t save me, cuz I don’t care
Don’t save me, don’t save me, cuz
I don’t care

Chapel consumes the screen while he throws Killjoy with a crucifix bomb through a flaming table. Psycho’s bloodied face is featured while he licks the crimson from his lips with ghoulish delight. Another violent moment from Paranoia’s past is shown as Too Magnificent gives some inconsequential opponent the Death Valley Driver from the top of a cage and through a table at ringside.

Until the truth becomes a lie
Until you change, until you deny
Until you believe

This is my chance, this is my chance
I’ll take it now because I can
This is my chance, I want it now

Jared Leto now remains rooted to the stage, growing more dramatic with the lyrics to this song while behind his back more images bombard the screen. These scenes include the aftermath of the classic World title bout between AWOL and Kingdom, as the former much beloved General Manager stands on the turnbuckle with the gold held high above his head. Nathan Creed is then shown flying from the top rope with a soaring headbunt. Daemon Frost takes over the screen as he stands on top of the Weapon’s Lair. Aurora Rose is then depicted hitting the Sinful Desires before switching to Silencer standing in the middle of the ring unleashing a roar.

Don’t save me, don’t save me, cuz I don’t care
Don’t save me, don’t save me, cuz
I don’t care

Jared begins head banging much like his band, playing the harder portion of the song, which coincides with more vivid imagery on the titontron. The video highlights AWOL hitting a brutal kick to Jackson’s head, knocking him unconscious. It then cuts to Desolation wearing a football helmet covered in light-tubes, busting them as he head-bunts Hurse. Sheryl Gray is shown standing in the ring, before quickly cutting to Mark Comeau, then to AWOL, all of which wearing expensive suits. Robin Brooks is then depicted hitting Nathan with a standing moonsault until this shot is replaced with an image of Lethal busting open Cell Block while repeatedly jabbing him to the face. Riggs and Saul stand in the ring, hitting one another with repeated railroad spike shots.

Save me, save me, save me
Save me, save me, save me
I don’t care

Johnny is displayed locking Weapon in the crossface until Jared Leto is again featured pouring his heart and soul into his singing. Killjoy drags Psycho down from a platform as the two crash through the ring with the Reality. Nathan backs up the ramp while lifting the Livewire title belt above his head while Pat Evans is shown forcing the Tag Team Champions to tap out one after the other. Finally Hurse and Desolation are loaded on top of the Alpha Generation with the World title held up between them. All those in the Manhattan Center are erupting while Leto steps back, fireworks erupting from the stage at their sides as well as from the titontron and rafters.

Dan: What a performance by 30 Seconds to Mars here at Paranoia V.

Billy: Yes, I do like My Chemical Romance.

Douglas: Billy, that’s 30 Seconds to Mars.

Mayne: There’s a difference?

The packed Manhattan Center are still screaming over this great performance while Leto lifts a fist into the air, his bandmates pointing out to their cheering adulators.

The show comes back live to the inside of the Manhattan Center are this brief cut away to emphasize the name of the next payper-view. Dan Douglas and Billy Mayne are smirking slightly over everything that they’ve seen here tonight.

Dan: Again we want to think 30 Seconds to Mars for an awesome performance here at Paranoia V, what a night this has been Billy.

Billy: Indeed, and there are still two blockbuster matches remaining on tonight’s stellar card.

Douglas: Yes, coming up next we’re going to witness one of our two remaining contests, as the Adams Alliance collides with Team Creed, and what a match this should be….

Dan becomes strangely quiet while slowly deviating his attention to the confused Billy.

Dan: Um, Billy, is that your hand on my leg?

Mayne gives him a shrewd glare.

Douglas: How many times must I insist that you not touch me?

Mayne: It isn’t me, I swear, I’m past that confused phase in my life. Wait a minute, what the hell is under there?

Both commentators begin to bend down to look under the announce table when their eyes widen with disbelief. Suddenly the glaze covered face of Bob pops up out from under the table to a huge reaction from the crowd.

Billy: OH MY GOD, IT’S BOB, IT’S BOB, GET HIM AWAY FROM ME!

Douglas: How long has he been hiding under our table!?!

Bob looks around panic stricken as Billy grabs his clipboard, repeatedly trying to hit him with it. The rotund figure stands up with a ham tucked under his armpit.

Bob: You find Bob, you win Bob’s ham.

The greasy ham is dropped onto Billy’s lap, leaving him absolutely disgusted. He tries to push it off his waist but doesn’t want to touch it, and as he does it slips out of his fingers due to the sheer amount of glaze deposited it on it’s surface.

Billy: Oh God, he threw a ham at me, do something, do something!

Dan: LIKE WHAT!?!

Bob takes off running, jumping over the barricade then scurrying through the screaming crowd. Finally Billy is able to push the ham off of his lap to the floor below while Dan just shakes his head in dismay.

Douglas: You got to love random Bob appearances.

Billy: I don’t got to love anything but me and my penis, which is now soured by ham grease.

The camera comes back to the stage as “Pain” erupts over the PA system, sending everyone into a loud ovation. The entire Manhattan Center crowd rises as they realize who is about to stroll through the curtains, but are unaware of the amount of sheer talent their eyes are going to be bestowed with the sight of.

Billy: Welcome back to the inside of the Manhattan Center, and although this isn’t the best way to bring you back live to Paranoia V, we are about to witness a match featuring Jackson Adams.

Dan: It’s time ladies and gents for the star studded, unbelievably stacked 8 person tag team match, Team Creed vs. The Adams Alliance. As you can hear, Team Creed is making their entrance as we speak.

Through the curtains first waltzes a confident yet intense Nathan Creed, who gets a loud reception. Behind him now emerges Aurora Rose who throws up a rock gesture with her hand. She is followed by the massive Phantom, who towers over the backs of both his teammates while kicking his long hair in reverse, and finally onto the stage strolls Lethal Weapon. The Manhattan Center is absolutely buzzing at the sight of all four of these athletes, many starting a Weapon chant as he grins slightly, happy to be competing for the very last time here at Paranoia V.

Dan: There they are ladies and gentlemen, Team Creed. Nathan Creed, the technical wizard, Aurora Rose, the aerial diva, Phantom, the power house, and Lethal Weapon, the legendary veteran, what a team assembled here.

Mayne: I’ve seen more star studded teams in Bowling leagues.

With Nathan proudly standing at the forefront of his group he takes the first step towards the ring, his partners following closely behind. To the dismay of the crowd Team Creed is suddenly blindsided from behind by the Adams Alliance, who rush through the curtains and begin to club them over their spines.

Douglas: Ah, the Adams Alliance is attacking Team Creed before they could even get to the ring!

Billy: What a brilliant sneak attack! This must have been what Adams was discussing with his troops backstage earlier.

The fans are still shocked by the rather chaotic way this contest has been initiated. Adams is exchanging fists with Creed as the two battle their way down the ramp. Too Magnificent and Lethal Weapon have reached the end of the steel rampway with the gigantically proportioned Too Mag getting the better of the returning legend after completely catching him off guard. Weapon falls backwards against the apron with Too Magnificent repeatedly kicking him to the ribs and now drilling him into the face with his hard closed fist. A hard jab fist delivered directly to the jaw from Killjoy has knocked Aurora Rose over into the sea of humanity. He climbs over the barricade and goes at it with her, hitting repeated shots to her face while shouting something particularly odd.

Killjoy: How do you like that Robin, huh, huh!?!

Obviously Killjoy is delusional enough to believe Aurora is Robin, which allows him to hit her with a chop across her bosom. She responds with a knife edge chop of her own while Phantom is staggered by jumping forearm strikes from Max Craven.

Douglas: What an insane kick off to this 8 person tag, I never would have imagined we’d see this type of chaos so early, let alone from the starting point.

Mayne: That’s because you lack imagination, Dan. Paranoia V or not, it won’t stop Adams from doing what he does best, and that’s manipulating the circumstances for his own ill gotten gain. I love it.

Nathan has now rolled into the ring, getting to his knees with a dazed expression on his face while Adams drops to his knees at his side, delivering a double axehandle smash over his upper back. Outside of the ring Lethal Weapon is now down with Too Magnificent continuing to stomp on him repeatedly while Aurora ducks another shot from Killjoy, springing on top of the barricade. She flies off and lands on Too Magnificent’s back, trying to place him in a sleeper hold. However, he turns and charges in reverse, ramming her spine first right into the exposed turnbuckle post. She lets go and tumbles to the mats while the referee desperately tries to get control of this contest, running back and forth between all the participants like a turkey with his head cut off.

Finally some of the competitors begin to climb up into their respective corners while Jackson is repeatedly bludgeoning Creed to the jaw with forearm strikes inside of the ring. The bell sounds with both team captains going at it.

Dan: This match officially underway.

Billy: And what more appropriate start than Creed versus Adams?

Nathan is dragged up to his feet by Adams who places his long time rival in a side headlock submission. He has the hold tightly clamped on while jabbing the exposed cranium of his opposition with malicious glee. Creed turns though and rushes backwards into the ropes, bouncing off of them and pulling Adams along with him. As both men ricochet from the ropes Nathan pushes his opposition off, sending him charging into the opposite cables. Adams bounces off of these ropes and then comes barreling forward with primal aggression, delivering a vicious shoulder block. The blow sends Creed crashing onto the canvas across the back of his head and shoulders before nipping up right back to his feet. Nathan now steps in, delivering forearm strike after forearm strike into Jackson’s jaw.

Creed now turns and rushes into the ropes, bouncing off and coming back in at Adams who drops to the canvas to avoid him. The agile Nathan cartwheels over top of his opposition, landing on his feet while Adams jumps to a standing base. Nathan now rushes at Jackson who turns and throws a lariat only to have his opponent duck the attempted blow, continuing into the ropes. The Future bounces off and comes back at him as Adams goes for a hip toss only to have Nathan display his agility again by flipping forward and landing on his feet, immediately falling to the canvas and pulling Jackson down into an arm drag. Adams flips forward and slams into the ring hard spine first with the crowd going nuts.

Dan: These two know each other so well after years of battles, as just displayed by those numerous counters. This contest finally begin to display signs of sanity.

Mayne: Everyone looks rather controlled for the time being at least. But with the no tag necessary rule expect the chaos to pick up yet again.

Both Adams and Creed race one another to their feet, Jackson charging forward into a boot to the gut that doubles him over. Nathan whips Jackson into the ropes, Adams bouncing off and coming back in at his vengeful opponent who lunges into the air and almost decapitates him with a lariat. Jackson almost flips over backwards after the impact, hitting the canvas hard then rolling across the ring and spilling under the ropes to the outside. A smiling Creed rises to his feet, looking all fired up when Too Magnificent enters the ring and comes close to beheading him with a vicious running big boot. Creed tumbles to the canvas and quickly rolls out of it while Too Mag backs into his corner grinning from ear to ear. Aurora jumps over the ropes though then rushes right at her large opposition, jumping into the air with a flying forearm strike.

Too Magnificent presses his back to the corner while Aurora climbs up the turnbuckle, beginning to rain down with fist after fist into his increasingly reddened face. The angry Too Magnificent now shoves her off only to have Aurora flip over backwards, landing directly on her feet. In a rage the giant charges out of the corner only to have Aurora lung into the air, twisting around upside down as she wraps her legs around the thick neck of her opposition. She then falls forward, pulling Too Magnificent down into a version of the head scissors. The burly beast rolls forward across the canvas, right back to his feet then charges at Aurora who jumps into the air, connecting with a spinning back kick to his sternum. Too Mag is staggered as Rose connects with a series of kicks to his thigh and then his stomach before lunging into the air for a blow to his face. Too Magnificent catches her ankle before her foot could connect and pushes her leg down towards the canvas. As a result Rose slams face first into the ring, pushing herself up onto her elbows and knees while Too Magnificent jumps into the air, crashing down back first right on top of her spine.

Douglas: Ah, a back first senton splash rearranging the features of Aurora Rose.

Billy: She could only use that speed advantage for so long.

Dan: And you can only continue to rehash the same material before your eventually fired.

Craven gives Too Mag a thumbs up from his corner only to have his partner shoot him a disgusted glare. He returns to stomping Rose to the back of the cranium then taking her around the neck, forcing her up to her feet. Using all his might he lifts Rose from her feet and physically tosses her into one of the turnbuckles. The malicious giant steps in, delivering a hard, violent knife edge chop across her sternum. Aurora’s legs kick into the air before she is chopped again by her intense opponent, then once more.

Too Mag takes her by the wrist then whips her out of the corner only for Aurora to surprisingly reverse the whip. Before the brawny giant can hit the corner he stops himself, turns and rushes back at his opposition with a lariat. Aurora ducks it, charging into the corner behind him then pressing her back against it. The monstrous Magnificent barrels towards her when Aurora lifts her legs into the air, wrapping them around his neck. She drops down out of the corner, swinging around and pulling Too Magnificent over into another huge head scissors. He crashes into the canvas across his spine then rolls to his knees, standing up in a dazed state. He falls back first against the ropes while Aurora stands in front of him, going over into a cartwheel. She cartwheels towards Too Magnificent with something big in mind only to have him step forward and catch her on top of his shoulders with an inverted fireman’s carry. He steps sideways into the cables, pulling her over into a reverse Death Valley Driver that sends the young Rose crashing viciously to the outside mats.

Billy: Ahh, Aurora looking for something big, but just like always in her life, it ended disastrously. Mwahahahaha, God I love being sinister.

Dan: You’d be the only one. But Rose has got to recover on the outside in this frantically paced eight person tag.

Aurora rolls across the mats, looking terribly dazed while Too Magnificent turns to face the massive Phantom who rushes in and lariats him over the cables. Too Mag flips over the top rope and spills to the outside mats while Craven now jumps over the top rope, not hesitating to go after the biggest man on the opposite team. As soon as he steps in Phantom takes him by the wrist and whips him into the cables. Max bounces off the ropes then rushes back in at Phantom who drops to the canvas across his gut, forcing his opposition to leap over him. Max builds tremendous speed as he rushes into the ropes, bouncing off and coming back in at Phantom who stands, side stepping him. He pushes Craven along into the opposite ropes now, bouncing off them and then charging back in at his large opposition. Phantom goes for a back elbow only to have Craven duck it and continue along into the ropes once more. He bounces off and moves almost at the speed of light towards Phantom who turns to spot his smaller opponent jumping into the air and drilling him to the sternum with a front dropkick. The dropkick is landed at such a tremendous speed that it takes Phantom off of his feet and sends him crashing across his wide back to the ring.

Mayne: Haha, this will be the one time I ever support Craven and his super speed.

Dan: That dropkick was landed at such a speed that it even took the incredibly large Phantom to the canvas.

Phantom slowly stands up as his wrist is taken by Craven who now tries to whip him across the ring. The giant Phantom places the breaks on it, turning towards Craven then swiping down at his hands, knocking them away from his wrist. This causes Craven to have to rush forward only to be caught with a deep spinning powerslam. Max slams violently into the ring spine first while the shadowy Phantom rises to his feet and spins in a circle, his deadly eyes overlooking the screaming fans. He now turns towards Lethal Weapon who has his hand stuck out for a tag, the crowd cheering as Phantom turns, slapping his palm. Killjoy now slips through the ropes, dying to get his hands on Weapon as the fans start to cheer at the sight of these two legends about to go at it.

Douglas: Killjoy and Weapon now in the ring at the same time, we’ve been waiting ages to see these two lock up in the middle of an IWC ring.

Billy: Yes, I know I’ve been waiting ages to watch Killjoy knock Weapon out.

Craven rolls out of the ring with his hand over his back while Weapon and Killjoy begin to circle each other, the Manhattan Center crowd anxiously waiting for them to tie up for the first time ever in the IWC. Killjoy and Weapon finally rush towards one another, establishing a collar elbow tie, jockeying for positioning. Neither man seems able to obtain the quintessential advantage as Killjoy is powered backwards into the turnbuckle. Killjoy quickly swipes his arms down and then steps out of the corner, placing Weapon in a side headlock submission then pushing him backwards to the center of the ring. Killjoy really digs down deep with the side headlock, Lethal falling to a knee while gritting his teeth.

Weapon powers his way back to his feet though and begins to swing his head free from this side headlock, taking Killjoy by the wrist in the process. He bends the arm of Killjoy over backwards into the top wrist lock before the Master of Mind Games uses his power to break free, dragging Lethal down into the side headlock once more. Lethal steps back and frees his head from the hold, moving behind Killjoy then pushing him forward into the cables. Killjoy bounces off and charges right at Weapon who bends forward, rushing in for the Golden Bullet Spear yet again. However, Killjoy side steps him and connects with a knee right into his face, causing Weapon to stand up straight then spin around into a discus punch to the jaw.

Killjoy crashes to his back then rolls across the canvas to his feet as Lethal steps in looking for a palm strike. Killjoy is able to side step the attempted blow, catching Weapon’s hand and using his grasp to turn him around so that they face each other. As soon as Weapon turns to face his opponent, Killjoy rushes forward with a STO, taking him down back first into the canvas.

Douglas: This seesaw battle between teams continuing even with the legends in there, but Killjoy has gotten the better of Weapon on this exchange.

Billy: I hope they continue to stay in there and kill each other.

Killjoy calls out to his teammates who begin to enter the ring, Jackson not liking the fact that they’re listening to the former World Champion. Adams now enters himself while Weapon is stood up and backed into a corner by Killjoy, who whips him across the ring. Lethal turns, hitting the corner hard spine first while Killjoy rushes in and engulfs him with a big splash. Killjoy steps aside as Craven now charges in and delivers a lariat to his prone opponent. Now Too Magnificent barrels forward, connecting with a clothesline of his own. Finally Jackson Adams charges in and hits a running diving forearm right to Weapon’s jaw, leaving him incredibly dazed as he staggers out of the corner, falling to his knees. Everyone vacates the ring with the exception of Adams who is demanding that he take over and that everyone follow his orders. Killjoy rolls his eyes and opts to comply at this time, Craven doing the same.

Mayne: Jackson and Weapon now left in the ring, and I know how long Adams has been waiting to brutalize one of the ULW’s former owners.

Dan: Of course he’ll only go up against him when Weapon has effectively been cut down by repeated lariats and strikes.

Adams boots Lethal to the side of the face then bends forward, placing him in a neck cravat. The crowd immediately begins to slap the barricades and stomp their feet, trying to rally behind Weapon. However, Lethal fails to feed off their energy, being exhausted and battered by all these strikes. When Lethal looks to be at his weakest, Nathan steps up behind Adams and blasts him over the back with a forearm strike. This shot knocks Jackson forward and sends him spilling through the cables to the outside mats while Craven enters the ring behind Nathan. He rushes at Creed who ducks forward, avoiding the lariat and causing him to charge right into a boot from Aurora Rose, who has no re-entered the ring. In pain Craven turns away from Aurora, doubled over as Nathan jumps into the air, catching him around the neck then delivering a version of the diamond cutter. Max bounces off of the canvas, rolling onto his back while Nathan stands up, placing Aurora in a front chancery. He lifts her up into the air in a vertical suplex position when she drops down out of it into almost a 450 splash, crashing down on top of Craven. She hooks his leg with the crowd cheering. Nathan stands beside his partner making the cover, protecting her from anyone who wants to break up the pin.

Craven kicks out.

Dan: A great tag team move utilized by Creed and Rose.

Billy: Yeah, but it wasn’t enough now was it? So stop getting all excited, you’ll go into a diabetic fit.

Rose rolls off of the pin and out of the ring while Nathan turns towards his laid out opponent, beginning to stomp Craven repeatedly to the chest and the top of his head. He now jumps into the air, coming down knee first directly into Max’s face. The blow causes Craven to sit up on the canvas, rubbing at his features while Creed rolls him over to his feet, delivering a vicious chop across his sternum. The stiff strike echoes throughout the arena and almost sends Craven to the canvas while Nathan headbunts him violently, making him all the more disorientated. Craven is grabbed by the wrist and whipped across the ring into the far corner, which he turns and crashes violently into it. Somehow he remains upright while Creed comes barreling in, jumping at his opposition for a big splash. However, Craven turns and steps under him, catching Nathan on his shoulders in a fireman’s carry then pushing him over into a huge double knees gut buster. Creed bounces off the knees and somehow ends up on his feet, doubled over his ribs and gritting his teeth in anguish. Craven rolls backwards onto his feet then dives over top of Creed’s head, catching him with a flip over neckbreaker.

Douglas: Impressive series of moves by Craven, which I’m sure I’ll be saying much more as this match continues to build from that opening momentum.

Mayne: It’s about time that Craven proved his worth. It only took him a year to do so.

Max stands up and Jackson reaches over the ropes, slapping his partner’s shoulder, even though tags really aren’t necessary. The former Livewire Champion enters and grabs Nathan by the back of his head while he tried to stand. Adams pushes him along into the turnbuckle, Nathan turning and hitting it hard spine first before tumbling to his seat. Jackson now rushes in and connects with a high impact knee strike right to Creed’s face before turning away from him and stepping to the center of the ring. Nathan is still seated against the turnbuckle before Adams rushes in and jumps into the air, flipping upside down then crashing back first right into his seated opponent. The crowd grimaces as Adams rolls backwards to his knees, wearing that same confident snide grin.

Billy: And Jackson continues to steal Craven’s thunder with his far more impressive moves.

Adams grabs the severally dazed Creed by the hair and pulls him out of the corner across his knees. He ends up in the center of the ring in a kneeling position as Killjoy and Craven re-enter the ring, standing a few feet apart from Jackson. The trio charges forward, delivering three simultaneous front dropkicks to the kneeling Creed’s face. The crowd is shocked by the violent impact and Creed is sent crashing to the canvas after taking three kicks from three different angles.

Dan: Oh, nice teamwork just displayed by the Adams Alliance. I’m surprised they could stay cohesive long enough to hit something like that.

Billy: If I can force myself to work with you every two weeks, they can work together too. I’m a constant source of inspiration you see.

Too Magnificent now steps into the ring, passing by his teammates who graciously let him have what’s left Nathan. The maliciously grinning Magnificent takes the hair of Creed and then whips him into the corner before following him in with a big splash. Creed is sandwiched by Jackson’s girth and the immobility of the corner. The giant grabs Creed by the hair and pulls him down to the canvas, sending him rolling onto his back. He now rushes forward and jumps into the air, connecting with a back first senton splash yet again. Creed is almost crushed beneath the weight while Too Mag leans back into the hook of the leg.

Nathan gets his shoulder up just barely.

Too Magnificent now stands up, rushing into the ropes and bouncing off before stepping to his laid out opponent’s side. He jumps into the air, getting some great height then connects with a leg drop right across Nathan’s throat. Creed begins to convulse and cough from the pain while he is dragged to his feet being pulled towards the ropes. Too Magnificent sits Nathan on the second rope then grabs his wrists, stepping back and extending Creed’s body out over the canvas. His legs remain wrapped around the second rope while he’s pulled horizontally away from them, being held tightly by the wrists. Jackson suddenly comes flying off the top rope, hitting a senton bomb right to Creed’s ribs. The fans react with shock, watching Creed crash into the canvas with Adams landing on top of his possibly damaged mid-section.

Douglas: Adams with a senton right into the completely exposed ribs of Creed. Some innovative team work being utilized by the Adams Alliance.

Billy: Everything about them is innovative, besides that relic they have in their corner, Killjoy.

Adams rolls right to his feet and does a little hip gyrating to the disgust of the fans, just showing off now. He arrogantly turns towards the struggling Nathan, who is hacking up a lung after the collision with his ribs. Little time is allowed for suffering because Jackson quickly clubs him over the back and now slaps him to the side of the face. He finally drags him up to his feet and whips him towards the corner, Nathan rushing into at full speed. Jackson has his arms stuck out to his sides with a huge grin on his face while Nathan catches the corner before he hits it, jumping to the top rope. He springs off, twisting in mid-air then coming down with a double axehandle right into Jackson’s smiling face.

Mayne: AHHH!

Douglas: Nathan busting out some agility the likes of which I’ve never seen before.

Billy: Why did it have to target Adams’ perfectly aligned teeth, Nathan must be jealous.

Creed rolls towards his corner, beginning to crawl towards his partners to make a tag when Craven dives into the fray, dropping a double axehandle over his back. He now stands up, delivering several forearm strikes to Nathan’s jaw before delivering a step up enzugari. At the last second Nathan ducks forward, avoiding Craven’s foot and causing him to miss, tumbling face first into the canvas. Creed jumps over his back and slaps the outstretched hand of Lethal Weapon.

Douglas: Lethal has got the tag!

Billy: You say that like it’s a big deal.

Craven stands up when Weapon pulls himself over the top rope then twists in mid-air, connecting with a back elbow right to Max’s sternum. The fans are stunned by Weapon’s agility and accuracy even after being out of the ring for so long. Lethal rolls across the ring and gets to his feet as Jackson now comes barreling towards him only to be caught with a huge twisting spinebuster. Adams is driven violently into the ring spine first while Lethal jumps to his feet, only to be spun around by Killjoy and Too Magnificent, both men taking him by opposite wrists. They whip him across the ring into the ropes, Lethal bouncing off and coming back at his twisted opposition, who have taken hands for a double clothesline. Weapon ducks the intended blow then rushes into the ropes behind them, bouncing off the ropes and coming back in at both his opponents who turn to face him in dismay. As soon as they spin around, Weapon jumps into the air hitting a double clothesline to both their throats.

Dan: Lethal is really cooking in the ring now in his final wrestling appearance for the IWC.

Billy: Sadly he’s taken control of this 8 man tag at Paranoia V.

Killjoy is immediately taken by the hair and rolled to his feet by his opposition while Phantom steps into the ring, spinning the former World Champion around. He’s taken by the wrist by the gothic giant who whips him into the ropes then steps out of the way. As Killjoy comes charging back towards the center of the ring, Aurora, Creed and Weapon dive into the air, hitting three dropkicks all at once. The blows send Killjoy reeling in reverse, spilling through the ropes to the outside of the ring. Too Magnificent now steps up behind Weapon and blasts him to the back of the head with a Northern lariat. Weapon crashes into the canvas while the behemoth steps towards Creed who chops him across the sternum. Too Mag turns with a huge grin on his face before he is blasted under the jaw with a jumping back heel kick from Aurora. The giant turns into a straight open hand chop from the massive palm of Phantom.

To the shock of all three men Too Magnificent steps back, slapping his chest with both his palms and letting out a primal roar. That’s before Aurora delivers a step up style enzugari to the back of his head. Too Mag staggers forward towards Phantom who bends forward, catching him against his shoulder then back dropping him over the ropes. He comes crashing down right on top of Killjoy outside of the ring.

Douglas: Too Mag could only withstand these strikes for so long!

Billy: They may have dazed his gargantuan frame, but they have not done him in by any stretch of the imagination.

Too Magnificent begins to stand up on the outside of the ring as Aurora jumps to the top rope, moonsaulting off of it then twisting and twisting through the air. He crashes down on top of Too Magnificent with a twisting corkscrew moonsault. The Manhattan Crowd goes nuts over that lucha style move from Aurora while Creed now steps to the center of the ring, stomping his foot repeatedly. He rushes backwards into the ropes, bouncing off and charging straight at Too Magnificent, diving through the ropes at the rising giant and hitting him with a suicide headbunt. Too Magnificent is sent staggering backwards and spilling over the barricade into the crowd.

Douglas: Two unbelievable high flying moves taken out the Adams Alliance’s powerhouse!

Billy: This match is so fast paced I’m getting a headache just following all of the action.

Phantom is now outside of the ring, throwing repeated fists into Craven’s face as they battle around ringside. This has left Lethal Weapon alone in the ring as he looks towards the outside at the two of them, setting up for his own dive. He rushes into the ropes, bounces off and charges forward for a big dive. However, his path is derailed by a spinning heel kick from Jackson Adams. Weapon crashes onto his back while Jackson rolls away from him to his knees, grinning with delight.

Billy: Hahaha, great work Adams.

The quick cocky Adams rises to his feet then pulls Weapon to his own, trying to whip him into the corner. Lethal turns and reverses the whip, instead sending Adams charging into the corner and hitting it hard spine first. Weapon now rushes in when Jackson boots him to the face, causing him to be staggered backwards. Jackson now rushes out of the corner when Weapon levels him with a violent lariat. He falls to his knees and rolls under the ropes to the apron, grabbing the top cable and springing to it before flying off with a frog splash. The move connects to Jackson’s ribs with the fans going nuts, Lethal standing up and turning to spot Max Craven flying off the top rope. He connects with a huge dropkick that knocks Weapon down violently to the canvas

The ecstatic Max stands up and staggers backwards into a corner, leaning on it for support when Aurora comes charging towards her rival. She runs right into a boot to the face, causing her to stumble in reverse. Max now pulls himself up backwards, seating himself on the top rope for some type of huge dive. At the last second Aurora rushes at the ropes, stepping up them then twisting around and wrapping her ankles around Craven’s head. She pulls him off the top rope with a head scissors, sending Max crashing hard spine first right into the canvas.

Douglas: What an agile head scissors by Aurora!

Billy: This match is making me seasick.

Aurora stands up, brimming with confidence before she’s put in a front chancery by Too Magnificent, who also hooks her leg. He lifts her into the air, turning Robin upside down into a fisherman brain buster position but then dropping her across the back of his head directly on top of his raised knee. The crowd reacts with absolute shock over the last move which causes Aurora to convulse as she falls to the canvas. Too Mag now roaring like a primal beast before he turns towards Nathan who rushes in and jumps forward with a diving big boot, connecting right against his chin. Too Magnificent crashes to the ring with Nathan landing on his seat beside him, rolling away with the fans in awe over the violent impact of that boot shot.

He stands up when Killjoy steps behind him, hooking both his arms then lifting him into the air, dragging him down out of the full nelson into a DDT. Creed’s skull is driven viciously into the ring while he now rolls onto his back, Killjoy standing and running at Phantom who has just re-entered the ring. Phantom catches Killjoy under his arm and spins him around into a vicious sidewalk slam that gets the crowd reacting with even greater excitement.

Douglas: Move after move after move, the control of this match constantly changing hands.

Mayne: These eight athletes are making me dizzy.

Dan: You get dizzy tying your shoes.

The fans are still overly excited by what they’ve witnessed thus far, their hearts pounding and their adrenaline racing while in the the ring Phantom slowly starts to stand up. He’s drained by the high speed of this confrontation before a dazed Adams steps up behind him, taking hold of his arms and beginning to spin him around into position for the unprettier. However, Phantom stands up, lifting Adams off of his feet and sending him flipping over backwards, landing on his feet right ehind his opponent. He now rushes forward when Phantom turns and catches him by the throat, the crowd screaming as the gothic giant lifts Adams into the air and chokeslams him violently into the canvas, falling to his knees as he hits the move. Aurora is getting up even after taking that brutal move from Magnificent, slipping through the ropes onto the apron then scaling the corner. She gets to the top rope with Phantom holding Adams in position for some type of huge dive.

As she sets up to take flight from the outside of the ring Too Magnificent throws a chair into the side of her body. The blow knocks Aurora off of the corner and sends her crashing to the outside mats. The official didn’t see it, too preoccupied with Craven standing up in the ring and holding onto the referee’s shirt to assist himself to his feet. Phantom begins to stand up looking flustered only for Craven to rush up behind him, delivering a kick to his jaw and causing him to go into a spin. He turns his back to Max who jumps into the air, wedging his knees to Phantom’s spine then pulling him down into a back stabber variation. Phantom bounces off of the knees and then turns, falling to the canvas across his stomach. Max rolls over backwards to his feet then barrels towards the rising Lethal Weapon, slugging him to his jaw with a closed fist, then following it up with another strike.

Douglas: Craven surprisingly taking it to his larger opposition, keeping the Adams Alliance in this confrontation.

Billy: Keep it up Max, show some consistency and maybe I’ll start to almost begin, marginally liking you.

Too Magnificent is stepping over the ropes into the ring behind his partner’s back, wearing a very intense expression on his face. Max takes Weapon by the wrist and pulls him forward into a short arm clothesline only to have Lethal duck it then jump into the air, twisting around and connecting with a spinning heel kick to the face of Too Mag. The giant is knocked to the canvas with Weapon rolling away from him to his feet, Craven charging directly at him only to be caught against his opposition’s shoulders. He is hoisted into the air in a fireman’s carry while Weapon steps towards the corner, Aurora climbing back up onto it. She reaches the top cable then jumps off, twisting and landing feet first right on top of Craven’s back then flipping over in reverse with a moonsault where she crashes down against Too Mag’s mid-section. All the while Weapon delivers a TKO Diamond cutter on Craven. Another loud reaction is heard from the crowd at the sight of Aurora’s vary aerial move.

Douglas: Ohhh, incredible agility shown by Aurora with that aerial maneuver.

The referee drops and makes the count.

Too Magnificent launches his shoulder from the canvas, kicking out just before the three count could be made. The fans are absolutely stunned by this kick out as an angry Aurora gets to her feet, approaches the corner then scales it quickly. She reaches the top rope then dives off, flipping through the air several times before crashing down into Too Mag’s mid-section with the 630. The entire arena is erupting once again as she leans back into another cover.

No, Too Magnificent lobs his shoulder from the canvas.

Billy: Those last two nearfalls had my heart in my throat.

Dan: What heart?

A tired Killjoy has risen to his feet with his hand over his back before Aurora charges at him. She jumps into the air with a leg lariat that Killjoy is fortunate enough to duck under, causing Aurora to land behind him. She now springs onto the back of his shoulders, looking for a reverse hurricarana. However, Killjoy places his hands to her seat, pushing her up and over his head so that she lands directly in front of him then is hit with a vicious bridging German suplex.

Somehow Aurora kicks out, getting her shoulder up with just seconds to spare. Killjoy slowly begins to force himself to his feet, looking rather drained when Nathan regains consciousness, charging directly at him only to be caught with a mafia kick directly under the jaw, taking Creed right back down. Killjoy now steps over him and slips through the ropes, climbing the turnbuckle before launching himself off into a huge big splash crashing down right on top of Creed. He hooks his leg.

Nathan gets his shoulder up just in time, the Manhattan Center stunned by this.

Mayne: Killjoy almost pinning Creed! My God what a crazy 8 person tag match we’re seeing here at Paranoia V!

Dan: I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much action in one match.

Lethal Weapon is now brawling with Too Magnificent on the outside of the ring, both men going at it just like at the very beginning of this match. Phantom steps in and blasts Too Mag over the back as he and Weapon double team him. Jackson has gotten back to his feet and steps up behind Killjoy, demanding he pull Creed to his knees. The former World Champion grins as he grabs Creed by the hair, pulling him to a kneeling base. Now Adams rushes into the ropes, bouncing off and coming back in at the kneeling Nathan, delivering a vicious knee strike right to his face. Nathan is knocked onto his back while Killjoy turns, spotting the brawl on the outside of the ring. He rolls under the cables and goes out to assist Too Magnificent while Jackson grabs Creed by the ear, forcing him to his feet then hooking both of his arms, setting up for the Angel’s Wings. However, Creed pushes him backwards into the corner, ramming him hard spine first against it. Nathan now moves out of the way right as Aurora comes barreling across the ring, jumping into the air with a knee strike to Adams’ jaw.

Lethal rolls back into the ring while Phantom is now going at it with Killjoy, Too Magnificent kneeling on the mats in an attempt to recuperate. Aurora and Nathan now begin to position Jackson over the ropes in the corner, placing his legs over the middle rope and his upper back over the perpendicular cable, leaving him elevated above the canvas and in a laid out position. Creed now takes Aurora by the back of the head, placing it under his seat then lifting her up into a powerbomb position. He pushes her over into a backwards flip where she comes crashing down feet first right into Jackson’s ribs. Adams is knocked down out of the corner, grabbing at his ribs amongst screams from the crowd while Weapon drags his head under his seat then lifts him up onto his shoulders. Weapon rushes out of the corner and delivers a vicious running sit-out powerbomb. He leans shoulders first into the back of Jackson’s legs.

Somehow Adams is able to get his shoulder up off of the canvas, leaving everyone in attendance absolutely stunned.

Dan: Adams just barely getting his shoulder up after that offensive combination by Team Creed! What a sensational tag bout we’re witnessing here at Paranoia V.

Billy: I told you Adams was unbeatable.

Phantom was overpowered on the outside of the ring, leaving him kneeling as Too Magnificent and Killjoy once again enter the ring. Killjoy steps up towards a distracted Aurora, catching her with a mafia style kick directly under the jaw. Nathan rushes at Too Magnificent who catches him to the chest and stomach, throwing him up high into the air. He then comes tumbling down right into the waiting arms of his large opposition who drops back into a fallaway slam. Creed crashes violently into the ring while Killjoy is now in a fist fight with Weapon, the two struggling for dominance here. Killjoy now steps in, throwing a right hand that Weapon ducks, causing the Master of Mind Games to turn, placing his back to Too Magnificent who is standing behind him. Suddenly Weapon barrels forward, spearing Killjoy backwards into Too Mag, lifting both men off of their feet and driving them into the canvas.

Dan: OHHH! Can you believe it? Weapon just speared two men at the same time.

Mayne: Enough is enough of this insanity already, please!

Both men crash to the canvas while Weapon stands up, unleashing a primal roar. However, he then turns as Craven springs off the top rope, landing on his shoulders and flipping him over backwards into a pinning hurricarana. The referee drops and makes the count with the fans once again going nuts.

Weapon kicks out, causing Craven to be launched forward, landing on his elbows and knees, obviously he thought he had the victory in this contest. He slowly begins to force himself to his feet when Aurora rushes up behind him, taking Max around the neck then jumping into the air. She wedges her feet against the top rope then pushes herself off, twisting as she connects with the Sinful Desires (Stratusfaction).

Douglas: Now the Sinful Desires just nailed by Aurora! The pace of this match is unbelievable.

Billy: Dammit Max, prove your usefulness.

Aurora climbs into the cover, hooking Max’s leg now.

Craven is able to launch his shoulder from the canvas, causing the crowd to react again with astonishment. The fans are almost out of breath as Aurora stands up only to be caught around the arms from behind by Jackson, who turns her around and delivers the Unprettier. Aurora’s skull collides violently with the ring as she rolls over onto her back, Adams painstakingly crawling into the cover.

No, Weapon and Creed both dive into the frame at the last second, dropping elbows into the back of Adams’ head, breaking up the pinfall attempt.

Billy: I’m out of breathe trying to keep up with this thing.

Douglas: The Adams Alliance so close to securing a win right there if it hadn’t been for Creed and Weapon.

Although all three men are tired, Weapon and Creed stand up, taking Jackson by the wrists then slugging him repeatedly to the jaw. They both whip him into the ropes, Jackson catching the top cable though, keeping from coming back in at his opposition. Lethal comes barreling towards JA who bends forward, catching him against his shoulders then back dropping him over the ropes. Weapon comes crashing down on top of Phantom on the outside of the ring, both men tumbling to the mats amongst screams from the crowd. Nathan now rushes towards Adams who is leaning against the cables, Jackson stepping away from them and ducking an attempted clothesline from the Future. He ends up behind his back, catching him around the neck then dropping Creed with a layout reverse DDT. Creed’s cranium collides forcefully against the canvas while Jackson rests on his knees, breathing heavily.

Mayne: Yes, are you watching this Dan, the masterful work of Jackson Adams in that ring right now?

Douglas: Adams certainly kicking it into a higher gear right now, keeping his team alive in this contest.

A somewhat exhausted Jackson now rises to his feet, turning towards the struggling Max Craven, demanding he step in and assist him. Although Max is rather winded he gets up holding his nose, stepping in to help his partner. Jackson implores Max to stand Nathan up while he reaches into the front of his pants, removing a pear of brass knuckles. He places it around his fist while Craven holds Creed up, making sure he’s perfectly positioned. The crowd starts to boo while Adams rushes forward, swinging his brass covered fist towards Nathan’s face only to have Max drop Creed at the last second. He catches Adams’ wrist and looks at the brass knuckles then into Jackson’s eyes, promptly shaking his head.

Billy: What the hell do you think you’re doing Craven!?!

Dan: Max not allowing Adams to use those brass knuckles, he wants to win this match with an iota of respect despite the way that it got started.

Craven lets go of Jackson’s wrist while shouting furiously at him. Max swipes his hands through the air, insisting that he’s had enough of these underhanded tactics while Adams holds his palms up, inferring that he’s going to play by the rules. He then steps forward, swinging the brass covered fist right at Max’s face who ducks it at the last second, rushing into the ropes behind him and bouncing from the cables. A stunned Adams turns around when his own partner jumps over his head, catching him around the neck, then pulling him down into the Big Stiffy (Blockbuster). The fans are going nuts while Max stands up over top of Adams, giving him a spiteful glare.

Mayne: Noooo!

Dan: The Adams’ Alliance falling apart before our very eyes!

Craven now turns around when Too Magnificent kicks him to the gut, placing him in a front chancery then lifting him into the air, connecting with the Midas Touch. Max’s skull rams violently into the ring before he rolls across the canvas, spilling to the outside mats. A tired Too Magnificent stands up, glaring furiously to the outside of the ring at the down Craven when he’s caught around the back of the neck, his head being bent over in reverse where Nathan connects with the Solitude (Eye of the Hurricane).

Douglas: Creed with the SOLITUDE!

Billy: BULLSHIT!

The Future climbs into the lateral press on his massive opponent’s sternum, the fans on their feet screaming.

Everyone in the Manhattan Center reacts with utter delight as Team Creed has finally just picked up the victory in this out of control 8 person tag team match.

Dan: Team Creed is victorious! Creed caught Too Magnificent with the Solitude, he put him away after an utterly insane 8 person tag team war!

Billy: You’ve got to be f’ing kidding me! Damn that sanctimonious Craven, he cost his team the victory.

Those in the Manhattan Center are again going nuts over the out of control, fast paced action they just beheld. Although writhing in pain Creed rises to his feet, his eyes transferring to his teammates. Phantom and Weapon slide back into the ring while an exhausted Aurora steps to Creed’s opposite side. All four individuals now take each other’s hands, standing side by side in the center of the ring as they raise all eight arms in victory. The crowd lavishes them with praises, pleased at the sight of the exhausted victors standing before them over the bodies of the recovering Adams Alliance.

Mayne: I can’t understand how we go from one great moment with Desolation winning the title, to this, the defeat of the Adams Alliance by Team Creed of all groups.

Dan: Nathan Creed, Aurora Rose, Phantom and Lethal Weapon stand triumphant here at the biggest show in IWC history. Thank you all for an incredible match, but we’re not through yet.

The camera continues to pan over the four individuals standing triumphant in the ring, hands interlocked with arms raised high.

CUT AWAY

The show switches from the live feed to a graphic featuring the intense eyes of Orlando Cruze and the arrogant, smug grin of Hurse holding the World Heavyweight title belt.

Dan: And now it’s all come down to this ladies and gentlemen.

Billy: Our main event is here, one year in the making, Orlando Cruze challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship where he’ll fail yet again against the mighty title holder Hurse.

Douglas: It has been a long and intricate road leading us here to Paranoia V, let’s go back to where it all began.

THE END?

Static overtakes the screen with images trying desperately to come into focus. Through brief flashes Orlando Cruze’s bloodied face can be seen, as well as the crimson covered Hurse, static then overtakes the screen yet again. Brief, albeit choppy voices can be heard in the background.

Douglas: What a war we’re seeing here at Paranoia IV….

Billy: These guys are killing each other inside the Weapon’s Lair.

Through the static, hazy scenes continue to be interspersed, such as Orlando giving Hurse a Rock Bottom in the center of the ring, and the World Champion striking the Icon with a 2x4 wrapped in barbwire. Ever so briefly the crowd can be heard screaming in the background before everything becomes distorted by static then transforms into darkness. Although the screaming fans can be heard, erupting louder than ever before, nothing can be seen besides a pitch black screen. It’s not until Dan Douglas’ excited vocals kick in that the video explodes with violent imagery.

Douglas: THEY’RE FIGHTING OVER THE TITLE!

Billy: Who’s going to win the gold!?!

The crowd is still going nuts while Desolation, Orlando and Hurse are shown in the doorway to the Weapon’s Lair, in a three way tug of war over the World title belt.

Douglas: The first one who gets the belt through the door will become Champion!

The title continues to be struggled over from the three competitors when the music takes a sharp, spine tingling turn, coinciding with Desolation delivering the Buzzsaw kick right to the bloodied face of Cruze. This allows Hurse to fall through the Weapon’s Lair doorway, holding the Championship tightly against his sternum.

Douglas: NO! What has Desolation done!?!

Hurse and Desolation are now featured shaking one another’s hands, grinning widely before it cuts to both men hoisted high on the shoulders of the Alpha Generation.

Billy: Unbelievable, what a shocking twist, Desolation has joined the Alpha Generation.

Dan: Orlando has been screwed.

The cage wall stands between the camera and the blood soaked features of the Icon, who leans face first against the mesh. His eyes are filled with despair, staring longingly into the camera lens, watching the two men celebrating with the World Heavyweight title belt, realizing full well that he had been robbed of another opportunity.

You fight me, flat on my lonely face I fell.
Finding in the end I live well.
In light of the life that I have found,
It's coming down.

The crimson covered Cruze crawls through the Weapon’s Lair door, his palms pressed over his bloodied face, depression setting in over this loss. Brief periods of static again overtake the screen, cutting to the smiling face of Hurse, the World Championship held high above his smiling features while he stands with Desolation in the center of the ring. Although the static keeps interrupting, Hurse’s words can be heard.

Hurse: I will…. Be … the ….. greatest….

As the static dissipates the camera finds itself zoomed in on Hurse’s confident eyes.

Hurse: World Champion….and Desolation and I have decided that Orlando will never….NEVER … get another title shot AGAIN!

The video breaks down again with a bright white haze.

I don't know what isn't real,
But it's easy
To beat me.
(Suck it in)
Life is sink or swim.
Love is blinding, no surviving.

The disheveled Orlando stands before General Manager AWOL in the ring, being filmed through a bad lens that tilts the figures unnaturally, static again trying to break in.

AWOL: I’ve decided that until you prove yourself to me, you’ll never get another title shot … title shot ….title shot.

Through brief video distortions the camera finds itself drawn to the emotionally crippled Cruze, who’s whole life revolves around the pursuit of the title. It then switches to Orlando on the mic in the ring before he is cut off by the returning Sallie, his former lover, joined alongside Krissie.

Sallie: Orlando, sweety, I’m back to make your life a living hell.

The Icon seems to be growing even more and more enraged while this package slowly progresses into a shot of the former Champion being bloodied and battered at the hands of Savior and Riddick. It then cuts to Hurse hitting Orlando with the World title belt while he is held up by those same two assailants.

Douglas: With all these forces set against Orlando Cruze, will he ever get back to the World Heavyweight title.

Static cuts in while the camera is zoomed in on Hurse’s face.

Hurse: I will be the greatest World Champion!

The static continues before the screen starts to be bombarded with clips of Hurse’s reign.

I don't know what I want to be yet.
But I can show that I need to see this.
No time for lies and empty fights.
I'm on your side.

Although the video is again choppy and deluded through it’s flaws, Hurse can still be seen hitting Chapel with the Contra Code. This is followed by a clip of him delivering a low blow to Faust’s testicles, as well as giving Christian Savior the Sanitizer. The next portion of the video relates to Desolation hitting Psycho in the head with a 2x4 wrapped in barbwire so that Hurse can roll him up for a victory. It then switches to the Dark Man swinging the door of a steel cage shut right into Aurora’s face, allowing Hurse to defeat her yet again.

Hurse: I will be the greatest World Champion!

Everything breaks down into static once more.

Douglas: This is it, the winner goes to Paranoia V to face Hurse for the World title!

Clips flood the screen featuring Jon Rich versus Orlando Cruze for the number one contendership at the World title. Jon is briefly featured working over the hand of Cruze, until the video shifts to the Icon catching Rich with a powerslam on the outside mats.

Dan: For Orlando this has been a year in the making, his pursuit for the World title.

Orlando’s intense features consume the screen as he stands over the struggling Rich. Both men are now seen trading hold after hold, pinfall after pinfall attempt before finally culminating with Cruze catching Jon with the MMA elbows.

Dan: Orlando has done it, he’s going to PARANOIA V!

The clip of him raining down elbows to Rich’s jaw slowly freeze and become enveloped with bright light.

Billy: It’s OFFICIAL, it’s going to be World Champion Hurse….

Hurse is depicted pushing Robin down on a couch and bringing out little Becca Cruze, wrapping his arms around her.

Mayne:…defending the title against Orlando Cruze at the biggest payper-view in IWC history.

Orlando dominates the airtime now, seen delivering the Rock Bottom on Jon Rich from the top rope, before transferring to him standing with a steel chair in hand, looking down distraught as Hurse hugs his illegitimate daughter.

Douglas: After a year of waiting, Orlando will finally get what could be his last opportunity at the World title.

Can we live a life of peace and happiness?
I don't think so.

No denying I am scared to lose the things I love.
I'm in control.

Hurse nervously glances down at the World title belt draped over his shoulder and Orlando is shown seemingly trying to reason with his daughter, who walks away with a shaking of her head.

Hurse: I will be the greatest World Champion!

Orlando delivers the Rock Bottom on Hurse and now hooks his leg with the official making the quick count. When he’s announced the victor he stands up holding the World Championship high. However, his serenity is short lived as Sallie makes her way out onto the stage with a smile on her face.

Sallie: I regret to inform you that Orlando’s drug test showed traces of opiates, therefore this title match is stricken from the records.

The video cuts back to Desolation giving Orlando the buzzsaw kick, screwing him out of the championship at Paranoia IV.

This is how, this is how it's going to end.
This is how, this is how it's going to end.
End

Hurse sneaks out from beneath a table, rushing up behind Orlando and trying to hit him with a steel pipe only to be caught across the chest, about to be Rock Bottomed. He squirms free and rolls out of the ring. The video jumps to a scene of Hurse slamming a video camera right between Orlando’s eyes, busting him wide open.

Everyone is waiting here for everyone.
Leave me alone

Orlando and Hurse are now displayed standing face to face in the center of the ring, little Becca held between them and microphones in hand.

Orlando: You can keep talking about how bad of a father I am, about how my family life is unstable, but none of that will effect our match at Paranoia V, none of that will stop me from bringing my absolute best when the belt is on the line.

The camera cuts between both of their hungry, intense gazes.

Hurse: Outwardly you may have everyone convinced that somehow this title match will be different, but internally you recognize the fact that history is just going to repeat itself yet again.

Again both their intimidating gazes are captured for posterity sakes.

This is how, this is how it's going to end.
This is how, this is how it's going to end.
This is how, this is how it's going to end.
(No)
This is how, this is how it's going to end.

Orlando slams repeated chair shots over Hurse’s skull, battling him to the back. Orlando is hit with the Contra Code from Hurse out of the corner right in front of his innocent, illegitimate daughter. Hurse fights his way out of position for a Rock Bottom.

Dan: Everything is going to be on the line.

Orlando: I will not fail again.

Hurse: Your destined for failure.

The final clip in this long build up focuses on Orlando standing in the ring and Hurse positioned on top of the announce table. The World Heavyweight title hangs from the grasp of the Champion.

“You Know My Name” bursts forth from the speakers, getting everyone in the Manhattan Center on their feet. The camera flashes over those holding pro-Orlando signs, their faces flushed red with excitement.

Douglas: It is upon us Billy, the World Championship match a year in the making is finally here, and there will be no further delay.

Billy: You make it sound exciting, not like the squash we’re actually about to see.

Through the curtains Orlando finally emerges to an even louder reception from the sold out crowd. As soon as he steps onto the stage and overlooks the fans an explosion of pyrotechnics rock the entire stage as well as shower down from the titantron above him. Multi-colored sparkles rain down upon the entry way while Orlando begins to stroll towards the ring with a bright fire lit in his eyes. Intensity seems to radiate from every inch of his frame, which is in tremendous shape for perhaps the biggest match of his career. While the crowd continues to lavish him with praises Orlando suddenly stops, turning with a slight grin on his face and pointing towards the titantron. A loud explosion is heard before a huge picture lowers into position over top of the screen, supported by hooks hanging from the rafters. On this large canvas is a photo-shopped picture of Orlando holding the World title belt over his shoulder, giving the camera a smug grin. This sends the fans into an even louder reaction while Orlando slides into the ring with a smile then jumps to his feet. He rushes at one of the turnbuckles, stepping up it then throwing his fist up high into the air.

Billy: Who does this pompous son of a bitch think he is? How dare he make that fake picture which I’ll surely tear down after this event and sell on e-bay.,

Dan: Orlando obviously confident about his chances here tonight, but let’s hope he’s not too confident, much like I’m sure his opponent will be.

Mayne: Orlando thinks that just because he has these fans on his side that the title is his, I’m afraid it just doesn’t work that way.

Douglas: After everything Orlando has been through, all he’s endured since the last Paranoia, I think it’s safe to say he’s counting on a little more than crowd support to earn him the title.

Orlando drops down out of the corner, turning his attention to the entry way, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the World Heavyweight Champion.

There is a house in New Orleeaannnss
They call the Rissssiinnng Sun
It’s been the ruin of many a poor boy
And lord I know I’m one…

UHHHHHHH!!!

The crowd now has a much different reaction at the sound of these lyrics while the curtains begin to sway then rip apart to reveal the Champion. Hurse steps out onto the stage wearing a rather pompous smile. It’s almost as if he’s aware of something that the fans nor his opponent are. He stops on the edge of the ramp adorned in a long red coat that wraps all around his body while the Championship glistens around his waist. The expensive leather suit shimmers while Hurse makes his way towards the ring, not even losing his crude grin when his eyes meet with the Icon’s. Orlando is bent forward with his hands on his knees watching Hurse climb the stairs onto the apron. The Championship is slowly removed from his waist then lifted into the air, causing an explosion of pyrotechnics to fly from the rafters above. Hurse briefly glances over his shoulder at the huge banner hanging in the entry way which makes him smile all the more smugly. Finally he slips through the ropes and begins to remove his expensive coat with the words “Champ 4 Life” written in gold lettering across the back.

Mayne: Did you see that smile Dan, did you see the confidence just oozing from the Champion?

Dan: Yes, strange to see him more confident than fearful, which is how he goes into many of his title matches. I’m getting a rather concerned feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Billy: Pre-menstrual bloating?

Douglas: I wish, I just hope that tonight we see a fair one on one bout for the title, a match that lives up to all the hype that has surrounded it throughout 2007 building into 2008.

Kaily Wolf now stands in the center of the ring holding a mic to her smiling lips.

Kaily: Ladies and gentlemen, the following match is your Paranoia V, MAIN EVENT!

Those in attendance begin to cheer accordingly while Champion and Challenger exchange glares from opposite ends of the ring.

Kaily: And it is for the World Heavyweight Championship! Introducing first, the Challenger, hailing from NEW YORK CITY, and weighing in tonight at 255 lbs, he is the Icon, ORLANDO CRUZE!

The roof almost comes off the Manhattan Center at the conclusion of this introduction, Orlando now the one grinning at Hurse who tries to cover his ears to block out the reception.

Kaily: And the defending Champion, hailing from Washington D.C, and weighing in tonight at 230 lbs, he is the Master of Control, HURSE!

The fans’ reaction drastically changes, leaving Hurse less than stunned. He merely shakes his head and brushes them off before stepping forward, lifting his World title belt up high in order to rub it in to Cruze and perhaps make him a little more anxious. The referee, Alex Ingelson requests the title, which is handed to him while Kaily vacates the ring, smartly getting out of harms way.

The World Heavyweight Champion beams a confident grin towards the Challenger, who looks more intense than ever, unwilling to allow this opportunity to slip through his grasp yet again. The bell chimes and Orlando and Hurse slowly saunter out of their respective corners, finding themselves only a few inches removed.

Douglas: And the time is now ladies and gentlemen, this is it, the Paranoia V main event. A year in the making has built to this.

Mayne: Tonight, history will repeat itself, mark my words.

There is a bright fire within Orlando’s eyes, a blazing intensity, while Hurse seems more arrogant than ever. Shockingly, instead of looking terrified he appears carefree, confident about this impending title match. The Icon and the Master of Control step nose to nose, eying one another’s very souls while Hurse slowly begins to smile. He now steps back as both men immediately establish a collar elbow tie. They begin to jostle and struggle against one another, trying their best to obtain the upper hand in what could be an intricate game of chess between them. Orlando suddenly powers the World Champion backwards with all of his strength, backing him into a corner. The official steps in and immediately begins to force the Icon back away from the Master of Control, who suddenly rushes out of the corner. Orlando catches him with an arm drag though, flipping Hurse over and slamming him into the canvas.

Hurse rolls to his knees in a bit of shock and then rushes towards Orlando who sweeps his legs out from under him then drops down onto his chest with the lateral press.

Hurse kicks out, rolling away from Orlando and then standing up quickly. He bolts right towards the Icon who gives him a huge hip toss over onto the canvas, sending him crashing spine first hard into the ring. He now rolls right across the canvas and spills out under the ropes. In agitation the World Champion steps across the mats and puts on a charismatic smile as he holds his palms out towards the ring.

Douglas: Orlando out wrestling Hurse here at the start of this contest.

Billy: So what, he caught him with a few hip tosses and arm drags, that’s not out wrestling someone. Hurse just has some of those Paranoia jitters is all.

Dan: Your shameful excuses continue to astound me.

Orlando stands in the center of the ring with his ravenous eyes locked on Hurse as he makes his way around the ring, the referee starting a ten count. Finally the Champion jumps to the apron then slips through the ropes rather tentatively as he watches his Challenger closely. The Icon no longer allows Hurse to dictate the pace, stepping towards his opponent and catching him by the arms. Both men begin to turn in circles as they fight for dominance in this confrontation. Somehow Hurse is able to power his Challenger backwards into the turnbuckle, holding him there while the official steps in and starts a five count. Finally the Champion steps back, his palms held up in the air breaking the collar elbow. Orlando gives him a speculative stare when Hurse throws a fist directly at his face. Right before it could connect the Icon ducks the shot, causing his opponent to turn and fall spine first against the corner. He now rushes out of it and gets caught with a huge arm drag, sending him flipping over crashing into the canvas. Hurse rolls to his knees then barrels towards Orlando who catches him with a Japanese style arm drag this time. Cruze falls to his back while his rival flips off of his feet and slams violently into the ring. He arches his back and rolls away from Cruze in the direction of the cables.

Douglas: Orlando continuing to physically dominant Hurse right here from the start of this contest.

Billy: He’s just playing dead right now to lull Cruze into a false sense of security, then he’ll snap.

Dan: Your shameless Billy, shameless.

Mayne: It’s my most desirable attribute.

A somewhat stunned Hurse rises to his feet only to be blasted across the sternum with a knife edge chop, then another that sends him reeling in reverse. However, he quickly reaches out and rakes Orlando in the eyes, causing him to grab at his face while stepping to the center of the ring. With the Icon dazed Hurse now barrels out of the corner and is caught with yet another huge arm drag, sending him flying through the air then tumbling with force to the canvas. Orlando turns quickly, applying an armlock on his laid out opposition. This inability to get on the offensive is making the Champion all the more bitter, now that his arm is being violently torqued and ripped at. He slowly rolls back though, lifting his feet into the air then wedging them to Orlando’s face, pushing him off. Cruze is forced to break the hold as he drops onto his back, Hurse standing up and grabbing his nearby ankle. He begins to lift it into the air in order to apply a hold when Cruze reaches up with his other leg, wrapping them around Hurse’s arm then forcing him down to the canvas. As soon as Hurse hits the canvas Orlando slides around across his posterior, grabbing the arm with his hands then trying to force it between his knees to apply the crossface.

Douglas: He’s looking for the crossface already!

Billy: This is like a nightmare I had starring Phil Donahue.

The Icon is vigilant as he tries to establish the hold only for Hurse to bite one of Cruze’s hands, then turn, elbowing him right under the jaw. Orlando turns onto his knees while Hurse rolls away from him, the Alpha Gen representative getting to his feet before storming towards his prone opponent. Orlando turns and catches Hurse with a drop toe hold out of nowhere, sending him tumbling stomach first into the canvas while Cruze tries to step over his leg and apply the STF.

Dan: Now Orlando going for the STF submission!

Mayne: That’s it Hurse, get him to exhaust himself by beating you up, brilliant strategy.

The crowd is going nuts as Orlando again tries to interlock his hands around in front of Hurse’s jaw, only to have the Champion push them away. Cruze begins to blast him repeatedly over the back of the neck as he scrambles towards the ropes, reaching out and grabbing the bottom one. As a result Orlando is forced to break his lock on the leg, standing up behind the Champion then taking him by the ankle. Despite Hurse’s best attempts to keep hold of the bottom rope, he is forcefully dragged back to the center of the ring where Orlando drops to his side and again attempts to apply the crossface.

Billy: Stop it with these submissions Orlando, just stop it already!

Before he can even fully take hold of the arm, Hurse rolls away from him, getting under the ropes.

Mayne: Thank heavens.

Douglas: Hurse again rolling to the outside in order to avoid Orlando’s highly destructive arsenal of submission maneuvers. I never would have imagined we’d be watching Orlando out technical wrestle the World Champion here in the main event to Paranoia V.

An exasperated Champion remains seated on the apron with his back turned towards the ropes, catching his breath while Orlando refuses to give him anymore time to collect himself. He reaches over the cables and grabs a screaming Hurse by the hair, pulling him up to his feet on the apron. Before he can be dragged into the ring, Hurse grabs Orlando by the wrist and falls off the apron, dragging the Icon’s arm down into the top rope. His shoulder bounces violently from the cable, causing the Challenger to grit his teeth as he turns back to the center of the ring. He doubles over forward with his hand palming his shoulder as the vulture like Hurse slides in behind him then quickly rushes forward. The Champion hits a clubbing blow to the back of Orlando’s shoulder, then takes hold of his wrist, swinging around under it as he applies the arm ringer.

Billy: Now your about to see a true definition of technical wrestling from perhaps the greatest Champion in IWC history.

Dan: He’s been the only champion since the IWC rose from the ashes of the ULW.

Mayne: And as thus that makes him the greatest, thanks for proving my point.

Hurse lifts his elbow and drives it into the back of Orlando’s bicep, causing him to drop to a knee before his arm is folded over backwards into the top wrist lock. The Icon remains at this kneeling base for a only a moment before he forces himself up to his feet, his body shaking while doing so. Hurse tries to put everything that he’s got into the hold but Orlando just won’t stay down. As a result Hurse quickly swings pulls Orlando’s arm back out to his side and then swings around under it with great speed. This whips Orlando down shoulder first right into the canvas. He bounces off of the ring then rises to his knees, grabbing at his shoulder when Hurse takes hold of his arm yet again and applies a hammerlock. Many of the fans are still stunned by the way this contest has begun, yet others have already begun an Orlando chant, hoping to instill that same opening momentum within him.

Mayne: Isn’t this just a thing of beauty Dan? And I’m talking early Elizabeth Hurley, pre-crack whore beauty.

Dan: Hurse is certainly doing a number on that arm right here in the early goings of this title match, slowing things down with a dazzling technical display.

Orlando begins to stand up with Hurse still twisting his arm at the wrong angle via the hammerlock. Now the Icon performs a standing switch, stepping behind Hurse then dropping down and grabbing the back of his trunks. He’s pulled down into a school boy pin.

Hurse kicks out, rolling over backwards to his feet then charging at Cruze who catches him with a small package.

Hurse launches his shoulder from the ring again, spilling to the ring across his stomach while Orlando switches around and grabs hold of his arm, attempting to lock in the crossface for a third time.

Dan: Orlando looking for that submission yet again!

Billy: He won’t force Hurse to tap out this early! Will he?

Hurse grabs Orlando under the knee and rolls away from him, pulling him over onto the back of his shoulders.

Cruze kicks out, dropping to his knees while Hurse rolls to a kneeling base in front of him. He stands up and throws a punch at the rising Champion’s face only to have his wrist caught by his ever allusive rival. Hurse swings around under Cruze’s arm then slaps his hand into the Icon’s open palm, reaching out and doing the same to the other hand as well. The crowd reacts with despair as Hurse has got a test of strength applied on the Icon, quickly kicking him to both knees so that he falls to a kneeling base before him. This gives Hurse more of a power leverage, causing a smile to cut from one ear all the way to the other.

Orlando’s momentum has been ended as he finds himself on his knees before the Champion, who is bending his wrists back at an awkward angle. The pain is really quite intense due to the work that has already been done to his arm at the hands of the title holder. The Master of Control bends the wrists back at an even further angle while Orlando now has to use his slightly damaged arm to begin forcing himself upwards. All of his strength is used to try and reverse the pain onto Hurse’s wrists who is shaking his head with clear fear in his eyes. As soon as Orlando stands up Hurse reaches out with his leg, placing it around behind Cruze’s knee then forcing him backwards over it. The intensity of the Champion begins to show, Orlando beginning to be bridged over backwards by his hands. Finally after a bitter struggle Orlando finds himself bridging over completely backwards with the top of his head pressed to the canvas.

Douglas: Look at this surprisingly agility by Orlando, who is bridged over in reverse in a crab walk style position, yet his shoulders will not be pressed to the canvas.

Billy: Stop delaying the inevitable Orlando.

Ingelson drops to the canvas to make sure Orlando’s shoulders aren’t pressed to the canvas as the backs of both his fists are forced to the ring. Somehow Cruze is able to keep his back arched and his shoulders free from the ring while an angered Hurse jumps into the air, coming down knees first right to Orlando’s stomach. To the Champion’s disbelief Orlando is still bridged over in reverse, not being taken to the ring shoulder’s first.

Dan: Now Orlando supporting not only his own weight but Hurse’s, yet he will not allow himself to be pinned by this conniving Champion.

Hurse drops down off of Cruze, landing at his side then beginning to talk some smack to his adversary.

Hurse: What are you trying to prove Cruze? You know I’m going to win, you know I have this all planned out!

The Champion jumps into the air to come down knees first into Orlando’s ribs once again while still in this test of strength only for the Challenger to lift his feet into the air. As a result Hurse lands on top of Cruze’s raised feet, who bends his knees then pushes up with his legs, sending the Alpha member flipping over top of his head. The Master of Control lands on the canvas with the top of his head almost touching the top of Orlando’s. Their hands are still interlocked as Cruze rolls backwards, landing in a seated position right on top of Hurse’s chest. He now breaks the Grecco Knuckle lock and begins to slug his arch rival repeatedly to the jaw. The Manhattan Center begins to cheer at the sight of this while Hurse desperately tries to cover up only to have his arms pushed aside so that the Icon can continue drilling him to his features with malicious closed fists.

Billy: Oh no, what is Orlando doing to Hurse’s boyish good looks?

Douglas: He’s bringing out his violent side, he’s through outwrestling Hurse, so now he’s going to beat him to a bloody pulp. I knew it be only a matter of time before Cruze’s rage would take over while in the ring with this manipulative son of a bitch.

Ingelson admonishes Orlando, claiming he can be DQed for this but Cruze refuses to listen, continuing to deliver right hands. The blows to the cranium have severally disorientated Hurse who finally pushes his vengeful opponent off his chest and rolls away from him. He stands up in a discombobulated manner when Orlando steps in, chopping him violently to the sternum. The blow sends the Champion flying backwards, bouncing off the top rope spine first then landing on his feet when he is met with yet another forceful right hand directly under the jaw. Hurse tumbles to his back, rolling across the ring to his feet instinctively, where he’s chopped once more to the sternum. Orlando pulls his head forward and connects with a vicious European Uppercut. The stiff strike knocks Hurse in reverse before he is blasted to the jaw with a forearm strike.

Mayne: Jesus Christ, do something ref, Orlando has snapped.

Douglas: The Number One Contender is just beating Hurse from pillar to post at this point.

The forearm strike knocks Hurse backwards into the corner, where he leans on the turnbuckle for all of his support. Cruze steps in, grabbing him by the bangs then delivering forearm strike after forearm strike to his face. The lethal forearms are doing tremendous damage to the frail skull of the title holder while Orlando now alternates between these blows and European Uppercut. He hits one after the other in quick, violent succession before finally taking Hurse by the wrist, dragging him out of the corner into a lethal short arm lariat. The blow to the throat sends Hurse crashing to the canvas then rolling desperately towards the ropes. Orlando shakes his arm repeatedly to work out the kinks while Hurse spills to the outside mats, beginning to move towards the crowd with a red splotches all over his face and sternum.

Douglas: Hurse is trying to get away from Orlando so that he can regain himself or avoid possibly losing his title to this ferocious Icon.

Billy: Orlando is more intense than I’ve ever seen him, which is a really bad thing.

As Hurse tries to climb over the barricade the back of his tights are grabbed by his vicious rival. He is now dragged back down to the mats and turned into yet another brutal European Uppercut. The blow almost sends Hurse flying backwards over the barricade, hitting off the top of it spine first then landing back on his feet. Orlando now catches him and hoists him into the air, dropping his opponent sternum first across the top edge of the steel barrier. Hurse bounces off of it with a very dazed glint in his eyes, turning away from Orlando and still desperately trying to get away from him. However, Cruze won’t let him get far before delivering a hard clubbing blow right between his shoulder blades.

Hurse is now spun around by Orlando, who lifts him up into a fallaway slam position before rushing across the mats and driving the Champion kidneys first right into the exposed steel turnbuckle post. Hurse is then dropped to the mats, arching his spine and roaring in pain while Orlando drops down beside him, beginning to deliver right hand after right hand between his eyes.

Douglas: This is insane, Hurse is absolutely being demolished at the hands of the Challenger. He is getting the worse beating of his life.

Billy: Yes, but Hurse has shown he has a knack for coming back from such beatings.

The Icon is forced to stop pummeling the Champion long enough to roll into the ring then out of it, breaking the official’s ten count. This brief pause in brutality allows Hurse to begin crawling away from his enraged opponent, throwing himself towards the announce table. He pulls off the top of the table and throws it towards Orlando, trying to put obstructions between the two. Orlando swats it down out of the air while Hurse grabs a camera-man, shoving him down at the Icon’s feet. Cruze simply steps over him while Hurse now turns and drags Kaily out of her chair, grabbing the steel then tossing at his intense opposition. Again Orlando bats the chair down out of his way.

Dan: Hurse is just desperately trying to get away from Orlando but nothing will stop the vengeful challenger for his title.

Billy: Cruze is like one of those slow moving monsters from a 80’s slasher flick, he just keeps coming.

A horrified Hurse steps around the ring when Orlando reaches around the turnbuckle post, grabbing his hair to keep him from moving any further. Orlando’s arm is now extended out over the corner of the squared circle, having to reach under the ropes to probably snatch hold of his rival. Hurse flails his arms to get free before turning and grabbing Orlando’s wrist then falling backwards. As a result Orlando is pulled forward, shoulder first right into the ring post. Cruze bounces off of the steel then staggers backwards, grabbing hold of his arm in anguish. Again his damaged arm is coming back to haunt him as he continues to back peddle from the barricade. Hurse now takes off running and dives through the ring, between the middle and bottom cables, and then back out of it as he catches Orlando around the neck, pulling him around into a DDT on the outside mats. Another wave of shock emanates from the fans, who are stunned by Hurse’s move that has whipped Orlando out on the mats.

Dan: Are you kidding me? What the hell was that?

Billy: I’d like to know the answer myself. Hurse diving through one end of the ring, coming out the other then catching Orlando with a tornado style DDT. The Champion never ceases to amaze me.

Orlando’s eyes are fluttering as he lays spread across the thin protective matting, Hurse crawling away from him towards the ring. He drags himself agonizingly to his feet then rolls into the ring under the bottom rope, grabbing at his aching face all the while. Referee Ingelson stops his ten count but restarts it on the incredibly dazed Orlando, who is desperately trying to regain his faculties on the outside.

Douglas: Cruze risking being counted out now after taking that dangerous DDT by Hurse. This would be just like the World Champion, taking a win through whatever cheap fashion he can, even in the main event of our most prestigious payper-view.

Mayne: You take a win however you can get it Dan, I thought you’d know by now given your wrestling past.

Even after being dumped so hard on his head the Icon is getting up, crawling towards the ring then falling against it, grabbing hold of the apron. He slowly begins to pull himself to his feet before rolling into the squared circle under the bottom rope. As soon as he gets into the ring, Hurse grabs his opponent’s damaged arm, bending it over backwards into the top wrist lock position but then stomping down directly onto the elbow. Cruze sits up, snapping out of his dazed state as he feels the pain coursing through his arm.

Billy: Brilliant, Hurse going back to work on the arm so that Orlando can’t lock him in the crossface or use those lethal MMA elbows.

Hurse steps in grabbing hold of Orlando’s banged up arm and hooking it around the middle rope. With Orlando’s bicep draped over top of the cables and his forearm being pulled under it, the Icon finds himself writhing in anguish. The highly illegal hold is only stopped as the official steps in and starts a five count to disqualify the Champion. Hurse breaks the submission but quickly grabs hold of the arm yet again, pulling the Challenger over onto his stomach then extending his arm out over the canvas. He stomps down to the back of the bicep, causing Orlando immense pain. He isn’t given proper time to work out the kinks in his arm before it is tucked around behind his back into the hammerlock. Hurse quickly drops an elbow directly into the folded elbow of his opposition, causing his challenger to yell out in pain. Cruze rises to his knees and grabs at his arm while Hurse steps in, beginning to slug him repeatedly under the jaw.

Billy: Now Hurse is going to show that he can brawl just as good as any.

Dan: I’m not sure anyone could match Orlando’s intensity right now.

Orlando begins to stand up with his hand clutched over his shoulder while Hurse jabs him again to the jaw. He follows this up with a big knife edge chop of his own that sends the dazed Cruze reeling into the ropes. He falls against them chest first while Hurse grabs his arm, pulling it over the top rope and then through the cables. Orlando’s are is again being wrenched in reverse while awkwardly wrapped around the top rope, causing the Challenger to great pain. Hurse uses this opportunity to repeatedly punch Orlando to the back of the shoulder before Ingelson finally steps in, dragging the Champion off of his opposition. Hurse steps back but then rushes forward only to have Cruze turn and blast him to the jaw with a right hand. The blow staggers the Champion as Orlando now rushes out of the cables and with his good arm, nails Hurse to the jaw with a European Uppercut. The stiff strike sends the Alpha member tumbling to the canvas, crashing across it then rolling away from Orlando, who shakes off the damage done to his shoulder.

A disorientated Master of Control rises as Orlando steps in, throwing a right hand only to have his weakened arm caught, Hurse dropping back into a divorce court arm breaker. Orlando drops onto his spine, grabbing his shoulder and stomping his heels to the canvas.

Billy: Right back to the arm, and on top of that Hurse is using every portion of the ring to inflict damage to the shoulder.

Dan: One more ass kissing comment like that and I swear I’ll walk.

Billy: Oh, is someone a little sad that they’re watching Orlando’s title dreams slip away yet again?

Hurse crawls into the cover on Orlando who is agonizing over his damaged shoulder, quickly hooking his leg.

Orlando gets his shoulder up, despite the amount of damage that may have been inflicted on it. Therefore Hurse now stands and takes Cruze around the neck, forcing him to his feet and into position for the Disinfectant ( Sit-Out Sliced Bread #2). Hurse rushes forward in order to deliver the move when Cruze shoves him off and into the turnbuckle.

Mayne: No Hurse, has he ever hit that move once?

Hurse turns and slams back first into the turnbuckle before Orlando comes barreling towards him while gripping his shoulder. He walks right into the boots of Hurse though, causing the Icon to stumble in reverse, trying to catch himself before he falls to the ring. The Champion now barrels out of the corner right into Orlando’s shoulder, being hoisted into the air and driven down into the canvas with the spinebuster. The slam is absolutely vicious, leaving Hurse completely laid out as Orlando falls into the cover.

The Champion kicks out, keeping his title within his possession, for the time being at least. Orlando slowly gets to his feet, slapping his arm repeatedly to get the feeling back into it before he bends forward, placing his hands on his knees. It’s obvious that Cruze is already looking for his Rock Bottom, a move that has finished off so many past opponents. Hurse slowly begins to stand with his hand pressed to the small of his back, getting to his feet then turning towards the Icon who grabs him across the sternum. He is setting up for his finisher when Hurse back elbows him to the skull repeatedly, breaking free at the last second. Orlando is sent staggering forward into the ropes, falling against them with his arm hanging rather limply at his side, Hurse turning then bolting towards him. The Icon has the wherewithal to bend forward and catch his inbound opponent against his shoulders, elevating him into a back drop over the cables. To the despair of everyone though, Hurse is able to land gracefully feet first on the apron, becoming confident before Orlando turns then jumps into the air with a knee strike. It connects over the top rope right to Hurse’s jaw, leaving him incredibly dazed as he drops to his seat on the apron.

Billy: Tell me I didn’t just see that.

Dan: You saw what you saw Billy, and stop it with the Booker T impersonations. Orlando busting out a rare acrobatic move to get the best of the Champion. We’ve seen a lot of special moves busted out on this special night.

Orlando continues to shake off the damage done to his arm as he slips through the ropes and onto the apron, grabbing Hurse by the hair before forcing him to his feet. He now drags the Champion’s head under his seat while taking him around the waist, setting up to piledrive him on the apron.

Billy: Oh no, don’t go too far Orlando!

Cruze tries to lift him but then grits his teeth and reaches for his bad shoulder, allowing his opponent to drop back to his knees. Hurse capitalizes on this opportunity, standing up quickly and turning his back to the Challenger, catching him around the neck. Hurse now rushes forward across the apron, pulling Orlando along within him before stepping up the turnbuckle and flipping over backwards. The Icon is dragged off the apron then slammed hard into the mats back first as Hurse connects with the Disinfectant.

Douglas: The Contra Code off of the apron!!

Billy: MY GOD!

The Manhattan Center is standing in awe over what they just witnessed, absolutely stunned by the move just delivered by the World Champion. Orlando’s head hit the mats with great velocity, now leaving him laying there motionless, his eyes wide open, glossed over. Although Hurse is aching himself he takes Orlando around the neck, rolls him to his feet then pushes him back into the ring. Cruze ends up almost in the center of the ring, completely unconscious while Hurse slides in, desperately crawling into the cover. He drops down right on top of Orlando, pulling up on his leg via kneepad.

Billy: It’s over, Hurse is about to retain his title!

Ingelson drops and makes the count amongst a wave of rage from the crowd.

Orlando kicks out just barely, launching his damaged arm from the canvas. A stunned Hurse stands up, grabbing Orlando’s raised arm then wrapping his legs around it, he falls onto his back and applies an arm grapevine submission.

Douglas: Orlando kicked out somehow but now he’s in more jeopardy as he finds himself in this armlock grapevine.

Billy: He may have kicked out, but now it’s time for him to tap out!

The already drained Orlando begins to roar in pain as his arm is violently ripped and torn at by Hurse, who is yanking on the wrist while tightly clamping his legs about the shoulder. The Manhattan Center crowd is once again on it’s feet, although exhausted themselves by a night of unbelieveable in ring action, culminating to this moment as Orlando fights to keep from tapping out. He digs his claws into the ring, trying to force himself across it in the direction of the ropes while Hurse continues to rip at his shoulder. Kicking out of the Disinfectant onto the outside mats was difficult enough, but now he finds himself faced with an even more difficult task, escaping this hold on his badly damaged arm.

Fans: ORLANDO, ORLANDO, ORLANDO!!

Hurse roars as he pulls on the arm with all his strength, squeezing with his knees to the point that Orlando’s shoulder almost cracks. The Icon’s eyes are enlivened with passion, with determination, with a drive to reach the cables, therefore he slowly, agonizingly pulls himself towards them. Hurse keeps wrenching and tearing at the arm, every muscle tightening and every vein in his body poking through the surface of his sweaty skin.

Hurse: TAAAAAAAAAAP!

Cruze refuses to adhere to his demand, scooting across his back closer and closer to the cables.

Mayne: He has no alternative, he has to tap out!

Douglas: Orlando using everything he’s got to reach those ropes. Who knows when he’ll get another shot at the title if ever, tonight has got to be his night.

All hope is fading and doing so quickly as Orlando finds himself on the verge of submission, his hand lifting up into the air with his fingers trembling. With one final burst of energy though, Cruze reaches out and grabs the bottom rope, everyone in the Manhattan Center erupting into a wave of cheers. Hurse refuses to break the arm grapevine as the official orders him to, Ingelson threatening to disqualify him.

Dan: And Orlando has grabbed the bottom rope, keeping his dreams alive.

Mayne: But unlike our slogan tonight, Orlando has to realize his dream will not become reality.

Hurse slowly rolls away from Orlando to the center of the ring, punching the canvas in frustration. Orlando holds his arm over his sternum while getting to his knees, gritting through the pain. The anguish is only exacerbated as Hurse steps in, punching him to the back of the shoulder then drilling him with an elbow into the bicep. He now takes Cruze by the arm and pries it away from his body, dragging him towards the center of the ring. Hurse now tries to force Orlando down to the canvas and into the crossface, leaning sideways into the back of his bicep.

Billy: Hahaha, Hurse is going to make Orlando tap out with his own hold. What fitting irony.

Orlando fights being pulled to the canvas with all he’s worth before finally spinning so that his back is pressed to Hurse’s. He frees his arm and uses them both to pull the Champion down into a back slide.

Hurse kicks out, dropping over in reverse onto his knees then lunging to his feet. In anger he rushes at the rising Orlando who catches him across the sternum, hoisting him into the air and delivering the Rock Bottom. The fans jump out of their seats with excitement as Orlando hooks Hurse’s leg.

Douglas: Cruze just hit the Rock Bottom!!

Mayne: NO WAY!

The referee drops and makes the count with the fans screaming, realizing Orlando is on the verge of becoming World Heavyweight Champion.

Dan: NEW CHAMPION.

Just as the official’s hand is about to make the final count and declare a new champion, Desolation dives into the ring, dropping a double axehandle into Orlando’s face. The pinfall is broken up with the loyal fanbase erupting into a wave of obscenities.

Dan: HEY!

Billy: Desolation just broke up the three count.

Although greatly pained, Ingelson has no alternative but to turn and call for the bell. Desolation stands up and stomps Orlando repeatedly to the face and sternum as Hurse rolls across the canvas in a dazed, battered manner.

Douglas: There’s no way this is happening. Desolation has just gotten Hurse intentionally disqualified, meaning that he keeps the World Heavyweight title.

Billy: Hahahaha, what a stroke of pure genius, for the second year in a row Desolation has screwed Orlando Cruze out of the World Heavyweight title.

Cruze gets to his knees but is unable to protest before he is laid out with a vicious buzzsaw kick right to the skull by Desolation. The blow knocks the Icon into almost an unconscious condition while the Dark Man backs up laughing over what he’s done, realizing that he’s robbed Cruze of the title yet again. He now approaches the ropes and shouts through them to the time keeper, being handed the World Heavyweight title belt which he brings to the struggling Hurse. The belt is dropped over the shoulder of the Master of Control, who despite being ravaged with pain stands and lifts the gold up high above his head, chuckling maniacally. Desolation stands back clapping before they both exit the ring. Plastic cups are being thrown at them along with other pieces of trash as the Alpha Generation begin to make their way up the ramp with the World title in hand. Hurse holds the belt over his forearm, glaring at the gold with a broad smile on his face, Desolation patting him reassuringly on the shoulder.

Douglas: I just do not want to believe that at the biggest payper-view of the year we get another screw job finish.

Billy: Desolation has kept the title out of Orlando’s hands for years now, that wasn’t about to change here tonight. Well ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us at another incredible Paranoia.

The manipulative Hurse lifts the belt to his lips and plants a kiss on it.

Ingelson: Whoa, whoa, hold on…

A cold chill goes down the Champion’s back as he looks over his shoulder at Alex Ingelson in the ring holding a microphone, standing over the near unconscious body of Orlando. Desolation shoots an intense stare towards the man who has officiated an inordinate amount of his matches in the past.

Ingelson: I’m not going to let this match end this way. This contest is officially restarted and Desolation is barred from ringside. RING THE BELL!

The tune inside of the Manhattan Center drastically changes as Hurse shakes his head, going pale with sheer disbelief.

Mayne: WHAT!?!

Dan: Yes, Ingelson is restarting this World title match! Hurse isn’t going to escape with the title thanks to Desolation this year.

Desolation looks irate on the outside of the ring, pointing and shouting at Ingelson, absolutely beside himself over this announcement. Orlando looks to be regaining some of his senses, slowly turning onto his side while Hurse turns towards his partner who is sullenly backing up the ramp. The Champion looks lost, unsure of what to do before he drops the belt and storms right back at the ring. He slides in under the ropes then rushes at Cruze, stomping him to the face. The Icon falls onto his back while Hurse drops to his knees at his side, beginning to punch him rabidly right to the forehead.

Dan: And we’re on again here at Paranoia V, Orlando versus Hurse continues for the title.

Mayne: This isn’t fair, Ingelson doesn’t have the right to restart a match.

Desolation stops on the stage and takes one last look at the ring, realizing he’s now powerless to decide the destination of the World title. He finally backs through the curtains while Hurse takes the Icon around the neck, rolling him to his knees and then forcing his head under his seat. Hurse signals for the Sanitizer (Styles Clash), causing the fans to cry out in anger. Orlando suddenly stands up though, sending Hurse flying through the air and crashing back first into the canvas.

Mayne: No!

Douglas: Orlando still alive in this World title match, with renewed hope.

Hurse rolls to his knees with his hand over his back while Cruze staggers forward, still recuperating from that Disinfectant and the buzzsaw kick from Desolation. He turns in time to spot Hurse barreling towards him, catching the Champion with a tilt a whirl into the back breaker. The Champion bounces off of his knee and then turns, falling to a kneeling base of his own. Cruze now takes him around the head, forcing it under his seat then lifting the Alpha member upside down before dropping him with a sit out piledriver. The cranium of the Master of Control slams into the ring hard, sending his body flying up into the air then tumbling to the canvas. Orlando quickly crawls into the hook of the leg.

Hurse gets his shoulder up, kicking out before the three count could be made. A stunned Orlando rolls away from him while gripping at his shoulder in dismay.

Douglas: Orlando so very close there after the piledriver, I thought a new Champion had been crowned.

Mayne: Restart or no restart the ending will stay the same.

A severally disorientated Hurse is taken by the hair and forced up to his feet before having his leg hooked. Orlando snaps back into a particularly vicious fisherman suplex with the bridge.

Again Hurse kicks out, dropping over onto his elbows and knees while Orlando stands at his side then drops down onto the back of his shoulders. He pulls the World Champion up into a crucifix style pinning predicament.

Hurse kicks out once more to the despair of the crowd, dropping to his elbows and knees while an exhausted, very battered Orlando rolls to his feet. He seems to have gotten his second wind as he steps to Hurse’s side and jumps over his back, catching him around the neck and the thigh. Hurse is dragged down into an Oklahoma roll with the crowd screaming.

Yet again the Master of Control is forced to kick out of another of Orlando’s desperate pins. He falls over to his knees while Orlando stands up in front of him, taking Hurse around the jaw and placing him in a front chancery. Hurse is lifted into the air for a vertical suplex when the Champion floats over his opponent’s shoulder, dropping to his feet behind his back. He wraps his arms around Orlando’s waist and falls in reverse, rolling the Icon over onto the back of his shoulders. Hurse sits down on top of Orlando’s thighs, folding him upside down into this shocking pin.

Orlando kicks out by rolling over backwards onto his knees, ending up right behind the Champion who he catches by the back of the tights, pulling him down into a school boy.

Hurse gets his shoulder up from the canvas in the nick of time once more. The crowd is exhausted after screaming through everyone of these close near falls, sure that each one would be the end to this intense World title battle.

Douglas: Both Champion and Challenger going for the roll up time after time, but they refuse to let this rivalry end this way.

Mayne: My pulse is literally racing right now, Hurse was so close to losing the title several times there.

After kicking out Hurse drops to his knees, Orlando standing up over him and leading him to his feet by his gripped hair. However, Hurse catches Orlando around the back of the head and pulls him down into a jawbreaker. Cruze’s jaw bounces from the top of his opponent’s cranium as the Alpha Gen member rolls over backwards onto his feet and now rushes forward for a lariat. Orlando catches him across the sternum yet again to screams from the crowd, lifting Hurse up into the air for the Rock Bottom. In mid-air Hurse turns his body, reaching back with his legs and wrapping them around Orlando’s waist. He falls towards the canvas and pulls Orlando down into a forward roll for yet another attempted pinfall. Before Ingelson can make the count, Hurse stands up and switches around behind Orlando’s raised legs, grabbing hold of them then turning the Challenger over into the Legend Lock.

Billy: WHAT A REVERSAL!

Douglas: Hurse countering the Rock Bottom into the Legend Lock! Cruze may tap!

The entire building is rumbling as the fans stand, slapping the barricades, stomping their feet, doing everything to fuel Orlando’s drive to escape this hold. The Icon presses himself up onto his elbows with intensity flashing in his eyes, Hurse continuing to stand over his back, bending it at a very awkward angle. The Champion can feel the energy escaping Orlando’s body, he can sense that his opponent is on the verge of submission. Orlando balls up his fist and lets out several agonizing roars, trying with everything remaining in his system not to tap out.

Mayne: Tap, tap, tap, come on fans, join in.

Orlando tries to pull himself towards the ropes but they are too far away to even bother with it. It seems he has no choice, lifting his hand into the air to tap out to Hurse’s finishing hold when he suddenly places the back of his head to the canvas. He pushes himself up onto the back of his shoulders then reaches out with his hand, grabbing one of Hurse’s ankles. The Champion tries to kick his hands away but can’t stop from having his leg lifted into the air. As a result Hurse is sent tumbling forward into the canvas, Orlando breaking himself free from the Legend Lock then sitting up behind his laid out rival. He now jumps over his back, ending up at Hurse’s side and then bending down to deliver repeated MMA elbows into the Champion’s temple.

Dan: THE ELBOWS, THE ELBOWS!!

Mayne: How did that son of a backwoods whore counter into these elbows!?!

The elbows continue to connect over and over again with the fans screaming their hearts out, hoping it will be enough to knock out Hurse and win Orlando the Championship. Somehow Hurse hasn’t been rendered unconscious as of yet as he slowly slips across his belly under Orlando who is arched over him. He suddenly stands up at Orlando’s side then jumps over top of him, catching Cruze around the neck and thigh. He pulls him over into a version of the Oklahoma Roll but ends up on his feet, leaning down shoulders first into the back of Cruze’s thighs. He now wraps his arms around Orlando’s waist and lifts him up into the air, stepping over his shoulders and falling forward into the Sanitizer!

Billy: SANITIIZZEEERRR!

Dan: Unbelievable!

Orlando crashes hard face first into the ring as Hurse now rolls sideways onto his seat, pulling Cruze along with him onto the back of his shoulders. The fans are standing as Ingelson makes the emphatic count.

Hurse has done it, he’s retained the Championship! He lifts his hand to celebrate when Orlando kicks out right before the final slap of the canvas.

Douglas: Orlando has done it, he’s kicked out of Hurse’s version of the Styles Clash. I cannot believe this match!

Mayne: This isn’t fair, this match already ended.

Hurse falls to his back in almost tears over the fact that he can’t seem to put Orlando away in this World title match. In a state of absolute exhaustion the Champion slowly begins to force his way upwards, sweat leaking in buckets from his exasperated frame. Orlando is also stirring, just as exhausted from this grueling World title match. Even after everything they’ve put each other through they both get up and begin to stagger towards one another. Hurse blasts Orlando to the face with a jab then knees him repeatedly to the ribs, doubling him over forward. The Champion now grabs Cruze by the wrist and pulls him forward throwing his arm across his chest for the Rock Bottom. The crowd reacts with disdain as Hurse lifts him into the air only for Orlando to float around the arm and drop on his feet right behind the Champion who he places in a full nelson. Cruze snaps back into a bridging dragon suplex.

Hurse just barely kicks out, falling flat across his face on the canvas. The barely conscious Orlando sits up and turns and grabs his opposition by the hair, slowly beginning to force him up to his feet. As both men stand Cruze begins to deliver repeated forearm strikes to Hurse’s jaw, hitting one after the other and leaving him in a severally dazed state. Orlando now rushes at the turnbuckle at his side, slipping through the ropes onto the apron before scaling to the top rope. He now flies off, soaring towards Hurse with a flying lariat only for the Champion to side step his inbound arm, catching hold of it. Cruze crashes into the ring with Hurse falling at his side, grabbing him around the jaw and pulling back as he applies the crossface. The damaged arm of the Icon is trapped with the Manhattan Center absolutely shaking due to the still loud reaction from the fans.

Mayne; Yes, hahaha, yes, Hurse has got Orlando trapped in the crossface!

Dan: Another amazing counter, will Orlando tap out this time?

Hurse continues to rip and tear at Orlando’s battered shoulder, the Icon coming closer and closer to tapping out. The pain is almost insurmountable as the World Champion is about to force a submission with the Icon’s own hold. His hand reaches out over the canvas, shaking yet again as he tries to resist the appeal of tapping out. The crowd is on its feet, begging him not to do it, pleading with him to hang in there even after all his body has withstood in this confrontation.

Dan: Come on Orlando, come on, just stay with us, don’t tap out!

Billy: Your asking too much from him, he’s going to tap, and he’s finally going to do it right now!

Orlando’s hand drops to the canvas, about to smack it before it stops just inches removed from the ring. Hurse pulls back even further with his eyes ablaze with passion and determination. Suddenly Cruze rolls towards the Champion, pushing him over onto the back of his shoulders. The Icon turns and frees his arm while Hurse’s legs are stuck up in the air, Cruze stepping through them. He pulls Hurse over onto his chest, countering the crossface into the sharpshooter!

Mayne: OH MY GOD!

Dan: Orlando countering Hurse’s crossface into the sharpshooter out of nowhere!

Hurse pushes himself up onto the palms of his hands, his eyes widening with terror and his jaw hanging open from the agony. Ingelson drops down in front of Hurse repeatedly inquiring as to rather he submits or not, but the Champion shouts “no”, he is vehemently opposed to the concept. The fans are all on their feet, hoping beyond hope that Hurse will tap out but he refuses. Instead he buries his fists against the canvas, beginning to drag himself towards the ropes with every inch of his body shaking, ravaged with pain.

Billy: Make it to the ropes, make it to the ropes! Your so close Hurse!

The arena is still going nuts while tears almost stream down the faces of both men, putting their pain aside for the title. Hurse is getting closer and closer to the cables before Orlando deliberately breaks the Sharpshooter, turning and dropping to the Champion’s side. He grabs his arm, forcing it between his knees then pulling back on the head, locking in the crossface. Hurse once again cries out in pain, not having expected this quick submission alteration that leaves him on the verge of tapping out. He’s trying with everything that remains in his system to reach the cables, but they are just too far away. With his arm almost being ripped from its socket and his neck about to be snapped, Hurse lifts his palm and slaps the canvas emphatically tapping out. The Manhattan Center erupts into a loud climactic cheer, realizing that Orlando has just won the World Heavyweight Championship.

Dan: Hurse tapped, Hurse tapped!

Billy: It can’t be true, it just can’t!

All the fans are on their feet cheering at the top of their lungs while Orlando breaks the crossface, sitting up on the canvas with a look of shock on his face. He can’t believe he’s done it, that after all these years, after all the trials and tribulations, that he’s won the IWC World Championship. The official takes the belt and approaches Orlando, handing him the title gold which he glares into, his mouth still hung open and his eyes still wide with astonishment.

Dan: Do you feel this moment Billy, do you feel this moment?

Mayne: No, I’m not emotionally crippled for life.

Tears of joy stream down Cruze’s face as he pulls the gold to his lips, planting a kiss on the strap that he’s fought so very valiantly to regain. Into the ring now slides Nathan Creed who quickly rushes to Orlando and grabs his hand, helping his partner up to his feet before dragging him forward into a huge hug. Orlando leans against his partner while continuing to embrace this moment, his biggest win yet in the IWC.

Dan: Nathan out here to celebrate with a man who’s more like his brother than his tag team partner.

Hurse rolls onto his back while holding his shoulder, his eyes blinking awkwardly as if completely lost in the moment, wondering how he could have possibly been beaten by the Icon. Orlando finally breaks away from Creed while emphatically shaking his arms, his fists clinched, the title hanging over his forehead. He now steps up the turnbuckle and lifts the gold high into the air while it stretches across his palms, a loud explosion of pyrotechnics erupting from the rafters. This is followed by multi-colored confetti raining down from the heavens, blanketing everyone in this inspirational moment. Orlando’s entrance music continues to play in the background while the crowd surrounding the ring is basking in the joy of this scene. Into the ring now slides Orlando’s son, Owen, followed by his wife Kloe, who is visibly shedding tears of joy. She is consumed by this highly emotional moment while stepping towards her husband who drops from the corner to embrace her with a warm hug. She whispers some words of encouragement into his ear.

Dan: Orlando embraced by his family, by his friends, and by these fans as he’s finally, after years of coming so close has done it. Orlando Cruze is the new World Heavyweight Champion! He’s climbed the mountain back to the top at Paranoia V!

Confetti continues to shower the ring while Nathan, Kloe and Owen stand back clapping. Little Owen is jumping up and down joyously for his father who steps to the center of the ring, lifting the World Championship high above his head. He receives a standing ovation from the crowd, pyrotechnics exploding from the turnbuckles. For Orlando Cruze, his dream has finally become reality.

Dan: Thank you for joining us at Paranoia V, thank you for joining us here on a night full of moments that I’m sure none of us will ever forget. New Champion crowned here tonight!

A huge display of fireworks erupt from the rafters yet again as well as from the stage and titontron while Orlando stands triumphant in the ring, World title in hand.

FADE TO BLACK