CuseTroy
League Member
[FADE IN: Steve Murray stands in front of the Big Screen in the EPICENTER studios, a shot of the Merritt Trophy, humongous and gleaming, standing out on the screen.]
SM: Eight matches down, eight to go in the first round, and we have an absolute CLASSIC on our hands in the opening round. Also, can a one seed escape a serious threat to his tournament hopes. All that and more are on tap as EPICENTER starts … right now!
[Cue up "Down" by Stone Temple Pilots.
Cut to JASON PAYNE, shouting out in primal fury with a man's blood as his war paint.
Cut to ROCKO DAYMON whipping ULYSIS SOLIAN off the ropes.
Cut to RAVAGER rolling out of the way of a ROB FRANKLIN top rope headbutt.
Cut to MUNSON MONSOON tossing HIGH FLYER out of the FREE FOR ALL~! ring.
Cut to MIKE RANDALLS hoisting the Merritt Trophy, then flash cut to TYLER RAYNE with the Harvard Avalon Memorial Trophy held by his side, then flash cut to The A-List hoisting the Dupree Cup, and finally to FUSENSHOFF holding the Championship of Champions.
Cut to: The Epicenter logo once more, fading into Tom Holzerman and Steve Murray at the EPICENTER desk.]
TH: Good evening everyone, alongside Steve Murray, I’m Tom Holzerman, welcome to EPICENTER. Production difficulties caused a delay between the two waves of the first round, but we’re back on track and boy, do we have something special for you out of the Midwest.
[Cut to a one-shot of Steve Murray with an Impulse/DC Stark inset.]
SM: Assembly Hall in Bloomington’s been witness to a lot of historic moments, but maybe nothing since Bobby Knight’s chair throwing escapades can compare to what the Hoosier State saw in the 4/5 matchup in the Midwest as the fearless Impulse took on fifth-seeded D.C. Stark.
[Cut to Impulse and Stark circling each other.]
SM V/O: And we had fast and furious action from the start courtesy of Impulse, showing off some gorgeous chain wrestling transitioning from hold to hold before a nifty armdrag sends Stark to the mat.
[Cut to Impulse hitting the ropes.]
SM V/O: Impulse wouldn’t stop there, though, following up with yet another beautiful series that finishes up with this flying headscissors to fling Stark across the canvas.
[Cut to Stark wobbling backwards.]
SM V/O: Of course, the best way to avoid speed is to stop it dead in it’s tracks, and that’s exactly what D.C. Stark does with a perfectly anticipated spinning backfist.
[Cut to Stark grabbing one of Impulse’s legs]
SM V/O: The legs quickly became Stark’s favorite target, here with one of a series of dragon screws that damn near left Impulse’s left leg dangling like a wet noodle, and D.C. follows that right up by slapping on an Indian Deathlock that only serves to do more damage to that leg.
[Cut to Stark pulling Impulse off the mat.]
SM V/O: Impulse would reach the ropes, but that wouldn’t stop Stark, here with a pair of kneebreakers transitioned perfectly into a hard back suplex for a nearfall.
[Cut to Stark in dragon screw position once again.]
SM V/O: Later on, though, Stark goes to the well one two many times with the dragon screw as Impulse anticipates and drills him with a vicious enziguiri that causes Stark to stumble through the ropes and outside the ring
[Cut to Impulse climbing to the top rope.]
SM V/O: And bad wheel or not, when Impulse gets the chance, he’s gonna fly. INSANE corkscrew moonsault off the post to the floor, and I don’t think an Indiana crowd’s been this excited since Jimmy Chitwood hit the winning shot for Hickory High!
[Cut to Impulse on one side of the ringpost and Stark on the other.]
SM V/O: The excitement wouldn’t end there, watch here as Impulse dives THROUGH THE ROPES into a Tornado DDT! That one’s gonna be one highlight tapes for years to come, and I should know, working at the place that produces the highlight tapes and all.
[Cut to Impulse rolling Stark into the ring.]
SM V/O: Back inside the ring, Impulse trying for the springboard frankensteiner, but Stark sandbags before he flips over. Still, when Stark goes for the powerbomb, Impulse rolls right over into a sunset flip to score a two count!
[Cut to Impulse running the ropes.]
SM V/O: A couple minutes later, Impulse still rolling despite the bad wheel, hits this textbook flying leg lariat, lands right on his feet and transitions immediately into a standing double knee moonsault! Impulse was putting on a show, ladies and gentlemen.
[Cut to Impulse perched on the top rope.]
SM V/O: But, Stark was intent on putting that show to an end. Off the top comes Impulse with the 450 splash, but Stark rolls out of the way and Impulse eats canvas!
[Cut to Stark with Impulse in a front facelock.]
SM V/O: And right afterwards, Stark stops the focus on the knee and goes right to the head with the brainbuster for two!
[Cut to Stark locking in a figure four.]
SM V/O: That left knee would quickly become a focus again, though, as Stark wrenches on this figure four in excess of three minutes before Impulse finally gets the ropes. Not deterred, Stark goes right back at it … but this time, Impulse turns it into a small package for two!
[Cut to Impulse whipping Stark into the corner.]
SM V/O: Impulse trying to go in for the final blow, connects here with a flying knee in the corner, but when he tries for that Sudden Impact superkick, the leg gives out and Stark quickly hits a shining wizard for two!
[Cut to Stark with Impulse in a rear waistlock.]
SM V/O: Stark trying to finish things off with this half-nelson suplex, but even though he drops Impulse DIRECTLY on his head, the fearless one shows FIGHTING SPIRIT~! Right up he comes … and right on the button with the Sudden Impact! That’s good for the one, two, three and Impulse is into the second round after one of the most exciting first round matches in TIT history!
[A Ravager/Cassidy McKenzie graphic flashes on the screen, and we cut to the two wrestlers making their entrances.]
TH V/O: But, who would Impulse face in the second round? Ravager reached the finals last year, but Cassidy McKenzie was out to prove he was nothing to be laughed at as an eight seed.
[Cut to McKenzie unloading with right hands.]
TH V/O: And right from the start, “The Rage” found his way around Ravager’s technical prowess with good old fashioned brutality. Vicious straight rights rocking the two-year reigning Challenge Champion.
[Cut to McKenzie whipping Ravager off the ropes.]
TH V/O: McKenzie would keep up the assault, catching Ravager with a knee to the ribs and a big forearm to the back that sends the top seed down, followed up by a hard powerslam that scores an early two count.
[Cut to McKenzie pounding on Ravager in the corner.]
TH V/O: But, you can’t hold back the bona fide shooter for long, and as soon as McKenzie leaves an opening, Ravager connects with a forearm to the head and drops the Rage onto the second turnbuckle with a perfect drop toe hold.
[Cut to Ravager twisting McKenzie’s arm.]
TH V/O: And when Ravager gets in control, that’s bad news for the limbs of the man he’s facing. A SICK armbar variation here, and McKenzie’s left wrist is getting bent at an angle only a geometry major could love, and let’s face it, nobody loves geometry THAT much.
[Cut to Ravager with McKenzie in a rear waistlock.]
TH V/O: And the suplexes, did I mention the suplexes? Three big Germans in a row, and after a quick two count, Rav’s right back in control with another submission, this time an uma plata shoulderlock that McKenzie barely escapes by getting a foot under the ropes.
[Cut to Ravager measuring up McKenzie.]
TH V/O: Eventually, McKenzie’s toughness would pay off, as he absorbs not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE vicious kicks to the shoulder before Ravager telegraphs the sixth and McKenzie’s able to use his good arm to floor Ravager with an STO takedown for a nearfall.
[Cut to McKenzie putting Ravager on the top rope.]
TH V/O: And if you think that was close, this one’s even closer … DDT from the top rope, and the only thing that saves Ravager is a foot on the bottom rope getting spotted just in time!
[Cut to McKenzie with Ravager hooked for a Tombstone Piledriver.]
TH V/O: McKenzie would try to finish, but the Challenge Champion escapes this predicament and spins right into the Garotte! You don’t see many people withstand this for long, but as we learned tonight, Garotte over into a pinning predicament that Ravager barely escapes from!
[Cut to Ravager cinching the Garotte back up.]
TH V/O: And after a hell of a struggle, Ravager rolls back into the Garotte, and although McKenzie still doesn’t tap, eventually the pain’s too much and out he goes as Ravager collapses on top of him, relieved to move on after an incredible battle. With the resilient Impulse next, last year’s runner-up certainly has no easy path to the Elite Eight.
[Cut to a shot of Shawn Hart and Horace Tully in action.]
TH V/O: Plenty more to come on EPICENTER, when we return, a pair of three seeds are in danger against some upset-minded foes! Back in 90 seconds.
[Cut to commercial.]
SM: Eight matches down, eight to go in the first round, and we have an absolute CLASSIC on our hands in the opening round. Also, can a one seed escape a serious threat to his tournament hopes. All that and more are on tap as EPICENTER starts … right now!
[Cue up "Down" by Stone Temple Pilots.
Cut to JASON PAYNE, shouting out in primal fury with a man's blood as his war paint.
Cut to ROCKO DAYMON whipping ULYSIS SOLIAN off the ropes.
Cut to RAVAGER rolling out of the way of a ROB FRANKLIN top rope headbutt.
Cut to MUNSON MONSOON tossing HIGH FLYER out of the FREE FOR ALL~! ring.
Cut to MIKE RANDALLS hoisting the Merritt Trophy, then flash cut to TYLER RAYNE with the Harvard Avalon Memorial Trophy held by his side, then flash cut to The A-List hoisting the Dupree Cup, and finally to FUSENSHOFF holding the Championship of Champions.
Cut to: The Epicenter logo once more, fading into Tom Holzerman and Steve Murray at the EPICENTER desk.]
TH: Good evening everyone, alongside Steve Murray, I’m Tom Holzerman, welcome to EPICENTER. Production difficulties caused a delay between the two waves of the first round, but we’re back on track and boy, do we have something special for you out of the Midwest.
[Cut to a one-shot of Steve Murray with an Impulse/DC Stark inset.]
SM: Assembly Hall in Bloomington’s been witness to a lot of historic moments, but maybe nothing since Bobby Knight’s chair throwing escapades can compare to what the Hoosier State saw in the 4/5 matchup in the Midwest as the fearless Impulse took on fifth-seeded D.C. Stark.
[Cut to Impulse and Stark circling each other.]
SM V/O: And we had fast and furious action from the start courtesy of Impulse, showing off some gorgeous chain wrestling transitioning from hold to hold before a nifty armdrag sends Stark to the mat.
[Cut to Impulse hitting the ropes.]
SM V/O: Impulse wouldn’t stop there, though, following up with yet another beautiful series that finishes up with this flying headscissors to fling Stark across the canvas.
[Cut to Stark wobbling backwards.]
SM V/O: Of course, the best way to avoid speed is to stop it dead in it’s tracks, and that’s exactly what D.C. Stark does with a perfectly anticipated spinning backfist.
[Cut to Stark grabbing one of Impulse’s legs]
SM V/O: The legs quickly became Stark’s favorite target, here with one of a series of dragon screws that damn near left Impulse’s left leg dangling like a wet noodle, and D.C. follows that right up by slapping on an Indian Deathlock that only serves to do more damage to that leg.
[Cut to Stark pulling Impulse off the mat.]
SM V/O: Impulse would reach the ropes, but that wouldn’t stop Stark, here with a pair of kneebreakers transitioned perfectly into a hard back suplex for a nearfall.
[Cut to Stark in dragon screw position once again.]
SM V/O: Later on, though, Stark goes to the well one two many times with the dragon screw as Impulse anticipates and drills him with a vicious enziguiri that causes Stark to stumble through the ropes and outside the ring
[Cut to Impulse climbing to the top rope.]
SM V/O: And bad wheel or not, when Impulse gets the chance, he’s gonna fly. INSANE corkscrew moonsault off the post to the floor, and I don’t think an Indiana crowd’s been this excited since Jimmy Chitwood hit the winning shot for Hickory High!
[Cut to Impulse on one side of the ringpost and Stark on the other.]
SM V/O: The excitement wouldn’t end there, watch here as Impulse dives THROUGH THE ROPES into a Tornado DDT! That one’s gonna be one highlight tapes for years to come, and I should know, working at the place that produces the highlight tapes and all.
[Cut to Impulse rolling Stark into the ring.]
SM V/O: Back inside the ring, Impulse trying for the springboard frankensteiner, but Stark sandbags before he flips over. Still, when Stark goes for the powerbomb, Impulse rolls right over into a sunset flip to score a two count!
[Cut to Impulse running the ropes.]
SM V/O: A couple minutes later, Impulse still rolling despite the bad wheel, hits this textbook flying leg lariat, lands right on his feet and transitions immediately into a standing double knee moonsault! Impulse was putting on a show, ladies and gentlemen.
[Cut to Impulse perched on the top rope.]
SM V/O: But, Stark was intent on putting that show to an end. Off the top comes Impulse with the 450 splash, but Stark rolls out of the way and Impulse eats canvas!
[Cut to Stark with Impulse in a front facelock.]
SM V/O: And right afterwards, Stark stops the focus on the knee and goes right to the head with the brainbuster for two!
[Cut to Stark locking in a figure four.]
SM V/O: That left knee would quickly become a focus again, though, as Stark wrenches on this figure four in excess of three minutes before Impulse finally gets the ropes. Not deterred, Stark goes right back at it … but this time, Impulse turns it into a small package for two!
[Cut to Impulse whipping Stark into the corner.]
SM V/O: Impulse trying to go in for the final blow, connects here with a flying knee in the corner, but when he tries for that Sudden Impact superkick, the leg gives out and Stark quickly hits a shining wizard for two!
[Cut to Stark with Impulse in a rear waistlock.]
SM V/O: Stark trying to finish things off with this half-nelson suplex, but even though he drops Impulse DIRECTLY on his head, the fearless one shows FIGHTING SPIRIT~! Right up he comes … and right on the button with the Sudden Impact! That’s good for the one, two, three and Impulse is into the second round after one of the most exciting first round matches in TIT history!
[A Ravager/Cassidy McKenzie graphic flashes on the screen, and we cut to the two wrestlers making their entrances.]
TH V/O: But, who would Impulse face in the second round? Ravager reached the finals last year, but Cassidy McKenzie was out to prove he was nothing to be laughed at as an eight seed.
[Cut to McKenzie unloading with right hands.]
TH V/O: And right from the start, “The Rage” found his way around Ravager’s technical prowess with good old fashioned brutality. Vicious straight rights rocking the two-year reigning Challenge Champion.
[Cut to McKenzie whipping Ravager off the ropes.]
TH V/O: McKenzie would keep up the assault, catching Ravager with a knee to the ribs and a big forearm to the back that sends the top seed down, followed up by a hard powerslam that scores an early two count.
[Cut to McKenzie pounding on Ravager in the corner.]
TH V/O: But, you can’t hold back the bona fide shooter for long, and as soon as McKenzie leaves an opening, Ravager connects with a forearm to the head and drops the Rage onto the second turnbuckle with a perfect drop toe hold.
[Cut to Ravager twisting McKenzie’s arm.]
TH V/O: And when Ravager gets in control, that’s bad news for the limbs of the man he’s facing. A SICK armbar variation here, and McKenzie’s left wrist is getting bent at an angle only a geometry major could love, and let’s face it, nobody loves geometry THAT much.
[Cut to Ravager with McKenzie in a rear waistlock.]
TH V/O: And the suplexes, did I mention the suplexes? Three big Germans in a row, and after a quick two count, Rav’s right back in control with another submission, this time an uma plata shoulderlock that McKenzie barely escapes by getting a foot under the ropes.
[Cut to Ravager measuring up McKenzie.]
TH V/O: Eventually, McKenzie’s toughness would pay off, as he absorbs not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE vicious kicks to the shoulder before Ravager telegraphs the sixth and McKenzie’s able to use his good arm to floor Ravager with an STO takedown for a nearfall.
[Cut to McKenzie putting Ravager on the top rope.]
TH V/O: And if you think that was close, this one’s even closer … DDT from the top rope, and the only thing that saves Ravager is a foot on the bottom rope getting spotted just in time!
[Cut to McKenzie with Ravager hooked for a Tombstone Piledriver.]
TH V/O: McKenzie would try to finish, but the Challenge Champion escapes this predicament and spins right into the Garotte! You don’t see many people withstand this for long, but as we learned tonight, Garotte over into a pinning predicament that Ravager barely escapes from!
[Cut to Ravager cinching the Garotte back up.]
TH V/O: And after a hell of a struggle, Ravager rolls back into the Garotte, and although McKenzie still doesn’t tap, eventually the pain’s too much and out he goes as Ravager collapses on top of him, relieved to move on after an incredible battle. With the resilient Impulse next, last year’s runner-up certainly has no easy path to the Elite Eight.
[Cut to a shot of Shawn Hart and Horace Tully in action.]
TH V/O: Plenty more to come on EPICENTER, when we return, a pair of three seeds are in danger against some upset-minded foes! Back in 90 seconds.
[Cut to commercial.]