{The camera pans wildly across the arena as Trivium’s “Ascendancy” blasts through the arena the crowd are all on their feet cheering, and roaring, with chants of “COM-BAT! COM-BAT!” ringing through the arena. The music slowly dies out before the drum kicks of Parkway Drive’s “Crushed” kicks in and the crowd go nuts before Spike Kane - dressed in a suit - walks out onto the stage. He smiles at the crowd, throwing his arms in the air, getting them pumped and they all respond with roars and cheers.}Rob Diamond: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to Combat Wrestling’s first ever pay per view event. Ascendancy!
Shea O'Hara: It looks like we’re kicking things of with our very own CEO, The God of Xtreme, Spike Kane!
{Spike enters the ring and stands there with a smirk on his face, microphone in hand. He throws his arms up into an X and the crowd cheer, before he raises the mic and the crowd actually - respectfully - quietens down.}Spike Kane: We started this place only a few weeks ago. When I decided to open Combat Wrestling, it wasn’t because I was disenfranchised with other companies. It wasn’t because I was bitter. It wasn’t because I was angry. It’s simply because I care about this business! I care about where it is going, and I care about the hands people like myself will be leaving it in. That is why I wanted to find the cream of the crop, to give them a chance to break into this industry, to give others a chance to redeem themselves and to give them all a chance to fucking thrive!
{The crowd lose their shit, because, you know, swearing. Spike looks around and see’s someone standing at the front row applauding, the two make eye contact and Spike nods his head with a little laugh, acknowledging the person.}Shea O'Hara: Isn’t that?
Rob Diamond: That’s XHF Legend and AWF Superstar MGK!
Shea O'Hara: It’s great to see others showing Combat some support for our first pay per view event.
Spike Kane: And thrive they have. Tonight we don’t only crown our first champion, we crown our first THREE champions. Three men will battle for the Dauntless Championship. A man with a pedigree, a man with a wealth of experience, and a man looking for redemption. Two women will clash in a rematch so many have wanted and we’ve barely been open long enough to warrant one. My own daughter will go head to head with Amber Cooke to decide who will be the first Women’s Heavyweight Champion. Then of course, we have the main event….
{Spike hesitates for a moment. He rubs a hand through his beard as he looks up at the camera.}Spike Kane: With the absolute wealth of talent we have on this roster, we’ve ended up with Ethan King and Killian Kold in the final, to determine who will become the first ever Heavyweight Champion. Killian, by all accounts, is lucky to even have a job, and Ethan? Well….Ethan would probably find a way to cheat his own grandma out of her pension….BUT! It is what it is. These two men found their way to the final and one of them will be champion. What comes next?
{Spike cocks an eyebrow as he leans one arm on the ropes.}Spike Kane: Well that’s up for the guys and girls in the back to decide. Ladies and gentlemen…..welcome to Combat! ...LET’S! FUCKING! DO THIS!!!!
{“Crushed” hits once more as Spike Kane drops the microphone to a huge applause and heads backstage, slapping fans hands as he does so. We eventually cut to Rob and Shea.}Shea O'Hara: Kicking of with a message of intent from Spike there.
Rob Diamond: You’re damn right Shea, a message that the people in the back certainly paid attention to.
Shea O'Hara: Which we saw in our kick off match. A women’s battle royal pitting five ladies against each other, who didn’t make it to the final of the tournament.
Rob Diamond: It was certainly not how the booking agencies would have expected the match to go, with fan and betting favourite Zelda eliminated early.
Shea O'Hara: Followed shortly by Crystal and Lizzy!
Rob Diamond: Which left only Caitlyn and Gwen in the ring, meaning one of these two women was going to win. What the prize of winning was? Nobody but Spike, Pandora, and Astrid knew.
{The crowd are on their feet now that it’s just Caitlyn and Gwen left. The shock eliminations of Zelda, Crystal, and Lizzy still buzzing through the crowd. The two begin to square off, almost a nod of acknowledgment between them before they explode at each other. They both each manage to get an armdrag in on each other, before Gwen nails Caitlyn with a dropkick that sends her into the ropes. As she does, she charges her and goes for a clothesline Caitlyn counters with a huge Shoryuken! Staggering Gwen! She moves quickly and hits her with the ONE WINGED ANGEL!}Shea O'Hara: Oh my! What a counter!
Rob Diamond: Caitlyn just turned the match on it’s head!
{Without skipping a beat, Caitlyn grabs Gwen by her head and drags her to her feet, the groggy and dazed Price-King not knowing where she is, is soon thrown over the ropes by an amped up and hyper Caitlyn Wright, and the bell rings declaring her the winner!}Rob Diamond: Caitlyn Wright wins!
Shea O'Hara: What a way to kick off this show. Ascendancy is setting the bar Rob!
Rob Diamond: And we’re rolling on into tag team action!
Shea O'Hara: That’s right Rob. We’ve got some good old boys in Lucas Walker and Kyle Frye going up against the unlikely team of Aiden Reynolds and Shun Lie!
Rob Diamond: In an exciting bout we saw Walker and Frye work quite well as a team, but there seemed to be some discontent between Reynolds and Lie.
Shea O'Hara: So much so, that it drastically affected the match…
{Inside the ring Lucas has Shun Lie’s arm wrenched and he tags in Kyle Frye who steps into the ring and hits the wrenched arm with a double axe handle, then Walker steps out of the ring. Frye hits Shun off the ropes and as he does so Aiden reaches over and blind tags him in. Shun ducks under Kyles lariat and dives into a spear taking Lucas Walker off the apron and down to the outside. Aiden Reynolds hops the ropes and comes rushing in but Kyle Frye is aware and catches him with a devastating running lariat! Reynolds almost folds up like an accordian as Frye covers…..ONE! ….TWO! ….THREE! The bell rings and the referee holds up Fryes hand, before Frye goes to check on Walker.}Rob Diamond: What an explosive arm Kyle Frye has!
Shea O'Hara: I would not like to be on the receiving end of one of those lariats.
Rob Diamond: I swear he could take someone's head off. However, it gets them the victory as Frye and Walker come out victorious!
Shea O'Hara: Which guys…..means it’s time.
Rob Diamond: Time to crown our first ever champion in Combat Wrestling!
Shea O'Hara: With the Polynesian Prodigy going up against the Greatest Show on Earth and the Redeemer Todd Williams!
Rob Diamond: All three men did well in the opening weeks of Combat and the heavyweight tournament, but fell just short. Spike Kane clearly saw something in them and gave them this second chance, with the opportunity to become the first Dauntless Champion, let alone the first ever champion in Combat history.
Shea O'Hara: It was a match that featured three men who quite easily could have been in tonights main event.
Rob Diamond: One man who believes he should be.
Shea O'Hara: That’s right Rob, Taane hasn’t been shy about letting the world know how good he is, but the facts are that the majority of the time he backs those claims up in the ring.
Rob Diamond: Whereas Muru has seen quite the resurgence of his career here in Combat and fell just short of making it to the finals.
Shea O'Hara: Todd came in after everyone else and some thought he had an easier route, but after winning an over the top elimination match he crashed and burned, now he’s looking to turn it around.
Rob Diamond: In a match that truly electrified the crowd and brought them to life Taane was really a stand out performer, often taking control of the match.
Shea O'Hara: Muru would pose the biggest threat to Taane, breaking up near falls and almost securing one himself.
{Muru is down on the mat, having just thrown Taane out of the ring. Todd Williams turns around and connects to Muru with the SWEET DREAMS! He climbs to the top turnbuckle, the crowd cheering him on. He signals and leaps through the air going for the Nightmare BUT TAANE PULLS MURU OUT OF THE WAY! Taane throws Muru into the barricade before sliding into the ring and stalking Todd Williams.}Rob Diamond: That was smart by Taane there. Instead of getting into the ring and taking more damage he waiting until Todd exposed himself and also took out Muru!
Shea O'Hara: We could have our first ever Dauntless Champion right here!
{Todd slowly staggers to his feet, really favouring his back as he does so. He slowly turns around and his eyes grow wide with shock as he sees the broad smiling face of Taane who hooks him up and….ALL BLACKOUT!!!! Taane rolls for the cover….ONE! …..TWO! …...THREE!!!! TAANE IS THE FIRST EVER DAUNTLESS CHAMPION!!!!}Shea O'Hara: He did it! He pulled it off! Taane is the Dauntless Champion!
Rob Diamond: The Polynesian Prodigy got knocked down but pulled himself back up with tact and skill, and will now go down in history as Combat Wrestlings first ever champion!
{Taane climbs the turnbuckle holding the belt up in the air, shouting to the crowd as "Tangaroa (God Of The Sea)" by Tiki Taane blasts through the arena. The crowd applaud and cheer for him, showing him the respect he deserves after such an impressive few weeks in the company.}Rob Diamond: It was a pleasure to call that match.
Shea O'Hara: You’re damn right Rob! Tonight is a night all about history, and speaking of history? We got a visit tonight from the one and only….Mongo the Destroyer!
{The lights go down as the tron silently starts to show XHF and XHF Network logos through the years. As they flicker by, Electric Light Orchestra's rendition of "Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor" begins to play. A spotlight falls onto the entranceway as the XHF Network Owner, Mongo the Destroyer proudly makes his way out. The ramp-way is lit up all the way as Mongo walks down to the ring. As he's climbing up the ring steps the lights come up and he adjusts his suit waiting for the music to fade out. Once it does he composes himself and begins to speak to the crowd.}Mongo: Hello everyone! I hope you're having another great night of wrestling here!
{The crowd cheers.}Mongo: Now you might be wondering what I'm doing out here, at Ascendancy. Although I do like to come to the XHF Network company shows to watch the action; tonight I have some special news. You see, I'm here to officially announce the XHF Network's global event in April....
{Mongo gestures to the screen as it lights up with.....}{....This was not what Mongo was expecting. He laughs nervously.}Mongo: Haha, that um....that was our placeholder. Let's try that again, I wanted to introduce our event coming in April.....
{Mongo again gestures to the screen, this time it shows this image:}{The XHF Network owner looks confused.}Mongo: Wait, what? I mean, that's fine, it's not what- anyway, as you can see, technical difficulties aside-
{The image changes again.}{He sighs}Mongo: ...It's gonna be one of those nights isn't it? Anyway, in April we're having the Rumble. That's right, the XHF Network roster- well, anyone who enters anyway, will face off in an over the top rope battle with only one man coming out the victor!
{Mongo paces around the ring looking out at the audience.}Mongo: We decided to bring back this XHF tradition here in the Network!
{He looks to the back.}Mongo: Now, I don't think any of you have done a rumble quite the way the XHF Network does it. You see, here we take it to the Xtreme, which means that there is NO UPPER LIMIT! Anyone is free to enter and do their best! Will it be one of you!
{Mongo turns to the camera.}Mongo: Or will it be one of the many stars from across this fine Network? We'll find out on April 29th!
{Finally the screen shows the right image:}Mongo: Ah! There we go! So stay tuned folks! Expect the sign-ups to be announced in the next couple of weeks. And remember to take it to the Xtreme!
{The crowd cheers as "Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor" plays him out}Shea O'Hara: Holy crap, did you hear that!?
Rob Diamond: The XHF Rumble!
Shea O'Hara: Open to superstars from across the Network!
Rob Diamond: It’s going to be pretty hard to top that folks. Our first Dauntless Champion, and the announcement of the XHF Rumble?
Shea O'Hara: But you can be damned sure we’re going to try as up next we’re going to crown our first ever Women’s Heavyweight Champion!
{Lights dim as the opening riffs to Shoot to Thrill hit, and flashes of white light begin to pulse along with the music as it picks up pace. The stage fills with dry ice as Dawn steps out from backstage, smiling manically and rocking out to the music. She points to the crowd and tries to get them pumped up. When the chorus hits, she raises her fists in the air as she lets out a shout of excitement punctuated by a blast of simple white pyro around her. She holds that pose until the second iteration of "Shoot to Thrill" in the chorus, at which point she charges into the ring and slides in, spinning with the momentum to her feet as she urges the crowd to get to their feet and rock along with her. After a few moments she will settle into her corner.}Rob Diamond: Here she is Shea, the woman who is undefeated so far in her Combat career…..can I say it, can I?
Shea O'Hara: Well she did say it herself this week…
Rob Diamond: Dawn! Kane!
Shea O'Hara: Nice delivery.
Rob Diamond: Thanks I’ve been saving it up for weeks.
{The guitars of "War Eternal" start up and the arena is bathed in lights for a minute abefor Amber comes stalking as the first main riff kicks in, walking at an almost blisting pace, ignoring the crowd as she goes,sliding under the bottom rope to climb a turnbuckle and start jawing to the assembled masses before hopping oof and jawing to everyone else and taking her Jacket and dog tags off to hang on a corner. Before spinning to face her opponent, or the entry way.}Rob Diamond: The Army is in town!
Shea O'Hara: Amber Cooke had a lot to say this week, now it’s time to see if she can back those words up!
{The two women take their corners as referee Wade Summers holds up the Women’s Heavyweight Championship. He shows the belt to both women before handing it to the time keeper. He asks both women if they are ready once more. Dawn looks like she’s ready to blow as she steps from foot to foot, she nods her head several times. Amber simply stands tall and nods her head once. Referee Summers calls for the bell.}Rob Diamond: Here we go!
{As soon as the bell goes the two women storm towards each other. They both begin to unleash forearms at each other, hair flying in the wind as they do so. They scream in anger and rage as they just throw absolute bombs at each other just as it looks like Dawn is gaining an advantage Amber delivers a swift kick to the side of the knee, forcing Dawn to drop to one knee. Right away Amber plants her with a quick brutal DDT. The crowd all “oooh” in response.}Shea O'Hara: Well that is one way to gain an advantage.
{Amber Cooke doesn’t give Dawn too much time to recover though, as she immediately sits her up and applies a sleeperhold with a scissor lock. Dawn flails a little and tries to claw Amber loose, but Cooke squeezes her legs and it pulls some of the fight out of Halliwell. Dawn tries to roll towards the ropes, but Amber uses her power to keep the move grounded. The crowd are trying to get behind Dawn but she looks like she’s starting to fade.}Rob Diamond: Wow, can Cooke have it in the bag already!?
Shea O'Hara: That would certainly send a message, but I wouldn’t count Dawn out.
{The referee comes over to check on Dawn, and it looks like she might be out….he lifts her arm up, and it flops down to the side. He holds up a finger ONE! He lifts her arm once more and it flops down again….TWO! ….once more the referee lifts Dawns arm and let’s go. As he does it falls but it stops about halfway. The crowd all clap “DAWN! DAWN! DAWN! DAWN!” her arm shakes as she tries to fight the hold. Amber’s eyes grow wide and she tries to tighten the sleeper, but Dawn lurches her head backwards and headbutts Amber right in the nose! The shock and pain forces Amber to let go of the hold, and in a flurry Halliwell rises to her feet, hits the ropes and comes back with a shining wizard!}Rob Diamond: Oh damn!
Shea O'Hara: This crowd are firmly behind Dawn Halliwell here tonight. Without them, it might have been over right there.
Rob Diamond: Of course they are Shea, she’s pretty much the heir apparent round here.
{Both women lay on the mat for a second catching their breath but we see referee Wilson pulling out the gloves as Amber seems to be bleeding from her nose. The crowd begin to cheer, because they’re bloodthirsty. Dawn rolls to a knee and notices that blood is coming from Ambers nose at almost the same time that Amber does. Amber puts a hand to her nose and seems almost disgusted when she sees it. She starts to slam the mat, and kick, as if bleeding her own blood has personally offended her. Dawn smirks, but Amber rises to her feet with a fury filled lariat taking Dawn down. Halliwell rolls through she charges at Cooke but Amber spins and catches her with a BROADSIDE! She goes for the cover and the referee slides in….ONE! …..TWO! ...KICKOUT! Amber sits next to Dawn, with a very pissed off look on her face.}Shea O'Hara: Most people tend to start losing once they’re bleeding, but with Amber it seems to have lit a fire under her.
Rob Diamond: I tell you what, if the ladies in the United States Army are half as tough as Amber Cooke, then I feel pretty safe right now.
Shea O'Hara: Safe from what?
Rob Diamond: Y’know threats to our freedom, and stuff…
{Amber grits her teeth and rolls to the outside. She begins to start tearing up the matts at ringside, pulling them away to reveal the concrete underneath. The crowd are going nuts, as the referee comes over and starts to shout at Amber for what she is doing. Amber gets in his face and pushes him away but as she does so Dawn Halliwell comes flying through the ropes and hits Amber Cookie with a huge suicide dive! Dawn lands on her feet and throws her arms into the air, giving the crowd a double devils horns, they all roar in response.}Rob Diamond: Jeez, you can never count her out can you?
Shea O'Hara: For what she might lack in certain abilities she makes up for in determination and heart. You cannot keep Dawn Halliwell down!
{Dawn looks around and sees the referee down on the floor, holding his face, and Amber crawling towards her. She looks to the fans who are all nodding and screaming, shouting “YES!” and she smirks She pulls Amber to her feet by her hair and then sets her up….SYMPHONY OF DESTRUCTION ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR!!!!}Rob Diamond: Holy crap!
Shea O'Hara: Jeez! That has to be the end of Amber Cooke, if not her career at least for tonight.
Rob Diamond: It looks like that Kane apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
{Dawn looks a little sore herself as she tries to drag an almost lifeless Amber Cooke back into the ring, once she does she turns to see the referee is still down. Halliwell goes over to referee Wade Summers and helps him to his feet, pointing to the ring. He nods and slides in right away, awaiting Dawn who slides in after him and covers Amber….ONE! …….TWO! …….THREE!!!! ...NO! WAIT!!!}Shea O'Hara: AMBER GOT HER FOOT ON THE ROPES!
Rob Diamond: I don’t know how much of this I can take! I thought it was over, I thought Cooke was done for, but she managed to get her foot on the ropes, she’s still in this fight!
{Dawn doesn’t look too happy, and she slams the mat in frustration. She nods her head in determination though, and starts to drag Amber away from the ropes, she goes to drop into the Living Dead Girl but as she does so Amber slams her foot into Dawns face! Dawn hits the mat hard and rolls over holding her face. The crowd boo Amber, who just soaks it in, she stalks Dawn who is slowly making it to all fours, and as she does she charges forwards….BOUNCING BETTY!!!! Amber falls backwards and has to take a moment to clear her nose from some of the blood, which is now starting to stop. The referee offers to help her, but she shoves him out of the way and goes for the cover…….ONE! ……..TWO! …..THRE-DAWN KICKS OUT!!!! The building explodes with cheers from the fans, as Amber’s eyes grow wide with shock and anger, she screams at the referee that it was three. Getting up and in his face.}Rob Diamond: Shea, how do we do this!? How do we keep going on!? Dawn kicked out of the Bouncing Betty! This is just insane.
Shea O'Hara: These women are doing everything they can tonight Rob, laying everything out in the ring. That is what it means to be the first women’s Heavyweight champion.
{Amber is arguing with the referee and Dawn is slowly, groggily making her way to her feet. Cooke quickly turns around and SLAPS the face of Dawn Halliwell, so loud it can be heard over the crowd. Dawn’s head lurches to the side, but instead of slapping her back Dawn kicks her in the gut and with a fiery look hits her with the THUNDERSTRUCK!!! The crowd explode, but Dawn transitions into the LIVING DEAD GIRL!!!! The crowd are going mental, blood is pouring from Ambers nose again, but Dawn is just gritting her teeth and wrenching the hold. Amber is scrambling for the ropes, but Dawn has the position and the hold locked in too well, with a scream she finally taps and the referee calls for the bell!}Shea O'Hara: It’s over!
Rob Diamond: DAWN KANE REALISES HER DREAM!
Katie Holte: Here is your winner and the FIRST Combat Wrestling Women’s Heavyweight Champion…..DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWN HAALLLLIWELLLLL!
{“Shoot to Thrill” blasts over the PA system as Wade Summers hands Dawn the championship and holds her hand in the air. The emotion begins to get to Dawn as she throws the title up in the air for everyone to see. Spike Kane has come out from the back, he rolls into the ring and when Dawn turns around he embraces her with a tight hug. He looks incredibly proud as tears begin to roll down her face. Spike steps to one side, holding up Dawns arm and pointing to her, she then heads to the turnbuckle and raises the title above her head.}Rob Diamond: What an outstanding match, and what a performance from both women.
Shea O'Hara: Truly outstanding. I was so proud to have been a part of this in calling this match. My heart goes out to Dawn Halliwell and of course Amber Cooke in coming so close. Truly phenomenal ladies.
Rob Diamond: And with that tempo set, it’s time to turn our focus towards the men. Two devious men who through one way or another have “earned” their place in tonights final.
Shea O'Hara: Like them or lump them Rob, one of these men is going to be the first Heavyweight Champion
{ The lights go out as "Hail the Apocalypse" by Avatar hits the PA. The arena lights begin to strobe as Killian Kold slowly makes his way out onto the stage. Kold keeps his eyes on the ground as the music really kicks into gear, pausing a little longer than normal for dramatic effect. Killian waits, keeping the crowd on edge, and as the first line hits..}THERE’S A STORM HEADING OUR WAY!
{He suddenly whips his head up and throws his hair back with his arms out stretched. He looks out toward the crowd with a crazed glint in his eyes before marching forward to the beat of the music. Killian reaches the ring and stalks around ringside, staring out blankly, manically into the crow as he keeps to the beat of his music. Finally he takes one last look from side to side before rolling in under the bottom rope before jumping to his feet and throwing his arms out, Christ-like at the foreboding chorus...}TIME TO DIE!
HAMMER HIGH!
NAME YOUR PRICE!
AND KNEEL!
Shea O'Hara: Killian Kold. Dangerous. Sadistic. Some would say unhinged.
Rob Diamond: You have to be a little unhinged to get beaten up for a living. Kold’s metnal state may not be the healthiest but that’s often a boon in this industry.
{Kold’s music fades out on the PA, the lights dim again.The opening riff of "Hail to the King" plays, met with swiftly moving and flashing white spotlights flashing through the arena. In time with the three power chords of the riff starting, ETH-AN KING flashes up across the big screens around the arena, in time with the rising music. The crowd shuffle uncomfortably as King takes his time making his entrance}WATCH YOUR TONGUE OR HAVE IT CUT FROM YOUR HEAD
SAVE YOUR LIFE BY HAVING WHISPERS UNSAID
{Ethan King slowly steps out to the stage, accompanied by his wife. He takes a few steps forward, wearing an expensive looking black suit, looking to either side as he cracks his neck with a smug grin. Ethan looks dead ahead at the ring, as the lights come up in full and he spreads his arms wide and soaks in the reaction from the crowd, which is somewhat muted compared to the chorus of boos you’d normally expect. When he reaches the ring he removes his suit, painfully slowly - revealing his ring attire underneath. King pulls himself up onto the apron, and finally steps into the ring when the second chorus roars through the arena. He stands in the center of the ring, a single fist raised in the air as he nods slightly in rhythm to the music, pumping his fists three times in time with the words “HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!” before finally settling into his corner.}
Shea O'Hara: What can you say about Ethan King that hasn’t already been said?
Rob Diamond: You could say he’s a talentless hack. You could say he’s a 350lb Greek woman from Arkansas. Or you could just stick to what has been said. He’s very, very good.
Shea O'Hara: Very, very good, or just very, very effective?
Rob Diamond: Semantics don’t mean a damn thing in wrestling.
Katie Holte: The following match is scheduled for one fall…
Crowd: ONE FALL!
Katie Holte: With a one hour time limit and is for the Combat Wrestling Championship. Introducing, in the corner to my right, he weighs in at two hundred and eighty-five pounds and hails from Springfield, Massachusetts. He is… KIIIIIIIIIIILIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAN KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD!
{The crowd erupt in a rain of boos for Kold, spurred on by the mention of his name. Kold has the fixed, manic look of one who neither acknowledges or cares for the opinions of the people.}Katie Holte: And his opponent, weighing in tonight at two hundred and forty pounds, hailing from Green Bay, Wisconsin, he is “The King Of The North,” ETHAAAAAAAAAAAAN KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!
{The crowd boos again. King sneers out at the audience, contempt seeping out of every pore of his body. As the boos die down, the faint clapping of his wife can be heard.}Katie Holt: Your referee for this match is Jeff Collins.
{DINGDINGDING!}{The pair begin by slowly circling. Kold reaches out with his right arm, feeling out the distance between the two wrestlers. King extends his left and grabs for Kold’s wrist, but Killian closes the distance with a surprising rapidity and hooks in a collar and elbow tie up. Boasting a massive power advantage, Kold forces his smaller opponent down to his knees. Following up, Kold swings a knee up towards King’s jaw but Ethan slips free as Killian’s base weakens with the knee strike attempt and The King Of The North rolls away and stands again.}Shea O'Hara: Ethan King has to stay away from the power game. There’s no sense in walking into your opponent’s strengths.
Rob Diamond: Ethan King is no fool. I’m convinced that wasn’t what he was going for.
{Again the pair circle. Kold’s face breaks out into a sick smile as he closes the distance again. Attempting to recreate the previous sequence, Killian reaches out for a second collar and elbow, but Kold gets as far as locking one arm before Ethan reverses the pressure with a nifty twist of the wrist. Maintaining wrist control, King steps behind and gently applies pressure to the back of Kold’s knee, causing Killian to drop to one knee without risking breaking the hold. Ethan repeats the takedown on the other knee and, after pausing to goad the crowd, crosses Kold’s arms and transitions into a double top wristlock. The crowd, not knowing who to cheer for, seem a little confused and respond to the goading only mildly with the odd boo.}Rob Diamond: Technique. It’s the best way to deal with an opponent with a power advantage. And Ethan King has so much technical expertise, this is practically natural to him.
{King bends his larger opponent backwards by shifting the application of his wrist hold as Killian looks for an escape. As King bends over, his hold forces Kold’s shoulders back to the mat and referee Collins is right in place to count…}ONE!
{...but Kold forces his shoulder back up. Shea O'Hara: Not even a two count.
Rob Diamond: That’s not going to win you a match but it never hurts to try.{Bending Kold backwards again, The King Of The North tries to reapply the simple pinning combination but gritting his teeth, Killian theatrically shakes his head and powers King backwards. As King missteps, Kold muscles his way back up to one knee, then a standing position. Finally Kold just snaps the hold with a swing of his arms and faces down his opponent, smiling to himself. Words are exchanged between the two as the action pauses for a second.}Shea O'Hara: There is some level of intensity in this match.
Rob Diamond: Of course there is! It’s a title match!
Shea O'Hara: What do you say to your opponent in a situation like this.
Rob Diamond: Given the competitors involved, I’m guessing, “Hail.”
{Squaring off, Ethan drops to a fighting stance while Killian balls his fists, ready to scrap. Ethan scampers in, looking for a takedown, but Killian guides King past him with a firm side step. King quickly returns to a standing position and fires off a swift kick at Kold’s leg. After a sharp, pronounced intake of breath, Kold swings a firm punch into Ethan’s ribs. King responds by kicking at Kold’s other leg. Kold absorbs the blow and closes the distance. A punch to the side of King’s head rocks the smaller star. A rising palm strike to Killian’s chin rocks the big man. Punch from Killian. European Uppercut from Ethan. Punch. European Uppercut. Punch. European Uppercut. HEADBUTT. The crowd noise actually builds a little for that sequence.}Shea O'Hara: That’s one hard head{Lightning fast, speed belying his size Kold takes advantage and grabs for a flailing arm. Irish whipping his opponent, Kold waits for Ethan King to rebound into his grasp, a HUUUUUUGE hip toss lands King square on the mat and then Kold builds up a quick head of steam, runs off the ropes himself plating Ethan in the face with a big boot as he attempts to sit up, following through to rebound from the other side and hit a massive Senton. Killian hooks a leg…}ONE!TWO!TH… and King kicks out.Shea O'Hara: Killian Kold, using his weight to his advantage.
Rob Diamond: Did you ever wonder what a bug feels like after you stepped on it? Go ask Ethan King how he feels right now.
{The blank expression crosses Kold’s face again. He stares his thousand yard stare out into the crowd and the sense crosses the arena that this is the end. Slowly, deliberately Kold lifts Ethan King off the mat and locks first one arm, then the other in a double underhook…}Shea O'Hara: KOLD KILLER!{But his energy reserves far from drained, Ethan King drives his head forwards and flips Kold backwards...}Rob Diamond: NO!{and flips back over Kold’s head himself… all the time keeping the pair’s arms locked. Now Ethan has the upper hand and the double underhook…}
Shea O'Hara: BEND THE KNEE!{But Kold powers loose with ease, also feeling far from spent at this stage. The two jawjack again, Ethan miming “That close” for the crowd to see.}Rob Diamond: ALSO NO!{Slick technician that he is, Ethan is in no mood to play power wrestler against Killian, so when Kold charges again throwing a wild looking strike in Ethan’s direction, King casually side steps and grasps Kold by the wrist. Ethan pops his hips round, whipping Kold to the ropes and then dropping to the mat, taking Kold down with a beautiful drop toe hold. King follows up by springing to his feet and driving an elbow into the small of Kold’s back. From his position on the canvas, King locks in a side headlock.}Rob Diamond: Keeping the big man under control. Very sound strategy. But you wouldn’t expect anything else.
{Carefully noting the position of the referee, King gives a near imperceptible signal to his wife at ringside and Gwen Price-King hops up to have a nice polite little chat with referee Collins. Working in perfect sync with his wife, Ethan uses the opportunity to slide his hands down to apply a chokehold out of sight of the ref.}Shea O'Hara: That is blatant cheating.
Rob Diamond: It’s not blatant.
Shea O'Hara: How is it not blatant?
Rob Diamond: Because the referee would have seen it if it was blatant. That is subtle cheating.
{Working the choke, The King Of The North keeps Kold’s throat under pressure until the chat with Gwen has finished and the referee returns to put on a five count. King breaks the hold. At four. And then shrugs for the crowd like a naughty toddler who’d just been caught.}Rob Diamond: Ethan King knows the wrinkles of this business. And that’s how you succeed.
Shea O'Hara: By cheating?
Rob Diamond: If you have to.
{Looking to press his advantage quickly, Ethan returns to his feet and waits for the winded Killian Kold to stagger to his. Knowing that leverage moves will be easier to hit on a man who outsizes him so comfortably, King steps a leg across the back of Kold’s and holding an arm over Kold’s throat, takes him down with an STO that rocks the ring under the heavy impact of Kold’s body. King hooks a leg...}ONE!TWO!TH.. NO!Shea O'Hara: Ethan King looking to exert a period of dominance in this match.
Rob Diamond: And now, children, we go to school.
{King doesn’t even wait for separation, no space, no chances. Instead he grasps at an arm and twists, flipping Killian onto his stomach. Ethan cranks on the hammerlock, sliding a knee over onto Kold’s back to apply yet more pressure to the spine. Seamlessly, Ethan kicks his legs backwards and applies a crossface with his free arm, totally locking Killian up. Arm flailing, Killian fights for an escape as Ethan barks an order at referee Collins.}Ethan King: ASK HIM.
Shea O'Hara: That hold is locked in tight. Can Killian Kold escape?
Rob Diamond: He has the power to, but the question is how much damage has been done?
{Ethan cranks back on Killian’s neck, keeps the arm pinned and bends the big man’s spine in a most uncomfortable fashion. Hubris taking over, Ethan senses that enough damage might have been done and relinquishes control. He stands and waits for Kold to work his way to his feet, Killian aching with pain as he stands slowly. Not even allowing Kold to get fully up, Ethan forces him into a standing head scissors and pins the arms into position.}Shea O'Hara: BEND THE KNEE!{In no mood to get spiked on the canvas, Kold desperately powers forwards, bundling both himself and The King Of The North through middle rope and spilling out carelessly. to the floor. Gwen checks on her husband as the two men lay at ringside, sucking air after their efforts. The crowd applauds.}Rob Diamond: Killian Kold bend his knee for NO MAN.
{Gwen Price-King surveys the situation and encourages her man to stand up. Referee Collins begins a count as Kold and King both begin to slowly, groggily stand. Considering if she can be of any… shall we say subterfugey assistance, Gwen walks over to Kold to attempt to distract him, allowing Ethan some extra time to recover. Killian stares a hole through her damn soul and Gwen retreats quickly behind her husband.}Shea O'Hara: Combat Wrestling doesn’t allow male on female violence.
Rob Diamond: You think Killian cares? Gwen isn’t stupid. Killian would break her in half, women’s wrestler or not. And he’d enjoy it.
ONE!{In a rare show of nobility, Ethan sees red at someone threatening his wife. King moves in to correct Kold’s face, rushing a little, looking for an uppercut onto the madman’s chin. And whiffs! Always aware of his surroundings outside the ring Kold grabs Ethan as he flails, wraps him up ready and POWERBOMBS HIM ONTO THE DAMN RING STEPS! Ethan howls in pain as Kold sits up slowly, grinning despite any lingering back pain, knowing that his opponent is in more.}Crowd: HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT!TWO!Shea O'Hara: POWERBOMB ONTO THE RING STEPS! THIS IS INSANITY!
Rob Diamond: Can you win the belt by countout if it’s a tournament match. And more importantly, does Kilian Kold care?
THREE!{Ethan King lays there, clutching desperately at his back, his face wracked with pain. Gwen moves in to check on him looking gravely concerned.}FOUR!{Killian returns to a standing position and walks over to his fallen opponent. Gwen backs off again as Kold lifts Ethan King up to a standing head scissors once more.}FIVE!Shea O'Hara: Whatever you’re thinking Killian, DON’T DO IT!
Rob Diamond: This isn’t about winning a title. This is about proving a point.
Shea O'Hara: You CANNOT approve.
{And without a care in the world, Killian Kold lifts Ethan King up, turns him towards the ring apron and POWERBOMBS HIM ONTO THE SHARP ANGLE! King just melts to the floor! Gwen’s face is contorted into a look of sheer, unbridled horror. The crowd goes quiet, not in disapproval or confusion but in genuine shock. A pan round the audience show a few horrified looks.}SIX!Shea O'Hara: HOLY MARY MOTHER OF JESUS, ETHAN KING IS DEAD!
Rob Diamond: I cannot approve. I DO not approve. Killian Kold is a sick, sick man.
SEVEN!{Killian Kold rolls under the bottom rope and sits in the middle of the ring, serenely calm, almost in a meditative state.}EIGHT!{Then, like the Lady of the Lake rising from the dark waters, Ethan King’s arm appears over the lip of the ring apron where he was so cruelly driven.}NINE!{King begins to grasp his way to a standing potision.}TE…..{And at the last possible nanosecond, Ethan King hoists his body up onto the apron and on pure instinct alone, rolls under the bottom rope causing the referee to stop his count. Killian looks ticked off at this turn of events. He stomps over to where Ethan King is laying and applies a lateral press…}ONE!TWO!THRE… NO! Shea O'Hara: Ethan King put his foot on the ropes!
Rob Diamond: He’s been beaten down but you can’t beat that ring awareness out of him.
{Dragging King to the center of the ring, Kold drops down for another pin fall attempt… ONLY TO BE SURPRISED WITH A SHOCK SMALL PACKAGE!}ONE!TWO!TH...NO! {Now the fury is building on Kold’s face. Kold sits up and stares at Ethan King before clambering slowly to his feet. Kold flinches briefly at his back pain but shakes it off and grabs the prone King by the hair. Ignoring the referee’s warning, Kold hauls Ethan roughly up and wraps an arm across the front of his shoulders, lifting King and driving The King Of The North across his knee. King cannot hold the agony in and lets loose a scream as Kold targets the exact area that metunforgiving steel. Kold covers confidently.}ONE!TWO!THR...NO! Crowd: E-THAN KING! E-THAN KING!Shea O'Hara: The Uranage Backbreaker. Not enough for the win. But how much more punishment can Ethan King take?
{Kold stands and looks down with unbridled contempt at Ethan King. He lifts King up and slams him into a standing headscissors once more, looking for something big, painful and with evil, evil intent. Killian turns towards a turnbuckle and points. Kold attempts to powerbomb Kold for a third time in the match but ETHAN KING SLIPS LOOSE AND HITS A SPIN KICK ACROSS KOLD’S NECK!}Shea O'Hara: BARE YOUR THROAT!
{Sensing a slight chink in his opponent’s armor, King muscles up any last ounce of strength his body can muster and back off, charging in with a wild clothesline!}Shea O'Hara: FINAL TILT!
{King drops to pin…}ONE!TWO!THRE… NOOOOOOOO!Crowd: KILL-YAN KOLD! KILL-YAN KOLD!{King grasps at Kold and lifts him from the mat. Wincing and clutching at his back with one arm, King locks one of Killian’s arms up. Ethan stops nursing his injury for a second to lock up the other arm and goes for the big finish.}Shea O'Hara: BEND THE KNEE!
{But Ethan back just gives out. He can’t muster the strength to get the initial lift of his favourite move off. King, always the quick thinker, even when hurt, improvises and switches to a DDT…}Shea O'Hara: NO! BLACK ICE! THIS COULD BE IT!
ONE!TWO!THRE…….. NOOOOOOO!Rob Diamond: Ethan King is throwing everything he can muster at Kilian Kold.
Crowd: E-THAN KING! E-THAN KING!
Crowd: KILL-YAN KOLD! KILL-YAN KOLD!
Crowd: BOTH THESE GUYS! BOTH THESE GUYS!
{Ethan’s pain may be as much emotional at the failure to win with the move as it is with the actual, very genuine back pain he is under. Gwen is apoplectic outside the ring, yelling at the referee that he should count faster. King goes to lift Killian off the mat knowing that he’s one big move, one Bend The Knee away from a championship…}Shea O'Hara: This crowd has really come to life for both of these men.
{One second can feel like a lifetime. In such moments championships are decided. Ethan King bends forwards to attempt one final time to lock in Bend The Knee’s set up. From his lower position Killian Kold fires off a double thrust to the gut that sends Ethan King doubling up. Kold stands, applies a standing headscissors one last time and POWERBOMBS ETHAN KING INTO THE TURNBUCKLES. Ethan King collapses to the mat before Killian can follow up with anything. Kold applies the back press..}ONE!TWO!THRE…… NOOOOOOOO!Shea O'Hara: HOW IS ETHAN KING STILL FIGHTING?
Rob Diamond: The question, Shea, is why. The answer is title gold.
{Kold rises to his feet first. With the look of a convicted serial killer reactingly emotionlessly to his charges being read out in court, Killian Kold grabs Ethan King’s near limp body and drags it to the corner of the ring. Kold, keeping Ethan in one arm slowly backs up and sits atop the second turnbuckle. His long arms reach down and grab Ethan King around the waist.}Shea O'Hara: NO! MY GOD, NO!
Rob Diamond: Killian. If there was a time to find your conscience, it might be now.
{Ethan King gets lifted into the air from the elevated Killian Kold.}Gwen Price-King: NOOOOOOOOOO!{And Killian Kold lifts King up as far as his shoulders and DRIVES HIM DOWN TO THE CANVAS WITH FINALITY!}Shea O'Hara: SUPERBOMB! JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH KILLIAN KOLD JUST SUPERBOMBED AN ALREADY INJURED MAN!
Rob Diamond: Somebody call 911. Somebody call a clean up crew.
{The bizarre serenity returns to Killian’s face as he holds on into the pinning combination.}ONE!TWO!THREE!{DINGDINGDING!}Crowd: THANK YOU COM-BAT! Clapclapclapclapclap
Crowd: BOTH THESE GUYS! BOTH THESE GUYS!
Shea O'Hara: Killian Kold is your Combat Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
Rob Diamond: Ethan King has been taken through hell. Killian Kold hasn’t escaped his own share of pain to achieve victory. This has been a crazy match. And the fans are going crazy for it.
Katie Holte: The winner of the match and YOUR FIRST COMBAT WRESTLING HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION… KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILIIIIIIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAN KOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD.
{Killian Kold kneels in the middle of the ring, with the Heavyweight Championship dravished across his lap. He has an almost sinister smile across his face, as his soaking wet hair falls across it. He laughs, before he raises the belt rising to his feet. He storms towards the ropes and almost throws the belt over it as he leans over the ropes, his hair falling over his face once more and he just grins at the crowd, and his handiwork.}Shea O'Hara: New Champions, insane action and we’re only getting started here at Combat Wrestling. For Rob Diamond I’m Shea O’Hara wishing you all a good night.
{The camera lingers on the celebrating Killian Kold, while EMT’s and Gwen Price-King check on Ethan King, before both the Combat and the XHF Network logos flash up on the screen and the show ends.}