Vanguard #30 (11/22/23)

More pumped than usual, Brody comes roaring in against Ollie, but Ollie leaves the ring before Brody can lay in an attack. Referee Kara Tarantino keeps Brody from following his opponent out of the ring. Pacing back and forth on the outside, Ollie seems to be either psyching himself up or just having a very intense conversation with himself. Brody complains about this, gesturing to Ollie and wondering why the hell he isn’t fighting. Kara tries to keep things cool but Brody has had enough. He rolls to the outside and moves to attack Ollie from behind, but Ollie catches him with a back kick dangerously close to the beltline. It’s enough to drop Brody to his knees and leave him gasping for air. Ollie stares at him for a moment, head tilted slightly to the side, then cracks him with the Gravy Train!

Brody drops like a sack of potatoes and Ollie keeps right on staring at him… before laughing his ass off! He heaves up the half-conscious Brody and rolls him back into the ring, moving in after him. For a moment, he feigns concern, slapping Brody in the face lightly, trying to wake him up. Brody has no idea where he is at this point and accepts the hand up as far as his knees… where Ollie snaps off ANOTHER Gravy Train, Putting Brody all the way out! Smirking, he drops down and puts both hands on Brody’s chest, leaning in as Kara makes the academic three-count!


Spirit Montego: And your winner… OLLIE MAVERICK!

Not even waiting to get his arm raised, Ollie leaves the ring and heads up the ramp. The momentary smirk is gone, leaving an intense-looking individual marching up the steel path and past the curtain, the fans left to wonder what the hell that was all about!

Bernadette Olson: Doesn’t get paid by the hour, does he?

Jacob Frankel: Yeah… what’s up with that, anyway? He’s acting strange even for Ollie!

Bernadette Olson: Strange, but dangerous all the same. Maybe he’s frustrated about lack of opportunity?

Jacob Frankel: That’s kinda reasonable, but then, it’s no call for kicking someone so hard that they forget second grade!

All three ladies are raring to go. Camila and Lollie share a look and immediately go after Iida in tandem, seeing her as the threat in this contest. A short but heavy brawl happens in that particular corner of the ring, with Iida managing to elevate a charging Lollie over the top rope where she lands on the apron. A jumping knee catches Iida in the chin, well-placed by Camilia, who backs into the ropes for a swinging neckbreaker. Lollie takes the next moment to slingshot over the top rope into a leg drop across Iida, maintaining that position and getting a one-count out of the pin. She and Camila pull Iida up and send her into the ropes, but Iida breaks the double-clothesline, coming back with one of her own! Camila ducks it while Lollie swings up onto the shoulders of Iida crucifix-style! Iida resists her takedown attempt and swings Lollie out with a spinning side slam! Camila approaches from the rear, trying to grab the arm and wrap Iida into Hate a Hater, but Iida counters out, hitting a release northern lights that drops Camila onto Lollie somewhat haphazardly!

Iida, too, is down temporarily, but starts to get back to her feet along with Camila, Lollie rolling toward the ropes first. Iida comes in with chops and kicks, lacing into Camila as she tries to block what blows she can. Backed into the corner, she evades a short-range charge from Iida and turns it into a sunset flip for a quick two. Iida kips up and almost takes Camila’s head off with a buzzsaw kick but Camila is able to move out of the way of some of the impact. Lollie comes in after this, going for a backcracker and managing to bring Iida down. She’s back up in a hurry, though, hitting a knee to the midsection of Lollie and winding up another big kick, this one looking like her TKO finisher! Lollie makes a split-legged evasion, though, and bounces back to her feet, hitting a pele kick on Iida! It staggers, but does not drop, the Emerald Queen, so Lollie uses a hurricanrana to send Iida crashing into the buckles! Camila slips out of the ring just in the nick, avoiding getting smashed into the buckles herself by a tumbling Iida! A running facewash further debilitates Iida, and Camila takes that moment to get in behind a celebrating Lollie, drilling her with a bridged German, getting a near-fall off of it. Lollie is up faster than expected, though, and the newcomer Camila finds herself victimized by a Sweet Spike! Lollie makes a cover, but again only gets a near-fall.

Iida is back up by this point, grabbing Lollie for what looks like another German. Lollie flips out of this, landing on her feet, but walking right into a superkick! Staggered, but not knocked down shockingly, Lollie kinda twirls comically on the spot as Camila grabs Iida and whips her around, sending her spear-like into Lollie! The Sugar Queen goes down but Iida remains vertical… until Camila tries to cut her in half with her version: Broke Ass Shit! Iida whips back to the mat and Camila moves in to make the pin, getting near enough to three before Lollie breaks things up! Whipped into the ropes, Camila slides between the legs of Lollie, hits the ropes, and nails Broke Ass Shit once again! This time, it’s Iida who breaks things up, frustrating Camila just a bit! She slugs it out with Iida for a moment, with the Emerald Queen getting the better of it. A drop toe hold into the buckles, though, slows her down long enough for Ortiz to put her on the ropes, looking to set up Pretty Little Lies! Iida tries to punch her way out, leading to a stalemate that allows Lollie to get involved again! She moves to assist Camilia but Iida somehow manages to knock their heads together and get some measure of footing on the ropes! With a hold of both women, she kicks off and hits a modified blockbuster, driving both Camila and Lollie down!

All three women are down for a few moments, with Iida stirring first. It’s an Aftershock to Camilia, who comes back with a leaping knee to the chin! Lollie takes it up a notch with a double front dropkick, driving a foot into each woman’s chest! Camila goes down while Iida falls into the ropes! Rebounding, she drives a low boot into the midsection of Lollie, then runs past her and hits the ropes to deliver Tick Tock Boom! A pin is attempted, but Camila moves in to break it up… only for Iida to roll away and Camila to land on Lollie instead! A Last Ride drives Camila down onto the prone Lollie, and Iida shoves her away before getting the one-two-three!


Spirit Montego: And the winner of the match… IIDA MATSUDA!

It’s a mess of bodies in the ring, but Iida is well enough to rise and have her arm raised! Camila, sitting against the ropes, is hurting and perhaps a bit frustrated, but the fans are still cheering for her, and for Lollie, all the same. Lollie is slower to come around, with Iida checking on her to make sure she’s okay. She offers Camila a hand up, but Camila politely declines, getting up on her own. Iida, taking another moment to savor her hard-fought win, leaves the ring as the fans continue to roar for all three ladies.

Bernadette Olson: Hard-hitting affair tonight, Jacob, and given that, I’m not surprised to see Iida come out on top.

Jacob Frankel: Not many people in HYBRID hit as hard as her. But props to Lollie for hanging in there, and to Camila for giving the HYBRID Nation a fine introduction to what she’s capable of! Flowers for everyone!

Bernadette Olson: Easy there, kiddo. I saw you staring at Camila. What would your mother say?

Jacob Frankel: Get after it!

Bernadette Olson: I highly doubt that!

On one side, the first-ever, longest-reigning HYBRID Global Heavyweight Champion of all time, the number one contender to the title, and one of the hottest young tag teams in the company. On the other, the reigning Global Heavyweight Champion, a second-generation star, and the number one contenders to the Global Tag Team Titles. And the first thing they do is smash into one another with a fury! Eddy makes a beeline for Duke, the two big veterans slugging it out hard, while Jessi moves to light up Brittany with a barrage of attacks! Mikaela and Jessie make a beeline for Lana and Jamie, and they almost immediately spill out to the floor, slinging one another into every surface imaginable! Even the venerable Senior Official, Butch Grant, is having trouble stemming the tide of chaos! Eddy hurls himself AND Duke over the top rope with a big clothesline, while Jessi finds herself on the defense thanks to a wild if unfocused assault from Brittany, the young lady having something to prove! Outside the ring, Mikaela is briefly downed by the Daughters, who team up to drop Jessie face-first on the announce table! Mikaela attacks Lana from behind, but Jamie is there to break that up, with a fierce Irish whip sending Mikaela into the steps hard!

Back in the ring, Jessi and Brittany are locked up, with Jessi cranking down on a headlock as, at least between these two, things are slowing down to a manageable pace. Nothing, not even forearm shots, attempted suplexes, and all else gets Jessi to break her grip, though. As the rest of the competitors are finally separated, slowly making their way back to their corners, Jessi makes sure to lock eyes with Duke as she cranks down harder on Brittany, firing off a few stiff shots to the head just to emphasize her point. Duke brushes this off and Brittany is finally able to back drop her way out of danger. She moves to tag in Lana, who enters and dukes it out with Jessi. However, backed near her team’s corner, Jessi is blind-tagged by Jessie, who takes advantage of Lana not noticing to slingshot over the top rope with a shoulderblock as Jessi sends Lana her way! Jessie feeds off the crowd, hitting and running, staying out of reach of the dangerous and more experienced Lana. But a well-placed Hecate’s Dagger stuns Jessie, almost taking them off their feet, a process Lana speeds up with a kick and Through the Veil! A pin gets a two-count, after which Lana clamps on a tight chinlock, grinding Jessie down to the mat and rubbing their head into it! When Jessie shows signs of escape, Lana guides them to her team’s corner, where Jamie tags herself in, leading to a series of double-team moves and quick tags to batter Jessie! They try to cap things off with Baelfire, but Mikaela has had enough, charging into the ring and attacking Jamie before they can hit their leg lariat! Jessie somehow punches their way out of Lana’s spinebuster and Duplex Royale unites to send Lana spilling over the top rope! The Royal Flush is loaded up, but Duke has seen enough, knocking Jessie off the buckles and to the apron before they land on the floor! Brittany seems to take umbrage to this, but Duke stares them down and tags himself into the match! Mikaela, legal now, goes at him but eats a Red, White & Blue Combination! Eddy tags himself in before Mikaela can retort and it’s another slugout between former and current champion!

And just like that, things get nasty again! Duplex Royale and the Daughters of Darkness take it back down to the floor when the latter try to interfere on the champ’s behalf! Jessi joins in on this, leaping onto the pile from the apron! Brittany looks tentative, having actually checked on Jessie after the fall from the buckles! Lana, not fond of this, shoves Brittany and seems to be ordering her to join in on the beatings… but Brittany isn’t having it! She turns to leave and Lana grabs her, but Brittany slaps her! Boom Headshot follows, leading to Jamie defending her partner! Waylaid by Jessie, who shoots Brittany a look, Jamie is pulled back into the fight as Brittany leaves the ringside area! Back in the ring, Eddy and Duke try to put one another away with their best shots, but neither man is willing to give! With the numbers advantage on the side of Duplex Royale and the number one contender, Jessi is able to get back to the apron and tag herself in as Duke hits The Andrews Effect on Eddy! Butch Grant informs Duke, upon his making the pin, that Eddy is no longer legal! Momentarily taken aback, Duke is ground into the mat by Jessi’s Rude Awakening! It’s only good for a near-fall, though, And Duke snatches the energetic Queen of Chaos up for a chokeslam! She slips the noose and hits a reverse DDT on the way down, but the champ won’t stay put! Jessi, going airborne, gets caught and spiked with The Andrews Effect! Duke holds on for the pin, but a charging elbow to the side of the head from Eddy breaks it up! He eats a chokeslam for his efforts and Jessi uses that moment to roll the champ up! One… two… Duke reverses! One… two… Jessie and Mikaela help Jessi swap positions again, this time with her foot hooked on one of the ropes! One… two… and three!


Spirit Montego: Ladies and gentlemen, your winners… the team of EDDY TODD, DUPLEX ROYALE, AND JESSI OZBORNE!

Bernadette Olson: Ozborne just pinned the champion!

Jacob Frankel: I mean, she had her foot on the ropes and needed an assist, but yeah!

Jessi rolls out of the ring, joined by her partners as the Daughters re-enter the ring, furious at being unable to stop the efforts of the other team! Brittany comes out onto the ramp at this point as well, applauding the winners, only incensing the champion and number one contenders further!

Bernadette Olson: So is Brittany turning over a new leaf or something?

Jacob Frankel: I’m not sure yet. It just looked like she wasn’t going along with her team’s tactics… and then that altercation with Lana.

Bernadette Olson: Yeah, there’ll be a comeuppance for that. Lana and her people don’t let stuff go.

Jacob Frankel: No doubt! But the big news is that the main event of Best Served Cold just got more interesting!

Feeling a bit stung after the results of Fall of Man, Freakshow hits the ring in no mood for nonsense. Jami and Charli are already talking noise as Derrick and Alexis slide in, but that’s soon traded for screams as Alexis spears the dog outta Charli and Derrick grabs Jami around the throat with both hands, chucking her hard into the buckles and following up with a pair of running clotheslines, ending the trifecta with a big facewash that leaves Jami crumbling to the mat. She’s not down long, though, as Derrick picks her up one-handed, nailing a Vicious Cycle to put an exclamation point on his assault. Outside the ring, Alexis is tossing Charli around with ease. The Sacramento native does her best to fight back, but there’s no denying Alexis and her drive. Heartburn knocks Charli hard into a sitting position against the steps, and a Sourball ensures she’ll stay there. Getting up on the apron, she tags herself into the match and Derrick, already knowing what she’s thinking, sends Jami hard into the buckles. From there, it's a Journey to Remember for the VERY academic three-count!


Spirit Montego: And your winners… FREAKSHOW!

Jami and Charli are left lying and Freakshow celebrates a dominant victory. The fans seem to like what they see, too… more so as Freakshow stares into the camera and, in tandem, make the belt motion at the waist!

Bernadette Olson: Is that a challenge to The Calinauts, or to Royal Couple?!

Jacob Frankel: Honestly, I don’t think it matters to these two, Bernie! They just want them some gold!

Bernadette Olson: Wanting and getting are a distance apart, Jakey. They’d better pay close attention to the main event, and to Vanguard #31’s main event as well!

Spirit Montego: The following contest is scheduled for one fall!

Crowd: ONE FALL!

Spirit Montego: And it is a special challenge match for the Zion Wrestling Undisputed Championship!

Kanye West’s “POWER” fills the arena and the crowd boos as James Michael Robinson comes out onto the stage. He makes his way down to the ring, taunting the fans in the front row. On the way down, he snatches a sign for Morgan Payne and holds up to the camera, commenting how cute it is before ripping it in half and flipping the young fan off.

Jacob Frankel: Wow, what is this guy’s problem, Bernie?!

Bernadette Olson: I think I can see the chip on his shoulder from here.

Jacob Frankel: Jessie, you grew up with this guy?

Jessie Robinson: He’s a big stupid meanie pants!

James walks around the ring during his entrance, talking trash to the crowd until he reaches the commentary table where he turns his attention to Jessie.

James Michael Robinson: Oh there you are sis! You decided to show up!

Jessie Robinson: Leave me alone! Get in the ring Jimmy!

James Michael Robinson: SHADDAP!

James taunts lunging at her, causing Jessie to flinch back and he laughs before entering the ring, kissing his knuckles on one hand and throws an air punch at the camera.

Spirit Montego: Introducing first, the challenger, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, weighing in at 230lbs. JAMES…MICHAEL…ROBINSON!

The Amity Affliction’s “Pittsburgh” comes on, sending the crowd into a crazed pop as Morgan Payne comes through the curtain. She pulls the Zion Undisputed Title from around her waist and raises it in the air before settling it on her shoulder and making her way towards the ring. Morgan makes a point of stopping on the way and removing the beanie from her merch line and slides it over the head of the same young fan that had his sign ripped by James.

Jacob Frankel: Aww, that’s nice of her.

Jessie Robinson: Morgy’s the bestest!

Bernadette Olson: Lose your sign and end up with a souvenir. Lucky night kiddo!

Morgan climbs the apron and turnbuckles, raising her title to the crowd again before climbing down into the ring. She throws a friendly wink to Jessie at commentary who grins big and waves back.

Spirit Montego: His opponent, from The Burgh! Representing The Kingdom! Weighing in at 141lbs! She is the Zion Wrestling Undisputed Champion…MORGAN…PAYNE!!

Morgan hands her title off to the referee who raises it up as she and James remove their entrance gear and prepare from their corners, staring daggers at each other. The ref calls for the bell.


James and Morgan come out of their corners and James is already starting the trash talk, pointing between Morgan in front of him and Jessie at the commentary table as he yells about the past they all have together. Morgan doesn’t back down, damned being more than six inches shorter than the man as she jaws right back at him. We don’t know what exactly James says that sets Morgan off but his final words push all the right buttons and the champion slaps the challenger across the face as hard as she can.


Crowd: OOOOOOOOOOH!!!

James grabs his jaw, looking appalled and infuriated as he turns back to Morgan and he flies right at her, throwing a haymaker. Morgan catches his arm and sends him over her shoulder, to the mat with a Tai Otoshi and goes to lock on a Cross Armbar. James immediately goes into “oh shit” mode, kicking his legs to get out of it and manages to get his toe on the bottom rope, forcing the break. James slides out of the ring, slapping the apron.

James Michael Robinson: I WASN’T READY!

Jessie Robinson: You swung first, bully!

James Michael Robinson: Shaddap, you!

Jessie Robinson: You shut up!

Jessie sticks her tongue out at her brother and James cocks back his fist, threatening to hit her. From behind, Morgan slides out of the ring and comes up behind James, grabbing him by the hair and slams his face into the commentary table. James stumbles around, trying to keep a vertical position and Morgan throws him back into the ring. She slides right back in after him as he gets to his feet and charges. James ducks underneath an arm, comes back up laughing and turns around just as Morgan rebounds off the ropes and comes flying into him with a lariat. James hits the mat and sits up on one knee, surprised as Morgan pops right back to her feet. The crowd gasps as Morgan goes for the “Bukakke Blast” but James drops and Morgan’s knee goes sailing right over his head. Morgan sits up and James catches her in a seated rear chinlock. He wrenches back but Morgan pulls at his fingers to try and get loose as she fights to a vertical base. Morgan finally gets a hold of a couple of fingers and bends it back, breaking the hold. James starts screaming in pain and the referee warns Morgan about small joint manipulation so the champion pulls the challenger right into an Ippon Seoi Nage and slams him to the mat again. This time, James throws his legs up and wraps them around Morgan’s torso, pulling her down the mat and into a small package rollup!


Morgan rolls up onto her knees and James pops back to his feet where he paint brushes her across the face!


Crowd: OOOOOOOOOOH!!

Morgan sneers up at him and James keeps slapping her as she rises up to meet him. Morgan just keeps eating the slaps until James reaches out again and flicks her right in the eye. The crowd boos as Morgan grabs her eye, stepping back and James shoots in, shocking the masses with an Osoto Gari takedown to Morgan and he throws on a Heel Hook.

Jacob Frankel: HEY WHOA!

Bernadette Olson: Beautiful takedown by James Michael Robinson!

Jessie is speechless, sitting with her jaw dropped and her little eyes as wide as saucers. James torques back on Morgan’s leg as hard as she can as she fights to get to the ropes but he’s got her anchored down good and she’s not going anywhere. She can’t reach the ropes quickly so she starts kicking her free leg out, driving the heel of her boot into his hip, trying to kick him off. James holds on tight until Morgan’s able to scoot her body in and kicks him in the face, causing him to let go of her foot. Both wrestlers climb to their feet and Morgan steps in, wrapping James’ head into a Muay Thai Clinch and starts throwing knees into his midsection as she backs him into a corner. The referee starts to count for the break but James scoops Morgan up under the thighs and charges across the ring, driving her back into the corner, unleashing a barrage of shoulder rams right into her ribs. The ref calls for the break out of the corner again. James throws his hands up, feigning compliance before going for a punch but Morgan sidesteps and sends him into the corner again. He blasts him with a knife edged chop, snapmares him to the mat and hits the ropes, coming off with a leaping Dropkick that sends James back out to the floor.

Jessie Robinson: YOI YOI DOUBLE YOI!!

Jessie pumps her fists in the air excitedly at the commentary table. Stefan Jackson calms a furious James down at ringside The referee calls for James to get back in the ring but Morgan comes rushing right past them and Stefan just makes it out of the way as she Suicide Dives right into James and both wrestlers go crashing into the barricade. The crowd goes wild as Morgan pulls James up and goes to throw him back into the ring but James blocks the apron with his hands and blasts Morgan in the face with a back elbow before slamming her face into the hardest part of the ring. He doesn’t let up as he Irish Whips her towards the steel steps so hard she goes crashing into and rolling over them. James is properly pissed off now as he storms over to his dazed opponent and rips the top of the steps off, exposing the wider, flatter bottom section. He grabs Morgan by the hair as the referee yells for them to get back in and sets Morgan up for “Faded Memory”, looking to dunk her head first onto the steel. Morgan manages to slip free and land behind James where she hops up onto the steps behind him, grabs him in a Rear Waistlock and sends him over to the padded floor with a Release German Suplex! Both wrestlers hit the thin padding hard and are laid out completely.

Crowd: HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT! HO-LY SHIT!

Stefan yells for James to get up and Jessie does the same for Morgan as the two fight to beat the count. Morgan makes it up a fraction before James does and grabs him, throwing him into the ring before crawling in after him. Morgan posts back into the corner, readying her boot as James stumbles back up. He turns towards her and she comes barreling in, letting her foot fly! “TASTES LIKE A TIMBA LAND BOO—” NO!!!! JAMES SNATCHES HER OFF THE MAT AND PLANTS HER WITH “KNOW YOUR PLACE (DEEP SIX)”!!!!


Morgan kicks out again! James is furious as he sits up and pulls Morgan to her feet, bending her back for “I’m Just Better” but he swaps out the kiss to the forehead in favor of just spitting down into Morgan’s face. As he goes for the move itself, Morgan twists out of it and shoves him into the ropes. She runs off the opposite end and comes charging right back into James for “The Faded Line” but James, despite his size advantage over his smaller opponent catches her arm and flips back over it, landing safely on his feet. He boots Morgan in the midsection and hoists her up for a Powerbomb but Morgan slips free and SPIKES HIM WITH A DDT!!


Morgan gets to her feet and pulls James up, looking for a Brainbuster and she plants him again for another cover!


Morgan sits there in disbelief, both wrestlers starting to show signs of exhaustion as James sits up next to her. They meet up on their knees and Morgan nods her head, even grinning a little and says what looks like a compliment to James’ drive and skill. James answers back with a middle finger right to her face and Morgan swats it away, throwing her arms out to try and reason with her opponent who’s impressing her. James answers with a hard forearm to the jaw. Morgan rocks back and pushes herself away from the mat, launching into a forearm of her own and they start teeing off on each other, slowly fighting back to their feet as their shots fly back and forth. James and Morgan are just rocking the hell out of each other with the back and forth hits until James cheapshots Morgan right in the nose with a closed fist punch. The referee chides him for it but James ignores it and pulls Morgan right into a setup for…”Coma White”?!?! The finisher of Vlad Blackheart! James laughs as he hooks the arms but Morgan pulls them free and showcases her power, lifting James up and drops him with an Air Raid Siren onto the mat! She pops up to her feet now, furious that he would even attempt her Godfather’s move against her as she pulls him up and lifts him across her shoulders for “Dahntahn After Dahk”! As she goes for it, however, James rolls through and lands on his feet, spins around and takes Morgan down with a Discus Lariat! He holds onto her neck though, pulling her up and “I’M JUST BETTER (SISTER ABIGAIL)”!!!! Morgan teeters into a headstand before falling limp to the mat and James scrambles over for a cover!


James sits back on his knees and shoves three fingers in the referee’s face, arguing about the count. He grabs Morgan by the hair and sets up for another “I’m Just Better” but Morgan spins free again and whips James around before driving a kick into his midsection! “ART OF RUIN (STUNNER)”!!!! James bounces back, rolling onto his head and flops down to the mat, lying prone as Morgan crawls over and rolls him onto his back for a cover!


Morgan sits back in disbelief, holding three up for the referee but gets confirmation that it’s only two. She looks down at James, shocked at his resilience. Morgan gets to her feet again and steps back where she pulls down her kneepad and calls for the “Bukakke Blast” again. Once more, she comes running in and goes for that Shining Wizard but James trips her up with a Drop Toe Hold and throws on the “Humiliator (Rings of Saturn)”!! Morgan reaches for the ropes, desperately but James gets her other arm back proper and she has nothing to grab onto. She tries to kick her feet around towards the ropes but James counters, keeping her grounded towards the center of the mat. Left with no way to reach the ropes and the risk of having her shoulder pulled, Morgan…ROLLS BACK INTO THE TORQUE AND PUTS JAMES ON THE MAT!! The referee drops down for a count but James immediately lets Morgan go and shoves her off of him to prevent even a one count. He climbs to his feet and pulls Morgan up for a second attempt at “Faded Memory” but Morgan slips down behind him. She spins him around and kicks James in the midsection again, pulling him into the setup for “Coma White” herself but James wrestles his arms free and sends Morgan over with a back body drop! Morgan lands on her feet, stumbling into the ropes! James spins around as Morgan launches herself at him! “TASTES LIKE A TIMBALAND BOOT, BITCH (BROGUE KICK)”!!!! James gets rocked and bounces back off the ropes, stumbling backwards into Morgan’s grasp as she powers him up onto her shoulders, dead center of the ring. “DAHNTAHN AFTER DAHK (BURNING HAMMER)”!!!! SHE PLANTS HIM!!!


Spirit Montego: Here is your winner AND STILL, ZION WRESTLING’S UNDISPUTED CHAMPION…MORGAN…PAYNE!!!!

Bernadette Olson: What a match!!

Jacob Frankel: You can say that again!

Jessie Robinson: What a match!!

Jacob Frankel: Well I–nah go on.

“Pittsburgh” plays as James and Morgan lay sprawled on the mat, staring up at the lights. The referee presents Morgan with the Undisputed Title and she finally sits up as James rolls over, crawling to his corner where he digs into his jacket. Stefan Jackson steps up and pleads with him to not do it but a furious James ignores him as he pulls out a set of custom brass knuckles that spell out “I’M BTY.” Seething, James slides them onto his hand and gets up, turning around to find Morgan standing there, watching him. She’s caught him red handed and even points at the knuckles, shaking her head. James fumes as he stands there, still contemplating hitting her but Morgan holds a hand out. Not for the knuckles, but for a handshake. James looks down at her hand then up at her, confused by the change in attitude towards him. Morgan starts motioning to herself and back to him, saying what looks to be “I was wrong. You a real one.” James’ expression actually softens a bit, taken aback by the compliment. He lowers his loaded hand and steps forward, hesitantly reaching out to shake Morgan’s hand but Morgan reaches out, grabs his hand and pulls him into a hug that gets the crowd cheering as the two opponents hug it out. James actually looks on the verge of tears.

Bernadette Olson: Do my eyes deceive?!

Jacob Frankel: I don’t believe it, but I love it!

Jessie Robinson: O-oh my…oh my gosh!

Jessie actually looks on the verge of happy tears from commentary as she presses her hands together against her lips. Inside the ring, Morgan raises James’ arm and points to him, calling for the crowd to commend his hard fought effort and the crowd roars in approval, applauding the man. James puts his hand to his heart, unable to help but smile. As Morgan lets his arm down, he takes her by the wrist and raises her arm next, telling the fans to give it up for the champion.

Jacob Frankel: Maybe this is all they needed, after all. Jessie, why don’t you go in there with them? Hug your brother.

Jessie happily removes her headset and starts getting up out of her seat when, inside the ring, as Morgan’s bringing her arm down, James suddenly yanks her around by the wrist and BLASTS HER WITH THE KNUCKLES STILL ON HIS OTHER HAND!!!!

Bernadette Olson: OH!!!!

Jacob Frankel: WHAT THE HELL?!

Jessie’s jaw drops and she rushes to the ring, grabbing James and spinning him around, yelling over the crowd at him.

Jessie Robinson: WHAT ARE YOU DONG?! WHY?!

James laughs, shaking his head and throws another shot with the knuckles, so sudden, Jessie doesn’t see it coming and she eats it right in the jaw! Jessie fumbles back into the ropes and James catches her into “I’m Just Better”! The boos, having immediately retracted their offer of support as James stands tall over his opponent and little sister. As James celebrates his antics, The Kingdom’s Stephanie Kenyon, Abigail Lindsay and Moe Renhuan come rushing down to the ring, along with the Queens of Chaos’ Jessi Ozborne, Lollie Pop, Mikaela Callaway, Alexis Lemon, and Risa Lemon.

Bernadette Olson: Here comes the cavalry!

Jacob Frankel: You better bounce, James, my boy!

That’s just what James does as he sees literally eight people clamoring into the ring to get at him and he slides to the outside, jumping the guard rail, laughing as both tend to their respective members. Stefan shoots the group in the ring an apologetic look as he hops over into the crowd to follow his partner out. The crowd continues to boo James as he and Stefan retreat while Jessie and Morgan are helped to their feet with everyone from both groups checking on both of them, now.

Despite being unable to enter the cage, Carnifex is still a looming presence on the outside. Simple Simon and Summer are there as well, along with some of Bianca’s recent followers. But on the inside there are only four… and Natural Resources moves swiftly to barrel through Honey as Bianca tries to exit the cage! The brawl is on, with a lot of clubbing shots lowered onto the back and shoulders of Bianca before Honey can recover and help out, ending with a big double-suplex! Honey’s charge ends up with her tossed into the cage by GoGo and Rain, who look to set her up for Rushing Waters! Simon tries to shove something into the cage to distract Rain, but she kicks the cage, sending him scurrying! Bianca recovers enough to hit a Beautiful Boot on GoGo, then to join Honey in hitting a double-flapjack and a tandem elbow! Rain turns around in time to take a double-clothesline from the Royal Couple, leaving her between the cage and the ropes!

The Royal Couple then takes over for a while, isolating GoGo. Simon finishes sliding the weapon, a steel pipe, into the ring and Bianca puts it to use on Rain, trying to keep her out of the fight as Honey works on GoGo. GoGo hits cage more than a few times, and at one point Honey is grinding her face against the metal, cheered on by her followers but hated on by the HYBRID Nation. Setting GoGo on the top rope, Honey goes up for a superplex while Rain manages to avoid a kick from Bianca, leaving the Queen to smash her foot into the cage, dropping her weapon! Rain snatches this up and beans Bianca with it, sending her crumbling to the mat! From across the ring, she literally throws the pipe, which strikes Honey in the back! From there, it’s a desperation sunset bomb from GoGo, getting a close near-fall!

Bianca shakes off the pipe shot and goes after Rain, taking out the leg and grabbing her by the head while she’s on her knees, throwing a few hard shots to the face. GoGo goes for a reverse DDT on Bianca, but a scorpion kick variation knocks GoGo into the ropes. Honey gets back up at this point and attacks, trying to give the Queen some room to keep up the fight on Rain, who charges out of her lowered position with a spear, taking herself and Bianca between the ropes and into the cage. GoGo is left with Honey again, but not for long, as she sends her crashing into Bianca as well, mashing the both of them into the cage! Simultaneous running dropkicks from Natural Resources again mash the champs against the steel mesh and it looks like they’re gonna come out on top!

But Simon starts climbing the cage, looking as though he’s afraid for his life, boosted by Carnifex! He starts shaking the cage, trying to get the attention of GoGo and Rain! And while he manages this, Rain is able to grab his tie and pull it through the cage, wrapping it around her hand! Simon’s in a bad spot but has nowhere to go! With the tie in one hand, Rain winds up and punches the cage into Simon’s face, sending him sprawling into the arms of Carnifex… just as Bianca hits an elevated backcracker on Rain! A pin is broken up by GoGo, but Honey is right there to hit Honey Glazed and suddenly the challengers are in a bad way! The Royals converge on GoGo and Oath of Fealty connects… but Rain somehow breaks up the pin! At this point, Carnifex tears the door off the cage and that distraction lets the Royals set up to polish GoGo off… but here comes Duplex Royale to break things up and provide a little distraction of their own! Honey is knocked aside and it’s Rushing Waters on Bianca for the win and the gold!


Spirit Montego: Your winners… and the NEW Unity Champions… NATURAL RESOURCES!

Despite their excitement, Natural Resources smartly gets out of the cage before Bianca’s entourage can trap them there! Duplex Royale joins them on the ramp as they celebrate the win… but the Queen is furious!

Bernadette Olson: New champions, ladies and gentlemen! But I doubt Bianca is just going to take this quietly!

Jacob Frankel: When has she ever?! But I’ll take that rant to see new champions!

Bernadette Olson: And with that, we’re out of time! See you in two weeks for Vanguard #31 where The Calinauts defend the Global Tag Team Championships against Daughters of Darkness!

Jacob Frankel: Don’t miss it!