Post by Aloysius Marcus Vance IV on Dec 6, 2023 15:55:02 GMT -6
Episode #31: No One Is Immune
Live from The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 at 7pm
Gates open at 6pm
OPENING SEGMENT
The End is Near
The End is Near
The opening montage to Vanguard finishes, but instead of there being a big panning view of the arena interior, with lights and pyro and all that, the view instead shifts to the boardroom. Not some makeshift office in the arena itself, but the literal boardroom of HYBRID in an Atlanta high-rise. Aloysius Marcus Vance IV, for obvious reasons, is not present. But at the head of the table sits Forge himself, flanked on both sides by the rest of the HYBRID Board of Directors: Jayson Perez, Latoya Crask, Elizabeth Grey, and Becca Maguire.
And the big man is wearing a suit. Red flag.
Forge: Ladies and gentlemen-
Formal introduction? Double red flag!
Forge: -given recent events, including the attack upon and the injury of Aloysius Marcus Vance IV and the no-showing of several HYBRID talents coupled with their inability to live up to the terms of their contracts-
Well, it didn’t take long for THAT to fade away.
Forge: -as of January 17th, 2024 at the conclusion of the Best Served Cold show, HYBRID will be closing its doors.
It’s clearly a pre-recorded segment, but the HYBRID Nation still lets out a chorus of boos that can probably be heard all the way in Georgia. As if expecting this, Forge pauses to let it die down, and actually times it pretty well before he starts speaking again.
Forge: The business side of this will be handled silently, as it fucking should be. Several talents have already stepped away, or will be doing so immediately after Vanguard #31 in Albuquerque. Anyone wanting a reference written and sent to prospective employers will get one upon request. Anyone with questions can speak to me personally, provided they come correct. That is… almost all.
He folds his thick, scarred hands atop the table and glances to one side, then the other. Taking their cue, the Board, including Becca, take their leave of the room. Footsteps to the door, said passage opening and closing, then silence.
A few moments later:
Forge: But don’t you think for a fucking second, talking to the asshole who attacked Vance, that this means you’re getting away with what you pulled.
Snapping his fingers with the force of a gunshot, we can hear the door open again. This time, the footfalls are like that of a small army. Soldiers. Battle-hardened motherfuckers. Several of them move in behind Forge, a literal wall of violent humanity at his back. The Martyr Machine, though, is locked in on the camera.
Forge: My associates here are going to find you, and by the end of Vanguard #32, the world will know who you are. And when that happens? Well…
A dangerous smile crosses the face of the Martyr Machine!
Forge: ...I’m gonna drag your ass into the ring at Best Served Cold and beat you to within an inch of your miserable life. My dogs can have what’s left of you.
And just like that, the scene fades out.
MATCH ONE
Singles/One Fall
Brittany Williams vs. Ingrid Valencia
Singles/One Fall
Brittany Williams vs. Ingrid Valencia
DING! DING! DING!
Ingrid tries to provoke Brittany at the start, but she isn’t having it. The Little Dream Machine only takes a few moments of the Italian’s disrespect before slapping the piss outta here, then nailing a hard clothesline to send her to the mat. And when this gets a reaction from the HYBRID Nation, Brittany finds herself empowered by that. She pulls up Ingrid and Irish-whips her into the corner, following her in with a leaping knee to the chin. A monkey flip sends Ingrid sailing, landing her right on her ass mid-ring, whereupon a running forearm to the back of the head knocks her down. Brittany wastes no time, vaulting to the top rope and delivering the Hollywood Hills for the win.
DING! DING! DING!
Spirit Montego: And your winner… BRITTANY WILLIAMS!
Getting her arm raised and hearing the cheers is new to Brittany, but she seems to like it quite a bit. She makes a lap around ringside before heading up the ramp, meeting the hands of the fans while Ingrid is still lost in La-La Land…
Bernadette Olson: Think I like this turnaround for Brittany. She’s getting a taste of what it’s like to play the game right and it suits her.
Jacob Frankel: Damn sure made short work of Ingrid tonight. I’d say look out to anyone trying to step to her now!
Winner: Brittany Williams
Result: Pinfall at 2:34 (Hollywood Hills)
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Look in the Mirror
Look in the Mirror
We go to the back where Griffin is lying back on the couch, dressed in a Hellfire Club T-Shirt and ripped red jeans. The Vanguard Title rests on his chest as he looks up at the ceiling.
Griffin Hawkins: ...I just got the mother of all bombs dropped on me. In the new year... HYBRID will cease to exist as they are closing their doors for one final time. It's really a shame when you think about it... I had just returned here, winning the Vanguard Title... picking up where I left off, and I get hit with this set of bad news. I had many plans for 2024... such as defending this night in and night out... eventually working my way into becoming Global Champion. So the question is... do I leave? Or do I go down with the ship? Truth being... I started something, and I'm gonna finish it...
He gets up, holding the title.
Griffin Hawkins: I will go down with this ship... there will be no white flag above my door. From here on I will defend this title against any an all who want a shot at me... even if it is the former champion...
He puts the title on his shoulder.
Griffin Hawkins: Now... some weeks ago, Cordelia Clark had a social media blow-up over the loss of this title. Now... she's thrown a lot of accusations my way, so allow me to give my rebuttal. See Cordy... it seems that you're mad at the wrong person. If anything you're mad at yourself for losing and you're taking it out on everyone around you. I get it... nobody likes losing a title. I've lost many in my career... just recently I lost the MCW Tag Team Titles, but I'm not having a meltdown over it. Secondly... a champion is supposed to face all comers whether it be one person... two people... three people... or four. That's how a lot of the champions here in HYBRID built their legacy. Myself and Tiffany Lynn Page went toe to toe with you in that match, and if the shoe were on the other foot... you would have done the same thing to win. You would have done everything possible to leave with the gold. I'm not the enemy here Cordy. I did what I had to do to win this championship. You can point the finger of blame at anyone and everyone... but at the end of the day, you need to look in the mirror and see for yourself why you lost.
He smothes a strand of his hair back before continuing.
Griffin Hawkins: Now..as for tonight, we're meeting once again, only this time it's in tag team action. Perhaps you pinning me would put you back into contention for the Vanguard Title. If not...then you'll have to take your chances elsewhere. You and me both realize that we don't got a lot of time left. I just hope that you're not looking past me...or Gigi Nova who's been itching for a fight for quite a while. Even though this is a tag team match, I'm looking to make one more lasting impression. I just hope for your sake you are ready. Because if this is the end of HYBRID, I'm going out in style.
He then shifts gears, looking to the other opponent.
Griffin Hawkins: Which brings me to her tag partner for tonight's festivities. The number one contender to the Iron Heart Championship... and the man who beat Cordelia for this chance... Charles Morgan. Now Charles, I really got no beef with you man... hell I kinda like ya. You're like me in a way, you want to earn things the hard way instead of having them handed to you like others have in the past. I look forward to us going at it one on one for the first time ever.
A small smile comes across his face.
Griffin Hawkins: I mean... you could become the Iron Heart Champion... picture what would happen if the both of us face off. We could unify both of the titles! Now that would be a match to see... but let's not look too far ahead. Because tonight it's you and Cordelia against me and Nova... the both of us are looking to go out with a bang... and unfortunately it's gotta be over the two of you. So tonight... get ready... because somebody's gonna get rocked!
He walks off as the scene fades.
MATCH TWO
Singles/One Fall
Ace Sky vs. Aleki Kekoa
Singles/One Fall
Ace Sky vs. Aleki Kekoa
DING! DING! DING!
Aleki comes in hard, swinging right hands and laying in chops on the veteran Ace. Ace battles back with strikes of his own, leaning on his kickboxing background to light up the Samoan God of War with forearm strikes and knee kicks. It’s quite a physical war in the early going. Aleki scores with a wicked uppercut, though, and nails a follow-up Superman Punch for a quick near-fall. Ace kips up and out of the way of a big leg drop, though, and pastes Aleki with a couple football kicks to the chest before blasting him with a modified shining wizard to the back of the head, grabbing a near-fall of his own.
The match continues to be a hard-hitting affair: Aleki scores with a trio of vertical suplexes, the last one of the stalling variety, then whips Ace into the ropes for a hellacious powerslam. It’s not enough to keep the veteran down, though, and Ace roars back by sliding between the legs of Aleki when he goes for a big boot. A backcracker follows, though Aleki remains standing. Ace follows up with a single-knee facebreaker and an enzuigiri for another near-fall for himself, neither man wanting to go down in this rough match. Aleki maintains his high-impact offense and Ace relies on powerful striking. The end comes when the former Vanguard Champion is able to avoid a crescent kick from his battle-trained opponent and quickly scoop him up for My Divine Right. Dropped head-first to the mat, Ace cannot muster the wherewithal to get his shoulder up before three.
DING! DING! DING!
Spirit Montego: The winner of the match… ALEKI KEKOA!
Going out on a victory, Aleki briefly shows some respect to the fans for cheering him on, before taking his leave.
Bernadette Olson: Aleki brought the same fight that made him a Vanguard Champion during his time here. Ace gave it his all, too, but the Samoan God of War had his number this evening.
Jacob Frankel: Both of these guys still have a bright future in my opinion.
Winner: Aleki Kekoa
Result: Pinfall at 8:48 (My Divine Right)
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Lessons
Lessons
The camera opens on Stephanie “Wildcat” Kenyon finishing her pre-match stretching warm-up. She nods at the camera to move in and smiles brightly.
Stephanie Kenyon: Samantha Tolson…
She nods slightly, almost snickering to herself at the sheer amount of crap she’s heard put on this name over the years.
Stephanie Kenyon: I’ve heard many things about THE Sam Tolson.
Pausing momentarily she nods one way and then the other.
Stephanie Kenyon: Some were good, some were not.
She almost laughs to herself at the irony of that statement given her respective family members.
Stephanie Kenyon: I’m sure the same could be said for everybody else on the roster. The difference is that Sam fucking Tolson has proven time and time again, no matter what the naysayers babble on about with her, when the bell rings she can back it up like few can.
She nods grimly.
Stephanie Kenyon: I’ve been in training with some of the best and I’ve been in the ring with some of the best. I’ve had mixed results, but I'm still learning.
A knowing smirk comes across her face.
Stephanie Kenyon: I’m looking forward to this because win or lose, against THE Sam Tolson, I’m gonna learn something and I'm gonna get better.
Nodding one more time, she starts for the door.
Stephanie Kenyon: Now, it’s time we find out which way this lesson goes!
MATCH THREE
Singles/One Fall
Stephanie Kenyon vs. Samantha Tolson
Singles/One Fall
Stephanie Kenyon vs. Samantha Tolson
DING! DING! DING!
Stephanie comes in swinging, looking to lay the veteran Samantha low, and recognizing that a slugfest wouldn’t go her way, Samantha falls back on her considerable wrestling skills. Kicks eventually see Stephanie tripped down with her stem twisted in Samantha’s clutches, or her hand-to-hand strikes blocked and used to swing her to the mat. Stephanie gets up every time, though, laying on more punishment, and eventually wears Samantha down to the point where she can be scooped up and powerslammed into the turnbuckles. Both impact and landing are hard, and it gets worse when Samantha is whipped into the far buckles. She manages to avoid Stephanie’s charge, but Stephanie likewise stops herself and elbows her way out of an attempted suplex by Samantha. A surprise Diamond Dust is countered as well and Samantha grabs the head, hitting a tornado DDT for a two-count.
A discus forearm rocks Samantha, delivered as Stephanie counters out of a short-arm clothesline. Rebounding off the ropes, Samantha is hurled with a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. She comes right up to her feet, though, faking out Stephanie and dropkicking the knee prior to delivering a neckbreaker. The pin only gets one and Stephanie gets the veteran into a cradle for another quick two. Samantha delivers an inverted atomic drop, but her own head-and-arm suplex attempt is countered by Stephanie literally powering out. A few hard rights stun her again, but Samantha’s charge leads to a BIG spinebuster for a near-fall.
Samantha weathers the onslaught long enough to hit Mind Your Head, but doesn’t quite get all of it, and Stephanie is able to grab the ropes and break up the pin. Stephanie likewise nails her vicious elbow strike on Samantha, but the veteran rides the blow and is able to evade the three-count. A series of counters follow, first in the midst of another slugfest, then in the two women trying to slam and suplex one another. Samantha is able to get hold of the arm of Stephanie again, though, and clamps on a crossface chickenwing, having hold of it for several moments before Stephanie lunges with her greater weight and gets a foot in the ropes to force a break. The prolonged time in the hold has Stephanie hurting and Samantha wanting another go of it. She makes a beeline for Stephanie again, who gets out onto the apron. Snapping Samantha’s neck off the top rope, Stephanie rolls back in and lines up for the Kiss-Off. Samantha is clearly ready for it, but the setup is a fake-out. Samantha moves in to take advantage and Stephanie blasts her with the fierce elbow, getting the one-two-three… when the referee doesn’t catch Samantha’s foot under the bottom rope.
DING! DING! DING!
Spirit Montego: Ladies and gentlemen, your winner… STEPHANIE KENYON!
Bernadette Olson: Looks like the ref missed the call there. I’d say this calls for a rematch.
Jacob Frankel: Even after a hard-fought battle like this, I doubt either lady would mind that. It looked like they were having fun beating one another senseless.
Winner: Stephanie Kenyon
Result: Pinfall at 10:19 (Elbow Strike)
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
No Hard Feelings?
No Hard Feelings?
When the cameras catch Cordelia Clark in the locker room, she’s looking down on the floor, clearly deep in thought with things for better or worse. It’s almost as if she doesn’t necessarily want to be there but she’s keeping her composure strong for as long as she can. Still, there’s no doubt that there is still some frustration going through her as she begins to express her thoughts.
Cordelia Clark: Charles Morgan is a funny person…
Cordelia rolls her eyes, clearly indicating that she was being sarcastic when she made that comment.
Cordelia Clark: “No hard feelings…”
Cordelia takes a deep breath.
Cordelia Clark: Maybe he should’ve read my Twitter feed after that last match that we had. That should’ve told him the answer and for the record? I can’t say that there aren’t. Thank goodness for my sister, I’ll say that much because if she didn’t step in, things could’ve gotten a whole lot worse and while I will take a bit of a step back and apologize for lashing out the way I did, I’m not so much sorry that I said what I said. I mean what I say coming into this match when I say no more handshakes after someone gets the better of me because I have to be better than that and I will be better than that. I’m no longer going to just be a pushover like that.
Because what that does is let other people know that they can just take advantage of me at will and that I’m soft and pathetic.
I can’t, and won’t, allow that to happen.
Look, you know me and how honest I can be. Sometimes I can be brutally honest and teaming up with someone that just beat you feels like…
Cordelia takes a pause. She’s clearly conflicted. She knows what is on her mind but doesn’t know for sure if it’s a good idea for her to actually come out with it. This pause is a bit longer as she finds herself looking down on the floor for a little bit before she looks up at the camera again.
Cordelia Clark: …you know what, I’m just going to say it. I don’t like it a damn bit. About the best thing I can take from this is that I’m going to have another shot at beating Griffin Hawkins to at least avenge Fall of Man a bit, even if it’s not going to win me the Vanguard title back which that in and of itself is fine because I’m not seeking to regain that title. I’m seeking to become the Iron Heart Champion which currently I CAN’T because I’m not the number one contender, the person I am teaming up with is…
And he wants to be a snark ass and say “I hope there’s no hard feelings”.
Needless to say, my frustration that I had a month ago hasn’t exactly faded fully. So if he wants to make some snide remarks like that, maybe the best thing for me to do when I get out there is show him whether they are or not. I won’t guarantee a damn thing… other than there’s not going to be any hand shaking after this match is over…
Cordelia rolls her eyes, just annoyed at the mere thought, before she makes her sudden exit from the scene and clearly still stuck in her own frustrations. The crowd eats up what she just said for a bit before the scene fades out.
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
Bucket List
Bucket List
We cut to a shot outside the arena, where we see the recently-crowned HYBRID Iron Heart Champion Gigi Nova sitting on the base of a statue of a howling wolf. Propped up against the feet of the wolf is the Iron Heart Championship. Gigi stares at it for a moment, then picks it up, draping it over her shoulder before she turns to the camera with a big smile on her face.
Gigi Nova: Well, here it is; my first match since winning my first singles championship, and while I’m not defending my title tonight, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t stoked to be teaming with Griffin Hawkins tonight! No offense to Sam Tolson; I’ll forever be grateful for the fact that she took me under her wing and helped me to become the champion I am today…
She gestures toward the Iron Heart Championship.
Gigi Nova: But tonight, I get to check off another item from the bucket list… sharing a ring with the Jukebox Hero himself! Up until now, I’d only ever talked to him on Twitter… and no, I’m NOT calling it that other stupid name… even though said conversations had me laughing so hard my dog was looking at me funny!
She glances upward to the statue of the wolf and snickers.
Gigi Nova: So, with all due respect to Charles Morgan and Cordelia Clark, I hope they’re ready, because Griffin and I are gonna tear it up in the ring tonight… and -
She doesn’t get to finish her sentence, as a muffled version of the intro to “Crazy Train” begins to play from her jacket pocket. A brief flush of embarrassment washes over her face as she scrambles to reach for her phone.
Gigi Nova: Lorenzo, what’s up?
She nods her head as she listens, biting her lip.
Gigi Nova: Got it. I’ll be there in a couple minutes. I just need to wrap things up outside.
She quickly ends the call, then stuffs her phone back into her pocket.
Gigi Nova: Well, I’d love to stick around, but it’s cold AF out here, and I’ve got things to do, places to be, and a roof to blow off! Let’s. Fucking. GO!
Gigi hops off of the base of the statue, then quickly turns around and bolts back toward the arena. The scene fades out as she disappears into the distance.
MATCH FOUR
Tag Team/One Fall
Gigi Nova & Griffin Hawkins vs. Charles Morgan & Cordelia Clark
Tag Team/One Fall
Gigi Nova & Griffin Hawkins vs. Charles Morgan & Cordelia Clark
DING! DING! DING!
Once the other side notes that Griffin is starting things off for his team, Cordelia immediately tags herself into the match. Charles seems confused about it, but makes no fuss about getting back onto the apron. The first several moments are a bit of a brawl before Cordelia drops low to avoid a kick and uses a fireman’s carry to bring Griffin to the mat, immediately trying for the Sound of Silence. She has to settle for a headscissors, though, which Griffin handstands out of before dropkicking her in the chest. She kips up from that as he runs in for another kick, though, and catches him with a big belly-to-belly suplex for a two-count. She chinlocks Griffin, throwing a few crossface shots, but the Vanguard Champion powers up and hiptosses her to the mat, landing two more in a row before winding up the Shot in the Dark. Cordelia backflips away from it, though, and the two stare at one another before Cordelia, seemingly frustrated, tags in Charles.
Charles and Griffin lock up for a moment before Charles powers Griffin to the mat, but he can’t keep the champion down long. Griffin counters out of an overhead keylock and gets to his feet, landing a few elbows to the midsection and hitting a vertical suplex on Charles. To his credit, the number one contender shoves his way out of South of Heaven and is able to hit a German on Griffin. Pulling him up again, Charles sends him into the ropes, missing the blind tag from Gigi. Griffin ducks a clothesline, then slides between the legs of Morgan, who whips around only to see Gigi flying in with the Brass Monkey. Charles is covered, but Cordelia breaks up the pin, having a brief altercation with Gigi that brings Griffin back in, forcing the referee to break up the four-way fracas and hustle Griffin and Cordelia to their respective corners. A stiff shot in passing from Cordelia leaves Gigi off balance and Charles takes advantage with a gorilla press slam. Gigi chops her way out of a trouble, but a snap powerslam gets Charles a near-fall. He tags in Cordelia, who takes over on Gigi.
Cordelia keeps it simple, pasting Gigi with kicks and strikes with the odd suplex, seeming to want to soften her up for Educated or the Sound of Silence. The new Iron Heart Champion holds her own, though she’s incapable of tagging in Griffin. An On the Rocks to counter a possible Educated leaves both women down and trying to get to their corners. Cordelia is the first to do so and Charles bursts in, getting hold of Gigi before she can make the tag. An enzuigiri is ducked, but Gigi rolls forward and yanks Charles into the buckles before tagging Griffin, who slingshots over the top rope to hit a DDT on Charles. Gigi rolls out and the Vanguard Champion is on fire, nailing a Glam Slam on Charles and knocking Cordelia off the apron with a running knee. South of Heaven is loaded up but Cordelia looks to bust things up, leading to Gigi attacking her, taking both out of the ring. Charles recovers, hitting a neckbreaker on Griffin and going up for a mooonsault. Griffin rolls away and Charles lands on his feet, forearming Griffin in the head and shoving him into the ropes to set up Hero’s Journey. But Griffin counters with the Call of Cthulu, then hits the Shot in the Dark to a still-standing Charles, getting the one-two-three as Gigi keeps Cordelia from breaking up the pin.
DING! DING! DING!
Spirit Montego: And your winners… GRIFFIN HAWKINS AND GIGI NOVA!
Bernadette Olson: Another hard-fought match tonight, but the champions come out on top!
Jacob Frankel: Cordelia seems less than pleased about that, but… well, I guess I can’t blame her…
Winner: Griffin Hawkins & Gigi Nova
Result: Pinfall at 13:28 (Elbow Strike)
BACKSTAGE SEGMENT
A Dream Come True Again
A Dream Come True Again
The camera opens on the members of the HYBRID Unity Championships holders, Rain and GoGo, Natural Resources.
Rain: Goldi, we did it, we became champions again!
GoGo almost starts bouncing up and down right there.
GoGo: It’s so COOL!!!
Rain grins at her highly excited partner.
Rain: Ain’t it? And now we get to see who we get to wrestle next for them!
GoGo starts clapping enthusiastically.
GoGo: Oh, Oh, Oh!
Rain nods.
Rain: Gonna be fun, Goldi!
GoGo: I: I can’t wait, Rainie!
RINGSIDE SEGMENT
Guess Who's Home?
Guess Who's Home?
We cut back to the ringside area, where “HYPE ZOMBIES” by PVRIS begins to play over the speakers in The Pit. Out through the curtain comes Jessi Ozborne, decked out in a pair of black denim shorts and a Queens of Chaos crop top, all underneath an oversized bomber jacket lined with patches. She makes her way to the ring, grabbing a microphone from ringside before entering as the music fades. She shushes the crowd to a whisper, preparing them for what comes next.
Jessi Ozborne: Hello Albuquerque…
PAPI’S HOME!
Jessi Ozborne: You’re goddamn right she is, and there’s a lot of shit that needs to be talked about, so let’s get down to business!
The crowd gives Jessi a massive ovation before she continues.
Jessi Ozborne: Now I’ll be completely honest with all you, when I gave myself this time to come and speak to you all, I had planned on speaking about things a lot differently. But life, as it always does, throws you a curveball. But before I proceed to pour salt in the wound by reminding you all of why that is, I wanna speak candidly and honestly about my time here in Hybrid.
Jessi takes a moment to prepare her thoughts.
Jessi Ozborne: Hybrid re-opening its doors last year happened to align with a specific time in my life. One that I like to call a period of transition. The Queens of Chaos, the catchphrases, the look, the style, everything that came with the package of being “Jessi Ozborne”...none of them were there yet. I was, for all intents and purposes, still that scared little girl from the indies with no true sense of identity. The only difference really came down to the fact that I had a contract and a salary, but all that really did was teach me that no amount of money can make up for a lack of belonging.
The lesson seemingly gets a large ovation from the fans.
Jessi Ozborne: So I decided to branch out, and when I did, Hybrid was one of the first places I came. And that’s an important thing to me. See, it’s become a running joke by now that I'm a wandering woman. Take a scroll across just about any program in wrestling and you’ll see my face on it front and center. Things like that naturally bring about the accusation that I lack passion. That I’m just signing with any place that gives me a paycheck. That none of these places are special to me. Hell, I’ve gone on record to say that I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about Hybrid. Got the match I walked out on to prove it. But at the end of the day, I have to apologize to you all. Not because I don’t care, because I lied to you all when I said that I don’t.
Another ovation from the crowd as Jessi continues.
Jessi Ozborne: See the fact is, The Queens of Chaos, being the World’s Finest, becoming Jessi Ozborne, that could’ve happened anywhere, and anywhere can take credit for it. But I’d be lying through my teeth if I told you all that Hybrid giving me the platform to find this all in myself wasn’t one of the essential parts of it all. I found some of my sisters here, I fought alongside them here, and I got the respect of all of you here. For that, I’ll be eternally grateful!
A massive ovation this time, with the crowd seemingly reciprocating Jessi’s gratitude.
Jessi Ozborne: But all good things have to come to an end, right? It sucks, but it’s true, and earlier tonight, we found out that after Best Served Cold, Hybrid will be shutting its doors.
This reminder silences the crowd a bit.
Jessi Ozborne: It’s sad news for just about anyone in the back, no doubt. But for me, it raises the stakes a bit. See, Best Served Cold just so happens to be where the title match that I earned from winning the Path of Destiny Tournament takes place. Now the stakes are raised. Because now, I will no longer be fighting to become a champion, but THE champion. The very last to have my hand raised as the words “And New” are heard around here. So that made my decision all the more easier to make.
Jessi now turns to the camera.
Jessi Ozborne: Duke Andrews. You’ve been walking around here, claiming to be one of the best. But one thing that you ain’t…is the World’s Finest. At Best Served Cold, I’m coming for you…and I’m gonna become the final ever Global Heavyweight Champion. That’s not a threat, that’s a promise, and when Jessi Fucking Ozborne makes a promise, she delivers…
Jessi raises her microphone into the air, not even breaking eye contact with the camera for a second.
YOU’RE! FUCKING! WELCOME!
Jessi drops the microphone as “HYPE ZOMBIES” begins to play again. She makes her exit from the ring as we fade!
MAIN EVENT
HYBRID Global Tag Team Championships
Tag Team/One Fall
Daughters of Darkness vs. The Calinauts (C)
HYBRID Global Tag Team Championships
Tag Team/One Fall
Daughters of Darkness vs. The Calinauts (C)
DING! DING! DING!
Aiden and Lana go at it right off with Cosmo questioning the referee about knowledge regarding the Cosmic Pug. Jamie rolls him up from behind.
ONE!
TWO!
AIDEN MAKES THE SAVE!
TWO!
AIDEN MAKES THE SAVE!
Lana knocks Aiden on his ass and the Daughters of Darkness start double teaming Aiden. Cosmo staggers up and stumbles into the referee who is knocked into Jami and sends her into Lana, knocking all of them down. Cosmo, barely noticing he made physical contact, goes back to questioning the referee about the Cosmic Pug. Lana and Jamie get to their feet and Aiden scoops up Jamie for a slam. Lana comes at him and Aiden scoop slams her as well. Jamie bounces up and Aiden knocks her down with a big clothesline. He gives her a kick that sends her over the edge to the floor and then turns into giving a big lariat to Lana. Lana goes down and Aiden covers her. The referee jumps away from Cosmo to count.
ONE!
TWO!
LANA KICKS OUT!
TWO!
LANA KICKS OUT!
Aiden pulls Lana up as Cosmo tries to come to the referee yet again. Aiden Irish whips Lana at Cosmo who accidentally hits her with a spinebuster almost in inadvertent self defense just trying to walk to the referee. Aiden drops an elbow and covers Lana again.
ONE!
TWO!
JAMIE DIVES IN TO BREAK IT UP!
TWO!
JAMIE DIVES IN TO BREAK IT UP!
Cosmo tries to ask one more question of the referee and trips over Jamie, knocking her aside. Lana cradles Aiden.
ONE!
TWO!
COSMO INADVERTENTLY MAKES THE SAVE AS HE GETS UP, TRIPPING OVER LANA!
TWO!
COSMO INADVERTENTLY MAKES THE SAVE AS HE GETS UP, TRIPPING OVER LANA!
Aiden rises to his feet. Jamie rises to hers and dropkicks him in the back. Aiden tumbles into the waiting arm of Lana who hits him with Hecate’s Dagger. The Daughters of Darkness follow with Hecate’s Judgment. Aiden goes down hard and they shove him out to the apron and then over the edge to the floor. Cosmo starts to go talk to the referee one more time and Lana knocks him to his knees with a big lariat in the back. The Daughters of Darkness hit the Phat Ass Con-Chair-To and Cosmo collapses to the mat. They drag him back up and hit Balefire. Lana covers as Ashe directs Jamie to come down and hinder any efforts from Aiden.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING! DING! DING!
TWO!
THREE!
DING! DING! DING!
Spirit Montego: Your winners… and the NEW Global Tag Team Champions… THE DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS!
Bernadette Olson: The Daughters come out on top tonight over The Calinauts!
Jacob Frankel: If I were them, I wouldn’t get too comfortable! Freakshow will be gunning for them! But congrats all the same!
Winner: Daughters of Darkness (New Champions)
Result: Pinfall at 14:16 (Balefire)
ENDING SEGMENT
Another One Goes Down…
Another One Goes Down…
Vanguard suddenly cuts to backstage where medics and other backstage figures are scurrying around like worker bees diligently tending to some yet-unknown issue. There are a lot of voices saying a lot of different things, but the loudest among them is the voice of Alexis Lemon, urgently pushing the rest along.
Alexis Lemon: COME ON, HURRY UP HE NEEDS HELP!
The camera finds Lemon as she’s leading a small army of medics into the FREAKSHOW locker room where Derrick Vayden is found, he’s laying on his side, his face wearing a crimson mask and he clutches his knee close to his chest. He’s seething in pain and anger. Lexi kneels next to him, worry on her own face as she watches the doctors work on her tag team partner.
A look around the locker room begins to reveal the story of what happened. The lock is broken off of the door, all of the furniture is either flipped upside down or laying on its side, the contents of Vayden and Lemon’s gear bags are strewn throughout the room and the mirror on the wall is shatters, with reflective glass laying all over the desk and floor
The medics help Vayden sit up against the wall. One attempts to check on his knee but The Wanderer pushes them away, insisting that he’s fine. He snatches a towel from the hands of another aid before pressing it to his face. When he pulls it away, it's then that the frustration on his face is clear to see. The doctors try to ask him how he’s feeling.
Derrick Vayden: I’m fine.
They ask him where all he’s hurting.
Derrick Vayden: Look, thank you. But I’m fine. Just… Leave me alone.
A new trickle of blood trails down his face from the gash on his head, something the medic insists on checking on but Vayden’s patience finally breaks.
Derrick Vayden: GODDAMMIT I SAID I’M FINE!
The crowd takes a step back at Derrick’s outburst, all except for Lexi, who puts a hand on his shoulder, a motion that makes Vayden wince. The pair have a brief conversation, but the camera is too far away for anything they’re saying to get picked up. After the back-and-forth, Vayden visibly calms down and nods. He then gestures for the medics to return before pressing the towel to his face again.
The doctors come in, one of them calling into their walkie-talkie for a stretcher. After that, the group begins checking Vayden over, primarily the cut on his head, checking for any rogue glass bits and cleaning up the wound.
Finally the stretcher comes in and they get to work getting Derrick up and beginning to roll him out of the room and to the ambulance. The camera hangs back as the group walks down the hallway. As the group turns the corner, a sound fills the newly created silence. A sound that’s been heard before. The vaguely familiar tune being a slow, ominous whistle of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound Of Silence”, coming from just out of sight.
The tune continues as the show slowly fades to black…
