Dionysus vs. Gerard Angelo(c)
Adilene Floyd: The following... is scheduled for ONE FALL!!The crowd: ONE FALL!!
Adilene Floyd: And it is your MAIN EVENT FOR THE ACTION WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!The crowd's energy is going through the roof, as they've been waiting for this one all night. Adilene Floyd smiles, taking in the riotous reaction.
Chris Avery: There's a big fight feel tonight, for this match, as we close out the year here on Clash, our main event tonight is for the AW World Title and Billy, I can't think of a match I've been more hype for!Billy: For once, you aren't overselling it like a car salesman trying to get a Yugo off the lot! This match is one we've been waiting for for WEEKS!Adilene Floyd: Introducing first...Pyro fires along the edge of the stage as "What Artist Dies In Me" rips through the crowd. From backstage, Dionysus confidently strode out onto the stage, confidently holding a single arm in the air.
Adilene Floyd: Making his way to the ring, from Minneapolis, MN, weighing in at 270 lbs; he is The Crimson Gladiator, Dionysus!Dionysus took a moment to look around the venue as he began to walk down the ramp. He spent a few seconds slapping high fives before locking eyes with the ring. Walking over to the ring steps, he climbs up, placing a hand on the top rope. He entered in-between the top and middle ropes, all while looking at his opponent. He turned to the crowd, raising a single fist into the air, keeping it in the air as he turned toward the stage. Dionysus then moved to the turnbuckle, waiting for his opponent.
Chris Avery: He's fought so hard for this moment! To be taken seriously! But week by week... we've seen a new Dionysus emerge! He toppled Jill Park in the opening round of Turmoil and ended her hot streak! He took the 2022 Wrestler of the Year, Spencer Adams, to his LIMIT! And, at Turmoil, he overcame three other superstars to become the number one contender to a title he's been chasing ALL YEAR!!Billy: We've seen Dion endure frustration and heartbreak... but no jokes or memeing here, I can't think of anyone who's been putting in work like he has!!
Adilene Floyd: And his opponent...
The lights go out in the arena and the sound of a synth starts playing.
“ALL MY LIFE! GRINDING ALL MY LIFE!”
A lone spotlight turns on directed down at the top of the stage as Nipsey Hustle blasts out over the arena sound system. The people as they give loud boos as Gerard Angelo is shown standing in the spotlight, back to the crowd, the hood of his hoodie pulled up, right arm raised above his head at an angle, one finger extended. The World Championship is draped over his shoulder, the face plate exposed to the camera. He throws his hood back with the same hand and spins around to the crowd, arms extended as a massive explosion of fireworks go off on the stage. The house lights come back on as he lifts the World title, holding it over his head with one hand, surveying the crowd behind his trademark sunglasses. Gerard adjusts the strap, resting it on his shoulder. He makes his way down to the ring slowly, brushing off fans and taunting them.
Adilene Floyd: From Hollywood, California, weighing in at 225 lbs, he is the Action Wrestling World Champion, GERARD ANGELO!He stops at the ring stairs, slaps the top step before climbing them, and walking to the center of the ring apron. Angelo surveys the arena crowd again, holding up the World title again to another round of boos, before slipping through the middle and top rope into the ring. He walks to the opposite ring post, leaping onto the second turnbuckle. Gerry points to the crowd before unzipping his hoodie, which gets more than a few ladies in the audience to scream out, before pulling it off and pretending to toss it to the fans, before just dropping it on the floor with a smirk. "The Hollywood Hero" hops down and removes his trademark sunglasses, placing them in the corner neatly before he gives the title a kiss before he hands it to the timekeeper. Gerard leans back against the turnbuckles, mouthing off to the fans as he starts to stretch.
Chris Avery: Let's not forget, Gerard Angelo has been on the top of the mountain since July! He overcame Dionysus, Carter Shaw AND Corey Black to win his way in, and, after defeating Dandy Divito, has taken on all comers! Gerard Angelo is THE MAN to beat!!Despite there being a clearly demarcated heel/face dynamic going into this, the crowd cheers them both on raucously as they step up to each other. The Crimson Gladiator, the man who declared this his year of Wine and Roses and now has become more determined than ever, meets the Living Legend in the center of the ring. Neither man flinches. Neither man backs away from the other's icy glare. In the face of everything that's at stake, both in their career and in their personal pride, neither can afford even a fleeting moment of doubt to enter their mind.
Chris Avery: Dionysus and Angelo meeting in the center of the ring and neither man giving an inch. No words being spoken by either. This is beyond words.At length, the referee orders the bell rung. Angelo extending his arm above his head, calling for a Greco-roman knuckle lock and Dionysus locks hands with him and now they meet. Now we see who the better man is. Both men go shoulder to shoulder, nobody giving a damn inch. Dionysus, finally exerting more force due to his taller, stockier frame, begins pushing Angelo down. Angelo tries to wrench free, but Dionysus pushes his down, and Angelo begins sinking to his knees, before he stomps the foot of Dion, making him relinquish enough of the hold that Angelo is able to pull free and get in an arm wrench, reversing Dionysus' pressure on his wrists. Arm drag by Angelo and Dionysus scrambles back to his feet. Dionysus, however, is quick to go for a collar and elbow tie up and he quickly gets a hammerlock on Angelo. He wrenches up on the hold but Angelo, wily and with the technical prowess to counter, steps through and around, clenching on a hammerlock of his own. Dionysus, trying to deal with the arm being wrenched upwards painfully, steps through and trips Angelo to the canvas. He snatches on a side headlock and grinds it in.
Billy: You would expect a man who used to come out here in a full chariot to be throwing axes through people's heads, not putting them in a headlock, dammit!Chris Avery: This is the opening gambit, and both men are doing their best to put their game plan in place and slow the other one down.Angelo is fighting to stand up, however, Dionysus flings him over with an elementary side headlock takeover, resting the armpit on Angelo's chest and ensuring Angelo is pinned to the canvas. He still has the hold in when Angelo twists around, scissors his leg over Dionysus’s neck and pulls him over to break the side headlock. Dionysus struggles in the sudden leg scissor around his throat, then he rolls up out of it. He goes to lift Angelo up but Angelo lights Dionysus up with a chop to the chest with such force that Dionysus winces back, holding his chest, and pacing to the ropes. Angelo comes up to his feet, firing a few more chops at Dionysus and then Dionysus reverses, laying Angelo across the ropes and firing a knife edged chop to the chest. Dionysus turns to hold his arms out to the crowd as if to ask "Are you not entertained", and when he turns back Angelo chops him across the chest very, very hard, making Dionysus groan and hold his reddened pec muscle as he's bent over. Angelo grabs Dionysus by the hair and throws him out of the ring to the outside. Dionysus bounces a few times, then comes up on the guardrail, holding his chest. Red welts have spread, and he takes a few breaths. Someone at ringside yells "Yo Dion, you good??" and he nods shakily.
Chris Avery: Never let it be said that Dionysus doesn't know how to put a brave face on.The ref is now to four on his count, but the Crimson Gladiator doesn’t notice. He snarls, getting himself into the mindset he's been in the last few weeks, climbing onto the apron and stepping through the ropes to engage his opponent once again, this time with a collar and elbow tie up. Dionysus is eager to engage the Living Legend and the tenor has been slow and methodical in the early going. Dionysus gets the advantage, twisting and getting a hold of Angelo’s right wrist and he violently jerks down on it. Dionysus goes to yank back down, but this time it is Angelo who gets him side headlock takeover and Angelo has him pinned to the canvas.
The referee: One... Kickout.
Chris Avery: Dionysus is in the ring with a man, whether you hate him or not, who is one of the best all-around in the game today.Dionysus keeps trying to push out but Angelo has him gripped so hard with the side headlock. He’s finally realizing that the only way to get the break is to get to the ropes and he’s motioning his legs over. Dionysus finally gets his leg on the bottom ropes, causing the ref to count for the break. Surprisingly, Angelo breaks the hold immediately and gets to his feet, smiling wide as he looks down at the challenger.
Chris Avery: A little gamesmanship going on here.Dionysus, none too pleased with how the early part of the match is going. Before Angelo can respond, it’s his face that feels the sting of the Crimson Gladiator’s hand.
Billy: Now it’s getting interesting?!Chris Avery: Oh what a punch by Dion!! He ROCKS Angelo!Angelo is floored, and, stunned, he rolls onto his stomach, checking his pretty face for blood and blinking his eyes in shock because that type of hit had little cartoon birdies flying around his head. Angelo rolls a small distance away, weakly, and Dion, snarling now, goes to pick Angelo up, but now Angelo kicks Dion's kneecap out with such force that Dion's knee buckles sideways, and Angelo continues the momentum as Dion falls forward clutching his knee to give him a short flatliner into the middle turnbuckle. The crowd gives an "Oooooh" at the impact, and Angelo, smiling at how crafty he is, rolls Dion out of the cover and hooks a leg...
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Billy: Going to need more than that. Going to need A LOT more than that.Angelo grinds his forearm into Dionysus’s face as he gets up and he stomps on the canvas, demanding he gets up.
Chris Avery: This is the pace Dionysus didn’t want to get into against the champ.Dionysus hesitates as he gets up. Angelo going for the collar and elbow Dionysus side steps. A mule kick to the ribs puts Angelo to a knee. He grabs Angelo and just as he has him by the hair, Angelo buries an enziguri in his head. Dion falls forward again, and Angelo comes in, dickishly and heelishly piefacing him and shoving him by the hair and booting him back to the mat. Dionysus grimaces, holding his neck and rolling to the ropes. The Living Legend stands over the challenger, and allows himself a smile before picking him up by the back of the head and delivering a couple of forearms before whipping him into the turnbuckle. Dionysus crashes in back first and Angelo immediately follows up with a splash and then steps back, as Dionysus stumbles out of the corner, Gerard hops up on the second rope and comes off with a back elbow, smashing into the bigger man, and knocking him off his feet!
Chris Avery: Angelo is using every bit of his speed to wear down Dionysus!Billy: They always say speed kills, but I always assumed that was a drug reference! ......The opioid epidemic is a serious problem in lower income and rural communities, kids, listen to McGruff the crime dog.Angelo stands up and immediately drags Dionysus up to his feet and clubs him over the back of the head, before grabbing him by the arm and twisting it around once causing Dionysus to howl out and hold his shoulder. Angelo yanks on it like a bottle cap, causing another yelp from Dion. Dionysus measures up his situation and puts a foot on the middle rope and flips out of the twist in an amazing show of athleticism for a 6'5" dude who has acrobatic stuff in his profile, and he uses that momentum to follow up with a basement lariat of ungody force on the World Champ, who falls to the mat. Dionysus uses the momentum to run to the opposite ropes and run up behind the downed Angelo and drop a running elbow to the back of the actor's head and immediately runs to the middle turnbuckle, hops to the top rope and hits a diving elbow drop! The crowd can’t help but pop at the flow that Dionysus is on and he pops to his feet and beats his chest in response to the appreciation.
Chris Avery: What athleticism! What pure talent right there!Billy: This is a man who's been so hungry the entire year who just earned his spot at the Golden Corral line! And I mean the good one, with the Chocolate Wonderfall!!Angelo is already stirring though and Dionysus turns to his Living Legend and hits a couple of quick kicks to the Living Legend’s ribs before hauling the champ to his feet and resting him back first over the top rope. He then reaches down for the legs and starts to lift them up... Dionysus holds Angelo in a wheelbarrow position while looking at the crowd who are equally confused. He then rocks backwards and slingshots the Living Legend face-first into the mat and rolls through into a Boston crab.
Billy: That was unorthodox to say the least!Chris Avery: Dionysus is many things and innovator has always been one of them!Angelo howls in pain as the champion wrenches on both legs with his eyes wide open. Angelo pushes himself up and roars in rage and walks himself towards to ropes with Dionysus desperately holding on. At length Angelo gets to the ropes, causing the ref to declare rope breaks are on. Dionysus releases the hold, and gets distracted by the referee telling him to stay out of the ropes, which Dionysus replies with, he knows, obviously. Angelo uses the turn of Dionysus's head to kick his bad leg out again, and Dionysus falls. Dionysus grimaces and holds the knee that has been targeted so expertly, among others, and sucks in a breath, and Angelo doesn't let him lay there for longer than a second before he comes in and drops a knee across the bone of Dionysus. Then Angelo keeps his knee pinned down across the thigh of Dionysus and grabs the foot, hyperextending it in a kneebar of sorts while wrenching the foot like a bottle cap. Dionysus howls in pain, and Angelo gets to his feet, giving Dionysus a few more stomps to the extremities.
Chris Avery: Brilliant strategy by Angelo, taking out one of Dion's wheels and the big man can't use most of his offense, or his power!Billy: I mean, a student of the game like Gerard has to be studying up on how to take down everyone who might come for his belt, this has been in the back of Angelo's mind for quite a while.Dionysus tries to sit up, clutching at his knee. Angelo goes to lift Dionysus up but Dionysus doggedly shoves him away. Angelo comes back in with a penalty kick, right to the solar plexus, to put Dionysus down. Angelo lifts a weakened and staggering Dionysus up, walking him over to the turnbuckles. The Living Legend lays into Dionysus with right hand after right hand, staggering him back into the corner, then he grips Dionysus's arm and irish whips him into the opposite corner with a lot of force. Dionysus staggers out, holding his back, and Angelo comes in, locks his hands and flips Dionysus with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Dionysus holds his back. Angelo picks Dionysus up, and he locks his arms around Dionysus's waist as he runs him back into the turnbuckle, then he hits Dionysus with a few shoulder thrusts. Then, he backs up, and comes in for a big running boot in the corner. Dionysus dangles limply by the ropes, holding on to keep himself propped up. Angelo pulls him out and goes for a cover...
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Gerard looks stymied and annoyed, but he stays in game mode. This is Gerard Angelo, the two time PCW Deadly Rumble Winner and one time winner of a James Raven look-alike contest (love you Gerry)... and he will stay in control. Angelo applies a dragon sleeper, tightening the hold. Dionysus flails his arms, trying to get Angelo off of him, but to no avail. Dionysus asks if he gives up, but Dionysus shakes his finger no. Dionysus pushes himself up, and begins punching Angelo repeatedly in the stomach. Finally, Angelo releases one arm so he can give Dionysus a stiff club to the sternum, but he digs his knee into the small of the back. Dionysus sinks to one knee, and Angelo reapplies the facelock. Finally, Dionysus is able to push himself up, elbowing Angelo in the gut repeatedly, and then he gives Angelo a swinging neckbreaker. Angelo contorts on the mat, holding his neck. Dionysus rests for a second, then he gets to his feet. He boots Angelo several times, then he runs and hits a flipping neckbreaker.
Chris Avery: Dionysus is giving a gutsy performance, even more than he did against Spencer Adams a few weeks ago, he's blocking out the pain as much as he can.Billy: Well think of the stakes if he loses. Not only will he end the year with another disappointment, but Downfall will give him shit because HE pinned Gerard... and you know, deep down, Dionysus wants to prove that he's so much more than Downfall's sidekick. That's been like... his entire arc this year, stepping out and doing his own thing.Dionysus pulls Angelo to the middle of the ring and applies a headlock. Angelo starts fighting his way back to his feet, and he begins elbowing his way free. Suddenly, Dionysus breaks the hold and begins clubbing him in the back of the head, then he reapplies the headlock. Angelo's arms flail, the referee asks if he gives up. Angelo says no, but he's slowly starting to fade. The ref holds his hand up once... twice... on the third time, Angelo's hand stays in the air. Angelo slowly starts fighting his way to his feet, as Dionysus looks down and screams "No!" Angelo begins flinging elbows back, trying to fight his way clear, and then he turns around and gives Dionysus a few right hands, making Dionysus stagger back. Angelo catches his breath for a second, and then he backs up to the ropes and charges at Dionysus, but he's met with a boot to the midsection that drops the champion to all fours! Dionysus latches on to a front face lock before delivering a vertical suplex! Dionysus doesn't let go, he twists his hips while turning Angelo over before lifting Angelo up to a vertical base where he delivers a second suplex! Dionysus twists the hips while picking Angelo back up off the mat where he delivers a third and final suplex. Now Dionysus paces around, pounding on his chest and feeling the energy from the crowd!!
Chris Avery: Dion is rolling on all cylinders! He's the most fired up we've ever seen him! He's --Billy: WE GET IT, HE'S NOT JUST EATING CORN CHIPS!!Dionysus sees Gerard shakily trying to pull himself up using the ropes, and Dion calls for the end. Dion sprints past Gerard, going to the opposite ropes and coming off, and on the bounce back looking for a bicycle knee strike. As Dionysus reaches Angelo this time, is stopped in his tracks by a rolling elbow smash out of NOWHERE! Dionysus isn't knocked off his feet, but he stumbles back a step! Angelo backs up and gives Dionysus a superkick, which makes Dionysus crumble, and Angelo, having spent a good deal of energy, falls down with him! The crowd, eating up the fierceness behind every hit, punctuates the rolling elbow and then the superkick with an "Ohhh!!" Breathing heavily, Angelo hooks the leg...
Chris Avery: I don't believe it!! Back-to-back Hero's Welcome AND One-Hit Wonder! Angelo gave all he had behind that last hit, and they both fell!The referee: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
Angelo looks up from the pin, a crestfallen look of disbelief on his face. gets to his feet, holding his back. He makes his way over to the corner, and he begins ascending the turnbuckle. Angelo turns, and sets himself, but all of a sudden Dionysus springs to lift, runs to the ropes and hops up on the ropes. He knees Angelo in the gut on the top rope, grabs his arms in a double underhook, and quickly flips Angelo off with a top rope butterfly superplex. The crowd erupts at this spot.
Chris Avery: What an amazing maneuver!Dionysus rolls over Angelo for the cover.
The referee: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
Dionysus looks up with a squinted eyed, "What the fuck is happening" expression, and Angelo slithers out onto the floor, completely winded. Dionysus can barely get up himself and uses his elbows to crawl under the bottom rope. As the pair lay on the mats outside, the crowd is at a frantic pitch, the sheer energy buzzing and echoing from the rafters as Angelo and Dionysus begin picking themselves up off the mats, struggling to get a hold of each other. An uppercut from the Gladiator there, and he has staggered the Living Legend. He grabs Angelo by the head and he slams his forehead into the guardrail. Angelo still trying to keep himself balanced. Dionysus backs up, scrambles to the apron, and uncorks a diving somersault senton from the ring apron onto the guardrail! He smashed Angelo into the guardrail there!
Chris Avery: Oh my god!Billy: Since when did Spartacus ever do that shit?? I never saw that on Starz!!Dionysus contorts on the aisle as he twerked his knee coming down, but he managed to bowl Angelo over like tenpins so, it balances. Dionysus breathes heavy and rolls over, holding his knee, and he walks over, lifting Angelo up and throwing him in the ring, before huffing out a breath and following. Angelo grips at the ropes, the referee, any handhold he can get to get to his feet, and Dionysus is quickly on him and grabs him by the hair. He pulls Angelo in, and he hits him with a hook, and Angelo is to a knee. Now Dionysus backs up to the ropes, gathering a full head of steam, and comes in with a Shining wizard, plowing through Angelo! Angelo is down, but Dionysus is too! Dionysus, having taken back to back shots to the head, blinks and tries to clear the cobwebs, and get himself back to his feet, and he sees that Angelo is still down, but to complete the Praetorian he needs to make it to his feet and run to the rope. Moving like his limbs are full of broken glass Dionysus grips the ropes, looking for a springboard off the top rope... Angelo has nipped up and caught Dion, mid moonsault, with a superkick to the head, in perfect timing!! The big man crashes to the mat beside Angelo, and Angelo drops to his knees!!
Chris Avery: I DON'T BELIEVE IT!! ANGELO SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY, GOT UP IN TIME TO DELIVER A ONE HIT WONDER TO A MAN IN MIDAIR!!Billy: Did... did God give Angelo the strength to do that?!Chris Avery: Angelo's determination gave him the strength to do that! Angelo's NEED to be AW World Champion gave him the strength to do that!!Billy: Hell no I'm calling that a miracle, like seeing the face of Jesus in a burnt piece of toast!!Billy: This match is really testing both men's faith.A weary, beaten Angelo crawls slowly on hands and knees, and rolling the bigger man over, pins Dionysus.
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Thr- Kickout.
The crowd is eating this match up, Angelo looks outraged, and his hair is now sticking up in wild shocks. He looks heavenward, mouthing "What more can I do". Angelo grits his teeth, lifting Dionysus up. He goes for a shortarm into a clothesline, but Dionysus slips around out of it, coming up behind Angelo's back and pulling him in to a bicycle knee strike that fells Gerry like a redwood. Dion sinks down, massaging his knee that struck Angelo's jaw, but knowing he got all of that one too!
Chris Avery: CORPORATE ACTION!!Billy: The kneecap had to feel like a gunshot as it connected.Chris Avery: That leg is not in a good way. Dionysus can't even capitalize!Dionysus lets out some soothing breaths and groans a tiny bit, as he rolls his knee pad down to give it some air. Dionysus shakes his head, and grits his teeth. He looks over at Angelo and audibly says "I MUST win this," as he lifts him up by his hair. Angelo ducks in under Dionysus's outstretched hands and gives him a forearm shot to the mouth, then he lights up his legs with a few kicks, including a straight stomp right on the knee. Angelo backs up to the ropes, and flings himself at Dionysus for a Thesz press, landing several mounted punches to the face. Angelo rolls off Dionysus. Dionysus stumbles to his feet. He gets a running start and then dropkicks Dionysus right in the knee.
Billy: It's like chopping down a lanky redwood that's like 1/4 neck and haircut.Angelo grabs Dionysus's leg and hooks his foot under his arm as if for a DDT and then drops back, slamming in on the mat. Dionysus grimaces and holds his leg and knee. Angelo straightens the leg out and then drops a knee across the leg. Then he puts all his weight on it as he grabs his foot and bends upwards, twisting it. Dionysus groans and tries to push him off. He reaches for him, but he moves back out of his reach. The ref asks if Dionysus gives up, but Dionysus says no. Dionysus swings at him, but again Angelo moves his head back, as he continues twisting upwards on his leg. Again, the ref asks if Dionysus will give up, but he refuses. Finally, Angelo releases the hold. He gets to his feet and gives Dionysus a low straight kick right to the sternum, then boots Dionysus in the gut, and amazingly is able to muscle him over with an inverted exploder suplex, and then Angelo pins him.
Chris Avery: EXCALIBUR PRIME!!Billy: Another title defense for our World Champion! A chance to redeem himself!! Another strong victory to close out the YEAR OF ANGELO!!The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
Angelo screams "Oh come on!!!" at the referee, death glaring at him.
Chris Avery: Angelo seems more aggressive and determined in this match then we've seen in a while. I really do think that losing to Downfall in the Wrestler of the Year has gotten under his skin, as we saw against Wayne Austin.Billy: Well, that, but also, maybe he is kicking himself for struggling against the man he considered a lesser half?Angelo has taken long enough agonizing over the lack of a three-count that Dionysus has begun recovering. Angelo, gnashing his teeth wildly and angrily, shoots in and begins booting Dionysus back down. Suddenly, Dionysus comes out with a European uppercut that nearly knocks his head off. Dionysus gets to his feet, limping a bit. He sees Angelo has rolled over to play rope-a-dope by hanging under the bottom ropes. Dionysus's face is deadly serious as he paces around, staring at him. Dionysus pulls Angelo back up into a waistlock, and begins giving him a German suplex. Angelo scrambles over to the ropes and grabs on to the top rope, holding on for dear life and attempting to block it. Dionysus clubs him across the back a few times, as he tries to suplex him, but he hangs on. The ref tells them to break it up out of the ropes. Dionysus and the ref argue for a moment, as Angelo continues holding on to the ropes. Dionysus finally turns back to Angelo, who slips out onto the apron and gives Dionysus a kick to the midsection. Angelo then hangs grips Dionysus's head and pulls it down, hanging him up throat first on the top rope. Dionysus goes stumbling back, holding his throat. Angelo gets back into the ring and plows through him with a flying shoulder block. Angelo waits for Dionysus to recover, and he runs to the ropes and hops off, going for a momentum changing springboard cutter, but Dionysus CATCHES HIM IN MIDAIR, drilling Angelo and taking him onto a devastating STO backbreaker!!
Chris Avery: I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!Billy: I'M GLAD I CAN VISUALIZE THAT SO IT MAKES SENSE!!Chris Avery: DION HAS THE CHAMPION ON THE ROPES!!An exhausted Dionysus exhales as he's on all fours, before going for the cover...
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three- Kickout!
The crowd goes insane as Angelo rolls a shoulder, but Angelo otherwise is looking barely lifeless, and Dion rolls a few feet away, covering his head with his hands and looking stunned. He looks up at the referee, begging him to tell him it was three. Dion gets up, and a determined look goes over his face. All of the struggles, all of the tribulations from this year, it will not be for nothing. Dionysus He reaches down picking Angelo up off the mat. Dionysus drives Angelo back into a set of buckles before hoisting Angelo up and setting him on the top turnbuckle. The crowd comes alive as Dionysus steps up to the middle turnbuckle before locking in a front face lock. Dionysus looks to deliver a superplex only to have Angelo hammer away at the ribs of Dionysus! Angelo breaks free before slamming Dionysus head first into the top turnbuckle before leaping over Dionysus while bringing him off the middle rope with a sunset flip powerbomb! The crowd roars as Angelo manages to make the cover on Dionysus!
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three - !!
Dionysus throws a shoulder up off the mat to a thunderous gasp from the crowd!
Angelo rolls over, staring in a glassy eyed fashion! He can't believe it! The Living Legend, the man who has proclaimed this, time and again, as his show, is giving everything he can and Dionysus is not staying down! Snarling in a nasty, piqued way, the World Champion shoots to his feet, determined not to let this end on his terms, and wanting to close it out... He goes to the corner and sinks down. He begins motioning for Dionysus to get up, egging him on with his hands... Dionysus, stumbling and in a lot of pain, jerks and flops as he rolls over, and gets to all fours... Dion crawls in position and Angelo sprints across the distance, bringing his foot up and going for a curb stomp... but Dionysus CATCHES HIM ON HIS SHOULDERS!
DIONYSUS HAS GERARD UP IN POSITION FOR AN ALABAMA SLAMMA!!
AND DIONYSUS DROPS GERARD FACE FIRST ONTO HIS KNEES!
GERARD HITS AND BOUNCES OFF, FALLING TO THE SIDE!!
Chris Avery: IDES OF MARCH!! IDES OF MARCH CONNECTS!!Billy: HOLY SHITFIREEEEE!!!Dionysus is on his stomach, barely able to move after that, but Angelo is also down and out, and not moving! The crowd pops HUGE for the counter, and begin shaking the rafters with stomps and cheers, willing Dionysus on!
Chris Avery: We've never seen someone counter the Hollywood Ending that way!Billy: But we've never seen anyone who wants this as much as Dion! Who's fought for it, tried for it the right way!! Who's given everything into making it their year!Chris Avery: Through all the heartbreak! Through all the disappointment! Through everything, he's showed up and given it his all! Just a little further Dion! Just crawl a little further!Inch by agonizing inch, as several long seconds tick by, Dionysus crawls over, and the crowd is counting for him, one, two, three... Dionysus crawls in and makes the cover on Angelo!
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three -
KICKOUT!
Chris Avery: Angelo kicked out! ANGELO KICKED OUT!!Dionysus has sweat running down his face, and his knee is in agony as he tries, vainly to pull himself up, but he finally succeeds in getting to his feet, maintaining wrist control as he slowly, slowly pulls Angelo up as well. He is barely able to stay afloat, but he has Angelo by the wrist loosely, and he attempts to pull Angelo in, going for the ripcord Bullhammer... but NO! Angelo ducks under it! Angelo takes over the wrist control and goes behind Dion, wrapping Dion's own wrist around his throat! Before turning and plowing into the back of Dionysus' head with a rolling elbow smash with force, making Dion stumble forward, staggered. Dionysus flumps forward, falling onto his knees, and Angelo falls back into the ropes, exhausted but having enough energy for a move that is half falling out of the ropes, and half lifting his boot up to land a curb stomp! Angelo rolls through, and falls past Dionysus, but he's crushed Dionysus into the mat!!
Chris Avery: ANGELO WITH THE HOLLYWOOD ENDING!!Billy: This movie may end in tears for Dionysus' Year of Wine and Roses! This Hollywood Ending may spell the end of Dion's quest to be the emperor!!Chris Avery: But only if the champion can make the COVER!!A beaten, battered Angelo, his hair slick with sweat and fatigue, looks over at Dionysus, who has crumpled up like a wad of paper... barely able to move for the pain, Angelo shakes his head, but finally, with the crowd building a huge reaction, he slides over for the cover...
The referee and the crowd: ONE...
TWO...
THREE -
KICKOUT!!
Chris Avery: DIONYSUS IS STILL IN THIS!! DIONYSUS REFUSES TO GO DOWN!!Billy: THESE TWO MEN HAVE HAD VERY DIFFERENT YEARS... BUT TONIGHT, THERE IS NO MORE PERFECT COUNTERPART THAN EACH OTHER! THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL COME DOWN TO!!Both men lay out for several long moments, trying to recover their strength... they roll over, and roll towards each other, and as they're stumbling and trying to crawl to their knees, their hands meet each other... and, there on the mat, as both men are face to face, they begin exchanging punches and slaps!! Both men start gritting their teeth and pulling themselves up, firing punches at each other!!
Angelo goes for a punch but Dion ducks it and wristlocks him in!!
Billy: HES GOING FOR IT!DION RIPCORDS HIM IN FOR THE GRAPEVINE BUT ANGELO DUCKS AND HITS THE ROPES!
Chris Avery: A MISS!ANGELO BOUNCES FOR A CLOTHESLINE BUT DION CATCHES HIM AGAIN AND STANDS BEHIND HIM FOR A SPLIT SECOND.. HE RIPCORDS HIM INTO THE GRAPEVINE!!
Billy: GRAPEVINE!! GRAPEVINE!!THE CROWD STANDS ON THEIR FEET!!
Billy: I CANT HEAR MYSELF THINK!!DION HAS EVERYONE FIRED UP AS ANGELO STUMBLES UP, HIS LEGS CROSSED, HES FUCKED. HES FUCKING FUCKED AND HE KNOWS IT!
DION BENDS FORWARD AND PICKS ANGELO UP!!
Billy: IDES OF MARCH!! IDES OF MARCH!DION TURNS TO DELIVER THE FUCKNG BLOW BUT ANGELO GRABS THE OFFICIAL AND THROWS HIM DOWN!
DION HITS IDES OF MARCH!!
Chris Avery: HE HIT IT!! HE HIT IT!!Billy: WAIT HOW DID THE OFFICIAL GO DOWN!?DION COVERS!!
(ONE)
(TWO)
(THREE)
Billy: THERE IS NO REF!! THERE IS NO REF!!Chris Avery: THE CROWD IS BOOING WHAT HAPPENED?!The official kneels up from being knocked down as Dion is telling him to come over and count.. but the ref rings the bell!
DING DING DING
Billy: WHAT?!The crowd fucking BOOS.
Chris Avery: WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!Dion stands up and is confused! He's yelling at the ref who is telling Adilene Floyd something..
Adilene Floyd: The official has informed me that Gerard Angelo threw him down and thus your winner of this match.. DIONYSSUUSSSS...The crowd pops..
Adilene Floyd: .. By disqualification! The crowd boos.
Adilene Floyd: AND STILLLLLLLLLL... WOR-You can't hear her over the crowd booing and Dionysus collapsing into the corner completely fucking dejected..
Angelo smiling as he rolls out of the ring and his music hits.
Billy: I.. I don't know what to say!Chris Avery: I'LL SAY IT, BULLSHIT! ITS BULLSHIT!The official takes the title and gives it to Angelo who is laying at the bottom of the ramp laughing to himself.
Billy: I'm so pissed off right now. I'm HEATED, Chris.We see Pasternak down at the bottom of the ramp asking the official whats going on.
Dion just sits in the corner of the ring staring at the middle of the canvas. The crowd begins to chant..
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
BUUULLLL SHIT! BUULLLL SHIT! BUUULLLLL SHIT!
Billy: This crowd telling everyone exactly what I feel right now, Chris!Angelo is still holding the World Title tight as Pasternak and the official are still debating what happened, the camera comes in close and we hear the official state "he threw me down, I had to disqualify him on the spot!" Pasternak says "come on, man" and looks down at Angelo who is still smirking and laughing holding the World Title..
Chris Avery: CruiserClash is next Thursday! Live in Discord or I mean Paramount+, AwardsClash is on December 26th!Billy: I want to be happy, I want to scream Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, I.. I'm just deflated at what Gerard Angelo just did!Chris Avery: I wish we were talking about Dion holding the belt high, I wish there was confetti, but Angelo put a stop to all of that!Dion keeps staring to the middle of the ring as Pasternak and the official continue to discuss it up the ramp and Angelo is standing at the top of the ramp and he holds the Championship over his head as he smirks at the crowd.