Dionysus vs. Downfall(c)
Adilene Floyd: The following is scheduled for ONE FALL, and it is for the AW Hardcore Championship! Introducing first...Pyro fires along the edge of the stage as "Carry The Flame" by Unleash The Archers rips through the crowd. From backstage, Dionysus confidently strode out onto the stage, confidently holding a single arm in the air, dressed for battle, and he is carrying a gladiator helmet, a leather breastplate, and in one arm he has clenched the kite shield that he used on Downfall a few weeks ago!
Adilene Floyd: Making his way to the ring, from Minneapolis, MN, weighing in at 270 lbs... 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: Dion has so much to prove, but let's not forget, he made this challenge because he wants Downfall to stop using excessive force and bringing his dark side out to injure other wrestlers!Billy: Mmm, does he though? I get the sense that Downfall was right and that all Dion is doing is begging for a title shot!Chris Avery: This is about so much more than a title, to Dion... this is about perserving the legacy of the Vanguard, which he poured his heart and soul into!!Adilene Floyd: And his opponent... from Chicago, Illinois, he weighs in at 217 lbs... he is the PURVEYOR OF ANARCHY... THE AW HARDCORE CHAMPION... DOWNFALL!!There's a pregnant pause in the air before the lights in the arena shut down, one by one, with an audible CHOOM as each section goes dark.
The crowd sits in unsteady, uncomfortable silence there, in the dark, for a full thirty seconds, before a blazing neon-red Anarchy symbol appears on the tron, which then transitions into the symbol becoming the A in Downfall's name. Then, as the jumbotron begins playing images of shots of Downfall hitting various kicks and signature moves that flicker with strobelight-jerkiness, a synthesizer track and rising, discordant wailing begins, before Trent Reznor's distinct voice comes in, launching into the intro to "The Becoming".
"I beat my machine
It's a part of me, it's inside of me...
I'm stuck in this dream,
It's changing me,
I am becoming...
The me that you know, he had some second thoughts
He's covered with scabs,
He is broken and sore,
The me that you know, he doesn't come around much
That part of me...
Isn't here anymore..."
As the music reaches a cacophonous high point in "The Becoming", Downfall's head is bowed, and he kneels one knee on the stage, tracing the fingers of his right hand across the ramp, then he slowly raises his head to look at the ring. In his left hand, he is carrying a long, curved, black iron crowbar... and, to chilling effect, as Downfall stands, he looks at the crowbar. The arena lights brighten, and then, he begins his walk down to the ring, holding his arms out to take in the reaction of the crowd. The crowd, some put off by his newer, more aggressive demeanor and the presence of the crowbar in his hand, boo, but there are still some, hoping for him to listen to his better angels, that cheer. He cracks his neck to the side in an aggressive manner and defiantly raising the crowbar, clenched tightly in one fist. Then, he goes around to the ring, pacing over to climb on the apron, and he takes just a moment to breathe it in as he rests a leg on the ropes themselves, before pacing to the turnbuckles and ascending, quickly, to the second rope, crossing his wrists in an X.
He hops down, shrugging out of his tattered leathers, and laying the crowbar down in the corner, circles the ring like a shark, tensely pulling on the top rope to stretch.
Chris Avery: Ferocious, uncompromising, dominating... Downfall has left a trail of bodies in his wake ever since he entered the Hardcore division... but there is truly nobody in Action Wrestling quite like Downfall.Downfall looks ahead, bowing his head slightly, as Dionysus walks around the ring, staring daggers straight at him in the ring. Downfall shakes his head, and walks over to the ropes, asking for a mic, and seems to be chewing over what he's trying to say before letting it come out too bitter.
Downfall: Dion... stop.
Dionysus does stop, although the dare, the challenge remains in his eyes as he holds his shield, proudly in front of him and beats on the front of it, calling for battle. Downfall sees this, and grits his teeth.
Downfall: I'm telling you this because, you're coming into this childishly still. Acting as if you pull out your gladiator weapons, come out here with your chariot or your shield and turn this into Spartacus, you're showing the world what the Crimson Gladiator is made of, but I'm here to tell you... You aren't bringing that in my ring. Dion, out of everything you should have gotten from me this week, you should have seen that you aren't getting what YOU want in this match, and you are NOT turning this division... MY DIVISION... into a joke. I am not doing this cartoony gladiator shit with you.
Dionysus is half amused by Downfall's rant, and turns to the crowd as if to ask them if they are not entertained, which only makes Downfall's scowl grow even deeper, but then Dion turns to Downfall, showing him that he is ready for this, holding his arms up and beckoning Downfall to come down out of the ring... "Or are you afraid?" Downfall's face goes through a war of emotions, most of all, annoyance, but his strict mantra of "No cartoony gladiator shit" will not let him abide this mockery. Downfall exits the ring, power walking towards Dionysus on the ramp.
Chris Avery: This bitter rivalry has gotten out of control in recent weeks, and it's come to a head tonight!Downfall meets Dionysus, who lets the shield fall to the side, and in the hand under the shield he has a large, brazen torch! (Carry The Flame, get it?), while unlit, the heavy torch swings at Downfall's head like a baseball bat! Downfall just barely ducks under it, and he looks up, staring at Dionysus with an expression that reads both shock and "What the fuck is WRONG with you?" Dionysus shoots towards him, swinging the torch, however he whiffs another one, spins in a circle, walks into a boot to the chest. The crowd roars with boo's as Downfall drives Dion head first off the steel barricade. Downfall tells the fans at ringside "Shut your mouths this is between him and me" to a louder chorus of boo's as he takes Dion by the hair. He brings him to ringside where he shoots him towards the steel ring steps! Dion stops himself with a boot placed on the step for a brake, and he shoves himself off. He gets charging and runs across the distance, covering the yards like a runaway train and flattening Downfall with a shoulder block! The Crimson Gladiator flexes his muscles and roars to the crowd. Dion mounts Downfall where he unloads with piston like right hands to the face of Downfall to a massive ovation from the crowd. Right hand after right hand lands against the skull of Downfall before Dion reaches a vertical base. He picks Downfall up off the floor before bouncing him head first off the ring steps. Dion quickly takes a back waist lock on Downfall. Dion looks for a german suplex which is blocked by Downfall as he manages to land several stiff elbows which catch Dion in the temple causing him to release his grasp. Downfall spins around where he sends Dion bouncing face first off the top of the steps with a drop toe hold, smacking the steel with a loud bang. Downfall grimaces as he gets to one knee, and then he hones in on Dion, mounting him and landing several stiff, potato like shots to the ear.
Chris Avery: You really get a sense, after all the bitter words said between them, that Downfall isn't holding back on Dion in this match.Billy: Not holding back is the central crux of their entire rivalry with each other, as Dionysus is adamant that he's fighting this fight because he thinks the Hardcore title is darkening Downfall's soul and he's fighting to save him from becoming a victim of his own worst impulses!Chris Avery: Thank you for providing much needed context!Billy: I mean, the slim chance is if there's any "That's a lot of words, too bad I'm not reading em" motherfuckers in the crowd right now then they're just going to gloss over all of the nuances in this, but... I guess that's what we have to deal with because "Didn't watch the shows!" is such a funny meme, you guys.Satisfied, in the moment, that the furious pummelling he's once again doling out to Dionysus is weakening him to the point of stunned, Downfall reaches down, picking Dion up off the floor. Downfall blasts Dion in the face with a hard right hand before whipping Dion into the security railing! Downfall goes under the ring where he pulls out the most basic ingredient in a hardcore match, a steel chair, nothing ridiculous or cartoonish like a trident or net. Downfall comes towards Dion, where he looks to smash him with a chair shot. Dion side steps the chair shot, and the crack of the chair meeting steel also sends vibrations up Downfall's arms, and he yells out in pain. Dion lands a boot to the midsection which causes Downfall to drop the chair. The Crimson Gladiator glances down to the chair, but with a little ironic smile shakes his head Downfall reaches a vertical base where he's taken down with a double leg take down by Dion who starts driving right hands into the face of Downfall to a thunderous ovation from the crowd! Downfall is rocked by the reversal of fortune, and tries to turtle up, but some of the shots are still getting through. Dionysus lifts Downfall up, snaking in a few knees, before throwing him in the ring. Dion continues to hammer away before finally getting up off Downfall. Dion reaches down picking Downfall up off the mat. Dion fires Downfall across the ring and into a set of buckles before charging forward where he delivers a running knee to the jaw of Downfall before following up with a discus lariat. The giant reaches his feet, going for a pin. Dion shakes his head before picking Downfall up off the mat before the referee can even start counting! Dion tosses Downfall out to the floor through the ropes. The crowd is solidly behind Dion as Dion measures Downfall as he begins working his way to his feet, Dion bounces off the far side ropes where he looks to deliver a suicide dive! Downfall manages to side step Dion causing Dion to crash face first into the security railing!
Billy: Why in the hell would someone Dion's size try to dive through the ropes?!Chris Avery: The Hardcore division engenders an impulse to cut loose from normal style and go balls to the wall?Billy: Okay, but that super heavyweight bitch just flew like a lead balloon and he ate the worst of it!!Downfall takes a few gasping lungfuls of air as Dion winces and holds his shoulder. While this was going on Downfall pulls another chair out from under the ring. He has a sadistic grin over his face, and as the big man stumbles to a semi standing position, shaking off the effects of his failure to launch, Downfall comes in with the chair, doubling Dion over. Downfall blasts Dion across the back with such force it sounds like a shotgun going off. Dion arches his back as he stands to a vertical base. He turns around where Downfall lays in with a chairshot to the skull that sends Dion crashing to the floor. The seat of the chair is badly bent. The crowd is raining heat down on the ring as Downfall holds his arms and chair up in the air. Downfall hucks the chair aside, and gives Dion nothing so wince inducing as a straight up, no pulling back kick right to the jawbone, and a second stiff kick right to the forehead, sending Dionysus rolling onto his back. We aren't sure if the suicide dive crash into the guardrail or Downfall's unrelenting shots did it yet, but Dionysus is cut over his eye and blood is flowing heavily.
Chris Avery: You know, maybe Dionysus does have a point, because we're only five minutes in and Downfall is beating this man like he owes him money.Billy: Mmm, Dion's point was that being Hardcore champion is making him go overboard and act this way but I really think Dionysus misjudged that maybe, just maybe this is who he is, as a person. Look at that bloodthirsty bastard, he's getting satisfaction out of this.Downfall lets Dion roll to all fours, checking his forehead with his hand and finding the blood pouring out, and Dionysus looks shocked, and then incensed. Downfall doesn't let Dionysus hulk up, picking Dion up off the floor, sending Dion crashing right shoulder first into the steel steps with such force that the steps separate upon impact. Downfall cuts his eyes towards the crowd, and the crowd roars with boos as Downfall saunters towards the security rail where he screams obscenities at them. Downfall gets in the camera at ringside and says, nastily, "Hide your kids and take down your Vanguard merch, they ain't gonna want to see this..." and makes his way towards Dion before picking him up off the floor with a front facelock. He pounds on the big man's back several times with clubbing blows, and endeavoring to dead lift the bulk of Dion, shoulders him back into the ring. The crowd's heard breaking out into a "you suck" chant as Downfall makes his way to the top portion of the steel steps where he picks them up off the floor. Downfall slides the top portion of the steps into the ring before crawling up on the ring apron before stepping back into the ring.
Chris Avery: We may have gotten a variation of the Vanguard entrance from Dionysus, but Downfall is clearly saying Vanguard Downfall isn't here in this match.Downfall reaches down picking the steel chair up off the mat where he measures Dion as he begins working his way to his feet. Once standing Downfall charges towards Dion looking to smash him in the skull with the steel chair Dion comes to life with a vicious kick, bringing his leg up at just the right time to kick it back into Downfall's face. The chair beans off Downfall's forehead to the side and he swivels and falls. Dion shakes the cobwebs out of his head. The crowd roars as Dion starts working his way to his feet. Blood pours from the head of Dion as he makes his way forward, picking Downfall up off the mat before positioning him for a powerbomb! Dion hoists Downfall up off the mat before delivering a vicious jack knife powerbomb on to the damaged chair! The smack of Downfall's body on the steel echo's throughout the building to a thunderous ovation from the crowd! Dion staggers backwards into the ropes after letting Downfall drop all the way down. Finally, he goes to his knees and pushes Downfall over for a cover.
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout.
Now Dionysus, bleeding from the wound on his head, goes out of the ring, and he peels back the apron, and then a smile passes across his lips as he finds things he was looking for, or perhaps planted, just for a time like this. He finds a vintage, iron Spartan helmet, raising it in both hands to a roar of the crowd, and brings it down over his head, before clamping on a metal gauntlet. Downfall is starting to roll over in the ring, and he is surprised when he crawls to the ropes, and Dionysus snatches his head between his hands as Downfall is leaning on the bottom rope as he's positioned out on the floor... Dionysus gives Downfall a wince inducing headbutt wearing the Spartan helmet, then another! Then another! As Downfall is laid across the bottom rope! Then Dionysus fires up, holding the spiked gauntlet on his hand high in the air and making a slight pulling motion with it, and then he runs forward and does a spin performing a discus punch to Downfall WITH the spiked gauntlet! This final shot with the armored, spiked gauntlet, knocks Downfall off the bottom rope and sends him rolling across the ring! Now Dionysus, clad in his gear complete with the helmet and gauntlet, climbs in the ring, and he picks up the steel chair to a massive ovation from the crowd! A battered Downfall, holding his forehead and grimacing, turns around where the steel chair is dented over his skull by a horrific chair shot by Dion! Downfall falls through the ropes and topples out to the floor! Dion tosses the chair to the mat as the referee once again lays the count to Downfall. Camera's pan in on Downfall's face to reveal he's been busted wide open as well. Downfall starts pushing himself up off the floor. He looks horrified as he touches his fingers in the blood leaking from his forehead. Dion rolls out to the floor where he comes up behind Downfall, he spins him around before lacing him across the chest with a knife edge chop yet it's Downfall who comes right back with a kick to the balls! The crowd roars with boo's as Dion drops to both knee's which Downfall quickly follows up by jogging back a few steps and rushing in with a knee trembler, flopping Dion over onto his back. Now Downfall rests against the apron, taking a few shaking breaths, and he peers down at Dionysus' hand, clad in the same spiked gauntlet, and something in Downfall seems to snap. He walks over, cruelly stepping on Dionysus' wrist, making Dion scream in pain as Downfall grinds his boot down on Dion's wrist through the gauntlet.
Downfall: TAKE. THAT. OFF.
Pissed off by the continued insistence of Dionysus to bring gladiator elements he feels are beneath this into it, Downfall angrily pulls the Spartan helmet off of Dion as he continues standing on the wrist, pinning it. Dionysus swipes at him with the other hand. Downfall takes the metal helmet in both hands and brings it down on Dionysus' wounded forehead several times, giving him a taste of his own medicine, and busting Dionysus open worse. With distaste, Downfall hurls the Spartan helmet away, as if the entire act of touching it makes him sick, and then he goes over to the wrist of Dionysus, maintains wrist control as he puts Dion in a Fujiwara armbar, and uses that to slowly peel the gauntlet off, hurling that into the crowd as well. "NO MORE FUCKING CARTOON SHIT, DION," Downfall snarls at his former partner, and then he manipulates the fingers and snaps them like a wishbone! Dionysus flops over and yells in pain. Not done, Downfall picks the arm up again and throws it into the concrete, and then he applies Bad Wolf on the outside, making sure to dig in on that arm. He barks at Dion to give up.
Chris Avery: This is getting uncomfortable to watch.Billy: Downfall told Dion at multiple points this week he needed to quit and stop while he was ahead... bet Dionysus wishes he had done that before he tried to get personal and say Michelle was disappointed.Several long seconds are passing in the hold, and the blood from Dion's forehead is actually squirting out onto Downfall's forearm as Downfall pulls back on the crossface, with each beat of Dion's heart, the juices flow more, staining the floor and turning it slick, but Dionysus doesn't give up, just lets out a groan of effort. Downfall, shaking head head and cursing silently, you stupid, stubborn - immediately starts driving hard right forearms into the face and head of Dion while the referee is powerless to stop him as each shot reigns down harder and harder while the crowd gets louder and louder behind the Crimson Gladiator. Downfall stops laying the hammer down as he gets back to his feet where he leaves Dion where he is. The crowd comes alive as Downfall starts to scale the turnbuckles from inside the ring while out on the floor Dion starts to push himself up off the floor. Downfall reaches the top turnbuckle and immediately sets sail with a reckless, crooked moonsault from the ropes onto Dion, taking both men down to the floor!
Chris Avery: And now Downfall! The Hardcore champ! Rolling back the years, rolling back the wear and tear to bring us the Downfall of 2006, the Downfall who would go to insane, extreme lengths to win these kinds of matches!!The crowd roars as several seconds pass before Downfall starts to work his way back to his feet. Downfall runs his hands over his sweaty and bleeding forehead before flinging his sweat down on top of Dion. Downfall now reaches down as Dion is starting to groggily pull himself to his knees, locking him in a front facelock again and ruthlessly clubbing him over the back. Dion, despite the pounding, assents to being pulled up, albeit dazed, before bringing him around the ring by the head where he hurls him over the top of the Spanish announce team and into the laps of the announcers. Now, Downfall has to blink back some effort as he is losing blood now, too. He stumbles towards the desks, and Dion is shown between two desks, reaching under the the announcers desk, and as Downfall splits through the Spanish and American announce tables to reach down picking up Dion he's met by Dion spraying him in the face with a fire extinguisher!! Downfall is sent backwards as he's blinded! The cloud of smoke starts to dissipate in the air as Downfall swings wildly. Dion works his way to his feet where he drives the fire extinguisher into the rib cage of Downfall doubling him over! Dion drops the fire extinguisher as takes Downfall and bounces him head first off the Spanish announce table, before taking excess camera cord off the ground, and wrapping it around Downfall's throat where he pulls back choking away at his former friend's throat! There's a sad look in Dion's eyes, as he chokes Downfall, shouting "DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT KILLS ME TO DO THIS TO YOU? DO YOU? WE WERE A TEAM!!" Dion pulls back harder, choking with force, as we start to see Downfall's face start to turn a bright red. Finally, after his face is deepening into purple, in desperation Downfall throws his head backwards and into the face of Dion, causing Dion to lose grip on the camera cord. Dion clutches at his bloody face, while Downfall drops to his knees, sucking wind. Downfall starts to crawl away to create some space.
Dion comes after Downfall stomping down on his back which drives Downfall down into the floor out in front of the announcers tables. Dion turns his attention towards the Spanish announce table. The crowd roars as Dion comes towards the table before removing the monitors and sending them crashing to the floor. Dion clears the table before turning his attention back towards Downfall. Dion reaches down picking Downfall up off the floor where he nails him with a stiff right hand sending Downfall falling backwards on to the Spanish announce table. Dion quickly rolls back into the ring where he uses the ropes to help get him to his feet, and looks down at the prone Downfall. Dion laboriously makes his way up, swaying dangerously and slipping a bit due to fatigue and losing blood, up to the top rope. The sight of the 270 pounder up there on the top rope is awe inspiring enough, but then he stands precariously for just a moment and then comes off with a LEG DROP on to Downfall sending both men crashing through the Spanish announce table! A thunderous "HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!" chant echoes throughout the arena as both champion and challenger lay motionless on the floor!!
Chris Avery: HOHHHH MYYYY GODDDD!!Billy: WHAT THE FUCK??!Chris Avery: THAT WAS LIKE BEING FRONT ROW CENTER IN FRONT OF A CAR ACCIDENT!!Both men are laid out, Dion's head is bleeding profusely, the remains of the Spanish announcer's table look like a bomb went off, and several long moments have passed by with neither man moving. As the time goes on, the more it shows that they're losing strength, not gaining, as the blood coming from both men is pooling. the crowd is riotous, but The referee looks on in complete shock. The Spanish announce table looks like a car crash. The referee can't decide if he should call off the match or not but, finally Dion starts to stir. He rolls over, wincing lightly, and he starts getting to his feet, clutching at his ribs while pulling Downfall by one arm. Dion reaches down, he has difficultly picking up Downfall's dead weight but does get him up off the floor and rolled back into the ring where he crawls back under the bottom rope making a cover on the Purveyor of Anarchy.
The referee: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
Downfall kicks out to a massive ovation from the crowd.
Chris Avery: I thought for sure Dion had finally done it, that Dion had finally picked up the one win that's eluded him for years.Billy: That IS a big piece of this, that Downfall had Dion's number all those times before they formed that Vanguard, and that part of Dion's frustration is that he needs to dig to a deep place to finally put Downfall away!Dion rolls off Downfall where he pushes himself up off the mat. He reaches down picking Downfall up where he takes Downfall back into the ropes where he sends him across the ring, Downfall bounces off the ropes and into an STO backbreaker by Dion! Dion presses for another cover.
Chris Avery: ON YOUR SHIELD BY DIONYSUS!!The referee: One...
Two...
Th- Kickout!
Downfall kicks out once again as the crowd pops. Dion takes a mount position on Downfall before starting to drive rights and lefts into the face of Downfall when from out of no where Downfall counters into a triangle choke! The crowd pops loudly as the referee is in prime position as he starts to ask Dion to surrender. Dion struggles to try and break the triangle choke but it only allows Downfall to synch it in deeper! The referee continues to ask Dion to surrender!
Chris Avery: Dion is fading!!Sure enough Dion drops down to one knee as Downfall cranks back on the triangle choke when suddenly Dion clasps his hands together before standing back up where he lifts Downfall up off the mat and counters with a sit out powerbomb! Both men are laid out in the ring. Several seconds pass before Dion rolls over and crawls into the cover.
The referee: One...
Two...
Three - Kickout!
Dion looks around him, in shock, and he tries to push himself up but there's a moment where his strength fails him and he sinks back to his elbows, before having to push himself up again. He gingerly rolls over, going under the bottom rope, and picking up his kite shield from where he left it in his entrance, and he gets back in the ring, setting it on his arm. Downfall is starting to get to his feet, and Dionysus, a determined look in his eyes, pounds his fist on his shield, as if calling for war, as the crowd stomps their feet in time to it... Dion rushes forward, attempting to POUNCE Downfall right out of his damn shoes with the shield, but Downfall sidesteps at the last second like a veteran bullfighter! Dionysus rushes forwards, into the ropes, the springy rope catching his shield first and shoving him back, and then Dionysus turns and Downfall is rushing across the ring at HIM, giving him a shotgun dropkick right into the shield that takes them both down in a sprawling heap! Downfall rolls to the apron, clutching his legs and groaning, because clashing with the shield was like slamming into a wall, but Dion is sprawled out on his back, his arm still strapped into the shield with the shield face down on the mat!
Chris Avery: A Lock, Step & GONE right into Dion's shield! Dion may have blocked it, but it still left both men stunned!!Dionysus recovers quickly because while he is stunned, the shield protected him, but he still rolls over, blinking from the impact... and he slips over, and has to lean on the shield on his arm to keep him aloft. Downfall grits his teeth, rolling over and pushing himself up... and he spots the crowbar in the corner. The weapon he brings to the ring every week, and has wielded in anger at some of the worst the Hardcore division has thrown at him (In his eyes), but, as Downfall thoughtfully bends down and picks it up, he isn't sure, yet, if Dionysus qualifies. After all, in his mind... he's only used it on people he deems absolutely irredeemably awful and that he does not want competing ever again... does Dionysus qualify as that, to him? You can sense him teasing this in his mind as he has the crowbar in his hand... but as he turns to Dion... Dion rushes upward, swatting him with the shield! Downfall stumbles backward, dropping the crowbar! Dion charges towards Downfall again, battering him with the shield and sending him over the top rope and out to the floor, just like he did three weeks ago! Riding that surge of momentum and not realizing he just interrupted Downfall rationalizing whether he should or shouldn't bring the crowbar down on his forehead, Dion discards the shield, and steps through the ropes and out to the ring apron where he sizes Downfall up who is working his way back to his feet. Dion comes off the ring apron with a double axe handle to Downfall's head dropping Downfall where he stands. Dion tosses back the ring apron where he pulls out a kendo stick. Downfall is shown digging in the front pocket of his jeans and as Downfall gets to his knee's Dion raises the kendo stick only to have baby powder thrown in his eyes by Downfall!
Chris Avery: And another innovative trick from the champ!Billy: Downfall has won titles in every kind of no rules division he's competed in, Hardcore, X-Treme, Anarchy, Riot... this is a man that knows how to bring subtle little touches along with his insane, no concern for well-being antics.The crowd roars intently as Dion drops the kendo stick while clutching at his eyes with both hands. The fans are on fire as Downfall takes the kendo stick before getting back to a vertical base and with a blinded Dion, it's Downfall that hauls off cracking Dion right in the ribs causing him to double over! Downfall drills Dion across the back with a stiff shot from the kendo stick dropping the challenger to one knee. Downfall comes over picking Dion up before delivering a Russian legsweep with the kendo stick across the throat of Dion. Downfall rolls over to his chest where he starts to push himself up and out of a pool of his own blood, before looking down at a fallen Dion. Finally, he shifts his attention towards the ring apron. Downfall comes forward where he tosses the ring apron back and drops to one knee, where he retrieves a LADDER out from under the ring to a massive, massive ovation from the crowd! Downfall stands up with the ladder in hand as he turns his attention back towards Dion. Dionysus is starting to push himself up off the floor and back to his feet. Downfall comes forward running full speed driving the head of the ladder into the face of Dion, sending Dion backwards and over the security railing and into the front row! Downfall drops the ladder on the floor before stepping over the security railing and into the crowd! Downfall snatches an ice cold Pepsi (ahhhh refreshing, right sponsors?) out of the hands of a ringside fan, he takes a gulp from the glass, passes it back and waits for Dion and as Dion is nearing his feet Downfall spits the Pepsi into the eyes of Dion! Downfall nails Dion with a right hand followed by a chop across the chest as they reach the end of the row.
Chris Avery: This one has spilled out into the crowd of the arena!!Downfall tosses a building security member from his chair and snatches up the chair. He jabs an incoming Dion in the chest, doubling him over, and then lays waste to the bare back of the Crimson Gladiator! The crowd is on fire as Dion drops to the floor while Downfall tosses the chair to the floor before ripping off his tank top where he wipes blood from his own face and tosses it into the crowd! With the fans getting louder and louder Downfall comes forward picking Dion up off the floor where he positions him for a cradle piledriver a la Minoru Suzuki! The larger Dion counters with a back body drop sending Downfall crashing back first on to the concrete floor! Dion drops to one knee where he is catching his breath, pain etched across his face, yet, fighter he is, stands back to a vertical base. He turns around as we see Downfall rolling over to his chest and as he pushes himself up off the floor Dion plants a stiff boot to the forehead knocking Downfall back down the floor. Dion stomps down at the back of Downfall's head, before picking him up off the floor. Dion takes him on the backside of the floor towards the back of the arena where they ramp is located, just off to the left there the "mix" position. Dion smashes Downfall face first off a table, before clearing the extensions cords and various other pieces of equpiment. Dion turns towards Downfall, smashing him back first into the table a second time. He tucks Downfall's head between his legs where he looks to deliver a powerbomb. Downfall qucikly drops to his knees delivering a low blow to Dion to a massive ovation and "OOOOOOH" from the crowd.
Chris Avery: This match has devolved into deep, bitterly personal, throwing every shot they have against each other.Downfall takes in several gasping lungfuls of air as he stands, wiping the blood out of his eyes. He grits his teeth and snarls down at the big man. Downfall applies a standing headscissors and signals to the crowd that he's ending this one early before reaching down for a piledriver. We'll never find out if Downfall was or wasn't capable, because his piledriver lift is blocked as if he was about to be screwed over in a game of No Mercy on the Nintendo 64. Dion immediately stands back up, heaving Downfall straight up and straight over for a backdrop. The mixed bag of people that can claim to support the Purveyor of Anarchy nearby all catch their hero as he flips over. Seeing this, Dion charges the fans and grabs his former friend back from them with a gorilla press. He growls for all of them to scram and they oblige, leaving a halo of about five feet on either side around the two wrestlers. In the newfound freedom, Dion finishes what he started and drops Downfall on the cold cement. Once upon a time, Downfall prided himself on his gorgeous, angelic looks, but time and hits like, well, that, have lead to Downfall looking like he's seen ten miles of bad road. Downfall grabs his possibly shattered nose and orbital bone, and yells in pain. He scrambles to scoot away. Dion pursues, getting a running start before kicking Downfall in the side of the head. He grabs Downfall again and drags him away from the floor level crowd, opting to take the battle up a nearby staircase and into the permanent stands. Dion keeps the heat on, pounding fists into Downfall’s face as they climb the first set of stands above ground-level, but suddenly Downfall whirls around, decking Dion before bringing him down with a drop toe hold. The fans are going wild, pumping their firsts in the air and clapping as Downfall leads Dion by the hair closer to the edge of the stands by the entrance area. Downfall irish-whips the Crimson Gladiator towards the guardrail at the edge of the stands, but Dion quickly spins, converting the momentum and sending Downfall in his stead. Downfall slams back-first into the rail and slumps down, standing fans around him screaming for him to get up.
Chris Avery: With every hit taken you have to wonder at this point what the death blow will be…Dion shoves past a few fans in his way and steps over the fallen Downfall. He puts a few boots to the challenger, the screaming of the fans and general chaos masking the creaking of the rail as it bends away from the frame of the stand’s foundation. Another boot, and the metal tie bends more, white at the breaking point. Another boot, and a crack opens in the tie. Another boot, and it breaks away clean.
Chris Avery: Oh, no!!With a loud high-pitched squeak, the protective railing leans too far backward, and breaks from the stand, falling to the ground below and landing with a loud CLANK! Fans scream and move away from the edge…where Downfall still happens to be slumped against nothing at all now. Eyes popping wide open, Downfall’s arms windmill for a moment before shooting forward and grabbing Dion’s pants. As Dion’s yanked forward, his arms also windmill and he shouts "What?! NO!!" as he and Downfall go over the side, freefalling before crashing through a table set up on the ground below.
Chris Avery: AND THEY BOTH GO DOWN!!Billy: SHIT FUCKING FIRE DOWNFALL JUST DRAGGED DION TO HELL!!Chris Avery: They've gone through a table at ringside and now out in the crowd!!! Both of these men are beaten and spent!Both men are down for an impossibly long time. Falling off a ledge through a table will do that to you. The poor referee is worlds away, still in the ring, craning his head to try and even see the two men. Downfall is trying to pull himself over with one arm, and Dionysus groans and rolls onto his elbows. Both men try to pull themselves up next to the stadium seating. Downfall gets to his knees and throws a punch at Dionysus, who responds with a punch from his knees. The two men haven't even had the strength to stand up yet but they're still throwing punches at each other. They're slipping, and Dionysus has lost so much blood that he's literally falling down.
Chris Avery: THESE TWO MEN WERE ADVERSARIES! THEY FOUGHT EACH OTHER TOOTH AND NAIL IN HARDCORE MATCHES! THEN THEY BECAME THE BEST TAG TEAM WE'VE EVER SEEN, FOR 288 DAYS!Billy: BUT NOW THEY'RE TEARING INTO EACH OTHER LIKE WILD DOGS!! THERE AIN'T NOTHING PRETTY ABOUT THIS! THERE'S NO HONOR, THERE'S NO ATTEMPT TO SAVE EACH OTHER!Indeed, as Billy's prophetic calls show, there is no quarter asked or given in this, and the shocking levels of violence don't speak to how much either man loves them... the violence herein isn't an act of necessity, this is death match violence turned on each other because both men are too damn stubborn to stay down at this point.
Chris Avery: THE RIGHT HANDS! ALL THE RIGHT HANDS! THEY'RE JUST THROWING BOMBS AT EACH OTHER!Downfall starts firing up, and he starts rising to his feet. As the exchange of right hands goes back and forth, Dion's become weaker and less frequent, but the champ's hits start rising in tempo.
Billy: Downfall is throwing everything he can against the big man, trying to use his brawling skills to bring the fight!!Downfall gets to his feet, laying punches in on Dion's skull, but Dion responds with a heavy headbutt. Downfall is staggered, and stumbles away, back into the fans. They begin parting, and Downfall finally begins making his way back to the ring and the front row. Dion, gathering his composure, snarls and chases after Downfall. Dion clubs Downfall harshly over the back. Downfall grits his teeth in agony and hisses. He stumbles forward. The two of them are nearing the security guardrail. Dion grips the hair of Downfall to hold his head steady, measuring him with a fist and giving him a deliberate stone fisted shot to the face. Downfall drunkenly falls back, stumbling on spaghetti legs through the crowd, and then finally winding up by the security guardrail. Downfall is knocked so loopy he's half laying over the guardrail with his legs sprawled in front of him, shaking and blinking his eyes. Dion stares him down and begins getting an intense look in his eye. He paces back a few steps and then charges the distance between them, parting the crowd and he plows into both Downfall and the guardrail with such force that the guardrail is knocked out of line and Downfall goes flying over, spilling into the crowd! However, Dion also absorbed a brutal hit into the guardrail itself, and he lies there, gripping his shoulder and kicking his legs, groaning in pain. The crowd starts another "HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT" chant.
Chris Avery: Matches like this, under the watch of Downfall, have become a spectacle on their own. The champion is unparallelled in creativity and brutality.Billy: I'm with you, Avery... All of these battles Downfall has had, all the wars with Johnny Bacchus and Corey Black, and the brutal murders of Holden Ross, RBD, Stephen Singh, and he keeps raising the bar. But how much is the cost?Chris Avery: Is Dionysus the answer? Is Dion truly the one that's going to put a stop to him tonight??Dion blinks his eyes and wearily starts rolling over the guardrail. He winces and grips at his side, but he reaches down and picks Downfall up. Downfall is just laid out groaning in the aisle. Dion wearily throws Downfall into the ring apron and then he reaches down, ripping up the padding to expose the concrete underneath. The crowd is buzzing in anticipation as Dion pulls a weakened Downfall up. He sets him on his shoulders and then rises up, attempting to put him in position for an Alabama Slamma, very clearly he intends to drive Downfall back first full force into the concrete. However at the last second before Dion shoulders Downfall down, Downfall elbows Dion very sharply in the ear and he slides down in front off the shoulder, gripping the massive head of Dion and completing the falling momentum, albeit not in a way Dion would have liked, by bringing Dion down into the concrete with a head-splitting hammerlock DDT! The crowd reacts in amazement. Downfall pulls himself to his feet after another few moments recuperating from the near ending move on the concrete block. Downfall breathes heavily, but then a devious smirk pans across his lips. Dion is very weak and not able to do more than roll to his knees, the effect of the massive loss of blood. But, as Dionysus crawls, he fishes for something tucked away and keeps it in his hand. Downfall is resting against the apron, body limp and yet the smile of a Cheshire cat on his face as he looks up to the heavens, and Dionysus, slipping and collapsing and stuttering due to the loss of blood, is crawling around, his hands scrabbling on the floor. Downfall slowly, slowly looks down at Dion like the predator he is, a sneer crossing his face... only to see Dionysus clamp on to the brazen torch from his entrance opening moments, that he swung before! Downfall comes in, grabbing Dionysus by the back of his hair, now wet with blood and barking in his face, "NO! NO... MORE... CARTOON... GLADIATOR SHIT!!" But Dionysus responds by flicking the item in his left hand as he holds the brazen torch in his right... and Downfall's eyes open up, as he sees Dionysus is touching a LIGHTER onto the wick in the center of the bronze torch, setting it ablaze! Downfall steps back, and Dion swings the torch in a flaming arc that Downfall just barely jumps out of the way!
Chris Avery: DION INTRODUCES FIRE INTO THIS ALREADY CHAOTIC MATCH!!Downfall is vainly trying to keep his distance and edge away from the blazing torch, but they're in the narrow part of the aisle and several hardcore implements are scattered in his way! Dion swings the torch, and Downfall just barely ducks, and Downfall holds his arms out to Dion, begging off!
Chris Avery: This is going completely off the rails, Dionysus is pushing things into a new zone to try and take the fight to Downfall!Billy: I think this was Downfall's point, actually, that Dion's words this week exposed a hidden darkness himself, that he wasn't speaking like someone trying to save him!Chris Avery: I think the subtext underneath all of this is that both of these men are going to ridiculous, outrageous extremes to try and prove themselves right, and that pushes the violence from just regular wrestling violence into something ugly!Billy: We got it, we got it, we understand the L A Y E R S!!Downfall ducks under a swing from the torch and lifts Dion up on his shoulders, and for a second it's as if all it will take is one more second and he'll drop him with the Godkiller... but Dionysus hasn't let go of the torch, and Downfall screams in pain as the torch is touched to his pants leg! Downfall holds it for as long as he can... but he throws Dion off to the aisle, and he drops and begins to roll around, holding his burned thigh and trying to roll out the flames! Fire extinguishers have quickly been deployed by ring crew, shooting down the torch to keep the fire from going anywhere! Referees at ringside are right there with bottles of water and, hissing through clenched teeth, Downfall snatches one, pouring it on his long-fit shorts, the leg of which now has a charred and blackened hole, exposing reddened skin! Oooh that's gonna blister... Downfall is showing extreme pain, despite his high thresholds, and gritting his teeth and moaning, dumping water on his leg...
Chris Avery: I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT WE'VE JUST SEEN!Billy: Downfall went into this thinking Dion was just clowning with him all along... but the Crimson Gladiator has turned in one of his strongest, and grittiest performances in taking on the Hardcore champ!Dionysus has lost so much blood now that he's moving lethargically and yet convulsing as he tries to pull himself up, his face is such a deep crimson mask that his eyebrows are obscured, and his eyes are glazed over... But Downfall is still, amazingly, trying to push himself up on his knees, hissing through clenched teeth and the burn on his leg isn't letting him! Several seconds pass by as these two men crawl to opposite ends of the ring, leaking blood ALL over the floor, ringside looks like a damn crime scene at a slaughterhouse.
Chris Avery: The toughness of both of these men was never in doubt... but the tragedy in all of this, in the fall of the Vanguard, is how both men felt as if this week didn't have to happen... But the other's actions left them no choice.Billy: But they've gone too far to just hug and say they're sorry!!Dion is barely able to get up even using the apron, and he has a faraway look in his eyes that has many praying he doesn't go to sleep but he still slowly rolls in to the ring, and Downfall, on the other side, follows suit... Downfall rolls onto the side closest to his crowbar... both men are slow to get up, and Dionysus slips on the blood covering his boots and has to steady himself using the ropes... but as Downfall comes in towards him, he slips, holding his burned leg and groaning... and Dionysus, moving with the urgency of someone who needs to win this, to win this one title, to overcome all of his demons, rushes forward while Downfall is on his knee and takes him DOWN with a Shining Wizard! Dion has lost so much blood, you'd expect there'd be no way he could get up himself, but he stands, that dazed look on his face, but he moves on autopilot, hits the ropes and is able to perform a moonsault followup, bouncing back off the cover and holding his ribs, blinking at the blood running in his eyes!
Chris Avery: PRAETORIAN!! PRAETORIAN!! THIS COULD BE IT!Billy: NO! DION IS STILL SITTING UP! DION IS ON LOOPY STREET AND CAN'T FOCUS! FOCUS UP DION! GO FOR THE PIN, THIS WILL MAKE THIS WORTH IT!!Dion finally shakes the fuzz out of his head, sinking down for the cover...
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three -
KICKOUT!!
Chris Avery: What more can he do? What more can either man do??Billy: This is about so much more than the Hardcore title! This is all of the bitter feelings that spilled out between them, and now neither man will allow himself to stay down!Chris Avery: Dion is faltering, and stumbling everywhere! Dion can barely focus his eyes! Dion is going to need a full six pints of blood transfusion to recover from this!Dion slinks into the corner. That dark, embittered look has crossed his face again, and he shakes his head, muttering to himself. His voice starts getting louder as he begins berating Downfall, telling him that he swore if he had to, he would KNOCK some sense into Danny, as he waits in the corner. Downfall continues to try and recover, his eyes have a thousand yard stare as he tries to roll over, and lets out a fresh yell of anguish as he puts weight on the burned leg.
Chris Avery: Dion is just staring a hole in Downfall, letting him know that he's in this match to push Downfall to his ultimate extent... to make him see where he's gone wrong.Dion is set in the corner, coiled in a deadly position. He barks across the ring, motioning for Downfall to get up, and he begins another deadly charge in Downfall's direction. The last one knocked them through a guardrail. This is intended as a guided missile, a deadly spear right through the midsection. However just before the spear connects, Downfall leapfrogs over Dion, who's momentum keeps him going across the ring! Dion straight-up Gores the turnbuckles so hard that the top turnbuckle breaks!! The top ropes fall like spaghetti strands around the ring on an entire side, and Dion is knocked back, stumbling and holding his shoulder and chest in agony at the mighty impact!
Chris Avery: DID YOU JUST SEE THAT?!The referee holds his hands to his head in "What the fuck just happened" fashion and the crowd is going insane, chanting "HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT" and "THIS IS AWESOME". Downfall has recovered his feet, and he stands on the side of the ring where the top turnbuckle hasn't broken and he glares across the ring at Dion, who is stumbling and holding his shoulder. Dion slips over the slack length of top rope on his side of the ring, too hurt to do anything else. Downfall backs into the still taut ropes on his side and charges at the beaten Dion as he pulls himself up and he plows into Dion with a SUPERKICK. Dion's head snaps to the side, spit flies from his mouth, and his head bobs at all different angles, as he crumples. The crowd lets out a humongous gasp as Dion falls with finality... and Downfall immediately lets out the most pained gasp, as he grips his burned leg, the one he used to deliver the superkick with!
Chris Avery: THE BEAST KICK! DOWNFALL THREW EVERY! THING! HE HAD INTO THAT BEAST KICK!!!Billy: He's rolling around on that leg in blinding pain! He kicked Dion's head off with the leg Dion's torch burned!!Downfall is rolling around in agony from the kick with his bad leg, tearing the burned spot on his pants leg open wider to aerate the blistered flesh and groaning... but he knows, he has to get up. He HAS to crawl that distance, to make this pin, he's given EVERYTHING to being Hardcore champion. Seven months of his life to get that chance, he is NOT giving it up. Gritting his teeth through the pain, Downfall scoots backwards and kicks the slack rope from the broken turnbuckle out of his way, until he can drape his back and arm across Dion's chest...
The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three --
KICKOUT!
Downfall rolls off the pin, looking stunned, and staring up! He's bleeding from multiple sources, his leg is in desperate need of attention, and he still... cannot believe Dion will not stop fighting him. His eyebrows knit together, and he looks across the distance, yelling "STAY DOWN, DION! STAY! DOWN!!" These words actually seem to rouse Dion somewhat though, as Dion begins rolling over himself... Downfall, annoyed, takes the opportunity to get up to a kneeling position and moving with the lethargy of someone giving everything he has, lays in punches to the side of Dion's head while Dion is trying to roll over!
Billy: For the lovva god, Dion, just stay down! You've proven your point! All you wanted to do in this match was prove your damn point!!Dion begins eating the shots, and rolling over, giving Downfall a punch right to the face as he sits up... and then... the damnedest thing, the two men... SIT UP, facing each other! And they begin delivering stinging punches and slaps from a seated position! The crowd is eating this up, as both men are slowly getting to their feet! Despite the pain, burns, blood loss, extreme fatigue, all of it!! The crowd is starting a "FIGHT FOREVER" chant, and no, we ain't talking that damn tag team with Dandy and Kidsgrove.
Both men rise, and give each other such a stiff shot that it makes the other man back off! And then, they stare each other down, and Dion sees the kite shield he brought to the ring... and Downfall sees his crowbar!
At this moment, both men look at their weapons, and, knowing that this finish can only come if they bring they weapons that started the whole conflicts into play, they reach down, and slowly bring them to bear, lifting them up!
Billy: OH SHIT!! THEY'RE SQUARING UP FOR ONE LAST STAND! EVERYTHING HAS LED UP TO THIS!!Chris Avery: Both men stand across the ring from each other, staring each other down like two gunslingers, or two samurai on a bridge!Dion clenches the shield in both hands, above his head and he's using it not so much as a shield, but as a weapon, with the pointed end down as he rushes forward. Downfall, ignoring the pain in his leg, clenches the crowbar in both hands... and they rush together at the same time, intending to both go for a deadly, battering swing with their hardcore implements! Perhaps unlike two samurai on a bridge, though, there is no hope that they will sheathe their (metaphorical swords) and walk away without taking a swing, they've progressed too far for that! They do indeed come together, and then, there is a sound like metal, meeting skull with the savage force of a baseball bat... and then... Dionysus stumbles back, coughing and holding his ribs! Downfall, showing no more mercy, no more holding back, has both hands on the crowbar, and he brings it in, AGAIN, cutting past the shield on the other side to do a damaging, wince inducing shot as if he swung for the fences. Downfall's lip trembles sadistically, as Dionysus falls, without ever getting his intended swing with the shield off. Downfall, however, isn't finished. He looks at the crowbar in his hand for a second, and then he looks at Dion, and you can sense where this is the final moment, where Downfall decides how this is going to go. Gloves off. Mask off. No more Vanguard. Not for him. Downfall, mercilessly, swings the crowbar, nailing Dion in the back of the shoulder blades to force him onto his stomach, with a loud groan... and then, Downfall straddles over him. Downfall kicks the shield away, sending it spinning out of the ring... and then Downfall takes the arm of Dion, now free of the shield, and tucks it between his legs as he gets down in position... feeding the crowbar around the front of Dion as he does.
Chris Avery: STOP THE DAMN MATCH! STOP IT ALREADY!!Billy: Dion ate three straight shots with that crowbar, and the blood is pouring down onto the mat. And just like we did when Downfall faced Corey Black, or Holden Ross... Downfall is going to squeeze it out.Downfall isn't showing any more emotion, in fact, his face is stone fuckin cold as he feeds the crowbar under Dion's chin and hauls back on both ends, cutting off Dion's windpipe. Downfall pulls back on both ends of the crowbar with so much force, that Dion is gasping for air.
Chris Avery: THE BAD WOLF! THE DAMN BAD WOLF WITH THE CROWBAR! DOWNFALL IS CUTTING OFF ALL OF DION'S WIND!Billy: And, cutting off blood flow to the brain... so the only blood up there is the blood spurting out of Dion's forehead like a juicer... this is... this is sick.Chris Avery: DIONYSUS HAS ALREADY LOST TOO MUCH BLOOD FOR THIS TO CONTINUE!!Several long, brutal, grueling seconds have ticked by in the hold... and Downfall refuses to let go. And, honestly, according to the rules of engagement, the referee really can't make him, as messed up as that is. Downfall's expression doesn't change, because to him, this is the culmination, the no turning back point... but it wasn't him who asked for this. It was Dion. Dion, who is slowly fading, as if dying in front of them.
Chris Avery: Is this what it's come down to? That we watch him choke the life out of Dionysus, Dion's blood loss rendering him unconscious, to prove a damn point?? STOP THE MATCH!Dion's weakened hand flails, and he gurgles, but the thick red claret pouring out with every heartbeat, shooting in sickening arcs onto the canvas, onto Downfall's hands, onto the crowbar, shows bit by bit as his energy leaks away... the referee, waving it off as if this is enough, lifts Dion's arm, then waves it off, signifying he's clearly out due to blood loss, a KO if ever there was one.
Ding Ding Ding
"The Becoming" by NIN hits on the PA, and Downfall, his own energy and the spike of adrenaline and nasty, bitter rage subsiding, and he lets go of the crowbar around Dion's throat, letting him drop face first onto the mat, as Downfall falls onto his back, breathing heavily... the bell is rung, again, and again, and for a moment as Dion lays there, not moving, the crowd has to wonder if they're hearing a dirge... The bell rings, and the referee motions quickly quickly for EMTs to come out... but now, Downfall, sitting up, starts to laugh.
Adilene Floyd: Here is your winner... and STILL! AW HARDCORE CHAMPION... DOWNFALL!!The crowd boos, a sick wave of nuclear heat, amplified by their clear worry for Dion... he lost SO much blood in that crowbar-assisted Bad Wolf that the mat around them, where it isn't in wet puddles, is stained... and the EMTs are quick to get him to roll over.
Chris Avery: It is god damn obscene for it to end this way, for it to end in this ultraviolent, disturbing spectacle... HELL, CALL IT WHAT IT IS... a murder attempt!! Dionysus gave everything he had! Dionysus fought tonight with all the strength he had, and put so much effort into upholding the honor and integrity of the Vanguard!Billy: He fought hard, alright, but they didn't fight honorably... they fought dirty, mean, and nasty... and in this division, there aren't many that fit those as much as that man there!!Downfall can barely stand, so he doesn't... covered in blood and favoring his burned leg, he scoots back into the corner and slumps there, resting his head against the turnbuckle and his arms on the bottom ropes, spent like a loose rubber band... but when he is handed the Hardcore title belt in the corner, he brings it in to clutch it tight to his chest and lets out an exhausted laugh. He has the crowbar in his hand and he places a kiss on it.
Chris Avery: That damn crowbar... the crowbar he used to squeeze the life out of his former friend... DO YOU HAVE NO HEART? DO YOU HAVE NO SOUL, YOU GOD DAMN SON OF A BITCH?Dionysus is rolled to the apron, and is being sat up, gingerly. EMTS are immediately going to work on his wounds and tending to the heavy blood loss, and Downfall stares after Dion, a look on his face that betrays no emotion. To Downfall, it's over. Dionysus reaped his consequences.
Chris Avery: It's heartbreaking to see it end this way, to see what the Vanguard we know meant go down in such a bitter, bloody climax.Dionysus is helped up the ramp, as a tattered, bloodied, burned and yet, smugly triumphant Downfall sits in the corner, clutching the Hardcore title belt to his chest.