Turmoil Second Round
Downfall vs. Jonny Cedrone
Ethan Miller: The following is scheduled for ONE FALL, and it is a second-round match in the 2023 Wrestler of the Year Tournament!!
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. And then, cutting through the stilled silence, quickfire staccato burst of kickdrums and shredding guitar in the intro to Slipknot's opus "Before I Forget", and the Tron's image changes to a close-up of a wolf's eye, gold against a black screen, and the animatic changes to bared, slavering lupine teeth, opening, and then biting down; A spray of red blood splatters over the screen as Corey Taylor shouts "GO!!"
Ethan Miller: Introducing first... from Chicago, Illinois... he weighs in at 217 lbs... "The Purveyor of Anarchy... DOWNFALL!!
"Stapled shut! Inside an outside world and I'm
Sealed in tight! Bizarre but right at home
Claustrophobic! Closing in and I'm
Catastrophic! Not again,
I'm smeared across the page and doused in gasoline,
I wear you like a stain, yet I'm the one who's obscene.
Catch me up on all your sordid little insurrections,
I've got no time to lose, I'm just caught up in all the cattle.
Fray the strings, throw the shapes,
Hold your breath, listen;"A spotlight cuts through the darkness to a point on the stage where Downfall's kneels one knee on the stage amid a cloud of pyrotechnic smoke and fog, head bowed, tracing the fingers of his right hand across the ramp, then he slowly raises his head to look at the ring. He's wearing his slashed denim vest with a black hood underneath, pulled up over his head, and, to chilling effect, as he looks up into the bright spotlight over him, smoke rolling onto the stage, it can be seen that his face underneath the hood is hidden behind a white skeletal mask with empty eye sockets, and a long snout culminating in pointed teeth: a wolf's skull.
"I! Am the world before I am a man,
I! Was a creature before I could stand,
I! Will remember before I forget...
BEFORE I FORGET THAT!!
I! Am the world before I am a man,
I! Was a creature before I could stand,
I! Will remember before I forget...
BEFORE I FORGET THAT!!"In his left hand, he is carrying a long, curved, black iron crowbar. The arena lights brighten, and then, he begins his walk down to the ring, holding the crowbar perched over his shoulder and behind his neck. He cracks his neck to the side in an aggressive manner as he gets to the end of the ramp. 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, and slowly pulls the wolf skull mask up to rest on the top of his head, before pacing to the turnbuckles and ascending, quickly, to the second rope, crossing his wrists in an X. He hops down, taking the skull mask off, shrugging out of the slashed denim vest, and laying the crowbar down in the corner, circling the ring like a shark, tensely pulling on the top rope to stretch.
Chris Avery: For two years running, Downfall has entered the Wrestler of the Year tournament and ran through the competition until he's gotten to the finals... and so far, in AW history, no man has ever done it THREE YEARS IN A ROW!
Billy: It was so impressive, they didn't even want to give him an opening round match last week, they were just all, yeah, go ahead, buddy.
Chris Avery: ...That isn't why he, Corey Black, Gerard Angelo or Tatiana Jolee got first round byes at all.
Billy: Oh yeah? You going to tell that egotistical prick that??
Ethan Miller: And his opponent... from Las Vegas, Nevada weighing in at 240 lbs... being accompanied by Gloria... "The King of Sexy"... JONNY CEDRONE!!
The opening guitar riffs of “Fight Fire with Fire” by Metallica plays over the PA system. A ghostly image is shown on a black background of a woman dressed in a colonial style dress riding on a white horse. At first the horse is riding slow, but once those opening guitar riffs finish, the music fades into “The Thing That Should Not Be” also by Metallica.
With the opening riffs of “The Thing That Should Not Be” the horse comes to a complete stop. The woman looks confused. The music begins to really ramp up and the woman and horse are both drenched in blood which angers both. The horse goes on a full-on sprint with the woman sporting a fearful and enraged grimace as she keeps looking behind her every so often to figure out what happened.
Back in the arena, there is only the spotlight pointing at the entranceway. When Papa Het begins singing fog starts rolling through the entranceway and engulfs the entire stage and rampway to the ring. When James Hetfield starts bellowing the chorus for the first time, Gloria comes walking through the curtains, much to the delight of the fans. But she doesn’t look to be in the same joyful mood that she’s usually in when she makes her appearance. After she walks through the curtains and surveys the audience, she steps to the side and waits for Jonny to make his arrival. After a few moments of tension building, a shadowy figure steps through the curtains wearing dark cargo pants and a black hoody with the hood completely covering his face. He stops at the top of the rampway and looks towards the ring. After a few moments, he slowly but intensely makes his way to the ring, never playing to the crowd once. He stops at the end of the rampway and allows Gloria to make her away in front of him. She climbs the stairs and walks the apron to where she’s standing in front of Jonny. She looks out over the crowd then down towards Jonny and with a motion of her hand, she commands him to make his way up the stairs. Following orders, Jonny slowly makes his way up the stairs and walks towards Gloria who’s now sitting on the middle rope to allow him to get into the ring. He makes his way into the ring and just stands in his corner, stoically, then Gloria makes her way into the ring and stands by her man, putting her arm on his shoulder. The music fades away and the fans still try to figure out what to think of this presentation. Jonny never takes off his hoody or anything. He just stands there waiting for the bell to ring to unleash his Hell.
Chris Avery: We saw Cedrone in action last week and he got a HUGE win over Jimmy Jackson, and he's looking to move forward in Wrestler of The Year.
Billy: And he's doing it against a man who he hated enough to screw out of going All-In, so you KNOW there's bad feelings.
Chris Avery: Well you know what they say, Billy, bandaids don't fix bullet holes!!
Billy: We hit our quotient for singalong bits this year, sorry.
The bell sounds and the two men circle each other before locking up. Downfall calls for a collar/elbow tieup, but Cedrone snakes a knee into his midsection. Cedrone begins clubbing Downfall over the back. Cedrone whips Downfall to the ropes, only to have it reversed. Downfall whips Cedrone off the rope, and when he swings for a clothesline Cedrone ducks in turn. Downfall turns around and begins getting peppered. Cedrone backs Downfall up into the corner and begins peppering him. Downfall reverses, throwing Cedrone into the corner and unloading on him with rights. The official, gets in between them, forcing Downfall to break out of the corner. Downfall backs off, holding his hands up innocently. As he comes back towards Cedrone, Cedrone gives him a thumb to the eye. Downfall stumbles back, blinded. Cedrone grips Downfall by the hair and bounces his head off the top turnbuckle a few times. Downfall slumps in the corner, and Cedrone backs up, looking for a corner splash. Downfall moves out of the way, and Cedrone hits the turnbuckle.
Chris Avery: I think Cedrone was a bit too eager there.
Billy: Well, I mean, you know, Downfall can only call you a suck-up little bitch that follows around Gerard Angelo so many times before you snap and lose it on him.
Chris Avery: Ladies and gentlemen, these are not the views or opinions of CBS, Paramount or Action Wrestling personnel or staff, and -
Billy: DON'T YOU DISCLAIMER ME!!
As soon as Cedrone turns around, Downfall pounds him with a right hand, making Cedrone turn away, and Downfall clenches on with a side headlock. Cedrone flails his arms for a second, before he reaches around and elbows Downfall off. He begins to fight back with right hands, and he boots Downfall in the gut, making him drop the bat. He grips Downfall by the hair and walks him over, going to slam his face off the top turnbuckle, but Downfall blocks. Cedrone attempts to bounce Downfall's head off the turnbuckle again, but Downfall blocks, elbows Cedrone off, and then he bounces Cedrone's head off the turnbuckle. Cedrone stumbles away, and Downfall grips his head, pulls him back over, and bounces his head off the turnbuckle three more times. Then, he pulls Cedrone out to the middle of the ring and lifts him up, holding him in the air before bringing him down with a vertical suplex. Downfall floats over into a cover.
ONE!
KICKOUT!!Downfall gets to his feet angrily, and lays the boots to Cedrone. He mounts him with a few right hands. Downfall quickly gets to his feet, backs up to the ropes and runs off, hitting a jumping knee drop across the forehead of Cedrone. Then, Downfall drops into a cover.
ONE!
KICKOUT!!Chris Avery: Looks like Downfall is looking for quick falls, perhaps looking to take Cedrone out of his comfort zone.Downfall lifts Cedrone up and gives him a few right hands, backing Cedrone to the ropes. He whips Cedrone off the ropes and on the return he takes him down with a back body drop. Cedrone gets to his feet, and Downfall takes him down with a clothesline. Cedrone gets back to his feet, but Downfall walks him over to the corner and bounces his head off the turnbuckle. Downfall then fires away at Cedrone with back elbows, then right hands, taking Cedrone down to a sitting position. Downfall starts stomping Cedrone, but the ref tries to grip his arm and pull him away but Downfall flings his shoulder away and turns back to Cedrone, as he lays more stomps to the midsection. Then he turns away, as he holds a fist up to the crowd, drawing a pop, and Downfall backs up halfway across the ring, and then comes in for a running corner knee strike which connects. Downfall clubs Cedrone over the back, gripping him by his hair and slinging him out of the corner to the mat. He goes to lift Cedrone up only to be caught by a harsh slap that sends spit flying out of his mouth, and sends Downfall turning away, and the crowd gives an "OOOOOOH"
Chris Avery: What a shot from Cedrone!Billy: Now that's just disrespectful. I kind of loved it.Downfall wipes his face and, he slowly looks back over his shoulder with blazing eyes. He rushes in hotheadedly and begins to trade punches with Cedrone. Downfall takes the advantage and tosses Cedrone into the ropes, dropping him with a drop toe hold followed by the side headlock. Cedrone shoves him forward into the ropes and sends him over with a belly to back suplex. Downfall rolls around on the mat. Cedrone goes for an elbow drop but Downfall moves. Downfall and get back up and Downfall takes him over with a swinging neckbreaker. He lifts Cedrone back up and tosses him into the ropes. Cedrone grabs the top rope, stopping his momentum. Downfall charges towards the ropes, but as he gets close Cedrone lifts him over the third rope. Downfall grabs the ropes lands safely on the apron. Cedrone bounces into the ropes but Downfall springboards off the top rope and nails a drop kick. He goes for the pin.
ONE!
KICKOUT!!Cedrone kicks out. Downfall lifts him up and tosses him into the corner. He gives Cedrone a quick corner splash and attempts a second one but Cedrone ducks out of the way. Cedrone quick drop kicks the knee out from under him, causing Downfall to take a knee. He sends him over with a snap suplex and goes for the pin. Downfall kicks out before it gets started, and Cedrone forces him up and back down with a belly to belly suplex. Cedrone rolls Downfall over tries to lock in the One-Armed Bandit. Downfall battles to the bottom rope quickly before it can get too far in.
Chris Avery: Cedrone has done so much damage, he was looking for the quick tapout!Cedrone breaks the hold and delivers a few stiff kicks to the shoulder. The referee breaks up the tactics and allows Downfall to get to his feet. Cedrone quickly clubs him over the back of the head, following it up by placing Downfall's throat on the middle rope and choking him. Downfall flails his arms, as his wind is cut off. The ref begins warning Cedrone, who has his knee buried in Downfall's back and is pushing with all his might as he pulls on the top rope for leverage. The ref begins a five-count to disqualification, and Cedrone breaks at three. Then Cedrone goes back to choking Downfall on the ropes.
Chris Avery: You really do get the sense that Cedrone is frustrated and filled with rage at being denied so many opportunities, specifically in relation to Downfall and the battles they had over the Hardcore championship, and he's taking out every bit of that anger on Downfall now.Billy: You know, I've never bought in to the fact that Cedrone was playing by a virtuous set of rules, after all, black hats and white hats are overplayed, audiences want gritty shades of grey.Chris Avery: Let's not get too meta here, Cedrone is clearly in the wrong.Billy: But he's doing what feels right!Cedrone breaks again, and then he grabs Downfall' arm and wraps it up in the ropes, torquing it backwards with force. The ref once again warns Cedrone about disqualification. Cedrone eventually breaks, letting Downfall up to his feet. They lock up and Cedrone takes the same arm in with an arm wringer followed by a hammerlock. Downfall attempts to roll forward but Cedrone wrenches the hold in tight and suplexs him back. He goes for the pin.
ONE!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!!Chris Avery: This is also deceptively smart strategy from Cedrone, targeting Downfall's arm takes away some of his deadly striking ability.Downfall lifts his shoulder up off the ground. Cedrone lifts him up but Downfall surprises him with a jawbreaker. Downfall flows around and sends Cedrone over with a German suplex. He grabs on tight and sends him over with another. On the third Cedrone goes for a few back elbows but Downfall ducks and hits the third executing the triple German suplex combo. Downfall lifts Cedrone back up and slams him down with a tiger bomb. Downfall gets to his feet, pulling Cedrone up and he grips Cedrone in a facelock, taking him down with quick double arm DDT.
Chris Avery: What a shot, that looked like a quick and dirty 11th Hour!!Billy: He's going for the cover!!ONE!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!!Downfall slaps the mat, growing more frustrated and disheveled at the tough fight he's had to keep Cedrone down. He glares at Cedrone, then at the referee for a second, then stares back at Cedrone calculatingly. Downfall lifts Cedrone up near the ropes but Cedrone grabs him by the back of his pants, and faceplants him into the turnbuckle. The crowd moans as Downfall hits the pad face first. Cedrone shoves Downfall into the turnbuckle so his shoulder rests against the turnbuckle post. Cedrone runs across the ring and front drop kicks Downfall in such a way to cause his shoulder to collide with the post. Cedrone jerks him out of the corner and applies a chicken wing arm lock to the arm he's targeted. Cedrone jerks back on the arm, as Downfall screams and writhes in pain. Downfall starts crawling to the ropes, but Cedrone makes every effort to keep him in the center of the ring. Finally, Downfall is able to reach out and he grabs the bottom rope. Cedrone jerks him up but Downfall reacts quicker, dropping Cedrone across the top rope throat first. Cedrone goes falling back. Downfall lifts Cedrone up and plants him with a snap dragon suplex right onto his god damn neck leaving Gloria Cedrone quailing in horror and Jonny Cedrone on his stomach blinking and thinking thoughts of Owen Hart and piledrivers, and the bristling, snarling Downfall flowing over for the pin.
Chris Avery: God damn, Downfall unleashing some serious venom with that Eden's Demise!!Billy: I mean, think of what advancing in this tournament means to him, it's been his baby for the last three years!!ONE!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!!
Downfall looks up, a dark and terrifying look coming over him.
Chris Avery: Downfall is showing signs of frustration, he doesn't want to get too deep into his own head and lose focus.
Billy: He's put a lot of external pressure riding on making it to the finals this year! And just think about it, bye or not, he doesn't have an easy path to get there! Cedrone has been giving him all he wants!Downfall eggs Cedrone to get up, which Cedrone does, pulling himself up on the ropes. With a yell of aggression, Downfall runs forward, clotheslines Cedrone over the top rope allowing his momentum to carry them both right over. Downfall lands sitting on the apron, and Cedrone hits the canvas on the outside and rolls to a stop. Downfall then pulls himself up, and takes a two step run up, and he flies off the apron, dropping an elbow right into the sternum of the prone Cedrone. The crowd pops. Downfall shakes the cobwebs out of his head for a moment. Downfall then lifts Cedrone up, and he irish whips him with force into the steel steps. Cedrone hits shoulder first, with enough force to knock the steps loose a little bit. Cedrone yells out in pain. Downfall lifts him up, walking him by the back of his head over to slam his head off the apron. Downfall does this a series of seven more times, and the crowd begins counting along, EIGHT, NINE, TEN.
Billy: STOP, STOP! YOU'RE GIVING HIM CTE, LOCKJAW AND A BRAIN TUMOR!!Chris Avery: Downfall is unleashing several different shades of pissed off on the head of Cedrone tonight, and Cedrone is absorbing a lot of punishment!The ref tells Downfall to take it back in the ring. Downfall rolls Cedrone back into the ring, but he pulls him out so that Cedrone's head is sticking out of the apron, face up, and he climbs up onto the apron and gives Cedrone a leg drop across the throat. Cedrone rolls back into the ring, holding his throat. Downfall lifts Cedrone up to his feet and whips him into the corner. Downfall starts to charge for a splash, but Cedrone flares an elbow out, knocking Downfall right in the mouth. Downfall backs off, and Cedrone pulls himself up to the top rope, waiting for Downfall to turn around. Cedrone flies off the top rope, looking for a crossbody, but, somehow, the slightly smaller Downfall is able to catch him with both hands, in a show of strength, and he holds him as if for a front powerslam for a second, stumbling a bit, before flinging him overhead for a fallaway slam. Cedrone rolls to the opposite side of the ring. Downfall walks over to the turnbuckle and climbs up himself, then he sets himself on the top rope, motioning that it's over, and flying off with a diving headbutt.
Chris Avery: For a man of his admitted wear and tear, he can still go pretty impressively.Downfall begins making motions to the crowd, to get them fired up. Cedrone is laid out on the mat, and Downfall begins ascending the turnbuckle. He sets himself, and then flies off, looking for a moonsault, however at the last second Cedrone rolls out of the way and Downfall hits chest first on the mat. Downfall begins rolling around holding his chest, and Cedrone takes the opportunity to slide in and quickly roll through with an Oklahoma rollup pin.
Chris Avery: Cedrone may steal one! He may advance to the next round!!ONE!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!!Cedrone scoops Downfall up off the mat and he drives him down with a rib breaker. Downfall rolls out of the ring clutching his midsection. This time, it is Cedrone that climbs out after Downfall, chasing him like a cat on a mouse, and he quickly lays the boots to Downfall’s ribs. Cedrone lifts Downfall up and he rams him back first into the guardrail. The referee is counting both men out. Cedrone lifts Downfall up and he doubles him over with a hard kick to the gut. Cedrone grabs a hold of and he throws him onto the concrete floor with a double underhook suplex. Cedrone lifts Downfall up and he rolls him into the ring. Cedrone doesn't go for the cover, instead wraps his legs around Downfall’ midsection and he applies a leg scissors. Downfall yells in pain as Cedrone applies the pressure to his softened midsection. The referee asks if Downfall gives up, but he vehemently shakes his head no.
Chris Avery: I’ve got to hand it to him, Cedrone was able to effectively rope-a-dope his way through that protracted beating by Downfall and wait until he had an opening.Billy: You're surprised! That's why they call him The King Of Sexy.Chris Avery: I... really don't see how that nickname applies in any way, shape or form on Cedrone's toughness, mental acumen or ability to absorb punishment.Billy: ...He does it sexily?Downfall tries to inch towards the ropes, but as he reaches out, Cedrone squeezes harder. Downfall tries to fight off the pain. Downfall reaches for the ropes again, sliding closer. Downfall reaches out one final time and he gets a hold of the bottom rope. The referee orders Cedrone to let go, but he refuses, so she begins a count to disqualification. Cedrone hangs on as long as he can, then lets go and he gets a harsh verbal warning from the ref. Cedrone brushes him aside and he drags Downfall to the middle of the ring. Cedrone lands an elbow drop on Downfall’s stomach and he covers.
Chris Avery: I think we're seeing Cedrone pushing the boundaries of how far he'll go in terms of aggressiveness and skirting the rules, he not only wants to beat Downfall decisively, he'll go to any lengths to do it.Billy: I mean, we've been saying for months this is a darker, more aggressive Jonny Cedrone. Didn't you see his entrance? His hoodie is BLACK!!Chris Avery: I think he is just, in his own way, as determined to beat Downfall and get to the finals that he'll bend the rules.ONE!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!!Chris Avery: Although he has taken quite a bit of punishment, Downfall is not out of it yet!Cedrone gets up and he talks even more trash to Downfall. Cedrone picks Downfall up and he whips him into the ropes. Downfall ducks a clothesline and he stops dead in his tracks behind Cedrone. Cedrone turns around and he gets clocked by a spinning backfist that makes Cedrone forceably take a seat, then crumble to the mat. Downfall falls to the mat and both men are down. The ref does his mandatory ten count. 1….. 2….. 3…… 4…… 5…… 6….. Downfall rolls over and he drapes an arm over Cedrone’s chest. The ref counts...
ONE!
TWO!!
KICKOUT!!!Chris Avery: I can’t believe Cedrone was able to kick out of that hard shot.Billy: Downfall took too damn long to cover him. See, he always folds in a big match!!Chris Avery: I don't see that happening at all.Downfall and Cedrone both get to their feet. Cedrone goes for a punch, but it is blocked. Downfall lands one of his own that stuns Cedrone. Downfall goes for an Irish whip, but Cedrone counters. Cedrone grabs the ropes as he hits them. Cedrone charges at Downfall but Downfall drops down and Cedrone tumbles over the ropes and to the floor. Downfall takes a second to recover. Outside, Cedrone gets to his feet. In the ring, Downfall uses the ropes to catapult himself onto Cedrone. Both men hit the floor but Cedrone definitely gets the worst of it. The referee starts counting them out. 1…… 2…… 3…… Downfall stands up and he gives Cedrone a very stiff kick to the ribs. Downfall lifts Cedrone to his feet and then he throws Cedrone back first into the steel steps. 4….. 5….. Downfall lifts Cedrone back to his feet and then he absolutely murders Cedrone with a Gotch-style piledriver onto the concrete, and Cedrone looks to be out cold! Downfall is resting on the outside for a moment, but he is finally able to lift Cedrone up and roll him into the ring. Cedrone looks unconscious. Downfall stumbles, and holds himself up on the apron. Finally Downfall rolls into the ring, and slowly crawls over Cedrone for a pin.
Billy: Gloria, come get your man! Wake him up! Bring the Victorian hansom cab around and roll over top of Downfall, do something!!ONE!
TWO!!
THR--KICKOUT!!!Chris Avery: Cedrone is still in this! He will not lie down and die! This is all to show who is the best between them and who can be WRESTLER OF THE YEAR!!Downfall flops back to the mat in disbelief. He begins asking the referee if it was three, but The ref assures him it was only a two-count. Downfall looks on in disappointment, and then he goes to pick Cedrone up, but Cedrone drop-toeholds him and quickly floats over into side choke. Downfall reaches out for the ropes and screams in pain. He can't quite grab the bottom rope. Cedrone tightens his hold on the move. Downfall is forced to flail with his free hand to the ropes, but his face screws up in agony. Cedrone yells for him to give up. The official asks Downfall if he gives up, but he yells "NO!" Downfall tries using his free elbow and hand to drag them both towards the ropes, but just as he gets within reach, Cedrone shakes his head and slams Downfall by the back of the head into the mat, then pulls him up with the side choke still on, increasing the pressure. Downfall yells and screams, flailing and thrashing his free arm. He begins holding his hand over the mat, and it looks as if he may tap out.
Chris Avery: ONE ARMED BANDIT IS LOCKED IN!! WILL HE TAP??Billy: HE'S HOLDING ON WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS!!Downfall begins his crawl back towards the ropes, and after a long crawl, he makes it to the bottom rope, his hand shooting out and gripping it. He hangs on for dear life. The referee tells Cedrone to break the hold and he does, and he immediately begins stomping on Downfall's lower back. The official tells Cedrone to back off, and the two get into an argument. Cedrone tells the ref to watch his tongue, threatening him, and then he turns back to Downfall. He lifts Downfall up, planting him with a dragon screw neck whip.
Chris Avery: Roll The Dice connects!Billy: Sounds like someone is about to beat The House!! Or some shit, I don't have a gambling addiction.Cedrone hooks the leg.
ONE!
TWO!!
THR--KICKOUT!!!Cedrone lifts Downfall up to his feet again, giving him some forearms and backing him to the ropes. He whips Downfall off the rope, and as Downfall returns Cedrone plants him with a textboox standing dropkick to the sternum. Downfall goes flying back. Cedrone then lifts him up, whipping him into the corner, and plowing him down with a corner clothesline, and following it up in one smooth motion with a running bulldog out of the corner. Downfall twitches and spasms, but doesn't look like he's moving. Cedrone lifts Downfall up by the hair and throws a bomb at his forhead, and Downfall sinks to his knees, holding his forehead. The stiffness of their punches has caused bruises on their exposed skin already, but Downfall's forehead is beginning to bleed. Cedrone shoves Downfall with his boot across the mouth. He lifts Downfall up and crushes him with a backbreaker. He shoves him, yelling "Come on tough guy, let me see the beast!" and he punches him in the head again. Downfall is staring at the blood on his forehead and his hands, and as Cedrone lifts him up Downfall smacks him right in the mouth with a rolling discus elbow smash that could possibly have Cedrone spitting teeth. Cedrone is on spaghetti legs, and the arc of the throw turns him around, but he's dazed and totters into the ropes, which hold him up just enough. Downfall meets him as he comes in, and Downfall, moving by muscle memory, locks in a hammerlock on the left behind Cedrone's body and throws one deadly swing with his right, decapitating Cedrone with a hammerlock lariat, the impact of which takes Cedrone inside out and brings Downfall sliding forward to his knees. Downfall is too beaten to do anything else for a moment.
Chris Avery: I - I'VE NEVER SEEN IT DONE THAT HARD!!Billy: That's what she - Nope, you are better than that, Billiam, rise above.Chris Avery: That Babylon Burning just BURNED CEDRONE DOWN!! But Downfall is too beaten to capitalize. This match has taken it's toll on both of these men, the fatigue is real, but they're both fighting so hard to advance to the Third Round of WOTY!!Billy: I feel like this is more akin to a Fight Club and they're both vying to be Tyler Durden.Downfall waves the referee's count away and slowly pulls himself up. He cracks his neck to the side as he starts trying to deadlift Cedrone up. He's going for another Gotch-style piledriver, but Cedrone backdrops his way out of it, but Downfall, on the way down, pulls Cedrone over in a sunset flip. Rather than go for the sunset flip counter pin, Downfall stands, attempting a buzzsaw kick, but just before the kick connects with Cedrone's temple he pulls his head out of the way and nails Downfall with a right hand that makes him stagger away. Cedrone jogs a few steps forward, but Downfall meets him a flapjack across the top rope. Cedrone flings back after getting hung up on the ropes, and he rolls around, holding his throat. Downfall then begins tuning up the band, going for a Beast Kick to end it all... but as the incoming superkick rushes towards Cedrone' head, he ducks that, too, and counters it into a REVERSE STO!! WHAT.
Chris Avery: CASH OUT!!
Billy: That lightning quick exchange of counters brought us from the Beast Kick to the Cash Out, and Downfall's bubble popped like a run on Game Stop.Chris Avery: Surely that reference is timely enough not to be dated now!!Cedrone paces around angrily, but rather than go for the cover, he looks at the turnbuckle with a smile. He begins climbing up to the top, and as he gets up he sets himself. Downfall is getting to his feet, and Cedrone is setting up on the top turnbuckle. Suddenly Downfall shoots forward with a right hand, knocking Cedrone down onto the turnbuckle in a seated position. Downfall jerks Cedrone from the top rope and flings him to the mat. As Cedrone moans in agony and holds his back, Downfall jerks him up and double underhooks the arms, this time lifting Cedrone HIGH before driving him straight down like a spike. He goes for the pin....
Chris Avery: This time Downfall got ALL the lift on that 11th Hour!!ONE!
TWO!!
THR--KICKOUT!!!Downfall hangs his head, wiping some blood out of his eyes. He slowly starts making his way to his feet, holding a loose hand up to the crowd, then he goes to the ropes and hops on to perform a double springboard senton, however, at the last second, Cedrone gets a knee in his back. Downfall arches his back, and Cedrone is still laid out and injured, and both of them are down, taking a good few moments to pull themselves to their feet. As they do, Downfall makes a "you and me" gesture to both of them, and the crowd erupts into a "FIGHT FOREVER" chant. The two come together, and begin slowly throwing right hands with all the power they can muster. Downfall throws a right hand, making Cedrone stumble back. Cedrone returns with a right of his own. The two exchange a few more rights, then Cedrone gets the better of Downfall, peppering him with rights. He backs Downfall into a corner, and goes to whip him into the ropes, but Downfall shortarms it into a knee to the gut, and a DDT. Downfall sinks to one knee. Cedrone is laid out. Downfall slowly gets to his feet, lifts Cedrone off the mat, and gives him a jackknife powerbomb into the turnbuckle. Cedrone's neck whiplashes, and he falls to the mat, holding his neck in pain. Downfall lifts Cedrone up, and as Cedrone tries to keep his footing he is floored by a SUPERKICK. Downfall then goes for a cover.
Chris Avery: BEAST KICK!! DOWNFALL BEAST KICKED CEDRONE'S JAW SO HARD I'M SURPRISED IT DIDN'T LAND IN THE FRONT ROW!!Billy: What a SHOT! What a MATCH!!ONE!
TWO!!
THRE--KICKOUT!
The crowd explodes with a reaction as Cedrone kicks out, and Gloria has a million emotions fly over her face in the space of a second. Downfall slumps off, exhausted. Downfall lays in the boots. He begins pacing around, getting the crowd behind him. Downfall climbs the turnbuckle, motioning that it's over, and he points down at Cedrone. Downfall stands perched up on the turnbuckle when Cedrone jumps up, delivers a right hand to the gut, and then he hooks Downfall by the head and delivers one hell of a top rope single arm DDT. Both men are laid out.
Chris Avery: Did you see that?!Billy: I believe the technical commentary terminology here is, ouchie.Cedrone is able to crawl over and drape an arm over Downfall. The ref counts the pin.
ONE!
TWO!!
THREE--KICKOUT!??!Another huge pop, as Gloria screams for the referee to come on. Cedrone looks like he's seen a ghost, and, just for a second, the prospect of how hard he's had to fight Downfall causes some fear and dread to be read on his face. Cedrone pulls himself to his feet, shaking the cobwebs out. He rests against the ropes for a second, and then he grabs Downfall and pulls him over to the corner, pushing him into a seated position, and he begins pushing Downfall's face with his boot. Cedrone backs up to the opposite end of the ring, and then he charges, getting full momentum as he runs in, delivering a boot to the seated Downfall's face. Downfall's head rolls limply. Cedrone holds his arms up to the crowd, prompting a loud chorus of boos. Cedrone gives them an up-yours gesture. Rather than go for the pin, he begins peppering Downfall in the corner with a vicious shower of right hands. The ref begins arguing with Cedrone, and Cedrone gets in his face in a threatening manner. Suddenly Downfall rolls him up with a schoolboy...
ONE!
TWO!!
THRRR--KIIICKOUT!!!Cedrone shoots to his feet, angrily, and he cuts a rising Downfall off with a clothesline. Cedrone angrily begins booting Downfall and choking him with a hand on his throat. He lifts Downfall up to his feet but is cut off by a knee to the gut, and Downfall plants him with a swinging neckbreaker. Downfall then grabs his arm and tries turning him over and pulling in his wrist for a kimura lock, but Cedrone resists. The two battle for a moment, with Downfall trying to turn Cedrone over, and as Downfall finally twists around Cedrone pulls Downfall over his shoulder with a judo toss. Downfall goes flying chest first into the corner, and he stumbles out, holding his sternum, right into a diamond cutter! Cedrone covers.
Chris Avery: Cedrone with the ACE IN THE HOLE, and Downfall looks to be out of it!ONE!
TWO!!
THRRR--KIIICKOUT!!!Billy: Back and forth, counter after counter, hard hitting blow after hard hitting blow... these two men have beaten the stuffing out of each other.Chris Avery: I'm not even sure that there will be anything left to advance to the next round for Turmoil, frankly!!Cedrone screams out, holding his fists screwed into his eyes, and he yells that that was three. The ref disputes this, and Cedrone gets to his feet and pulls Downfall up. Downfall surprises him by immediately springing to life and nailing him with a spinebuster. Downfall, unable to keep his footing, stumbles quickly backwards to the ropes, and as Cedrone arches his back, holding himself and gritting his teeth in pain, Downfall runs in and boots him right in the face, pulls Cedrone up and destroys him with a GODKILLER!! Cedrone falls off to the side, and Downfall, with everything he has, dives on for a deep cover with two legs hooked.
Chris Avery: OH! THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST HELLACIOUS GODKILLERS I'VE SEEN!
Billy: CEDRONE MAY BE EATING THROUGH A STRAW AFTER THAT!!ONE!
TWO!!
THREE!!!DING DING DING
Ethan Miller: Here is your winner... and advancing to the next round... DOWNFALL!!"Before I Forget" by Slipknots hits on the PA, and Downfall slumps off the pin, exhausted after the brutal match. Cedrone rolls to the apron, and Gloria helps him sit up, but he's knocked for a loop.
Chris Avery: Downfall is rolling into this year's tournament looking to make a HUGE statement, and I pray for Teo who gets him next week is ready for the fight he's going to bring.Billy: You know how much getting to the WOTY finals means to Downfall, he is going to be looking to commit murder against Teo Blaze to get there!!Downfall stands, defiantly on the top rope, taking in the immense reaction of the crowd and holding his arms out arrogantly, head back.