First Round
Fortune vs Nio
Mae: The following is scheduled for ONE FALL. Introducing first..."Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses begins to play on the PA system, and the crowd rises to their feet in anticipation. The flash bulbs roar around the arena as the lights ebb in and out with limegreen. It isn't until the drums of the song begin to enter that Nio decides to enter. He reaches the stage, dressed in his black trunks with "Nio" written on the back in bright limegreen. He looks left, then right, before letting a genuine smile reach his lips. He takes a couple more moments to soak in the adulation from the fans. With a sigh, he begins his trek down the ramp.
Mae: Representing and residing in Montreal, Quebec, Canada!This gets the fan to give out a louder positive call. Nio pauses and looks around at the loudest positive reaction he's ever gotten from his native countrymen.
Mae: Weighing in at 267 lbs...NIO!!!Jimmy Garcia: Let's give a hand to this young lady, chairperson of the Lissie Hope fan club, for the amazing job she's been doing all night.Tony Romo: I'm still confused, Joey, is she one of the cheerleaders?Jimmy Garcia: ...Moving on, we have somewhat of a familiar face, for those of you that follow the independent scene. It has been some time since we've seen Nio in action!Tony Romo: I like this guy, he seems like he's ambivalent about being here. I can relate.He passes by various fans and gives them high-fives along the way. Once he reaches ringside, he climbs the steps and enters in between the top and middle ropes. Nio walks to one turnbuckle...and slowly raises both of his hands, another genuine smile making its way onto his face. He lowers his hands and takes a couple more moments to let the crowd's positive response reflect onto him. After a bit, he gets down off the top rope, making sure to bow to the fans as a thank you.
Jimmy Garcia: This is gonna be a barn burner!Mae: And his opponent, weighing in at 213 lbs... FORTUNE!!Here’s to the greater good, for all
Do what you know you should, for all
We all may die…
Something’s going on, just look around
Fear is on the rise
And there’s blood all over the ground.
Let’s all just blindfold the poor
We must remind them what’s in store
We got em now
Just break em down a little bit more
Smoke clouds the entrance ramp. From seemingly nowhere, Fortune appears in front of it, a silhouette against the backdrop. He bows for the audience and then adjusts his gloves. He taps the ground twice with the cane in his right hand.
Hey, you! Feed the machine!
Bring em all back down to their knees
No time to waste
Remind the slaves
They aint gonna make it out alive today
His face hidden behind his mask of choice for the occasion, Fortune begins his descent, swinging his thin black cane as he does so. His elegant strides lead him down, making a show of spinning and posing, his cane striking the ground along with the beat of the tune.
I said Hey, you!
Poison the well
Watch it all burn, take em straight to hell
He’s got the whole world in his hands
It was nice to know ya
We’ve all been damned come on!
Once in the ring, he kneels in the center calmly, head bowed. His mouth can be seen moving (if the mask allows it) before he stands back up, smiling. He waits for the match to start, taking off his coat, shirt, tie, hat and any part of his mask that may be disallowed by the company.
Tony Romo: I have absolutely no idea what this guy's deal is, is he like... a Phantom of the Opera?Jimmy Garcia: *world weary sigh* You know as much as I do, Tony.Tony Romo: Thanks, Joey.Jimmy Garcia: ...or possibly less.Nio and Fortune circle each other before locking up and quickly moving into a knuckle lock. Nio uses his height and weight advantages to power Fortune down to his knees, but when the smaller man tries to shift his weight for an overhead suplex, Nio blocks and fires a knee to Fortune's side that breaks both men apart. Fortune immediately backs up, wincing slightly as he touches his ribs. Nio shoots in, grabbing and ripping at the mask and pulling it away. Nio turns to the crowd, holding a mask aloft in the air, having publicly shamed and exposed his opponent... but when he turns around, Fortune is behind him wearing another mask!
Jimmy Garcia: This guy is double masking! Which is always a good idea to slow the spread of COVID, when you're in a grocery store.Tony Romo: ...Wasn't it really hot under there?Nio turns, seeing a still masked Fortune, and Fortune begins pummeling the living shit out of him. Nio covers up and goes to one knee under the barrage of punches. Fortune grips the arm and whips Nio off the ropes, before meeting a returning Nio with a dropkick. Fortune kips up, and takes a theatrical bow to the audience.
Jimmy Garcia: A self-described "philosopher, poet, thief, magician, lover, adventurer", Fortune is really proving himself to be a wily opponent.Nio has scooted back to the corner and is wiping his face, taken aback by the furious assault in the opening moments. The former XWF Hart champion meets Fortune as Fortune goes to pick him up out of the corner, Nio trips him and sends Fortune face first into the middle turnbuckle. Nio doesn't waste another moment, as Fortune is laying into the corner dazed from his short trip into the turnbuckle, Nio bull rushes him in with a shoulder before unloading on him with a series of vicious chops. Fortune finally shoves Nio away, but as he steps out of the corner, Nio doubles Fortune over with a kick to the gut. Nio hits the ropes and rebounds, connecting with a vicious knee strike to the side of Fortune’s head.
Jimmy Garcia: Nio drops down for the cover…The referee: ONE - Kickout!
Tony Romo: Might wanna, maybe, wait a little while and actually HURT his opponent before he tries to pin him, though.Jimmy Garcia: Stunning insight, football man.Fortune tries to roll to safety, but Nio is too quick and lashes into him with another sharp kick to the side. Nio follows up by drilling Fortune with a European uppercut that sends the Brit staggering into the ropes! Trying to press the advantage, Nio shoots Fortune off the ropes, but when Nio drops down for a backdrop, Fortune leapfrogs him, hits the ropes on the other side, and rebounds by catching Nio with a flying forearm just as he turns around!
Tony Romo: Hey, he’s alive!Jimmy Garcia: Again with the in-depth material. And how much are they paying you, exactly?Tony Romo: A lot more than you, chico.Both men pop to their feet, but this time, Fortune is quicker on the draw, flipping Nio to the mat with an arm drag. Nio scrambles up, but Fortune again catches Nio off-guard, hip tossing him to the mat. Nio pulls himself to a seated position, which presents a perfect target for Fortune, who hits the ropes and drills Nio with a seated dropkick right to the chest. Fortune pulls Nio up and whips him into the corner, then follows him with a charge and delivers a hard running back elbow. With Nio prone in the corner, Fortune takes the chance to unload with a few vicious chops of his own.
Tony Romo: Fortune serving up a whole PLATE of chops here tonight!Jimmy Garcia: You are the world’s hokiest man. You know that?Fortune takes a break from the chopping to pepper Nio with a series of clubbing forearms, but the referee says he’s seen enough and forces a break. Pulling him out of the corner, Fortune hooks Nio for a vertical suplex, but is countered when Nio again pinpoints Fortune’s damaged ribs with a series of elbows to the right side. Nio attempts to switch position with a snap suplex of his own, but in mid-air Fortune shifts his weight and rolls through into a small package.
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout!
Jimmy Garcia: Fortune picked up a head of steam and he is absolutely rolling!Despite the kickout, Fortune pops up, thinking he’s got the match under control. However, as he spins around, he very quickly learns that is not the case. Nio’s boot connects squarely with Fortune’s jaw, sending the Trickster stumbling back into the corner. Nio takes the initiative and charges across the ring, nailing Fortune with a flying clothesline in the corner! Grabbing Fortune out of the corner, Nio spins his opponent around, hooks in a rear waistlock and sends Fortune way overhead with a release German suplex, flipping Fortune completely over and forcing him to land flat on his chest.
Jimmy Garcia: What an awesome display of power from Nio!Tony Romo: I’m pretty sure Fortune violated several FAA regulations during that flight.Jimmy Garcia: I'm pretty sure the CDC is recommending people stay home and not book a flight anyway.Fortune tries to get to his feet, but Nio is all over him before he can, pulling him up and driving a knee into his ribs, then one more for good measure. After throwing in an elbow to the side of the head to disorient Fortune even more, Nio scoops him up with a fireman’s carry and drops him, planting both of his knees into Fortune’s midsection with a gutbuster. Nio scrambles over, going for the cover…
The referee: One...
Two... Kickout!
Tony Romo: How hard is it to beat up a guy that can’t breathe?Jimmy Garcia: I think we should ask just about half the football teams playing right now, OH HOOOO TOPICAL REFERENCE.Tony Romo: I don't appreciate you making light of my profession, Joey.Nio decides to focus on the ribs a little bit more, grabbing Fortune’s arm in a Fujiwara armbar before he can rise, and planting his right knee down across Fortune’s right side to turn up the pressure.
Tony Romo: That seems mildly painful.Jimmy Garcia: You really are earning that paycheck tonight, Romo.Tony Romo: Damn straight.Nio continues to clamp down on the hold, applying pressure to both the arm and the ribs, but the Trickster struggles towards the ropes, flailing his feet before his right leg finally hooks over the bottom rope. The ref starts a five count to disqualification, one, two, three, four... Nio breaks the hold, but as soon as Fortune is free, Nio simply goes right back to work. He plants a couple of boots into Fortune’s ribs for greater affect, then pulls his opponent up. Nio hooks Fortune as if to go for a uranage, but on the way down, Nio drops Fortune’s back across his knee!
Jimmy Garcia: Nio is trying to send a statement here at the World Cup, trying to show why back in the XWF Reboot he laid claim to being the Best in the World.Tony Romo: I’m pretty sure he's tried to send that statement before everyone returns it to sender.Nio bends Fortune’s back over his knee for a moment before allowing him to drop to the floor. Nio doesn’t stop there, however, pulling Fortune up, whipping him against the ropes and catching him on the rebound with a MASSIVE spinebuster!
Jimmy Garcia: HYOOOOGE impact on the spinebuster from Nio! He’s got this match firmly in control!Nio signals to the crowd that it’s time for him to finish this one off. He steps over to Fortune and grabs his head, ready to lock in the same hold that's won him countless matches. He steps behind, but as Nio tries to hook on the choke, the Trickster alertly drops, hooks Nio' head, and cradles him to the mat!
Jimmy Garcia: The Trickster is trying to steal it again!The referee: One...
Two...
Thr- Kickout!
Nio rolls to his feet and quickly turns around, trying to not-so-cleanly decapitate Fortune with a lariat, but Fortune ducks, and as Nio spins around to find out exactly why he whiffed, Fortune corkscrews around and drills Nio with a bicycle kick enziguiri! Sensing a change in the momentum, Fortune springs at Nio and hits him with a dropkick that sends Nio wobbling into the corner! Somehow, Fortune manages to flip over and land on his feet!
Jimmy Garcia: What agility from Fortune! He takes charge ... LEG LARIAT IN THE CORNER!Fortune slips behind Nio and positions himself on the second rope. Nio staggers out of the corner, but when he turns around, Fortune hooks his head and pushes off from the corner, spinning in mid-air before spiking Nio' head straight to the mat with a Tornado DDT! Not wasting a single second, he rolls over and hooks the leg...
The referee: One...
Two...
Thr- Kickout!
Tony Romo: Apparently our fans can't count, Joey.Jimmy Garcia: I think they'd say the referee was a little slow.Fortune lays into Nio with a few quick stomps before he can rise, then scoops Nio off the mat himself before sending him right back down with a gorgeous overhead belly-to-belly suplex! As Nio recovers in the corner, Fortune rolls to the opposite corner, readying himself to strike.
Nio finally pulls himself, shaking the cobwebs out of his head as he's on all fours. Fortune gears up, steps into it and lets fly with the punt kick.
Except...
Jimmy Garcia: SWING AND A MISS!Tony Romo: That reminds me of when I - *insert some football anecdote re: missing a punt in the final quarter here*Fortune regains his balance, but as he turns around, Nio regains enough of his bearings to let loose with a with a vicious roaring elbow (complete with roar), and while it doesn't knock Fortune to the ground, it does send him staggering into the ropes! As he rebounds, Nio scoops him up with a military press. However, while Nio normally uses this situation to drop his opponent into a European Uppercut, this time Fortune reverses into a ripcord elbow!!
Jimmy Garcia: FORTUNE'S SMILE!! Nio is down in the center of the ring!Tony Romo: Fortune with the cover!The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Thr- FOOT ON THE ROPES!
Jimmy Garcia: Nio somehow, some way got his left foot on the bottom ropes, elseways he would have been FINISHED!Fortune, even with the mask covering his face, seems desperate and begs the referee to tell him that was three-count. The referee assures him Nio got a foot on the ropes. While Fortune converses for a moment with the referee, Nio recovers, using the ropes to pull himself up. But, as he finally gets up, Fortune wheels around and hits Nio square across the jaw with a Pele kick.
Nio, who seemed to be taking an eternitry to crumble to the mat, instead wobbles towards the ropes, see-saws in between the middle and top ropes, and charges back towards Fortune, connecting with a Lariat!
Jimmy Garcia: Lariat by Nio! He pulled that out of absolutely NOWHERE!Nio covers!
The referee: One...
Two...
Three -
This time, it's Fortune's turn to use ring positioning to his advantage, as the referee spots his foot on the bottom rope and breaks the count.
Tony Romo: Hey, what goes around, goes around and around.Jimmy Garcia: Some more of that patented wisdom CBS shelled out millions for.Nio tries to take advantage of the damage he just did to Fortune, picking him up and locking in a Thai plum before delivering a series of knees to the ribs and the head. Feeling his opponent is sufficiently staggered, Nio whips him into the corner, then takes charge and leaps, connecting with the Stinger Splash.
Not feeling that's enough, Nio backs up and charges once again. But, this time, the attempt at the Yakuza Kick fails when Fortune grabs Nio's foot, then kicks him in the knee! With Nio stumbling backwards, Fortune quickly moves behind Nio and hits him with the Half-Nelson German.
Fortune doesn't skip a beat, rolling out of the suplex and springing to the top rope before taking off with the moonsault.
Jimmy Garcia: AND HE ... MISSES!!! Nio rolled out of the way just in time!Fortune rolls to get up, but what he doesn't realize is that the man who he had down for the count just moments ago is already up. And this time, Nio's boot doesn't get blocked. It connects squarely to Fortune's chin, sending him bouncing off the ropes!
Jimmy Garcia: Nio may have just knocked that mask down Fortune's windpipe.Fortune doesn't have the time to check for missing molars, however, as Nio Nio attempts to knock out any he might have missed with another lariat! Nio, does not go for the pin, but instead swiftly scoops Fortune off the mat and holds him up.
Not hesitating to play for the crowd, Nio lifts Fortune by one arm before annihilating him with an over the shoulder sitout driver.
Jimmy Garcia: Nio with the Digitized! Is that enough?The referee and the crowd: One...
Two...
Three -
KICKOUT!!!
Nio shoots up to a seated position, a wide-eyed expression of shock on his face. He stares glassy-eyed up at the ref with three fingers extended. Nio picks up Fortune and whips him into the corner!
Nio stares at Fortune and signals for the end and rushes into the corner but Fortune kicks him in the face and Nio stumbles backwards!
Tony Romo: Is this the opening Fortune needs?Nio goes face to face with Fortune but FORTUNE HITS THE MIST!!
Nio is blinded and stumbles around!
Fortune hits DREAMCATCHER!
Fortune covers!
ONE!!
TWO!!
THREE!!
Jimmy Garcia: Fortune puts Nio away in the first round!Tony Romo: Wow what a turn of events at the end there!Fortune sits up and stands to his feet and the ref raises his hand in victory.
Tony Romo: Can Fortune keep it up the whole tournament? We'll find out!Jimmy Garcia: Fortune moves on into the next round! World Cup is shaping up already, I love this! Great on AW for creating this!Tony Romo: Absolutely, Jimmy, the action gets more intense with every match!We fade out as Fortune keeps celebrating in the middle of the ring.